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| Christopher
Carlin |
Christopher Carlin
birdied the fourth playoff hole to win the boys 16-18 age
division of the Florida Junior Tour (FJT) event at
Orange County National’s Crooked Cat Course in Winter
Garden. Playing the Palm Course at the Walt Disney
World Golf Resort, Alexis Thompson captured her
sixth FJT title winning the girls 16-18 age division as
Hojin Kang and Ryan Ashburn won their respective
divisions in the 13-15 age group.
In the boys 16-18 age division, Christopher Carlin
outlasted Julian Suri in a playoff to win his first FJT title in the older age division. Carlin, 17, from
Miramar, shot 69-71 to trail Suri by two strokes going into
the final round. “I knew I needed to make some quick birdies
to stay in it,” said Carlin. In the final round, Carlin
birdied the first hole and gained another stroke on the
third hole to be all square with Suri after three. Suri then
got back the two strokes to pull ahead after eight holes.
Carlin made a strong birdie on nine while Suri made bogey to
be back at even at the turn. On the back nine, Carlin and
Suri went hole-for-hole to push the tournament to extra
holes. In the playoff, Carlin and Suri went par, birdie, par
on the first three playoff holes. Playing the 18th hole,
Carlin hit his approach shot three feet from the hole to tap
in for birdie and win on the fourth playoff hole. “This is
the best I’ve played the past few months,” said Carlin. “My
putting was really good and I drove the ball really well.”
This is Carlin’s last season in the FJT as he will be
playing golf at Barry University next fall. Suri, 15, of St.
Augustine, shot under par rounds of 71-67-71 for his second
second place finish in the 16-18 age division this season.
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| Alexis
Thompson |
After 36 holes, Megan McChrystal and Alexis
Thompson were tied for the lead in the girls 16-18 age
division with a two-round total of 145. Thompson, of Coral
Springs, who shot 72-73 in the first two rounds, said “I
knew I needed to make birdies in the beginning and go from
there.” The 11-year-old Thompson came out strong in the
final round to make six birdies and blast a 4-under par 68
for her sixth FJT title. “I played my best in the final
round,” said Thompson. “My putter was really working for
me.” Thompson won five FJT events last season to top the
girls 13-15 age division points list. Now, playing in the
older division doesn’t bother her. “I have the confidence to
play with them,” said Thompson. “I feel like one of the
older girls.” Meghan Chapman, 16, from Seminole,
fired a 69 in the final round to jump ahead into second
place. Chapman posted rounds of 79-70 in the first two
rounds for her best finish in the 16-18 age division.
McChrystal, 18, of Stuart, fell to third place with a 74 in
the final round. McChrystal, who won this event last season,
shot consistent rounds of 73-72 in the first two rounds to
finish at 219.
 |
| Hojin
Kang |
 |
| Ryan
Ashburn |
Hojin Kang, 14, from Longwood, shot 4-under par after
two rounds of 71-69 to take a seven stroke lead heading into
the final round. With a 77 in the final round, Kang held on
by one stroke for his second FJT victory. Kang won the FJT
event last season at Fox Hollow. Ian McConnell, 15,
of Riverview, fired a pair of 71’s in the final two rounds
to move into second place. Combined with a 76 in the first
round, McConnell finished at 218.
In the girls 13-15 age division, Ryan Ashburn, 14, of
Seminole, maintained her three stroke lead after two rounds
to top the field by three strokes. Ashburn shot steady
rounds of 77-78-81 –236 for her first FJT victory. Carlie
Yadloczky, 15, from Casselberry, had her best
performance in an FJT event taking second place with a 239
total.
For complete results,
please see
www.floridajuniortour.org |
