Every year the top 16 players from North Florida take on the top 16 players from South Florida in a Ryder Cup-style match. This year the Junior Florida Cup is being held at Bent Pine Golf Club in Vero Beach on July 29-30. Each team consists of 10 boys and 6 girls who were selected from the Florida Junior Tour points lists and from other FSGA and USGA events. The "Junior Cup" is known as the most fun event a junior plays in all year, but is also known to have the most talented juniors playing a unique format.
The day before matches begin teams arrive at Bent Pine Golf Club for a short team meeting and then head out for skills challenge and practice round. After the practice round, players and their families all head to a local restaurant where friendships are made and strategies drawn up for the next two days.
Four-ball matches begin early the next morning where a teams of two players play a "better ball" match again the opposing team. Each match is worth one point and the first team to earn 16 1/2 points win the Cup for one year. After the morning matches, the players will enjoy a short lunch before heading out for foursomes matches (alternate shot). Six of the ten foursomes matches will be mixed where a boy pairs up with a girl which usually creates the most interesting stories.
After the long day of playing two matches, all the players and families gather at the club for the Pairings Dinner. During dinner, the singles matches are determined. The team holding lead goes first and places a name in the first match. The other team then decides who from their team will face this player. Teams alternate with the first pick each tee time until all 16 matches are determined.
16 singles matches head out early on the final day. As the matches conclude, the players head back out on the course to cheer on their teammates. After all matches are finished, the Cup is presented to the winning team.
The North Team is on six year winning streak, but South Florida has arranged its strongest team in recent years and is rumored to be the favorite this year. Check out the teams below
North Team |
South Team |
| Emma Albrecht | Emma Bradley |
| Morgan Baxendale | Stefano Butti |
| Nicolette Donovan | Jack Tianyi Cen |
| Luis Gagne | Jamie Freedman |
| Amanda Gartrell | Anthony Gabriele |
| Austin Hitt | David Giandomenico |
| Jacob Huizinga | Kendall Griffin |
| Jacob Kline | Kaeli Jones |
| Emmy Martin | Philip Knowles |
| Brock Ochsenreiter | Kaely Krayeski |
| Kevin Reilly | Jalen Ledger |
| Latanna Stone | Jordan Miller |
| Henry Westmoreland | Lucy Robson |
| William Wrigley | Zachary Smith |
| Matt Young | Tyler Strafaci |
| Carl Yuan | Ramsey Touchberry |
| Captain - Kyle Walkiewicz | Captain - Larissa Lynch |
Click here for more information on the Junior Florida Cup
