OCALA, Fla. – After a beautiful chilled day at Ocala Golf Club, Joshua Hess (Boys 16-18), Jordan Levitt (Girls 16-18), Kaden Puranik (Boys 13-15) and Neely Kight (Girls 13-15) were able to battle through the tight competition to be crowned the champions of the FJT Ocala (13-18) *Non-Exempt* event.
Boys (16-18)
It was Jacob Vazquez, Joshua Hess, and Jack Green who tied the lead in round one shooting 4-under par par scores on the day. After their opening rounds of 68, they had multiple players on their tails wanting a taste of the lead.
Joshua Hess fired a second round of 68 (-4) that included six birdies and two bogeys. Gaining three strokes over Clipper Salmon and Connor Williams who both tied for second place. Williams with a 3-under 69 and Salmon with a two-under 70. Finishing out his round as victorious, Joshua Hess will take home the trophy firing a total of 8-under 136.
Girls (16-18)
Sophia Hong, Kalia Polete, Jordan Levitt, and Victoria Lourdes Renzi Jr. earned their tie for the lead by all shooting 1-over par 73. With another battle for the win, the four girls will surely test their skills for the second round.
During the second round of the tournament, the girls 16-18 would be anything but boring. Sophia Hong and Jordan Levitt going head to head all day. Both girls finished with a 73, sending them into a sudden death play-off. After 6 holes, Levitt would emerge victorious by parring the last hole.
Hong would take second place, while Victoria Lourdes Renzi Jr would take the solo third with a final score of 73-74--147 total.
Boys (13-15)
Jeremy Hsu grabbed the solo lead after his round one score of 4-under 68, and he would battle in round 2 to keep his solo lead. Kaden Puranik was close on his heels with a 3-under 69 for his first round.
After a second round of 1-over 73, Jeremy Hsu would lose his lead over Kaden Puranik who fired off a 1-under 71. Leading up to the final holes, Puranik birdied two of his three last holes to be named the champion.
Hsu finished in second place and Nutthachai Khamkhokgruad in third place shooting a 73-74--147 total.
Girls (13-15)
Nelly Kight secured the solo lead after round one, shooting an even par 72. With Sophia Cavanagh only four shots back, the girls would surely battle the course in the final round to see who would become victorious.
Extending her lead, Kight battled the course all day in the second round to finish at 3-over 75 with six bogeys and three birdies.
Sophia Cavanagh remained four shots back and secured her spot in second place by shooting a final score of 75 for the second round. Alexia Iordanov would also claim a solo third place by shooting scores of 84-74--158 total.
