South Florida JR Section - PGA

Tsar and Heuberger earn titles at Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:13:38 GMT

BOYNTON BEACH, FL – Andrew Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens and Mia Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens were crowned champions at the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event. This event was held April 25–26, 2026, at Hunter’s Run Country Club on the East Course.

Boys 13–18 Division

Andrew Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens carded an opening round of 6-under-par to take a one-shot lead over Chris Capello of Palm Beach and Jose Carlos Lopez-Lay of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, heading into the final round. Hogan Blais of Ottawa, Ontario opened with a 4-under-par 67, sitting five shots back of the lead.

Tsar delivered a strong closing performance, recording seven birdies in the second round, including one on his final hole to secure the division title at 9-under par. Blais matched that momentum with seven birdies of his own in the final round to finish as runner-up at 8-under par.

The Boys 13–18 division produced impressive scoring across the field, posting a combined average of 73.75. Players recorded a total of 10 eagles and 337 birdies over the two rounds.

Girls 13–18 Division

Mia Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens opened with a 3-under-par round, sitting just one shot behind Nina Fischer of Key Biscayne. Heuberger matched that score in the final round, finishing at 6-under par for the tournament to tie Fischer and force a sudden-death playoff. The playoff was decided on the first extra hole, where Heuberger made birdie on the par-5, 481-yard 10th to secure the division title.

The victory marks Heuberger’s second career Medalist Tour win, with her first coming March 22–23, 2025, at Park Ridge Golf Course.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour welcomed 59 boys and 27 girls across two divisions. The Medalist Tour, the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Foundation, will continue its season May 2-3, 2026, at Park Ridge Golf Course.

Event Leaderboards: Girls 13-18 | Boys 13-18

Event Photos

South Florida Junior PGA Championship Qualifying

Round 1 of this event served as qualifying for the South Florida PGA Junior PGA Championship, one of eight South Florida PGA Junior Major Championships. The following players earned a spot in the field for the tournament set to be held this June at Stonebridge Country Club in Boca Raton.

The top two players in each division of the South Florida PGA Junior PGA Championship will receive an invitation to play in the National Junior PGA Championship held at Fields Ranch East & West Courses in Frisco, Texas, on July 28-31, 2026.

Qualifier Leaderboards: Girls 13-18 | Boys 13-18

Medalist Tour Champions Crowned at Eagle Trace Golf Club

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 22:31:39 GMT

CORAL SPRINGS, FL – After two windy rounds, Hagen Bensel of Jupiter and Skylar Kotzen of Wellesley, MA were crowned champions at the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event. This event was held April 11–12, 2026, at Eagle Trace Golf Club.

Boys 13–18 Division

After the first round, Francisco Cupp of Saratoga Springs, and Tankhun Ritthisorn of Jupiter were leading the Boys 13-18 Division by three shots with scores of 3-under. In round two, Hagen Bensel of Jupiter, took advantage of the windy day, shooting 3-under in round two, taking him to 2-under for the two days. Bensel’s performance in round two led him to victory by two shots over Jeremy Hsu of Port Saint Lucie. Hsu finished in second place after two steady rounds at even par.

Joining the South Florida PGA Junior Tour in 2023, first competing on the Links Tour, this win marks Bensels’ first win on the Medalist Tour.

Girls 13–18 Division

Skylar Kotzen of Wellesley, MA, in the Girls 13-18 Division, shot 2-over in the first round, leading by four shots over Sarah Earle of Jupiter, Yool Her of Pembroke Pines, Danielle Hernandez of Miami, and Elisa Hernandez of Parkland. A round two score of 4-over was just enough for Kotzen to capture the title, finishing 6-over. Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point scored an even-par second round to climb the leaderboard, finishing in second place with a weekend total of 7-over.

This is Kotzen’s first victory on the Srixon Medalist Tour since joining the Medalist Tour in 2025.

South Florida Junior PGA Championship Qualifying

The Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour welcomed 58 boys and 21 girls across two divisions. The Medalist Tour, the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Foundation, will continue its season April 25–26, 2026, at Hunter’s Run Country Club.

Leaderboard | Event Photos

Zhou, Compton, and Widom win at Okeeheelee Golf Course

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 19:18:09 GMT

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Haoting Zhou, Petra Compton and Eli Widom earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event, held March 28-29, 2026, at Okeeheelee Golf Course. With the poor weather on Sunday, the second round was cancelled and champions were crowned based on round 1 scores.

Boys 13–18 Division

In the Boys 13–18 Division, Haoting Zhou of Boca Raton earned the title after an opening round of 2-under. Based on the round one score, Zhou won by one shot over Jack Zeder of Coral Gables, who carded a 1-under total in the first round.

Zhou’s performance earned him his first champion title on the Medalist Tour since joining the Junior Tour in 2022.

Girls 13–18 Division

In the Girls 13–18 Division, Petra Compton of Palmetto Bay was crowned champion after an opening round score of even-par. Compton won by two shots over Sophia Christy of Palm Beach Gardens due to a round two cancellation.

This win marks Compton’s second win of the 2026 Medalist Tour Season, the first being at the Links at Boynton Beach on February 7-8.

Boys 11–12 Division

In the Boys 11–12 Division, Eli Widom of Parkland carded a first-round score of 2-over. Due to a round 2 cancellation, Widom remained in the first-place spot, winning by five strokes over Deven Allen of 7-over.

This is the second time Widom has won this season, with his first also being at the Links of Boynton Beach on February 7-8.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour welcomed 51 boys and 24 girls across three divisions. The field combined for a total of one eagle and 137 birdies with a total scoring average of 80.78.

The Medalist Tour, the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Foundation, will continue its season April 11-12, 2026, at Eagle Trace Golf Club.

Event Photos | Event Leaderboard

Bento Assis and Lilly Parker Crowned Champions at Osprey Point

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 21:26:33 GMT

BOCA RATON, FL – Bento Assis of Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Lilly Parker of North Palm Beach earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, held March 14–15, 2026 at Osprey Point Golf Course on the Falcon/Hawk Courses.

Boys 13–18 Division

In the Boys 13–18 Division, Assis shot 3-under, leaving him five shots behind Maximilian Mieschke of Palm Beach Gardens who carded an tournament low 8-under in the opening round. Assis earned the title after posting another 3-under score in the final round to finish at 6-under for the tournament. Assis' performance included 12 birdies and 30 pars for the tournament, marking his first win on the Medalist Tour since 2022.

Mieschke finished as the runner-up after a 3-over par second record performance to finish one back of Assis.

Girls 13–18 Division

In the Girls 13–18 Division, Parker, Nirvika Koduru of Boca Raton, and Yool Her of Pembroke Pines were tied for first place with opening rounds of 5-under. Parker followed with a final round of 4-under, featuring seven birdies, finishing at 9-under for the tournament and securing the title.

Koduru earned runner-up after posting a final-round score of even-par finishing four shots back from Parker.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour welcomed 54 boys and 29 girls across two divisions. The Medalist Tour, the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Foundation, will continue its season March 28–29, 2026, at Okeeheelee Golf Course.

Leaderboard | Event Photos

Tyler Nagy: South Florida PGA Foundation’s First Scholarship Recipient

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:54:15 GMT

“When you get an opportunity, take full advantage of it,” Tyler Nagy said. “If you're not taking advantage of every single opportunity that's given to you, then it’s a wasted opportunity.”

That philosophy has guided Tyler Nagy since he was named the first recipient of the South Florida PGA Foundation Scholarship in 2018. The scholarship gave him the chance to pursue his education at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and focus fully on making the most of his college experience.

A valedictorian at Sebastian River High School in Vero Beach, Florida, Nagy had already demonstrated a strong commitment to academics, athletics, and service. The son of PGA Member Bela Nagy, Director of Golf at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach, Florida, he was a natural fit for the scholarship and arrived at Rollins in the fall of 2018, determined to seize every opportunity.

Between 2018 and 2021, Nagy earned multiple undergraduate degrees, including a primary degree in mathematics, a secondary degree in public policy, and a minor in data analytics. He remained at Rollins to complete his Master of Business Administration, graduating in 2023 at the top of his class.

He was equally committed on the field. A five-year member of the Rollins men’s soccer team, Nagy played in 63 matches and served as captain in his final season, helping lead the program to an Elite Eight appearance — just the third in school history. Off the field, he served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and worked as both a tutor and writing advisor.

For Nagy, success meant going beyond the minimum.

“I tried to do everything I could do academically and athletically,” he shared. “I never wanted to look back and wish I had worked harder.”

Attending a private institution came with financial considerations, and Nagy acknowledges that without the South Florida PGA Foundation Scholarship, institutional aid, and Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship, Rollins may not have been possible.

“It was the difference between carrying debt for years and graduating from my undergrad debt-free,” he said. “It opened up an avenue that I never thought was there.”

Today, Nagy is pursuing another graduate degree at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, completing a master’s program in data science. The degree builds on his professional work in healthcare analytics, where he has advanced from his company’s first data analyst into a leadership role overseeing analytics strategy and decision-making.

From scholarship recipient to graduate student and analytics leader, Nagy’s journey reflects the belief that opportunity only matters if you choose to embrace it.

Over the years, the South Florida PGA Foundation has supported nine students in their pursuit of higher education, and the program continues to grow. In 2026, the Foundation increased its scholarship to two $30,000 awards, annually impacting the lives of students in the community.

Bustos, Hrbata, and Le Theo earned titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 01:25:13 GMT

VERO BEACH, FL – Martin Bustos, Ella Hrbata, and Maxence Le Theo earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event, held February 21-22, 2026, at Sandridge Golf Club on the Dunes Course.

Boys 13–18 Division

In the Boys 13–18 Division, Bustos of Palm Beach Gardens earned the title after an opening round of four-under par, the tournament low for anyone in the field. . Bustos followed with a final round one-over par to secure his first career win on the Medalist Tour by one shot.

Maximilian Mieschke of Palm Beach Gardens finished as the runner-up after consecutive rounds of one-under par.

Girls 13–18 Division

In the Girls 13–18 Division, Hrbata of West Palm Beach led the field after an opening round of one-over par, five strokes behind round one leader Mia Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens. Hrbata followed with a final round of one-over par, featuring fourteen pars and a birdie to finish at two-over par and claiming the title by one.

Petra Compton of Palmetto Bay finished with runner-up honors after posting steady rounds of one-over par and two-over par. Compton earned the second-place title with a scorecard playoff over Stella Ronja Lind, broken on the back nine by one stroke.

Boys 11–12 Division

In the Boys 11–12 Division, Le Theo of Miami carded an opening round of 5-over par, holding the lead by two strokes heading into the final round over Deven Allen of Fort Pierce and Brian Kelley of Port St. Lucie. Le Theo followed with a four-over par 76 in the final round, highlighted by two birdies and 11 pars to secure the championship title.

After a seven-over 79 in the final round, Allen finished in second place, two shots back of Le Theo.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour welcomed 55 boys and 25 girls across three divisions. The field combined for a total of five eagles and 266 birdies with a total scoring average of 78.84.

The Medalist Tour, the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Foundation, will continue its season March 14-15, 2026, at Osprey Point Golf Course.

Event Photos | Event Leaderboard

Monssoh, Compton, and Widom earned Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour titles at The Links at Boynton Beach

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 22:45:17 GMT

BOYNTON BEACH, FL – Monssoh, Compton, and Widom earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, held February 7–8, 2026, at The Links at Boynton Beach on the Champion Course.

Boys 13–18 Division

In the Boys 13–18 Division, Axel Monssoh of Miami and Noah Manly of Maitland were tied at 3-under par following round one. Monssoh earned the title after posting a final-round score of 2-over par to finish at 1-under par for the tournament. Monssoh’s performance included seven birdies and one eagle, marking his fourth career win on the Medalist Tour.

Manly finished as the runner-up after a 3-over par second record performance to finish two back of Monssoh.

Girls 13–18 Division

In the Girls 13–18 Division, Petra Compton of Palmetto Bay led the field after an opening round of 2-under par, holding a two-stroke advantage over Mia Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens. Compton followed with a steady final round featuring three birdies and thirteen pars to finish at 1-under par for the tournament and secure the title.

Rain Jiang of Sarasota earned runner-up honors after posting a final-round even-par score that kept pressure on the leaderboard through the final holes of the event.

Boys 11–12 Division

In the Boys 11–12 Division, Eli Widom of Parkland carded an opening round of 1-over par (72), six shots ahead of Joshua Fleming of Deerfield Beach. Widom followed with a 2-over par (73) in the final round, highlighted by an even-par back nine, to secure the victory.

Fleming delivered a strong runner-up performance, remaining in contention throughout the final round and finishing just one shot behind the division champion after posting a second-round score of 3-under par. His round was highlighted by five birdies, three of which came on the back nine.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour welcomed 47 boys and 23 girls across three divisions. The Medalist Tour, the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Foundation, will continue its season February 21–22, 2026, at Sandridge Golf Club on the Dunes Course.

Leaderboard | Event Photos

Hogan Blais and Angela Nip Win the 2026 Srixon South Florida PGA Winter Kickoff

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 23:37:14 GMT

BOYNTON BEACH, FL - Hogan Blais and Angela Nip crowned champions at the 2026 Srixon South Florida PGA Winter Kickoff held January 17-19 at Indian Spring Country Club on the East Course.

(Left to right) Henry Liebwein, Hogan Blais, Angela Nip, Keala Richichi

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Blais of Ottowa, Canada finished the first two rounds at 3-under, entering the final round tied with Henry Liebwein of Fort Myers. Blais pulled away in the final round, carding a 3-under round, bringing his three-day total to 6-under. Blais claimed victory over Liebwein, who had a three-day total of 2-under, and captured his first career South Florida PGA Junior Tour Major title.

“I was really excited to come in here and manage my game, and look forward to the rest of the season,” Blais said about the tournament this weekend.

After 36-holes in the Girls 13-18 division, Angela Nip of Port St. Lucie entered the final round at 3-under, holding a three shot lead over second place, Keala Richichi of Jupiter. Nip sealed the victory with another 3-under performance, taking her three-day total to 6-under. This victory marked Nip’s first South Florida PGA Junior Tour Major win after finishing previously finishing runner-up in several majors, including the Winter Kickoff in 2022 and 2024, and the Labor Day Classic.

“It’s very special for me because I am going to college in the fall, so it’s just an amazing moment to have this win before I leave,” said Nip about her victory.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Winter Kickoff is the first of eight South Florida PGA Junior Major Championships to be played throughout the 2026 season, featuring 92 junior players. Champions in both the boys and girls divisions receive four AJGA stars. The South Florida PGA Junior Tour will continue its season with the Medalist Tour at The Links at Boynton Beach. The next Junior Major will be the Patty Berg Junior Championship at Cypress Lake Golf Club and Kelly Greens Country Club, held May 23-25.

Leaderboard Event Photos

Justin Thomas & Cameron Young to Host SFPGA Jr. Challenge Cup

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 19:52:25 GMT

For Cameron Young and Justin Thomas, whose strong pairing at the 2025 Ryder Cup was preceded by the special memories they gleaned from separate appearances in the Junior Ryder Cup, there was the opportunity to pay it forward to the young golfers of today. This winter, for 24 talented juniors, such largesse on behalf of Young and Thomas will provide them with a riveting competition that begins with the inaugural playing of the Cameron Young/Justin Thomas South Florida PGA Junior Tour Challenge Cup.

Captained by Young and Thomas, this two-day Ryder Cup-style event will feature two teams of 12 players each (eight boys and four girls), and will be held at Emerald Dunes Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

There will be 27 holes of team play on the first day -- 9 holes using the Four-Ball or Best-Ball format; 9 holes utilizing the Scramble format; and 9 holes of Modified Alternate Shot. Twelve 18-hole singles matches will be contested on the final day of competition.

The first team to reach 12 1/2 points will claim the Junior Challenge Cup.

"Both Justin and I are sons of PGA of America Professionals, so it's really important for us to give back to a new generation of kids," said Young, whose father, David, was the longtime PGA Head Professional at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, New York.

In the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup, Cameron Young contributed to a U.S. victory in Scotland. Last September, in his Ryder Cup debut, Young tied for the most individual points earned among the Americans, who fell short to the Europeans on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in his home state.

Cameron Young and Justin Thomas teamed to win one of their two matches at Bethpage, and both captured their singles matches in dramatic fashion on the last day of the matches.

Thomas, a two-time winner of the PGA Championship, was on the victorious American side in the 2010 Junior Ryder Cup, also played in Scotland. As is the case with David Young helping shape his son's skills, Thomas has worked closely over the years with his father, PGA of America Professional Mike Thomas. Justin Thomas's late grandfather, Paul, also was a PGA Professional.

"Cameron and I had such a great partnership together at the Ryder Cup, and we looked at what we could do with this incredible opportunity through the PGA of America," Thomas said. "With both of us having family associated with the PGA of America, this runs in our blood. I'm excited that Cameron and I can do this together."

Building on Thomas’ remarks, leadership from the South Florida PGA emphasized the event’s significance for junior golf in the region.

"The South Florida PGA is thrilled to announce this exciting, new event and our partnership with Cameron Young and Justin Thomas," said Eric Veilleux, President of the South Florida PGA and the PGA Director of Golf at The Bear's Club in Jupiter, Florida. "This will be a premier event in junior golf, offering an exciting and competitive playing opportunity for some of the most talented juniors in our Section."

Renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio designed Emerald Dunes in 1990 and oversaw renovations to the par-72 layout that were completed in 2012.

"We at Emerald Dunes are truly honored to host the inaugural Cameron Young/Justin Thomas South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Cup," said Lee Stroever, the PGA Director of Golf at Emerald Dunes Club and the South Florida PGA Junior Golf Committee Chairperson."We are thrilled to welcome the best juniors in the Section for an experience that they will hopefully long remember and cherish."

Eager for the inaugural event, Thomas is both proud to have paid forward the types of competitive opportunities that once came his way as a junior golfer and respectful of the level of talent that will be on display at Emerald Dunes.

"I look forward to watching," Thomas said, "and, I'm sure at some point, playing against a lot of these players down the road."

Click here to view all criteria and more event details.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour congratulates Simon Bustos, Tristan Rhodenizer, and Lilly Parker on being named Medalist Players of the Year

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:18:19 GMT

West Palm Beach, FL - The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proud to recognize three Medalist Tour members as the 2025 Players of the Year. Through consistent performances, impressive scoring, and success in some of the Tour’s premier events, these players set the standard for excellence throughout the season.

Boys 11–12 Player of the Year: Simon Bustos

Bustos of Palm Beach Gardens delivered a standout season in the Boys 11–12 division, accumulating 1,310 total points across seven events played. His competitive drive and steady play were highlighted by two first-place finishes in back-to-back events.

Bustos earned major victories at the Brendan Cunningham Junior Open, finishing 17-over par, and the Jim McLean Labor Day Classic, where he posted a 9-over par total. Over the course of the season, he recorded a lowest round of 69, maintained a 75.33 scoring average, and averaged two birdies per round, showcasing both consistency and scoring ability.

Reflecting on his year, Bustos shared, “In 2025 I learned a lot from playing different tournaments and seeing what I need to improve. In 2026 I’ll be playing in the 13–18 age division, and I’m excited to gain experience competing against older players and learning from them. I also really enjoy playing with my friends, which makes the tournaments even more fun. I’m very thankful to the tour—it’s been an amazing experience and I really enjoy being part of it.”

Boys 13–18 Player of the Year: Tristan Rhodenizer

In the highly competitive Boys 13–18 division, Rhodenizer of Palm Beach Gardens emerged as a top performer, earning 1,360 total points over five events played. His ability to contend in major championships was evident, highlighted by three second-place finishes.

Rhodenizer posted strong under-par performances at the South Florida Junior PGA Championship (4-under par), Nicklaus Junior Championship (2-under par), and the Jim McLean Labor Day Classic (4-under par). He recorded a lowest round of 69, averaged three birdies per round, and finished the season with an impressive 71.85 scoring average.

Reflecting on his season, Rhodenizer said, “I feel like I put up a lot of consistent rounds in order to put myself in position in the majors. I’m proud of how I played, and fortunate enough to win Player of the Year. Looking forward to next year!”

Girls Player of the Year: Lilly Parker

Parker of North Palm Beach delivered one of the most consistent and resilient seasons on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, earning a Girls 13-18 division-leading 1,426 total Srixon Player of the Year points. Across 10 events played, Parker finished inside the top-10 in every start, a remarkable display of reliability and competitive excellence.

Her season was highlighted by a victory at Santa Lucia River Club, where she finished 9-over par, and a dramatic co-championship victory at the Tour Championship at The Park. By birdieing her final holes over 36 holes to force a playoff, Parker not only secured a share of the championship but also clinched the Srixon Player of the Year points title, an accomplishment she never expected.

“I was struggling mentally and withdrew from some events,” Parker said. “I decided to play the Brendan Cunningham event, and I guess if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gotten Player of the Year.”

That decision proved pivotal, reinforcing an important lesson from her season. “It showed me it’s OK to struggle. There are ups and downs, but eventually it does work out,” she added.

Parker recorded a season-low round of 68, averaged two birdies per round, and finished the year with a 73.71 scoring average, numbers that reflect both her consistency and growth throughout the season.

Looking ahead, Parker’s goals extend beyond trophies and titles. “Growing as a player to me means enjoying the game more and not putting too much pressure on myself,” she said. “I want to keep getting better at the little things, especially short game, and keep believing in myself more.”

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour congratulates Simon Bustos, Tristan Rhodenizer, and Lilly Parker on being named Srixon South Florida PGA Players of the Year. Their dedication, sportsmanship, and outstanding performances made them deserving recipients of this honor, and we look forward to watching their continued success both on and off the course.

Corinne de Nigris Earns the South Florida PGA Junior Tour 2025 Don Law Service Award

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 16:06:03 GMT

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Corinne de Nigris of Palm Beach Gardens is the 2025 Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour Don Law Service Award recipient for her time and dedication to the South Florida PGA Junior Tour and Foundation.

The Don Law Service Award is awarded to a member of the SFPGA Junior Tour who exemplifies leadership, character, and community service through their involvement with the SFPGA Foundation and other charitable efforts. This award celebrates individuals committed to giving back to their community and serving as role models for others.

De Nigris has been a member of the SFPGA Junior Tour since 2020, making her debut on the Links Tour. From there, she has worked her way onto the Medalist Tour midway through the 2023 season. De Nigris also plays at Benjamin High School, and made it to the FHSAA Class 1A State Championship in November to finish up her junior year season.

Since 2021, de Nigris has mentored young players by volunteering at camps. She has not only supported these players but also inspired them, sharing the same great lessons that she learned early in her career. This, along with encouragement from SFPGA staff and officials, has given de Nigris the drive to give back to her community in any way she can.

“They have all inspired me to help out when I can,” de Nigris said about the people who have encouraged her throughout the years.

Off the course, de Nigris has dedicated her time to her community. Over the last two years, de Nigris has raised almost $2000 through the annual Birdie Club initiative that impacts all Foundation programs, including PGA HOPE and Habitat for Humanity.

“It is always exciting to see the impact the Foundation has made on veterans, their families, and great organizations like Habitat for Humanity,” de Nigris explained.

Along with her charitable contributions, de Nigris has volunteered at tournaments, using her time to give back to younger players.

A moment that stood out for de Nigris is volunteering with the Links Tour at The Park in West Palm Beach this past season. De Nigris has a passion for photography and graphic design, resulting in her taking the camera for a day and capturing the event.

“I ended up getting some great shots,” said de Nigris. “It made my day when I saw the South Florida PGA publish my photos on their social media pages.”

People who know de Nigris are not surprised that she has won the Don Law Service Award. These people use words such as kind, caring, and hard-working to describe her. These are the characteristics and core values of de Nigris.

De Nigris said, “To me, this is more than just the title of an award. I love golf, and being able to share my passion with other junior golfers is truly so fun for me. It was so unexpected, and I am very honored by the recognition.”

Congratulations Video

Lilly Parker and Ryan Toole Earn the South Florida PGA Junior Tour 2025 Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:52:23 GMT

West Palm Beach, FL - Ed Ficker embodies the true spirit of sportsmanship. His attitude, demeanor, and unwavering dedication to the game of golf reflect the exceptional character that has defined his career. As the Head Golf Professional at Tequesta Country Club for 41 years, Ficker set the gold standard for professionalism, retiring in 2006 with numerous honors. Among his achievements, he received several prestigious South Florida PGA awards, served as Vice President and Director of the PGA of America, and was inducted into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame in 2001.

Each year, the SFPGA Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award honors his deep respect for the traditions of the game. It recognizes one boy and one girl who exemplify the highest qualities of a junior golfer: positivity, grace, integrity, and the ability to uplift others both on and off the course. We are fortunate to have such role models on our Junior Tour circuit.

The 2025 female Ed Ficker Sportsmanship award recipient is Lilly Parker of North Palm Beach, a 2030 graduate who has quickly become one of the most consistent and respected competitors on the Medalist Tour. Parker competed in eight events this season, finishing inside the Top-10 in all of them and earning a standout victory at Santa Lucia River Club on April 4–5 with a 36-hole total of 9-over-par. She capped her season with a dramatic birdie on the 36th hole of the Tour Championship to force a playoff, ultimately finishing as a Co-Champion of the Girls 13–18 division.

Parker’s journey in golf has been far from linear. She began competing at age eight, admitting, “I was pretty terrible. I got last in all my tournaments.” Due to COVID-19, Parker was given extra opportunity to compete at events because of travel restrictions for international players, therefore intensifying her passion. “Had COVID not happened, I don’t know if I would be playing golf right now,” she reflected. “It just snowballed from there.”

That passion, combined with a tireless work ethic, has driven her growth. “I love competing. I love pushing myself and working hard at something,” she said. “As I get older, I just keep loving it more.”

This was her first year on the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour, and it quickly became memorable. She opened with a third-place finish before claiming her first win at Santa Lucia. Later in the season, a coaching change and tough stretch of results tested her confidence, but each challenge helped strengthen her game.

At the Tour Championship, she faced one of the biggest moments of her season: needing a birdie on the final hole to force a playoff.

“I never thought it was possible,” she admitted. “But I’ve worked really hard on my mental game.”

With the help of a sports psychologist, she has learned to manage pressure, stay present, and trust her abilities. That growth was evident as she battled Jaime Baker of Lake Worth through two tense playoff holes before the two finished as Co-Champions due to lack of light.

During the awards ceremony, she never expected to hear her name called. “I was surprised. It was really, really cool,” she said.

The award holds special meaning because it honors character as much as performance and because past recipients include players she admires, like Seminole Golf Club Head Professional Matt Cahill.

“It’s cool to receive an award that’s not just based on how good you are,” she said. “Some of the hardest parts of golf are for the people who aren’t winning every week.”

Her entire family, her biggest supporters, were there to witness the moment. Her parents surprised her, and a previously canceled flight meant her grandfather was unexpectedly able to stay for the ceremony. “My family is everything to me outside of golf,” she said. “It was really cool that they were all there.”

After a year of breakthrough moments, challenges, and personal growth, Parker looks ahead with gratitude and excitement. “It was a great year,” she reflected. “Up and down, but really, really great. I’m very lucky to be able to play the South Florida PGA.”

With her dedication, humility, and heart for the game, her journey is only just beginning as she looks ahead to next season.

The 2025 Male Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award recipient is Ryan Toole of Naples. A 2026 graduate, Toole competed in eight events this season on the Medalist Tour and has been a member of the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour for the past three years. His steady growth, strong work ethic, and commitment to the game have shaped a journey that will continue next fall, when he plans to compete for Denison University.

Toole didn’t begin competing seriously until eighth grade, when he entered his first Under Armour events following the COVID-19 quarantine. By his freshman year, he made his high school golf team and began competing in SFPGA events, starting on the Prep Tour and eventually working his way to the Medalist Tour. Each season brought progress, confidence, and a greater belief in his future.

“From the beginning, the long-term goal was college golf,” he said. “But day-to-day, all I wanted was to get a little better and see where it took me.”

That improvement was supported by his team and he credits his coach, Tom Patri; sports psychologist, and his strength coaches. “They’ve all helped me look at the game differently, manage myself better, and get stronger. I owe a lot of my progress to them.”

This season, Toole entered the Tour Championship on a stretch of strong golf and delivered some of his most consistent play yet. “I’d been putting up good scores for a few months,” he said. “But I’d never really played super well in a SFPGA event. Putting it together at such a big event and winning the award meant a lot.”

Receiving the Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award, with his parents in attendance, was especially meaningful.

“It honestly meant the world to me,” he said. “To know that who I try to be every day is showing, and that I’m affecting the people around me in a positive way, that was really special.”

Ryan models his conduct on the course after one person above all: his dad. “He’s my biggest role model. He always guides me, and I try to be like him every day.”

He added that his mom plays an equally important role in shaping who he is. “My parents are my two biggest role models. They’ve supported me through everything, no matter what, and I’m super thankful for them.”

His family, friends, and faith form the foundation of who he is. “I’ve gone to Catholic school my whole life. It shaped me into who I am. I surround myself with the right people and with friends who support me and keep me grounded.”

While this season held plenty of memorable moments, one stood above the rest. During his college recruiting process, Ryan traveled to Ohio to play in the South Ohio PGA Columbus Junior Classic, hoping a few coaches might come out to watch. What happened instead changed everything.

“I played the two best rounds of my life, 69 and 67,” he said with a smile. “It felt like everything I’d worked on finally came together.”

That performance caught many college coaches' attention but specifically the eye of the Denison University coaching staff. Within 24 hours, Ryan and his family drove two hours to visit campus. He instantly felt at home. The relationship grew quickly, and eventually, he committed.

“That tournament led me directly to Denison,” he said. “It was the highlight of my year.”

Along the way, meaningful connections shaped his journey, including meeting South Florida PGA Junior Tour alum Noah Kent over the summer. The two became fast friends, and Ryan admired the way Noah carried himself while competing at the University of Florida. “He’s an incredible player and an even better guy. Staying connected with him has been really cool.”

As Toole looks ahead to college golf, he’s excited for the team environment most of all. “I love the team aspect. I know it’ll be tough, but I like when things are hard. I like being pushed. And I’m excited to build relationships with my teammates and coach.”

Through every story he shared, Toole’s humility and perspective were clear qualities that make him an ideal recipient of the Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award.

“I just try to do my part,” he said. “We all have our place in the world, and if we stick to it, we can make a difference.”

With his steady work ethic, gratitude for those around him, and genuine love for the game, Toole’s impact on the Junior Tour, and his future in college golf, are only just beginning.

Lilly Parker Congratulations Video

Ryan Toole Congratulations Video

Marigliano, Parker, Baker, and Lorberbaum Win the Srixon South Florida PGA Tour Championship

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:36:55 GMT

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Matthew Marigliano, Jaime Baker, Lilly Parker, and William Lorberbaum, are crowned champions at the 2025 Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship, held December 6-7 at The Park.

The South Florida PGA Medalist Tour Championship is the final event of the 2025 season and is comprised of the Medalist Tour’s top players. Each spot was earned through a season-long qualifying process of Player of the Year Points. The number of qualifying spots was determined by the percentage of total Junior Members in each division.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Marigliano of Palm Beach Gardens fired a round one score of 3-under, trailing Xingrun Piao of Winter Garden by three strokes. Marigliano came back in round two with a 7-under round, and managed to seal the final championship of the 2025 season by two shots over Piao.

The Girls 13-18 Division finished their final round in darkness. After round one, Parker of North Palm Beach and Jaime Baker of Lake Worth were neck-and-neck with Parker leading the event by one shot. In round two, Parker finished 1-over, while Baker finished even-par, forcing a playoff. After two playoff holes, Baker and Parker could not continue due to darkness, awarding both players the title of Champion.

In the Boys 11-12 Division, Lorberbaum of Delray Beach was leading after round one with a 4-over par round, two shots over Gabriel Shabashkevich of Boca Raton. Lorberbaum managed to scrape by in round two, shooting 3-over and winning the championship by one stroke. Shabashkevich came in close for second place, winning a scorecard playoff over Simon Bustos of Palm Beach Gardens, both finishing with a total of 8-over.

Special congratulations to the following end-of-season award winners::

2025 Female Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award: Lilly Parker

2025 Male Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award: Ryan Toole

2025 Don Law Service Award: Corinne de Nigris

Congratulations to our Division Players of the Year:

Boys 13-18: Tristan Rhodenizer of Palm Beach Gardens (1,360.00 points)

Girls 13-18: Lilly Parker of North Palm Beach (1,426.00 points)

Boys 11-12: Simon Bustons of Chattanooga, Tennessee (1,310.00 points)

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour wants to extend its thank you to Brian Conley, PGA General Manager, Cody Sinkler, PGA Director of Golf, and Clay Myers, PGA Head Golf Professional for their continued support of all levels of the Junior Tour.

Without the continued support of the PGA Professionals in our section we would not be able to have 100+ event days, 6,575+ rounds played, and 1,250+ members.

The SFPGA Junior Tour 2026 schedule will be released on December 9th, 2025 and 2026 membership registration will open on December 11th, 2025 at 10:00 AM EST.

Thank you to all players, spectators, and PGA Professionals for a great season and we look forward to resuming in the new year.

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Castellanos and Zalsman Crowned Champions at Sandridge Golf Club

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 17:55:57 GMT

VERO BEACH, FL – Jeremy Castellanos and Mila Zalsman crowned champions at the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, held November 22-23 at Sandridge Golf Club - Dunes Course.

After 18-holes, the Boys 13–18 Division was tied as Jeremy Castellanos of Windemere and Luke Harrigan of Hobe Sound finished at 3-under after round one. Castellanos kept the momentum, firing another 3-under round in round two to secure the title at 6-under over Harrigan who finished at even-par for both days. Harrigan placed second in a scorecard playoff over Reed Abdelnour of West Palm Beach, and Navraj Suri of Miami.

In the Girls 13–18 Division, Mila Zalsman of Saint Petersburg was in fourth place at 1-over after round one, four shots behind leader Lilly Parker of North Palm Beach who finished round 1 at 3-under. In round two, Zalsman fought back with an even-par round to secure the win at 1-over total, two shots better than Vanessa Georgescu of Fort Lauderdale who finished at 3-over. Georgescu shot a round two score of even-par to secure a second place finish in a scorecard playoff over Parker.

The 71-player field combined for four eagles and 244 birdies throughout the weekend. The Girls 13–18 Division scoring average was 77.84, while the Boys 13–18 Division was 78.01.

The South Florida PGA extends its appreciation to Bela Nagy, PGA and the entire team at Sandridge Golf Club for their continued support of the South Florida PGA Junior Tours.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour welcomed 49 boys and 22 girls across two divisions. The Medalist Tour is the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Section, and it will continue its season on December 6-7 at the Srixon South Florida PGA Tour Championship.

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Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour Announces 2025 Prep Tour Players of the Year

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 17:04:37 GMT

West Palm Beach, FL - The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour announced its 2025 Prep Tour Players of the Year for its six divisions, recognizing outstanding performances based on season-long point standings.

This year featured 463 Prep Tour Members competing in 26 total events for ages 9-18. Players were awarded points based on their finish in the events played.

Prep Boys 13–18 Division
The Prep Boys 13–18 Division Player of the Year was awarded to Zachary Balfour of Delray Beach. Balfour played in 22 of the 26 events in 2025, earning three victories and nine other top-ten finishes. He finished the season with 2,374.42 points — 796.42 points ahead of second-place, Jack Hulett of Naples.

The 2025 season marked Balfour’s first victory on the Prep Tour since becoming a member in 2022. He managed to improve his scoring average to 77.85 compared to 83.29 in 2024 with his lowest round of 1-over 73 coming at PGA National’s Fazio course.

“A big thank you to Don Law Golf Academy for everything they’ve done for me and my golf career,” Balfour said.

Balfour’s primary goal for the 2026 season is to compete and win an event on the South Florida PGA Medalist Tour.

Girls Prep 13–18 Division
The Prep Girls 13–18 Division Player of the Year went to Giuliana Walker of Hollywood. Walker placed in the top-five in 14 of the 21 events she played this season, finishing with 3,175.43 points — 362.17 points ahead of second-place, Sara Valentine of West Palm Beach, FL.

Walker first became a member on the Prep Tour back in 2023. She improved her scoring average from a 87.12 in 2024 to a 79.55 in 2025 with her lowest round being a 4-over 75 at Shell Point Golf Club.

“It has been an incredible season,” Walker said. “Just knowing all my hard work paid off is such a great feeling.”

In 2026, Walker’s goal is to play more consistently — to go out and shoot the best score she can every single day.

Boys Prep 11–12 Division
Jacob McMillan of Jupiter, was named the Prep Boys 11–12 Division Player of the Year. McMillan participated in 19 events, earning five victories, six runner-up finishes, and six additional top-five performances. He ended the season with 2,817.50 points — 465 points ahead of Finn Dritenbas of West Palm Beach, FL.

McMillan first joined the South Florida PGA Junior Tour in 2020, playing on the Links Tour. He then joined the Prep Tour in 2023, sealing his first victory in 2024 at Hollybrook Golf and Tennis Club with a score of 75. His scoring average improved from 77.5 in 2024 to 76.33 in 2025.

McMillan also qualified for the Drive, Chip & Putt Finals at Augusta National during the year. He lives by the Arnold Palmer quote, “The more I practice, the luckier I get.”

“[In 2026] my goal is to never give up, and to keep practicing and practicing,” McMillan said.

Girls Prep 11–12 Division
The Prep Girls 11–12 Division Player of the Year was Victoria Frias of Parkland. Frias competed in 20 Prep Tour events this year, finishing in first place nine times and earning eight other top-three finishes. She finished the season with 3,500.00 points — 1,670 points ahead of Alyssa Cleckley of Royal Palm Beach, FL.

Frias joined the Prep Tour in 2023 after competing on the Links Tour in 2022. She won three events in her first season on the Prep Tour. Frias improved her scoring average from 78.69 in 2024 to 74.05 in 2025.

Her main goal for 2026 is simple — to win more tournaments.

Boys Prep 9–10 Division
The Boys Prep 9–10 Division Player of the Year was awarded to Julian Brandman of Delray Beach. Brandman competed in 19 events during the 2025 season, earning five victories and 10 additional top-three finishes. He finished the year with 2,812.50 points — 875 points ahead of Alexander Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Brandman joined the South Florida PGA Junior Tour in 2024, making his debut on the Links Tour. He moved his way into the Prep Tour at the start of the 2025 season, and managed his first victory at Sandhill Crane Golf Club in early June. Brandman finished the season with a scoring average of 77.00.

“I just kept on practicing, tried to get better, and kept my cool,” Brandman said about his 2025 season.

Girls Prep 9–10 Division
The Girls Prep 9–10 Division Player of the Year was awarded to Cheetah Baez of San Antonio, FL. Baez played in 15 events, earning nine victories and finishing the season with 2,850.00 points — 975 points ahead of Julia Elharti of Melbourne, FL.

Baez made her Prep Tour debut this year, and claimed first place in only her second event. She managed a scoring average of 82.43, and a 73.3% win rate.

Baez also won the Drive, Chip & Putt Local, Sub-Regional, and Regional Qualifiers, advancing to the Finals at Augusta National in 2026. She practices and plays regularly at Hunter’s Green Country Club in Tampa, FL.

“My goal is to win the Player of the Year Award again!” said Baez.

Champions Crowned at the Srixon South Florida PGA Prep Tour Championship

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 22:04:56 GMT

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - The top 80 players on the Srixon South Florida Prep Tour Player competed at The Park for the Prep Tour Championship, November 8, 2025.

The Prep Tour Championship was divided into six divisions and players were invited to the championship based on their point standings after all 25 Prep Tour events this season.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Ryan LaVoie of Port St. Lucie secured the top honor, shooting a five-under round to win by five strokes over Gabriel Rodriguez of Palm Bay. LaVoie managed only one bogey to go along with four birdies and an eagle over the 18-hole Championship

During the 2025 season LaVoie placed in the top-five at four events with two victories—including the Prep Tour Championship title. The runner-up, Rodriguez, placed in the top-three at three events throughout the season.

In the Girls 13-18 Division, Manuela Moreno of Doral shot a one-under round, claiming victory by five strokes over Jesera Mendez of Coral Springs. In 2025, Moreno placed in the top five at ten events. Of those ten events, Moreno claimed three wins. The runner-up, Mendez, earned four top-five finishes throughout the season.

In the Boys 11-12 Division, Aiden Jim of Parkland prevailed in a scorecard playoff over Eli Widom, also of Parkland. Both players fired one-over rounds, with the tiebreaker determined by a single stroke. Jim claimed two wins along with 13 other top-five finishes throughout 2025. The runner-up, Widom, earned five victories including three other top-five performances.

The Girls 11-12 Division came down to the wire, as Taylor Pedrique of West Palm Beach claimed victory by one stroke, shooting a one-under round, one shot better than Victoria Frias of Parkland. Throughout the season, Pedrique placed in the top-five in nine events, including three victories. The runner-up, Frias, tallied nine victories with 11 other top-five finishes in 2025.

In the Boys 9-10 Division, Ozzy Novak of Wellington secured the win, shooting a four-over-par round to finish three strokes ahead of Julian Brandman of Delray Beach. Over the season Novak earned three victories and three other top-three performances. The runner-up, Brandman, collected five victories, including ten additional top-three finishes.

The Girls 9-10 Division, Cheetah Baez of San Antonio, fired a seven-over-par round, claiming victory by a margin of five strokes over Joey Wolf of Lakewood Ranch. In 2025, Baez earned 11 wins on the Prep Tour. The runner-up, Wolf, earned four victories in seven events played.

Congratulations to our Srixon Players of the Year:

Boys Prep 13-18: Zachary Balfour of Delray Beach
Girls Prep 13-18: Giuliana Walker of Hollywood
Boys Prep 11-12: Jacob McMillan of Jupiter
Girls Prep 11-12: Victoria Frias of Parkland
Boys Prep 9-10: Julian Brandman of Delray Beach
Girls Prep 9-10: Cheetah Baez of San Antonio

This event concludes the 2025 Srixon South Florida PGA Prep Tour season. The 2026 season is scheduled to begin in February.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour will make its return to Sandridge Golf Club for the final Medalist Tour event of the season before the Tour Championship held at The Park.

Klein and Zalsman earned Medalist titles at Mariner Sands Country Club

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:44:56 GMT

STUART, FL – Kenny Klein and Mila Zalsman earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, held November 1-2 at Mariner Sands Country Club - Gold Course.

After 36-holes, the Boys 13–18 Division was tied as Kenny Klein of Palm Beach Gardens and Benjamin Muecke of Tampa finished at 6-under par. After three playoff holes, the two remained tied at even par. The 423-yard, par-4, 5th hole served as the tiebreaker, where Klein made birdie to secure the victory. This marked Klein’s first win in his South Florida PGA Junior Tour career, highlighted by eight birdies over the weekend, four of them coming on his final nine holes.

In the Girls 13–18 Division, Mila Zalsman of Saint Petersburg held a three-shot lead following an opening round of 3-under par over Emma Mckoan of Naples. Looking to secure back-to-back Medalist Tour victories, Zalsman made the turn at even par and ultimately held on to win by one stroke over Mckoan and Bella Simoes of Lake Worth, who both finished tied for second at 1-over par. Per the South Florida PGA Junior Tour handbook, a scorecard playoff was used to determine second place. Simoes secured the runner-up position by one stroke with a 36 on holes 10–18.

The 58-player field combined for four eagles and 261 birdies throughout the weekend. The Girls 13–18 Division averaged 78.32, while the Boys 13–18 Division averaged 75.73.

The South Florida PGA extends its appreciation to Timothy McKenna, PGA Director of Golf, and Logan Knebels, PGA Head Golf Professional, and the entire team at Mariner Sands Country Club for their continued support of the South Florida PGA Junior Tours.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour welcomed 57 boys and 22 girls across three divisions. The Medalist Tour the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Section will continue its season November 22–23 at Sandridge Golf Club on the Lakes Course.

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Albright, Zalsman, and Lorberbaum earned Medalist titles at Osprey Point Golf Course

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 19:27:48 GMT

BOCA RATON, FL. – Albright, Zalsman, and Lorberbaum earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, held October 18-19 at Osprey Point Golf Course.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Gatlin Albright of Stuart earned the title after posting consecutive rounds of 3-under 69 to finish at 6-under for the tournament. Albright’s performance included eight birdies and 33 pars, marking it his third win of the 2025 season after victories at The Links at Boynton Beach in February and PGA National’s Estates Course in April. Brett Shaw of Prince Edward Island, Canada, and Mateo Quenneville of South Hadley, Massachusetts, recorded the tournament’s low rounds with opening scores of 5-under 67, while Daniel Mena of West Palm Beach claimed second place in a three-way scorecard playoff with a back-nine score of 35.

In the Girls 13-18 Division, Mila Zalsman of St. Petersburg led the field after an opening round of 3-under 69, holding a two-stroke advantage over Palm Beach Gardens native Mia Heuberger. Zalsman followed with a steady final round featuring three birdies and 14 pars to finish at five-under for the tournament and secure the title. Lilly Parker of North Palm Beach claimed second place in a scorecard playoff, winning by two strokes based on her back-nine score.

In the Boys 11-12 Division, William Lorberbaum of Delray Beach carded a 1-over opening round, four shots behind leader Gabriel Shabashkevich, who posted a 3-under 69. Lorberbaum followed with a 3-under 69 in the final round, highlighted by four birdies and 13 pars, to tie Shabashkevich at three-under for the tournament. Per the South Florida PGA Junior Handbook, ties are decided by a scorecard playoff, with Lorberbaum claiming the victory based on a 2-under 34 on the back nine. Shabashkevich finished in second place for the division.

The 79 player field combined for 11 eagles and 345 birdies throughout the weekend. The Boys 11-12 Division posted a scoring average of 74.27, the Girls 13-18 Division averaged 75.79, and the Boys 13-18 Division averaged 75.86.

The South Florida PGA extends its appreciation to George Dixon, PGA General Manager and the entire team at Osprey Point Golf Course for their continued support of the South Florida PGA Junior Tours.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour welcomed 57 boys and 22 girls across three divisions. The Medalist Tour, the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Section, will continue its season November 1-2 at Mariner Sands Country Club.

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Foegen, Compton, and Fleming earned Medalist titles at Eagle Trace Golf Club

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:04:49 GMT

CORAL SPRINGS, FL. – Foegen, Compton, and Fleming earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, held October 4-5 at Eagle Trace Golf Club.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Cooper Foegen of Hobe Sound finished at 8-under par to capture the victory. Foegen entered the final round tied for first with Dane Mohap of Bradenton at 3-under par and carded a 5-under 67 on Sunday, highlighted by five birdies and 13 pars. Tankhun Ritthisorn of Jupiter placed second at 4-under par after a 3-under second round.

In the Girls 13-18 Division, Petra Compton of Palmetto Bay secured the win in a playoff over Mia Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens. Compton began the final round one stroke back following a 4-over par opening round and finished tied with Heuberger at 4-over par through 36 holes. On the first playoff hole, the 341-yard par-4 first, Compton made birdie to earn the victory. Heuberger’s 2-under-par final round propelled her into the playoff and a runner-up finish.

In the Boys 11-12 Division, Joshua Fleming of Deerfield Beach led wire-to-wire, finishing at 3-under par with rounds of 70 and 71. Simon Bustos of Chattanooga, Tennessee, placed second at 5-over par with rounds of 74-75.

Despite challenging weather conditions, the field combined for eight eagles and 313 birdies throughout the weekend. The Boys 11-12 Division posted a scoring average of 77.60, the Girls 13-18 Division averaged 78.86, and the Boys 13-18 Division averaged 76.47.

The South Florida PGA extends its appreciation to Julian Gil, General Manager, Matt Zitner, Head Golf Professional, and the entire team at Eagle Trace Golf Club for their support in hosting the event.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour welcomed 60 boys and 16 girls across three divisions. The Medalist Tour, the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Section, will continue its season October 18-19 at Osprey Point Golf Course.

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The Benjamin School Boys and Archbishop McCarthy Girls Claim Titles at South Florida PGA West Coast High School Championship

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 23:04:47 GMT

NAPLES, Fl . – The Benjamin School Boys Team and Archbishop McCarthy Girls Team claimed victory at the South Florida PGA West Coast High School Championship.

Starting the final round with a 3-stroke lead, the Boys team from The Benjamin School recorded another win finishing with a team score of 3-over-par in the final round. Charlie Woods (68 - 72 - 140) and Clint Lewis (72 - 68 - 140) led the charge, securing a team score of 1-over par. The Sarasota High School Boys Team followed behind, capturing second place with a total score of 5-over par.

Individually, Jack Donovan of Barron Collier captured the Boys’ Individual Division title with a two-day total of 9-under par. Donovan secured the victory with a birdie on the second playoff hole over Henry Liebwein of Fort Myers High School.

