Gabriella Albert | Aaron Leach | Makenna Rodriguez | Derek Sanderson
VERO BEACH, Fla. – Four players captured Florida Junior Tour victories on Sunday at the non-exempt event at Sandridge Golf Club. Derek Sanderson was victorious in the Boys 16-18 Division, while Aaron Leach got the win in the Boys 13-15 Division. For the Girls, Makenna Rodriguez came out on top in the 16-18 Division and Gabriella Albert won the 13-15 Division.
This is the first FJT victory for Sanderson, Rodriguez and Albert, while this is Leach’s fourth FJT win.
Boys 16-18
Sanderson took home his first FJT win with a 7-over 151 for the two-day tournament. He took the first-round lead with a 2-over 74 on Saturday. Sanderson posted three birdies in the first round to take a two-shot lead into the final round.
The New Smyrna Beach native began Sunday with six-straight pars. His only hiccup on the front side came with a bogey on the seventh, and he made the turn at 1-over for the day. Sanderson posted a 4-over back side to secure the win with a final-round 77.
Mu Sun took home a second-place finish at 9-over 153, beginning the tournament with a first-round 77. The Boynton Beach native used a final-round 76 to earn second place. Four players finished in a tie-for-third place at 10-over 154: Michael Wu, Sebastian Sacristan, Wyatt Plattner and Nicholas Zizzo.
Wu carded an even-par 72 in the final round to be the only player in the field to post an even-par or better round for the weekend.
Boys 13-15
Leach won in the 13-15 Division with a 7-over 151 at Sandridge GC. He used a first-round 75 to sit one shot back of the leader heading into Sunday’s final round. The Windermere native began Sunday with a 3-over on the front side.
After back-to-back bogeys to start the back nine, Leach played the rest of the round at even-par or better, with a birdie on the 14th. He locked up the victory with a final-round 76.
Peyton Rho finished in second place at 8-over 152, carding a final-round 75. Wilson Stringer and Jackson Hiller took home a share of third place at 10-over 154.
Girls 16-18
Rodriguez went wire-to-wire to take home her first FJT win at 4-over 148. She began the tournament with a 4-over 76 to take a share of the first-round lead with Caroline Nemes. The Delray Beach native closed out her front nine by birding three of her final six holes to make the turn at 1-under.
She finished the final round with a 1-over on the back side to post an even-par 72 and take home the seven-shot victory. Rodriguez’s final-round 72 was the low round of the tournament in the 16-18 Division.
Nemes finished second at 11-over 155, finishing the weekend with a 7-over 79. Jonna Hubbs and Tia Walker both finished in a tie for third at 15-over 159.
Girls 13-15
Albert captured her first FJT win in wire-to-wire fashion, posting a 10-over 154 for the weekend. She took a two-shot lead over the field, after a first-round 77. Albert went par-birdie to begin the final round, before making the turn at 2-over.
The Delray Beach birdie the 18th hole to lock up the one-shot victory with a final-round 77. Morgan Franklin finished second at 11-over 155, while Mei Chan and Megan Griggs finished tied for third at 15-over 159.
