VERO BEACH, Fla.- Sandridge Golf Club hosted week two of the Florida Junior Golf Tour 13-15 division. With the school year just beginning, 80 players were able to tee it up with hopes of capturing a FJT title on Sunday afternoon. Sandridge Golf Club continues to be a test for junior golfers as the players battled through two rounds. In the end, it was Arnold Pouncy and Victoria Feng who would rise above the rest to claim the title.
Boys (13-15)
By the end of Saturday’s Round 1, Hudson Stutzman was the sole leader after enduring the Dunes Course’s challenging layout. Stutzman, a 2028 graduate from Ponte Vedra Beach, posted a 1-over 73, staying patient on a difficult front nine where he carded eight pars and a bogey. He carried that momentum into the back nine steadying his round with an even-par finish highlighting two birdies. Just a single stroke back included Arnold Pouncy IV, Jesus Bethencourt, and Pedro Olave. Pouncy, a 2028 graduate from Saint Cloud, and Bethencourt, a 2029 graduate from Bonita Springs, both rallied on the back nine to card 1-under 35s. Olave, a 2029 graduate from Fort Myers, closed strong with a birdie on the 18th to finish with a 2-over 74. With another 18 holes to play, the leaderboard remained tight heading into the final round.
Sunday’s round began with steady play from the field. Arnold Pouncy IV took an early lead with a front nine score of 2-under 34. Pouncy would carry that momentum into the back nine to card three more birdies and pull away from the rest of the field. He would finish with a 5-under 67 to secure his first ever FJT victory with a two round total of 3-under 141. Jesus Bethencourt would remain consistent, carding a 1-over 73. This would leave Bethencourt with a two round total of 147 for solo runner-up. Behind Bethencourt, there would be a two way tie for third between Kieran Shaw and Liam Ly. Shaw, a 2029 graduate from Naples, and Ly, a 2027 graduate from Delray Beach, would both bounce back with strong second rounds shooting 72 and 71 respectively.
Girls (13-15)
In the hot and windy conditions on the Dunes Course, Sofia Macapagal took the lead in the girls division. Macapagal, a 2028 graduate from Orlando, shot an even-par 72, starting her day with a solid 1-under 35 on the front nine. After picking up two birdies on the front nine, she kept the pressure on with two more on the back nine to close out with a 1-over 37. Just two shots behind, Ava Fehring found herself in second after a consistent day. Fehring, a 2028 graduate from Clermont, opened with a 38 on the front nine before battling her way to an even-par 36 finish on the back for a first round total of 74. Tied for third, Liliana Ford, a 2028 graduate from Debary, and Victoria Feng, a 2029 graduate from Windermere, found themselves within striking distance after carding 3-over 75s.
Sunday morning’s start would bring calmer conditions and it was Victoria Feng who would rise to the occasion. Feng took full advantage of the first nine holes carding 1-under and giving herself a 3 shot lead making the turn. She held steady on the second nine with a 1-over 37 to finish with an even-par 72. Feng secured her second FJT victory with a 3-over 147 total. Round 1 leader, Sofia Macapagal battled through a tough start with a 41 on her first nine but showed resilience as she shot 35 on the second nine to card a 4-over 76. Macapagal would fall one shot short leaving her in solo second with a two round total of 4-over 148. Rounding out the podium, Xiyao Zhang, a 2029 graduate from Winter Gardens, would card two consistent rounds of 77 and 75 to finish at 8-over, 152.