In the Girls' Division, Archbishop McCarthy started the final round trailing one stroke behind Barron Collier. Individual champion Abigail Lee (73 - 70 - 143) and teammate Paulina Ramirez (79 - 81 - 160) performed well enough to place the team in a tie and ultimately claiming victory thanks to Nia Bell’s 86 in the final round. The girls were victorious over Barron Collier after a scorecard playoff.

Abigail Lee of Archbishop McCarthy claimed the Girls Division Individual title with a two-day total of 1-under-par. Lee had a three stroke lead going into the final round which she built upon winning by six strokes over Sophia Christy of Kings Academy.

The SFPGA West Coast High School Championship featured 110 players—83 boys and 28 girls—from 21 teams across South Florida.

A special thank you to General Manager, Bob Radunz, PGA, Director of Golf, Justin DeFont, PGA, Head Golf Professional, Richard Ter Haar, PGA, and the entire staff at The Club at Twin Eagles for their generosity in hosting this year's championship!

Photo Album | SFPGA Junior Tour | Event Leaderboard

Oxbridge Academy Boys and Jupiter High School Girls Claim Titles at South Florida PGA East Coast High School Championship

Sun, 21 Sep 2025 15:02:29 GMT

STUART, Fl . – Oxbridge Academy Boys Team and Jupiter High School Girls Team claim victory at the South Florida PGA East Coast High School Championship.

Starting the final round with a 13-stroke lead, the Boys team from Oxbridge Academy added to their winning margin with a 15-over final round team score. Tucker Cullinan (68 - 76 - 144) and Ajax La Nasa (73 - 74 - 147) led the charge, securing a team score of 15-over par. The Lakewood Ranch Boys Team followed behind, securing second place with a score of 31-over par.

Individually, Henry Crowe of Boca Raton High School captured the Boys’ Individual Division title with a two-day total of 1-under par. Crowe edged out Cullinan and Lawson Ford of Cardinal Newman by one-shot.

In the Girls' Division, Jupiter High School started the final round with an eight-shot lead over Pine Crest High School. Keala Richichi (73 - 73 - 146) and Sarah Earle (79 - 80 - 159) led the charge, securing a team total of 52-over par for the two rounds. Pine Crest followed closely behind in the final round, bringing their team total to 55-over par.

Sophia Christy of the Kings Academy claimed the Girls Division Individual title with a two-day total of one over par. Christy came back in the final round, beating out Richichi by one shot.

The SFPGA High School Championship featured 123 players—80 boys and 43 girls—from 25 teams across South Florida. Next week, the Junior Tour heads to the West Coast for the West Coast High School Championship, scheduled for September 26-27 at the Club Twin Eagles in Naples.

A special thank you to Director of Golf, Michael Leone, PGA, Head Golf Professional, Denis Moleres, PGA, and the staff at Willoughby Golf Club for hosting this event!

Photo Album | SFPGA Junior Tour

Marigliano, Pla, and Bustos win Jim McLean Labor Day Classic

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 23:17:28 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Margilano, Pla, and Bustos win the South Florida PGA Jim McLean Labor Day Classic, the second-to-last SFPGA Junior Major of the Year, played August 30 - September 1st at PGA National Resort - Champion and Fazio Courses.

This year's title partner, Jim McLean Golf Schools, is no stranger to the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, bringing with him not only world-class instruction but also a passion for shaping young golfers.

Staci Pla of West Palm Beach led the girls division at one-under-par and held a two stroke lead over Palm Beach Gardens native, Olivia Hartman after two rounds. Pla had 12 pars during her final round to successfully defend her 2024 title, going back to back to secure a two-shot victory over Hartman who finished at 5-over total.

The boys 13-18 leaderboard was stacked up following the conclusion of round two. Jake Valentine of Palm Beach Gardens held the lead at four-under-par closely followed by 2024 Labor Day Classic Boys Division Champion Matthew Marigliano (Palm Beach Gardens) at three-under-par. Marigilano stayed consistent with three birdies and fifteen pars in his final round to secure the victory. Tristan Rhodenzier of Palm Beach Gardens holed out from the fairway on the 18th hole to take home second place.

Joshua Fleming of Deerfield Beach held a strong lead in the boys 11-12 division at three-over-par after two rounds of play. Simon Bustos of Chattanooga, Tennessee sat at eight-over-par heading into the final day of play. Bustos emerged as the champion with a final round of one-over-par, including five birdies and finishing nine-over-par total on the weekend.

This year’s Jim McLean Labor Day Classic welcomed 156 boys and girls aged 11-18, competing in three different age divisions. Among the field were 23 players outside of the South Florida territory, including two international players from Puerto Rico and Brazil.

The South Florida PGA extends its appreciation to PGA National Resort, Paul Gallo (Director of Tournament Operations),

Michael Williams (Tournament Coordinator), and their entire team for their outstanding hospitality and continued support of junior golf in South Florida.

The junior major season will wrap up December 6-7 as the Junior Tour heads to The Park for the Tour Championship.

Event Leaderboard

Event Photos

Jim McLean Story

Two South Florida PGA Drive, Chip & Putt Sub-Regional Qualifiers Hosted at BallenIsles Country Club and Olde Florida Golf Club

Sun, 24 Aug 2025 01:03:27 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens & Naples, FL - The South Florida PGA administered two Drive, Chip and Putt sub-regional qualifiers for juniors aged 7-15, with the top-2 finishers from each division advancing to the regional Drive, Chip and Putt qualifier at TPC Sawgrass, September 6th.

In total, 32 juniors advanced from the BallenIsles Country Club sub-regional qualifier that took place on August 16 and the sub-regional qualifier at Olde Florida Golf Club, August 23.

The sub-regional qualifiers serve as the second stage in a juniors route to the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals that will take place at Augusta National Golf Club, the week prior to the Masters tournament.

BallenIsles Sub-Regional Qualifier (119 Participants)

The following players advanced to the Regional Qualifier at TPC Sawgrass:

Girls 7-9 - Cheetah Baez of Palm City & Gracie Hoffman of Plantation
Boys 7-9 - Henry Mallon of West Palm Beach & Austin Iggulden of Palm Beach Gardens
Girls 10-11 - Arabell Tellez of Miami & Sylvia Perez of Kissimmee
Boys 10-11 - Luciana Puebla of Royal Palm Beach & Silas Kirkbride of Delray Beach
Girls 12-13 - Harper Kiss of Lighthouse Point & Alyssa Cleckley of Royal Palm Beach
Boys 12-13 - Reed Abdelnour of West Palm Beach & Jake McMillan of Jupiter
Girls 14-15 - Nirvika Koduru of Ashburn, VA & Olivia Hartman of Palm Beach Gardens
Boys 14-15 - Gordon Nip of Port St. Lucie & Clint Lewis of Jupiter

Olde Florida Golf Club Sub-Regional Qualifier (130 Participants)

The following players have advanced to the Regional Qualifier at TPC Sawgrass:

Girls 7-9 - Alicia Mosquera Rosado of Gurabo, PR & Claire Anderson of Bonita Springs
Boys 7-9 - Landon Naya of Davie & Neil Oscar Caceres of Miami
Girls 10-11 - Alina Lombeida of Longwood & Joey Wolf of Sarasota
Boys 10-11 - Victor Monssoh of Miami & Cameron Middleton of Bonita Springs
Girls 12-13 - Victoria Frias of Parkland & Priya Natarajan of Tampa
Boys 12-13 - Luke Kummerer of Cape Coral & Luis Roman of Punta Gorda
Girls 14-15 - Kinley Mills of Fort Myers & Laura Monsalve of Coral Spring
Boys 14-15 - Axel Monssoh of Miami & Braden Chamberlain of Pompano Beach

The above qualifiers would not be possible without the support of our host facilities, BallenIsles Country Club and Olde Florida Golf Club and their professional staff. BallenIsles is led by PGA General Manager Ryan Walls, PGA Director of Golf, Jeff Fitzherbert, and PGA Head Professional, Chris Hayes. Olde Florida is led by PGA Director of Golf and SFPGA Foundation President, Tom Wildenhaus, and PGA Head Professional, Andy Chambers.

SFPGA Junior Tour / BallenIsles Sub-Regional Results / Olde Florida Club Sub-Regional Results / BallenIsles Photo Album

Jim McLean Golf Schools Named Title Partner of Sixth Annual Labor Day Classic

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 20:04:05 GMT

West Palm Beach, FL - The South Florida PGA has hosted a premier three-day event on Labor Day weekend since 2020. This year, the tradition takes on new significance as it will be held in partnership with South Florida PGA Professional Jim McLean and his Golf School as we join forces to present the Jim McLean Labor Day Classic, set to take place at PGA National Resort from August 30 – September 1.

Few names in the golf instruction carry the weight and legacy of Jim McLean. A 2013 South Florida PGA Hall of Fame Inductee, 1994 PGA of America Teacher of the Year, and 2020 PGA of America PGA Professional Development award recipient, McLean’s career began in 1975 at Westchester Country Club in New York, where he led a junior program with over 1,800 members. Even early in his career, McLean was shaping the future of the game—coaching standout players such as George Zahringer III, who went on to play for the U.S. Walker Cup team in 2003.

McLean is no stranger to the South Florida PGA Junior Tour. In its early years, he sponsored six tournaments, helping to grow the Tour into what it is today.

“I wanted to give back to junior golf,” McLean said. “All of my boys were in junior golf.”

This year marks a new chapter in the partnership between McLean and the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, culminating in the launch of the Jim McLean Labor Day Classic.

The 2025 Jim McLean Labor Day Classic is more than just a competitive event—it’s a celebration of mentorship, development, and giving back to the game. As the South Florida PGA Junior Tour continues to create life-changing opportunities for young golfers, the support and vision of leaders like McLean help ensure that the next generation is well-prepared, both on and off the course.

Throughout his career, McLean has taught and mentored many notable players including Lexi Thompson, Cristie Kerr, and Erik Compton. Compton, once the top-ranked junior golfer in the United States, overcame extraordinary health challenges—surviving two heart transplants—and reached the PGA Tour against all odds. After retiring from professional play, Compton joined the Jim McLean Golf School as an instructor.

“Erik has been a very special person and has done many things in hospitals across the country for transplants,” McLean said. “He is a really unbelievable person.”

Stories like Compton’s highlight McLean’s lasting impact—not just on competitive golf, but on the lives of his students. This year’s Jim McLean Labor Day Classic adds an even more meaningful chapter to that story, as Erik’s daughter, Petra, will be among the 168 junior golfers competing. For McLean, seeing the next generation of a former student take part in the event is a true full-circle moment—one that perfectly reflects his lifelong commitment to growing the game.

McLean’s commitment to junior golf remains as strong as ever.

“Golf teaches kids so many great things in their life,” he said. “I liked teaching the kids and I still do to this day!”

His passion lies not just in refining swings, but in using the game to instill discipline, integrity, and perseverance. After nearly two decades as a club professional in New York, McLean moved to Miami in 1991 and opened the Jim McLean Golf School at Doral in 1993. Today, the school has expanded to seven locations worldwide—including Coral Gables, New York, Utah, Mexico, Spain, and South Korea.

SFPGA Junior Tour / SFPGA Foundation / Jim McLean Golf School

2025 South Florida PGA Jr. League Championship

Sat, 09 Aug 2025 20:01:11 GMT

Boca Raton, FL - Abacoa All Stars 17-and-under and Palm Beach All Stars 13-and-under teams advanced to the PGA Jr. League Regional competition after winning their respective divisions during Saturday’s PGA Junior League Section Championship at Osprey Point Golf Course.

The 17U Abacoa All Stars, coached by Dave Pesacov, PGA, won the 9-hole, two-person scramble stroke play on Osprey Point’s Falcon Course. TK Ritthisorn and Spencer Clay lead their team scoring at 5-under for the event.

Joining the 17u team at will be the Palm Beach All Stars 13U team, also coached by Dave Pesacov, PGA. Liam Abbott and Lucas Mitchell paved the way to victory scoring 4-under. The teams will play in the Regional Qualifier, held next month on September 19-21 at Sunkist Country Club in Biloxi Mississippi.

Saturday's Section PGA Jr. League Championship was the first of three phases en route to the national PGA Jr. League Championship stage. The 17u National Championship will be held at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, Oct. 23-26, and the 13u National Championship will be held at PGA Frisco’s Fields Ranch West, Nov. 16-20.

Leading each team were David Flinn, PGA, David Pesacov, PGA, Zackary Shriver, Christopher Cupp, and Sean Kicker, PGA.

Thank you to Osprey Point for holding another incredible Jr. League Section Championship event!

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Brooks and Friedt are crowned champions at the 2025 SFPGA Junior Cup

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 20:01:30 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Carter Brooks and Alayna Friedt won the South Florida PGA Junior Cup, the sixth SFPGA Junior Major of the Year, played July 28-30 at BallenIsles Country Club - North Course.

Heading into the final round, Dounia Bezzari of Vero Beach (+6) and Reed Weekley of Davie (-2) held the overnight leads in the girls and boys divisions, respectively, following steady play over the first two rounds.

Carter Brooks of Coral Springs surged 13 places to the top of the leaderboard, firing a 7-under 65 final round fueled by nine birdies to capture the boys title by two shots. The win marks Brooks’ second Junior Major title of the season, having previously taken home the Patty Berg Junior Championship in May.

“This win means a lot to me because this was my last junior golf tournament before going to college. Going out with a win really means the world to me,” Brooks said. “ Everything felt amazing during the last round. I knew I needed to go low to win and I did exactly that.”

Jose Carlos Lopez-Lay from Guaynabo, PR took home second place in the boys division with scores of 74-71 and a final round score of even par (72) to finish one over par through 54 holes of play. Winning the scorecard playoff by two-strokes.

Also tied for second place at +1 was Turin Duber of Port Orange and Reed Weekley of Davie. Kenny Klein rounded out the top-five with a 54-hole total of 5-over par.

On the girls side, Alayna Friedt of Naples delivered a 1-over 73 final round, erasing a two-shot deficit to claim the title with a three-day total of 79-73-73. Friedt’s consistent play in the final round—marked by 15 pars and a 1-over finish—earned her the win over runner-up Stephanie Weinberg of Boca Raton, who posted rounds of 75-77-76 to finish at +12 overall.

Reflecting on the win, Friedt shared, “ It’s a powerful reminder to never give up. I didn’t perform my best on the first day, but I came back on the second day with a renewed focus—determined to give it my all. I played for myself, to grow and improve, not just for a trophy. This victory happened because I didn’t give up on myself. I stayed committed, worked on being consistent, and focused on sharpening my game. ”

Madison Hyndman of Palm Beach Gardens held onto third with a 54 hole total of 16-over par. Tied for fourth place was Fernanda Carrion of Coral Gables, Keala Richichi of Jupiter, and Douna Bezzari of Vero Beach.

Grant Garrison, Tyler Lilienfeld, Alex Morales, and Cameron Cantine each carded eagles—three on the par-5 third hole (480 yards) and one more on the par-5 fifth (520 yards), showcasing power and precision.

The South Florida PGA extends its appreciation to BallenIsles Country Club, PGA Director of Golf Jeff Fitzherbert, PGA Head Professional Chris Hayes, and their entire team for their outstanding hospitality and continued support of junior golf in South Florida.

The action continues as the Junior Tour heads to PGA National Resort for the next major: the Jim McLean Labor Day Classic, set for August 30–September 1 on the Champion and Fazio Courses.

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Ye and Loyacona Win Medalist Tour Event at Lost City Golf Club

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 21:20:46 GMT

ATLANTIS, FL - Yuanzhou Ye and Jayden Loyacona won the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, played July 16-17 at Lost City Golf Club.

Ye of Weston fired a two-day total of 2-over, the lowest total score of all players in the field, boys or girls. Ye finished round one at 1-under, sitting in first place and two shots ahead of the field. Ye’s round two performance at 3-over helped him maintain the top spot, claiming the victory by one shot over Samuel Friday of Jupiter. Friday finished with a two-day total of 3-over, shooting 6-over in the first round and battled back with a 3-under second round, the tournament low round. Friday clinched the runner-up spot over Joshua Castellanos of Winderemere and Jj Hyun Her of Pembroke Pines through a scorecard playoff with a birdie on the 18th hole.

Loyacona of Boca Raton managed a two-day total of 5-over, clinching the victory by one shot over Yool Her of Pembroke Pines. Loyacona finished round one in the top position at 4-over, and Her tied for fourth at 6-over. In round two Her battled back with a score of even-par, but a 1-over finish in round two for Loyacona was just enough to claim victory.

249 birdies and one eagle was made this weekend, with boys having a 77.51 scoring average and the girls having a 79.08. The top-5 finishers amongst the Boys 13-18 Division are as follows: Yuahzhou Ye (+2), Samuel Friday (+3), Joshua Castellanos (+3), Jj Hyun Her (+3), and Ryder Kenny (+4). The top-5 finishers amongst the Girls 13-18 Division are Jayden Loyacona (+5), Yool Her (+6), Nicole Wu (+11), Valentina Hurtado (+11), and Kai Trump (+11).

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour welcomed 69 boys and 16 girls, competing over two divisions at Lost City Golf Club. The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour is the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Section. The Medalist Tour season will continue July 28-30 at BallenIsles Country Club for the South Florida PGA Junior Cup.

Eterovic, Her and Bustos Secure Brendan Cunningham Junior Open Titles

cwhite@pgahq.com (Caitlin White) — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 18:42:05 GMT

The 2025 Brendan Cunningham Junior Open concluded today with standout performances and a heartfelt tribute to a cherished figure in South Florida golf. Held at Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club in Naples, Florida, the event welcomed 71 players. While taking a year off in 2024, the tournament returned this year.

Sebastian Eterovic of Coral Gables, a 2029 graduate, opened with a bogey-free round of 64 and carried that momentum through the final two rounds, posting scores of 64–70–71 to finish at 11-under-par and capture the Boys 13–18 division title. Kaden Latreille of Naples surged up the leaderboard on the final day, carding a 6-under-par 66 to finish in second place, three strokes behind Eterovic.

In the Girls 13–18 Division, Yool Her of Pembroke Pines led wire-to-wire, recording four birdies in the first round and staying consistent throughout the tournament. Her scores of 71–72–71 earned her the division title. Lilly Parker of North Palm Beach kept the pressure on with rounds of 71–74–71, finishing in solo second.

The Boys 11–12 Division saw a dramatic finish as Simon Bustos of Chattanooga, Tennessee, overcame a six-stroke deficit after round two. Bustos posted an even-par 72 in the final round to secure the win by one stroke over Linus Castro of Jupiter, Florida.

A special highlight came from Spencer Ives, who recorded the tournament’s only hole-in-one with an ace on Hole 2, a 173-yard par 3—his first career hole-in-one.

Formerly known as the South Florida Junior Open, the event was renamed in 2020 to honor Brendan Cunningham—a long-time supporter, dedicated volunteer, and true ambassador for junior golf in South Florida, who passed away in September of that year. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the game, Cunningham was the recipient of the 2016 South Florida PGA Distinguished Service Award and was inducted into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame in 2018. Known for his charismatic personality, colorful socks, and welcoming smile, Brendan left a lasting impact on players, families, and staff. In his memory, participants and spectators wore green and their favorite socks throughout the week—a tradition that continues to celebrate his legacy and love for the game.

The South Florida PGA extends its sincere thanks to Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club, led by PGA General Manager Anthony Schmid and PGA Director of Golf Scott Lien, and staff for their hospitality and continued support of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour.

This week’s Brendan Cunningham Junior Open marked the fifth of eight majors on the 2025 SFPGA Junior Tour calendar. Up next: the SFPGA Junior Cup, set for July 28–30 at BallenIsles Country Club on the North Course.

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Links to Legacy | South Florida PGA Junior Tour Alumni Highlight | Hampton Beebe

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 15:23:54 GMT

Hampton Beebe, a West Palm Beach native and current junior at Score Academy, has quietly become one of the brightest rising stars in junior golf. With a strong résumé that includes a verbal commitment to Auburn University, multiple tournament wins, and national rankings of No. 140 on the Junior Golf Scoreboard and No. 63 by AJGA, Beebe is putting together a career built on consistency, passion, and the unrelenting desire to improve.

Beebe’s golf journey began before most kids could read the rulebook. “I started playing tournaments at age five, just three-hole events,” he said.

His early years with US Kids Golf laid the foundation, but it was the South Florida PGA Junior Tour that helped shape his mindset and maturity. “The SFPGA helped me to grow up. You’re out there by yourself on the course. You learn how to manage things mentally and figure stuff out in the moment,” Beebe explained.

Since joining the SFPGA Junior Tour in 2015, Beebe has been involved in nearly every aspect of #TheJourney. In 48 SFPGA events, he has collected five wins, including back-to-back Medalist Tour victories at Osprey Point Golf Course and Mariner Sands Country Club in 2023. He also captured a thrilling comeback victory at Osprey Point in 2024, a course he calls “my favorite — it just fits my eye.”

The 2023 win at Osprey Point, which saw Beebe surge back with an 8-under 64 performance in the final round to overcome a nine shot deficit, proved pivotal. “That was definitely an ‘aha’ moment. It reassured me that all the hard work is paying off. I knew I could come back and win at that level, Beebe said”

Beebe’s accomplishments extend far beyond tournament wins. In 2023, he was named the SFPGA Birdie Club Champion after raising over $10,000 for the foundation. “It was awesome. It felt really good to be able to do what I like to do and help people at the same time,” he said. “That’s what makes it special.”

While golf is typically considered an individual sport, Beebe is quick to highlight the value of the people around him — especially his fellow competitors and family.

“Growing up playing junior golf with my friends made a huge difference. We all wanted the same thing. Sure, we were competitive, but there was always support too. That’s what kept it fun.”

He also credits the structure and professionalism of the South Florida PGA for preparing him for the challenges ahead. “The transition from US Kids was big,” Beebe said. “SFPGA taught me how to read a yardage book, how to prepare for a practice round, how to make decisions under pressure — all the things that matter at the next level.”

His father, Mr. Hampton Beebe Sr., echoed that sentiment. “You guys (South Florida PGA) do a really good job of making kids feel professional at events, but also nurturing them,” he said. “Carrying your own bag, learning to read a pin sheet, figuring out situations — all things that gave them the confidence that they can do this on their own.”

He added, “There aren’t many places like South Florida where you get this many quality events, the level of competition, and the access — all in your backyard. It’s different.”

Off the course, Hampton leans into family life — whether it’s playing basketball, hanging out with his younger siblings, or watching sports. His favorite pro golfer is Justin Thomas, someone he admires for his mental toughness and ability to stay at the top of his game through ups and downs.

As he heads into his final year of high school, Beebe has his sights set on the same goals. He’s aiming for a state championship after finishing top-five each of the past two seasons and plans to carry that momentum into a packed summer schedule. “The main goal is to keep playing well and roll that over into college. Simple as that.”

His college chapter will begin at Auburn University, a school that quickly became the right fit after he attended its golf camp. Through a connection with his swing coach, Jason Baile, Beebe was introduced to the coaching staff and quickly formed a bond. “Once I spent time there, I got to know the coach, the guys on the team, the school, and the golf facilities. I just knew. I didn’t want to go anywhere else,” Beebe said enthusiastically.

As for what's next, Beebe keeps it clear and focused: “I’m not sure what I’ll study in college. I just want to play on the PGA Tour. That’s always been the dream.”

Looking back, Mr. Beebe offered a bit of advice for parents and families navigating the junior golf world. “Parents need to know their kids don’t have to win everything. It’s about learning the game and getting better each day. If your kid loves it, they’ll figure it out and find their game. Hampton’s won at every level, but it’s only in the last two years that he’s really found another gear. Sometimes you just have to keep showing up, trust the process, and let it unfold.”

And that’s exactly what Hampton Beebe is doing — showing up, putting in the work, and trusting the path.

Hampton Beebe | AJGA

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Hsu, McMillan and Shabashkevich Capture 41st Nicklaus Junior Championship Titles

cwhite@pgahq.com (Caitlin White) — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:40:16 GMT

Jupiter, FL — The Bear’s Club and Tequesta Country Club hosted the 41st Nicklaus Junior Championship, held Monday and Tuesday, welcoming a field of 160 junior golfers.

As the fourth of eight Junior Majors on the 2025 South Florida PGA Junior Tour schedule, this championship is conducted in partnership with the Palm Beach County Golf Association.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Jeremy Hsu of Port Saint Lucie captured the title with back-to-back under-par rounds. Hsu opened with a 2-under 70, trailing the leader by just one stroke heading into the final round. He followed up with another 2-under 70 to secure the win by two shots over Tristan Rhodenizer of Palm Beach Gardens and Ignacio Hurtado of Weston.

“My short game was amazing. It hasn’t been this good in six months, but it was great. It always feels good when you win,” said Hsu.

In the Girls 13-18 Division, the title was decided in a thrilling sudden-death playoff between Reese McMillan of Jupiter and Bella Simoes of Lake Worth, both finishing at 2-over for the championship. After a one-hole playoff, McMillan — a 2029 graduate — emerged victorious on her home course at Tequesta.

McMillan rallied from a six-shot deficit after an opening 6-over 76, firing a 2-under 69 in the final round — the tournament low for the girls division — to force the playoff and ultimately claim the title.

“Since this is my home course in Tequesta, I had a lot of people and members supporting me, so that was really fun,” McMillan shared.

In the Boys 11-12 Division, Gabriel Shabashkevich of Boca Raton earned top honors with rounds of 79-80 (159), winning by four shots over Atlas Andrews of West Palm Beach and William Lorberbaum of Delray Beach.

The South Florida PGA extends its thanks to The Bear’s Club, led by PGA Director of Golf and South Florida PGA President Eric Veilleux, and Tequesta Country Club, led by PGA Director of Golf Brian Dionisio and his team, for their hospitality and continued support of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour.

This week’s Nicklaus Junior Championship marked the fourth of eight majors on the 2025 SFPGA Junior Tour calendar. Up next: the Brendan Cunningham Junior Open, set for July 10–12 at Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club.

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Stonebridge Country Club Hosts Junior PGA Championship

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:46:12 GMT

Boca Raton, FL – June 18th – The South Florida PGA Junior Tour staged its third major of the season, welcoming 80 junior golfers for the Junior PGA Championship, held June 16-17 at Stonebridge Country Club.

The major belonged to Gabriel Holtz of Boca Raton and Eva Lye of Naples, who each turned in championship performances to win titles in the Boys' and Girls' 13-18 divisions.

Holtz delivered a commanding wire-to-wire victory, firing rounds of 67-66 to post an 11-under-par total and finish seven shots clear of the field. In the Girls 13-18 division, Lye clinched her title with a clutch birdie on the final hole to edge Alexandra Phung of Boca Raton by a single shot.

Holtz, a rising 2026 graduate, wasted no time seizing control of the tournament, opening with a 5-under 67 to grab a two-shot lead over Tristan Rhodenizer of Palm Beach Gardens. He then followed it up with a bogey-free back nine and seven birdies in the final round—including five on his closing nine—for a tournament-low 66, sealing his second win in as many weeks after triumphing at Hammock Creek.

In the Girls 13-18 division, Lye, a 2025 graduate committed to High Point University, came out firing with a two-under 34 on her opening nine in the final round. After an even-par 72 on day one, Lye entered the final round tied with Phung. Her closing 2-under 70 proved enough to grab the win, capped by a birdie on the 18th hole to secure her first SFPGA major title of the season

“This win means so much to me as it is assurance that I have what it takes,” said Lye. “Knowing this was my last SFPGA Junior event, it is so special to end with a win, as I want to leave a positive impact on everyone involved in these events that are run so well. Coming to the last hole, I knew I had to birdie it, and I truly believed I would. Staying joyful in each moment got me through the challenges of a very competitive field. I am so grateful for the SFPGA staff and the generous golf courses that hosted me over the years.”

Finishing runner-up in the Boys 13-18 division was Rhodenizer, who carded rounds of 4-under 69-71. In the Girls division, Phung, a Stonebridge Country Club member, also turned in a stellar performance with rounds of 1-under 72-71 to finish second.

Both Holtz and Lye, along with Rhodenizer and Phung, have now punched their tickets to represent the South Florida PGA at the 49th Boys & Girls Junior PGA Championships, to be contested July 29 – August 1, 2025, at the prestigious Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Indiana—a national championship that has launched the careers of some of the game’s best.

This week’s Junior PGA Championship marked the third of eight majors on the SFPGA Junior Tour calendar for 2025. Next up: the Nicklaus Junior Championship, set for June 23-24 at The Bear’s Club and Tequesta Country Club.

The South Florida PGA extends its thanks to Stonebridge Country Club, led by Director of Golf Jeff Hall, Head PGA Professional Jordan Mathers, and Assistant Professional Jared Sisco, for hosting this year’s Championship.

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Holtz and Lu Win Medalist Tour Event at Hammock Creek Golf Club

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:47:31 GMT

Palm City, FL - Gabriel Holtz and Michelle Lu won the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, played June 7-8 at Hammock Creek Golf Club.

Holtz of Boca Raton fired a two-day total of 11-under, the lowest total score of all players in the field, boys or girls. Holtz finished round one at 1-under, sitting in a tie for 6th place. Holtz round two performance quickly took him to the top of the leaderboard, firing a 10-under par round, claiming the victory by six shots over Jeremy Hsu of Port Saint Lucie. Hsu finished with a two-day total of 5-under, shooting 3-under in the first round and 2-under in the second.

Lu of Orlando managed a two-day total of 1-under, clenching the victory by one shot over Rain Jiang of Sarasota. Lu finished round one at 1-under and Jiang at 1-over. Jiang battled back in round two, shooting 1-under, but even par for Lu was just enough to claim victory.

292 birdies and seven eagles were made this weekend, with boys having a 77 scoring average and the girls having a 76.61. The top-5 finishers amongst the Boys 13-18 Division are as follows: Gabriel Holtz (-11), Jeremy Hsu (-5), Matthew Stigliano (-3), Gatlin Albright (-2), Kenny Klein, Jack Maurer, and Ryder Kenny (E). The top 5 finishers amongst the Girls 13-18 Division are Michelle Lu (-1), Rain Jiang (E), Alyna Yensabai (+3), Nicole Wu (+4), Keala Richi, and Esther Li (+8).

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour welcomed 54 boys and 18 girls, competing over two divisions at Hammock Creek Golf Club. The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour is the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Section. The Medalist Tour season will continue June 16-17 at Stone Bridge Country Club for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship.

Links to Legacy | South Florida PGA Junior Tour Alumni Spotlight | Sabrina Fonda

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:46:15 GMT

Drawn to the game of golf, Sabrina Fonda began her competitive journey in 2009 when she joined the South Florida PGA Junior Tour. Over the next decade, she competed alongside her younger sister, Jenna, while dedicating herself to developing her own skills and passion for the sport. In 2020, Sabrina graduated from the Junior Tour and went on to play collegiate golf at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

While at Winthrop, Sabrina was a consistent contributor on the Eagles’ roster, competing in countless events during her four years of eligibility. Fonda, a Wellington, Florida native, logged thirty-six collegiate rounds with a scoring average of 80 and a career-low round of 75.

During her junior golf career, Sabrina played in 83 SFPGA events, but when asked which event stood out the most, her answer was immediate: the 2012 tournament at Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo.

“It was such a special place,” she recalled. “Having my family and friends at the resort made it feel like more than just a tournament—it was a full experience.”

Despite years of competition, Sabrina says her most meaningful memories aren’t defined by scorecards but by the friendships and camaraderie she built along the way.

“Playing alongside my sister and my high school teammates made it competitive but so much fun,” she said.

Looking back, Sabrina attributes many of her life skills—perspective, integrity, discipline, and patience—to her junior golf experience. These values, she explains, became even more critical in college, where time management and self-discipline became essential.

“In college, you have your team, but at the end of the day, it’s your responsibility to show up, put in the work at practice, and stay on top of your assignments,” she said. “Junior golf teaches you those lessons without you even realizing it—the structure, the integrity, the personal accountability—it all carries into your life after golf.”

Today, Sabrina works in commercial banking at EverBank as an Associate Commercial Relationship Manager. While she didn’t pursue a career in the golf industry, Sabrina says the habits and mindset she developed through years of competition now help her manage clients, deadlines, and challenges with confidence.

“Golf taught me discipline and how to stay composed under pressure,” she reflected. “There were times I’d be so hard on myself for a missed shot, but now I realize those moments were small in the grand scheme of things. That perspective helps me even today—whether I’m on a golf course or in the office.”

Sabrina’s story is a testament to the lasting impact of junior golf—not just in shaping athletes but in preparing individuals for success far beyond the course. Her journey reflects the core values of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, and we’re proud to count her among our alums. Whether navigating a round of golf or a professional career, Sabrina continues to embody the discipline, integrity, and perspective the game instilled in her from the very beginning.

Sabrina Fonda | LinkedIn

Sabrina Fonda | Winthrop University

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Kelly Greens Golf & Country Club Hosts Patty Berg Junior Championship

Tue, 27 May 2025 01:24:57 GMT

(Fort Myers, FL - May 26th) – The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour administered its second major of the year, the Patty Berg Junior Championship at Kelly Greens Golf and Country Club, May 24-26, welcoming 79 junior golfers.

Reed Abdelnour of West Palm Beach managed the tournament low total at 4-under, winning the boys 11-12 division while 74th ranked junior golfer

Carter Brooks of Coral Springs claimed the boys 13-18 division with a 3-under total performance. In the girls 13-18 division, it was Jolie Pastorick of Sarasota who captured the title, finishing at 3-under to win by one shot.

In his fifth event of the year, Abdelnour has already won four events and finished runner-up in another, holding firm control of the Srixon Player of the Year points race for the boys 11-12 division. The 2031 graduate opened the major with a 1-under 71, grabbing the solo lead by two and never giving it back to claim the wire-to-wire victory. Abdelnour finished the event with rounds of 72-68-73–212.

Joshua Fleming of Deerfield Beach finished in second at 2-over, highlighted by a 1-under 71 final round.

In the boys 13-18 division, Brooks entered the final round trailing by three after opening the week with a 3-under 69, the tournament low score for the division. A 3-over 75 in the second round forced Brooks to come from behind in the final round, where he fired another 3-under 69 to claim the title over Talan Wiles of Jupiter by two.

Brooks, a 2025 graduate, managed only one bogey or worse in the final round, combined with five birdies.

“It means a lot to win. This was my first win on Medalist so it felt great—not only to win on Medalist, but to win a major like the Patty Berg felt amazing,” Brooks said. “Throughout the weekend I tried not to get too nervous, but it gets to you when you have a chance to win on the final day. On the last day, I went back-to-back birdies and I guess my emotions got the best of me—then I doubled the next hole. Coming down the stretch, it didn’t feel real, and when I made the last putt, the only thing I could do was smile and enjoy the moment.”

Claiming victory in the girls 13-18 division, Pastorick wrapped the week with scores of 69-73-71, narrowly edging out Almina Erdogan of Bradenton by one shot. After a 3-under 69 in the opening round, Pastorick trailed 104th ranked junior player, Staci Pla of West Palm Beach by one after Pla’s tournament low 4-under 68. A 1-over 73 in the second round was enough to take the lead, now by one over Erdogan.

Pastorick, a 2027 graduate, maintained that one-shot lead with a 1-under performance in the final to take the major title.

“The heat was definitely a factor but I'm glad I was able to pull through and get the win,” Pastorick said. “It was neck and neck the whole final round and really came down to the final stretch of holes. This win means a lot, especially to come out on top after such a challenging weekend battling the hard course and heat. It is a great feeling.”

The Patty Berg Junior Championship is the second of eight junior majors to be played throughout the 2025 season with the South Florida Junior PGA Championship next on the championship schedule, set to be held June 16-17 at Stonebridge Golf and Country Club in Boca Raton.

This year’s Championship was hosted at Kelly Greens Golf & Country Club, which is led by PGA Director of Golf Julie Carse and PGA Assistant Professional Mark Hamstra.

Event Leaderboard

Kuchar and Zalsman Win Medalist Tour Event at PGA National - Fazio Course

Sun, 11 May 2025 21:38:24 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Cameron Kuchar claims the boys division by five shots as Mila Zalsman captures the girls division after a three-hole playoff at the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event, played Saturday and Sunday at PGA National - Fazio Course.

Cameron Kuchar, a 2026 graduate from Harrison, ID, fired a first-round score of 3-under par, one shot behind Palm Beach Gardens resident Maximillian Mieschke. Kuchar carded a steady even-par final round to claim his first victory on the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour with a score of 69-72-141

Mieschke placed runner-up with a two-round total of 68-78-146, while Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton and Charlie Woods of Palm Beach Gardens finished in a tie for third at 3-over.

After 36-holes, Lilly Parker of North Palm Beach and Mila Zalsman of Saint Petersburg were tied at 7-over, both carding rounds of 77-74–151. The two headed back on the course for a sudden death playoff that saw Zalsman, a 2029 graduate, ultimately came out on top with a par on the third playoff hole.

Roisin Scanlon of Atlanta, GA, Jensi Krampel of Estero, and Lilly Riegger of Fort Lauderdale, finished a tie for third at 9-over.

Saturday’s opening round also served as a qualifier for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship, with 18 boys and six girls qualifying for the Championship, which will be held June 16-17 at Stonebridge Country Club.

Boys: Cameron Kuchar, Henry Crowe, Jose Carlos Lopez-Lay, Charlie Woods, Luke Leonard, Martin Bustos, Chris Nana Tanke, Patrick O’Connor, Ryder Kenney, Gavin Duffy, Andrew Stein, Alfonso Goyenenche, Leo Graham, Nicholas Zaccagnino, Weston Mead, Jack Davidson, Borja Friend, and Tristan Rodenizer.

Girls: Amelie Phung, Ella Hrbata, Lilly Riegger, Lilly Parker, Mia Zalsman, Sarah Earle.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour season will continue May 24th - 26th at Kelly Greens Country Club for our Patty Berg Junior Championship.

Nip and Nana Tanke Win Medalist Tour Event at Indian Spring Country Club - West Course

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 19:32:33 GMT

Boynton Beach, Fl - Angela Nip and Ryan Nana Tanke card multiple under-par rounds to win the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event, played Saturday and Sunday at Indian Spring Country Club - West Course.

A Port St. Lucie resident and 2026 graduate, Angela Nip set herself ahead of her competition during round one with an 8-under par 63, the tournament low-round for both boys and girls. Nip started her round with a birdie and continued on to finish bogey-free, which also included an eagle on the par-5, tenth hole. Zoe Shamy of Jupiter, a 2025 graduate, nearly closed the gap on Sunday, with a 5-under 66, but a 2-under final round by Nip was enough to claim the girls division by three shots.

Ella Hrbata, a 2029 graduate and West Palm Beach Resident, also finished under par and in third place at 2-under.

Ryan Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens entered the final round one shot behind William Richards of Miami after both fired opening rounds under par. With a birdie to start the final round, Nana Tanke, a 2028 graduate, carded the tournament low round in the boys division with a 5-under 66, to win the boys division by one shot over Richards. This victory marks Nana Tanke’s second of the year, adding to his win at the SFPGA Winter Kickoff in January.

In a tie for third were four players at 3-under: Carter Brooks (Coral Springs), Trevor Tingle (Coral Gables), Maximilian Mieschke (Palm Beach Gardens), and Liam Ly (Delray Beach).

Saturday’s opening round also served as a qualifier for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship, with twelve boys and six girls qualifying for the Championship, which will be held June 16-17 at Stonebridge Country Club.

Boys: William Richards, Ryan Nana Tanke, Liam Ly, Trevor Tingle, Tucker Cullinan, Nicolas Sanchez, Carter Brooks, Ryan Toole, Kalani Centeno, Matthew Hernandez, Ryan Nieto, and Jack McCue IV.

Girls: Angela Nip, Zoe Shamy, Eva Lye, Jaime Baker, Stella Ronja Lind, and Micaela Ruidias.

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour season will continue May 10th - 11th at PGA National Resort on the Fazio Course.

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Gram and Albright Win Medalist Tour Event at PGA National-Estates

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:59:01 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl - Leah Gram carded consecutive under-par rounds to win the girls division while Gatlin Albright defeated Brooks Hansen in a playoff to win the boys division at the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event at PGA National Estates Course.

Gram of Jupiter clinched her second consecutive Medalist Tour victory of the season with a 6-under total, 60-70–138. Gram managed only four bogeys, aiding in a six shot victory over Alexander Phung of Boca Raton and Petra Compton of Palmetto Bay with Phung taking second place honors in a scorecard playoff.

Albright of Stuart and Hansen of Jupiter completed 36-holes tied at 1-over, forcing a sudden death playoff starting on the first hole. After a drive down the middle and with a wedge in hand Albright stuck it just inside of Hansen's ball, making the birdie putt to win the playoff. Beginning the day three shots back of Albright, Hansen managed the tournament low round in the boys division with 3-under 69 to tie Albright.

In addition to the 36-hole tournament, Saturday’s opening round also served as a qualifier for South Florida Junior PGA Championship, with 17 of boys and five girls qualifying.

Boys: Michael Vivone, Nicholas Lehto, Jack Rose, Wylie Inman, Brooks Hansen, Matthew Stigliano, Clint Lewis, Ethan Sullivan, Brett Shaw, Nathan Crawford, Grady Albertson Luke Harrigan, Orlando Torres, Jj Hyun Her, Cooper Roth, Jack Zeder and Kenny Klein.

Girls: Madison Hyndman, Alexandra Phung, Petra Compton, Danielle Hernandez and Mia Heuberger.

The South Florida Junior PGA Championship will take place June 16-17 at Stonebridge Country Club with the top-2 boys and girls advancing to the National Junior PGA Championships. The Medalist Tour season will continue April 26-27 at Indian Spring Country Club.

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Fleming, Her & Parker Win Medalist Event at Santa Lucia River Club

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:22:29 GMT

Port St. Lucie, FL - Joshua Fleming, Jj Hyun Her and Lilly Parker won the fifth Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event of the season, played April 5-6 at Santa Lucia River Club

Fleming, a 2031 graduate and Deerfield Beach resident, carded back-to-back 1-over par rounds to clinch the boys 11-12 division by four shots over Reed Abdelnour of West Palm Beach. The win marked the first for Fleming this season, snapping Abdelnour’s three straight tournament winning streak dating back to the beginning of February.

Her of Pembroke Pines managed to hold off a stacked boys 13-18 leaderboard, wrapping the 36-hole event at 8-over to win by one shot over Axel Monssoh of Miami. A Member of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour since 2018, Sunday’s win for Her marked only his second win on the Junior Tour and first on the Medalist Tour. A runner-up finish for Monssoh marked his best of the season, also notable l, Monssoh was the youngest player competing in this division as a 2030 graduate.

Another jumbled leaderboard in the girls 13-18 division saw Parker of North Palm Beach prevail at 9-over total, etching out Alyna Yensabai of Lake Worth and Ella Hrbata of West Palm Beach by one shot. Parker joined the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour in 2024, competing on the Prep Tour where she won her first event and now has won on the Medalist Tour in only her third event.

The weekend Medalist Tour welcomed 87 boys and girls, competing over three age divisions at Santa Lucia River Club. The SFPGA Medalist Tour is the premier membership-based junior golf program operating under the umbrella of the South Florida PGA Foundation, a 501 c 3 organization focused on impacting the lives of youth, military and families through the game of golf. The Medalist Tour season will continue April 12-13 at PGA National Estates Course.

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Links to Legacy | South Florida PGA Junior Tour Alumni Spotlight | Drew Steiner

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 17:42:43 GMT

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Alumni Spotlight

For many young golfers, competing at the collegiate level and beyond is a distant goal. For one alumni, that dream became a reality, and his journey through junior golf, college athletics, and into a professional role with the LPGA is truly inspiring.

For Drew Steiner, a former South Florida PGA Junior Tour Member and current Player Content Producer at the LPGA, one moment stands out in his junior golf career: winning the 1st Annual SFPGA High School Championship with the Spanish River High team. The victory at Qual Ridge Country Club reinforced the teams talent but it was the comradeira shared that aided in the win. Spanish River was the strongest in the field and Steiner led the way, capturing the overall Individual Boys Championship with a 1-under par performance.

"It wasn’t just about winning; it was about how strong we were as a team," Steiner shared. "Winning that event together really showed us how much potential we had as a group."

The moment was more than just winning a golf tournament, it further helped him secure a spot on the Lafayette College men’s Golf Team, allowing Steiner to fulfill his dream of playing Division 1 golf.

"It gave me the confidence to pursue my goal of playing college golf," he explained. "And doing it with my teammates was a perfect way to prepare for the next chapter."

As he transitioned to college golf, the experience playing on a competitive, high-caliber team became even more valuable. "I loved the camaraderie of college golf. It’s just more fun to win as a team than individually,” Steiner recalled.

Unlike many who stumble upon the idea of college golf too late, Steiner always knew it was where he wanted to be.

"I played all sports up until high school, but once I focused on golf, I knew that was the path," he reflected. "My goal from eighth grade onward was to play college golf and use the sport as a vehicle to get a great education."

College golf, especially at the Division I level, was everything he expected. "It wasn’t just about golf. It was about the connections you make, the experiences, and the opportunities that come from being a part of a program."

However, the transition from high school to collegiate athletics wasn’t without its challenges.

"When you get to college, you realize it’s not just about showing up to class. You have to manage your time, juggle schoolwork, and maximize your practice time," he explained. "Coming from Florida to the Northeast also meant adjusting to the weather, which was a huge change for me."

Despite these challenges, Steiner thrived in the competitive atmosphere and loved the camaraderie of the team. "If you're surrounded by good people and teammates, it makes it all worthwhile."

During his time at Lafayette in which he graduated in 2022 with a degree in Film and Media Studies, Steiner was an active member of the men’s golf team, further cultivating his passion for both the game and media. It was during this time that his two passions—golf and media—began to converge, ultimately guiding him toward his professional career.

Looking back, Steiner knew he was fortunate to work with mentors like John Brooks and Shane Riser, who guided him through the recruiting process, and he looks to share that same knowledge.

"Don’t be afraid to reach out to coaches, whether at Division I, II, or III schools. While also being aware of the player you are, the education you want to receive and if you wish to continue to work towards a tour card. The key is getting exposure, and you need to play on competitive teams to get better, no matter the level,” he explained.

He also emphasized the importance of choosing a school that fits you, beyond just the golf program.

"Go visit the campus. Make sure you like the dining halls, the facilities, and everything around the school. You need to imagine what it’s like in all (weather) seasons."

After graduating from Lafayette, Drew was ready to take on the world. Initially pursuing a career in sports journalism, he eventually shifted gears to focus on social media and content creation within the world of golf.

Steiner’s journey took him to the PGA of America and the PGA Tour before landing his current role with the LPGA. "I’ve been with the LPGA for a year now, and my day-to-day involves creating video content for player channels—hype videos, graphics, and other creative pieces," he shared.

With 13-15 events a year to cover, his job allows him to travel, meet amazing people, and experience the sport in a whole new light. "It wasn’t a planned transition, but I’ve learned so much and I’ve just been taking it all in day by day."

Reflecting on his journey, Drew credits much of his success to the experiences and connections he gained both on and off the golf course. From the lessons learned in junior golf to the valuable connections made in college, it’s clear that his time spent in the game has shaped his career path.

For any young athlete aspiring to follow in his footsteps, his advice is simple: "Maximize every opportunity. Whether you’re playing junior golf, going through the recruiting process, or figuring out your career path, take advantage of the resources around you."

As Steiner continues his work with the LPGA, it's evident that his passion for golf—both as a player and now in the industry—has taken him to new heights… And the journey is just getting started.

Rinker, Heuberger, & Abdelnour Win Medalist Tour at Park Ridge Golf Course

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 00:44:12 GMT

Lake Worth, FL - Brandon Rinker, Mia Heuberger, and Reed Abdelnour won their respective age divisions during the South Florida PGA Medalist event, March 22-23 at Park Ridge Golf Course.

Brandon Rinker, a 2027 graduate from West Palm Beach, fired a 2-under par 70 in the final round, winning the boys 13-18 division by two shots. Rinker wrapped the 36-hole-event at 7-under par. Haoting Zhou of Coconut Creek, finished in second at 5-under par, while Carter Brooks of Coral Springs finished in third at 2-under par.

Mia Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens, captured her first victory in the Medalist Tour Girls 13-18 division after an opening round of 3-under par 69. The 2031 graduate entered the final round tied with Bella Simoes of Lake Worth. Heuberger fired a 2-under par 70, finishing the event 5-under par and claiming the title by one shot over Simoes.

Reed Abdelour of West Palm Beach, sealed his third straight victory for the Boys 11-12 division by two shots after a close battle with Gabriel Shabashkevich of Boca Raton. The first round, cut short due to darkness, resulted in 16-holes being scored. After the conclusion of the first round, Abdelnour was 1-under par and Shabashkevich was 2-over par. Shabashkevich managed an even-par 72 in round two, but a 1-over par 73 by Abdelnour was just enough to capture back-to-back victories finishing at even-par.

