Tingle & Donaldson Return to Winner's Circle
NAPLES, Fla. - This weekend, the (16-18) Division of the Florida Junior Tour traveled to Eagle Creek Golf Club where high heat tested the competitors' resolve as they looked to attack the challenging test of golf in front of them. Tight battles in both fields led to excitment down the stretch on Sunday, but in the end it was Trevor Tingle and Ryan Donaldson who would capture the victories and bring home the trophies.
Boys (16-18)
Amid the brutal heat and hordes of bugs on Saturday morning, birdies were hard to find for most of our competitors. Reid Korody of Jupiter broke that trend with four birdies on his first nine holes to take command of the boy’s leaderboard. He would end up posting the round of the day at three-under par total, 69 with five birdies total. Trevor Tingle, fresh off an FJT victory in his last start at Black Diamond Ranch, was the only other player under par after Saturday, posting a one-under 71. At even-par and three shots back of the Korody, was Nolan Hyatt, who had a quiet first round with two birdies and two bogeys. Six players would sit four shots back at one-over par, looking to make a push on Sunday morning.
Then, on Sunday, Korody would struggle to begin his round, playing the front nine at 4-over par. This allowed Tingle, who completed the front nine at 1-over par, to take a one-stroke lead at even-par with nine holes remaining. Joining the leaders at the top of the leaderboard was Juan Jose Saavedra who after recording a birdie on three of his first five holes, would make the turn just two strokes behind Tingle. Despite the challengers, Tingle did not budge as he came down the stretch. With birdies on the 13th, 15th, and 16th, holes, the 2026 graduate created just enough separation from the charging Saavedra and Korody, both of whom played the front nine 2-under par. Tingle would go on to secure a one-stroke victory after consecutive rounds of 1-under par, 71, his second in a row. Saavedra, who shot the low round of the tournament on Sunday at 4-under par, 68, and Korody would finish in a tie for second at 1-under par.
Girls (16-18)
After round one, only one player in the Girl’s Division was able to break par. Srihitha Mandava of Parkland fired four birdies in her first nine holes to take early control of the leaderboard. A couple of bogies down the stretch cost Mandava a few shots and she posted the leading score in the clubhouse after day one with a one-under 71. Ryan Donaldson sat one shot back after day one with a strong finish to shoot even-par 72. Dannika Hines rounded out the top three with a one-over 73, sitting two shots back of the lead heading into Sunday.
There wasn’t a lot of movement early on in the Sunday leaderboard. Mandava coasted and held a multiple-shot lead after the first nine holes. After making the turn, things started to tighten as Donaldson and Hines birdied two holes towards the end. Going into the final hole, Hines had taken the lead by one. However, a bogey on her 18th hole sent her into a three-way playoff with Mandava and Donaldson after they all finished at one-over par. After all making par on the first playoff hole, Donaldson would get up and down for birdie on the par-five 11th hole to claim victory. This would mark her second victory at Eagle Creek after winning just over a year ago.
