SARASOTA, Fla. – Clark Mason and Ryan Donaldson were victorious at Heritage Oaks Golf & Country Club this weekend. Mason won the Boys Division shooting two-under par, winning by six strokes over Jake Valentine and Parker Severs. Donaldson beat Chloe Chang on the second playoff hole for her third victory of the year.
Boys (13-15)
Breezy conditions on Saturday afternoon made scoring conditions quite challenging as Heritage Oaks only surrendered two under-par rounds. Clark Mason and Maddox Ketelaar led the way in a tie for first at one-under 70. This was good for a one-shot lead heading into round two over Parker Severs, who shot an even-par 71 in the first round. Two other competitors, Jake Valentine and Eddie Gu were three back after posting rounds of two-over 73.
On Sunday, Heritage Oaks bared its teeth to all competitors except round one co-leader Clark Mason. Through ten holes on Sunday, Mason, of Saint Petersburg, FL, held a five-shot lead. This deficit proved to be too much to overcome for the other competitors as Mason went on to shoot another one-under 70. His two-under total performance gave him a six-shot win over Jake Valentine, from Palm Beach Gardens, and Severs. This victory is Mason’s first since winning the 13-15 division of the 11th FJT Tour Championship last October.
Girls (13-15)
Ann-Sophie Bourgault held the solo lead after the first round after she shot the lone under-par round of the first day. Her one-under 70 gave her a one-shot lead over Ryan Donaldson who shot even-par 71. Three other competitors sat within three shots of the lead following play on day one; Sophia Dyer, Fernanda Carrion, and Katie Yang.
After sitting just one back after the first round, Donaldson was able to take the solo lead after her first nine holes. However, the leaderboard remained tight and it was anyone’s tournament to win. With five holes to go, the McAplin native held a two-shot lead, but costly bogeys on her 15th and 18th holes dropped her to three-over total. Meanwhile, Chloe Chang of Bradenton birdied two of her last four holes and ultimately forced a playoff with her strong finish. After both players parred the first playoff hole, Donaldson sunk a four-foot par putt to win on the second playoff hole and secure her third FJT victory of the year.