The South Florida PGA Srixon Junior Medalist Tour welcomed 64 boys and 20 girls, competing over three age divisions at Park Ridge Golf Course. The SFPGA Medalist Tour is the premier membership-based junior golf program operating under the umbrella of the South Florida PGA Foundation, a 501 c 3 organization focused on impacting the lives of youth, military and families through the game of golf. The Medalist Tour season will continue April 5-6 at Santa Lucia River Club.

Celebrating Legacy: The Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 19:09:45 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour began recognizing a junior boy and girl annually in 2006 for displaying extraordinary sportsmanship with the Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award.

The award was established as a gesture to Ficker, his commitment to the South Florida PGA, the South Florida community, and his 41 years as the PGA Head Professional at Tequesta Country Club.

“He was simply an incredible guy,” recalled Don Law, PGA of Don Law Golf Academy and a 2013 SFPGA Hall of Fame inductee. “He was one of the nicest humans you will ever meet in your life.”

In 1965, Ficker took over as the club’s second head golf professional, succeeding Dow Finsterwald, who enjoyed a very successful playing career, proudly displaying his 1958 PGA Championship Wanamaker Trophy in the golf shop. Ficker stayed loyal to Tequesta, serving 41 years until his retirement in 2006.

Following his retirement, the award was created and included in the South Florida PGA Junior Tour’s Annual Award honors. Since then, several recipients have gone on to work in the golf industry, including Matt Cahill, PGA, a 2008 Ed Ficker Sportsmanship award recipient and current Head Golf Professional at Seminole Golf Club.

As a young junior golfer, it is difficult to expect one to know or understand the impact a retired golf professional had, but that is what raised the curiosity for Cahill to learn more.

“I wanted to really find out what he stood for and learn about his life,” explained Cahill. “I was blown away at how much he gave back to the game of golf and the community. Not just going to work each day as a club professional, but spending time to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”

Samantha (Coleman) Lodigiani, PGA, a 2011 award recipient, went on to study Professional Golf Management at Florida Gulf Coast University and is currently an Assistant Professional at Babcock National Golf Club.

And, Danny Green, a current University of Florida student, and 2021 award recipient. Green grew up as a member of Tequesta, and when he received the recognition, Ficker arranged a dinner to spend extra time with Green.

“Dinner was wonderful, and he was kind, attentive, and very knowledgeable,” explained Green. “Mr. Ficker was a great man. I am honored to carry on his legacy.”

The names featured above are just a few examples of individuals of whom Ficker had a positive impact on. The range of effects Ficker had is unmeasurable, and the Annual Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award is a small indication of our appreciation.

"Ed Ficker was the consummate PGA Professional and one of the most respected PGA members not just in South Florida but the entire country. Honoring and carrying on his legacy with the Sportsmanship award is a small way we can ensure the impact of Ed Ficker will never be forgotten," said South Florida PGA Executive Director Geoff Lofstead.

All Award Winners:
2024:

Boy: Thomas Nevico

Girl: Eva Lye
2023:

Boy: Alex Greer

Girl: Dounia Bezzari
2022:

Boy: Danny Green

Girl: Punchy Mahathep
2021:

Boy: Michael Rivera

Girl: Ariana Silva
2020:

Boy: Chase Cohen

Girl: Erin Marcelino
2019:

Boy: Matthew Myers

Girl: Madyson Gold
2018:

Boy: Chase Scholze

Girl: Kelli Kragh
2015

Boy: Joe Lewis

Girl: Jillian Bourdage
2014

Boy: Timothy Simpson

Girl: Emily Faulkner
2013

Boy: Matt Newman

Girl: Mary Janiga
2012

Boy: Robert Butler

Girl: Radi Sauro
2011

Boy: Jackson Schoenfelt

Girl: Samantha Coleman
2010

Boy: Harley Abrams

Girl: Annie Dulman
2009

Boy: Jaime Rodriguez

Girl: Ashley Burke
2008

Boy: Matthew Cahill

Girl: Julie Olmo
2007

Boy: Derek Wilcox

Girl: Christina Amoriello
2006

Boy: Ben Vertz

Girl: Kristen Hill

Holtz and & Gram Claim Medalist Tour Wins at Osprey Point Golf Course

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 14:21:38 GMT

Boca Raton, FL - Gabriel Holtz and Leah Gram won the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, played March 8-9 at Osprey Point Golf Course.

Gram of Jupiter managed a two-day total of 7-under, the lowest total score of anyone in the field, boys or girls. The performance sealed her 4th victory on the Medalist Tour and marked her best two-day total since joining the Tour in 2021. Gram led the girl's division in birdies with 14, seven more than the closest competitor.

The Boys 13-18 Champion was decided by a playoff as Holtz of Boca Raton and Adin McMaster of Estero were tied at 5-under, with McMaster draining a birdie putt on the last to force a playoff. Holtz ultimately came out victorious with a par on the second playoff hole. The victory clinched Holtz, a 2026 Clemson commit, fifth victory on the Medalist Tour since joining in 2022.

McMaster and Reese McMillan of Jupiter both finished as runner-ups, both finishing at 5-under, career best two-day totals and personal best tournament rounds for the two since joining the Medalist Tour.

309 birdies and seven eagles were made this weekend, with boys having a 76.63 scoring average and the girls having a 76.30. The top-5 finishers amongst the boys and girls are as follows: Gabriel Holtz (-5), Adin McMaster (-5), Jack Nicoletta (-2), Remi Lipon (-2), and Jaxson Weese (-1). The top 5 finishers amongst the Girls 13-18 Division are Leah Gram (-7), Reese McMillan (-5), Lilly Parker (-4), Bella Simoes (-3), and Cathrine Andino (-2).

The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour welcomed 63 boys and 27 girls, competing over two divisions at Osprey Point Golf Course. The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour is the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Section. The Medalist Tour season will continue March 22-23 at Park Ridge Golf Course.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Announces Srixon as Presenting Partner

mdetullio@pgahq.com (Matt De Tullio) — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:54:10 GMT

West Palm Beach, FL - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour has teamed up with Srixon, agreeing on a three-year partnership as the presenting partner of the SFPGA Junior Tour.

The partnership will enhance the ability of the SFPGA Junior Tour, now the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour, to deliver first-class, competitive, and fun tournaments hosted at prestigious South Florida facilities for juniors.

“We are excited to join forces with the Srixon team,” said South Florida PGA Assistant Executive Director Meredith Schuler. “Between the commitment given at the Section Level to our South Florida PGA Professionals and now the relationship with our Junior Tour, we are confident this partnership will raise the standard and professionalism of all Junior events while further promoting our mission.”

The announcement is shared as the Junior Tour is coming off celebrating its 25th year anniversary in 2024, where a record number of members was set at over 1,300. In this partnership, the SFPGA will look to set another record high as each event administered this year has included a sellout field.

“Srixon is proud to partner with the South Florida PGA Junior Tour and support the next generation of talented golfers,” said Srixon’s Marketing Communications Director Noelle Zavaleta. “This partnership aligns with our commitment to growing the game by providing young players with premier competitive opportunities and access to top-tier equipment. We look forward to seeing these juniors develop their skills and passion for golf through the SFPGA Junior Tour.”

Along with being the presenting partner, the Medalist and Prep Tour Player of the Year Points race, which annually recognizes the top male and female juniors in their respective age divisions, will be renamed the Srixon Player of the Year Points Race.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour falls under the umbrella of the South Florida PGA and its 501-c-3 not-for-profit, the South Florida PGA Foundation. The Junior Tour is composed of three separate Tours, each offering a different experience based on the level of play.

ABOUT the South Florida PGA:

The South Florida PGA Section is an association of golf professionals whose mission is to promote interest, participation, and enjoyment in golf, establish and maintain professional standards of practice, and enhance the well-being of golf professionals. Over 2,000 PGA members and associates are employed at over 375 facilities in the South Florida Section, ranking as the second largest Section amongst all 41 PGA Sections in the United States. Giving back, changing lives, and growing the game – that is the mission of the South Florida PGA Foundation, the charitable arm of the South Florida PGA. This mission has been carried out by enhancing the lives of youth, families, and military, on and off the golf course. The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour has a membership of more than 1,300 junior golfers ages 6-18 and conducts nearly 100 events annually. We strive to provide opportunities to those juniors who possess the potential skill and aspirations to compete at the high school and/or collegiate level, in addition to those who are new to the game.

ABOUT Dunlop Sports Americas:

Based in Huntington Beach, CA and Greenville, SC, Dunlop Sports Americas (DSA) is the North American subsidiary of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. We manufacture and sell premium golf and racket sports equipment to players of all skill levels under a portfolio of brands: Dunlop, Srixon, Cleveland Golf, and XXIO. DSA is also a licensed exclusive distributor of ASICS golf footwear. Our unique global sales network and infrastructure in R&D, manufacturing, and material science elevates our brands onto a global stage where we encourage players from around the world to experience our incredible products. For more information, please contact Noelle Zavaleta at noellezavaleta@srixon.com .

Abdelnour, Albright & Roach Win Srixon Medalist Event at The Links at Boynton Beach

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 14:39:14 GMT

Boynton Beach, FL - Reed Abdelnour, Gatlin Albright and Maddie Roach won the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event, played February 15-16 at The Links at Boynton Beach.

Albright, a 2028 graduate and Stuart native, won the boys 13-18 division by one shot as the only player in the 80-person field to finish the event under par. After an opening round of 1-under 70, Albright was tied with Adin McMaster of Estero and had six other players within three shots of the lead.

In round two, Albright managed to post an even-par 70, claiming first-place honors while narrowly holding off a charging Sebastian Eterovic of Coral Cables, who matched the tournament low of 2-under 69 to finish runner-up.

Kaden Latrelle of Naples came in third at 2-over while Tucker Cullinan of Boynton Beach and Clint Lewis of Jupiter tied for fourth at 3-over.

After an opening round of 4-over 75 by Roach, a 2025 graduate and Naples resident, was tied with Kaitlyn Hummers of West Palm Beach and only one shot ahead of Reese McMillan of Jupiter. Roach delivered in the final round with a 2-over 73 to claim the girls 13-18 division by four shots over McMillan. Hummers finished in third at 12-over total while Polina Anisimova of Port St. Lucie finished in fourth.

In the boy's 11-12 division, Abdelnour, a West Palm Beach resident, claimed his second straight Medalist Tour title by five shots over Flynn Lewis of Jupiter. Abdelnour opened the event with a 78, putting him in a tie with Lewis and one shot back of J. Holden Rice of Jupiter. The 2031 graduate, Abdelnour, came back with a 2-under 69, matching the tournament low-round and nine shots better than his previous round. Lewis came in second at 10-over total, while Rice finished in third at 16-over.

The season's third Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event welcomed a full field of 80 Juniors playing across three age divisions. The Medalist Tour season will continue, March 8-9 at Osprey Point Golf Course.

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Abdelnour, Marigliano & Zalsman Win Medalist Tour Event at Sandridge Golf Club

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 19:48:07 GMT

Vero Beach, FL - Reed Abdelnour, Matthew Marigliano, and Mila Zalsman won their respective age divisions during the South Florida PGA Medalist event, February 1-2 at Sandridge Golf Club - Dunes Course.

Abdelnour, a 2031 graduate and West Palm Beach resident, fired a tournament-low 6-under 66 in the final round, managing a clean scorecard en route to winning the boys 11-12 division by 12 shots. Abdelnour wrapped the 36-hole-event at 5-under 73-66–139, only one of two players in the entire field to finish under-par. Simon Bustos of Chattanooga, Tennessee, finished in second at 7-over, while Palmer Buchanan of Port St. Lucie finished in third at 8-over.

Marigliano, the reigning SFPGA Medalist Tour Player of the Year, captured a come-from-behind victory in the boys 13-18 division after an opening round of 3-over 75. The 2029 graduate entered the final round four shots behind Hogan Blais of Ottawa, Ontario. Marigliano bounced back with a bogey-free, 4-under 68 to claim the title by four over Blais and Martin Bustos of Chattanooga, Tennessee, who finished in a tie for second at 3-over. Bustos ultimately earned second-place honors, beating out Blais in a scorecard playoff.

Zalsman of Saint Petersburg narrowly captured the girls 13-18 division by one shot after a close battle with Nicole Wu of Davie. After an opening round of 1-over 73, Zalsman held a four-shot lead over Wu heading into the final 18 holes. Wu managed an even-par 72, the tournament low round in the girls division, but a 3-over 75 by Zalsman was just enough to claim the wire-to-wire victory at 4-over, 73-75–148.

The South Florida PGA Medalist Tour welcomed 62 boys and 25 girls, competing over three age divisions at Sandridge Golf Club’s Dunes Course. The SFPGA Medalist Tour is the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Section. The Medalist Tour season will continue February 15-16 at The Links at Boynton Beach.

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2025 Junior Season Begins with SFPGA Winter Kickoff

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:09:24 GMT

Boynton Beach, FL - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour opened its 2025 season with the SFPGA Winter Kickoff, a 54-hole Major, played January 18-20 at Indian Spring Country Club.

After rounds of 72-71, Ryan Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens entered the final round three shots behind Trevor Tingle of Coral Gables. Nana Tanke, a 2028 graduate, managed to match the tournament low round of 4-under 68, bringing his three-day total to 5-under, winning the title by two shots over Tingle. This victory marked his second South Florida PGA Junior Tour Major win, his first being the inaugural “Jr Cup” at Old Palm Golf Club in August of 2023.

Throughout his final round battling wind, rain and cold conditions, Nana Tanke pulled through with a bogey-free, clean scorecard. Nana Tanke and Tingle were the only two players in the event to finish under-par.

Following 54-holes in the girls 13-18 division, Sophia Christy of Singer Island and Nicole Wu of Davie were tied at 7-over, taking them back to the first tee for a sudden-death playoff. The two battled for the next six holes until darkness forced play to conclude, resulting in the two being crowned co-champions.

The SFPGA Winter Kickoff is the first of eight invitation-only junior Majors to be played throughout the 2025 Junior Tour season featuring 90 junior golfers. Champions in both the boys and girls division received four AJGA starts. The next Junior Major will be played May 24-25 with the Patty Berg Junior Championship at Cypress Lake golf Club.

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Holtz and Andino Claim Titles at the 2024 SFPGA Tour Championship

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 17:16:09 GMT

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Gabriel Holtz and Catherine Andino emerged as champions at the 2024 South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship, presented by Callaway and Toptracer, after two rounds at The Park West Palm on Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8.

The SFPGA Tour Championship, the eighth and final major of the season, brought together 90 of south Florida’s top junior golfers, each earning their spot through a season-long qualifying process based on Player of the Year Points. The number of qualifiers in each age division was determined by the percentage of total Junior Tour members in that category, making this event a showcase of the region’s finest young talent.

Gabriel Holtz of Boca Raton led the Boys 13-18 Division after round one, finishing at three-under-par. Holtz’s impressive round featured seven birdies and a spectacular hole-in-one on the par-3 5th hole, where he used a 6-iron from 195 yards.

Reflecting on the moment, Holtz said, “I watched the ball hop once, and it was in.”

The shot ignited his momentum for the rest of the day.

“I wasn’t playing great before the hole-in-one, but after I made it, things started to come together. I began making more putts and hitting the ball better, which gave me a lot of confidence moving forward,” he added.

Close behind after round one was Jeremy Castellanos of Windermere, who finished the day at one-over-par. Castellanos’s consistent play, including three birdies, kept him firmly in contention for the title. During round two, Castellanos delivered a standout performance, matching the tournament low round of four-under-par with two eagles and six birdies to secure the runner-up position at three-under-par (72-67—139).

In the final round, Holtz overcame a tough start, making three early bogeys before turning things around with four consecutive birdies. He maintained his composure and focus to finish at six-under-par (68-68—136), securing the championship by three strokes.

“Everything felt good. I had a tough start, just like yesterday, making three bogeys early on. But then things turned around when I made four birdies in a row, and I just kept building on that momentum,” Holtz said.

Reflecting on how he managed to stay focused, he added, “I just stayed patient and took it one shot at a time. After those four birdies, I told myself it was time to keep the pedal down and keep fighting until the very end.”

In the Girls 13-18 Division, Catherine Andino of Boca Raton delivered a stellar performance, finishing round one with the only under-par score in the division at four-under-par 67. She carried that momentum into round two, facing a tight battle with Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point.

Andino stayed calm under pressure and sunk a crucial birdie putt on the final hole to regain the lead and clinch the championship by one stroke.

“I was confident in my ability and tried to stay focused on each shot and not think about the results,” Andino said. “I knew I needed to make that last birdie to win, and I was confident I would make it. Ashley played great today, and it was a fun way to end the day.”

Andino finished the tournament at even-par (67-75—142), while Balcom closed at one-over-par (72-71—143), securing second place.

Congratulations to all of our players for a wonderful season! Special thanks to Brian Conley, PGA, Clay Myers, PGA, Cody Sinkler, PGA, and the entire staff at The Park West Palm for hosting the event.

The SFPGA Junior Tour’s Callaway Medalist Tour, presented by Toptracer, is the elite level of competition under the umbrella of the South Florida PGA Foundation’s Junior Tour. With over 100 tournaments held annually, the SFPGA Junior Tour offers first-class, low-cost, competitive events at some of South Florida’s most prestigious courses for juniors aged 6-18.

Registration for the 2025 season opens on Thursday, December 12, at 10 a.m.

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Links Tour Members Finish Strong as Season Comes to an End

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:34:43 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour wrapped up the Links Tour season on Saturday, November 16, at The Links at Boynton Beach. A total of 43 junior golfers participated in this one-day, 9-hole tournament across several divisions.

In the Boys 15-18 Division, Brylle Andrei Viado of Lake Worth finished 9-over 39 to claim first place, while Evan Elder of Lake Worth secured second place with a 15-over 45.

Ezequiel Zamora of Doral took the top spot in the Boys 12-14 Division with a 3-over 33, finishing one stroke ahead of Craig Sargen of Palm Beach Gardens, who posted a 4-over 34 to take second place.

The Boys 9-11 Division saw Charlie Reich of Boca Raton take first place with a 1-under 29, which included two birdies which made him the only player to shoot under par in the tournament. Securing the second-place title was Leyton Procacci of Fort Lauderdale. Procacci made one birdie while shooting a 3-over 33.

In the Boys 6-8 Division, Skyler Furman of North Miami opened up his round with a birdie on the first hole and then again on the ninth to finish out the day. Furman shot even-par to take home first place. Noah Rizzolo Auriemo of Boca Raton and Samuel Dolderer of Palm Beach Gardens tied for second place, both shooting 5-over 35. Auriemo also recorded a birdie on the fifth hole.

On the girls’ side, Kennedy Cruz of Boca Raton won the Girls 12-14 Division with a 12-over 42, making a comeback from last month’s Links Tour event, where she received the runner-up title. Reese Nebbeling of Stuart placed second with a total score of 19-over 49.

In the Girls 9-11 Division, Chloe Klein of Boca Raton secured first place with a 4-over 34, while Millie Gonzalgo from Plantation finished second, shooting a 6-over 36.

The Miller sisters of Jupiter made their mark in the Girls 6-8 Division, with Morgan securing the top spot after shooting a 6-over 36. Mackenzie, her younger sister, finished second with an 11-over 41.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour extends its gratitude to the staff at The Links at Boynton Beach for hosting this event and congratulates all players on their efforts.

Registration for the 2025 season opens on Thursday, December 12, at 10 a.m. Visit the “ Become A Member ” section on our website to learn more about registration and the different tournament competition levels on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour!

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Zalsman and Crowe Claim Titles as Medalist Tour Nears Season Finale

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:44:03 GMT

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. - Oscar Crowe and Mila Zalsman secured first-place finishes at the South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour event held at Eagle Trace Golf Club, November 9-10. With the season finale approaching at the SFPGA Junior Tour Championship in December, players competed for critical player of the year points.

In the Girls 13-18 Division, Mila Zalsman of Saint Petersburg won the first-place title in her first tournament of the season. Zalsman made two birdies and posted scores of 77-76, finishing at 9-over 153.

Fernanda Carrion of Coral Gables placed second, making it her fifth top-5 finish of the 2024 season. Carrion recorded two birdies and completed the event with scores of 80-74, totaling 154.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Crowe of Boca Raton earned his third victory of the season.

Crowe, a high school senior, added this win to his previous victories at a Medalist Tour event in July and the SFPGA Patty Berg Junior Championship. He made four birdies in round one, finishing 3-under par with a 69, and held his lead in round two with three more birdies, posting a final score of 2-under 142. Crowe was the only player in the tournament to shoot under par.

The competition for second place was close, with Cooper Foegen from Hobe Sound finishing one shot ahead of Gavin Duffy from Fort Lauderdale. Foegen recorded six birdies and finished with a score of 148, marking his second consecutive runner-up finish in recent weeks.

Thank you to Eagle Trace Golf Club for hosting the event. Follow us on social media for additional tournament highlights and photos.

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Toptracer Prep Tour Concludes with Championship Wins and Player of the Year Awards

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:42:07 GMT

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – After 35 Toptracer Prep Tour events, the top 78 players from the season-long points list competed in the South Florida PGA Prep Tour Championship on Sunday, November 10, at The Park West Palm.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, a three-way tie resulted in a scorecard playoff to determine the champion. Jordan Pickens of Estero emerged victorious, securing the win due to his back-nine score. Pickens shot an even-par 71 with four birdies. Cody Rausch of Hobe Sound took second place with a 71 as well, carding three birdies.

Rausch was honored with the 2024 Player of the Year award in the Boys 13-18 Division, having finished in the top-3 in five of the 16 events he competed in, earning a total of 2,289.56 points this season.

In the Boys 11-12 Division, Mateo Muniz of Wellington and Atlas Andrews of West Palm Beach both shot 2-over 73, each recording three birdies. Muniz ultimately claimed the title due to his even-par back-nine score.

Andrews earned the Player of the Year trophy for the second consecutive year, having placed in the top-3 in 11 of 26 events, earning 3,062.50 points in one season.

In the Boys 9-10 Division, Alfred Carmenate of Miami won with a three-shot lead, posting a 2-over 73 with three birdies. Brian Kelley of Port St. Lucie secured second place with a 5-over 76, making one birdie.

Aiden Jim of Parkland, who tied for fourth place, was named Player of the Year in the Boys 9-10 Division, after finishing in the top-3 in 16 of 25 events this season.

In the Girls 13-18 Division, another three-way tie led to a scorecard playoff. Stella Ronja Lind of Doral clinched the title, shooting 4-over 75 with two birdies, her one-under back nine sealed the victory. Sutton Oosterhuis of Parkland took second place, also finishing with a 75 and one birdie.

Lind capped off her season by receiving the 2024 Player of the Year award for the Girls 13-18 Division, accumulating 3,569.50 points.

In the Girls 11-12 Division, Mia Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens repeated as champion, shooting 2-over 73 with two birdies. Alyna Yensabai of Lake Worth finished just one stroke behind at 3-over 74 with three birdies, securing second place.

Yensabai was named Player of the Year in the Girls 11-12 Division, tallying 4,087.50 points—the most in any Prep Tour age division.

In the Girls 9-10 Division, Anastasia Todoric of Pembroke Pines took first place with an eight-shot lead, carding two birdies to finish 5-over 76. Jenna Elharti of Melbourne finished second with a score of 13-over 84 and one birdie. Elharti was awarded Player of the Year for this division after finishing in the top-3 in all 12 events she played this season.

Congratulations to our 2024 Toptracer Prep Tour Champions and Players of the Year! Special thanks to Clay Myers, PGA, Cody Sinkler, PGA, and the entire staff at The Park West Palm for hosting the event.

Registration for the 2025 season opens on Thursday, December 12, at 10 a.m. Visit our website to learn more about becoming a member of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour!

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Marigliano and Smith Secure Victories at Mariner Sands Medalist Tour Event

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 20:41:51 GMT

Matthew Marigliano and Abigail Smith secured first-place victories at Mariner Sands Country Club during the South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour event, played November 2-3. This was the second-to-last regular season event before the SFPGA Junior Tour Championship in December.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Marigliano of Palm Beach Gardens claimed his third victory of the season, adding to his wins at a Medalist Tour event in March and the SFPGA Labor Day Classic, one of eight junior major tournaments this season.

Marigliano, a 2029 graduate and one of the youngest players in the field, made five birdies in round one, finishing two-under and heading into round two in third place. He followed up with four more birdies in round two, shooting a 3-under 69 and securing the first-place title with a total score of 139.

The race for second place came down to a one-shot difference between Cooper Foegen of Hobe Sound and Gabriel Holtz of Boca Raton. Foegen’s first-round score of 67 set the pace for the tournament, and despite shooting 74 in round two, his eight birdies over the weekend earned him the second-place finish with a final score of 141.

In the Girls 13-18 Division, Smith of Port Saint Lucie took the lead in round one with a 1-under 71 performance, making four birdies. Smith followed up with a round of 76 on day two, completing the tournament at three-over-par with a total score of 147 to claim the first-place title.

Heading into round two, Yool Her of Pembroke Pines and Nirvika Koduru of Boca Raton were tied for second place after both shot 76 in round one, each carding one birdie. However, Jayden Loyacona of Boca Raton made a 10-position comeback, improving from her 12th-place standing after round one. She shot a 73 on day two, with four birdies, to secure the second-place title.

Congratulations to all of our winners for their outstanding performances this weekend!

A special thank you to the Mariner Sands Country Club staff for hosting a great event. The final Medalist Tour event of the season before the SFPGA Junior Tour Championship will take place this weekend, Saturday, November 9, and Sunday, November 10, at Eagle Trace Golf Club. Follow us on social media for more tournament highlights and photos.

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Off the Green With Orla: How Golf Shapes Character and Resilience

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 16:56:49 GMT

For Zoe Shamy, golf has been more than just a sport—it’s been a transformative journey, shaping both her character and her approach to life. She has come a long way since starting her golfing career at age 8 during a First Tee summer camp, where she discovered her passion for the game. From feeling uncertain in her early days to now committing to the University of Tulsa, her story is a testament to resilience, growth and passion.

"Golf has taught me that I cannot always control my circumstances," Zoe shares. "Even the best golf shots can be rewarded with bad bounces. But it works both ways. Bad shots are just as often given good breaks. In both golf and life, I cannot completely control what is going on, but I can control how I react."

This mentality has served her well, both on and off the course. Zoe began her journey on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour with the Toptracer Prep Tour at age 11, where she developed her skills and earned the Prep Tour Player of the Year award in 2020. As she progressed to the more advanced Callaway Medalist Tour, she continued to demonstrate her growth by winning the Player of the Year award again in 2021. Through these experiences, Zoe learned the value of perseverance.

Though she admits she did not start taking golf seriously until she was 13, her steady improvement has led to an impressive list of achievements, including a scoring average of 73.9 over her last 18 rounds and consistently finishing in the top five of almost 70% of tournaments this year.

The road to success was not always smooth. Reflecting on her early challenges, Zoe admits; "When I first went to the Prep Tour, I struggled not having a partner to lean on. I was stuck between continuing to try or stopping altogether."

During this time, Zoe began playing in U.S. Kids events where her dad was able to be by her side as a caddie, giving her the self confidence she needed too push forward.

"I didn’t feel so alone on the course. I got better and better, and eventually, I didn’t need my dad’s advice anymore. So, I went back to the Prep Tour and continued improving from there."

Zoe’s father remains a crucial figure in her life and golf journey. "My dad has always been my biggest supporter," she says. "He has invested a lot of time, money, and effort into improving my golf game, and I am forever grateful."

Zoe’s passion for the game is evident in how she maintains her drive and discipline.

"I’ve always been very intrinsically motivated," explains Zoe, who spends her free time in the winter caddying at Seminole Golf Club. "Even on busy school days or when I’m not feeling great, I make sure to do something to stay productive. I’m not someone who can sit around all day and do nothing."

Beyond her own game, Zoe’s love for golf extends to helping others, specifically the First Tee Florida Gold Coast, where she now volunteers with the younger kids at the organization.

"The First Tee gave me my start in golf. They instilled hard work, respect, and perseverance in me," she says. "I love seeing kids when they figure out how to hit the ball right and break milestones."

The lessons learned from her time at the First Tee allowed her to compete in two First Tee National Championships, where she placed 12th at Stanford in 2023 and 4th at Clemson in 2024.

Volunteering has not only allowed her to give back but also shaped her perspective on the game.

"It gives me patience," she reflects. "Even shots I may not love are still okay shots. I can work with them and still play great golf."

When Zoe is not on the course, she enjoys baking—specifically chocolate cake with vanilla frosting—and draws parallels between her passion for baking and her approach to life. "I actually wrote my college essay about baking," she shares. "The right balance of ingredients is comparable to how I balance golf, school, the gym, and friends. There’s no recipe for life, so I’m making mine as I go."

Zoe’s commitment to the University of Tulsa marks the next exciting chapter in her journey.

"As a junior golfer, it was my dream to play Division I golf, and I’m so proud to have accomplished that goal," she says. "I know that Tulsa has the right combination of athletics and academics to give me the best opportunities post-graduate. I’m excited to meet the team and continue growing as both a golfer and a student."

Looking to the future, Zoe remains open to where her journey will take her. "After four years of college, I want to give myself the opportunity to play professional golf. If not, I’ll pursue a professional career, most likely in medicine."

Zoe Shamy’s story is one of dedication, resilience and passion. Whether on the golf course or in the classroom, she continues to strive for excellence, embracing both the highs and the challenges that come her way. With her sights set on the University of Tulsa and beyond, there’s no doubt she will continue to make her mark on and off the green.

Links Tour Winds Down Season with Links at Boynton Beach Event

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:51:20 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour hosted a Links Tour event on Sunday, October 27, at The Links at Boynton Beach. A total of 43 junior golfers participated in this one-day, 9-hole tournament across several divisions. In the spirit of Halloween, players had the option to dress up in costumes, adding a playful twist to the competition.

In the Boys 15-18 Division, Vincent Rubio from Miami finished 5-over 35 to claim first place, while Evan Elder of Lake Worth secured second place with an 8-over 38.

William Lazarchick of Tequesta took the top spot in the Boys 12-14 Division with a 2-over 32, finishing five strokes ahead of Craig Sargen from Palm Beach Gardens, who posted a 7-over 37 to take second.

The Boys 9-11 Division saw Finn Dritenbas of Tequesta take first-place with a 1-over 31, which included three birdies. Evan Politziner of Palm Beach Gardens followed closely, shooting 2-over 32 with two birdies.

In the Boys 6-8 Division, Skyler Furman of North Miami shot even-par, highlighted by birdies on the 4th and 5th holes, to finish first. Noah Rizzolo Auriemo of Boca Raton and Samuel Dolderer of Palm Beach Gardens tied for second place, both shooting 3-over 33. Dolderer also recorded a birdie on the 6th hole.

On the girls’ side, Sydney Beach of North Palm Beach won the Girls 12-14 Division with a 10-over 40, and Boca Raton’s Kennedy Cruz placed second with a 14-over 44.

In the Girls 9-11 Division, Millie Gonzalgo from Plantation secured first place with a 4-over 34, while Abriella Morrison of Wellington finished second, shooting 12-over 42.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour extends its gratitude to the staff at The Links at Boynton Beach for hosting this event and congratulates all players on their efforts.

The final Links Tour event of the season will be held on Saturday, November 16, also at The Links at Boynton Beach. Stay updated by following us on social media for more tournament highlights and photos.

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PGA National Hosts Final Prep Tour Event Before Prep Tour Championship

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 19:34:56 GMT

The South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour, presented by Callaway wrapped up its regular season on Saturday at PGA National’s Match Course. Competing in a one-day, 18-hole event, 66 junior golfers sought after valuable player of the year points to aid them in qualifying for the Prep Tour Championship on November 10 at The Park.

In the Girls 11-12 division, Mia Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens stood out as the only player in the entire field to finish under par. Heuberger carded seven birdies on her way to a 2-under 64 to claim first-place honors. Harper Kiss of Lighthouse Point took second place with a 4-over 70, including two birdies. A highlight from this division was Larissa Wheelless of Miami, who made a hole-in-one on the par-3 sixth hole.

In the Girls 13-18 Division, Emily Kaulen of Port Saint Lucie claimed first place with a 6-over 72, making four birdies along the way. Close behind, Stella Ronja Lind of Doral shot a 7-over 73 to finish in second place.

The Elharti sisters from Melbourne once again made their presence felt in the Girls 9-10 Division, with Jenna securing the top spot after shooting a 12-over 78. Julia, her younger sister, finished second with a 32-over 98.

In the Boys 11-12 Division, Joshua Fleming of Deerfield Beach posted a 3-over 69 to claim first place, while Gabriel Shabashkevich of Boca Raton finished second with a 5-over 71, sinking a birdie putt on the 18th hole.

Blake Quilleon of Royal Palm Beach took the Boys 13-18 Division title, shooting a 4-over 70, which included a birdie. Owen Hicks of Wellington finished three strokes behind, securing second place with a 7-over 73 and two birdies.

In the Boys 9-10 Division, Victor Monssoh of Miami shot a 1-over 67, carding two birdies to take first place. Deven Allen of Fort Pierce finished second with a 3-over 69, also recording two birdies.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour thanks the staff at PGA National for hosting this event and congratulates all participants on their performances.

The Prep Tour Championship is an invite-only event based on the Player of the Year standings. Invitations will be sent via email from BlueGolf. Please note the division sizes have been based on the breakdown of the Prep Tour membership.

Stay tuned for more tournament recaps and photos by following us on social media!

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Junior Golfers Deliver Strong Performances at Toptracer Prep Tour Event

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 19:34:30 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour hosted a Toptracer Prep Tour tournament, presented by Callaway, on Sunday, October 20, at The Links at Boynton Beach Golf Course. A full field of 78 junior golfers competed in this one-day, 18-hole event across various age divisions.

In the Girls 11-12 Division, Mia Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens had a strong performance, shooting even-par with four birdies to secure first place. Alyna Yensabai of Lake Worth finished second with a 2-over 73, recording three birdies.

The Girls 13-18 Division was shortened to a 16-hole event due to weather and darkness. Stella Ronja Lind of Doral continued her winning streak, shooting an 8-over 71 with two birdies to take home first-place honors. Emily Kaulen of Port Saint Lucie had a strong showing as well, finishing just one stroke behind with a 9-over 72 to claim second place.

In the Boys 9-10 Division, Victor Monssoh of Miami claimed first place, shooting a 3-over 74 and carding three birdies. Brian Kelley of Port Saint Lucie finished second with a 5-over 76, also recording three birdies.

Jackson Logan of Fort Lauderdale secured first place in the Boys 11-12 Division with a 4-over 75 and three birdies, winning by four strokes. A scorecard playoff determined second place between Linus Castro of Jupiter and Atlas Andrews of West Palm Beach, who both shot 8-over 79. Castro earned the second-place medal as a result of the scorecard playoff.

The Boys 13-18 Division also saw a scorecard playoff to determine first place. Elliot Fishman of Boca Raton and Luke Harrigan of Hobe Sound both shot 6-over 77, with Fishman securing the first-place title.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour thanks the staff at The Links at Boynton Beach Golf Course for hosting this event and congratulates all participants on their performances.

Mark your calendars for the next Toptracer Prep Tour event this Saturday, October 26, at PGA National. Follow us on social media for more tournament recaps and photos!

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SFPGA Links Tour Members Take on The Nest at Sandhill Crane in Thrilling Tournament

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 19:56:15 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour held a Links Tour tournament on Sunday, October 13, at The Nest at Sandhill Crane Golf Club, where 44 junior golfers competed in this one-day, 9-hole event across multiple divisions.

In the Boys 15-18 Division, Brylle Andrei Viado of Lake Worth posted a 9-over-par round, while Ryan Tyler of Jupiter finished 5-over-par in the Boys 12-14 Division.

Boca Raton’s Charlie Reich impressed in the Boys 9-11 Division, shooting 3-over-par, including a well-earned birdie. In the Boys 6-8 Division, Samuel Dolderer of Palm Beach Gardens rounded out his round with a 7-over-par performance.

On the girls’ side, Sydney Beach of North Palm Beach shot a 9-over-par and made a birdie to win with an eight-shot lead in the Girls 12-14 Division.

Millie Gonzalgo of Plantation posted a 7-over-par in the Girls 9-11 Division, securing a six-shot lead.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour extends its gratitude to the staff at The Nest at Sandhill Crane Golf Club for hosting this event and congratulates all players on their outstanding achievements.

Mark your calendars for the next Links Tour event on Sunday, October 27, at The Links at Boynton Beach! Be sure to follow us on social media for more tournament recaps and photos.

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Sunday Standout Rounds Highlight South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour Players

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 16:19:11 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour hosted a Toptracer Prep Tour tournament, presented by Callaway, on Sunday, October 6, at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs. Sixty-three talented junior golfers competed in this one-day, 18-hole event, delivering standout performances across various divisions.

Alyna Yensabai of Lake Worth captured the Girls 11-12 Division with a 2-under 70, making her the only player in the tournament to shoot under par. Her consistent play and two birdies earned her the first-place title. Close behind, Mia Heuberger of Palm Beach Gardens delivered an even-par round, making five birdies to secure second place.

In the Girls 13-18 Division, Stella Ronja Lind from Doral won the first-place gold medal with a 4-over 76, winning by two strokes. Shannon Glynn of Coral Springs secured the second-place title, shooting 6-over 78, finishing her round strong by sinking a birdie putt on 18.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Reed Weekley of Davie posted a 2-over 74 that included three birdies to claim first place. One shot behind, Jordan Ascher of Delray Beach shot 3-over 75 for the second-place title.

Atlas Andrews of West Palm Beach captured the title in the Boys 11-12 Division with a 5-over 77, also sinking three birdies and finishing two shots ahead of his competitors.

Victor Monssoh of Miami dominated the Boys 9-10 Division, shooting a 6-over 78 claiming the title by six shots.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour thanks the staff at Eagle Trace Golf Club for hosting this exciting event and congratulates all participants on their outstanding performances!

Mark your calendars for the next Toptracer Prep Tour event on Sunday, October 20, at Hobe Sound Golf Club. Follow us on social media for more tournament recaps and photos!

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Off the Green With Orla: A Shining Example of Passion and Determination

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 19:03:02 GMT

Leah Gram is a 14-year-old South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour junior golfer who radiates joy both on and off the golf course. With her bright smile and infectious enthusiasm, she has quickly become a standout, not just for her golf accomplishments but also for the energy she brings to everyone around her.

Leah’s passion for golf began when she was just six years old, when her father, a former collegiate golfer at the College of Charleston, introduced her to the game. Born in New York to parents originally from Sweden, Leah and her family later moved to Florida. It all started with junior clinics at Abacoa Golf Club in Jupiter, where she fell in love with the game. By the time she was nine, Leah had joined the SFPGA Junior Tour, and her family has been by her side, supporting her every step of the way.

"Golf became a special bond for me and my dad," Leah reflects. "He’s always there cheering me on."

Her steady dedication to the sport soon paid off. Between 2020 and 2022, Leah earned three consecutive top-10 finishes at the U.S. Kids World Championship, setting the stage for what would become a remarkable junior golf career.

In 2023, Leah was a Drive, Chip and Putt finalist, a feat that took her to Augusta National during Masters week—a dream come true for any young golfer. To make the experience even more memorable, she was able to bring her extended family from Sweden, connecting her love for golf with her deep-rooted heritage. Fluent in Swedish, Leah proudly carries her family’s background.

This year, Leah has shined brightly on the SFPGA Junior Tour, winning two Callaway Medalist Tour events and capturing the prestigious Nicklaus Junior Championship, an SFPGA Junior Tour Major. As one of the youngest in the field, she shot an impressive 76-73—149 to seal her victory. She also showcased her skills on the SFPGA Section side, finishing in the top five with her partner, Derek Niszczak, PGA, at the annual Pro-Junior event.

Leah has also competed in several other high-profile events, including the 2024 Florida Women's Amateur, where she was the youngest contestant, and the Florida Girls Championship, where she placed in the top-10 for her age group.

As a freshman at William T. Dwyer High School, Leah balances her academic and athletic commitments with ease. She plays on the varsity golf and volleyball teams while maintaining her straight-A status.

While Leah is incredibly focused on her golf career, she’s still very much a teenage girl who loves to shop and enjoys good food.

"I love shopping," she shares with a smile. "But when I'm on the course, I'm determined and focused. I want to keep pushing myself, and my dream is to play collegiate golf and eventually make it onto the LPGA."

Beyond her love for the game, Leah is also passionate about giving back. She’s involved in Fore All Junior Golf Foundation, which directly supports programs like First Tee and Youth on Course, which help make golf more accessible for young players who might not have had the same opportunities she has.

“Golf is such a great sport, but unfortunately, some people don’t have the same accessibility to equipment and courses,” she says. “I want to help change that.”

Leah’s message to younger golfers is simple but heartfelt:

“Never give up, even if you feel burnt out. Just remember that this game is a skill you could have for the rest of your life while building lifelong friendships and connections.”

With a bright future ahead of her, she exemplifies the commitment, discipline and drive that define South Florida PGA Junior Tour athletes. There’s no doubt Leah will continue to inspire her peers, both on and off the golf course.

Mike Berger, PGA, and Jeremy Hsu Capture 2024 SFPGA Pro-Junior Title with Dominant 14-Under Performance

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 20:10:24 GMT

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Mike Berger, PGA, and Jeremy Hsu, a member of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, claimed the 2024 South Florida PGA Pro-Junior title, presented by Callaway and Toptracer, and supported by TravisMathew with a 14-under-par at The Park West Palm.

The event featured 50 two-person teams, each consisting of a South Florida PGA Professional and a junior golfer (age 18 and under). The 18-hole tournament was split into two formats: a four-ball format on the front nine and a scramble on the back nine.

Berger, a teaching professional at Hammock Creek Golf Club, and Hsu, the 2024 South Florida Junior PGA Championship Boys Division runner-up, delivered a flawless performance. Their scorecard boasted 12 birdies, two eagles, and zero bogeys.

For Berger, this victory was a sweet redemption after narrowly missing the title at the Yamaha Junior-Senior Championship in July. Hsu's success was no surprise, given that he claimed the runner-up title at the 2024 SFPGA Junior PGA Championship. Last month, Hsu represented the SFPGA at Congressional Country Club in pursuit of a national title.

The duo showcased their dominance, shooting 5-under 31 on the front nine and an extraordinary 10-under 26 on the back nine, finishing with a total of 57 strokes. They played the par-4s and par-5s at a combined 6-under.

John Fanning, from Fairways to Heaven Golf, and junior partner Gabe Hull tied for second at 10-under with the father-son team of Justin Hicks, a teaching professional at Stonebridge Golf & Country Club, and Owen Hicks, a member of the SFPGA Toptracer Prep Tour. Fanning and Hull ultimately secured the runner-up spot after a scorecard playoff.

The 2024 South Florida PGA Pro-Junior was presented by Callaway and Toptracer, with support from TravisMathew. Special thanks to The Park West Palm's PGA General Manager, Brian Conley, and PGA Director of Golf, Cody Sinkler, for hosting the event.

Leaderboard | Event Photos

Oxbridge Academy Claims Boys and Girls Titles in Stunning Sweep at SFPGA East Coast High School Championship

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 22:59:39 GMT

BOCA RATON, Fla . – Oxbridge Academy dominated both the Boys and Girls Divisions to sweep the leaderboard and claim victory at the South Florida PGA Junior Tour’s East Coast High School Championship, presented by Keiser University, at Boca West Country Club's Palmer III course.

Starting the final round with a 17-stroke lead, the Boys' team from Oxbridge Academy continued their dominant performance, never letting up as they powered through the final day. AJ Colonna (70-69—139) and Ajax La Nasa (72-68—140) led the charge, securing an impressive even-par team finish. Oxbridge’s unwavering control of the leaderboard was a testament to their skill and focus. At the same time, the Boys’ team from American Heritage put together a solid performance to claim second place at 20-over.

Individually, Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton High School captured the Boys’ Division title with an impressive two-day total of 68-66—134. Crowe edged out Lawson Ford of Cardinal Newman by one shot, racking up 10 birdies over two rounds, including six in the final round.

In the Girls' Division, Madison Hyndman (71-70–141) of Oxbridge Academy delivered an outstanding second round, recording five birdies to win the individual title by two strokes over teammate Catherine Mulvaney (70-73–143).

Hyndman and Mulvaney’s stellar performances also lifted Oxbridge Academy to the Girls’ team championship, finishing three strokes ahead of Pine Crest School.

The SFPGA High School Championship featured 105 players—70 boys and 35 girls—from 16 teams across South Florida. Next week, the Junior Tour heads to the West Coast for the West Coast High School Championship, scheduled for September 27-28 at Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club in Naples.

A special thank you to Head Golf Professional, Mike Bove and the staff at Boca West Country Club for hosting the event.

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South Florida PGA Junior Tour Hosts Back-to-Back Toptracer Prep Tour Events Presented by Callaway

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:33:18 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour recently held two back-to-back Toptracer Prep Tour tournaments, presented by Callaway, across an action-packed weekend. Young golfers from across the Section showcased their skills at Old Corkscrew Golf Club and PGA Golf Club, delivering impressive performances.

Toptracer Prep Tour, Presented by Callaway at Old Corkscrew Golf Club

On Saturday, September 14, 54 players teed off at Old Corkscrew Golf Club for a one-day, 18-hole tournament.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Remi Lipon of Boca Raton and Guillermo Marin of Doral tied with a 7-over 79. Lipon claimed the title in a scorecard playoff, thanks to his stronger back nine performance.

Flynn Lewis of Jupiter shined in the Boys 11-12 Division, carding a 4-over 76, including a birdie on a par 3, to take first place.

The Girls 13-18 Division saw a close battle, with Manuela Moreno of Doral shooting a 10-over 82, edging out Stella Ronja Lind (83) by just one stroke for the win.

In the Girls 11-12 Division, Diya Bhatt of Doral dominated, shooting a 7-over 79 to win by 15 shots.

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Toptracer Prep Tour presented by Callaway at PGA Golf Club - Ryder Course

The action continued on Sunday, September 15, at PGA Golf Club's Ryder Course, where 61 juniors competed.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Julian Koehler of Palm Beach Gardens triumphed in a scorecard playoff over Mason Cauff of Sea Ranch Lakes. Both shot 4-over 75, with Koehler’s back nine performance securing his victory.

J. Holden Rice of Jupiter took first place in the Boys 11-12 Division, shooting 6-over 77 for his third win of the season.

In the Boys 9-10 Division, Victor Monssoh of Miami shot a 1-over 72, backed by three birdies, to claim victory by one stroke.

Stella Ronja Lind of Doral bounced back in the Girls 13-18 Division, shooting a 77 to secure first place, just ahead of Caitlyn Josey of Deerfield Beach, who shot 79.

Harper Kiss of Lighthouse Point claimed first in the Girls 11-12 Division with a 7-over 78.

In the Girls 9-10 Division, sisters Jenna and Julia Elharti of Melbourne competed, with Jenna taking the title after shooting 78, 11 strokes ahead of her younger sister.

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The South Florida PGA Junior Tour thanks the staff at Old Corkscrew Golf Club and PGA Golf Club for hosting these exciting events. Congratulations to all participants for their outstanding performances!

Mark your calendars for another back-to-back weekend of Toptracer Prep Tour events on Saturday, October 5, at Links at Boynton Beach, and Sunday, October 6, at Eagle Trace Golf Club. Follow us on social media for more tournament recaps and photos!

Off the Green With Orla: Chasing Big Dreams on the Toptracer Prep Tour

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 14:30:24 GMT

At just 10 years old, Brian Kelley is already making waves on the South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour presented by Callaway, a journey that began when he was only 2 years old.

Brian’s passion for golf started early. He fondly remembers spending time at the driving range alongside his father in Kansas City, Missouri. Adopted at 3 weeks old, Brian has always been surrounded by love and support, which has helped fuel his passion for golf.

“I loved watching him hit balls, and I’d try to copy everything he did,” Brian recalled of his Dad. “Sometimes, I didn’t even want to leave!”

Adoption has played a huge role in Brian’s life with supportive parents who recognized and acted on his talents early.

After earning a spot in the 2019 Junior World Championship held at Torrey Pines Golf Course at the age of 5, the Kelley family made a significant decision that would shape Brian’s future. They traded in the snowy winters of Missouri for the year-round golf season in south Florida, all so Brian could pursue his dream of playing the game he loved.

“They gave up their jobs and we moved to south Florida just so I could play golf all year round,” he said, reflecting on his parents’ support. “I'm so thankful to them for that.”

Once in Florida, Brian began competing in SFPGA Junior Tour events, starting with the Links Tour, which quickly became his favorite tournaments.

“We got to play on such amazing courses, and the [SFPGA] team running the tournaments was always so nice,” Brian said. “Plus, the PGA shirts, hats and gear were pretty awesome too.”

The tournaments also provided key learning experiences, especially when it came to reading greens on his own. “Our parents weren’t allowed to help us on the greens, so we had to figure it out ourselves,” Brian said. “I think that’s why I’ve become such a good putter.”

