Panama City Beach, Fla. – After a windy round one and a rain-delayed round two, Jaylen Abbas (Boys 16-18), Emma Rynn (Girls 16-18), Chase Fleischer (Boys 13-15) and Ava Zhang (Girls 13-15) were able to battle through the weather to be crowned FJT Bay Point Open champions.
Bay Point Golf Club proved to be a difficult test for the players, as most of Jack Nicklaus designs do. The undulating greens combined with multiple blind approach shots caused players to think in ways that they are not used to at normal Florida Golf Courses.
Boys (16-18)
It was Dallas Torres who grabbed the lead in round one shooting one of two under par scores on the day. After his opening round of two-under, he had multiple players on his tail wanting a share of the lead.
Jaylen Abbas was one of them, firing a first round 71 (-1) that included four birdies and three bogeys. On day two, Abbas came out swinging, even with the one hour and 15-minute delay due to lightning in the area. Abbas played his first six holes in three under and proceeded to play his next 12 holes in one-over par.
With a par on the last from both Abbas and Torres, they went to the first playoff hole. All it took was a par from Abbas to grab his first FJT victory.
Girls (16-18)
Emma Rynn proved to golfers all over the world that it is not about how you start; it is about how you finish. Both days, Rynn shot four-over on the front nine both days, but persevered on the back nine by shooting one-under and three-under to finish at a two day total of four-over 148. This is also Rynn’s first FJT victory.
Finishing in second with scores of 80-74 was Ava Kight. Rounding out the podium was Junyuan Zhang with scores of 83-78.
Boys (13-15)
Jordan Paulshock grabbed the lead after round one, but faltered during the final round. After an opening round of 80, Chase Fleischer finally was able to make it click on day two. His even par round on the final day, which included three birdies and three bogeys, was also the low round in his division. Joining Rynn and Abbas, this was also Fleischer’s first FJT victory.
Finishing in a tie for second place was Dawson Wooley and Alexander Parker, coming in with a two-day total of 154 (+10).
Girls (13-15)
Rounding out the group of first time winners was Ava Zhang. Zhang’s consistent play proved to be enough over two charging competitors. She was able to hold off Abby Vernier and Lily Martin who shot 72 (even) and 67 (-5) respectively.
Martin’s 67 was the round of the tournament over all other 45 players. A whopping eight birdies over the course of the day skyrocketed her up the leaderboard into a tie for second with Vernier.
