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| Blayne Barber
and Tyler McCumber |
McCumber comes from behind to
capture junior division
Blayne Barber fired a final round 3-under par 69 to
capture the 52nd Florida State Boys Junior Championship
as Tyler McCumber came from one stroke down to
take the junior division title at Timuquana Country Club
in Jacksonville on July 10-12.
In the boys 16-18 age division, Blayne Barber, 16,
from Lake City, posted a tournament total of 10-under par
206 to win the 2006 Championship. "It feels really good,"
said Barber. "I just hope to keep it going and see what else
I can do." Barber was consistent throughout the tournament
recording rounds of 69-68-69 to top the field by one stroke.
Barber, who recently won the Future Masters in Alabama, went
into the final round sharing first place with Connor
Arendell. "I knew I just had to hang in there and keep
making pars and birdies," said Barber. In the final round,
Barber was 7-under for the tournament after ten holes to
hold a three stroke lead over Tyson Alexander. Both
players birdied 11 and as Barber drained a ten foot birdie
putt on the 12th hole, Alexander made a three foot putt for
eagle to close the gap. Alexander, 17, from Gainesville,
then birdied holes 13 and 14 to tie with Barber at 9-under
heading to the 17th hole. On 17, Barber sank a 15 foot
birdie putt to pull ahead by one and ultimately win the
Championship. Barber made three birdies each on the front
and back nines in the final round. "I hit the ball solid all
week," said the home schooled Barber. "I also putted really
well, and I didn't have any three putts."
Alexander took second place just one shot shy of Barber.
Alexander, who will be attending the University of Florida
in the fall, was a first round co-leader with a 68, then
posted rounds of 70-69 to finish with a 207. Christopher
Biuso, 16, of Tampa, shot rounds of 71-69-71--211 to
lock up third place.
Tyler McCumber, 15, of Ponte Vedra Beach, shot a
5-under par 67 in the final round to claim the 13-15 junior
division title by one stroke. McCumber shot a 71 in the
first round then pulled within one stroke of 36-hole leader
Julian Suri with a second round score of 69. McCumber
clinched the Championship on the 18th hole after hitting an
approach shot that spun back to less than two feet from the
hole and making the birdie putt for the win.
Joshua Seale, 15, of Orlando, blasted a 66 in the
final round, the low round of the day in the junior
division, to move ahead into second place. Seale shot a
73-69 in the first two rounds. Julian Suri fell to third
place after shooting a final round of 2-under par 70. Suri,
15, of St. Augustine, led after the first two rounds with
scores of 67-72.
Competitors first must have qualified at one of the six
sites across the state in 18 holes of stroke play. The
Championship field featured 90 of the top male amateur
golfers in the state including qualifiers and exempt
players. The field was divided into two age divisions; 13-15
junior division and 16-18 regular division. The 16-18 age
division of 63 included 23 exempt players while the 13-15
age division featured three exempt players. For the second
year, competitors played 54 holes of stroke play over the
course of three days.
The Champion of the Regular division receives three
exemptions into AJGA events. The top five from the Regular
division receive two exemptions each into AJGA events and
the top ten finishers will receive one exemption toward an
AJGA open tournament. Additionally, the top 12 finishes in
the 16-18 division will be invited to compete in the Florida
State Junior Match Play Invitational. The top six finishes
in the 13-15 division will also be invited to compete in the
Junior Match Play Invitational. The top three finishers in
each division receive full exemption into the Florida Junior
Tour (FJT).
To enter, participants must be between the ages of 13-18 and
not attending college. Also, the juniors must not have a
handicap index higher than 17.4.
For complete results,
click here. |