As his skills improved, Brian advanced to the Toptracer Prep Tour in 2023, where he embraced the challenge of carrying his own bag and handling the pressure just like the pros. His recent results speak for themselves — Brian has been a dominant force, going for a total six-under-par in his last four tournaments and winning them all. He credits his success to the preparation he gained from the SFPGA Junior tournaments.

Brian’s talent extends beyond playing in tournaments. For the past four years, he has competed in the Drive, Chip and Putt events, advancing to regionals in 2022 and hopes to one day make it to the final round at Augusta National.

His competitive spirit is just as strong in the classroom, where Brian maintains a 3.6 GPA and holds membership in the National Honor Society at Morningside Academy in Port St. Lucie.

Away from the course, Brian enjoys time with his family — whether it’s fishing, shooting hoops or heading to the beach. But his dream is clear:

“I want to play Division I golf in college and one day make it to the PGA TOUR.”

With his work ethic and the continued support of the SFPGA, Brian is confident that those dreams are within reach. “The [SFPGA] tournaments are so much fun and really help kids like me get better,” he said. “If I keep practicing and playing, I know I can achieve my dreams.”

Brian’s adopted family has given him the love and opportunities needed to chase his dreams and has shown how love, dedication, and sacrifice can change the trajectory of a child’s life.

For countless children, adoption opens doors to a brighter future. Families like the Kelleys show just how impactful it can be. Brian’s journey from a toddler on the driving range to a top player on the Toptracer Prep Tour is testament to his perseverance, overcoming the challenges he’s faced.

With his focus and determination, Brian is well on his way to achieving his dreams!

Callaway Medalist Champions Emerge After Competitive Weekend at Old Corkscrew

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 22:13:37 GMT

ESTERO, Fla. – Players from the Callaway Medalist Tour participated in a two-day, 36-hole event at Old Corkscrew Golf Club on Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8.

During round one, Leah Gram of Jupiter took the lead in the Girls 13-18 Division with an impressive performance. She made five birdies and kept a bogey-free scorecard through the first thirteen holes, finishing the day with a four-under-par 68. Gram followed up with a 73 in round two, finishing at 3-under-par with a total score of 141 to claim the first-place title.

Eva Lye of Naples stayed in contention throughout the tournament, posting consistent rounds of 72 and 71 to finish at 1-under-par with a total of 143. Despite Lye’s strong final round, Gram’s early lead proved unbeatable.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Jack Ryan Donovan of Ave Maria claimed victory. Donovan’s final round of 71 brought him to two-over-par for a total of 146, securing the win. His steady play kept him ahead of a competitive field, with four players tied for second place at five-over-par.

Jaden Peterson of Port Saint Lucie earned the second-place title after a scorecard playoff, thanks to his strong finish over the last six holes of the final round, including a birdie on the fifteenth hole. He finished with rounds of 78 and 71 for a total of 149.

In the Boys 11-12 Division, Daniel Barcenas of Weston delivered a commanding performance to win first place. Barcenas opened with an impressive 66 in the first round and, despite a challenging final round of 76, finished at 2-under-par with a total score of 142. His remarkable first-round score set the pace for the tournament and secured his victory.

Congratulations to all of our winners for their exceptional performances this week!

A special thank you to the Old Corkscrew Golf Club staff for hosting a fantastic event.

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Off the Green With Orla: Building Lasting Friendships Beyond the Golf Course

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 16:20:56 GMT

As the sun rose over the fairways at BallenIsles Country Club, Aiden Miller and Luke Wise teed off together for their final round of golf as competitors, friends and teammates on the South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour.

This year’s SFPGA Junior Cup, held on BallenIsles’ newly renovated East Course in July, brought together the top junior golfers in the region. The 54-hole tournament had a bittersweet significance for Miller and Wise, as it marked the end of an era before they embarked on their collegiate journeys—Miller heading to The Ohio State University and Wise to Guilford College.

Their friendship began at The Benjamin School, where they both made the high school golf team. Initially, it was their shared love of golf that brought them together, as they regularly played on the same courses. However, it was not long before they realized they had another important connection: the SFPGA Junior Tour. Miller had been a member since 2017, and when Wise joined in 2020, their paths on the tour intertwined.

“It kinda just all clicked naturally,” Miller recalled. “We are honestly very opposite people, but for some reason, it works.”

Their bond deepened during a 2021 Challenge Tour event at Vineyards Country Club in Naples. It was the first time they were paired together in a tournament, and that round marked a turning point in their friendship as their connection went beyond the game.

“That’s when we really started to get closer as friends,” Miller added.

For nearly half a decade, Miller and Wise were inseparable on the Junior Tour. Their journey together was marked by countless rounds, shared victories and a deep bond forged through the game they loved.

“Playing together makes it all worth it,” Miller remarked. “Especially when we see each other win. It’s always been about more than just the game.”

So when both Miller (74-77-75-226) and Wise (80-78-81-239) made the cut at the SFPGA Junior Cup, there was reason to celebrate as they got to tee it up one more time together.

“That was the real victory,” Wise said. “Just knowing I’d get to play that last round with my friends.”

As they prepare to step into new chapters of their lives, both Miller and Wise look back on their time playing junior golf together as a cherished part of their story. While excited for what’s to come, they know the bond they’ve built through golf will remain strong.

“I’ll miss these moments with Luke,” Miller admitted. “But I’m excited for what’s ahead for both of us. We’ll stay connected and continue to support each other.”

Wise, who will play golf collegiately at Guilford College, shared similar sentiments. “It’s going to be different not playing alongside Aiden in tournaments,” he said. “But we’ve built a great friendship through golf, and I know that won’t change, even as we go our separate ways.”

Miller and Wise’s friendship is a testament to the enduring bonds formed through shared passions and experiences. As they step into new chapters of their lives, their time together on the Junior Tour remains a cherished foundation, one that will inspire them as they take on new challenges.

Their journey with the SFPGA has been about more than golf; it has been about building a lasting friendship that will continue to shape their futures, on and off the course.

Marigliano and Pla Claim Titles at 2024 SFPGA Labor Day Classic After Competitive Final Rounds at PGA National

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:19:00 GMT

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Matthew Marigliano and Staci Pla emerged as champions at the 2024 South Florida PGA Labor Day Classic, presented by Callaway and Toptracer, after three intense rounds played on PGA National’s Champion and Fazio courses from August 31 to September 2.

The Labor Day Classic, one of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour’s eight major events, featured 157 of the region’s top junior golfers (110 boys and 47 girls). Following two rounds of competition, the field was cut to 53 players who advanced to the final round on PGA National’s iconic Champion course, home to the PGA TOUR’s Cognizant Classic. Known for its challenging layout and the infamous Bear Trap stretch, the course tested even the most skilled competitors as they fought for the title.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Palm Beach Gardens native Matthew Marigliano, at just 13 years old, secured the title with an impressive performance, finishing (71-71-70) over three rounds.

“It feels good to win, but it was hard out there,” Marigliano reflected. “In today’s round, I made 16 straight pars until the last two holes where I birdied.”

Starting the tournament with a first-round 71, Marigliano found himself two strokes off the lead but remained focused. His second-round 71, which included two birdies, elevated him to a tie for first place and secured his spot in the final group teeing off in round three.

In the final round, Marigliano battled against fellow Palm Beach Gardens competitors Ryan Nana Tanke and Tristan Rhodenizer. The trio remained close throughout the day, but Marigliano’s birdies on holes 17 and 18 allowed him to pull ahead, ultimately winning by two strokes.

“My main focus today was just to hit fairways and greens,” Marigliano added, reflecting on his strategy.

The competition was equally intense on the girls’ side, as Staci Pla showcased remarkable consistency to win the title. Pla maintained a tight lead throughout round one and had an incredible round two, shooting a two-under-par 70. Heading into the final round with a five-shot lead, Pla remained confident.

“I knew that as long as I stayed strong throughout the course, I could keep the lead,” Pla said. “I kept telling myself to trust the process.”

While her closest competitor, Zoe Shamy of Jupiter, struggled with consistency, Pla stayed steady. Her final-round score of 3-under-par 69 sealed the victory with an impressive 12-stroke lead over Shamy.

Pla, who finished runner-up at this year’s South Florida PGA Junior Championship and earned a spot at the national junior-level event at Congressional Country Club, was thrilled to secure her first-place finish on the SFPGA Junior Tour.

“It’s been three years since I last won with the SFPGA, so this victory was definitely due,” Pla remarked.

Special thanks to Michael Willams and all the staff at PGA National for hosting another great SFPGA Labor Day Classic.

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South Florida PGA Junior Tour Showcases Talent in Back-to-Back Events

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 18:59:35 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour recently hosted a series of exciting events, featuring back-to-back Toptracer Prep Tour tournaments presented by Callaway, along with a Links Tour event. Young golfers from across the Section showcased their skills, delivering impressive performances and thrilling finishes.

Links Tour at St. Andrews Club

On Sunday, August 18, the picturesque St. Andrews Club in Delray Beach welcomed 50 Links Tour players for a one-day, 9-hole event.

William Lazarchick of Tequesta led the Boys 12-14 Division, finishing 4-over par with a two-stroke victory.

In the Boys 9-11 Division, Pedro Restrepo of Key Biscayne, Julian Brandman of Delray Beach, and Luca Terminesi of Jupiter all tied for first, shooting 3-over 30 to share the top spot.

Meanwhile, Eva Cortes of Dorado, Puerto Rico, dominated the Girls 9-11 Division, carding two birdies and finishing with a four-stroke lead at 5-over 32.

In the Girls 6-8 Division, Morgan Miller of Jupiter continued her winning streak by shooting 8-over 35.

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Toptracer Prep Tour, Presented by Callaway at PGA National - Estates Course

The action continued on Sunday, August 18, with the Toptracer Prep Tour event at PGA National's Estates Course, where 78 players competed in a one-day, 18-hole tournament.

Carson Lowe of West Palm Beach impressed in the Boys 13-18 Division, shooting a stellar 1-under 71, highlighted by three birdies, to claim first place.

The Boys 11-12 Division saw a dramatic finish, as William Lorberbaum of Delray Beach and Mateo Muniz of Wellington both shot 1-under 71. Ultimately, Lorberbaum took the title after a scorecard playoff, thanks to a drained birdie putt on the 17th hole.

Brian Kelley of Port Saint Lucie dominated the Boys 9-10 Division, shooting a remarkable 2-under 70 for a five-stroke victory.

In the Girls 11-12 Division, Lucia Romero of Doral and Alyna Yensabai of Lake Worth both finished at even par. Romero clinched the win in a scorecard playoff with a bogey-free back nine.

Victoria Frias of Parkland closed her round with three consecutive birdies, finishing with five birdies overall, and secured the top spot in the Girls 9-10 Division at 5-over 77.

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Toptracer Prep Tour at Fairwinds Golf Course

The Toptracer Prep Tour continued on Sunday, August 25, with an event at Fairwinds Golf Course where 78 juniors took to the course for this one-day, 18-hole event.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, Julian Koehler of Palm Beach Gardens emerged victorious, making two birdies and shooting 1-over 73.

The Boys 11-12 Division was dominated by Nathan Wallen of Jupiter, who shot an impressive 2-under 70 to take first place in just his second Prep Tour event of the season.

Brian Kelley continued his dominance in the Boys 9-10 Division, shooting 1-under 71 to win by two strokes, backed by three birdies.

The Girls 11-12 Division saw a comeback from Alyna Yensabai of Lake Worth, who bounced back from a double bogey on her opening hole to card a bogey-free round and finish with four birdies for a 2-under 70 victory.

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The South Florida PGA Junior Tour would like to thank all the staff at PGA National, Fairwinds Golf Course, and St. Andrews Club for hosting these outstanding events. Congratulations to all the winners and participants for their incredible performances!

Mark your calendars for the upcoming Prep Tour events on September 14 at Old Corkscrew Golf Club and September 15 at PGA Golf Club, Ryder Course. Be sure to follow us on social media for more tournament recaps and photos!

Current and Former SFPGA Junior Tour Members Making a Difference

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 15:00:16 GMT

In south Florida, the game of golf is not just about skill and competition—it's also about giving back. This community spirit is embodied by countless individuals and organizations, including the South Florida PGA and the SFPGA Foundation. In early 2023, the SFPGA proudly partnered with Ballz4Change, a unique initiative founded by SFPGA Junior Tour alumni Max Sherman and Michael Hulle, to help drive meaningful change.

Ballz4Change takes a simple idea and turns it into impact. Their mission? To retrieve, recycle, and repurpose golf balls while supporting local charities. They work directly with golf facilities, sending divers into the lakes to recover lost golf balls. Once collected, the balls are inspected and resold, with the proceeds benefiting charitable causes. It’s a cycle of sustainability that addresses waste and channels funds into the community.

Recognizing the need for a greater environmental focus in golf, Ballz4Change partnered with Green Golf Impact (GGI), a new nonprofit founded by three current SFPGA Callaway Medalist Junior Tour members: Alexander, Jonathan, and Stephanie Weinberg. Competitive golfers with a deep love for the sport, the Weinberg siblings were struck by the piles of used golf balls cluttering their garage. They realized that these small pieces of plastic were part of a much bigger environmental problem.

Their research revealed a startling gap in golf ball recycling solutions. Despite the growing demand for golf balls since the pandemic, there was little focus on sustainability within the industry. Determined to make a difference, the Weinbergs founded GGI with a mission to raise awareness about the environmental impact of golf ball waste and promote sustainable practices.

"We are committed to protecting our planet and fostering a greener future for the golfing community," the Weinbergs shared. Green Golf Impact measures success by tracking both the number of golf balls collected and recycled, as well as the growing awareness and participation from golfers and facilities. One of their long-term goals is to raise enough money to establish a foundation scholarship, which will be awarded to a well-rounded SFPGA junior golfer pursuing higher education after high school.

Looking ahead, the Weinbergs envision a network of golf facilities and players across South Florida, united in their sustainability commitment. They aim to strengthen their local presence while developing a model that can be replicated in other regions. "Working closely with Ballz4Change, we believe we can rally the south Florida golf community around the cause of sustainability, creating a lasting impact on both the environment and the game of golf."

Now in its second year, Ballz4Change has faced challenges in gaining credibility in the community. However, their perseverance has paid off. In 2024, they raised over $10,000, which was donated to support charitable causes throughout the community. Looking ahead to 2025, Sherman and Hulle plan to focus on educational initiatives to highlight the major impacts Ballz4Change is making at facilities across the region.

This partnership between Ballz4Change and Green Golf Impact is poised to get the ball rolling on a new era of sustainability in south Florida's golf community. By combining Sherman and Hulle’s expertise in golf ball recycling with the Weinbergs' passion for sustainability, they are creating a powerful force for good.

"Partnering with Green Golf Impact was a no-brainer for us," shares Max Sherman. “Both Michael and I care deeply about golf, and we want to ensure its future is sustainable. GGI’s vision for a more environmentally-conscious golfing community aligns perfectly with what we're trying to achieve at Ballz4Change.”

Junior golfers, like those involved with the SFPGA, are the game's future, and they can lead a new wave of sustainability efforts in the golfing world. As GGI remarked, "together, we can ensure that the sport we love contributes to environmental conservation rather than detracting from it."

To increase junior golfer involvement, SFPGA will be placing collection buckets at Medalist Tour events, starting with the Labor Day Classic at the end of August. These efforts aim to encourage more young golfers to take an active role in the sustainability movement, contributing directly to the cause by recycling golf balls.

As these initiatives gain momentum, Ballz4Change and Green Golf Impact are set to leave a lasting legacy on the sport, showing that the game of golf can drive environmental change.

Ballz4Change Website | Green Golf Impact Website

Junior Tour Alum Noah Kent Shines at the 124th U.S. Amateur

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 22:02:18 GMT

CHASKA, Minn. - South Florida PGA Junior Tour Alum Noah Kent’s remarkable run at the 124th U.S. Amateur came up just short, falling to Jose Luis Ballester on the 36th hole at Hazeltine National Golf Club.

A rising Sophomore at the University of Iowa, Kent's remarkable performance this week is a testament to both his current skill and the strong foundation he built during his time on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour. Son of South Florida PGA Member David Kent, PGA General Manager at The Club at Crown Colony, Kent grew up in Naples and began his journey with the SFPGA in 2015 as part of the South Florida PGA Team Golf program.

As a member on the SFPGA Junior Tour, Kent won the prestigious Patty Berg Championship in 2020 and was the individual champion at the 2021 SFPGA High School Championship before going on to compete for the Hawkeyes.

To begin the week at Hazeltine, Kent opened the stroke play portion of the event with a 77, before he bounced back with a 64 to finish in a tie for 32nd, advancing to the round of 64 to compete in match play.

Noah went on to defeat Xihuan Chang 4 and 2 to advance to the round of 32, where he beat Tom Fischer 2 and 1. Noah then beat Garrett Engle 4 and 2 before facing Ethan Fang in the quarterfinals, winning 3 and 2. Yesterday, Kent capped his storybook run with a birdie on the 18th hole to beat Jackson Buchanan 2 up on the final hole.

Kent’s final match against Jose Luis Ballester, a rising senior at Arizona State University, was challenging, with Ballester taking an early lead. The 19-year-old Kent stayed steady, carding pars on the first three holes. His birdie on the fourth hole put him back in contention, but Ballester responded with a birdie at the 8th hole and took a 4-up lead after the first 18 holes.

However, like he did all week, Kent never wavered and continued to fight hard during the second 18 holes. Kent, who never closed the gap closer than two down, won three of five holes during the second back nine stretch before carding a par to Ballester's bogey on the 34th hole to narrow the gap to one down. The two exchanged pars on the 35th hole before Ballester closed out the championship on the 36th hole.

With his performance, Kent will receive an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club and will receive an invitation to the 2025 Masters Tournament.

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Don Law’s 13U and Palm Beach 17U Teams Advance to PGA Jr. League Regionals Wins at the Section Championship

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 20:11:49 GMT

Don Law’s 13-and-under and Palm Beach’s 17-and-under teams advanced to the PGA Jr. League Regional competition after winning their respective divisions during Saturday’s Section Championship at Osprey Point Golf Course.

The 17U, coached by David Finn, PGA, won the morning wave after a 9-hole, two-person scramble on Osprey Point’s Falcon Course. The team will play in the Regional Qualifier for the third consecutive year, held next month at The Park in West Palm Beach.

Joining the team at The Park will be Don Law’s 13U team, coached by Tanner Barnhard and Diana Law.

After all 13U teams played the same format in the morning, the two teams with the lowest aggregate team score advanced to the afternoon to go head-to-head in a match-play competition.

Don Law’s 13U took on Abacoa’s 13U league, ultimately winning by nine strokes.

Saturday's Section Qualifier was the first of three phases en route to the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship, annually highlighting the best PGA Jr. League teams across the country at the PGA of America headquarters in Frisco, Texas.

Leading each team were David Flinn, PGA, Tanner Barnhard, David Pesacov, PGA, Zackary Shriver, PGA, Nancy Stuart, Christopher Cupp, Jeff Jones, Ashlee Harwell, Diana Law, Kenny Leach, PGA and Sean Kicker, PGA.

Thank you to Osprey Point for holding another incredible Jr. League Section Championship event!

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Top Performers Shine at South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour Event

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 13:10:48 GMT

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – Over the past weekend, the Country Club of Coral Springs hosted 78 young golfers for a one-day, 18-hole competition as part of the South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour, presented by Callaway.

In the Boy's 9-10 Division, Brian Kelley from Port St. Lucie was outstanding, securing his fifth Prep Tour victory with a tournament-low score of three-under, 68. He dominated the back nine with five birdies to finish his round.

Meanwhile, Victoria Frias of Parkland continued her impressive season with her eighth win in the Girl's 9-10 Division. She carded a five-over 76, showcasing consistent play.

In the Boy's 11-12 Division, Joshua Fleming of Deerfield Beach showed his focus with a solid one-over, 72, leading his age group by two strokes with six birdies.

Alyna Yensabai maintained her winning streak in the Girl's 11-12 Division, delivering an outstanding performance with six birdies and finishing the round three-under, 68.

The Boy's 13-18 Division saw Robert Whiddon of Palm Beach Gardens and Drew Davis of Coral Gables both finish at one-over. Davis claimed the top spot in a scorecard playoff, supported by his four birdies on the back nine.

Congratulations to all the Prep Tour champions for their exceptional performances, and a special thanks to the staff at the Country Club of Coral Springs for hosting this thrilling event.

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Woods, Lye Win South Florida PGA Junior Cup, Presented by Callaway and Toptracer

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:24:21 GMT

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Charlie Woods and Eva Lye won the 2024 South Florida PGA Junior Cup, Presented by Callaway and Toptracer, after 54-holes at BallenIsles Country Club’s newly renovated East Course, July 29-31.

“The Cup,” one of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour’s eight majors, hosted 88 (63 boys and 25 girls) of the top junior golfers in south Florida before cutting the field to 36 following the first two rounds of play.

Woods of Palm Beach Gardens, captured his first SFPGA Medalist Tour title and junior major after finishing as the only player in the field under par (73-68-73).

“I feel like it was a compilation of a lot of hard work this summer,” said Woods. “I wanted to redeem myself, and I feel great about how I played.”

After a first-round 73 put the 15-year-old Woods four strokes back, he rebounded, firing a second-round 68, which included five birdies, elevating him to second place and giving him a tee time in the final group for round three.

Woods and his playing partners Brooks Hansen of Jupiter and Trey Farnsworth of Orlando battled throughout much of round three before birdies at holes 10 and 12 helped Woods pull away, eventually winning by two strokes.

“I wanted it so bad,” explained Woods. “I felt focused, and I knew what I had to do to get it done. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do better.”

The competition at BallenIsles was just as thrilling on the Girl’s side as Lye never led the tournament until all scorecards were posted after round three.

“I didn’t want to give up even though I had a bad day yesterday,” said Lye.

Lye’s five-over 77 on day two put the Naples native behind Abigail Sheldon of Boca Raton. While both girls admitted to some nerves as they competed throughout the day, Lye’s five birdies helped to combat any mistakes, finishing with a one-under 71 to surge ahead.

“I was nervous, but I knew I had to play well,” admitted Lye, who captured her second win on the Medalist Tour this year.

Unique to this year's SFPGA Junior Cup, which was held for the second time, was the major championship venue, helping to set the stage. BallenIsles Country Club played host to the 1971 PGA Championship.

The SFPGA Junior Tour’s Callaway Medalist Tour, presented by Toptracer, is the elite level tour falling under the umbrella of the South Florida PGA Foundation’s Junior Tour. With more than 100 tournaments administered annually, the SFPGA Junior Tour hosts first-class, low-cost, competitive events at some of south Florida’s most prestigious courses for juniors ages 6-18.

Thank you to PGA Professionals Ryan Walls, Jeff Fitzherbertand and Chris Hayes of BallenIsles Country Club for hosting.

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International Golfers Shine at South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour Event

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 13:34:23 GMT

PALM CITY, Fla. – Last week, the South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour held an event at Hammock Creek Golf Club, featuring 78 players, including 11 from the Hong Kong PGA Learning & Performance Center. These young golfers traveled to PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie for an international golf camp and experience.

Todd Howard, PGA, one of the camp instructors, has trained hundreds of Golf Professionals and juniors worldwide, including in the United States, China, Japan, and Europe.

Howard commented on the experience, saying, "This is a great opportunity to influence them and expose them to different experiences, especially by participating in South Florida PGA Junior Tour tournaments."

For many of these young golfers, the Prep Tour event was their first experience competing in a tournament. Among the international contingent, Mingzi (Louis) Wu stood out, shooting an impressive five-under-par (67) to win the Boys 9-10 Division.

"The course is beautiful," said Wu. "I'm very excited to be here and compete."

The South Florida PGA Foundation, with its mission of giving back, changing lives, and growing the game of golf, works tirelessly to enhance the lives of youth, families, and military personnel. The PGA Learning & Performance Centers, as well as PGA Youth Development Centers, focus on children ages five and up, instilling a passion and love for golf in all participants. Through these united efforts, golf continues to grow and have a positive impact worldwide.

The South Florida PGA Foundation and South Florida PGA Junior Tour offer a variety of programs, including the Links, Prep, and Medalist Tours, Drive, Chip and Putt events, and PGA Junior League, among others. For the last 25 years, the SFPGA Foundation has welcomed juniors of all skill levels to experience the benefits of golf and embark on their golf journey.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour event at Hammock Creek provided an incredible golf experience that will be remembered and cherished by juniors and families, not only locally but also halfway across the world in China.

Lilly Riegger and Oscar Crowe Triumph at Callaway Medalist Tour Event

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:32:57 GMT

HOBE SOUND, Fla. - Players from the Callaway Medalist Tour participated in a two-day, 36-hole event at Hobe Sound Golf Club on Wednesday, July 17, and Thursday, July 18. Competitors battled not only against each other but also against high temperatures and thunderstorms to secure a win.

During round one, Abigail Smith of Port St. Lucie took the lead in the Girls’ 13-18 Division with an impressive performance, making four birdies and keeping a bogey-free scorecard for the first eight holes.

When asked about her strategy heading into round two, Smith said, “I just want to enjoy it, whatever happens, happens. I know I will remain proud of myself regardless of the outcome.”

Lilly Riegger of Fort Lauderdale was two shots behind Smith, ending round one tied for third, shooting a three-over par 75. Despite the challenging start, Riegger was determined to make a strong comeback in round two.

The Girls’ Division saw a thrilling conclusion with a one-hole playoff between Riegger and Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point. Demonstrating remarkable skill under pressure, Riegger sank a 27-foot putt for birdie to secure the win, finishing with a total score of 75-73-148.

“I wasn’t expecting to go into a playoff today,” says Riegger. “I was nervous going into it because I knew how tough my competition was.”

Balcom secured second place with a total score of 74-74-148.

Sebastian Eterovic of Coral Gables led the Boys’ 13-18 Division in the first round, making four birdies and ending with one-over par 73. With seven players tied for second place heading into round two, Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton was among them. Crowe also made four birdies in the first round, ending two-over par 74.

Halfway through round two, players faced torrential downpours but persevered to finish the day.

Crowe emerged victorious in the Boys’ Division, delivering an impressive final round with five birdies and finishing three-under par for a final score of 74-69-143.

When asked about his performance, Crowe said, “My putting was A1 today; I couldn’t ask for anything better.” He added, “The course was in great shape; I want to thank the staff for hosting us.”

Cole Laffere of Miami secured second place in a scorecard playoff with a final score of 75-72-147. Starting round two tied for ninth place, Laffere's exceptional bogey-free back nine propelled him to the runner-up spot.

Congratulations to all of our winners for their exceptional performances this week!

A special thank you to John Pershern, PGA, and the Hobe Sound Golf Course staff for hosting an amazing event.

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Recap of an Exciting Week of Tournaments for the SFPGA Junior Tour

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 17:15:21 GMT

Over the past week, the South Florida PGA Junior Tour hosted a series of Toptracer Prep Tour, presented by Callaway tournaments and Links Tour events, showcasing impressive performances from the two tour’s young golfers.

Prep Tour at PGA National - Palmer Course

The week kicked off on Monday, July 8, at PGA National on the Palmer Course, where 78 golfers competed in a one-day, 18-hole event.

In the Boys 13-18 division, Martin Bustos of Chattanooga, Tennessee, claimed the top spot with a score of 4-over par, 76, highlighted by three birdies. Mateo Munzi (74) of Wellington finished at 2-over par in the Boys 11-12 division, marked by two birdies and a solid front nine.

In the Boys 9-10 division, Brian Kelley of Port St. Lucie posted a 3-over 75 to secure his victory.

Anisleidy Chavez of Florida City emerged as the frontrunner in the Girls 13-18 division, carding a 9-over 81 with a two-shot victory over Jenna Missett of Port St. Lucie.

Gemma Hughes of Stuart led the Girls 11-12 division with a score of 1-over par 73, including two birdies, while Anastasia Todoric of Pembroke Pines captured the Girls 9-10 title with a score of 7-over 79, highlighted by three birdies.

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Prep Tour at The TwinEagles Club

On Saturday, July 13, The TwinEagles Club hosted another exciting Prep Tour event. Dominic Manfield (72) of Naples was victorious in the Boys 13-18 division, finishing the day with four birdies and a score of even par.

Alyna Yensabai of Lake Worth dominated the Girls 11-12 division with an 11-stroke win, finishing at 1-over 73. Victoria Frias (75) of Parkland ended the day with a 12-stroke lead in the Girls 9-10 division, finishing at 3-over par.

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Links Tour at Hunter’s Run Country Club

The Links Tour took on Hunter’s Run Country Club on Sunday, July 14, competing in a nine-hole event. Preston Breen (46) of Lake Worth continued his winning streak in the Boys 9-11 division, finishing with a five-stroke lead and a total score of 10-over par.

Ryan Perez (44) of Tequesta finished 8-over par with a four-stroke lead in the Boys 9-11 division.

Eva Cortes of Dorado, Puerto Rico, had a seven-stroke lead in the Girls 9-11 division, finishing at 4-over 40.

Morgan Miller (45) of Jupiter had a six-stroke lead over her sister, Mackenzie Miller, who finished 15-over 51 in the Girls' 6-8 division.

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Thank you to the PGA National and TwinEagles Country Club staff for hosting this past week's Toptracer Prep Tour events! Additionally, thank you to the Hunter’s Run Country Club staff for hosting the Links Tour event!

Congratulations to all our winners and participants for their outstanding performances!

The Prep Tour will head to Palm City this Friday to take on Hammock Creek Country Club. The Links Tour’s next event will be on July 29 at Royal Palm Country Club in Boca Raton.

Luke Clanton, South Florida PGA Junior Tour Alumni Makes PGA TOUR History

omcquaid@pgahq.com (Orla McQuaid) — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 20:10:49 GMT

Luke Clanton, South Florida PGA Junior Tour Alumni Makes PGA TOUR History.

From a young prodigy on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour to making history as the first amateur in over 60 years to finish in the top 10 in back-to-back PGA TOUR tournaments, Luke Clanton's journey is remarkable. Currently a rising junior at Florida State University, Clanton's dedication and talent have propelled him to extraordinary heights in the world of golf. He is currently ranked third in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Clanton began playing tournaments at the age of six. His skills were evident early on as he dominated U.S. Kids events, winning all local competitions, claiming state titles, and triumphing in regional events. His success on the world stage was equally impressive, as he earned first place at the 2015 U.S. Kids World Championship.

Clanton's excellence extended beyond U.S. Kids events. He won nearly all the events he participated in with the Gold Coast Junior Golf Foundation, Inc., and was undefeated for four years in South West Junior Open tournaments leading up to his college career. Prior to joining the Florida State University golf team, Clanton honed his skills on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour from 2014 to 2017, consistently winning in his age divisions or finishing in the top five.

His transition to collegiate golf has been seamless. He finished the college season as the highest-ranked player in the NCAA Golf rankings. His recent performances on the TOUR underscore his rise to becoming a future star, with a tied tenth-place finish at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and an impressive second-place tie this past weekend at the John Deere Classic, where he scored 24-under-par.

Clanton's journey is an inspiration to all aspiring golfers. His achievements remind us of the incredible talent fostered within the South Florida PGA Junior Tour and the bright future ahead for our young members. We wish him the best of luck in this weekend’s tournament at the ISCO Championship in Kentucky.

Thrilling Playoff and Exceptional Performances Highlight South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour Event

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 20:32:11 GMT

Thrilling Playoff and Exceptional Performances Highlight South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour Event

The South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour kicked off July with a thrilling two-day, 36-hole event at Normandy Shores Golf Course on July 1 and 2. Junior golfers across south Florida showcased their skills and competitive spirit, culminating in a memorable playoff and outstanding individual performances.

Despite rough weather and storms that challenged the players, two Coral Gables natives emerged victorious in their respective divisions. The boys' 13-18 division saw an especially dramatic finish, with five players heading into a playoff to determine the champion.

Nicholas Shortal clinched the victory with an impressive 36-hole score of 70-71-141. Shortal started round one on Monday by birding two holes on the back nine, finishing the day with an even par score.

Gavin Duffy, a Fort Lauderdale native, made three birdies during round two to secure his spot in a highly competitive playoff against four other Medalist Tour players. He claimed the second-place title after a tense three-hole playoff.

In the girls' 13-18 division, Fernanda Carrion secured her first win of the 2024 season by two shots. Carrion's outstanding performance included five birdies in the first round, leading to a total score of 69-78-147. Her strong start set the tone for her success over the two days.

Vanessa Georgescu, also from Fort Lauderdale, performed well, finishing in second place. Georgescu (75-74-149) maintained an even par score for the front nine in Tuesday's round while making three birdies throughout the day.

Congratulations to Nicholas Shortal and Fernanda Carrion for their exceptional performances this week!

A special thank you to John Oyler, PGA, and the Normandy Shores Golf Course staff for hosting a fantastic event.

The next Medalist Tour event will be held on July 17 and 18 at Hobe Sound Golf Club. We look forward to seeing more incredible talent and competitive play from our junior golfers.

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Veilleux & Gram Win Big at the 40th Annual Nicklaus Junior Championship

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:20 GMT

Christian Veilleux and Leah Gram Triumph at the 40th Annual Nicklaus Junior Championship

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour competed in the 40th Annual Nicklaus Junior Championship, hosted at the Bear’s Club June 24-25, founded by the “Golden Bear” Jack Nicklaus himself.

This two-day, 36-hole event showcased 86 of South Florida's finest young golfers.

In round one, Gaitlin Albright of Stuart excelled, recording a tournament low of one-under 71 and taking an early lead in the Boys 13-18 division.

Trailing Albright by two strokes, Aiden Arce of Davie started Tuesday’s final round with zero bogeys and four birdies, narrowing the gap to card a4-under 32 on the front nine. Joining Arce in the comeback was Christian Veilleux of Jupiter and Andrew Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens, who matched Arce shot-for-shot.

As they approached the final hole, the potential for a playoff loomed. However, Arce's bogey cleared the path for Veilleux's victory, who birdied the last hole. Arce and Tsar finished tied for second place at even par. In the scorecard playoff, Tsar claimed the title.

Veilleux’s two-day total of 74-69–143 secured his first South Florida Junior major victory with a one-under finish, marking a memorable end to his time with the SFPGA Junior Tour.

“There’s no better way to close out my time with the SFPGA than at my last event at the Bear’s Club,” said Veilleux, who began his journey with the Junior Tour as a high school freshman and will attend Florida Atlantic University in the fall. His father, Eric Veilleux, PGA, serves as the Director of Golf at The Bear’s Club, making the victory extra special.

In the Girls 13-18 division, Leah Gram and Reese McMillan of Jupiter tied their opening rounds at four-over 76. Starting their final rounds in the featured group, the friends matched one another’s performance, making it an interesting battle for the title.

When asked about competing alongside her best friend, Gram said, “It feels really special, but sad at the same time because as much as I wanted to win, I wanted her to win too.”

As they approached the last hole with a playoff looming, McMillan joked, "We both agreed not to let this turn into a playoff."

Gram clinched the first-place title with a strong back nine score of 33, one stroke ahead of McMillan.

This marks Gram’s first major win with the SFPGA. At just 13, she is one of the youngest in her division. “It was so fun to win,” said Gram. “I’m proud of myself for succeeding on such a tough course.”

Thank you to Eric Veilleux, PGA, and the entire staff at the Bear’s Club for hosting a successful 40th Annual Nicklaus Junior Championship.

Congratulations to all the champions and runners-up on their outstanding performances.

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Four Callaway Medalist Tour players punch their tickets to Maryland for the National Junior PGA Championship

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 00:12:26 GMT

The South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour kicked off its third major of the 2024 junior season this Monday at Stonebridge Country Club.

This two-day, 36-hole event saw 84 of South Florida's finest young golfers fighting for a chance to play at the National Junior PGA Championship, held at Congressional Country Club from July 30 to August 2. Players had to qualify in one of four events to earn their spot in this event. The top two finishers in both of the 13-18 divisions secured their tickets to Bethesda, Maryland.

In the final group of round two, the spotlight was on a standout trio: 13-year-old Bento Assis of Porto Alegre, Brazil (-2); high school sophomore Brooks Colton of Riviera Beach (-1); and junior Jack Ryan Donovan of Ave Maria (-2).

Arth Sinha of Ovieda started the final round three strokes back of the Boy’s 13-18 leaders. Sinha had an impressive Tuesday round carding zero bogeys and four birdies, paving his way to a solo lead position at three-under, 73-68–144, and punching his ticket to Maryland. When asked what helped him navigate the final round, Sinha shared, "The fairways were tight, but I had a lot of confidence in my driver.”

In the Girls' 13-18 division, Zoe Shamy from Jupiter shot a one-over 73, gaining a two-stroke lead over Sarasota's Jolie Pastorick and Naples' Alayna Friedt heading into the final round. Starting Tuesday's round two shots behind Shamy, Friedt surged to first place after carding a 39-35–74 in round two. Friedt credited her success to her mindset, emphasizing the importance of reminding herself to “never give up.”

The battle for the runner-up position led to a sudden-death playoff on hole number 10 between Jolie Pastorick and Staci Pla, both of whom finished the tournament at five-over. After sinking a 15-foot putt for birdie, Pla of West Palm Beach secured her spot as runner-up, joining Friedt in Maryland.

“I’ve been in a lot of playoffs lately, so I knew I had to win this one,” Pla remarked.

The Boys' 13-18 division also saw a thrilling playoff for the runner-up position between Jeremy Hsu and Matthew Marigliano. Hsu had an impressive second round, featuring one eagle and two birdies, propelling him into the playoff. After a tense four-hole showdown, Hsu from Port St. Lucie secured the final spot in the national championship.

Thank you to Jeff Hall, PGA, and the entire staff at Stonebridge Country Club for hosting another successful South Florida Junior PGA Championship.

Congratulations to all the champions and runners-up on their outstanding performances. Best of luck as you proudly represent the SFPGA at the National Championship next month!

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South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour Showcases Rising Stars at PGA National

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 14:14:11 GMT

The recent South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour saw an impressive turnout of 78 players who gathered for a thrilling one-day event at the renowned PGA National Match Course.

In the Girl's 13-18 division, Camila Romero, hailing from Doral, delivered a stellar performance, carding a one-over, 68 with a remarkable display of skill, including an eagle and three birdies. Her outstanding play secured her a commanding seven-stroke lead, positioning her as the leader in the race for Player of the Year points.

Joining her sister at the top, Lucia Romero engaged in a spirited battle for first place with competitor Alyna Yensabai. Both delivered impressive performances, with a finishing score of five over 72. Yensabai clinched the victory after a scorecard playoff, earning a lower back-nine score for the Girl's 11-12 title.

In the Boy's 11-12 division, Jason Brockmann of Boca Raton put on a captivating display, concluding with a four-over 74, seizing a notable four-stroke lead over his nearest competitors, Drew Davis and Spencer Clay, who finished in second place.

Aston Cruz (84), a Miami native, rose to the occasion and claimed the well-deserved title in the Boys 9-10 category.

Congratulations to our Prep Tour Champions!

Special thank you to PGA National and their staff for hosting a great event.

The Prep Tour season will continue this week with two events on Tuesday and one on Friday.

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Inman and DeGasperis Achieve Weekend Victory at Hammock Creek Golf Club

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 17:21:25 GMT

Over the weekend, players of the South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour competed in a two-day 36-hole event at Hammock Creek Golf Club in Palm City. This event was the final qualifier for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship, which is scheduled to take place on June 17-18 at Stonebridge Country Club.

This event marked the final qualifier for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship set to take place June 17-18 at Stonebridge Country Club.

Wylie Inman, a North Palm Beach native, emerged as the champion with a two-day total of 69-70–139. Inman started the weekend with a birdie and an eagle on the first two holes. Holding a strong lead going into the final round, Inman faced stiff competition from Oscar Crowe, the recent Patty Berg Champion.

Crowe delivered an impeccable performance in the second round, posting a bogey-free score with six birdies, for the tournament-low round of 66. Despite starting the final round at 3-over, 75, Crowe's remarkable play applied significant pressure on Inman. However, Inman maintained his composure and skill to finish two strokes ahead of Crowe, securing the title of Boys 13-18 Hammock Creek Champion.

The competition in the Girls 13-18 division was intense, with Gabriella DeGasperis of Palm Beach Gardens clinching the title with a total 76-72–148. DeGasperis started the final round three shots behind Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point, who led with a one-over, 73. Demonstrating steady and consistent play, DeGasperis finished Sunday's round at even-par, overtaking Balcom by one stroke to win the championship.

Congratulations to Wylie Inman and Gabriella DeGasperis for their exceptional performances and victories this weekend!

Thank you to the staff at Hammock Creek Golf Club for hosting a tremendous event.

The Medalist Tour season will resume on June 17th at the South Florida Junior PGA Championship.

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Prep Tour Players Dominate at Country Club of Coral Springs

Tue, 28 May 2024 16:01:24 GMT

This past weekend, the Country Club of Coral Springs hosted 78 talented Toptracer Prep Tour players for a thrilling one-day, 18-hole event as part of the South Florida PGA Prep Tour.

Brian Kelley of Port St. Lucie dominated the Boy’s 9-10 Division with a stellar back nine. Kelley concluded his round with two consecutive birdies followed by two eagles, securing the victory with a total score of three-over, 75.

Victoria Frias of Parkland continued her winning streak in the Girl’s 9-10 Division, claiming her seventh consecutive first-place finish. Frias shot a 12-over, 74, showcasing her consistent performance throughout the season.

Flynn Lewis of Jupiter excelled in the Boy’s 11-12 division, particularly on the par fives where he carded four birdies out of five holes. Lewis finished his round at one-under, 71, marking his fifth first-place finish in the 2024 Prep Season.

Alyna Yensabai made a triumphant return to the winner's circle after securing a second-place finish at Indian River Club earlier this month. Yensabai carded five birdies and one eagle, finishing with a tournament-low score of 2-under, 70, and clenching her fourth Prep Tour victory.

In the highly competitive 13-18 divisions, Ryan Wanuck of Jupiter and Camila Romero of Doral both emerged victorious, each finishing with a score of 1-over. Romero began her round with a birdie on hole one and concluded with back-to-back birdies, securing her win. Similarly, Wanuck started strong with consecutive birdies, setting the pace for his first-place finish.

Congratulations to all the Prep Tour Champions for their outstanding performances! Special thanks to the staff at the Country Club of Coral Springs for hosting this exciting event.

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Oscar Crowe and Annie Jin Emerge Victorious at 2024 Patty Berg Championship

Tue, 28 May 2024 14:28:29 GMT

Over the weekend, 96 South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour players participated in the second of eight majors throughout the 2024 season with Oscar Crowe and Annie Jin winning the Boy’s and GIrl’s Divisions respectively.

Since 2019, the South Florida PGA has administered the Patty Berg Championship at Cypress Lake Golf Club where Patty Berg, a renowned professional golfer, was a founding member and used the facilities as her home course during much of her playing career.

Crowe, of Boca Raton, took an early lead with a two-under 70 in the first round. He continued his strong performance in the second round, carding a tournament low 32-34–67, with five birdies and one eagle to advance to 7-under. Despite struggling in the final round, Crowe's early lead allowed him to finish at 4-under and secure the first-place title in the Boy's 13-18 division.

Jack Ryan Donavan of Ave Maria finished as runner-up with consistent play, shooting 71-70-71 in the three rounds, finishing three strokes behind Crowe.

Annie Jin of Bradenton took the lead in the Girl's 13-18 division, with a 1-under score of 71 in the second round and never let it go, firing a three-day total of 73-71-75–219. Jamie Lowry of Fort Myers and Jolie Pastorick of Sarasota tied for the second-place position at four-over. Lowry claimed second place after a scorecard playoff.

The tournament also witnessed a moment of magic from Eva Lye of Naples, who lit up the weekend with a tournament-low 71 in the final round, including an ace on the 15th hole, a par three, to cap off a back-nine score of 33.

Rounding out the weekend, Zachary Felton of Estero and Charles Sundermeier of Lake Worth battled for first-place honors in the Boy’s 11-12 division. Emerging victorious with a three-stroke victory, Felton carded a total 16-over, 232 to end the weekend.

Congratulations to all the 2024 Patty Berg Junior Champions, and a special thank you to Cypress Lake Golf Club for hosting another fantastic event honoring Patty Berg.

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SFPGA Toptracer PrepTour Takes on Weekend Double-Header at West Bay Club and Pointe West Country Club

Mon, 20 May 2024 14:31:41 GMT

Over the weekend, the South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour hosted two events. The tournament drew over 150 young golfers to two prestigious courses in the hot south Florida sun. The first event kicked off at Pointe West Country Club in Vero Beach on Saturday and the second tournament was at the West Bay Club in Estero on Sunday.

Saturday at Pointe West Country Club:

In the Boys 13-18 division, Martin Bustos of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Luis Brao of Miami both shot a two-over 74, sharing the top spot.

Audrey Bacic from Hollywood Hills emerged as the frontrunner in the Girls 13-18 division, carding a five-over 77. Bacic's impressive performance, particularly her bogey-free run over the last six holes of her front nine, secured her a two-stroke lead over Sophia Enriquez of Wellington.

The Boys 11-12 division saw a three-way tie between Alden Dixon, Linus Castro, and Flynn Lewis, all finishing at five-over 77. Castro ultimately won in a scorecard playoff.

Nishika Koduru of Boca Raton also shot a five-over 77, starting her round with an eagle on the par 4, first hole. This stellar start propelled her to her sixth top-three finish of the 2024 Prep Season.

In the Boy’s 9-10 division, Alfred Carmenate of Miami posted a 4-over 76, while Jenna Elharti captured the Girls 9-10 title with an 8-over 80.

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Sunday’s Competition at West Bay Club

Sunday's Boys 13-18 division at West Bay Club concluded in another tight contest. Daniel Garcia, Kieran Shaw, and Rylan Stewart all finished at five-over 77. Garcia emerged victorious after a scorecard playoff.

Anisleidy Chaves of Florida City dominated the Girls 13-18 division, defeating Stella Ronja Lind and Caraline Hartfield by three strokes with a round of eight-over 80.

Hunter Humbert of Fort Myers won the Boys 11-12 division with a four-over 76, outplaying Flynn Lewis, who finished with an eight-over 80.

Despite the intense heat, the SFPGA Prep Tour players displayed remarkable skill and grit throughout the weather conditions, making for a great weekend of golf!

Thank you to the staff at West Bay Club and Pointe West Country Club for hosting this past weekend’s Toptracer Prep Tour events!

The Prep Tour will head to Coral Springs this Saturday to take on the Country Club of Coral Springs.

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Aiden Arce and Leah Gram Shine in South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour Junior Golf Event

Tue, 07 May 2024 16:01:50 GMT

The South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour recently witnessed an electrifying display of talent as junior golfers took on Admirals Cove Golf Village North and West Course this weekend. Aiden Arce and Leah Gram emerged victorious.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, senior Aiden Arce of Davie demonstrated exceptional prowess on the par 71 course, clinching victory with a stellar performance over two days. Arce exhibited remarkable consistency, posting an impressive two-day total of two-under. His journey to victory began with a solid opening round of 71, followed by an astounding second round of 69. Despite starting the final round two shots behind the leader, Braydon Jenard, Arce maintained his composure and delivered a clutch performance to secure the top spot.

However, the competition was fierce, with Braydon Jenard setting the pace with an impressive first-round score (69). Although Jenard finished the event at two-over par after rounds of 69 and 74, he was in a tense battle for second place. Joining him in the hunt was St. Petersburg native Clark Mason, whose consistent play throughout the tournament earned him a spot alongside Jenard at two-over for the event. In an exciting conclusion, the tiebreaker was ultimately decided by a scorecard playoff, resulting in Clark Mason finishing in second place.

In the Girls 13-18 division, Leah Gram of Jupiter showcased resilience and determination en route to claiming the top honors. Gram faced adversity in the opening round, carding a seven-over 78. However, she quickly rebounded and found her rhythm in the second round, posting an impressive score of one-over 72. Gram's stellar performance culminated in a two-day total of eight-over, securing her the first-place title.

Chasing closely behind was Micaela Ruidias, who delivered a commendable performance to finish in second place at 12-over for the event. Despite the challenges posed by the course, Gram's unwavering resolve and skill propelled her to victory.

Additionally, the event acted as the second qualifier for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship, which is the second of eight SFPGA Majors scheduled to occur throughout the year. The prestigious championship will be held on June 17-18 at Stonebridge Country Club and serves as a qualifier for the national PGA Championship.

Congratulations to all of our Champions and players who qualified. Special thank you to Sean Burke-McDermott and his staff at Admirals Cove for hosting a fantastic weekend.

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Heuberger-Dominguez and Lewis Find Low Scores At South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour Event

Tue, 07 May 2024 15:58:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour event was held this past Sunday at Indian River Club. The event displayed exceptional talent and skill with standout performances from Mia Heuberger-Dominguez and Flynn Lewis, who stole the spotlight. Among a competitive field of young golfers, Heuberger-Dominguez and Lewis emerged as the champions in their respective divisions, with the lowest scores of the tournament.

