First Coast golfers sweep Palatka's Azalea Amateur tournaments

Golfers from the First Coast region dominated the annual spring events at the Palatka Golf Club.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:04am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a golf tournament, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the dynamic action and competition of the event.The annual Azalea Amateur tournaments in Palatka showcase the vibrant talent of First Coast golfers, who swept the events in 2026.Palatka Today

Golfers from the First Coast region of Florida swept the annual Azalea Amateur tournaments at the Palatka Golf Club. Lance LaCombe of Jacksonville won the 69th Azalea Amateur, while Ambrose Kinnare of St. Augustine tied for third. In the Junior Azalea, Kinnare and Sophia Cavanagh of St. Augustine won their respective divisions.

Why it matters

The Azalea Amateur is a prestigious annual golf tournament that has been held in Palatka, Florida for decades. The dominance of First Coast golfers in both the main tournament and the junior events showcases the strength of the regional golf talent and development programs in Northeast Florida.

The details

LaCombe defeated Drew Miller of East Lansing, Michigan, in a playoff to win the 69th Azalea Amateur after both finished regulation at 3-under 207. Ambrose, a sophomore at Tocoi Creek High School, tied for third in the Azalea, one shot out of the playoff. In the Junior Azalea, Kinnare won the boys division by five shots, while Cavanagh, a senior at Nease High School, won the girls division by two shots.

  • The Azalea Amateur was held on March 22, 2026.
  • The Junior Azalea was held two weeks prior to the Azalea Amateur.

The players

Lance LaCombe

A golfer from Jacksonville who won the 69th Azalea Amateur in a playoff.

Drew Miller

A golfer from East Lansing, Michigan, who finished tied with LaCombe at 3-under 207 in the Azalea Amateur before losing in the playoff.

Ambrose Kinnare

A sophomore golfer at Tocoi Creek High School who tied for third in the Azalea Amateur and won the boys division of the Junior Azalea.

Sophia Cavanagh

A senior golfer at Nease High School who won the girls division of the Junior Azalea.

Rafael de Carvalho

A golfer from Ponte Vedra Beach who made a rare hole-in-one on the par-4 13th hole during the first round of the Azalea Amateur.

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What they’re saying

“By making nominations open to the public, we believe golf fans will be more invested in the process and it will ensure that all worthy candidates are considered for the Class of 2027.”

— Mike Trostel, Director of the World Golf Hall of Fame

The takeaway

The sweep of the Azalea Amateur tournaments by First Coast golfers demonstrates the strength of the regional golf talent and development programs in Northeast Florida, which continue to produce top-level players competing at the highest levels of the sport.