NAPLES, Fla. – The Florida Junior Tour traveled to beautiful Naples, FL this Mother's Day weeked to take on Eagle Creek G&CC. Although summer weather has arrived, and it was steamy out there, I don't think the field could have asked for better playing conditions. The course was in emmaculate shape, but proved to be a tough test for most of the field.
Boys (16-18)
Coming out of the gates hot, both Justin Wen & Konner Kubica fired an opening nine hole score of 34 (-2). The pair continued to match each other on the back nine as they both closed out the day with a 35 (-1) to finish with scored of 69 (-3). Nipping at their heels was a bunched up group of Anthony Monteleone, Tyler Bruneau, Adin McCaster, & Nolan Harper, who all came in with impressive rounds of 70 (-2).
Going into Sunday, it was truly anyone's game, and someone was hoping to bring home some hardware on Mother's Day. As Wen and Kubica cooled off, others began to heat up. Players who were just one behind heading into the day, made some birdies to shuffle up the leaderboard. Both Harper & Bruneau went out with an opening nine of 34 (-2), highlighted by Harper's eagle on the Par 5, 4th hole. Harper didn't stop there though, as he proceeded to birdie holes 10, 11, and 13 to have a comfortable two shot lead heading to the 15th tee. Despite not previously being in the winners circle, Harper showed nerves of steel and made par on each of the last four holes, cruising to a three shot victory.
Girls (16-18)
From start to finish, Ryan Donaldson was on a mission to claim her 2nd victory in just her last three starts. She was the only player in the Girls Division to find red figures in Round 1, as she shot 37-33--70 (-2). She carded an impressive 5 birdies on the day, and had a clean card on the back nine. Rounding out the Top 3 heading into Sunday, was Maggie Potash (+2), Valentina Marie Guertin (+3), Morgan Franklin (+3), Gabriella DeGasperis (+3), & Valentina Hurtado (+3).
Donaldson did everything she needed to do to coast to victory on Sunday, as she hardly wavered coming down the strectch. After shooting 38 (+2) on her opening nine, she bounced back with a string of pars, and a birdie on hole 3. Degasperis & Nyugen, both put together great closing rounds to get inside the Top 3, but ultimately Donaldson won by two shots and finished at +1 for the event.
The 16-18 Division heads up North next to Harbor Hills CC, located in Lady Lake, FL.