In the Girls 13-18 Division, Ella Wester of Key Biscayne battled the challenging course to claim victory with a total of 13-over, 85.

However, in the Girls 11-12 division, Mia Heuberger-Dominguez of Palm Beach Gardens stole the show with a remarkable tournament-low score of four-under, 68. Heuberger-Dominguez's stellar performance earned her a commanding seven-stroke lead over Alyna Yensabai, who finished in second place with 75. With an impressive display of skill that included four birdies and one eagle, Heuberger-Dominguez secured her third Prep Tour victory of the season.

In the Boys 13-18 division, Weston Mead from Vero Beach won the title with a solid performance, scoring three over 75. The competition for second place was intense, resulting in a four-way tie at six-over between Jordan Everett, Brady Griffin, Owen Hicks, and Anthony Zembrzuski.

Flynn Lewis of Jupiter continued to dominate in the Boys 11-12 division, carding an impressive one-under to secure first-place honors. Lewis, an active 2024 SFPGA Birdie Club member, showcased his consistency and talent throughout the season, carding 12 birdies. With his fourth first-place victory in the 2024 Prep Tour season, Lewis currently leads the race for the Boy's 11-12 Player of the Year title with 1,075 points.

In the Boys 9-10 division, Brian Kelley of Port St. Lucie emerged as the champion with a determined performance, notching an 11-over, 83 to secure the title. Kelley's victory was hard-fought, edging out Alexander Heuberger and Maxence Le Theo, who finished in second place.

Congratulations to all the champions and participants of the event. Thank you to Indian River Club and their staff for hosting an excellent golf weekend.

Leaderboard | Birdie Club

Callaway Medalist Tour at PGA National Battles Windy Conditions

carolinel@pgahq.com (Caroline Lewis) — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 14:47:04 GMT

Over the weekend, the Callaway Medalist Tour took place on PGA National's Fazio Course. This was a two-day, 36-hole event and the first of four qualifiers for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship.

The windy conditions over the weekend made the Fazio course at PGA National play difficult. However, Pavel Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens and Brayden Jenard of Jupiter were able to card under-par rounds.

Jenard opened the tournament on Saturday with five birdies during his front nine, and finished the round as the solo leader, setting pace with a 4-under, 68.

Tsar came fighting back on Sunday after a two-under 70 to open his weekend. His final-round 68 helped him to finish three shots of Jenard (73) to win the Boy’s 13-18 Division.

In the Girls 13-18 division, Polina Anisimova from Port St. Lucie began the second round five shots behind Jayden Loyacona after Loyacona opened with a first round 74.

However, Anisimova (152) managed to find her stride and went one under during the back nine on Sunday, to win the Girl’s 13-18 Division by three strokes.

Congratulations to all the champions!

The Medalist Tour season will continue next weekend at Admirals Cove Golf Village.

Leaderboard | Photo Album

Victories and Highlights from the South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour Double-Header

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 17:55:36 GMT

The South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour hosted two back-to-back events. The first event was held on Saturday at Links at Boynton Beach, while the second event was held on Sunday at Santa Lucia River Club.

The tournaments were full of action and there were several outstanding performances throughout the weekend. Some of the notable champions include:

Links of Boynton Beach

- Alyna Yensabai of Lake Worth, clinched her sixth top-five finish of the Prep Tour season by scoring a tournament-low 2-under, 69 to win the Girl's 11-12 division by five strokes.

- Brandon Rinker of West Palm Beach won the Boy's 13-18 division with an impressive performance that included zero bogeys and two birdies.

- Camila Romero of Doral won her first-place finish in the Girl's 13-18 division by carding a 74 and leading the field by five shots.

- Victoria Frias of Parkland and Luke Williams of Coral Gable both shot 77 to win their respective divisions in the 9-10 category.

Santa Lucia River Club

Victoria Frias completed her weekend sleep with a second victory in a row after firing a 78.
Mia Heuberger-Dominguez carded six total birdies in route to a 4-under 68 and a first place finish in the Girl’s 11-12 Division.
The 2023 Boy’s 11-12 Player of the Year carded an even-par 72 to win for the first time as a member of the 13-18 Division.

Congratulations to all of the champions of the weekend and to The Links at Boynton Beach and Santa Lucia River Club for hosting. The Prep Tour, presented by Callaway will be back in action on May 5th at Indian River Club.

Links at Boynton Beach Leaderboard

Santa Lucia River Club Leaderboard

Carter, Crawford, and Felton Triumph at Lost Lake Golf Club

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 14:24:29 GMT

South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour Members competed in a two-day 36-hole golf event at Lost Lake Golf Club this past weekend. The tournament was challenging due to the narrow fairways and difficult course conditions.

However, Grace Carter of Jupiter was able to overcome the obstacles and emerge victorious. She was the only player in the entire field to finish the weekend under par.

Carter shot a total of 71-72–143, earning the Girl’s 13-18 honors and claiming a one-stroke lead over Madison Hyndman of Palm Beach Gardens, who finished in second place with a total score of 70-74–144.

In the Boy’s 13-18 division, Nathan Crawford of Port St. Lucie initially started the final round five strokes behind Carter Brooks of Coral Springs, who was in the lead. But Crawford found his stride, carding five birdies in his final round to finish at even-par and tied for first with Robert Joyce of Toronto. The two battled in a playoff for first, taking on the par four 18th where Crawford ultimately emerged victorious with a winning score of 74-72–146.

Lastly, Zachary Felton of Estero clinched his second first-place finish in the Boy’s 11-12 this season with a two-day total of 155 over Reed Abdelnour of West Palm Beach.

Congratulations to all of the Callaway Medalist Tour Champions for their outstanding performances this past weekend! We would also like to extend a special thank you to Shawn Popp and his team at Lost Lake for hosting the event.

Leaderboard

Barcalova, Kuchar, and Nana Tanke Secure Victories at South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 17:06:09 GMT

Over the weekend, the South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour, presented by Toptracer, concluded its latest two-day, 36-hole golf event at Indian Spring Country Club's West Course. Miriam Barcalova, Cameron Kuchar and Chris Nana Tanke all secured Medalist Tour titles.

Barcalova, hailing from Port St. Lucie, showcased her skill and determination by clinching the title in the Girl’s 13-18 division. With scores of 69 and 71, Barcalova finished the tournament at 140, three strokes ahead of her closest competitor, Claire Liu from Jensen Beach. Barcalova's remarkable performance, highlighted by a bogey-free round and two birdies, solidified her position at the top of the Player of the Year points. With three victories this season, Barcalova is a player to watch.

In the Boy’s 13-18 division, Cameron Kuchar from Harrison, Idaho, continued his impressive run on the SFPGA Junior Tour. Starting the tournament with a solid 70, Kuchar maintained his stride to finish the event at 1-under, narrowly edging out Lawson Ford of West Palm Beach. Ford, who carded an impressive 67 in his final round, finished just one point behind Kunchar. Another notable performance came from Reid Korody of Jupiter, who tied for third place thanks to a tournament-low 65, aided by eight birdies in his final round.

The Boy’s 11-12 division witnessed the return of Chris Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens. After a few months away from the SFPGA Junior Tour, Nana Tanke returned shooting a commendable 76-70–146 to finish five strokes ahead of Reed Abdelnour of West Palm Beach.

Congratulations to our Callaway Medalist Tour Champions on a great weekend! Special thank you to Director of Golf, Alex Weightman and his team at Indian Spring, who hosted a great weekend!

Leaderboard

Highlights from the South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour at Osprey Point

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 17:03:29 GMT

Over the weekend, the South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour presented by Callaway held a one-day, 18-hole tournament at Osprey Point's Raven and Falcon courses. The tournament featured competitors ages 9-18, all vying for Prep Tour titles.

Jack Zedar of Coral Gables put on an impressive performance, scoring five birdies and one eagle, which helped him clinch the first-place title in the Boy's 13-18 division.

Meanwhile, Esha Nagalla of Pinecrest dominated the Girl's 13-18 division with a bogey-free front nine to help her secure a four-stroke victory.

Gabriel Shabashkevich of Boca Raton shot a tournament-low 1-under, 71 with five birdies to earn the first-place title in the Boy's 11-12 division. Alyna Yensabai also had an excellent performance, carding a perfect even-par round to win the Girl's 11-12 division for her fifth top-five finish.

In the 9-10 division, Victoria Frias of Parkland secured her third first-place finish of the season with a final score of 7-over, 79. Eli Widom from Boynton Beach won the Boy's division after shooting a 1-under 71, which included an eagle on the par-five 12th hole and a birdie on 18.

Congratulations to our champions on a fantastic weekend!

The Prep Tour season will resume on April 14th at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne.

Leaderboard

South Florida Toptracer Prep Tour Players Shoot Low Scores at Indian Spring Country Club

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 13:49:53 GMT

In an impressive weekend of golf, South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour, presented by Callaway players fired low scores at Indian Spring Country Club’s West Course.

The event showcased young talent across various age groups, with some players securing their first victories of the season, while others continued their winning streaks.

Borja Friend of Key Biscayne stood out in the Boy’s 13-18 division, shooting an incredible 5-under, 66 with five birdies and no bogeys to win his second Toptracer Prep Tour event of the season.

Ella Hrbata of West Palm Beach also had a great day, finishing 1-over with a 72 to win the Girl’s 13-18 division.

In the Boy’s 11-12 division, Flynn Lewis of Jupiter secured his third straight victory with a 1-over, 72 round, making him 3-0 in events played this season. Atlas Andrews of West Palm Beach finished a shot behind Lewis with a 2-over, 73. Meanwhile, Mia Heuberger-Dominguez of Palm Beach Gardens shot an impressive 3-under to secure her first victory of the season in the Girl’s 11-12 division. Lily Parker of North Palm Beach finished as the runner-up with a total score of 1-under, 70.

Deven Allen of Fort Pierce also had a great performance, winning the Boy’s 9-10 division with a total score of 82.

The Toptracer Prep Tour season will continue on April 7th at Osprey Point Golf Course, where players will have another opportunity to compete and showcase their skills.

Congratulations to all the Toptracer Prep Tour champions!

Leaderboard

Toptracer Prep Tour Crowns Champions at Sandridge Golf Club

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:55:13 GMT

Vero Beach, FL - This past weekend, Sandridge Golf Club hosted the South Florida PGA Toptracer Prep Tour event presented by Callaway. The tournament was a one-day, 18-hole event featuring golfers of various ages.

In the Girls’ 13-18 category, Darci Wagner from Vero Beach won with a score of eight-over, three strokes ahead of Camila Romero from Doral.

In the Boys’ 13-18 category, Jensen Richards, Brady Beebe, and Evan Mazanec finished tied at even-par, but Richards was declared the champion after a scorecard playoff.

The Girls’ 11-12 category saw Nishika Koduru from Boca Raton and Harper Kiss from Lighthouse Point finish at one-under for a tie for first. In a scorecard playoff, Koduru was declared the winner.

Palmer Buchanan from Port St. Lucie won the Boys’ 11-12 category with a score of nine-over.

In the Girls’ 9-10 category, Victoria Frias won her third Toptracer Prep Tour victory with a score of 88.

Alden Dixon from Sebastion finished at 5-over to win the Boys’ 9-10 category.

Congratulations to all the winners of the Toptracer Prep Tour event presented by Callaway!

The season will continue at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne on Saturday and at Indian Spring Golf Course on Sunday.

Leaderboard

Mckoan and Beebe Win Callaway Medalist Tour at Osprey Point Golf Course

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 14:01:04 GMT

Over the St. Patrick's Day weekend, the newly named Callaway Medalist Tour presented by Toptracer hosted a 36-hole golf event at Osprey Point's Raven and Falcon Golf Course for the 13-18 divisions. The event featured great golf and several low scores, with two champions finishing at 4-under. Emma Mckoan of Naples won the Girl's 13-18 division, while Hampton Beebe of West Palm Beach won the Boy's 13-18 division, both finishing with a total of 69-71–140.

Mckoan carded a career-best 3-under, 69 during Saturday's round. One shot behind Mckoan was Catherine Andino and Roisin Scanlon at 2-under, 70. Mckoan carried her momentum into the final round where she carded three more birdies and an eagle to finish with a total 4-under, 140. Andino and Roisin finished with exact scores of 70-71-141 for runner-up.

In the Boy's 13-18 division, Cameron Kuchar of Harrison, Idaho, and Hampton Beebe of West Palm Beach both finished Saturday's round at 3-under.

Beebe, a 2023-24 Birdie Club member, was hot with his putter, carding a total of eight birdies throughout the weekend and finishing one stroke ahead of Emile Lebrun of Port Saint Lucie in second.

Both Girl's and Boy's champions will receive 4 AJGA stars, and the top 105 players in each age division will receive one star.

Congratulations to our champions!

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Callaway and Toptracer Named Presenting Partners of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 17:39:31 GMT

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour has joined forces with Callaway and Toptracer to introduce the Callaway Medalist Tour, presented by Toptracer and the Toptracer Prep Tour, presented by Callaway.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour has partnered with Callaway and Toptracer to enhance its impact on youth. The tour offers a journey for players ranging from 6 to 18 years old through three different tours: the Links Tour, the Toptracer Prep Tour presented by Callaway, and the Callaway Medalist Tour presented by Toptracer.

"We are thrilled to announce that Callaway and Toptracer have joined our Junior Golf Family as partners," said Meredith Schuler, Assistant Executive Director of the South Florida PGA. "Both brands have been outstanding partners for us at the section level, and we are confident that they will help us elevate the standard of competition and further grow our Junior Tour."

The announcement comes on the heels of the start of the 2024 Junior Tour season which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. In 1999 the Junior Tour hosted, without partnership support, six events for 80 juniors, this year the Junior Tour, now presented by Callaway and Toptracer, will conduct close to 100 events for 1,200 juniors. Junior Tour members represent over seven thousand rounds of golf annually.

In a partnership that is the first-of-its-kind for the SFPGA Junior Tour, Callaway and Toptracer which are housed under the parent company Topgolf, will join the South Florida PGA in its mission to promote junior golf, providing affordable competition and premiere events to junior golfers.

“We are looking forward to expanding our reach in the junior golf space,” said Callaway Director of Sales Peter Barry. “The explosion of golf and the future of our game begins and ends with junior golf and we are thrilled to work with the South Florida PGA to build upon their existing incredible junior golf program.”

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, presented by Callaway and Toptracer will continue its 25th anniversary campaign with events this weekend. The Callaway Medalist Tour, presented by Toptracer kicks off 36 holes at Osprey Point Golf Course on Saturday, March 16th while the Toptracer Prep Tour, presented by Callaway will play Sandridge Golf Club. The 9-hole, beginner-level Links Tour will play Sunday, March 17th at The Links at Boynton Beach.

For more about the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, presented by Callaway and Toptracer, click here and for the full schedule of events, click here .

South Florida PGA Prep Tour Crowns Champions at Links at Boynton Beach

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 13:52:32 GMT

Over the past weekend, 78 members of the South Florida PGA Prep Tour competed in an 18-hole tournament at the Links at Boynton Beach. The event saw some impressive performances from the participating players, with champions being crowned in different categories.

Among the champions were Borja Friend of Key Biscayne who won the Boy's 13-18 category with a tournament low even-par score of 71, to help him to a two-stroke lead over Jack Zeder at 73.

Jaime Baker of Lake Worth was the winner of the Girl's 13-18 division with a total score of 2-over 73, which gave her a seven-stroke lead over Darci Wagner at 80.

Flynn Lewis emerged victorious in the Boy's 11-12 category after a fierce competition with J. Holden Rice, following their top-three finishes at Sandridge Golf Club. Lewis held on to the first place finish with a total score of 78, while Rice finished second with a score of 80, two strokes behind Lewis.

Lily Parker won the Girl's 11-12 division with a total score of 4-over 75, with Mia Heuberger-Dominguez coming in second with a 76.

Victor Monssoh of Miami and Victoria Frias of Parkland were the winners of the 11-12 division titles with scores of 80 and 85, respectively.

Special recognition to Luca Tonarelli on his first career ace on hole #2!

Congratulations Prep Tour Champions!

The Prep Tour season will travel to Sandridge Golf Club for another exciting weekend this Saturday, March 16.

Leaderboard | Full Schedule

Marigliano, Carter and Monssoh Win in Medalist Tour Event at Martin Downs Golf Club

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 13:48:28 GMT

South Florida PGA Medalist Tour members took part in a two-day, 36-hole event at Martin Downs Golf Club this past weekend.

Grace Carter, Matthew Marigliano, and Axel Monssoh emerged as champions in their respective divisions, dominating the event.

Grace Carter of Jupiter won the girls 13-18 division with a nine-stroke lead over Vanessa Zepeda of Miami, who finished in second place. After starting the final round one stroke off the lease, Carter propelled herself to a first-place position with a tournament-low 68, finishing at 2-under, 142 in the girls 13-18 division. Carter shot an impressive bogey-free, 4-under on the front nine, with the help of four birdies.

In the Boy’s 13-18 division, Matthew Marigliano, Charlie Woods, and Jonathan Weinberg battled throughout the two-days. Weinberg started round two in the lead after a 4-under, 68 in the first round. Marigliano and Woods chased Weinberg down in the final round and all three finished at 2-under after 36 holes, forcing a playoff.

Marigliano emerged victorious in the playoff after three holes, winning his first SFPGA victory of the 2024 season.

Axel Monssoh of Miami dominated the Boy’s 11-12 division with a 17-stroke victory. Monssoh carded a tournament-low 69 during his final round and won the event with a two-day total of 1-under, 143.

Congratulations to our champions on an impressive performance! A special thank you to Martin Downs Golf Club for hosting this past weekend's event.

The Medalist Tour season will continue at Osprey Point Golf Course with another exciting weekend ahead!

Leaderboard

Kuchar, Barcalova and Wells Win Medalist Tour Event at Links at Boynton Beach

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 20:53:07 GMT

Over 80 South Florida PGA Medalist Tour members gathered at the Links at Boynton Beach this past weekend for a highly anticipated two-day, 36-hole golf event.

After a clear first day, play was ultimately suspended on Sunday due to inclement weather. As a result, the final scores for the event were based solely on the performances of the golfers during the first 18 holes.

In the Boy’s 13-18, Cameron Kuchar was named tournament champion, due to his impressive seven birdies to help him to a total score of 4-under, 67.

Jj Hyun Her of Pembroke Pines and Bento Assis of Porto Alegre, Brazil finished round one at 2-under, 69. However, after a scorecard playoff, Her clinched the second-place title due to his better back-nine performance.

In the Girl's 13-18 division, Miriam Baracalov of Boynton Beach claimed victory, separating herself from the rest of the field. The Winter Kick-off Champion continued her winning streak by carding a 3-under, 68, with the assistance of six birdies. Barcalova achieved her second season victory, two-strokes ahead of Leah Gram from Jupiter, who finished second.

Finally, in the Boy's 11-12 division, Parker Wells from Palm Beach Gardens emerged as the winner, shooting a 12-over, 154. Following him closely was Jack Smith from Miami Springs, who finished with a total score of 17-over, 159.

Congratulations to all of our Champions, and a special thank you to Bo Preston, PGA and his staff at Links at Boynton Beach for hosting this event.

The Medalist Tour season will continue on March 9-10 at Martin Downs Golf Club.

Leaderboard | Photo Album

South Florida PGA Prep Tour Players Kick off 2024 Season with Back-to-Back Events

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 15:13:58 GMT

Over the weekend, the South Florida PGA Prep Tour Players kicked off their 2024 season with back-to-back events. The first event was held at Shell Point Golf Club on Saturday, followed by another event on Sunday at Sandridge Golf Club. Both events had a field of nearly 90 players, ranging from ages 9 to 18.

At Shell Point, Juan Iglesias of Fort Myers fired a tournament-low score of 4-under, 67. He finished in first place in the Boy's 13-18 division.

Solomon Ruttenberg of Boca Raton won the Boy's 11-12 division after collecting four birdies on the front nine. Brianna Breto of Hialeah won the Girl's 13-18 division with a one-stroke lead over Anisleidy Chavez of Florida City. Victoria Frias of Parkland made history in the Girl's 9-10 division by shooting even-par to win the event by 20 strokes.

On Sunday, the players moved to Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach, where Luke Falcone claimed his first Prep Tour victory in the Boy's 13-18 division. Jack Green of Lithia came up short of the lead, despite carding two eagles in his front nine. In the Girl's 13-18 division, Darci Wagner and Leilani Kellerman tied for first place at 12-over, 84. Wagner won in a scorecard playoff for the honors. Flynn Lewis of Jupiter and Alyna Yensebai of Lake Worth finished in first place in the Boy's and Girl's 11-12 divisions, respectively.

Congratulations to all the Prep Tour Champions! The organizers, Paul Fitzpatrick, PGA and Bela Nagy, PGA, and their teams did an excellent job hosting both events.

For more details, please click on the links provided to view the leaderboards.

Shell Point Leaderboard

Sandridge Leaderboard

Sandridge Showdown: Lebrun, Lye, and Felton Dominate at Sandridge Medalist Tour Event

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 15:13:50 GMT

After the Winter Kick-Off set the tone for the South Florida PGA Junior Tour season, the Medalist Tour made its way to Vero Beach for its first regular event of the 2024 season at Sandridge Golf Club.

Alexander Weinberg of Boca Raton, the champion of the SFPGA Winter Kick-Off, entered the competition with impressive momentum. After carding two eagles in the opening round, Weinberg shot a tournament-low 2-under, 70, to lead the field after round one.

Emile Lebrun (76-71–147) and James Bradley (75-72–147) of Port Saint Lucie narrowed the distance to Weinberg as all three finished the weekend at 3-over, 147 to force a sudden-death playoff.

Weinberg (70- 77–147) opened the playoff with a bogey, leaving Bradley and Lebrun to play an additional playoff hole. Ultimately, Lebrun emerged victorious, sealing the win with a par to conclude play in the Boy's 13-18 division.

In the Girls' 13-18 division, Eva Lye from Naples started Sunday's round just one stroke behind Zoe Shamy (73-78–151). Lye caught fire during her back nine on Sunday to finish with two consecutive birdies and one stroke ahead of Shamy, Clara Ding, Alexandra Phung and Miriam Barcalova (77-74–151).

Determined through a scorecard playoff, Phung from Boca Raton, finished the tournament in second.

The 2023 Player of the Year for the Boy’s 11-12 Division, Zachary Felton, wasted no time picking up right where he left off last year. Felton built a nine-stroke lead on Sunday, to clinch the first-place title (79-80–159). Charles Sundermeier (81-87–168) came in second place.

Thank you to Bela Nagy, PGA, and his staff at Sandridge Golf Club for an incredible weekend!

The Medalist Tour will resume at Links at Boynton Beach on February 17-18.

Leaderboard | Full Schedule

Barcalova and Weinberg Win South Florida PGA Junior Tour’s Opening Major

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 00:13:13 GMT

Miriam Barcalova and Alex Weinberg battled through rainy and windy conditions this weekend to win the South Florida PGA Junior Tour Winter Kickoff, the first event of the SFPGA Junior Tour’s 25th Anniversary campaign.

Hosted by Indian Spring Country Club, the Winter Kickoff is a 54-hole event and the first major of the SFPGA Junior Tour season, annually beginning the junior tour season.

Barcalova (Boynton Beach) fired a 4-under 68 to open her season and lead the Girl’s 13-18 Division by eight strokes after round one.

Round two on Sunday proved to be the most severe of the weather conditions, and the scores reflected that. However, Barcalova was able to play steadily, ending the day with a three-over 75 and a six-stroke lead on Angela Nip of Port Saint Lucie.

Continuing her stride into Monday, Barcalova carded an eagle, propelling her to a three-stroke win over Nip. Barcalova ended the weekend with a total 68-75-75–218.

“The weather was really tough, but I had a lot of fun.” Barcalova expressed. “Even with the horrible weather, there is still no place I would rather be.”

In the Boy’s 13-18 Division, Weinberg (Boca Raton) shot a three-under 69 in round one to hold the lead by one over Emile Lebrun of Port Saint Lucie. The two finished round two a stroke apart once again, with Weinberg’s lead growing to two.

Despite an opening 75, Cameron Kuchar (Jupiter) shot a tournament-best 69 during Sunday’s poor weather to close in on the lead, entering the final round four back.

Continuing their success into the final round, Kuchar and Weinberg went head-to-head for the Championship title. Sticking it less than a foot away from the pin from 270 yards away, Kuchar closed in on Weinberg for first on the front nine. Weinberg remained strong through his final back nine, pulling out the final two-stroke lead over Kuchar in second 3-under, 213.

Weinberg finished his weekend with a total of 5-under, 211.

“It was a very fun battle down the stretch.” Weinberg exclaimed.

Congratulations to our 2024 South Florida PGA Winter Kickoff Champions!

Leaderboard | Photo Album

Reflecting on a Legacy: Celebrating 25 Years of The Journey with the South Florida PGA Junior Tour

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 15:36:17 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour celebrates 25 years of dedication to fostering growth, competition, and a lifelong love for golf among young athletes.

From its inception, the program has been committed to providing a platform where junior golfers can come together to learn the game, advance their skill, while building longtime friendships.

As the Junior Tour embarks on its 25th anniversary, the South Florida PGA looks back with pride and gratitude at the incredible journey which has defined its legacy.

"Nobody would have ever guessed how successful it would be," said Don Law, PGA Junior Golf Chairman (2000-13).

Dating back to January of 1999, Law and Bobby Brown, PGA, two former chairmen of the Junior Golf Committee, came together to address the growing need for junior golf programs in South Florida. Brown and Law established the first-ever South Florida PGA-administered Junior Tour. This tour consisted of six events extending from June to August featuring less than 100 members.

"The goal behind the tour was to keep playing costs low and travel distances to a minimum while providing top-notch junior golf tournaments," Brown stated.

From six events to the 100+ seen today, the SFPGA junior golf journey has been remarkable.

What started as a modest initiative has blossomed into a life-changing experience for kids across South Florida. Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Tour administers over 100 junior golf events for more than 1,200 junior golfers.

Outside of the events conducted year round, the SFPGA Junior Tour serves as a bridge for young golfers to advance their skills and pave the way for a future in the golf industry.

Over the past decade, more than 200 junior golfers have gone on to play golf at the collegiate level and beyond, including professional golfers Brooks Koepka, Lexi Thompson, Daniel Berger, and Jaye Marie Green.

Law explained, “when we started we just wanted to get kids interested in golf; I didn't go to college, so I wanted to help kids get there and help them get noticed and recruited to college."

In addition to collegiate golf, many players have made golf their career with close to 30 having attained PGA membership and now being employed at golf facilities throughout south Florida.

"Golf is a sport where you don't need to play for a living for it to be your living; you can still change lives and help people," Law explained.

"You affect whole generations, not just one person."

Through the support from host facilities, dedication from coaches and PGA Professionals, partners and camaraderie from players on and off the golf course, the South Florida PGA Junior Tour proudly celebrates 25 years of fostering love for the game and shaping the legacy for what is to come.

Here's to 25 years.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Recognizes 2023 Award Recipients

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 18:46:47 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour has named five outstanding junior tour members award winners for the 2023 season.

The following players were awarded:

Most Improved Player
Fernanda Carrion and Nicholas Cecchini
Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award
Dounia Bezzari and Alek Greer
Don Law Service
Hampton Beebe

The Most Improved Player award is given to a male and female who has shown perseverance and growth throughout the 2023 season. Nicholas Cecchini of Jupiter and Fernanda Carrion of Coral Gables received this recognition for their outstanding performances.

Carrion finished the 2022 season with three top-10 finishes and a scoring average of 81.50. In 2023, Carrion had a 77.66 scoring average, ten top-10 finishes and won the Brendan Cunningham Junior open, one of eight South Florida PGA Junior Tour Majors.

Cecchini ended his 2022 season with a scoring average of 82.5 and only two top-25 finishes. Cecchini made incredible progress in the 2023 season, finishing with six top-10 finishes and a 78.2 scoring average.

The Sportsmanship award is given to the male and female who display the best overall sportsmanship throughout the season, voted on by SFPGA staff members.

“These two players are always in a great mood no matter what they shot during the round and always aim to make everyone around them smile.” Junior Golf Coordinator Haley Dunn said. “It has been a pleasure to have these two on our Junior Tour.”

Dounia Bezzari of Vero Beach and Alek Greer of West Palm Beach were awarded the 2023 Sportsmanship Award based on their outgoing personalities, positivity and overall good rapport with others on and off the golf course.

Lastly, the Don Law Service Award is given to a player who is dedicated to giving back to their community.

“This player is not only a pleasure to be around but also has given back repeatedly to his community” Dunn explained.

Hampton Beebe of North Palm Beach was awarded the Don Law Service award for his ongoing efforts to give back to the community. In the past two years, Beebe has raised over $10,000 toward the South Florida PGA Foundation through his participation with the SFPGA Birdie Club.

Congratulations to our 2023 award winners!

Lebrun and Liberatore Claim 2023 South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship Title

Sun, 03 Dec 2023 21:10:25 GMT

After more than 20 events, 3,665 rounds of golf and 6,386 birdies, the South Florida PGA Junior Tour members wrapped their final event of the 2023 season at The Park West Palm.

Emile Lebrun, closed the 2023 season exactly how he started it: Winning. The Winter Kick-Off Champion carded a five-under total, including a two-under 69 today, to come from eight strokes behind to top Cameron Kuchar and Oscar Crowe in the Boy’s 13-18 Division. Over 36 holes, Lebrun carded five birdies and one eagle for a two-day total, 68-69–137.

Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton chipped in for eagle on the par-4, 16th hole during the second round to back up his first round 66 with a 73 to finish in second place.

In the Girl’s 13-18 division, Aliya Liberatore entered the final round one shot behind Leah Gram. Liberatore carded four birdies in round two to help her to a two-under 69 today and a three-under total finish.

“I feel like I played really well, I hit the ball solid and stayed calm.” Liberatore stated. “I am super excited to carry on this win and have a great 2024 season.”

In the Boy’s 11-12 division, Zacahry Felton of Estero finished four strokes ahead of Girardo Zepeda (158), shooting 78-76-154 to win.

With the win, Felton was named the 2023 Player of the Year in the Boy’s 11-12 division. Felton finished the season with 1,830 points and eight top-five finishes.

“I am excited for next year because I will be moving up to the 13-18 division” Felton exclaimed.

“I also want to thank my parents for supporting me and taking me to all of these events.”

In addition to Felton, the Player of the Year was determined for the Girl’s and Boy’s 13-18 Division. For the Boys, Brooks Colton of Riviera Beach received this honor after a remarkable 2023 season, including 12 top-10 finishes and a total of 2,202 points.

Valentina Marie Guertin of Boynton Beach finished the season with 1,621 points to claim the Girl’s title. Guertin had 10 top-10 finishes and two first place finishes.

Congratulations to all of our Players for a wonderful season! Special thank you to The Park West Palm for a fantastic event.

Registration for the 2024 season will open on December 13th at 10 A.M.

Photo Album | Leaderboard | 2024 Membership

South Florida PGA Members Close Out 2023 Season at Prep Tour Championship

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 20:26:51 GMT

West Palm Beach, FL - After 30 Prep Tour events, the 70 top players on the season-long points list were invited to the Prep Tour Championship held today at the Park West Palm.

Capturing her fourth first place finish of the year, Miami native Laura Monsalve carded a one-over, 72 to win in the Girl’s 13-18 division. With the win, Monsalve was named Player of the Year, totaling 3,427 points.

Monsalve finished her season with 18 top-10 finishes and played in a total of 21 events.

Ella Hrbata of West Palm Beach finished in second place for the championship after a three-over 74.

In the Boy’s 11-12 division, Charles Sundermeier (72) of Lake Worth went bogey-free in his front nine helping him to a first place finish, three strokes ahead of Jack Smith of Miami Springs.

Dylan Schilling (80) of Port St. Lucie rounded out a fantastic season with 3,737 points to win the Player of the Year title. Schilling, who competed in 24 of 30 events this season, placed in the top-10 in every start.

Lake Worth Native, Alyna Yensabai also carded zero bogeys in her front nine and finished the day with a one-over 72. Yesabai claimed the Girl’s 11-12 division title by one stroke over Harper Kiss of Lighthouse Point.

Stella Ronja Lind (89) of Doral closed out her incredible season and won the Player of the Year award in the Girl’s 11-12 division. Lind carded nine first place and six top-three finishes.

After moving up to the 13-18 division following his victory in the 2022 Prep Tour Championship, Jaxson Weese of Sebastian won his second consecutive Prep Tour Championship, shooting a one-under 70. Gatlin Albright of Stuart shot one-over 72 to finish in second.

Carter Brooks (75) of Coral Springs took hold of the Player of the Year in the Boy’s 13-18 division with 2,309 points. Brooks completed his season with 13 top-10 finishes and 40 total birdies.

Finishing the day in the 9-10 divisions, Linus Castro (74) and Brian Kelley (77) secured the top-two positions for the Boys and Isabella Eterovic (90) and Larissa Wheelless (91) for the Girls.

In addition, Atlas Andrews of West Palm Beach and Larissa Wheelless of Miami earned the Player of the Year trophies after competing in more than 10 Prep Tour events this year.

Andrews placed in the top-3 positions in 10 of 15 events in which he competed in. Wheelless finished in the top-3 for the 10 of 10 events she competed in.

Congratulations to our 2023 Prep Tour Champions and Players of the year! Special thank you to Cody Sinkler, PGA and his staff at the Park West Palm for hosting today's event.

The Prep Tour season will begin its 2024 campaign on February 10th at Shell Point Golf Club.

Photo Album | Leaderboard | 2024 Schedule

Medalist Tour Finishes Final Event of Regular Season

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 18:56:54 GMT

STUART, FL - This past weekend, the South Florida PGA Medalist Tour Members finished off the regular season at Mariner Sands Country Club.

The two-day event welcomed 90 players who braved windy conditions and fierce competition.

In the Girl’s 13-18 division, FAU High School teammates, Valentina Marie Guertin (2-over, 146) and Morgan Rodriguez (4-over, 148) finished the event in the top-two positions.

After coming close to a win in her previous events, Boynton Beach native Guertin opened the tournament with a two-under 70, which included five birdies in a row (holes 1-5) and a tournament-high seven birdies overall. Guertin closed out the event with a 76 to edge Rodriguez by two strokes.

Hampton Beebe (+4) and Brayden Jenard (+4) finished 36 holes in a tie and competed in an intense playoff hole on the par 4 first hole. After both hitting the green in regulation, Beebe and Jenard faced birdie putts for the win.

Beebe sunk a 15-foot birdie putt to win his second event of the season in the Boy’s 13-18 Division.

Thank you to Director of Golf, Tim McKenna, PGA and the rest of the staff at Mariner Sands Country Club for making this event possible.

This event marked the last event in the Medalist Tour’s regular season. The top players in the Medalist Tour have been invited to participate in The Tour Championship on Dec. 2-3 at The Park West Palm.

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SFPGA Medalist Tour Players Faced Windy Weekend at Eagle Trace Golf Club

carolinel@pgahq.com (Caroline Lewis) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 12:47:42 GMT

Coral Springs, FL - This weekend, 81 Medalist Tour players participated in one of the last events of the 2023 Junior Tour season at Eagle Trace Golf Club.

With windy conditions making for a challenging first round, Valentina Marie Guertin and Cameron Kuchar took control and were the only two players to finish round one under par.

Guertin of Boynton Beach hit 14 of 14 fairways during round one, helping her to build a strong lead at 1-under, 71 in the Girl’s 13-18 division.

Beginning round two at a seven-stroke deficit, Ann Sophie Bourgault of Naples had a hot putter, carding six birdies in her back nine and finishing play at 78-68–146. In the end, it was enough to edge out Guertin by two strokes and Bourgault claimed first place honors in the Girl’s Division.

After an opening round 69, Kuchar started his second round with a four-stroke lead over Joey Iaciofano and Eduardo Ferreira in the Boy’s 13-18 Division. However, Ferreira carded six birdies on his way to a two-under 70, enough to edge out Kuchar by a stroke.

The Boy’s 11-12 Division was led by Chris Nana Tanke and Jose Carlos Lopez-Lay, both shooting 78 in round one. Nana Tanke pulled ahead of Lay during round two after going one-under through his first nine holes and closing the tournament at 78-73–151.

The Medalist Tour season will head to the final event of the regular season next weekend at Mariner Sands Country Club before the Tour Championship in December at The Park West Palm.

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Prep Tour Players Compete in Final Regular Season Event of the Year

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 21:26:01 GMT

West Palm Beach - After 29 events in the regular season, Prep Tour players took on their final event today at PGA National Estates Course.

A select number of players will be invited to compete at the final Prep Tour Championship on November 12th at The Park West Palm.

Ending the regular season with a career low, Dylan Schilling notched an impressive 7-under, 65 to go with his 7th first place finish in the 2023 season. Schilling carded eight total birdies leading him to victory in the Boy’s 11-12 division.

Joining Schilling with eight total birdies on the day, Anisleidy Chavez finished the round at 1-over, 73 and claimed first place honors for the Girl’s 13-18 division. Two shots behind Chavez, Elisa Hernandez finished runner- up with a total 3-over, 75.

Alex Jelinek of Port St. Lucie and Gatlin Albright of Stuart went head-to-head for the Boy’s 13-18 division title, both finishing at 2-over 74. After a scorecard playoff, Jelinek took home the win.

Doral Native, Stella Ronja Lind held onto first place position in the Player of the Year standings after her eighth win in the Girl’s 11-12 division. Lind carded a 6-over 78, one stroke ahead of Lucia Romero (79).

Closing out the event, in the 9-10 division, Mia Heuberger-Dominguez of Miami beach carded a total 5-over,77 and Linus Castro of Jupiter with a 2-over, 74 to lead them both to a victorious finish in their respective divisions.

As we close out the Prep Tour season and prepare for the final championship next month, we want to congratulate and thank all of our participants for a great 2023 season!

Congratulations to our winners today and best of luck to those advancing to the Tour Championship!

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Beebe and Shamy Take Home Medalist Tour Victory at Osprey Point Golf Course

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 15:11:42 GMT

Boca Raton, FL - This past weekend, Osprey Point Golf Course hosted the South Florida PGA Medalist Tour in a two-day, 36 hole event.

Zoe Shamy (-7) of Jupiter and Hampton Beebe (-9) of West Palm Beach claimed their respective division titles.

Starting the weekend with five birdies and one bogey, Shamy closed round one with a two-stroke lead over Aliyah Liberatore (71-72–143) and Danica Ortega (71-74–145).

Shamy maintained strong momentum through round two, cardeding five additional birdies to propel her to a 6-stroke lead in the Girl’s 13-18 Division over Liberatore.

As a result, Shamy advanced to a Top-5 position for the Girl’s Player of the Year race.

In the Boy’s 13-18 Division, Boca Raton native Gabriel Holtz had an impressive start to round one, carding six consecutive birdies and one eagle through his front nine. Holtz closed the day at 9-under, 63.

However, Hampton Beebe of West Palm Beach carded 13 birdies throughout the weekend and after his final round 64, edged out Junzhe Wang (66-70-136), Wylie Inman (72-66-138) and Holtz (63-75-138).

Beebe is an active member of the South Florida PGA Birdie Club and with the help of his 47 birdies this season, he has raised nearly $5,000 towards the support of the South Florida PGA Foundation.

Congratulations to our champions for a great weekend! Special thank you to Osprey Point Golf Course and their staff for hosting an excellent event!

The Medalist Tour season will host its final events, October 28-29 at Eagle Trace Golf Club and November 4-5 at Mariner Sands before staging the Tour Championship December at The Park West Palm December 2-3.

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Wycliffe Golf and Country Club Hosts Prep Tour as Junior Tour Season Winds Down

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 14:21:21 GMT

Wellington, FL - The South Florida PGA Prep Tour began rounding out the end of their 2023 season this past Saturday at Wycliffe Golf and Country Club.

Laura Monsalve of Miami is has not be a stranger to the Prep Tour leaderboards this season. With 17 of 19 events resulting in a top-10 finish, Monsalve holds the first place position in the Girl’s 13-18 Player of the Year standings. Monsalve continued this good play on Saturday to claim a 6-stroke lead for first place honors over Marissa Weaver of Vero Beach with a 3-over 75.

Jaxson Weese of Sebastian carded an even-par 72 to win his fifth Prep Tour event this year. Finishing one shot back of Weese, Patrick Pinkey and Carson Meredith both carded a 1- over 73.

Firing off three straight birdies on holes 12-14 Alyna Yensebai (73) of Lake Worth claimed first place honors in the Girl’s 11-12 division over Stella Ronja Lind of Doral in second (83).

Lind currently leads Girl’s 11-12 Player of the year by 125 points over Yensebai.

Winning his first Prep Tour Event of the season, Owen Hicks of Wellington held a 2-stroke lead for the Boys 11-12 division title and wrapped the day at 1- over, 73.

In the Boys 9-10 division, Alfred Carmenate and Linus Castro went neck-and-neck for first place honors both carding 2-over,74. Coming down to a scorecard playoff, Jupiter Native, Carmenate took home his second victory of the season.

The Prep Tour members will head to their last event of the season before they take on the final stage, Prep Tour Championship in November.

Congratulations to our Prep Tour Champions and best of luck on finishing the season strong!

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Silva and Woods Dominate South Florida PGA High School Championship

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 14:59:44 GMT

NAPLES, FL - Sagemont Prep (Girls) and The Benjamin School (Boys) claimed the West Coast High School Championship title this past weekend at Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club.

The second of two South Florida PGA Junior Tour High School Championship, played on Florida’s West Coast, the field was composed of 23 High School Golf teams and 118 total participants.

Due to weather, the event was modified to an 18 hole event, taking only round one scores.

In the Boys division, The Benjamin School catapulted an early lead for first place honors. Carding 21 birdies as a team, Charlie Woods (65), Tyler Bruneau (70), Aiden Miller (72) and Luke Wise (74) helped the team to a five shot victory over Somerset Academy.

Freshman Charlie Woods paved the way for the Buccaneers. With an impressive run, Woods carded nine birdies securing a tournament low 7-under, 65 and the individual title in the Boy’s division.

After winning the East Coast High School Championship title the previous week, Sagemont Preparatory team continued the good play in the Girl’s Division. With the help from Ariana Silva (68), Abigail Lee (84), Rachel Gomez (78) and Elisa Hernandez (84) the team shot a total 314 claiming victory over The Community School of Naples (319).

East Coast Individual Girl’s Champion, Ariana Silva, returned to the winner’s circle to claim back-to-back individual honors, shooting a four-under 68 with the help of six birdies and just two bogeys.

Congratulations to the South Florida PGA Junior Tour High School Championship Team and Individual Champions!

Special thank you to Chris Phillips, PGA and the rest of the staff at Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club for hosting the South Florida PGA.

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Silva and Greyserman Card Double-Digit Lows in East Coast High School Championship

carolinel@pgahq.com (Caroline Lewis) — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 12:52:04 GMT

ATLANTIS, FL - Spruce Creek(Boys) and Sagemont Prep (Girls) High Schools took home the South Florida PGA Junior Tour’s East Coast High School Championship, hosted by Lost City Golf Club.

Starting the final round tied with Ransom Everglades at 1-under, Gabriel Hull, Jacob Watson, Michael Watson and Scotty Messick of Spruce Creek propelled the team to a group 3-under finish.

Leading the way for the Hawks, Junior Hull carded a total 67-71–138, finishing with an overall 6-under and guiding Spruce Creek to a team victory over Oxbridge Academy.

Individually, Senior Reed Greyserman of Spanish River High shot a first round 9-under, 63, capturing the individual title by nine shots over Hull. Over the two-day stretch, Greyserman carded 15 total birdies, 10 of which came in round one, completing the Championship at 63-66–129.

In the Girl’s Division, Junior Ariana Silva of Sagemont Prep had a lights out round one carding six birdies to go along with zero bogeys. Silva maintained the momentum throughout round two, finishing with a 66-65-131 total and a 15-stroke victory for the individual title.

Silva’s good play also paved the way for Sagemont Prep who won the team championship by 15 strokes over St. Andrews High School.

The SFPGA High School Championship hosted 114 players from 24 teams across the south Florida area.. The SFPGA Junior Tour will travel to the west coast next week for the West Coast High School Championship September 29-30 at Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club in Naples.

Thank you to Mason Colling, PGA and the rest of the staff at Lost City Golf Club for hosting the event.

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Prep Tour Visits West Coast, Takes on West Bay Club

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 14:31:31 GMT

ESTERO, FL - On Sunday, 78 South Florida Prep Tour players competed in a one-day event at West Bay Club in Estero.

Coral Springs native, Carter Brooks currently holds first place position for the Boy’s 13-18 Player of the Year. After carding a victorious 4-over, 76 on Sunday, Brooks cushioned his 300-point lead. Brooks leads Brady Beebe with four events to go in the season.

Laura Monsalve of Miami continues to have a great season, winning for the second time after a six-over 78. In addition to her two wins, Monsalve has competed in 18 Prep Tour events this season, finishing in the Top-10 in 16 of them and leads the Girl’s 13-18 Division Player of the Year Race.

Hunter Humbert of Fort Myers and Stella Ronja Lind of Doral both shot a tournament-low three-over, 75 and now hold the first place position in their respective 11-12 divisions’ Player of the Year race.

Deven Allen (79) and Kash Latreille (79) both broke 80 for a two-way tie for first place in the Boy’s 9-10 division.

Victoria Frias of Parkland (83) took home first place in the Girls 9-10 division.

With four events left, the Prep Tour is finishing the season strong. For more information on what's to come, click here.

Special thank you to West Bay Club’s Head Professional and Vice President of the SFPGA South West Chapter, Danny Butts, PGA and the rest of his team for hosting a great event!

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Colton Knotches Tournament Low 10-under Claiming Medalist Tour Victory

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 20:06:20 GMT

Port St. Lucie - PGA Golf Club served as the host facility for this weekend’s Medalist Tour event with both rounds being played on the Par 71, Ryder Course.

After shooting a tournament low, 5-under 66 during round one, Brooks Colton of Riviera Beach kept up the momentum into round two carding a second consecutive five-under to win the Boy’s 13-18 division.

Ryan Lue of Port St. Lucie carded two consecutive under-par rounds to finish in second at 68-66–134.

Claire Liu finished at 72-71–143 to claim the the Girl’s 13-18 division title by two strokes. Abigail Smith and Gloria Nip finished 3-over for the weekend to finish in a tie for second.

In the Boy’s 11-12 division, Axel Monssoh of Miami had a lights out back nine during round two, carding two birdies and zero bogeys. Monssoh finished the weekend on top with 68-69–137, four strokes ahead Puerto Rico Native, Jose Carlos Lopez-Lay.

Thank you to Lead Assistant Golf Professional, Gerry Nelson, PGA and the rest of the team at PGA Golf Club for hosting the event!

The Medalist Tour season will continue October 14-15 at Osprey Point Golf Course.

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Rhodenizer and Guertin Win Labor Day Classic at PGA National

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 18:50:48 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Tristan Rhodenizer and Valentina Marie Guertin claim the 2023 Labor Day Classic Championship today at PGA National Resort on the Champion course.

PGA National served as the host facility of the 3-day, 54-hole major with the first two rounds being played on the Champion and Fazio Courses and the final round being played on the Champion Course. Following round two, the 156 player field was cut to the low 63 boys and girls.

Rhodenizer of Palm Beach Gardens managed three consecutive under-par rounds 69-68-71–208 (-8) to win the title by three shots over Jake Valentine of Palm Beach Gardens.

Rhodenizer credited his putter for allowing him to play so consistently throughout the week. “I made a lot of putts the first two days,” he said. “It cooled off on the back nine today, but was luckily able to keep it together.”

Rhodenizer matched the tournament low round of 68 in round two, giving him a three shot cushion going into the final round.

“Jake played really well, 4-under is not easy in this wind, " Rhodenizer explained. “I just tried to keep hitting fairways and greens, you can’t really make a lot of mistakes out here even with a three shot lead.”

Guertin, the Boynton Beach native, completed a wire-to-wire victory finishing at 2-over 71-71-76–218. Currently fifth in the player of the year standings, Guertin has excelled in the majors this year, finishing second in the Patty Berg, third in the Brendan Cunningham, eighth in the Junior Cup and eleventh in the Junior PGA Championship.

“It has been a struggle because I have been close but haven't been able to close out a tournament,” Guertin said. “But this tournament I was able to finish and it feels really good.”

With the win, Rhodenizer and Guertin will receive four AJGA stars and the top 10% will receive one.

The Labor Day Classic is the seventh of eight junior majors and last three day event of the 2023 South Florida PGA Junior Tour Season.

Thank you to PGA Club Manager, Jane Broderick, PGA and Tournament Director, Michael Williams and the entire team at PGA National for hosting.

