Four Juniors Out Play in Port Orange
PORT ORANGE, Fla. – Cypress Head Golf Club gave the field beautiful conditions and ideal weather. The course proved to be no match for four champions. Benny Minter, Mia Heuberger, Axel Monssoh and Iris Lee won the Boys 9-12 Division, Girls 9-10 Division, Boys 11-12 Division and Girls 11-12 Division respectively.
Boys (11-12)
Coming off of his third straight win at the Ocala Open, Axel Monssoh continued his winning streak with an opening round 67. With a consistent start through the first eight holes, Monssoh was able to stray from the pack with a hole out albatross on hole 18. Benny Ossi would be close on Monssoh’s tail as he made the turn with a birdie on hole 18 as well. Monssoh would then further his lead with two more birdies, signing a 5-under round for the day. Ossi would card two bogeys and sign for a 2-over par 74 to be T-2 with Zachary Netz.
Two players emerge from behind in round two and battle for top three. Jack Smith shot a solid 37-35–72 with five birdies and five bogeys to finish tied second. Jack Cole fired his lowest competition round with a 37-34–71 to finish tied second with Smith. Axel Monssoh would dominate the course and secure his lead with a final round of 34-34–68. Monssoh would finish with a thirteen shot lead over second place.
“My goal for each round was to make the greens in regulation,” Monssah said “I felt like if I was able to make the greens, eventually some putts would go in.”
Boys (9-10)
Benny Minter is no stranger when it comes to winning. Minter also, also coming off his second straight win, won the Ocala Open. Carding a round of 38-37–75, he would secure his solo lead. Seeming to battle the course with a few bogeys and a few birdies, Minter would secure a 3 shot lead over competitors Jonathan Castellanos and Jack Holden Rice who carded a 6-over par 78.
The second round would prove to be an exciting one. Jonathan Cstellanos started off rocky on the front nine and finished with a more steady back nine. Castellanos would card a 40-39–79 to secure a position tied for third. Jack Holden Rice would also battle course to remain in the top. In the end Rice carded a 41-38–79 to secure his spot as tied third. Rio Buakhum would finish tied third as well after carding a 37-41–78. Alden Tall would upset the field and compete his way into second after a birdie on the final hole. Tall would card a 36-38–74. Benny Minter would secure his lead and champion title with a second round score of 35-35–70.
Girls (11-12)
Coming off three second place finishes, Alexandra Phung is still looking for her first victory for the year. With an impressive round with seven birdies, she would take a solo lead after carding a 3-under par 69. Iris Lee, also looking for her first victory of the year, would be hot on Phung’s trail as Lee would card a 1-under par 71 for the first round.
In the second round Claire Yang would remain in solo third with solid rounds of 73-70–73. Carding three birdies and one bogeys on her second round, she would secure her spot at solo third. Iris Lee and Alexandra Phung would battle each other to claim the title all day. Phung carding an excellent 36-34–70. Lee would also shoot an impressive 34-34–68. Both ladies would be tied after the second round and head into a playoff.
During the playoff, both ladies would tie the first hole. The second hole, Phung had about a 5-foot putt for par and lipped out making a bogey. Lee sinking her putt for par would claim the title of champion on the second playoff hole.
Girls (9-10)
Looking for her first win of the year, Mia Heuberger would have a steady battle with the course as she would card three birdies and two bogeys for a total of 1-under par 71. Coming off a win at the Ocala Open, Madelyn Dickerson would card 38-40–78 to take solo second and six shots back from the leader.
Sritha Badiga would climb her way from outside the top five to solo third with a solid round of 40-34–74 in the second round. Madelyn would remain at solo second with a consistent round of 38-39–77 with four birdies. Mia Heuberger would continue with her solo lead over the field with a battle against the course. Carding a 39-38–77, Heuberger would claim the title of champion and take home the crystal.
