TAMPA, Fla. – After standout seasons, Jillian Bourdage and Nicholas Gabrelcik have been named the 2019 Florida State Golf Association’s Junior Players of the Year. Bourdage was awarded the Girls' Junior Player of the Year, while Gabrelcik garnered Boys' Junior Player of the Year honors.
This is the first time either player has been named Player of the Year.
Bourdage was honored with the Girls' Junior Player of the Year award following a breakout 2019 season, that included two USGA runner-up finishes and an FSGA championship win.
The Tamarac native captured her first FSGA championship at Streamsong Resort in June, where she won the Florida Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship. After beginning the day in third place, she fired a final-round 5-under 67 to secure the victory.
A month later, Bourdage took home a runner-up finish at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship at SentryWorld Golf Club in Wisconsin. She entered match play as the No. 5 seed and defeated medalist Yuka Saso to become a USGA finalist. The 2020 graduate fought hard in the finals, but fell to Lei Ye, 1 up, in the 36-hole final.
Bourdage added another USGA runner-up finish this season, when she teamed up with Casey Weidenfeld in April to advance to the finals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville.
After her impressive season, the Ohio State University commit jumped up more than 400 spots in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Bourdage also added two top-10 AJGA finishes in 2019.
Gabrelcik earned Boys' Junior Player of the Year honors following a season that saw success in both FSGA championships and on the Florida Junior Tour.
“I’m honored to receive this award considering how many great players are in the state of Florida,” Gabrelcik said. “I’m glad to see all my hard work is finally paying off.”
The Trinity native became a two-time FSGA champion in June, when he captured the Amateur Public Links Championship at Orange County National Golf Club. Gabrelcik posted three red numbers to secure the one-stroke victory.
In July, the University of North Florida commit teed it up in the Florida Open Championship at Hammock Dunes Club in Palm Coast. Gabrelcik, who was the third youngest player in the field, posted a final-round 7-under 65 to earn low-amateur honors and finish in sixth place.
The 2020 graduate added another Florida Junior Tour win this season, taking first place at Black Diamond Ranch in May. Gabrelcik also captured his first AJGA win this season at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club.
Both players will be honored at the FSGA’s Annual Meeting and Dinner in Jacksonville at Timuquana Country Club, on November 22, 2019. The Annual Dinner celebrates the best players in the state, tournament volunteers, board members and many other important individuals involved in the game of golf in Florida.
