ROCKLEDGE, Fla. - After a five-hole playoff as well as a birdie-clinching win on the 18th holes, James Ballato and Briana Gabe were crowned champions at Viera East Golf. This is the first Florida Junior Tour win for both Ballato and Gabe.
Boys 16-18
It took a 68 in the final round as well as five playoff holes for James Ballato to secure a hard-fought victory at Viera East. After trailing the first-round leader, Kaleb Palm, by four strokes, the Fernandina Beach native tied the low round of the tournament with a 68 on Sunday, which included five birdies. Ballato, who will be attending and playing golf at West Point Military Academy next fall, made par on the fifth and final playoff hole to finish off his win. The playoff included four other players, Niels Schmidlin, Kaleb Palm, Leo Goosen and Andrew Riley, all who will finish with runner-up honors. Goosen and Riley joined Ballato with a 68 in the final round.
Girls 16-18
Briana Gabe came into Sunday's round with a deficit to overcome, and she did just that, posting an even par 72 en route to an impressive comeback win. Gabe, a native of nearby Melbourne, started the final round seven shots back, but played solid golf all day and eventually made birdie on her final hole to secure a one-shot victory. Lisa Colee fired the low round of the tournament in the Girls Division with a first-round 71 and was the leader after day one. Colee finished in a tie for second with Faith Silverman who posted two solid rounds of 77-74.
Final Leaderboard
Boys 16-18
1 James Ballato -3 (141)
T2 Andrew Riley -3 (141)
T2 Niels Schmidlin -3 (141)
T2 Kaleb Palm -3 (141)
T2 Leo Goosen -3 (141)
Girls 16-18
1 Briana Gabe +6 (150)
T2 Faith Silverman +7 (151)
T2 Lisa Colee +7 (151)
4 Skylee Shin +8 (152)
5 Jingxiu Huang +11 (155)
