Connor Arendell may be struggling to reach the PGA Tour. But he's always got the Florida Open
Connor Arendell may be struggling to get to the highest levels of professional golf, but lately, the former University of Central Florida star has had the Florida Open to fall back on — especially when it's played anywhere in the vicinity of his hometown of Cape Coral.
The 33-year-old Arendell, who has spent time on the Korn Ferry Tour, DP World Tour and European Challenge Tour, cruised to a two-shot victory on Sunday in the 77th Florida Open at the Crown Colony Club in Fort Myers. He earned $20,000 for his second Florida Open title in three years.
Arendell won at the Fiddlesticks Country Club in 2021, also in Fort Myers.
Arendell had 16 birdies in his first two rounds and managed only three on Sunday en route to a 72. But with a five-shot lead to begin the day, it was more than enough of a cushion as he finished 13-under-par 200 to top former University of North Florida player Kevin Aylwin (68) and defending champion Andy Pope (66). Aylwin and Pope both took home $9,625.
"It's an honor to win this championship again," Arendell told fsga.org. "Winning down here two years ago in Fort Myers gave me some extra confidence coming into the week. There are a lot of chances out there if you hit the fairways, so I just knew if I could hit some fairways then I would have some looks and go from there."
Arendell led UCF to three AAC conference titles in a row from 2010-2012. He earned a DP World Tour card in 2013 and made six of 17 cuts over the next two seasons. Arendell then qualified for the Korn Ferry Tour status in 2018 but when he missed 16 of 22 cuts and earned $11,869 to lose his card.
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Arendell led UCF to three AAC conference titles in a row from 2010-2012. He earned a DP World Tour card in 2013 and made six of 17 cuts over the next two seasons. Arendell then qualified for the Korn Ferry Tour status in 2018 but when he missed 16 of 22 cuts and earned $11,869 to lose his card.
His highlight since then has been his two Florida Open titles and qualifying for the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach through local and sectional tournaments. He shot 150 to miss the cut.
Baldwin native Dillon Board (69), who held the 18-hole lead, tied former UNF player Matthew Borchert (68) for fourth at 10-under, with both earning $4,687.
Pete Kellermann of Jacksonville (67), who also played college golf for the Ospeys, tied for seventh at 7-under, his third consecutive top-10 finish in the Florida Open and his fourth top-12 or better result.
Former Jacksonville University player Michael Sakane (67) and Derek Bard of Jacksonville Beach (65) tied for 13th at 4-under. Sakane made seven birdies on the day and Bard played his last 11 holes at 5-under and birdied three of his last six holes.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Former UCF star Connor Arendell posts a worry-free 72 to win Florida Open
