PGA Tour winner Robert Gamez arrested at Bay Hill on misdemeanor battery charges

Robert Gamez, the three-time PGA Tour winner who has a plaque on the 18th fairway at Bay Hill, was arrested at that very venue in the early hours of Sunday morning on misdemeanor battery charges. 

According to Golfweek. the incident happened late Saturday night at a residence inside Bay Hill in Orlando. 

"Gamez was allegedly seen touching the buttocks of an unidentified female victim late Saturday evening at a pool party in the 5600 block of Masters Boulevard, located in the Bay Hill neighborhood," reads a report from Golfweek. 

"When officers arrived on the scene, Gamez was lying on a medical stretcher after being grabbed around the neck by a male who witnessed the alleged incident. Gamez allegedly fell to the ground and was admitted to Dr. Phillips Hospital, according to an incident report from the Orange County Corrections Office.

"Earlier in the evening, Gamez was allegedly in the pool when he “reached up from the pool and grabbed” the victim’s top, which resulted in exposure. Gamez allegedly asked the victim to join him in the pool “and began making kissing faces,” the report stated.

"The victim confirmed to officers that she was not related to Gamez or in a relationship with the professional golfer.

"Law enforcement questioned Gamez, who was intoxicated, according to the report. Gamez stated that he 'does not remember anything'."

The charge, according to online court records, is under battery statute: 784.03(1)(A)(1), which Florida Statute describes as: "Actually and intentionally touches or strikes another person against the will of the other."

Gamez was reportedly released from Orange County Jail on Sunday.

Gamez, 54, has a plaque on the 18th fairway at Bay Hill where he holed out his second shot on the 72nd hole to defeat Greg Norman by one shot at the 1990 Nestle Invitational, which is now the Arnold Palmer Invitational. 

The American also won the 1990 Northern Telecom Tucson Open, before waiting 15 years to complete his PGA Tour hat-trick with victory at the 2005 Valero Texas Open.

At the time of his Texas Open win, Gamez went over the $1-million mark in earnings for just the second time in his PGA Tour career after ending a victory drought of 15 years and six months, the longest time between victories in PGA Tour history (Butch Baird held the old mark, winning the 1976 San Antonio Texas Open 15 years, 5 months and 10 days after winning the 1961 Waco Turner Open).

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