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Schilling and Weese Go Low at PGA Golf Club

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 14:06:28 GMT

PORT ST. LUCIE - On Sunday, 78 South Florida PGA Prep Tour Members Competed at PGA Golf Club’s Wannamaker Course in a one-day, 18-hole event.

Dylan Schilling of Port St. Lucie, who practices out of PGA Golf Club, showed his comfort on his home course by carding a bogey-free front nine and four total birdies. His three-under 69 was enough to win the Boy’s 11-12 division.

Joining Schilling with a score under par, Jaxson Weese of Sebastian fired off seven birdies on his way to a four-under 68, enough to win his third consecutive Prep Tour title in the Boy’s 13-18 division.

Securing a third consecutive victory of her own, Stella Ronja Lind of Doral wrapped play with a four-over, 76, one shot ahead of Harper Kiss (77) to claim the Girl’s 11-12 title.

In the Boy’s 9-10 division, Palmer Buchanan of Port St. Lucie birdied the par-5 first hole to set the tone for his day, finishing at two-over 74, one stroke ahead of Linus Castro and Atlas Andrews.

Playing in just her second Prep Tour event of the 2023 season, Elisa Hernandez of Parkland won the Girl’s 13-18 title with a three-over, 75.

Congratulations to our Prep Tour Champions and Special thank you to PGA Golf Club for hosting a great event.

The Prep Tour season will resume September 10th at West Bay Club in Estero.

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McMillan and Schilling Win Fifth Prep Tour Event of the 2023 Season

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 13:34:00 GMT

PALM BEACH GARDENS - Eastpointe Country Club hosted 78 South Florida PGA Junior Tour Players on their East Course Sunday, in a one-day Prep Tour event.

Taking on the Boy’s 13-18 division, Jaxson Weese of Sebastian fired a total 1-over 73, winning the division over Mason Batchelor and Carter Brooks.

In the Girl’s 13-18 division, Reese McMillon of Jupiter secured her fifth victory of the 2023 Prep Tour Season with a total 6-over, 78. Finding her way to second was Esha Nagalla with a total of 9-over, 81.

Joining McMillan in their fifth victory of the season, Dylan Schilling of Port St. Lucie fired a tournament low 4-under, 76 and won the Boy’s 11-12 division title by two shots over Charles Sundermeier and Reed Abdelnour.

Grabbing hold of the title in the Boy’s 9-10 division , J. Holden Rice of Jupiter carded a 3-over, 75 to aid in his three shot victory over Linus Castro (78), who practices out of Eastpointe Country Club.

Larissa Wheelless carded an 84 to win the Girl’s 9-10 division title.

Congratulations to our Prep Tour Champions and special thank you to Eastpointe Country Club for hosting a great event!

Palm Beach League Sends Two Teams to PGA Jr. League Regional in Alabama

Sat, 12 Aug 2023 21:11:10 GMT

Palm Beach League’s 13-and-under and 17-and-under teams advanced to the PGA Jr. League Regional competition after winning their respective divisions at today’s Section Championship at Osprey Point Golf Course.

The 17U, coached by Sherri Pla, PGA and David Flinn, PGA won the morning wave after a 9-hole, two-person scramble on Osprey Point’s Falcon Course. For the second consecutive year, the team will play in the Regional Qualifier, held next month at Lakewood Club in Fairhope, Alabama.

Joining the team in Alabama will be the 13U team, also out of the Palm Beach League, coached by Andy Mitchell, PGA and Chris Harm. Both Palm Beach League teams include junior golfers from PGA National and Abacoa.

After all 13U teams played the same format in the morning, the two teams with the lowest aggregate team score advanced to the afternoon, to go head-to-head in a match play competition.

Palm Beach 13U took on Rick Smith Performance Center, ultimately winning by two strokes.

Today's Section Qualifier served as the first of three phases en route to the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship which annually highlights the best PGA Jr. League teams across the country at the PGA of America headquarters in Frisco, Texas.

Leading each team were GA Professionals Zack Shriver, PGA, Rich Kelly, PGA, Sherri Pla, PGA, David Flinn, PGA, John Moscoso, PGA, Jeff Jones, PGA, Andy Mitchell, PGA and Chris Harms, PGA .

Lind Secures Third Prep Tour Victory of the Season at Links at Boynton Beach

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 15:42:44 GMT

Links at Boynton Beach - On Sunday, 78 SFPGA Prep Tour Members took on the Links at Boynton Beach for another successful one-day event.

Stella Ronja Lind of Doral won her third Prep Tour event of the season and her first win at the Links at Boynton Beach. After losing in a scorecard playoff last week, Lind came back stronger, shooting 74 to win the Girl’s 11-12 Division title.

Lind currently sits in second place for Prep Tour Player of the Year, behind Alyna Yensebai.

Anthony Beteta of Davenport also carded a three over 74 after firing a tournament-low back nine, 34. Breteta’s day included and eagle on the par 5, 18th hole to secure the Boy’s 11-12 title.

In the 13-18 divisions, Eros Razuri Hoyos of Miami and Maddy Emery of Palmetto Bay finished in the the top spots with scores of seven-over and five-over, respectively.

Additionally, Maxence Le Theo won the Boy’s 9-10 division by 14 strokes with a total nine-over, 80.

Congratulations to our Prep Tour Champions!

Thank you Links at Boynton Beach for another great event!

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Nana Tanke, Shamy Hold On to Win South Florida PGA Junior Cup at Old Palm

carolinel@pgahq.com (Caroline Lewis) — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 00:05:48 GMT

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL - Ryan Nana Tanke and Zoe Shamy closed out narrow leads to emerge victorious at Old Palm Golf Club, host of the South Florida PGA Junior Cup.

The SFPGA Junior Cup is the sixth major of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour season and hosts the top junior golfers in the area for a three-day event, played for the first time at Old Palm Golf Club. This major welcomed 94 golfers, with the field cut to 40 percent following round two.

Zoe Shamy of Jupiter fired an opening round three-under (69), to set pace for the Girls 13-18 division, ultimately finishing the three days at three-under par to win the title.

After 10 birdies through her opening 36 holes, Shamy went birdie-less through her first 11 holes to start round three, however carded her first birdie of the day on 12 just before players were taken off for severe weather.

After an hour delay, Shamy resumed play and wrapped, making par on each of her remaining holes to win the event with a total three-under, securing her first SFPGA Junior Tour major win.

Nicole Sardinha of Miami and Leah Gram of Jupiter rounded out the top three with scores of two-under and two-over, respectively.

In the Boys 13-18 Division, 36-hole leader Ryan Nana Tanke (66-71) entered round three at seven-under, with a three stroke lead. However, he left himself a 10-foot bogey putt on hole seven before the weather delay.

Following the delay, Nana Tanke missed the putt and made double bogey on hole seven, opening the door for TJ Thompson to close the gap who made birdie on nine.

After two more bogeys on 12 and 13 to open the back nine, Nana Tanke birdied 15 and eagled 17 to climb to eight-under and win the event by three.

Thompson finished in second at five-under and Jack Kantowski placed third at three-under.

Congratulations to our 2023 SFPGA Jr. Cup Champions! Special thank you to Dan Terlescki, PGA and the rest of the staff at Old Palm Golf Club for hosting a great event!

Joshua Anderson Closes Out Prep Tour Event With an Ace

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:20:44 GMT

This week, South Florida PGA Prep Tour Members took on Sandhill Cranes Par-3 course on Wednesday followed by Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club on Thursday.

Dominating Sandhill Crane’s Par-3 course, Laura Monsalve of Miami had a strong round, carding even-par with the help of four birdies. Finishing just one shot behind Monsalve was Jupiter local Reese McMillan.

Monsalve currently holds first place position in the 2023 Player of the Year Points for the Girls 13-18 field and McMillan follows closely behind in second.

In the Boy’s 13-18 division, Avery Buttress of North Palm Beach took a hold of first place with an even-par scorecard to cap Wednesday’s round at Sandhill Crane. Brady Beebe claimed second place title at one-over, 55.

To round out the event at Sandhill Crane, Joshua Anderson of Parkland aced his first hole of the day.

On Thursday, the Prep Tour moved down to Deering Bay Yacht and Country Club in Miami and Alfonso Goyeneche and Gabriel Penagos Flores landed in a two-way tie for the Boy’s 13-18 title, finishing at two-over.

Anisleidy Chavez of Florida City won the Girls 13-18 champion with a total 12-over, 83 and Stella Ronja Lind of Doral received the Girls 11-12 title with a 7-over, 78.

In the Boys 11-12 division, Daniel Barcenas of Weston won his first Prep Tour of the season with a total four-over, 75 and four birdies along the way.

To finish the event, the 9-10 division titles were awarded to Alfred Carmenate and Larissa Wheelless of Miami.

Congratulations to our champions of the week and thank you to everyone who came out and participated in this week's Prep Tour events!

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South Florida PGA Prep Tour Players Face Week of Events

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 20:17:50 GMT

South Florida PGA Prep Tour Players faced back-to-back events this week at Stoneybrook Golf Club, Wednesday and Links at Boynton Beach, Friday.

Stoneybrook Golf Club

Beginning Wednesday’s round with a hot start, Carter Brooks of Coral Springs notched a tournament low 1-under, 71. His round was highlighted by three birdies on the front nine, routing Brooks to first place honors in the Boy’s 13-18 division.

Finding her 7th finish in a top-3 position for the 2023 season, Lake Worth local, Bella Simoes finished at even-par to secure victory in the Girl’s 13-18 division. Aiding in her success, Simoes managed a bogey-free front nine to close the day with a one stroke lead over Laura Monsalve of Miami.

Jaxson Hollatz of Naples and Isabella Giraldo Garcia of Windermere achieved champion status in the 11-12 Boy’s and Girl’s divisions.

Links at Boynton Beach

Moving to Friday’s round at The Links at Boynton Beach, Jaxson Weese of Sebastian and Reese McMillan of Jupiter both shot even-par to take the lead in their respective 13-18 divisions.

Weese capped his round with a birdie on eighteen to secure his second victory of the 2023 Prep Tour season.

Finishing the day with two back-to-back birdies, Dylan Schilling of Port St. Lucie carded a 74 and took home the gold in the Boy’s 11-12 division.

Thanyanate Bhummabhuti of Bangkok, wrapped play for the Girl’s 11-12 division with three birdies to aid in an even-par finish.

In the Boy’s 9-10 LinuscCastro of Jupiter finished in first at 6-over, 77.

Congratulations to our Champions of the week! Thank you to everyone who came out and participated!

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Crowe Goes Low to Win the Brendan Cunningham Junior Open, Gabby D and Fernanda Carrion Take Girl’s Division

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:27:28 GMT

MARCO ISLAND - Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton shot a three-day, 11-under total to win the Brendan Cunningham Junior Open by nine strokes at Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club.

Crowe’s 11-under, highlighted by his opening round 66, is the lowest three-day total in tournament history and the event’s largest margin of victory.

“I am happy with how I played,” said Crowe. “I feel like I stayed in my own zone and kept my head down.”

The event, which honors the late Brendan Cunningham who was a longtime South Florida PGA volunteer, was played over the last three days at Hammock Bay Golf and Country Club, hosting a field of 77 Medalist Tour players for the eighth major of the season.

Crowe, who won the event in 2021 at three-over par, opened with a bogey-free, six-under 66, which is his lowest 18-hole score in a competitive round, to grab the lead and never look back, shooting under par each round.

The Boca Raton Community High School golfer went 10-under on the par 5’s to help secure his first win of the year.

After three rounds and 54-holes, Gabriella D. and Fernanda Carrion were tied at 3-under. Due to the threat of inclement weather, the two were named co-champions.

Gabby of Palm Beach Gardens fired a tournament low round of 6-under 66 in the first round, setting herself well ahead of the field going into the next two rounds. Following an even-par 72 in the second round and a 3-over 75 in the final round, Gabby wrapped play at 3-under.

Carrion of Coral Gables carded three consistent rounds of even-par 72 in the first round, one-under 71 in the second and the final round low of two-under 70 to match Gabby.

Ryan Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens finished in second with a two-under 214 (69-72-73), while his brother, Chris, won the Boy’s 11-12 Division at three-under 213 (60-70-74). Chris Nana Tanke edged Zachary Felton of Estero by a stroke.

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Veilleux Claims Medalist Tour Victory After Four-Hour Rain Delay and Eight Playoff Holes

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 14:53:39 GMT

Boynton Beach, FL - Christian Veilleux outlasted JJ Hyun Her in an eight hole playoff to claim his first Medalist Tour victory in the Boy’s 13-18 Division last week at Indian Spring Country Club.

After 36 holes, Veilleux and Her both carded a 71-73-146 total to force a playoff. Despite a four-hour rain delay during the playoff, Veilleux and Her took eight holes before deciding a champion. Veilleux closed with a birdie on hole number one’s par five to claim victory.

Before weather impeded play, starting off Thursday’s round with 1-under through her front nine, Nicole Wu of Davie surged to a first place position in the Girl’s 13-18 division. One stroke back of Wu, Gabriella DeGasperis of Palm Beach Gardens and Yool Her of Pembroke Pines closed out round one at 2-over.

Gabriella DeGasperis (73-69–142) carded four birdies to close out her final round 2-under and claim victory in the Girl’s division.

Firing a tournament low on Friday, Aubrey Pichler of Hobe Sound finished one stroke back of first with a total 75-68–143.

Congratulations to our champions!

We appreciate everyone’s patience and cooperation throughout the weather challenges!

Special thanks to Indian Spring Country Club General Manager, Robert Foster, PGA and his entire staff for hosting the event!

The Medalist Tour season will resume July 12-14 at the Brendan Cunningham Junior Open at Marco Island’s Hammock Bay Golf Club.

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South Florida PGA Junior Tour Hosts Two Prep Events This Week

Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:57:09 GMT

West Palm Beach - Over 100 South Florida Junior Tour players competed in two Prep Tour events hosted at Palm Beach Par 3 and The Club at Gateway.

On monday, the Prep Tour started on the east coast of Florida and took on the Palm Beach Par 3. The highlight of the day belongs to Leilani Kellerman in the Girl’s 13-18 division, making a hole-in-one on the 18th hole.

Congratulations to the following players for claiming victory in their respective age divisions:

Boy’s 9-10: Linus Castro

Girl’s 11-12: Alyna Yensabai

Boy’s 11-12: Reed Abdelnour

Girl’s 13-18: Ella Mamane and Olivia Hartman

Later in the week, Prep Tour traveled to Fort Myers for a Wednesday round at The Club at Gateway.

After 18 holes, the following players came out on top:

Boy’s 9-10: Kash Latreille

Girl’s 11-12: Sara Valentine

Boy’s 11-12: Dylan Schiling

Girl’s 13-18: Elizabeth Lenton

Boy’s 13-18: Mason Stieler

Thank you to everyone who came out and participated in a fun week of Prep Tour events.

These events are not possible without the help and support from General Manager/Head Professional Tony Chateauvert, PGA and the rest of his staff at the Palm Beach Par 3 and Gyles Robin and his staff at The Club at Gateway.

The Prep Tour season will continue July 10th at PGA National - Fazio Course .

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Tsar, Mahathep and Monssoh Claim the 39th Nicklaus Junior Championship Title

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 21:14:00 GMT

Jupiter, FL - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour administered the 39th Annual Nicklaus Junior Championship this week at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club’s Medal Course and Mayacoo Lakes Country Club.

With a field of over 150 players, the event marks the fourth major of the 2023 season and one of the most prominent events of the year.

Beginning the tournament at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club, the Girl’s 13-18 division faced challenging course conditions. Vanessa Zepeda of Boca Raton shot 5-over to take the lead by one ahead of Chonpatchsorn Mahathep of Boca Raton.

On Friday at Jonathan’s Landing Medal Course, Mahathep charged back with a tournament-low 73, with the help of a two-under 34 on the back nine. Mahathep’s 77-73–150 total bested Zepeda by two strokes.

In the Boy’s 13-18 division, Pavel Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens maintained a strong lead throughout the event. Due to an incredible back nine finish in round one where he birdied five of his last six holes to shoot a three-under 68.

In the final round at Jonathan’s Landing, Tsar went bogey- free with three-birdies and sealed his win with a 68-69–137 total. Tsar previously won the Nicklaus Junior Championship as an 11-year-old in 2018.

James Earle of Jupiter finished runner- up in the Boy’s 13-18 Division with a two-day total 72-72–144.

Rounding out the event, Axel Monssoh of Miami won the Boy’s 11-12 division with a total 73-72–145, two strokes ahead of Zachary Felton of Estero.

The winner and the runner-up in each age division received special framed, signed scorecards from Jack Nicklaus’ 1986 Masters Tournament victory.

Thank you to Shawn Costello, PGA and Nick Beddow, PGA and their teams at Jonathan’s Landing and Mayacoo Lakes Country Club for hosting this event.

The Medalist Tour season will continue July 6-7 at Indian Spring Country Club.

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Albert and Hiller Punch Tickets to the 2023 Junior PGA Championship

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 22:19:59 GMT

Boca Raton - This week, 83 players competed at the South Florida Junior PGA Championship, the third of eight majors hosted throughout the SFPGA Junior Tour season.

The top-two finalists from each age division advanced to the national Junior PGA Championship at Hot Springs Country Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas, August 1-4.

Gabriella Albert, who finished second in last year’s event, carded five birdies during Monday’s round, propelling her to a first place position in the Girl’s 13-18 division. Layla Pedrique of Palm Beach Gardens, carded a bogey- free front nine and finished one shot back of Albert.

“The first hole, I went in with the mentality to hit fairways and greens,” Gabriella Albert explained.

Albert went on to finish play with a total 70–72–142 and claim her first place title and entry into her second Junior PGA Championship.

“My goal is to make the cut or finish in the top-25,” expressed Albert. “I believe my game has gotten a lot better so we will see.”

In the Boy’s 13-18 division, Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton and JJ Hyun Her of Pembroke Pines had an impeccable opening round, both finishing at 4-under.

“I just kept my head down and played my game,” Crowe explained as the secret to his success during Monday’s round.

Players struggled during round two due to windy conditions. However, the wind was no match for Jackson Hiller of Vero Beach who shot a 3-under, 69 and came out victorious with a two-day total 72-69–141 for first place honors.

The battle for the final spot into the Jr. PGA Championship was filled after Brooks Colton of Riviera Beach shot 3-under and defeated Oscar Crowe in a scorecard playoff.

Congratulations to our champions and best of luck as they head to the 2023 Jr. PGA Championship!

Special thank you to the Jeff Hall, PGA and former Junior Tour Alum and Assistant Golf Professional, Yumi Fujii for their help hosting this event!

The Medalist Tour season will continue Thursday, June 22nd at the 39th Nicklaus Junior Championship!

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Maddy Emery and Hunter Butler Win Prep Tour Event at Links at Boynton Beach

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 18:56:52 GMT

Boynton Beach - The South Florida PGA Pr ep Tour teed it up today at the Links of Boynton Beach with 78 players competing.

Going one-for-one in her first Prep Tour event of the 2023 season, Maddy Emery of Palmetto Bay carded a 4-over 75 for Girl’s 13-18 first place honors. One stroke back of Emery, Bella Simoes of Lake Worth claimed runner-up, making this her fifth consecutive top-5 finish.

After a victorious finish in his previous Prep Tour event at Boca Lago Golf & Country Club, Hunter Butler of Lake Worth returned to claim yet another win in the Boy’s 13-18 division. With a 2-under start through his front-nine, Butler propelled himself to a five shot lead. Butler capped his round at 1-over, 72.

In the Boy’s 11-12 division, Reed Abdelnour of West Palm Beach and Charles Sundermeier of Lake Worth went shot-for-shot both finishing at 7-over, 78. Abdelnour took first place in a scorecard playoff, taking the back-nine scores.

Harper Kiss of Lighthouse Point won her second Prep Tour event of the 2023 season, 3 shots better then Alyna Yensabai of Lake Worth.

Victor Monssoh of Miami ran with the lead at 5-over 76, winning the Boys 9-10 division.

Concluding the day with the Girl’s 9-10, Chloe Rouce achieved victory.

Congratulations Prep Tour Champions!

The Prep Tour season will continue Monday, June 12 at Hollybrook Golf Club

Thank you to Bo Preston, PGA and the rest of his team at The Links at Boynton Beach for hosting todays Prep Tour event!

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Patel and DeGasperis Secure Medalist Tour Victory

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 19:58:30 GMT

West Palm Beach - Sohan Patel and Gabriella DeGasperis claimed first place honors over the weekend at the Medalist Tour event at Banyan Cay Resort and Golf Club.

During Saturday’s round, the field was tested due to inclement weather, resulting in a suspension of the round on Sunday.

Despite bad weather in round one, Gabriella DeGasperis of Palm Beach Gardens finished her first round even-par in the Girl’s 13-18 division. DeGasperis went one-under on all par-4’s, giving her a four-stroke lead over Fernanda Carrion of Coral Gables.

DeGasperis carded six-over total (72-78–150) to claim her first win of the 2023 Medalist Tour season.

In the Boy’s 13-18 division, Sohan Patel of Weston had an unstoppable first round, carding seven birdies to land him at a tournament-low, six-under, 66.

Jack Quinn of Palm Beach Gardens, who shot two-under during round one, tried to surge ahead of Patel with another one-under round on Sunday. However, Patel’s five stroke lead heading into round two was too much to overcome. Patel claimed first place honors with a two-day total 66-70-137.

Congratulations to our Champions and to all our participants who came out! We appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation throughout the weekend’s weather.

Special thanks to Head Golf Professional, Jared Chipley and the rest of his team at Banyan Cay for hosting this weekend’s event.

The Medalist Tour season will continue June 19-20 at the South Florida Jr. PGA Championship!

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South Florida PGA Medalist Tour Hosts Patty Berg Junior Championship

Mon, 29 May 2023 21:19:37 GMT

Fort Myers - This weekend, South Florida PGA Medalist Tour members took on Cypress Lakes Golf Club for the annual Patty Berg Junior Championship, one of the Junior Tour’s eight Major tournaments.

The three-day, 54-hole event featured the largest field seen in the tournament's history. With 95 players braving the course, the long weekend was filled with heavy competition, great golf, and several Cypress Lake specialty milkshakes.

Valentina Marie Guertin of Boynton Beach held a strong lead throughout the three-day event. After ending Saturday’s round at one-under on her back nine, Guertin went into round two with a two-stroke lead in the Girl’s 13-18 division. Not long after, Addison Klonowski of Naples caught up to Guertin, both shooting even par on Sunday. Starting the final round two-strokes back of Guertin, Klonowski fired three straight birdies making her the only girl to finish under par in the final round. Klonowski cruised her way to a four shot victory (75-72-71–218) and claimed the Girl’s 13-18 champion title.

Last year’s Patty Berg Champion, TJ Thompson had his eyes set on reclaiming his title and going two-for-two in the SFPGA Patty Berg Championship. The Coral Springs native had a one-shot lead going into his second round. However, Thompson was met by Jayden Freedman of Boca Raton. Freedman carded five birdies in his second round, landing him at even par and tied with Thompson for the lead at four-over.

Thompson notched an eagle on Cypress Lake’s hole-five, par 5 to start the final round, taking a three-shot lead over Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton.

However, after starting the round six-over, Yuma Nemoto of Bradenton went on a birdie streak in his last three holes, carding a tournament low-71 in the Boy’s 13-18 division. Yuma Nemoto climbed the leaderboard and claimed first place honors with a three-day total, 72-72-71–221.

Zachary Felton (84-233) of Estero, William Richards (81-231) of Miami and Sebastian Eterovic (75-228) of Coral Gables went neck-and- neck throughout the event. Felton held the lead throughout the first two rounds but was met by Eterovic’s unstoppable play in his final round. Capping his weekend with a bogey-free back nine, Sebastian Eterovic claimed first place honors with a total 76-77-75–228, three strokes ahead of Richards in second.

Congratulations to our 2023 Patty Berg Champions! Special thank you to Jon Pazdera, PGA and the rest of his team at Cypress Lake Golf Club for hosting yet another great Patty Berg Championship!

The Patty Berg Championship is the second South Florida PGA Junior Tour event of the 2023 season. This tournament is a special event recognizing an incredible golfer and role model, Patty Berg. Patty Berg was a Founding Member of the LPGA Tour, the women’s all-time leader with 15 majors, served as the LPGA ‘s first president and was a huge supporter of junior golf. The event is played at Cypress Lake Golf Club to honor her home course she used for most of her playing career.

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South Florida PGA Prep Tour Takes on Boca Lago Golf and Country Club

Mon, 22 May 2023 13:12:45 GMT

Boca Raton, FL - Boca Lago Golf and Country Club hosted the South Florida PGA Prep Tour this weekend, welcoming over 70 juniors for a single-day, 18-hole event.

Hunter Butler of Lake Worth maintained a strong lead throughout the day. With only two bogeys during his round, Butler bested the rest of the Boy’s 13-18 field and narrowly defeated runner-up Chandler Cantwell of Palm Beach Gardens. Cantwell placed second after a round of 76 and a scorecard playoff against Aahan Asthana of Jensen Beach.

In the Boy’s 11-12 division, Samuel Friday of Jupiter shot a tournament-low, even par. Friday’s round was highlighted by three birdies and consecutive pars, propelling him to a five shot win over runner-up Augustin Bunuel of Miami Springs.

Atlas Andrews of West Palm Beach carded his second first place title for the Boy’s 9-10 division. The win makes it five consecutive top-five finishes and has Andrews in first place for the 2023 Boy’s 9-10 Prep Tour Player of the Year.

In the Girl’s 13-18 division, Laney Ryan of Vero Beach earned her second win of the 2023 season with a stellar performance, shooting a 4-over, 76. Two strokes behind Ryan, Reese McMillan of Jupiter shot a total 6-over, 78 for runner-up.

Stella Ronja Lind of Doral has had a record year with six consecutive top-2 finishes in the Girl’s 11-12 division. Finishing this weekend’s event with a 3-stroke lead over runner-up Myla Kumar of Pompano Beach, Lind achieved her second first place finish of the 2023 season.

Rounding out the day, Larissa Wheelless of Miami Springs claimed her first place victory in the Girl’s 9-10 division.

Congratulations to all of our Champions of the weekend and to everyone for coming out to participate in another great Prep Tour event!

Special thanks to Boca Lago Head Golf Professional, Billy Ashford, PGA and the rest of his team for hosting this weekend’s event!

The Prep Tour season will continue June 9th at Links at Boynton Beach.

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Gatlin Albright Shoots Tournament Low at Prep Tour Event of the Weekend

Tue, 16 May 2023 19:53:44 GMT

Palm City - This past weekend, Prep Tour players took on Palm City’s Hammock Creek Golf Course.

Gatlin Albright of Stuart maintained a strong lead from start to finish throughout Saturday’s play. Finding success on the par 3’s, Albright went one-under on the course’s four par 3s. Wrapping play with an eagle on the 440-yard, par 5 hole 17, Albright carded a three-under and claimed victory in the Boy’s 13-18 division.

In the Boy’s 11-12 division, Arthava Rajeshkumar of Coral Gables notched a total one-over, 73 to receive first place honors over Dylan Schiling of Port St. Lucie.

In the youngest boy’s division, Palm City native, Brooks Rodin carded a two-over, 74, three strokes ahead of Victor Monssoh of Miami. Rodin claimed his first Boy’s 11-12 Prep Tour victory of the 2023 season.

In the Girl’s Division, Morgan Cole of Boca Raton went 1-under through nine to aid in her victory in the 13-18 division. Cole shot one over and finished four strokes ahead of Reese McMillan of Jupiter.

Ella Hrbata of West Palm Beach had a record start to her round with a birdie, eagle, birdie, on holes two through four. Hrbata finished her front nine at 3-under to aid in her victory over the Girl’s 11-12 division.

Congratulations to our Prep Tour Champions of the weekend! Special thank you Corey Hamlin, PGA and Scott Barnaby, PGA and the rest of their team at Hammock Creek for hosting this past weekend's event.

The Prep Tour season will resume this weekend, May 21st at Boca Lago golf & Country Club.

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Earle and Nip Celebrate Medalist Tour Victory at Wellington National Golf Club

cmeschede@pgahq.com (Cole Meschede) — Mon, 08 May 2023 17:16:00 GMT

Wellington, FL - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour hosted Medalist and Prep Tour events at Wellington National Golf Club and Osprey Point Golf Course over the weekend.

James Earle and Angela Nip claimed first place honors in their respective age divisions at Wellington National’s Medalist Tour event.

In the Girl’s 13-18 division, Nip of Port St. Lucie fired a 1-under 71 in round one, carding four bogeys to go along with five birdies as she wrapped the day with an 8-stroke lead over Dariano Breto of Hialeah.

Nip and Breto went shot-for-shot in round two, both notching a 2-over 74. Nip carded a two-day total 71-74–145 to claim her first Medalist Tour victory of the 2023 season.

After carding two consecutive 1-under-par 71 rounds, Earle of Jupiter dominated in the Boy’s 13-18 division, with a 3-shot lead over Joey Iaciofano of Jupiter.

In addition to our Medalist Tour champions, this past weekend’s Medalist event served as the second qualifier for the SFPGA Junior Championship. Congratulations to our Champions and to all those players who will advance to the SFPGA Junior Championship in June.

Additionally, at Sunday’s Prep Tour event, 73 players across five age divisions took on Osprey Points Raven and Falcon Course.

Congratulations to our Prep Tour Winners:

Boy’s 9-10 : Atlas Andrews

Boy’s 11-12 : Jack Smith

Boy’s 13-18 : Austin Earle

Girl’s 11-12 : Finley Baker

Girl’s 13-18 : Morgan Cole

Thank you to everyone who came out to participate in this past weekend’s events! Special thank you to Wellington National and Osprey Point Golf Course for hosting these events.

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Prep Tour Leaderboard

Thunderstorms Impact Medalist Tour at Crane Watch Club

Sun, 30 Apr 2023 21:05:32 GMT

South Florida PGA Medalist Tour members faced a challenging weekend filled with thunderstorms, rain and wet conditions at Crane Watch Club in Palm City.

Due to ongoing weather conditions throughout the weekend, play was suspended and adjusted into a 18-hole event. In addition, this event marked the first qualifying opportunity into the South Florida PGA Junior Championship in June.

Round one resumed Sunday morning with a shotgun start. Leading the field in the Boy’s 13-18 division, Cameron Kuchar of Harrison, Idaho notched a tournament low 4-under, 68. Kuchar carded seven total birdies to aid in his first place victory. Two shots back of Kuchar, Hugo Stenstrom of Miami carded an eagle on 17 and claimed runner-up.

William Richards of Miami dominated with a bogey-free front nine landing him in first place position for the Boy’s 11-12 division. Richards carded a tournament low, 4-under, 68. Following behind, Zachary Felton of Estero closed his round at 6-over, 78.

For the Girl’s 13-18 division, Co-Champions, Gloria Nip and Sabrina Kim of Port St. Lucie claimed a first place score of 2-over. One stroke back of first, Catherine Andino of Boca Raton scored a 37 in her back nine and won in a scorecard playoff for second place honors.

Congratulations to all of our champions of the weekend! We appreciate everyone's patience and cooperation throughout the weather conditions. Special thank you to Dennis Zasoski and the rest of the team at Crane Watch Club for hosting this weekend’s event.

The Medalist Tour season will continue on May 5th at Wellington National.

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Three-in-One Weekend For The South Florida PGA Junior Tours

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:47:30 GMT

This past weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Tour hosted three events in each of its junior tours, Medalist, Prep and Links, for nearly 200 members.

The weekend began at Tesoro Club on Saturday where the Medalist Tour had a 36-hole event. Tyler Lilienfield led the boy’s 13-18 division after round one, carding an even-par round 72.

While Lilienfield entered round two with a one stroke lead, Port Saint Lucie native James Bradley birdied his first hole and carded just one bogey to edge out Lilienfield by one, finishing at two-over 146.

In the girl’s 13-18 division, Leelou Girault of West Palm Beach and Aliya Liberatore of Palm Beach Gardens mirrored each other throughout the two days, both shooting a total 69-77–146.

The two needed three playoff holes to determine a winner with Girault eventually claiming that title, making par on the par-4, first hole.

Prep and Links Tour Also in Action

Prep Tour took on Okeeheelee Golf Course on Sunday. Due to inclement weather, play was cut short and scores were carded based on how many holes each age group’s last tee time finished. We appreciate everyone for their cooperation during Sunday’s Prep Tour event and apologize for the inconvenience in play.

In addition to Sunday’s Prep Tour event, the South Florida PGA Links Tour had its second event of the year on Sunday at Sailfish Sands Golf Course in Stuart.

It was an exciting weekend for our Junior Tour programs! Congratulations to all of our weekend Champions and special thank you to The Tesoro Club, Okeeheelee Golf Course and Sailfish Sands Golf Course for hosting these events.

Links Tour Leaderboard

Prep Tour Leaderboard

Medalist Tour Leaderboard

Medalist and Prep Tours in Action Over the Weekend

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 18:50:24 GMT

Over the weekend, Medalist Tour members headed to the West Coast to take on Old Corkscrew Golf Club for a 36-hole event while Prep Tour members played 18 holes at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs.

On the Medalist Tour, Jonathan Elter of Naples began Sunday’s round with a strong lead in the Boy’s 13-18 division, sitting four strokes ahead of Darren Zhou of Bradenton. However, after Elter turned in a six-over 78 in the second round, he found himself in a playoff with Zhou.

Facing a sudden death playoff on the 433-yard, hole 10, Zhou won the playoff after one hole and claimed the Boy’s 13-18 title.

Grace Carter of Jupiter began Sunday’s round two-strokes back of Chonpatchsorn Mahathep of Boca Raton. After a bogey-free front nine, Carter cruised to a first place victory. Carter’s even par total was a tournament-low amongst all age divisions over the two days and helped her claim first place honors in the Girl’s 13-18 division.

Special recognition to Zachary Felton for his win over the Boy’s 11-12 division.

Moving forward to Sunday’s Prep Tour event, in the Boy’s 9-10 division, Jackson Logan of Fort Lauderdale went on a birdie streak, scoring three birdies on holes seven, eight and nine. Logan shot a tournament low, 73 to claim his first place title.

Drew Davis of Coral Gables shot a five-over 77 to win the Boy’s 11-12 Division by one.

In the Boy’s 13-18 division, Lorenzo Cantarel carded four total birdies to finish at three-over (75), enough to earn the victory.

In the Girl’s Divisions, Sara Valentine of West Palm Beach won her third consecutive Girl’s 11-12 Prep Tour title by three strokes over Tatyana Villegas of Miami.

After tying in regulation, Manueal Suarez and Laura Monsalve went head-to-head for first place honors. Saurez of Doral came out with a one stroke lead on her back nine to claim victory in the scorecard playoff.

Thank you to everyone who came out and competed in both Medalist and Prep Tour events!

Congratulations to our champions of the weekend and special thank you to Mark Iwinski, PGA and Julian Gil for hosting the events.

The Medalist Tour season will continue on April 22-23 at Tesoro Club and The Prep Tour season will return on April 23rd at Okeheelee Golf Course.

Medalist Tour Leaderboard

Prep Tour Leaderboard

South Florida PGA Juniors Head to Augusta National

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 18:27:41 GMT

South Florida PGA Junior Tour members Daniel Barcenas, Leah Gram, Luke Parsons and Larissa Wheelless head to Augusta National Golf Club to compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals this weekend.

Annually the South Florida PGA administers 10 local qualifiers, 2 sub-regionals and one regional, where juniors have the ability to advance to the national event in Augusta.

Barcenas, Gram, Parsons and Wheelless all won their age divisions during the regional competition at The Bear’s Club last October where 97 junior golfers from Florida, Georgia and Alabama competed after advancing through their respective sub-regional and local qualifiers.

Barcenas (Weston), a member on the SFPGA Prep Tour, holed his putts from six and 30 feet on his way to winning the putting skill as well as the Boys 10-11 age division title. On the Prep Tour, Barcenas won three times in 2022 and collected three additional top five finishes.

A Jupiter native, Gram finished second at the 2021 regional but this time, she used her driving to win the Girl’s 12-13 division with 129 points, earning 52 points with her driver. A member of the SFPGA Medalist Tour, Gram has one top-10 victory so far this year.

“I am looking forward to watching the professionals play such an amazing course,” said Gram. “My grandparents are also coming all the way from Swedan to watch my compete.”

Parsons (Palm Beach Gardens) was the only player from the regional qualifier to advance to a second DCP National Final, first competing at Augusta National in 2018 where he finished third. Competing in the 14-15 age division, Parsons is a member of the Medalist Tour where he won twice in 2022 and has two top-five finishes so far this year.

Lastly but certainly not least, Wheelless of Miami compiled the most points across all three skills to win the Girl’s 7-9 division by 47 points last October. A member of the Prep Tour, Wheeless has won every tournament (4) she has played in this season.

To prepare for the moment, Wheelless is doing one thing: “I am taking my wedge everywhere I go,” said Wheelless. “I even took it to Costa Rica. On Sunday, I hope to just keep calm, relax and try my best.”

Local qualifying for the ninth season of Drive, Chip and Putt began last May and was held at 342 sites across the country over the summer with 80 juniors advancing nationwide.

The 80 juniors represent 29 states and will tee it up this Sunday, April 2nd at Augusta National. Coverage will begin at 8:00 a.m. Sunday on The Golf Channel.

Click here for photos from the 2022 Regional Qualifier at The Bears Club.

Weekend Full of Wins for the SFPGA Prep Tour

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 14:32:16 GMT

This past weekend, South Florida PGA Prep Tour members faced back-to-back events at The Links at Boynton Beach on Saturday and Sandridge Golf Club-Dunes Course on Sunday.

On Saturday, Jake Preville of Wellington came out of the gate strong, going one-under in his first nine holes. Preville finished at even par, a tournament-low at Sandridge, to win Boy’s 13-18 division.

To round out the other boy’s divisions, Jason Andree of Parkland finished at seven-over in the 11-12 division while Carl Hitchner of Winter Park finished six-over for the 9-10 division.

Larissa Wheelless of Miami shot SCORE to claim the Girl’s 9-10 Division on Saturday. Wheelless followed up her good play on Sunday, winning the pink jacket Girls Golf Miami Masters Tournament at Coasta Del Sol Golf Club.

Carding a tournament-low in the Girl’s 13-18 division, Reese McMillan of Jupiter finished at 2-over 73. Close behind McMillan, Petra Compton of Palmetto Bay and Bella Simoes of Lake Worth finished at 3-over.

Compton, Simoes and McMillan all returned on Sunday to Sandridge Golf Club to go head-to-head for the division title.

After going bogey-free in her first three holes, Compton maintained a one stroke lead over Bella Simoes. Not far behind, McMillan finished just two strokes back.

The three girls capped their round at:

Petra Compton: +5

Bella Simoes: +6

Reese McMillan: +7

After finishing in first on Saturday’s round, Harper Kiss of Lighthouse Point came back on Sunday to compete against Gemma Hughes in the Girl’s 11-12 division. Hughes finished three better than Kiss and won her first-ever Prep Tour event.

Charles Sundermeier (11-12 division) of Lake Worth and Jaxson Weese (13-18 division) of Sebastian both carded four-over 76s to win their respective divisions.

Alden Dixon of Sebastian claimed the gold in the 9-10 division, with a five-stroke win over Hudson Kohout of Johns Creek, Georgia.

Thank you to Bo Preston, PGA and Bela Nagy, PGA and the rest of their staff for making this past weekend possible.

The Prep Tour season will be back in action this Sunday at Eagle Trace Golf Club.

The Links at Boynton Beach leaderboard

Sandridge Golf Club leaderboard | Photo Album

Kuehne Returns to Claim First Place Title

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 14:10:20 GMT

Palm City - Henry Kuene fired a three-under 141 to best the field by six strokes and win the Medalist Tour event at Martin Downs this weekend.

Last weekend, the Palm Beach Gardens native finished in second place, losing in a playoff at Osprey Point Golf Course. Kuehne brushed off the runner-up finish and opened his first round at Martin Downs with three consecutive birdies and ultimately finished six-strokes ahead of Dave Fuhrer of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the Boy’s 13-18 Division.

In the Girl’s 13-18 division, Catherine Andino of Boca Raton claimed her second Medalist Tour victory of the season, finishing at seven-over. Andino shot a two-day total 74-77–151, three shots ahead of Leelou Girault of West Palm Beach. After the tournament, Andino and her family celebrated her victory at Disney World.

Matthew Marigliano dominated in the Boy’s 11-12 division, entering round two with a five-stroke lead over second place finisher Willaim Richards of Miami. Marigliano carded a tournament-low 69 on Sunday and closed out the tournament at five-under.

This weekend presented players with many difficult course conditions and challenging weather. Congratulations to our champions who overcame the challenges and finished at the top of their age divisions.

Special thank you to Stanley Campbell and the rest of the team at Martin Downs Golf Club for hosting the event.

The Medalist Tour heads to the West Coast on April 1-2 to play at Old CorkScrew Golf Club.

Leaderboard | Photo Album

Kuehne and Thompson End In Playoff to Close out the Weekend

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 23:36:35 GMT

Boca Raton - Another successful Medalist Tour event was hosted this weekend at Osprey Point Golf Course. Competition was fierce throughout the two- day, 36 hole event.

With nine players going into Sunday’s round at under par, the Boy’s 13-18 division went head-to-head for first place honors. Gabe Holtz of Boca Raton and TJ Thompson of Coral Springs started their final rounds at 3-under par to take the lead in the Boy’s division.

Continuing his stride into round two, Thompson capped both rounds with eight total birdies and one eagle. Thompson finished at 8-under with a 2-day total 69-67–136.

Accompanying Thompson in first, Henry Kuehne of Palm Beach Gardens started Sunday’s round, three strokes back of the lead. Kuehne went lights out in round two with zero bogeys, five birdies and one eagle, carding a tournament-low seven-under.

Thompson and Kuehne both finished play at eight-under leading to a sudden death playoff on the Hawks Course par five, number nine. After a long awaited battle, Thompson effortlessly claimed birdie on the hole and took home the gold in the Boy’s 13-18 division.

Similarly to the Boy’s, the Girls 13-18 field was incredibly strong throughout the event. Going into Sunday’s round two strokes shy of the lead, Nicole Sardhina of Miramar shot a bogey free front nine, and carded a division low, 67. Sardhina’s comeback from two-over to five-under earned her the champion title in the Girls division, three strokes ahead of Valentina Marie Guertin.

Special thank you to Susan Kipp and the rest of the team at Osprey Point Golf Course for hosting this weekend’s event. The Medalist season will continue next weekend at Martin Downs Golf Course.

Leaderboard | Photo Album

Prep Tour Members Take on Another Dual-Event Weekend

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 17:00:56 GMT

This weekend, 157 Prep Tour members competed in two events, Sandridge Golf Club on Saturday and Crandon at Key Biscayne on Sunday.

Saturday’s round at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach was dominated by the following champions:

Boy’s 13-18: Jacob Neal

Girl’s 13-18: Reese McMillan

Boy’s 11-12: Arthava Rajeshkumar

Girl’s 11-12: Ella Wester

Boy’s 9-10: Victor Monssoh

Girl’s 9-10: Isabella Eterovic

Jacob Neal, of Jensen Beach ended his round with a birdie on 18 and never lost control of the lead in the Boy’s 13-18 division. Neal carded a tournament low 74, three strokes ahead of Patrick Pinkney of Lauderhill.

With the help of back-to-back birdies, Reese McMillan of Jupiter took home the Girl’s 13-18 title. Darci Wagner finished at seven-over.

Arthava Rajeshkumar of Coral Gables and Ella Wester of Key Biscayne won the Boy’s and Girl’s 11-12 age divisions. Rajeshkumar carded a bogey free back nine to end the day at four-over, 76.

With help from his short game, Victor Monssoh of Miami finished with an eight-stroke victory in the Boy’s 11-12 division. The world champion golfer finished his round at three-over 75.

Closing out Saturday’s round, two Izzys went head-to-head for first place honors in the Girl’s 9-10 age division. Isabella Eterovic of Miami beat Isabel Lazo of Boca Raton with a 92.

Due to darkness, Sunday’s round at Crandon at Key Biscayne was cut short, taking only the holes completed into account.

After a second place finish in his previous event, Emilio Katsilometes of Weston used an eagle on 18 to capture the Boy’s 13-18 Division title. Katsilomete’s 77 was one shot better than Cooper Roth of Boca Raton.

In the Girl’s 13-18, Andrea Montaner of Key Biscayne and Laura Monslave of Miami both finished at 4- over, 76. Montaner and Monslave carded three total birdies throughout their rounds.

Finishing one stroke ahead of Hudson Ingram of Miami, John Saadeh of Naples shot 1-over, 73 to finish the day on top of the Boy’s 11-12. With the help of five birdies, Ingram followed closely behind.

Before darkness hit entirely, the Girl’s 11-12 division completed 16 holes. Of those 16, Tatyana Villegas of Miami celebrated a one shot lead over Stella Ronja Lind of Doral.

Luke Williams of Coral Gables and Larissa Wheelless of Miami finished strong and claimed victory in the 9-10 age divisions. Special recognition to Williams for carding a tournament low throughout all divisions at even par.

Congratulations to our weekend champions and special thank you to Bella Nagy, PGA of Sandridge Golf Club and Marty Caifano, PGA of Crandon at Key Biscayne for hosting the Prep Tour this weekend.

Leaderboard for Sandridge Golf Club | Photo Album

Leaderboard for Crandon at Key Biscayne

Elwin, Patel and Nip Secure Medalist Tour Win at Sandridge Golf Club

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 21:35:26 GMT

Vero Beach, FL - This weekend, Medalist Tour members headed to Sandridge Golf Club to play in the two-day, 36 hole event.

Kicking off the Boy’s 11-12 season, Gordon Nip of Port Saint Lucie claimed his first place title with a one stroke lead over William Richards of Miami. This event marked the first tournament in the 2023 season for the 11-12 division.

Beginning his final round at even par, Sohan Patel of Weston came out on top in the Boy’s 13-18 division with the help of five birdies and one eagle. Patel finished play with a two day total, 72-68–140, six strokes in front of runner– up Nicholas Cecchini of Jupiter, Florida. Cecchini won in a scorecard playoff against Jessy Huebner of Port Saint Lucie for second place honors.

In Girl’s 13-18, Krishna Elwin of Orlando finished first at six-over, 76-74–150 for a 6 shot victory over Catherine Andino of Boca Raton.

Congratulations to our champions of the weekend and special thank you to Director of Golf, Bella Nagy, PGA and the rest of his staff at Sandridge Golf Club for hosting the event.

The Medalist Tour will continue March 11-12 at Osprey Point Golf Course.

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Prep Tour Season Opens 2023 Campaign With Weekend Double-Header

jhobson@pgahq.com (Jackie Hobson) — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 16:16:53 GMT

The 2023 South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour opened the 2023 season with a double-header on both coasts of Florida this weekend. Hosted by Shell Point in Fort Myers and PGA National - Estates in Palm Beach Gardens, the Prep Tour welcomed 156 juniors over the two days.

The official Prep Tour season kicked off on Saturday at Shell Point where the 78-player field battled windy conditions. The day was highlighted by an ace from Kristian Eakins of Fort Lauderdale on the ninth hole.

Joe Smillie of Bradenton (78) won the Boy’s 13-18 Division by a stroke, holding off Emilio Katsilometes (79) of Weston and Caden Kellum (80) of Fort Myers.

The lowest round of the day came from Sebastian Eterovic of Coral Gables who fired a two-over 73 to win the Boy’s 11-12 Division by five strokes. To round out the boy divisions, Kash Letrille of Naples won the boy’s 9-10 division with an 86.

Paulina Ramirez of Pembroke Pines (88) used two birdies to win the Girl’s 13-18 Division by a stroke, beating Petra Compton of Palmetto Bay and Hayden Nason of Naples. Additionally Bella Michetti of Naples shot the lowest round of the day amongst all females, carding a 76, enough to win the Girl’s 11-12 Division, 10 clear of Sara Valentine of West Palm Beach.

To close out day one of the Prep Tour weekend, Larissa Wheelless of Miami shot an 84 to win the Girl’s 9-10 Division.

On the East Coast, the Prep Tour took on PGA National - Estates on Sunday, day two of the double-header. Connor Sloss of Vero Beach led the way with the lowest score (74) carded, taking home first place honors in the boys 13-18 division.

In the Boy’s 11-12 division, Atharva Rajeshkumar from Coral Gables edged out Dylan Schilling from Port Saint Lucie in a scorecard playoff after both players turned in a five-over 77. The Boy’s 9-10 division also ended in a scorecard playoff with Jack Smith (85) of Miami Springs just beating Atlas Andrews (85) of West Palm Beach.

Alyna Yensabail of Lake Worth won the Girl’s 11-12 division with a 12-over 84, finishing just ahead of Stella Ronja of Doral (85) and Katrina Marie Gonzalez of Coral Gables (85).

