The First Coast Amateur presented by the City of Jacksonville is set for January 17 through 19, 2026, at Deerwood Country Club. The championship marks its tenth edition and will once again conclude on the Martin Luther King holiday.
The 54 hole stroke play event features a full field of 96 competitors with no cut. Players represent nine countries and 42 colleges and universities, making it one of the most nationally diverse amateur events on the East Coast. Ball State leads all programs with nine players entered, followed by the University of North Florida with eight and the University of South Carolina with six.
Deerwood Country Club will host the championship for a second consecutive year. The par 72 layout is expected to play between 6,900 and 7,200 yards depending on conditions. The course previously hosted the 2025 edition, where Payne Denman claimed the title by nine shots at eighteen under par.
Denman returns as the defending champion after posting rounds of 63, 69, and 66 last year. Two time champion Cole Bradley is also in the field, continuing his return to amateur competition after a brief professional career.
The championship is hosted by the Jacksonville Area Golf Association with support from the City of Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment division. First played in 2017, the event has grown into JAGA’s only nationally promoted tournament and continues to draw elite amateur, collegiate, and junior talent from across the region.
Local representation includes eight players from the University of North Florida, one from Flagler College, and North Florida Junior Golf Tour qualifier Ambrose Kinnare.
Scoring will be tracked live throughout the championship, with a sudden death playoff in place if needed to determine the winner.
Event Information
First Coast Amateur presented by the City of Jacksonville
January 17 to 19, 2026
Deerwood Country Club
Jacksonville, Florida