SEBRING, FL - This weekend, the Florida Junior Tour made its way to Sun ‘N Lake Golf and Country Club where a full field of 16 to 18 year-old golfers competed in a two-day, stroke-play event on the Deer Run Course. There was no shortage of heat and humidity throughout the weekend as players did their best to stay cool both physically and mentally. Ultimately, Parker Severs and Victoria Tan were able to outplay their respective divisions and walk away from Sun ‘N Lake with victories.
Boys (16-18)
After the first round was completed, Brett Moore, of Hollywood, held a three-shot lead over the rest of the field after firing off an impressive round of 5-under par, 67. Moore had a solid start to his round that included a stretch of seven holes where he made four birdies and no bogeys. With four holes left to play Moore was still part of a cluttered group atop the leaderboard at 2-under par; however, the Hollywood native would go on to birdie three of his last four holes to pull ahead of the competition heading into the second round. Colton Swartz, of Fleming Island, and Parker Severs, of Lakewood Ranch, were in a tie for second after shooting scores of 2-under par, 70.
On Sunday, Moore continued to play well as he played the first nine holes at 1-under par and bogey free. However, Swartz and Severs also showed no signs of slowing down as they too played the first nine holes at 1-under par, keeping their deficit at three shots. As the leaders made the turn to the back-nine Severs would catch fire, birdieing the first three holes to shrink Moore’s lead to just one stroke. The Hollywood native maintained this lead until a triple-bogey on the par-four 15th hole would give Severs a lead he would not relinquish for the remainder of the round. Severs (70-69—139, -5) would go on to claim a one-shot victory over Moore (67-73—140, -4). Swartz (70-71—141, -3) would finish in a tie for third with Jackson Hiller, of Vero Beach, (71-70—141).
Girls (16-18)
Through 18 holes, Sophia Hong, of Windermere, held a one-shot lead after she completed the only under-par round on Saturday in the girls division at 1-under par, 71. The Windermere native claimed the lead after an eagle on the par-4 10th hole. Two players sat just one-shot behind the round-one leader. Addison Klonowski, of Naples, played a balanced round that included three birdies and three bogeys to remain in contention. Mara King, of Lake Mary, used a more volatile round (five birdies, three bogeys, one double-bogey) to reach even-par, 72, and give herself a chance to win.
In the second round, as Hong fell out of contention, Klonowski was able to stay toward the top of the leaderboard by playing her first nine holes at 1-over par. Victoria Tan, who began the second round three strokes behind the leader, came out firing by recording three birdies en route to a 2-under par first nine. This gave Tan, from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, a one-shot lead over Klonowski with just nine holes to play. The Kuala Lumpur native would extend her lead to three shots after a birdie on the par-3 second hole, but Klonowski was not ready to give up just yet as she went on to play the final seven holes at 3-under par to force a playoff. In the playoff, Tan would go on to birdie the first playoff hole, the par-4 10th, and secure the victory.
