The Florida Junior Tour took a couple months off for the state championships and the second part of the season got back underway this weekend in West Palm Beach at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club.
Conditions were tough for this 16-18 age division event with very hot and windy conditions. Jacob Huzinga, Orlando, took a one-shot lead in the first round over several players with a 1-under par 70.
In the final round, Huzinga started off a little rough with a double bogey on the 4th hole. He then made birdies on the 6th, 7th, and 9th holes. A costly bogey on the difficult 18th would leave Huizinga two shots short of his first FJT win.
Ramsey Touchberry, of Bradenton started the final round one shot back and started off great with birdies on the 1st, 8th, 9th, and 11th holes. He then stumbled a bit on the inward nine with bogies on the 12th, a double bogey on the 15th and a bogey on the 18th. Touchberry, who is committed to play for University of Florida next year, posted 71-71--142.
Zachary Smith, of Palm Beach Gardens, shot a 73 in the first round and started the final round a few groups ahead of Touchberry who was in the final group. Smith started off hot; he made birdies on the 3rd, 5th, 7th and made an eagle on the 9th to turn with a 33. On the back nine he made a bogey on the 11th and a double bogey on the 15th. Smith posted rounds of 73-69--142 which would eventually put him in a tie for first with Touchberry.
Touchberry and Smith headed to the par 4 18th hole for a sudden death playoff. The duo tied the hole with bogies two times before heading to the 18th tee for a third time. Smith was able to secure the title with a par 4 after Touchberry already layed 5. This is Smith's second win this season. Huzinga finished alone in third place.
In the Girls division, Summer Moser, of Lutz, took a three shot lead over Jamie Freedman with an impressive 73 in the first round. In the final round Moser played cautiously as she was playing with Freedman, the only competitor that posed a real threat to catch her.
Freedman, of Miami, wasn't able to catch fire on the difficult layout and Moser played steady. Moser posted rounds of 73-78--151 to capture her first win this year. Freedman posted round of 76-81--157 to finish alone in second place. Sophie Bennetti, of Celebration, finished alone in third place with rounds of 80-78--158.
