The Back of the Range
Weekly interviews from prominent amateurs, coaches, and personalities from the game of golf!
Displaying all 4 Episode of The Back of the Range with the tag “gasparilla invitational”.
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Matt Vogt - Mid-Am Qualifies for U.S. Open
December 26th, 2025 | 1 hr 15 mins
amateur golf, ben adelberg, butler university, competitive golf journey., cranberry township, dentistry, gasparilla invitational, golf career balance, golf qualifier, jones cup, matt vogt, mental toughness, mid-amateur golf, oakmont country club, pressure in sports, reinstated amateurs, the back of the range, u.s. open 2025, usga, wine valley golf club
The guest on this episode of The Back of the Range is Matt Vogt, a dentist and accomplished mid-amateur golfer who earned one of the most memorable stories in 2025: qualifying for and competing in the U.S. Open at Oakmont. The conversation covers Vogt’s journey from a modest upbringing in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, to his college golf days at Butler University, and his later-life resurgence into competitive amateur golf. He recounts his U.S. Open Qualifying experience, the emotional significance of his late father during that run, and the whirlwind aftermath of suddenly finding himself part of golf’s biggest stage. Vogt offers candid reflections on balancing a demanding professional career in dentistry with elite-level amateur competition, sharing how he relies on supportive colleagues and flexible scheduling to make it work. He opens up about nerves, lessons learned, and the surreal experience of teeing off at Oakmont in front of thousands—a moment where adrenaline met disbelief. The discussion also touches on broader themes in amateur golf: the evolution of college recruiting, the rising standard of competition, the mid-amateur “fraternity,” and the ongoing debate about reinstated former professionals competing in mid-am events. The conversation ends lightheartedly, with banter about future tournaments like the Gasparilla Invitational and the Jones Cup, showing Vogt’s grounded personality and enthusiasm for competing with his peers.
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Charles Fitzsimmons - 2024 Gasparilla Invitational Champion
February 29th, 2024 | 1 hr 1 min
amateur golf, charles fitzsimmons, gasparilla invitational, golf podcast, mid-amateur golf, usga
Charles Fitzsimmons survived a two-hole playoff and emerged as the 2024 Gasparilla Invitational Champion at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club in Tampa, Florida.
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Chris Solomon - No Laying Up
February 1st, 2023 | 1 hr 3 mins
amateur golf, chris solomon, gasparilla invitational, golf podcast, jordan speith, justin thomas, no laying up, pga tour, soly
My guest on this episode is Chris Solomon from No Laying Up. Great conversation about the state of professional golf as well as his own game as he prepares to compete in the Gasparilla Invitational later this month.
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Chip Brooke - 2021 Gasparilla Invitational Champion
February 15th, 2022 | 1 hr 1 min
amateur golf, chip brooke, gasparilla invitational, mid-amateur golf, palma ceia, pirates, tampa, titleist, usga
My guest on this episode is the reigning Gasparilla Invitational Champion, Chip Brooke. We spoke about his incredible season in 2021 where he picked up another huge win at Birmingham and we previewed this year's Gasparilla and what makes this tournament held at historic Palma Ceia G&CC so special.