While Reese McMillan of Jupiter led the entire field with five birdies on the day, Laney Ryan of Vero Beach pulled out the win after a scorecard playoff with both players finishing at 78.

The Prep Tour is the intermediate level on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, featuring 18-hole events at courses across south Florida. The Prep Tour will be back in action on March 4th at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach.

Thank you to Paul Fitzpatrick, PGA, Director of Golf at Shell Point Golf Club and Jane Broderick, PGA Director of Golf at PGA National Estates Golf Course for hosting the Prep Tour this weekend.

Medalist Tour Players Hit the Links at Boynton Beach

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 16:15:00 GMT

Boynton Beach - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour members teed it up at the first regular Medalist event of the 2023 season, Saturday at the Links at Boynton Beach.

Felix Fenstermacher of Port St. Lucie carded a bogey free back nine, while Jake Valentine and Dave Fuhrere found victory on the par 5s.

With the help from five birdies, Wylie Inman of North Palm Beach followed closely behind carding a 1-over, 72.

Leading the Girl’s 13-18 field at 5-over 76, Dariana Breto of Hialeah claimed first place honors with a two stroke lead over Esther Li of Jupiter. Li finished her round at 7- over 78.

Congratulations to our champions and thank you to everyone for their participation and cooperation throughout the challenging weather conditions. Special thank you to Bo Preston, PGA and the rest of the staff at the Links at Boynton Beach for hosting the event. The Medalist Tour will continue February 18-19th at Sandridge Golf Club.

Leaderboard | Photo Album | 2023 Schedule

Lebrun and Bacardi Open 2023 Season With Wins at The South Florida PGA Winter Kickoff

carolinel@pgahq.com (Caroline Lewis) — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 00:38:02 GMT

Boynton Beach, F L - Emelie Lebrun and Remi Bacardi captured the first wins of the 2023 South Florida PGA Junior Tour season today at the Winter Kickoff, hosted by Indian Spring Country Club .

Running away with a wire-to-wire victory, Canadian native, Lebrun who now resides in Port St. Lucie wrapped the 54-hole event as the only male in the field to finish under-par at 73-68-70–211. Lebrun managed nine birdies and two eagles, which helped him to an eight shot victory over Pavel Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens.

In addition, Lebrun will receive four AJGA stars while the top-10 percent of finishers will receive one.

Tsar shot a three-day total 75-74-70 to finish in second.

Bacardi, of Miami, catapulted herself to the top of the leaderboard after firing a tournament- low five-under 67 in round two, including only one bogey to go along with six birdies. Bacardi completed the three-day championship at 5-under 211, three shots better than runner-up finisher, Marley Pedrique of West Palm Beach.

Pedrique closed out the tournament at 2-under, 214 with the help of 14 total birdies.

The South Florida PGA Winter Kickoff is the first of eight junior majors to be played throughout the 2023 season. Each major consists of the best junior golfers in south Florida and beyond. The 2023 season will continue February 4-5 as the Medalist Tour takes on the Links at Boynton Beach (Champ Course).

Thank you Indian Spring Country Club General Manager, Robert Foster, PGA and his entire staff for hosting!

Leaderboard | Full Schedule | Photo Album

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Announces its 2022 South Florida PGA Junior Tour Award Winners

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:49:29 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour honored seven outstanding Medalist Tour players for their hard work and dedication throughout the 2022 season.

Each year the Junior Tour staff awards players with the following awards: The Honda Classic Most Improved Player, The Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award, and The Don Law Service Award.

Danny Green- Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award
Punchy Mahathep- Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award
Marley Pedrique- Honda Classic Most Improved Player
Luke Parsons- Honda Classic Most Improved Player

The Weinberg Family- Don Law Service Award (Jonathan, Alexander, Stephanie)

First, the Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award is given to one male and one female who displayed the best overall sportsmanship throughout the season.

Both Green and Mahathep demonstrated sportsmanship values to fellow players, volunteers and staff. Both players exemplify civility, respect, and a positive attitude throughout and after each round.

The most improved player of the year was awarded to Parsons of Palm Beach Gardens and Pedrique of West Palm Beach.

Pedrique had an impressive 2021 season on the Prep Tour where she finished with five top-five finishes, earning her way to the Medalist Tour. Pedrique finished the 2021 season on the Medalist Tour with a scoring average of 80.00 and this year, improved that to a 76.71 scoring average, including a career low 73. In addition, Pedrique won the Labor Day Classic, one of the eight SFPGA Junior Tour Majors hosted throughout the year.

In 2021, Parsons had a scoring average of 79.50 with two top-25 finishes. In 2022 Parsons played in 20 events with two first-place finishes and two second-place finishes with a scoring average of 74.26, including a 68. Parsons plays an active role with the SFPGA Birdie Club, carding 78 total birdies. Lastly, Parsons qualified for the final round of the Drive, Drip and Putt event at Augusta National this April.

The Don Law Service Award is given to an individual who has made an effort to serve their community.

The Weinberg Family, Jonathan, Alexander, and Stephanie, were awarded this honor on behalf of their dedication to grow the game of golf while serving the south Florida Community. The Weinberg Family has played an influential role in the SFPGA Birdie Club, raising over $10,000 in the last two years for the South Florida PGA Foundation.

Additionally, this year the siblings have started their own business, Green Golf Impact, aiming to limit the amount of used golf balls ending up in landfills or lost in nature. Their mission is to raise awareness about golf ball waste and its effect on the environment.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is honored to recognize these seven individuals for their hard work, enthusiasm, and commitment to the game.

Congratulations to all our award recipients!

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Wraps 2022 season With Tour Championship at Banyan Cay Resort and Golf

carolinel@pgahq.com (Caroline Lewis) — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 23:52:19 GMT

West Palm Beach, FL - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour season concluded Sunday at Banyan Cay Resort and Golf with the SFPGA Junior Tour Championship, presented by the Honda Classic.

Entering the final round with a three shot lead, Gabriel Holtz of Boca Raton finished the two-day, 36-hole championship at 2-under 70-72–142. Holtz won the Boy's 13-18 division title by one shot over runner-up, Evan Pena of Toe Alta, Puerto Rico.

Winning the Girl’s 13-18 division championship, Nicole Yugay of Delray Beach turned in a two-day total of 78-73–151. Gloria Nip of Port St. Lucie finished runner-up wit h a 2-round total of 77-75–152. Nip had a hole-out for eagle on the par-4, ninth hole to assist in her success.

In the Boy’s 11-12 Division, Bento Assis of Porto Alegre, Brazil claimed first place honors by eight strokes over Cooper Foegen of Hobe Sound. Assis wrapped play at 73-68–141, while Foegen finished at 75-74–149.

The 2022 South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship was an invite-only event based on player of the year points of Medalist Tour Players.

Congratulations to our champions and to all who participated. Special thank you to Head Golf Professional, Jared Chipley and his team at Banyan Cay Resort and Golf for making this event possible.

Registration for the 2023 Medalist Tour Season will open on December 14th at 10 A.M.

Photo Album | Leaderboard | 2023 Season

See you in 2023, Medalist Tour!

Prep Tour Championship and Player of the Year Announced

carolinel@pgahq.com (Caroline Lewis) — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 16:37:15 GMT

Boynton Beach, FL - The South Florida PGA Prep Tour concluded its 2022 season on Saturday with the Prep Tour Championship at Indian Spring Country Club.

In each age division, Player of the Year trophies were awarded to the top junior player who accumulated the highest number of points throughout the season.

In the boy’s 13-18 division, David Peschansky of Lake Worth carded a tournament low score, 2-under 70. Finishing just behind Peschansky, Jack Ryan Donovan, Cameron Feiner, and Nathan Madden had a three way tie for second at 2-over, 74.

Additionally, Cameron Feiner of Palm Beach Gardens claimed the Player of the Year trophy for the boys 13-18 division. Feiner competed in 11 events and finished his season with 1,333 total points.

Yool Her of Pembroke Pines won by three strokes in the Girl’s 13-18 division to claim victory, shooting 77. Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point closed her season with a 600 point victory with 1,376 total points, to claim the Player of the Year trophy.

Jaxson Weese of Sebastian continued his winning streak and claimed first place honors and Player of the Year Trophy for the Boys 11-12 division. Weese capped his season with six first place wins and three runner-up finishes.

Bella Simoes (76) of Aventura finished her round on Saturday four strokes back of Nicole Wu (72) of Davie, however Simoes capped her season at 1,400 points and took home the Player of the Year Trophy for the Girls’ 11-12 division. Simoes competed in nine events this season, finishing with five first-place wins and two runner- up positions.

For the 9- 10 divisions, Myla Kumar of Pompano Beach and Mateo Muniz of Wellington received the highest point average and claimed their Player of the Year Trophies. Reed Abdelbour of West Palm Beach took home the first place medal for Saturday’s round at 2- under, 70.

Congratulations to all of our champions and Player of the Year recipients.

The Prep Tour Championship was an invite-only tournament, hosting the best 55 players from the Prep Tour this season. Thank you to all of our players and parents for making this a great season and special thank you to Dave Seltzer, PGA and the rest of the staff at Indian Spring Country Club. We look forward to seeing you all in 2023!

Leaderboard | Photo Album | Player of the Year Points

Oscar Crowe and Leelou Girault Notch Final Medalist Tour Wins of the Season

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 17:49:57 GMT

Boca Raton, FL - Medalist Tour members rounded out their season at Osprey Point Golf Course this weekend.

Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton, fired a 7-under 137 to claim victory in the boy’s 13-18 division. Crowe maintained his lead throughout the two-day tournament with the help from an eagle in round one and only two bogeys through the 36 holes.

Wrapping the two-round event tied at 3-under 141, Jude Desmond of Pompano Beach and Luke Parsons of Palm Beach Gardens determined first place with a scorecard playoff in the boy’s 11-12 division. With a one-under on the back nine in yesterday’s final round, Desmond bested Parson’s one-over to claim victory.

In the Girl’s 13-18 division, Leelou Girault of West Palm Beach finished first at one-under 71-72–143 for a one shot victory over Morgan Rodriguez of Delr ay Beach.

Thank you to General Manager Bo Preston, PGA and his staff at Osprey Point Golf Course for hosting this event.

Medalist Tour Players will advance to the invitation-only Tour Championship on December 3-4 at Banyan Cay Golf Club.

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Kuchar, Zepeda, and Marigliano Win Medalist Tour Event at Santa Lucia River Club.

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:25:27 GMT

Port St. Lucie - The South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour completed its second-to-last event of the season and celebrated a batch of first-time winners.

Cameron Kuchar of Jupiter, started the final round three shots back of leader David Justin Lafrenière of Ottowa. However, Kuchar’s steady play led to a second consecutive 73, helping him to a one stroke victory in the Boy's 13-18 division. Lafrenière finished close behind with a two-day total, 70- 77–147.

Carding 9 total birdies through her two rounds, Vanessa Zepeda of Boca Raton held on for a four stroke victory, 73-74–147, in the Girl’s 13-18 division. Finishing in second, Aliya Liberatore of Palm Beach Gardens fired a 76-75–151.

After a 6-over 78 in round one, Matthew Marigliano of Palm Beach Gardens was one shot back of Cooper Foegen of Hobe Sound going into the final round. After a tournament-low one-under 71 in round two, Marigliano claimed the Boy's 11-12 division title by one shot over Foegen.

Thank you to everyone who participated and a special thank you to Santa Lucia River Club Director of Golf, Michael Mann, PGA and his entire team for all their help. The Medalist Tour season will head to its final event of the season on November 5-6 at Osprey Point Golf Course.

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South Florida PGA Prep Tour Takes on Final Event of the Regular Season

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:37:20 GMT

Naples, FL -The South Florida PGA Prep Tour traveled to the West Coast this weekend to compete at Vineyards Country Club in Naples.

Jack Ryan Donovan of Ave Maria and Dylan Barberio of Port St. Lucie both shot 2-over 74 to finish in a two-way tie for first place in the boy’s 13-18 division.

In the girl’s division, Darci Wagner of Vero Beach held a strong lead throughout the round and finished with a 2-over 74. Wagner parred seven of the last nine holes to close out the tournament. Shooting a 4-over 76, Laney Ryan finished just behind Wagner.

Jackson Hollatz of Naples carded a 6-over 78 giving him a five stroke lead in the Boys 11-12 division.

Coming in first for the youngest boy’s division, 9-10, was Victor Monssoh of Miami.

Last but certainly not least, Bella Simoes of Aventura takes home her third consecutive Prep Tour title in the girl’s 11-12 division. Simoes wrapped play at 3-over 75.

Thank you to Tom Metzger, PGA and his staff at Vineyards Country Club for hosting the event.

This event marked the last regular Prep Tour Event of the season. The Prep Tour Championship will be held on November 12th at Indian Springs Country Club in Boynton Beach. This event is invitation-only based on Player of the Year Points.

Please contact Seth Hanrick, shanrick@pgahq.com if you have any additional questions.

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Gulf Coast High School and First Baptist Academy dominate in the South Florida PGA West Coast High School Championship.

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 22:44:13 GMT

Naples, FL - Due to Hurricane Ian’s impact on the West Coast of Florida, the SFPGA High School Championship was rescheduled and modified into a single day 18- hole event.

Playing the Quarry Golf Club in Naples the Gulf Coast High School Boy’s team closed with a 14 stroke lead. The team fired a group score of 9-under 279 to claim first place honors.

Leading the way for the Sharks was junior Noah Kent who carded a 4-under 68. Following close behind Kent, junior Ryan Miller finished with a 3-under, 69 to lead their team to victory. Both Kent and Miller wrapped play with 5 birdies each.

Coming in second place for the boy’s was Bishop Verot High School ending at 5-over 293.

First Baptist Academy and Bishop Verot went head-to-head for the girl’s division title. Coming out on top was the First Baptist Lions. Leading the way for the Lions was sophomore Eva Lye who finished at even par. Landing in second place behind Lye was Jensi Krampel with 3-over 75.

Congratulations to Gulf Coast High School and First Baptist Academy on their victories and to all the other teams who came out and participated.

The SFPGA West Coast High School Championship hosted seven different teams from five different high schools with a total of 37 competitors. Special thank you to General Manager, Bob Radunz and the rest of The Quarry Golf Club staff for making this event possible.

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For more information on the South Florida PGA Junior Tours, please visit the South Florida PGA Junior Tour website .

Aquino, Girault and Assis take home Medalist Honors at Martin Downs Golf Club

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 22:11:00 GMT

This weekend, Medalist tour members teed it up at Martin Downs Golf Club. Due to heavy rainfall during Sunday’s round, play was cancelled and the tournmant was modified to an 18-hole event.

Andrew Aquino of Hollywood, fired the best round of the day at 5-under 67, dominating in the boy’s 13-18 division. Thanks to eight birdies, Aquino climbed the leaderboard and achieved victory. Trailing behind, Tomy Jaunet and Jules Gentil of Port Saint Lucie went neck-and-neck for second place with 3-under 69. Coming down to a scorecard playoff on the last three holes of the back nine, Tomy Jaunet came out with second place honors.

In the girl’s 13-18 division, Leelou Girault of West Palm Beach maintained a strong lead with her three birdies and 14 pars over the 18 holes. Girault went bogey-free in her front nine and completed her round at 2-under, 70. Landing in second, Angela Nip of Port St. Lucie fired a total score of one-over 73.

Closing out the day in the Boy’s 11-12 division, Bento Assis of Porto Alegre, Brazil shot two-over 76. Finishing runner-up, Chris Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens closed his round with a 8-over, 78.

Rain or shine, we thank everyone who came out and participated in this weekend’s Medalist Tour Event. Special thank you to Stanley Campbell and the rest of the team at Martin Downs Golf Club for hosting the event.

The Medalist Tour Season will continue on October 29-30th at Santa Lucia River Club in Port St. Lucie

Leaderboard | Photo Album .

FAU High School Sweeps South Florida PGA High School Championship at Boca Grove

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:09:48 GMT

Boca Raton, FL - Florida Atlantic University High School boy’s and girl’s team swept the South Florida PGA East Coast High School Championship Friday at Boca Grove.

Starting the final round nine shots behind Ransom Everglades, the FAU boys managed a 3-under final round to take the Championship by nine shots over Boca High. FAU fired a two-day total of 3-over 294-285–579.

Leading the way for the Owls was junior Jack Quinn who wrapped the event at 1-under 72-71–141. Closely behind Quinn was Mateo Desmond who finished in a tie for fourth at even-par, while Jake Manelas and Vasili Gianakas both finished in a tie for 13th at 2-over.

Individually, senior Alex Heard of Boca High was the only player in the field to manage consecutive under-par rounds, capturing the individual title by two shots over Lorenzo Rodriquez of Belen Jesuit Prep. Over the two-day stretch, Heard carded only three bogeys to go along with nine birdies, completing the Championship at 5-under 69-70–139.

The only team to break 300 both days, the FAU girl’s team handled the field at Boca Grove, winning by 43 shots over Oxbridge Academy. Led by freshman Kayla Bryant who fired a tournament-low 8-under (68-68), FAU shot 287-287 over the 36 holes.

All four cards representing FAU, Bryant, Amelie Phung (71-73), Morgan Rodriguez (76-70) and Angelina Marie Guertin (72-76), finished in the top five individually. Valentina Marie Guertin also played for FAU but withdrew after the first round.

Bryant, Phung and Rodriguez each medaled first, second and third respectively and Ava Cavataio (70-77) from Oxbridge Academy finished in fourth place.

The SFPGA High School Championship hosted 23 teams from 16 schools from the south Florida area with a total of 109 competitors. The SFPGA Junior Tour will travel to the west coast next week for the West Coast High School Championship September 30-October 1 at Crown Colony Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers.

For more information on the South Florida PGA Junior Tours, please visit the South Florida PGA Junior Tour website .

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Arce, Rodriguez and Foegen Dominate in West Coast Medalist Event at Copperleaf Golf Club

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 15:16:21 GMT

Bonita Springs, FL - South Florida PGA Junior Tour players traveled to Florida’s West Coast to take on Copperleaf Golf Club for a two-day Medalist Tour event.

Starting in the girl’s 13-18 division, Morgan Rodriguez of Delray Beach fired a 5-under 139 total. Rodriguez closed out day two with seven total birdies to assist her overall victory. Following closely behind, Nicole Sardinha of Miramar and Ann-Sophie Bourgault of Naples finished in a two way tie for the second place title. Sardinia and Bourgalt finished at 3-under 141. Both Sardinha and Rodriguez finished round two with a tournament-low amongst the girl’s division, 6-under 66.

Aiden Arce of Davie found a hot streak during the two days, finishing under par in each round for a 6-under 138 total leading him to victory in the Boys 13-18 Division. Coming in second, a stroke behind Arce, was Dylan Marrone of Parkland who carded a 5-under 139.

Good friends Cooper Foegen and Bento Assis went head-to-head in the boy’s 11-12 Division, where Hobe Sound’s Foegen ultimately came out on top. Foegen’s 3-under 141 was enough for a two-stroke victory over Assis of Brazil.

Congratulations to our champions of the weekend and to all of our participants who came out and competed. Special thank you to Copperleaf Golf Club and Director of Golf Jason Miller, PGA.

The Medalist Tour season will continue next month at Wellington National Golf Club on October 8-9th.

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The Club at Ibis Hosts Prep Tour Event

carolinel@pgahq.com (Caroline Lewis) — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 13:49:36 GMT

West Palm Beach, FL - What an exciting weekend for South Florida PGA’s Junior Tour members! This past weekend, the SFPGA hosted tournaments for Medalist, Prep and Links Tour Players. Congratulations to all of our champions and to all of those players who participated!

The Club at Ibis hosted this past weekend’s Prep Tour Event. Jesse Herling of Miami Beach maintained a strong lead for the boy’s 13-18 division. With the help of 2 birdies and an eagle, Herling finished even par and claimed the first place title. Coming in second for the boy’s 13-18 division, Cameron Feiner of Palm Beach Gardens shot 4–over, 76.

After going back-to-back in Prep Tour events, Jaxson Weese of Sebastian claimed victory yet again for the boys 11-12 age division. Weese capped the day with a 13-stroke lead finishing 2-under, 70. Anthony Beteta of Davenport claimed second place for the boys 11-12.

Mateo Muniz of Wellington fired a tournament-low score of 4-under, 68 granting him first place honors in the boys 9-10 division. Muniz had a total of 6 birdies and 1 eagle throughout his round. Following behind him, Augustin Bunuel of Miami Springs went 1-under par for a total score of 71.

For the girl’s age divisions, Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point claimed victory in the 13-18 division. After her win at PGA Golf Club two weeks ago, Bella Simoes of Aventura continued her hot streak this past weekend. Simoes finished first place for the girl’s 11-12 division.

Finally, in the girl’s 9-10 division, Myla Kumar and Sara Valentine finished in the top two seats for the third Prep Event in a row!

Special thank you to Ben Bauer, PGA and The Club at Ibis for hosting the event! The Prep Tour season will continue in October at Palmetto Pine Country Club.

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Parsons, Desmond, and Girault Take Home The Gold

carolinel@pgahq.com (Caroline Lewis) — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 22:40:10 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Luke Parsons, Jude Desmond, and Leelou Girault take home the wins at this weekend’s South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event at PGA National Estates Course.

L uke Parsons of Palm Beach Gardens has been on a hot streak the past couple of months. Leading the Boys 13-18 division throughout both rounds, Parson’s pulled through for a final score of 3-under 72-69- 141. Alexander Weinberg of Palm Beach Gardens landed in second with 2-under 71-71-142. Parsons and Weinberg both carded a total of 9 birdies each.

Special mention to Oscar Crowe in the boys 13- 18 age division, for acing hole 8 of the second round. This marks Crowe’s third hole-in-one of his junior golf career.

In the Boys 11-12 division, Jude Desmond, of Pompano Beach fired a 2-day total, 138 to claim the first place title. Coming close behind, Matthew Marigliano of Palm Beach Gardens posted a 2-under 142.

Both Desmond and Garigliano capped their rounds with 8 birdies each.

For the girls 13-18 age division, Leelou Girault of West Palm Beach landed first place with a 74-72-146. In second, Zoe Shamy of Jupiter finished with a 75-74-149.

Thank you to everyone who participated and a special thank you to PGA National Estates course and their entire team for all their help. The Medalist Tour season will continue next weekend, September 17th, at Copperle af Golf Club.

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Gabriel Holtz, Marley Pedrique Win South Florida PGA Labor Day Classic

jhobson@pgahq.com (Jackie Hobson) — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 12:15:18 GMT

By CRAIG DOLCH

Special to South Florida PGA

WEST PALM BEACH (Sept. 5, 2022) – Gabriel Holtz of Boca Raton birdied the 18 ^th hole Monday to win the South Florida PGA Labor Day Classic at Banyan Golf Club.

Marley Pedrique, a 12-year-old from West Palm Beach, won the girls’ title by shooting a 2-over 74 to claim a two-shot victory over Ann-Sophie Bourgault of Naples.

Holtz was tied for the lead with Mateo Desmond (72) of Pompano Beach until he closed with the birdie to cap a 5-under 31 on his back nine. Holtz shot 5-under 67 and finished at 7-under 209.

Holtz was 1-over through six holes, before playing his last 12 in 6-under. He eagled the par-3 10 ^th and added three birdies on the back nine.

Aiden Arce (76-216) of Davie tied for third with Evan Pana (71-226) of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico.

In the girls, Pedrique, Bourgault and Angela Nip of Port St. Lucie entered the final round tied for first place at 5-over 149. Pedrique was two shots behind Borgault at the turn, but a birdie at the first (her 10 ^th ) started her comeback that was completed when she birdied No. 7.

“I was just trying to trickle it near the hole, and it went in,” said Pedrique, who is home schooled. “I putted pretty well this week.”

Nip shot 81 and finished sixth. Krishny Elwin (74-226) of Dorado Beach, Puerto Rico was third.

The South Florida PGA Labor Day Classic, run by the South Florida PGA, is Presented by the Honda Classic. Supporting partners are the Don Law Golf Academy, Titleist, The Fun Group at Mirasol, Junior Golf Hub, TimberTech Championship, ASM Scholarships, First Tee-Florida Gold Coast, College Golf Experience and Florida Junior Golf Council.

South Florida's PGA Prep Tour Takes on PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 14:32:58 GMT

Port St. Lucie, Florida (Aug. 28, 2022) - The South Florida's PGA Prep Tour took on PGA Golf Club’s Wanamaker course this Sunday.

Due to weather disruptions, this event was turned into a 9-hole tournament for all age groups except, for the boys 11-12 who were able to complete the whole 18.

Mac Lobdell of Fort Lauderdale, who fired a 33 to win the boy’s 13-18 division, had the most par-breakers with three birdies and one eagle. Coming in close behind him, Dylan Barberio of Port St. Lucie carded a one over, 37 total score.

Finishing in the top two in back-to-back weekends, Jaxson Weese and Carson Lowe claimed victory once again for the Boys 11-12 age division. Weese carried the group with a 6-stroke lead 2-over, 74 final score.

Augustin Bunuel of Miami Springs, finished 3-over, guiding him to the first-place spot in the boy’s 9-10 age division.

On the girl’s side, taking home the title for the 13-18 age division, Sara Meran of Boca Raton finished her round with a 3-over, 39 score.

Bella Simoes of Aventura had a victorious weekend. After claiming a spot in the Drive, Chip and Putt Regional qualifier on Saturday, Bella continued her winning streak for the girl’s 11-12 division on Sunday. Simoes finished with a score of 4-over, 40.

Finally, Sara Valentine of West Palm Beach finished her round and was crowned the girl’s 9-10 division champion. Valentine finished her round with a 43 total score.

The Prep Tour is South Florida’s intermediate level Junior Tour. The next Prep Tour event will be held at The Club at Ibis on September 11th.

Thank you to Garry Nelson, PGA, and Holly Taylor, PGA as well as the rest of the staff at PGA Golf Club for hosting this Prep Tour event.

Click here for the full leaderboard

Boca Lago Golf And Country Club Hosts South Florida PGA Prep Tour Event

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 17:04:18 GMT

Boca Raton, FL (Aug. 20, 2022) - South Florida PGA Junior Tour members teed it up on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour Prep Tour this weekend at Boca Lago Golf and Country Club.

This event featured 52 of the South Florida PGA Prep Tour members, the intermediate-level tour, for a one-day stroke-play event.

Ryan Toole of Naples took home the first place title for the boy’s 13-18 division at 8-over par 78, while Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point claimed the girl’s division title at 9-over 79.

In the boy’s 11-12 division, Carson Lowe of West Palm Beach claimed victory with a total score of 7-over 77.

Winning in the 9-10 division, Bayaon Ortiz of Puerto Rico finished first for the boy’s title and Myla Kumar of Pompano Beach took the girl’s crown.

Thank you to everyone who participated and a special thank you to Billy Ashford, PGA and the rest of the Boca Lago Golf and Country Club team for their help. The Prep Tour season will continue on August 28th at PGA Golf Club.

Click here for full scores.

South Florida PGA Jr. League Teams Advance to Regional Qualifier

jhobson@pgahq.com (Jackie Hobson) — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 19:14:14 GMT

North Palm Beach Country Club and Wellington National Golf Club Advance

BOCA RATON, FL - North Palm Beach Country Club and Wellington National Golf Club advance to the PGA Jr. League Regional Qualifier next month after besting the field today at Osprey Point Golf Course's Hawk Course.

North Palm Beach Country Club, coached by Zack Shriver, won the 13-under age division while Wellington National, coached by Sherri Pla, PGA, won the 17-under age division.

The qualifier was a 9-hole scramble, stroke-play competition where each of the All-Star Teams were broken into four two-person teams. Due to weather conditions, play was cut short but not before Wellington National secured seven flags to top Rick Smith Golf Performance Center.

In the 13-under division, North Palm Beach fired a team 86 (28-29-29) to advance with the 13-under team from Rick Smith Golf Performance Center coming in second.

North Palm Beach Country Club and Wellington National Golf Club will move on to compete at the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Regional Championship September 9-11 at PGA Golf Club in Port Saint Lucie.

Today's Section Qualifier served as the first of three phases en route to the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship which annually highlights the best PGA Jr. League teams across the country in Scottsdale, AZ.

Miami’s Garcia, Colombia’s Medina Win South Florida PGA Doral Junior Open

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 20:54:40 GMT

By CRAIG DOLCH

Special to South Florida PGA

MIAMI (Aug. 3, 2022 ) – Anthony Garcia couldn’t have picked a better scenario Wednesday to end his South Florida PGA junior career.

The 18-year-old Miami resident birdied his final hole to get into a playoff and then birdied the extra hole – both par-5s -- to win the South Florida PGA Doral Junior Open on the Red Tiger Course at Trump National Doral Miami.

“I knew where I stood on the last hole, but I hit my drive into the rough and had to lay up and rely on my wedge game,” said Garcia, who will attend La Salle University this fall. “I didn’t hit a great wedge, but I made a 20-footer.”

Garcia rolled in a 15-footer on the playoff hole, the 10 ^th , to beat Yinxuan “Kevin” Wu. Garcia shot a 2-under 70 and finished at 7-under 209 with Wu (68).

Luciana Medina of Cali, Colombia won the girls title by shooting 2-over 74, finishing at 15-over 231, five ahead of Dariana Breto (79-236) of Hialeah. The 13-year-old Medina won despite a final-hole double bogey.

“I was so nervous, I was trembling on the last hole,” Medina said. “It’s my first win in the U.S. I have to play here so people get to know me and I can play in college. It’s tough here; you have to play well to win.”

Garcia won all three of the South Florida PGA junior events he entered this year. He finished his career in style with the two clutch birdies.

“It’s nice to say I did that. But all I’m thinking about is going out and practicing some more,” Garcia said.

Gabriel Holtz of Boca Raton fired a 68 to finish a shot out of the playoff at 6-under 210. Luke Parsons (68-213) of Palm Beach Gardens was fourth.

Summer Pilot of Boca Raton (79-243) was third in the girls and Nicole Yugay (79-245) of Delray Beach was fourth.

The South Florida PGA Doral Junior Open, run by the South Florida PGA, is Presented by the Honda Classic. Supporting partners are the Don Law Academy, Titleist, The Fun Group at Mirasol, Junior Golf Hub, the TimberTech Championship, ASM Scholarships, First Tee-Florida Gold Coast, College Golf Experience and Florida Junior Golf Council.

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Parsons, Smith and Koehn Claim Medalist Tour Victory at Bent Pine Golf Club

Thu, 28 Jul 2022 19:33:08 GMT

Vero Beach, FL - Luke Parsons, Abigail Smith and Christain Koehn took home first place honors at Bent Pine Golf Club during a South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event Thursday.

After a 2-under 70 in round one, Parsons of Palm Beach Gardens was one shot back of Henry Kuehne of Palm Beach Gardens going into the final round. Notching a tournament low-score in round two, 4-under 68, Parsons claimed the boys 13-18 boys division title by six shots over Kuehne.

Parsons managed only one bogey over the 36-hole stretch combined with seven birdies, tied for the most of any player in the field.

In the girls 13-18 division, Smith of Port St. Lucie wrapped play at 8-over with a two-day total of 79-73–152. Smith started the final round three shots back of Polina Anisimova of Port St. Lucie before carding the tournament low-round for the girls of 1-over 73, including an eagle on the par-4, eighth hole.

In the boys 11-12 division, three players were all within two shots after the first round with Koehn in the lead. Koehn got off to a hot start in the final round, making three birdies and no bogies on the first nine holes, finishing four shots ahead of Cooper Foegen of Winter Park.

Thank you to everyone who participated and a special thank you to Bent Pine Golf Club Director of Golf, Patrick Gorman and his entire team for all their help. The Medalist Tour season will continue September 10-11 at PGA National Estates.

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South Floridians Cynthia Liu, T.J. Thompson Win Patty Berg Junior Championship

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 19:25:54 GMT

By CRAIG DOLCH

Special to South Florida PGA

NAPLES (July 24, 2022) – When Cynthia Liu of Parkland played her first eight holes in 4-over par Sunday, she wasn’t thinking about winning the Patty Berg Junior Championship at Cypress Lake Golf Club.

“I wasn’t even sure if I was going to finish in the top five,” Liu said. “It had been a rough front nine.”

But she hit a 9-iron from 120 yards to 20 feet at the ninth and made the birdie to ignite a comeback. Liu was 3-under on her last 10 holes for a 1-over 73 and a one-shot victory over Gloria Nip of Port St. Lucie.

“That birdie at 9 gave me confidence, and I just calmed down and worried about my own game,” said Liu, a 17-year-old who will be a senior at Stoneman Douglas High. “It means a lot to win my first junior major and to honor Patty Berg."

T.J. Thompson of Coral Springs, also a senior at Douglas High, was the only boy to finish under par (1-under 215), with a final-round 77, to cruise to a six-shot victory over Michael Bevins of Fort Myers (71-221). Thompson, who won last year’s Nicklaus Junior Championship, fired a 67 Saturday to take a five-shot lead into the final round.

“I made a double (bogey) on the second hole, and it kind of got to me,” Thompson said. “After that I just started to play match play against the course: ‘a par-4, I make a birdie 3 and I’m one up.’ That settled me down.”

Bevins was the only player to break par Sunday, a 1-under 71. Tomy Jaunet (72-222) and Aiden Miller (73-222) of Palm Beach Gardens tied for third.

Nip was trying to win for the second consecutive week after she captured the Brendan Cunningham Junior Open. Nip (75) led for most of the Patty Berg, but finished with a pair of bogeys.

Jordan Knox (73-225) of Fort Myers was third, followed by Erin Marcelino (77-226) of Plantation and Madison Moman (75-227) of Palm Beach Gardens

The Patty Berg Junior Championship, run by the South Florida PGA, is Presented by the Honda Classic. Supporting partners are the Don Law Academy, Titleist, The Fun Group at Mirasol, Junior Golf Hub, the TimberTech Championship, ASM Scholarships, First Tee-Florida Gold Coast, College Golf Experience and Florida Junior Golf Council.

Berg was a Founding Member of the LPGA Tour, the women’s all-time leader with 15 majors, served as the LPGA ‘s first president and was a huge supporter of junior golf.

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Prep Tour Visits Both Coasts; Ji Yu Lee and Yool Her Win Consecutive Starts

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 13:08:15 GMT

Naples and Delray Beach, FL - The South Florida PGA Prep Tour hosted events at Hammock Bay Golf and Country Club in Naples and at Seagate Country Club in Delray Beach.

On Saturday at Hammock Bay, Jake DeBroux of Naples won in the 13-18 boy’s division by four strokes over Lucca Brown of Venice. DeBroux made five birdies en route to an even-par 72.

In the girls 13-18 division, Ji Yu Lee of Jupiter shot a 2-under 70 and in doing so, was the only player in the field to break par. Chaewon Yu of Jupiter finished in second place with a score of 80.

In the 11-12 divisions, boys champion Beckett Castro of Miami shot a 5-over 77 while Yool Her of Pembroke Pines placed first in the girl’s division with a round of 4-over 76.

Rafael Barreto Jiminez of Weston emerged a winner in the boy’s 9-10 division with an 81 and Kinley Mills of Fort Myers also carded an 81 to take the girl's crown.

On Florida’s east coast, Ryan Fenton of Boynton Beach narrowly edged Iago Ibarra Morales of Miami by one stroke with a 3-over 75 in the boy’s 13-18 division. Fenton’s day included three birdies, just a stroke shy of Morales’ 4-over 76.

In the girls 13-18 division, Ji Yu Lee of Jupiter captured her second consecutive Prep Tour victory by holding off Sophia Quinones of Coral Springs with a 1-over 73. Yu Lee carded five birdies, including back-to-back birdies to start her round.

Yool Her also earned her second Prep Tour win after shooting a 2-over 74 with four birdies coming on the back nine, enough to win by two strokes over Ophelia Bunuel of Miami Springs.

Competing in the youngest age division, Augustin Bunuel of Miami Springs won the boy’s 9-10 age division with an 86.

The Prep Tour is the intermediate tour on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, featuring young golfers at some of the finest courses in south Florida. Next up, the Prep Tour will head to Boca Raton to play Boca Lago on August 14th.

Thank you to Hammock Bay Golf and Country Club Director of Golf Anthony Schmid, PGA, and Seagate Country Club Director of Golf Sonny Grasso, PGA for hosting the South Florida PGA Junior Tour.

Cameron Swartz, 100 HOLES OF GOLF Fundraiser Raises Nearly $5,000 For Smiling Fore Life Program

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 15:20:04 GMT

Atlantis, FL - In conjunction with the South Florida PGA Foundation, Cameron Swartz, an SFPGA junior tour member completed his 100 HOLES OF GOLF fundraiser, benefiting the SFPGA Smiling Fore Life program yesterday at Lost City Golf Club, raising nearly $5,000.

Playing alongside close friend and fellow junior tour member, Haris Khan, the two teed it up on the first hole of Lost City Golf Club at 8 a.m., before finishing their 100th hole nearly 12 hours later, just before 8 p.m.

The duo continued playing all day, only stopping to talk to local media and the occasional snack and water break along the way. Both Haris and Cameron made 11 birdies each while Cameron added one eagle.

Cameron’s desire to give back stems from his brother’s diagnoses with Type 1 Diabetes nearly eight years ago. Confined to a hospital room for a week, Cameron would visit his brother daily, bringing games and stories to help pass the time, which of course included golf.

As time went on, Cameron, an active junior tour member since 2017, learned about the SFPGA Smiling Fore Life program, where PGA Professionals visit local children’s hospitals to provide patients an outlet from their everyday struggle to enjoy some fun outside of their hospital room. The funds raised yesterday by Cameron will benefit this SFPGA Foundation program.

Cameron hopes to inspire others to not only pick up golf as a game, but as a way to escape the struggles you may be experiencing and enjoy time with others.

Naples’ Ryan Miller, Port St. Lucie’s Gloria Nip Win Brendan Cunningham Junior Open

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 19:39:13 GMT

By CRAIG DOLCH

Special to South Florida PGA

NAPLES (July 15, 2022 ) – Ryan Miller of Naples and Gloria Nip of Port St. Lucie would have made Brendan Cunningham proud Friday by winning the South Florida PGA junior championship named after him.

Miller celebrated his 17 ^th birthday by winning the Brendan Cunningham Junior Open’s Boys 13-18 title by four shots at 6-under 138. Miller shot rounds of 70 and 68 at Hammock Bay and won when Friday’s third round had to be canceled because of thunderstorms. He still led by four over Graham Boone of Naples when play was stopped.

“It was a big deal to play in Mr. Cunningham’s tournament because I knew him for four years,” said Miller, a junior at Gulf Coast High School. “He was a super nice guy to meet (as a starter) on the first tee and he always wanted us to go out there with the mindset of having fun.”

Nip won the Girls 13-18 title by a shot over Madison Moman of Palm Beach Gardens. Nip shot 70-71, just edging Moman (71-71).

“I wore a green shirt because I knew that was (Cunningham’s) favorite color,” said the 16-year-old Nip, who finished runner-up in the 2018 National Drive Chip & Putt finals. “I’m excited to win this tournament because I was under par in all three of my rounds (she was 1-under when play was stopped).”

Miller took a four-shot lead with an opening 70 and kept that advantage with a 68 in the second round (that was matched by Boone). Miller was still comfortably ahead when the horn sounded.

“It feels amazing to win my first event,” Miller said. “It’s awesome to shoot 6-under. I’ve never done that in a tournament. I kept the ball in play, and I was making everything.”

Nip has won more tournaments than she can count. She didn’t want to rank where this victory belonged.

“All my wins are special,” she said.

Jackson Mills of Naples won the Boys 11-12 division with rounds of 72-77. Cunningham died in 2020 and was a longtime supporter and volunteer of the South Florida PGA.

The Brendan Cunningham Junior Open, run by the South Florida PGA, is Presented by the Honda Classic. Supporting partners are the Don Law Academy, Titleist, The Fun Group at Mirasol, Junior Golf Hub, the TimberTech Championship, ASM Scholarships, First Tee-Florida Gold Coast, College Golf Experience and Florida Junior Golf Council.

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Nip, Richard and Assis Win Medalist Tour Event at Old Marsh Golf Club

Thu, 07 Jul 2022 19:16:29 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens, FL - Angela Nip, Sean Richards and Bento Assis all claimed first place honors in their respective age divisions during the South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event at Old Marsh Golf Club.

During round one yesterday, the field was tested due to play being halted twice due to lighting in the area. In addition high winds and light showers made for a difficult round.

In the girl’s 13-18 division, Nip of Port Saint Lucie fired a 2-under 70 in round one, carding only two bogeys to go along with four birdies as she wrapped the day tied with Valetina Hurtado of Weston.

Nip continued her steady play into today, starting 1-under through the first nine holes, helping her to a nine shot win over Hurtado. The victory marks her first win of the 2022 season after five top-5 finishes already this season.

After carding two consecutive 1-under-par 71 rounds, Richards of Parkland beat out Mason Tome of West Palm Beach and Dylan Marrone of Parkland by five shots to win the boys 13-18 division. Over the two-day stretch, Richards made nine birdies while leading the field in pars or better with 31.

Setting the tournament low round of 3-under 69 in round one, Assis of Porto Alegre, Brazil carried his momentum into the final round, carding another 3-under 69. Assis claimed the win in the boys 11-12 division by three shots over runner-up, Tyler Foegen of Hobe Sound. Over the two-day stretch, Assis managed nine birdies and one eagle as he played the par-5, 17th hole 3-under-par.

Thank you everyone who participated and a special thank you to Director of Golf, Brian Boushie, PGA and the team at Old Marsh Golf Club for having us!

The Medalist Tour season will continue July 27-28 at Bent Pine Golf Club in Vero Beach

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South Florida PGA Partners with 16-year-old Junior Tour Member, Cameron Swartz for 100 Holes of Golf Fundraiser

mdetullio@pgahq.com (Matt De Tullio) — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:57:59 GMT

The South Florida PGA Foundation is thrilled to join in partnership with Cameron Swartz, a 16-year-old SFPGA Junior Tour member who is shining a light on the Smiling Fore Life Program with the goal of raising $5,000 during his 100 HOLES OF GOLF fundraiser.

On July 18th, Cameron will play 100 HOLES OF GOLF at Lost City Golf Club in Atlantis, Florida, raising money for the South Florida PGA Foundation and the Smiling Fore Life program.

Cameron’s passion to help others stemmed from his brother being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2013. Cameron described the experience as tough but an experience he will never forget. “Everyday after school I would come down to Hollywood with my Grandma or Dad to visit Harrison, bringing stories from my day at school, '' he said. “But also, playing with a fisher price golf set in the play area of the pediatric unit.”

Once Cameron caught wind of the Smiling Fore Life program, he knew there was a bigger opportunity to make an impact in the lives of others.

“I am an avid golfer and have decided to partner with the South Florida PGA and their Smiling Fore LIfe Charity to provide young hospital patients an outlet to escape the hardships they are facing,” he said. “The funds I will raise will help to get young kids out of their hospital rooms and out to enjoy a fun and new activity, GOLF!”

As of June 30th, Cameron is a quarter of the way to his goal of raising $5,000, already raising over $1,500. To support Cameron and the Smiling Fore Life program, please consider pledging a donation HERE .

Carson Meredith and Oakley Sever Notch Prep Tour Wins at Palm Beach Par 3

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 20:25:24 GMT

PALM BEACH, FL - The South Florida PGA Prep Tour took on the famed Palm Beach Par 3 Course, with Carson Meredith and Oakley Sever taking home wins in the o verall b oys and g irl’s 13-18 d ivision s .

Meredith of Parkland was steady from start to finish on his way to an even-par 54, carding just one bogey, complimented by one birdie. Ethan Argus of Tequesta and William Keiley of Jupiter followed closely behind with a 56 and 57, respectively.

In the girl’s division, Sever of Homestead carded a five-over 59 to edge Mirabelle DeAngelis of Boca Raton by one shot. Sever birdied her second-to-last hole of the day to close out the tournament.

Pablo Munoz Montes of Key Biscayne and Sarah Earle of Jupiter won the boys and girl’s 11-12 division with a 55 and 63, respectively.

In the youngest division, ages 9-10, Myla Kumar of Pompano Beach fired a 56 to win on the girl’s side and Agustin Bunuel of Miami Springs shot a 3-under 51, the low round of the day amongst all divisions. Bunuel’s card included five birdies against two bogeys.

The Prep Tour is the intermediate tour on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, featuring young golfers at some of the finest courses in south Florida. Next up, the Prep Tour will visit the West Coast at Hammock Bay Golf and Country Club in Naples on July 16 ^th .

Thank you to PGA Professional and Palm Beach Par 3 General Manager Tony Chateauvert, PGA for hosting the South Florida PGA Junior Tour.

Click here for the full leaderboard.

Rene Nicolas, Valentina Marie Guertin and Jack Zejda Win 38th Nicklaus Junior Championship

mdetullio@pgahq.com (Matt De Tullio) — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 22:00:04 GMT

Jupiter, FL - Rene Nicolas, Valentina Marie Guertin and Jack Zejda battle two tough courses to claim victory at the 38th Annual Nicklaus Junior Championship Sunday at The Club at Admirals Cove and Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club at Old Trail.

Nicolas of Delray Beach started the final round four shots back of the lead after carding a 2-over round one. He responded with the tournament low round of 5-under 67 that included only one bogey to go along with six birdies on the day.

“It feels great, '' said Nicolas, who climbed six spots up the leaderboard over the final round to win the title at 3-under, 73-67–140. “I know it is such a prestigious tournament and to come back after having a not so good first day, it felt amazing.”

With the event being held at two different courses, Nicolas played his final round at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club, while five of the six players ahead of him, played at The Club at Admirals Cove. Live scoring was available, but only after each nine holes, leaving a lot of room for the unknown.

“It was a bit nerve racking, but I knew that course played a lot harder,” he said. “I trusted that if I kept taking it one shot at a time, whatever happened, happened.”

Guertin of Boynton Beach captured a wire-to-wire victory in the girls 13-18 division with a two day total of 2-over, 70-75–145.

“I am very happy because I have not won (a tournament) in like two years and I have been working really hard to finally win,” she said. “I am very proud of myself.”

Guertin finished round one with a tournament low round in the girls division of 2-under 70, sinking five birdies over the 18 holes. After a one-over front nine in the final round, she sat two shots back going into the final nine holes.

“I knew I was down a couple of shots, I just scrambled to not get higher than a bogey, '' she said, as she carded no worse than a bogey over the 36-hole stretch. I continued to play my game, play one shot at a time because you never know what could happen.”

Zedja of Naples jumped out to a commanding lead in the boys 11-12 division after round one, finishing at 2-over 74, his lowest tournament round of his life, he said. Zedja led the field by eight shots to start the final round, completing play at 16-over, 74-85–159. He led the field in birdies with four while tying in most pars or better with 22.

The Nicklaus Junior Championship is jointly administered by the South Florida PGA and the Palm Beach County Golf Association, two of south Florida’s largest golf organizations.

Thank you to Director of Golf at The Club at Admirals Cove, Sean Burke-McDermott, PGA and Head Professional at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club at Old Trail, Jared Warner, PGA for all the help.

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Davie’s Aiden Arce, Naples’ Addison Klonowski Win South Florida Junior PGA Championship

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 20:30:13 GMT

By CRAIG DOLCH

Special to South Florida PGA

BOCA RATON (June 14, 2022) – Aiden Arce of Davie and Addison Klonowski of Naples emerged from talented fields Tuesday to win the South Florida Junior PGA Championship at Stonebridge Country Club.

Arce started the round with a one-shot lead and birdied four of his first seven holes to take a commanding lead. He shot a second consecutive 68 for a three-shot victory over Wylie Inman (67) of North Palm Beach.

“It feels amazing,” said Arce, a 16-year-old who will be a junior at American Heritage High School-Broward. “My good friend Luke Clanton won this tournament two years in a row (2017-’18), so I really wanted to win it. I’ve been hitting the ball well all week and today the putter got hot and everything clicked.”

The 17-year-old Klonowski shot a bogey-free 69 to finish at 6-under 138, two shots ahead of Gabriella Albert (71-140) of Delray Beach. The winner shared the first-round lead with two others.

The victories earned Arce and Klonowski, along with runner-up finishers, Inman and Albert, spots in the National Junior PGA Boys Championship and the National Junior PGA Girls Championship, respectively, Aug 2-5 at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club near Chicago.

“I’m really excited because my dad (Mark) grew up at Cog Hill and I’ll get a chance to play it like he did and see the family roots,” said Klonowski, a senior at Naples High who qualified for last year’s Girls Junior PGA Championship and made the cut.

“The first couple holes today I was trying to get into a rhythm and hit the greens. On the back nine, I started going at the pins and the putts started to fall. It’s a great feeling.”

Arce didn’t have much stress Tuesday until late in the round, and it had nothing to do with his golf.

“My phone died on the 17th hole, so I couldn’t see where I stood,” he said. “I had to ask Pavel (Tsar, a playing partner) and he told me I had a good lead.”

