The FJT held two events the weekend of September 23-24 with the 13-15 age division playing at Lake Wales CC and the 16-18 age division competing at Bear Lakes CC.
At Bear Lakes, Phillip Choi, 15, of Orlando, won his first boys 16-18 age division title finishing with a 3-under par 141. Choi fired consistent rounds of 71-70 to win the second FJT title of his career. In the 13-15 age division, Choi ranked second in last season’s points list wining the event at Victoria Hills last May. Brooks Koepka, 16, of Wellington, had his best finish in an FJT event at Bear Lakes placing second with the other under par score of the tournament. Koepka shot 70-73 to finish at 1-under par 143. Joshua Leppo, 17, of Naples, and Daniel Mazziotta, 18, from Ft. Myers, tied for third place each shooting a pair of 72’s for an even par 144.
Alexandria Buelow, of Palm City, captured her first FJT title at Bear Lakes winning the girls 16-18 age division. Playing up, Buelow, 15, fired a 71 in the first round for the only under par round of the division. With a 76 in the second round, Buelow won the division by seven strokes. Alexis Thompson, 11, from Coral Springs, placed second recording a 75-79. Thompson topped last season’s 13-15 age division points standings with five FJT victories. Stephanie Kenoyer, 18, from Lighthouse Point, and Maria Ronderos, 16, from Bogota, Colombia, shared third place each posting a 155 tournament total.
Playing in his first FJT event, Brandon Heinkel, 15, of Boynton Beach, captured the 13-15 age division at Lake Wales by one stroke. After a 75 in the first round, Heinkel came out strong in the second round to fire a 4-under par 68 to claim the title. “The first day I did not play well,” said Heinkel. “In the second round, I putted a lot better and hit the ball twice as solid as the first round.” Heinkel chipped in twice and made six birdies en route to his second round score of 68. “The golf course at Lake Wales fit my game well,” said Heinkel. “When the greens are fast like that I putt like a maniac.” Troy Byun, 14, of Lake Mary, had his best finish in an FJT event shooting 75-69—144 for second place as Kollin Woodberry, 14, from Largo, took third with a 145 total.
In the girls 13-15 age division, Nicole Agnello, 15, from Longwood, won her first FJT event shooting a 76-75—151 to beat out the field by four strokes. Casey Kennedy, 15, from Venice, placed second with scores of 76-79 while Jamie Ritter, 15, of Davie, took third with a 157 tournament total.
Conducted by the Florida State Golf Association, the Florida Junior Tour (FJT) is a junior golf tour offering highly competitive and affordable competitions for juniors in Florida. The 2006-2007 season consists of 20 events for juniors, male and female, ages 13-18. Beginning September and running through May, the FJT schedule will play at some of the state’s top courses including Lake Wales and Bear Lakes. The FJT’s focus is on quality, affordability and integrity. Tournaments consist of 36 holes conducted over 2 days, typically weekends, with an entry fee of $95 or $115. Scholarship entry is available to junior golfers unable to afford the entry fee.
Working closely with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), FJT top competitors will receive exemptions and performance points towards AJGA events. The FJT is the only Florida tour to participate in the AJGA’s Performance Based Process. In addition, FJT events will be ranked by Golfweek/Titleist and Junior Golf Scoreboard. The FJT will maintain a points list to assist in determining Junior Player-of-the-Year and invitations to other tournaments.
To view complete pairings, tee times, and results, please see www.floridajuniortour.org.
