Bauer Makes History, Lee Goes Low at Providence
DAVENPORT, Fla. - For the first time in their history, Providence Golf Club played host to the Florida Junior Tour where this weekend competitors in the 16-18 Division would vie for a coveted FJT victory. Despite a suspension of play on Sunday, the conditions on both days allowed those competing to attack hole locations with the hope of scoring low. But at the end of the tournament, two players, Chase Bauer and Iris Lee, had done so better than the rest as they would leave Davenport with trophies.
Boys (16-18)
At the end of the day on Saturday, the leaderboard in the Boys Division was overflowing with players who had completed the first round under-par. Two players were able to jump out in front of the rest of the competition with scores of 5-under par, 67. Joseph Corcell, a 2027 graduate from Tampa, would birdie four consecutive holes (#13 - #16) and went on to add three additional birdies to take his spot atop the leaderboard. Nathan Erickson, a 2027 graduate from Orlando, earned his place by playing the first round bogey-free, pouring in five birdies to tie Corcell. Two players would begin the second round one stroke behind the leaders at 4-under par.
In the second round, the leaderboard continued to fill up at the top with many players looking to repeat their under-par performances from the day prior. Early on, Chase Bauer, a 2028 graduate from Gotha, was making his mark as he catapulted to the top spot on the leaderboard at 8-under par, holding a one-stroke lead after playing his first nine holes at 6-under par. Bauer would later be challenged at the top by Eduardo Matarazzo, a 2024 graduate from Boca Raton. After playing the front-nine at 3-under par, Matarazzo would birdie three of his first four holes on the back to reach 8-under par and pull within one shot of Bauer. Despite the pressure, Bauer would hang on, finishing his round bogey-free at 9-under par, securing a two-stroke victory at 11-under par. Bauer's second round was historic as he tied the lowest 18-hole score ever recorded in the Boys 16-18 Division. Matarazzo finished in solo second place at 9-under par following his second round score of 7-under par, 65. Eddie Gu, a 2027 graduate from Bradenton, would finish in third place at 8-under par following a late charge on Sunday.
Girls (16-18)
Through the first 18 holes, Iris Lee, a 2031 graduate from Orlando, had separated herself from the field with a score of 4-under par, 68. Lee's round, highlighted by a stretch of three consecutive birdies on holes 13 through 15, was her lowest of the year on the Florida Junior Tour. Not close behind, in second place, was Ana Boone, a 2026 graduate from ChampionsGate. The 2026 graduate got off to a hot start to her round, birdieing three of her first five holes, en route to a first round total of 2-under par, 70. Three players would trail the two former FJT winners heading into the final round.
Then, on Sunday, Boone would record two early bogeys allowing Lee to open up a commanding five-stroke lead after playing her first six holes at 1-under par. The 2031 graduate would add another birdie on the par-3 eighth hole to extend her lead to six strokes with just nine holes to play. Lee would add two more birdies on her last nine holes, ultimately securing a nine-stroke victory with a final score of 7-under par. This is the Orlando native's second victory of 2025 and fourth in her FJT career. Boone's strong effort on Sunday would see her finish the tournament in solo second place at 2-over par. Two players, Emily Storm, a 2026 graduate from Lakewood Ranch, and Charlize Peterson, a 2026 graduate from Lake Mary, would tie for third at 4-over par.
