The Florida Junior Tour ventured down to Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club in south Naples for a 16-18 age division tournament. The players found a golf course that was in excellent condition, very slick greens and perfect weather.
In the boys division, Ramsey Touchberry, from Bradenton, took the first round lead with a 68 (-4), but several players were within a few strokes heading into the final round.
On Sunday, the final pairing consisted of Touchberry (68), Landon Weber (69), and Ethan Marcus (70). Weber, from Fort Myers, made up one stroke on the front nine and found himself tied with Touchberry with nine holes remaining. Touchberry, who is committed to UF, birdied the 10th and then Weber birdied the 11th to remain tied. On the 17th hole Touchberry made a par while Weber made bogey. On the final hole, a par 4, Weber hit a great approach to six feet and drained the birdie putt for a 72 and force a playoff. Ethan Marcus shot rounds of 70-72--142 (-2) to find himself one stroke back and in third place.
Weber and Touchberry went to the 1st hole for the playoff and they both made easy pars. The duo went to the second hole (par 4) and they both found the fairway off the tee. Weber hit a great approach to seven feet while Touchberry's shot sailed into the greenside bunker. Touchberry was unable to save par and Weber easily two-putted for his first FJT title.
In the girls division, Luiza Altmann, from Winter Garden, took the first round lead with a 73. Terese Romeo, from Tampa, was only two strokes back after the first round (75) and Courtney Zeng, from Orlando, was three stokes back (76).
On Sunday the girls division started their rounds on the back nine and Altmann, Romeo, and Zeng were in the final group. Altmann got off to a great start by making birdies on the 10th and 12th holes to expand her lead. On the front nine, Romeo closed the gap. She birdied the 8th hole and shot an even par 36 on her final nine, but it wasn't enough. Altmannn held on for a two stroke victory.
Playing the par 72 course at 5,882 yards, Luiza Altmann shot rounds of 73-76--149 for her first FJT title. Terse Romeo shot rounds of 75-76--151 to finish in second place. Courtney Zeng shot rounds of 76-79--155 and Emily Black, from Naples, shot rounds of 79-76--155 to finish tied for third place.