The South Florida Junior PGA Championship, run by the South Florida PGA, is presented by The Honda Classic. Supporting partners are Don Law Golf Academy, Titleist, The Fun Group at Mirasol, Junior Golf Hub, TimberTech Championship, ASM Scholarships, First Tee-Florida Gold Coast, College Golf Experience and Florida Junior Golf Council.

Hammock Creek Golf Club Hosts Monday Prep Tour Event

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 19:34:45 GMT

Palm City, FL - The South Florida Prep Tour completed its first weekday event of the summer, Monday at Hammock Creek Golf Club, welcoming 70 juniors across five age divisions.

Carding the tournament low round, 3-under 69, Gaella Summers of Cape Coral managed only one bogey to go along with four birdies on the day, helping her to her first Prep Tour win of the summer in the girls 13-18 division. Finishing runner-up, Micaela Ruidias of Boynton Beach wrapped play at 3-over 75.

With the help of an eagle on his last hole of the day at the par 5, 9th hole, Owen Mitnitsky of Jupiter claimed the boys 13-18 title at 1-under 69. Jeffrey Paul Jacobs of North Palm Beach finished runner-up at 4-over 76.

Rain Jiang of Sarasota, in her first event of the year, won the girls 11-12 division with a final score of 2-over 74. Bella Simoes of Aventura finished in second with a score of 8-over 81.

Pablo Munoz Montes of Key Biscayne won the boys 11-12 division at 3-over 75, while Jaxson Weese of Sebastian finished runner-up at 5-over 77.

A scorecard playoff was necessary to determine a champion for the boys 9-10 division, after Reed Abdelnour of West Palm Beach and Rafael Barreto Jimenez of Weston tied at 2-over 74 at the end of the 18 holes. Jimenez was ultimately named the champion due in large part to an eagle on the par 5, 15th hole, his first tournament eagle of his career.

The Prep Tour season will continue June 28th at Palm Beach Par 3 course. Thank you to everyone who participated, and thank you to Hammock Creek Golf Club for hosting.

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Tsar, Sardinha and Assis Win Medalist Tour Event at Plantation Preserve Golf Course and Club

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 18:49:07 GMT

Fort Lauderdale, FL - The South Florida PGA Medalist Tour completed its first midweek event of the summe r, Thursday at Plantation Preserve Golf Course and Club.

Pavel Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens, carded two consecutive under-par rounds that included 10 birdies and only three bogeys or worse through the 36-hole stretch. Tsar wrapped the event at 6-under 68-70–138, outlasting five other players who finished the event under-par.

While only carding one bogey over the two-days, Aidan Miller of Palm Beach Gardens, finished the 36-hole event at 5-under 70-69–139, claiming his second runner-up finish of the season.

In the girls 13-18 division, concluding the event at 6-over 76-74–150, Nicole Sardinha of Doral claimed first place honors by two shots. Sardinha was able to take advantage of the par 5s both days, as she went 1-under over eight combined par 5s.

Finishing runner-up in scorecard playoff, Jade Scott of Lauderhill finished the event at 8-over 71-81–152, including the tournament low-round for the girls of 1-under 71 in the first round.

Starting the event with a bogey-free 70, Bento Assis of Porto Alegre, Brazil matched the tournament low-round of any age division with a 4-under 68 in the second round. Assis won the boys 11-12 division by nine shots.

Sarp Gurdogan of Palm Beach Gardens, finished runner-up with scores of 72-75–147, 3-over.

The event also doubled as a South Florida Junior PGA Championship Qualifier, the last qualifier before the Major will take place on June 13-14 at Stonebridge Country Club. The top seven boys and top four girls scores after round one were able to advance.

Those names include:

Boys - Ryan Nana Tanke (Palm Beach Gardens), Jake Manelas (Fort Lauderdale), Ryan Peskin (Boca Raton), Jacob Kutner (Palm Beach Gardens), Sean Richards (Parkland), Colton Nash (Boca Raton) and Sam Davey (Fort Lauderdale)

Girls - Nicole Sardinha (Doral), Jennie Pan, (Delray Beach), Angelina Marie Guertin (Boynton Beach) and Ana Victoria Soto (Weston)

Thank you to Plantation Preserve Golf Course and Club for having us!

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Vineyards Country Club Hosts Memorial Day Weekend Medalist Tour Event

Tue, 31 May 2022 17:13:48 GMT

Naples, FL - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour spent the Memorial Day weekend at Vineyards Country Club for a two-day, 36-hole Medalist Tour event May 28-29.

After two consecutive under-par rounds, Anthony Garcia of Miami finished the 36-hole-event at 8-under, 67-69–136. Garcia managed only two bogeys over the two-day stretch, to go along with 10 birdies, routing himself to his second Medalist Tour victory of the year in the boys 13-18 division.

Finishing runner-up in the boys 13-18 division, Christian Allen of Estero carded the tournament low round of 6-under 66. Allen recorded eight birdies over his final 18 holes with five of them coming on the back-nine.

In the girls 13-18 division, Jordan Knox of Fort Myers, in her first Medalist Tour event of the year managed a two-day total of 6-over, 74-76–150, claiming first place honors by one shot over Morgan Franklin of Fort Myers. Knox led the field in pars or better with 30.

Christian Koehn of Winter Park won the boys 11-12 division at 3-under, 70-71–141, one shot better than runner-up finisher, Sarp Gurdogan of Palm Beach Gardens. Koehn, who was one of only two players in the entire field to finish both rounds under-par, managed only one bogey over the two days, including a bogey-free final round.

The event also doubled as a South Florida Junior PGA Championship qualifier, with the top seven boys and top three girls scores from the first round advancing.

Those names include:

Boys - Hubert Ramierez(Miami), Bautista Valeiras(Naples), Charlie Davis(Naples), Connor DeMichele(Sarasota), Christian Allen(Estero), Graham Boone(Naples) and Antonio Justo(Miami Shores)

Girls - Morgan Franklin(Fort Myers), Payton Balliet(Naples) and Gloria Nip(Port Saint Lucie)

Special thank you to Vineyards Country Club and Director of Golf, Tom Metzger, PGA for having us.

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Vineyards Country Club Hosts Sunday Prep Tour Event

Mon, 23 May 2022 18:08:42 GMT

Naples, Fl - Isabella Russo won the girls 13-18 division by four shots as Nich olas Shortal claimed first place honors in the boys 13-18 division after a scorecard playoff Sunday at Vineyards Country Club for a South Florida PGA Prep Tour event.

Russo of Doral, with the help of an even-par back nine, wrapped up the 18-hole event with a 3-over 75, winning her first Prep Tour event of the 2022 season by four shots.

In the boys 13-18 division, Shortal of Coral Gables and John Buono of Plantation both completed play with a 1-over 73, forcing a scorecard playoff to determine a champion. Shortal, because of his 1-under back-nine, was named the winner.

In the 11-12 division, Cole Laffere of Miami, who finished the event with a 5-over 77, won the boys division in a scorecard playoff over Frank Muniz of Miami. Emma Mckoan of Naples signed for a tournament low even-par 72, to win the girls 11-12 division.

Rafael Barreto Jimenez of Weston claimed the boys 9-10 division title with a 4-over 76.

Congratulations to everyone who competed, and thank you to Vineyards Country Club and Director of Golf, Tom Metzger, PGA for having us.

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Banyan Creek Golf Club Hosts Sunday Prep Tour Event

Tue, 10 May 2022 18:57:34 GMT

Palm City, FL - Banyan Creek Golf Club hosted the South Florida PGA Prep Tour this weekend, welcoming over 70 juniors for a single-day, 18-hole event.

In his first event of the season, Dalton Stokes of Lake Worth shot a 6-over 78 to become the latest boys 13-18 Prep Tour Champion.

With three birdies on the card, Stokes bested the rest of the field and narrowly defeated runner-up Kalani Centeno of North Miami Beach. Centeno placed second after a round of 79 and a scorecard playoff between Cameron Feiner of Palm Beach Gardens, Chris Maung of Fort Myers and Alek Greer of West Palm Beach.

In the girls 13-18 division, Gaelle Summers of Cape Coral also earned her first win of the season with a dominant performance, shooting an 8-over 80.

Summer’s round vaulted her nine shots clear of runner-up Yariliz Delgado of Miramar after her round of 89 and winning a scorecard playoff against Cindi Cooper of Pembroke Pines.

In the boys 11-12 division, Jaxson Weese of Sebastian claimed his third win in 2022 with a round of 5-over 77. Weese’s round was highlighted by an eagle that came at the par-5 15th hole, eventually propelling him to a one shot win over runner-up Carson Lowe of West Palm Beach.

In the girls 11-12 division, Olivia Hartman of Palm Beach Gardens shot a 10-over 82, with runner-up Ophelia Bunuel of Miami Springs closing with a round of 95.

In the 9-10 division Mateo Muniz of Wellington broke through after starting his Prep Tour season with five straight Top-5 finishes. Muniz carded a 3-over 75, two ahead of second place finisher Agustin Bunuel.

Thank you to Banyan Creek Golf Club and Anders Goldkuhl for hosting.

The Prep Tour season will continue at Vineyards Country Club on May 22nd.

Click here to view the leaderboard .

Inman and Shanahan Win Medalist Tour Event at Osprey Point Golf Course

Tue, 10 May 2022 18:39:49 GMT

Boca Raton, Fl - Wylie Inman claimed the boys division title after a three-hole playoff and Kelly Shanahan won the girls division by two shots during a weather impacted South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event at Osprey Point Golf Course May 7th and 8th.

The weather played a big role over the weekend as Saturday’s opening round was suspended twice because of lightning in the area. Players had to deal with higher winds and spotty showers throughout round one, making the course play much tougher.

With the help of a two-under back nine during the first round, Inman of North Palm Beach concluded the first 18 holes at 1-over and only two shots back of the lead. Inman started the final round with an eagle on the par-5 12th hole, his third hole of the day, routing him to a 2-under 70, forcing a sudden-death playoff with Jack Kantowski of Boca Raton.

Both players made birdie on the par-5 18th hole during the first playoff hole before going back to the tee for a second playoff hole. On the second attempt, Inman was forced to lay up while Kantowski hit the green in two, giving himself a 30-foot putt for eagle.

Inman hit his third to about 15 feet and made his birdie putt in dramatic fashion while Kantowski two-putted for his birdie, forcing a third playoff hole. This time, the two would play the par-4 eighth hole, where Inman eventually came out on top with a par, claiming the boys title.

On the girls side, in her first event of the season, Shanahan of Coral Springs finished round one with a 3-over 75, putting her four shots off the lead going into the final round. During the second round, Shanahan shot a tournament-low, 3-under 69 that included only two bogeys to go along with five birdies. Shanahan finished the weekend at even-par, the only girl in the field to finish at even-par or better.

The event also played as a qualifier to the South Florida Junior PGA Championship, with the top 18 boys scores and the top five girls scores after round one advancing.

Those players included:

Boys

Gabriel Holtz

Diego Azar

Brooks Colton

Luke Parsons

Brayden Jenard

Jake Navaretta

Harrison Delisle

James Earle

Stefan Daley

Preston Worch

Alex Heard

Jack Earle

Sam Brown

Rene Nicolas

Jonathan Weinberg

Tomy Jaunet

Ethan Keen

Girls

Chonpatchsorn Mahathep

Staci Pla

Kelly Shanahan

Dariana Breto

Kaylee Ehret

The Medalist Tour season will continue May 28-29 at Vineyards Country Club in Naples.

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Garcia and Nebuta Ferry Earn Medalist Honors at Pointe West Country Club

Mon, 02 May 2022 18:24:14 GMT

Vero Beach, FL - The South Florida PGA Medalist Tour took on Pointe West Country Club this weekend for a two-day, 36-hole tournament.

After racking up three top-5’s already this year, Port Saint Lucie’s Ismael Garcia went wire-to-wire this weekend to close out his first win in the boys 13-18 division.

With the field’s only under-par round of 71 on Saturday, Garcia held off runner-up Aiden Miller of Palm Beach Gardens, despite Miller’s strong even-par 72 in the final round. Miller heated up quickly going 3-under through his first three holes, though eventually came up just two strokes shy following Garcia’s 2-over 74.

In the girls 13-18 division, Honorine Nebuta Ferry of West Palm Beach overcame a three-shot deficit entering the final round with a 2-under 70 on Sunday, seven strokes better than her opening round.

Finishing runner-up and three strokes behind Ferry was Katie Carman of Estero, shooting a strong final round even-par 72. Carman took advantage of calmer conditions Sunday as well, and finished six strokes better than her opening round 6-over 78.

This weekend’s Medalist event also doubled as one of five qualifiers for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship scheduled for June 13-14. With five qualifying spots available for the boys and 4 spots for the girls, the following juniors will tee it up at Stonebridge Country Club next month.

The advancing boys include: Wylie Inman of North Palm Beach, Hampton Beebe of West Palm Beach, Trevor Tingle of Miami, Rafael Frias IV of Parkland and Christian Villeux of Jupiter.

The advancing girls include: Addison Klonowski of Naples, Angela Nip of Port Saint Lucie, Honorine Nebuta Ferry of West Palm Beach and Polina Anisimova of Port Saint Lucie.

The South Florida PGA Medalist Tour is the premier tour on the South Florida PGA Junior circuit. The season will continue May 7-8 at Osprey Point Golf Course.

Special thank you to Pointe West Country Club, Ryan Zug, PGA and Anthony Ranieri, PGA for having us!

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South Florida PGA Prep Tour Juniors Take on Fairwinds Golf Course

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 20:45:01 GMT

Fort Pierce, FL - The South Florida PGA Prep Tour was back in action Sunday as the field of 69 Juniors took on Fairwinds Golf Course for another single-day, 18-hole event.

In the boys 13-18 division, Maximiliaan Govaerts of Weston finished with a 2-over 74, narrowly defeating runner-up Thomas Nevico of Boynton Beach by one stroke. Govaerts had five birdies on the day with back-to-back birdies coming at the 16th and 17th holes.

Continuing her dominant Prep Tour season in the girls 13-18 division was Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point, marking her third win this season, finishing Sunday with a 6-over 78 to win by six strokes.

In the boys 11-12 division, Champion Frank Muniz of Miami carded a 3-over round of 75, a round which included four birdies. Second place was determined by a scorecard playoff between Carson Lowe of West Palm Beach and eventual runner-up Hudson Fee of Fort Lauderdale, who both shot rounds of 5-over 77’s.

In the girls 11-12 division Bella Simoes of Aventura carded four birdies to shoot an even par round of 72, the lowest round of the tournament. Another scorecard playoff between Yool Her of Pembroke Pines and Sofia Macapagal of Orlando was held to determine the runner-up after both players finished with a 4-over 76. The title was eventually awarded to Her.

In the 9-10 division, Daniel Barcenas of Weston, Mateo Muniz of Wellington and Connor Christensen all participated in another scorecard playoff after shooting rounds of 10-over 82’s. Barcenas took the title with Muniz finishing runner-up. In the girls division, Champion Myla Kumar would shoot a 90 for a round of 18-over par.

Thank you to Fairwinds Golf Course, Mark Cammerene PGA, and Mike Melton, PGA for hosting.

The Prep Tour season will continue at Banyan Creek Golf Club on May 9 t h .

Click here to view leaderboard

Arce, Zepeda and Brown Win South Florida PGA Medalist Tour Event at Crane Watch Club

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 18:56:54 GMT

Palm City, FL - Aidan Arce, Vanessa Zepeda and Nicholas Brown took home championship honors after a windy weekend at Crane Watch Club for the South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event Saturday and Sunday.

After finishing the first round at 6-over 78, Arce of Davie was five shots back going into the final round on Sunday. With the help of five birdies and only two bogeys in the 18 holes, Arce matched the tournament-low round of 3-under 69 to force a playoff with Luke Parsons of Juno Beach.

With both players at 3-over at the end of the 36-hole regulation, the two would compete in a sudden death playoff, starting on the par-5, first hole. Arce would come out on top with a par, ultimately winning the boys 13-18 division.

In the girls 13-18 division, Zepeda of Boca Raton finished the 36-hole-event at 6-over with scores of 76-74–150, claiming the title by two shots. Zepeda led the field in number of pars or better with 28.

Winning the boys 11-12 division, Brown of Sarasota sank five birdies to go along with just two bogeys en route to matching the tournament-low round of 3-under 69. Brown followed up his opening round with a 1-under 71, making him the only player in the event to finish both rounds under par. Brown wrapped the two day event at 4-under with scores of 69-71–140.

Thank you to Crane Watch Club and Ryan Ramirez, PGA for having us.

The Medalist Tour season will continue next weekend at Pointe West Country Club.

Click here for full leaderboard

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Crowe and Mages Win Medalist Tour Event at Indian Spring Country Club

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 16:22:15 GMT

Boynton Beach, Fl - Oscar Crowe won the boy’s 13-18 division by one shot and Mckenzie Mages claimed first place honors in the girl’s 13-18 division after a four-hole playoff during the weekend’s South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event at Indian Spring Country Club.

Going into the final round three shots back, Crowe of Boca Raton sank four birdies, en route to a 2-under final round to win the boys 13-18 division by one shot over Ismael Garcia of Port Saint Lucie. Crowe finished the 36-hole tournament with a two-day, two-under total of 72-70–142.

In the girls 13-18 division, McKenzie Mages of Marietta, GA, Gabriella DeGasperis of Palm Beach Gardens and Ariana Silva of Fort Lauderdale were all tied at one-over after the two rounds, forcing a three-way playoff, starting on the par-5, 10th hole.

Mages and Silva went on to make par as DeGasperis made bogey, eliminating her from the playoff. Mages and Silva proceeded to make par on the next two playoff holes before Mages eventually came out on top with a par on the fourth and final playoff hole to win the title. Mages earned four AJGA stars for the win, while the top 10 percent of female 13-18 finishers received one.

The South Florida PGA Medalist Tour is the premier tour on the South Florida PGA Junior circuit. The season will continue April 23-24 at Crane Watch Club.

Special thank you to Indian Spring Country Club and Mike McLellan, PGA for having us!

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Angela Nip Places Third in Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals at Augusta National

Thu, 07 Apr 2022 16:11:09 GMT

Angela Nip of Port St. Lucie placed third in the girls 14-15 division at the National Drive, Chip & Putt Finals at Augusta National on Sunday, with a total score of 20 points.

“I am very happy that I had the chance to compete,” said Nip. “I feel very proud that I came in third.”

Nip, a South Florida PGA Junior Tour member, was one of 10 girls from around the country to compete in the 14-15 division after advancing through three stages of qualifiers.

With so much media attention surrounding the event, Nip said it was a different atmosphere compared to the other three qualifiers, especially because there were only two balls per station compared to three at the previous qualifiers.

“The nerves were a lot stronger, but it was mostly excitement,” she said. “I just kept drinking water, so that helped.”

Other than getting to compete at the highest stage of Drive, Chip and Putt, Nip said her favorite part of the trip was getting to meet U.S. Open Champion, Bryson DeChambeau who signed her hat and trophy.

At 14, Nip has one more year left to compete in Drive, Chip and Putt and said she learned some valuable lessons from the experience and is hopeful to make it to Augusta again next year.

“I learned a lot from the experience,” she said. “I learned that you need to be more patient, and I have to work on some more stuff with my swing.”

Founded in 2013, DCP is a joint initiative through the Masters Tournament, the United States Golf Association and the PGA of America to grow the game of golf by offering a free nationwide competition to junior golfers everywhere. The South Florida PGA administers 10 local qualifying events throughout the section.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Has Prep Tour Filled Sunday

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 18:14:12 GMT

Atlantis, Fl - The South Florida PGA Prep Tour was in full swing this weekend as over 120 juniors took part in two separate 18-hole events at The Country Club of Coral Springs and Trident Golf Club on Sunday.

At The Country Club of Coral Springs, in the boys 13-18 division, Kalani Centeno of North Miami and Owen Mitnitsky of Jupiter both concluded play at 3-over 74. Centeno would ultimately claim the title, winning in a scorecard playoff with a 2-over 37 on the back-nine.

In the girls 13-18 division, Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point wrapped play at 6-over 77, finishing in first place by one shot over Avery Deal of Naples. With the win, Balcom now has two wins on the Prep Tour this season and has finished in the top-2 in the three events she has competed in.

In his second event on the Prep Tour, Patrick Pinkney of Lauderhill concluded play tied for the lowest round at 1-over 72, winning the boys 11-12 division by six shots. Pinkney led the field with five birdies. For the girls 11-12 division, Bella Simoes of Aventura also matched the tournament low round with a 1-over 72, winning by 12 shots. Simoes carded only three bogeys to go along with two birdies on the day.

Winning the boys 9-10 division, while also firing a 1-over 72, Chris Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens has now finished in the top-5 in each of the four events he has participated in during the 2022 season. On the girls side, Myla Kumar of Pompano Beach finished with a 19-over 90.

At Trident Golf Club, Charly Pinel of Beaumont Quebec, playing in his first event with the Prep Tour, concluded play with a tournament low 3-under 68, holding off Andrew Stein and Brooks Hansen of Jupiter by one shot.

In the girls 13-18 division, winning by six shots, Esther Li of Jupiter wrapped play at 4-over 75, her third top-5 finish of the season.

In the 11-12 division, Aahan Asthana of Jensen Beach claimed the boys title with a 1-over 72 while Olivia Hartman of Palm Beach Gardens won the girls side with a 9-over 80. Lastly, Daniel Barcenas of Weston won the boys 9-10 division with a 13-over 84.

Thank you to The Country Club of Coral Springs and Corey Henry, PGA as well as Trident Golf Club and Bob Baldassari, PGA for hosting.

The Prep Tour season will continue at Fairwinds Golf Course on April 24th.

Country Club of Coral Springs Leaderboard

Trident Golf Club Leaderboard

Angela Nip Days Away From Competing at National Drive, Chip and Putt Finals

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 16:20:23 GMT

South Florida PGA Junior Tour member Angela Nip will compete at the National Drive, Chip and Putt Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 3rd.

“It is like a once and a lifetime thing, it is like a dream come true, '' said Nip.

Nip, a Junior Tour member since 2018, will be competing in the girls 14-15 division, the oldest available division.

For Nip, heading to Augusta National is a family affair. Older sister Gloria, competed in the National Finals in 2015 and 2018 with Angela supporting her every step of the way.

“It is super special, it is something I feel like for me and my sister, it makes us much closer,” said Nip. “I feel very lucky to have her with me.”

With the experience Gloria gained from her two trips to Augusta, she made sure to give Angela important advice on how to deal with the attention you receive during the event.

“Basically just to stay calm,” Nip explained. “She told me just to stay calm and everything is going to work out the way you want it to.”

With the competition day quickly approaching, Nip is taking her sister's advice. In addition to her calm composure the 14-year-old is not letting any nerves affect her.

“You don't need to deal with nerves, you just breathe and it just deals with itself, '' she said. “If you ignore it, it will go away.”

Nip made it to the National Finals by way of advancing through three qualifiers in the south Florida area, including the regional qualifier at the Bear’s Club. In that regional qualifier, Nip earned consistent scores, finishing in second in driving, tied for third in chipping and first in putting to advance by a total of 16 points.

Since qualifying for the National Finals, Nip has finished in the top-5 in each of the four SFPGA Medalist Tour events she has competed in during the 2022 season. This play has Nip sitting atop the Medalist Tour player of the year rankings.

Live coverage of the 2022 National Drive, Chip, and Putt Finals will air on Sunday, on Golf Channel from 8 A.M. to 1 P.M. ET. Good luck Angela!

Sandridge Golf Club Hosts Sunday South Florida PGA Prep Tour Event

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 18:55:28 GMT

Vero Beach, Fl - The South Florida PGA Prep Tour took to Sandridge Golf Club - Dunes Course Sunday, for an 18-hole Prep Tour event featuring 67 juniors across five divisions.

In the girls 13-18 division, Yariliz Delgado of Miramar took home first place honors with a 7-over 79, to hold off runner-up finisher Laura Monsalve of Miami by four shots. With the win, Delgado has finished first or runner-up in her last two events at Sandridge Golf Club.

Andrew Stein of Jupiter concluded play at 4-over 76, tied for the lowest round of the day and enough to win the boys 13-18 division by three shots over Joshua Puerta of Miami.

Yool Her of Pembroke Pines also fired a 4-over 76 to win the girls 11-12 division. Her’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5, 4th hole. On the boys side, Jaxson Weese of Sebastian claimed his second consecutive victory at Sandridge Golf Club with a 5-over 77.

Lastly, in the boys 9-10 division, Gerard Basteiro of Orlando and Chris Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens both finished play at 6-over 78. Basteiro ultimately won in a scorecard playoff with 1-over 37 on the back-nine.

Thank you to everyone who participated and thank you to Sandridge Golf Club and Director of Golf, Bela Nagy, PGA for having us.

The Prep Tour season will continue next week, April 3rd at Trident Golf Club in Port St. Lucie and an additional event at the Country Club of Coral Springs.

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Gabriel Holtz, Honorine Nebuta Ferry and Christian Koehn Earn Medalist Tour Win at Martin Downs

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 19:08:47 GMT

Palm City, Fl - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour welcomed over 60 of the area’s top juniors to Martin Downs Golf Club this weekend for a 36-hole Medalist Tour event.

In the boy’s 13-18 division, Gabriel Holtz of Boca Raton started his weekend strong with a 2-under opening round of 70, to lead by two strokes. Holtz’s two-over 74 on Sunday was enough to narrowly hold off runner-up Harrison Browne of Westport, CT, with Browne’s final round of 72. Holtz’s even par total marked the lowest score throughout all age divisions.

It was a two-horse race in the girl’s 13-18 division as Honorine Nebuta Ferry of West Palm Beach and Angela Nip of Port St. Lucie ended their weekend’s five strokes clear of the field, both finishing at one-over par. A playoff was held with a pair of pars on the first hole, but Ferry made birdie on the second hole to emerge victorious.

In the boys 11-12 division, Christian Koehn opened with an even par round of 72, sitting atop the leaderboard with three other players. Koehn’s one-over final round 73 included five birdies on the day, three coming on the back nine giving him the separation he needed to take the title.

This weekend’s medalist event awarded two AJGA stars to the champion of the boys 13-18 division with 1 star awarded to the top-5 finishers and 1 star to the boys 11-12 champion.

Congratulations to everyone who participated and a special thank you to Martin Downs Golf Club for having us!

Click here for the full leaderboard.

Brooks Hansen, Esther Li, Carson Lowe, Sophia Christy, Carson Brauth and Myla Kumar earn medalist honors in Sunday’s Prep Tour event at PGA National Estates

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 20:24:30 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour was in full swing this weekend as 70 Prep Tour members took on PGA National Estates Sunday.

In the boys 13-18 division, Brooks Hansen of Jupiter held onto a commanding lead to finish with a 6-over 78, carding a birdie at the par-5, 5th hole. Hansen finished three strokes ahead of runner-up Thomas Nevico of Boynton Beach, with Nevico capping off his 9-over 81 with a birdie on the 18th.

In the girls 13-18 division, Li held onto a comfortable lead as she went 3-over on the back nine with a birdie at the par-5, 15th hole to finish with a 7-over 79, three shots clear of runner-up Madison Logan of Fort Lauderdale who shot a 10-over 82 on the round.

In the younger 11-12 age division, Lowe of West Palm Beach was also able to end his round with a three shot lead over Drew Davis of Coral Gables, carding two birdies on his front nine for a 4-over 76. Although finishing second, Davis carded three birdies on the day to finish with a 7-over 79.

In the same age division for the girls, Sophia Christy of South Barrington, IL shot a 5-over 77 round highlighted by an eagle on the 18th, allowing her to jump to a two-shot lead over second-place finisher Aryanah Ahmad of Parkland, who finished with a 79.

In the youngest, 9-10 division, boys champion Carson Brauth of Palm Beach Gardens won by four strokes with two birdies to finish with a 3-over 75, the lowest round across all divisions.

Myla Kumar of Pompano Beach finished with a 16-over 88 going par-par on her last two holes to complete her day and win the girl’s 9-10 division.

Congratulations to everyone who participated and a special thank you to PGA National Estates for having us!

Click here for the full leaderboar d

Anthony Garcia, Ariana Silva Fight Tough Conditions to Win Medalist Tour Event at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 15:15:34 GMT

Anthony Garcia and Ariana Silva battled tough conditions during this weekend’s South Florida PGA Junior Tour Medalist event at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne to win the Boy’s Overall and Girl’s Overall Divisions, respectively.

With gusting winds and dropping temperatures, the entire 81-player field was put to the test this weekend, March 12th and 13th. Garcia and Silva both fought to gutsy 79s on Saturday, tying the lowest score carded during round one.

Using his seven birdies and one eagle, Garcia of Miami carded a one-under 71 in the second round to finish at six-over for the tournament, eight strokes better than the field. Garcia’s second round included a three-under 32 on the opening nine, making birdie on the first two holes and an eagle on the fifth to complete the only round in all divisions under par.

Harrison Browne of Westport, CT and Jack Kantowski of Boca Raton finished in a tie for second at 14-over for the tournament.

In the Girl’s Division, Silva of Fort Lauderdale followed up her 79 with a three-over 75 on Sunday to finish at 10-over through the 36 holes of play. Silva’s 75 included an eagle on 18 to edge out runner-up Amelie Phung of Forest Hills, NY by one stroke who also carded 75 on Sunday, to add to her 80 on Saturday.

The South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour is the premier junior tour in south Florida hosting some of the best juniors aged 13-18. The Medalist Tour event at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne was the third of the season which will continue this weekend March 19-20 at Martin Downs Golf Club.

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Prep and Links Tour Visit Sandridge Golf Club

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 20:43:04 GMT

Vero Beach, Fl - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour took to Sandridge Golf Club for Prep and Links Tour events Saturday and Sunday with over 100 Junior Tour members competing across the two events.

In the Prep Tour event Sunday, Daniel Berkley of Cape Coral and Brooks Hansen of Jupiter concluded play in a tie for first at 6-over. Berkley ultimately came out on top, winning in a scorecard playoff with a 1-over 37 on the back-nine.

In the girls 13-18 division, Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point took home first place honors with an 11-over 83. Yariliz Delgado of Miramar finished runner-up at 16-over 88.

Jaxson Weese of Sebastian finished first in the boys 11-12 division with a tournament low 1-under 71. Weese's under-par round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 hole No. 4. Winning the girls 11-12 division, Reese McMillian of Jupiter finished at 7-over 79.

Lastly, in the boys 9-10 division, Agustin Bunuel of Miami Springs finished in first with a 5-over 77, holding off Mateo Muniz of Wellington by one stroke.

In the 9-hole Links Tour event Saturday, Gatlin Albright of Stuart finished first in the boys 12-14 division at 5-over 41 while Angelina Hernandez took home the title on the girls side at 10-over 46.

In the 9-11 division, Alyna Yensabai of Lake Worth finished first for the girls while Victor Monssoh of Miami finished first for the boys.

Lastly, in the 6-8 division, Aidan Dixon of Sebastion concluded play at the top for the boys while Viviana Alfond finished in first for the girls with a tournament low 2-over 38.

Congratulations to everyone who participated and a special thank you to Sandridge Golf Club and Director of Golf, Bela Nagy, PGA for having us!

Prep Tour - Results

Prep Tour - Photo Album

Links Tour - Results

Earle, Nip Claim Victory at Sandridge Golf Club

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 00:08:01 GMT

Vero Beach - James Earle of Jupiter and Gloria Nip of Port Saint Lucie won the South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event at Sandridge Golf Club Sunday, with Vasili Gianakas of Lauderdale by the Sea earning low honors in the boys 11-12 division.

Despite having to play round one through rain in the morning and wind in the afternoon, Earle carded a two-over opening round of 74, co-leading with Gabriel Holtz of Boca Raton and Ismael Garcia of Port Saint Lucie. Earle’s one-over final round was highlighted by four birdies and an eagle coming at the par-5 12th hole. His 74-73–147 proved enough to hold off Sohan Patel of Weston who finished solo second.

In the girls 13-18 division, and with Sandridge baring its teeth in the windy afternoon conditions, Nip carded two double bogey’s on the back nine, but limited the damage with a strong birdie-birdie finish en route to a three-over 75 opening round, good for a two stroke lead heading into Sunday. Nip led the field this weekend in par 5 scoring average, additionally tying runner-up Katie Carman of Estero with total birdies made.

Despite shooting a four-over opening round 76 to trail Jude Desmond of Pompano Beach by three strokes, Gianakas led a 3-under charge on the back nine for a two-under fin to win by three strokes. Gianakas’ final round was the lowest round to par of any player this weekend. Desmond finished runner-up with a weekend total of 73-76-149.

The two-day, 36-hole Medalist Tour event consisted of 79 SFPGA Junior Tour members with the boys 13-18 champion receiving two AJGA stars with the top-5 finishers receiving one.

The Medalist Tour at Sandridge Golf Club was the second event of the 2022 season. The regular season will continue March 12-13 at Crandon Golf Course in Key Biscayne.

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Albert, Sommerville Win First SFPGA Medalist Tour Event of 2022

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 23:01:22 GMT

Port Saint Lucie - The first South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event of the 2022 season took place this weekend with Gabriella Albert winning the girls division by an impressive 10 strokes and Ryan Sommerville taking the boys title after a 3-man sudden death playoff Sunday, at Santa Lucia River Club.

With tough conditions throughout round one, Albert of Delray Beach managed to shoot 3-under 69, building a seven shot lead going into day two. Adding a 1-over 73 in the final round, Albert finished at 2-under 69-73–143, a tournament low amongst all divisions. Albert recorded eight birdies over 36 holes.

The 36-hole event was not enough to decide a boys champion as Gabriel Holtz of Boca Raton, Ismael Garcia of Port Saint Lucie and Sommerville of Port Saint Lucie all finished at 2-over, forcing a sudden-death playoff.

Sommerville and Garcia both made par on the par-4 18th while Holtz made bogey, putting him out of the playoff. Following one more playing of 18, Sommerville managed a birdie to ultimately claim the trophy.

Using 10 birdies, the most carded in the field, Sommerville shot 1-over 73 both rounds before securing the victory in the playoff. Garcia finished in second, decided by a scorecard playoff against Holtz.

Coming in second in the girls division, Angela Nip of Port Saint Lucie finished play at 8-over, 78-74–152. Nip made the most pars of any girl with 26 to go along with two birdies.

The two-day, 36-hole Medalist Tour event consisted of 81 SFPGA Junior Tour members with the girls champion receiving eight AJGA stars while the top-3 finishers earned four and the top-5 received one. The boys champion received four while the top 10 percent of finishers all received one.

The Medalist Tour at Santa Lucia River Club was the first event of the 2022 season. The regular season will continue February 19-20 at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach.

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Registration Now Open for the 2022 Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifiers, Administered by the South Florida PGA

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 15:08:58 GMT

ATLANTIS, FL - Registration is now open for the South Florida PGA 2022 local Drive, Chip and Putt qualifying schedule. Local qualifiers will begin June 2nd in Puerto Rico and will end August 2nd at Trump National Doral.

Founded in 2013, DCP is a joint initiative through the Masters Tournament, the United States Golf Association and the PGA of America to grow the game of golf by offering a free nationwide competition to junior golfers everywhere. The SFPGA administers 10 local qualifying events throughout the South Florida Section.

Starting this June, the local qualifying will be held at sites across south Florida and are open to all junior golfers ages 7-15 looking to showcase their driving, chipping and putting abilities. DCP age divisions - (7-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15) - are based on the participant's age as of the National Finals on Sunday, April 2, 2023.

Following local competition, finalists move onto the sub-regional held at either Old Collier Golf Club or Old Marsh Golf Club before the regional qualifier at The Bear’s Club in October. Advancing participants will finish at Augusta National Golf Club held the Sunday prior to the 2023 Masters Tournament.

This April, eight skilled junior golfers, including Angela Nip, an SFPGA Junior Tour winner and sister of 2014 DCP finalist Gloria Nip, will compete at Augusta National by way of the South Florida PGA qualifiers. In 2020, Elyse Meerdink of Tampa won the overall National girls 10-11 division.

For more information on DCP and to follow along this summer, click here .

Locals:

June 2nd- Bahia Beach Resort and Golf Club - Puerto Rico

June 4th- Osprey Point Golf Course

June 10th- The Falls Club of the Palm Beaches

June 17th- Vineyards Country Club

June 30th- The Club at Ibis

July 8th- The Club at Mirasol

July 11th- Plantation Preserve Golf Course and Club

July 18th- PGA Golf Club

July 21st- Pelican Marsh Golf Club

August 2nd Trump National Doral Miami (Rick Smith Academy)

Sub Regionals:

August 20th- Old Collier Golf Club

August 27th- Old Marsh Golf Club

Regional:

October 2nd- The Bear’s Club

About the South Florida PGA Junior Tour

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic provides five levels of golf programming to youth ages 6-23 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at championship courses throughout South Florida.

For more information on the Junior Tour and its respective Championship and Challenge tours, please visit the new South Florida PGA Junior Tour website at www.sfpgajuniorgolf.com.

Enzo Barbaglia, Vilda Westh Blanc win SFPGA Winter Kickoff

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 22:22:18 GMT

Stuart, Fl - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour wrapped up the first event of the 2022 season, Monday with the SFPGA Winter Kickoff at Sailfish Sands Golf Course.

Coming out on top in the boys division, Enzo Barbaglia of Johannesburg, South Africa finished the 3-day Major at even-par 70-74-72–216.

Barbaglia managed to card eight brides over the 54 holes with three of them coming on the par-5 first hole.

“My favorite hole of the course was the first hole, I birdied it all three days so that's probably why it's my favorite,” he said.

With the conditions changing each day and the wind playing a major role, staying in play was a key goal he said.

“Off the tee I was pretty accurate, I didn't lose a lot of golf balls, so I was always in play which helped a lot, he said.” Also, my putting was really decent inside ten feet, it saved me on some holes.”

Vilda Westh Blanc of Wartrace, Tennessee finished first in the girls division with scores of 73-76-77–226 10-over.

Blanc credited her ability to get off the tee as the main part of her game that allowed her to be so successful over the three days.

“The best part of my game this week was off the tee, it didn't really cost me any shots, that was solid all three days,” she said.

Blanc said she was happy with how she was able to manage her consistent play throughout tough conditions each day.

“I thought the wind was really tough, so I had to make some changes as needed,” she said

“Coming out on top with conditions like this really helps my confidence, I was able to push through the tough slumps during three days and it really feels good.”

Coming in second in the boys division, James Earle of Jupiter concluded play at 7-over 70-78-75–223

Even with the conditions, Earle was able to sink 11 birdies over the three days, tied for the most of any player in the field. Three of those birdies coming on the par-4 18th.

Finishing runner up in the girls division, Ariana Silva of Fort Lauderale handed in scorecards of 75-78-75–227 11-over, just one shot back of the winner. Silva had the most pars of any girls over the 54-hole stretch with 36.

The three-day, 54-hole Major consisted of 83 South Florida PGA Junior Tour members with both champions receiving four AJGA stars while the top-10 in each division received one.

The South Florida PGA Winter Kickoff is the first of eight Junior Majors to be played throughout the 2022 season.

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2021 South Florida PGA Junior Tour Award Winners

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 20:44:29 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour has named five outstanding junior tour members award winners for the 2021 season: Most Improved Award, Sportsmanship Award and Don Law Service Award.

After the end of round one of the Junior Tour Championship on Saturday, December 4th, five junior tour members were presented with their awards.

First, the most improved player award was given to Aidan Miller of Palm Beach Gardens and Zoe Shamy of Jupiter. Both Miller and Shamy were members of the Prep Tour during the 2020 season and made the transition to the Challenge Tour for the 2021 season.

Miller finished the 2020 season on the Prep Tour with a scoring average of 80.86 to go along with five top ten finishes. While on the Challenge Tour in 2021, Miller had a 78.00 scoring average with seven top ten finishes. Making the jump from the Prep to Challenge Tour is not easy, and to be able to improve in multiple aspects is an accomplishment in itself.

Shamy had an impressive 2020 season on the Prep Tour accumulating five wins in only 12 events with a scoring average of 82.25. During her 2021 season on the Challenge Tour, Shamy recorded two first place finishes to go along with top ten finishes in all 14 events she played in with a scoring average of 79.57.

Next, the Sportsmanship award, given to one male and one female who displays the best overall sportsmanship throughout the season voted on by staff members.

This year, Ariana Silva of Fort Lauderdale and Michael Rivera of Miami Springs were presented this award for their character and respect shown on the golf course to not only players, but volunteers and staff as well.

Others have taken notice of Silva’s and Rivera’s sportsmanship on the course, Angela and Gloria Nip, two SFPGA Junior Tour members said, “Ariana is always respectful and displays good sportsmanship throughout and after each round.”

Tomas Borquez, also a SFPGA Junior Tour member said, “Michael is a great teammate. He is very funny and brought joy to the team in good and bad moments.”

Lastly, the Don Law Service Award is given to an individual who has made an effort to serve their community.

âThis year, Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton was given the award for his contribution to the birdie club. During the 2021 season, Crowe managed 64 birdies, raising $448 to support the South Florida PGA Foundation programs.

Each individual award winner received a plaque and poster for their accomplishment.

Michael Rivera to Continue Golf Journey on the Course and in the Classroom

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Rivera may be closing out his last full South Florida PGA Junior Tour season, but his journey in golf is just getting started.

“When I first started playing golf I knew that I wanted to do something with golf even if it wasn’t playing professionally,” he said. “Whether it is fitting clubs, becoming a coach or running a golf course, I just knew, I at least wanted to do something with golf.”

The Miami Springs native and South Florida Junior Tour member since 2019 was recently accepted into the Florida Gulf Coast University Professional Golf Management Program, where he will attend starting in August 2022.

At the beginning of 2020, Rivera attended a college seminar with the South Florida PGA, where he was introduced to Professional Golf Management and later had the opportunity to tour and learn more about the facilities at Florida Gulf Coast University. He immediately knew it was for him.

Rivera gives a lot of credit to the SFPGA Junior Tour, where he was able to learn about the many different opportunities in golf and what a career in the industry could look like.

“Every time I play in these tournaments I get to talk with Phillip, Ellen, Cole and all the others [SFPGA Staff] and get to learn from them,'' he said. “I definitely learned a lot from them and from the Junior Tour, which I think helped me want to make golf the focus of my career.”

Rivera has been an active member of the Junior Tour since 2019 and was awarded the 2021 Ed Ficker Sportsmanship award, given to a Junior Tour member that exhibits positive sportsmanship throughout the season.

A major goal of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour is to promote a love for the game of golf, whether that is playing or simply just enjoying the game. As Junior Tour members become older it is important to understand that there are many opportunities to stay in the golf industry without having to play on tour. The game of golf and the golf industry itself has so many different opportunities and avenues to excel in.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Wraps 2021 Season with Tour Championship at Banyan Cay Resort and Golf

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

December 5th 2021 - West Palm Beach FL - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour season concluded Sunday at Banyan Cay Resort and Golf with the SFPGA Junior Tour Championship, presented by the Honda Classic.

Raines Holmes of Vero Beach finished the two-day, 36-hole championship at 5-under 68-71–139, winning the boys 13-18 division title by one shot over runner-up Graham Boone of Naples.

Holmes entered the final round with a two-shot deficit to Boone. After a 1-over front nine, Holmes quickly bounced back to a 2-under back, enough to steal the victory. Boone wrapped play at 4-under 66-74–140.

Meanwhile, Paval Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens celebrated his 15th birthday with a third place finish at 3-under 68-73–141.

Winning the girls 13-18 division championship, Ariana SIlva of Fort Lauderdale turned in a two-day total of 3-over 73-74–147. Silva found success on the par 5s as she went 2-under over the stretch of eight par 5s throughout the two rounds.

Madison Moman of Palm Beach Gardens finished runner-up with a very consistent 2-round total of 4-over 74-74–148. After Sunday's finishes, Moman and Silva successfully managed to finish in the top-10 in all events they played in this season.

In the boys 11-12 division, Jude Desmond of Pompano Beach claimed first honors by one stroke over Alen Gurdogen of Palm Beach Gardens. Desmond wrapped play at 4-over 73-75–148 while Gurdogen finished at 73-76–149. With the win, Desmond concluded the 2021 season with three first place finishes and ten top-10 finishes.

Brett White of Fort Lauderdale had the shot of the weekend with a hole in one at the 115-yard 11th hole with a 56-degree wedge.

The 2021 South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship was an invite-only event based on player of the year points of both Challenge and Champion Tour players.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Member, Addison Klonowski to Compete in 2021 PGA National Club Championship in Palm Springs, California

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT

December 2nd 2021 - Atlantis, FL - Addison Klonowski of Naples, a 16-year-old South Florida PGA Junior Tour member, has been invited to the 2021 PGA National Club Championship in Palm Springs, California, December 4-6.

Addison was invited by way of winning the Women’s Club Championship at Naples Grande Golf Club in Naples, FL. She will compete in the Amatuer Women’s Division against other women from around the country who have won their Club Championship during the 2021 calendar year.

The three-day, 54 hole stroke play Championship will take place across PGA WEST Stadium Course, Indian Wells Celebrity Course and Desert Willow Firecliff Course.

Overall, over 500 Men and Women Club Champions from all over the Country will take part in the Championship while being able to play three prestigious courses with the chance of becoming the 2021 PGA National Club Championship.

Addison has been a member of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour since 2016. During that time, she has accumulated one first place finish to go along with eight top-10 finishes.

We will be cheering you on from South Florida, Addison!

Osprey Point Golf Club Hosts Final South Florida PGA Junior Tour Event Before Tour Championship

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

November 21st 2021 - Boca Raton, FL - Rene Nicolas of Delray Beach finished first in the boys 13-18 division while Ariana Silva of Fort Lauderdale took home the trophy in the girls 13-18 division Sunday in a South Florida PGA Junior Tour event hosted at Osprey Point Golf Club.

Nicolas fired a two-day total of 2-under, following his opening round 75 up with a 67 today. Nicolas found success on the par 5s, going 4-under on those holes for the tournament. He added 11 birdies across 36-holes and moved up five spots on the leaderboard during the final round to win the trophy.

Wrapping the two-round event tied at even-par, Jake Manelas of Fort Lauderdale and Harrison Delisle of Miami Beach were forced to determine second place with a scorecard playoff. Manelas would come out on top after carding a 4-under on the back nine of the final round compared to Delisle’s 2-under.

Silva finished first in the girls 13-18 division at 1-under 74-69–143. Silva, coming into the final round with a one shot lead only added to it as she secured the tournament low round in her division with a final round of 3-under 69.

Coming in second, Angela Jiang of Miami wrapped play at 2-over 75-71–146.

Gabriella Albert of Delray Beach had the shot of the tournament with a hole in one of the par 3 No. 7 with a 7-iron from 145 yards.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Modifies Levels of Play, Introduces Medalist Tour

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

November 18th 2021 - ATLANTIS, FL – The South Florida PGA Junior Tour has modified its current levels of play and will introduce the Medalist Tour, accompanying the Links and Prep Tours, beginning in 2022.

Under the current structure, which includes the Links, Prep, Challenge and Championship Tours, the South Florida PGA Junior Tour provides youth golfers across south Florida ages 6-18 a journey through the game of golf.

Beginning in 2022, the Medalist Tour will combine the former Challenge and Championship Tours to provide more opportunities, better competition and exposure for young junior golfers.

The South Florida PGA Medalist Tour will be a series of two-day tournaments at some of south Florida’s premier facilities. Juniors are eligible based on the previous year’s Junior Tour scoring average and point standings and the current year’s performance.

Under this renovated structure, all South Florida PGA Medalist Tour tournaments will attract stronger fields and will be nationally ranked by AJGA stars and Junior Golf Scoreboard, ultimately helping junior golfers with aspirations to play in college get recruited.

Starting with its 9-hole Links Tour, golfers will then advance to the developmental, single-day, 18-hole Prep Tour before qualifying for the Medalist Tour. A junior golfer will move to the Medalist Tour once they have a scoring average of at least 74.99 (Boys 11-12), 78.99 (Boys 13-18), 76.99 (Girls 11-12) or 81.99 (Girls 13-18).

The Medalist Tour will serve as the premier tour on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour journey, playing Girls at 5,800-6,000 yards and boys at 6,600-7,000 yards, preparing players for college and beyond.

In addition to the three tours, junior golfers can get involved with other South Florida PGA Foundation programs to continue help develop their skills, including, Drive, Chip and Putt and PGA Jr. League.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour membership is $55 and includes a memberships kit as well as access to register for all SFPGA Junior tournaments that a player is eligible for. SFPGA Junior Tour membership will open on December 13th.

Former South Florida PGA Jr. Tour Member, Andrew Kozan Finishes T2 at Korn Ferry Tour Q-School Finals

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

November 11th 2021 - Atlantis, FL - Andrew Kozan of West Palm Beach, a former South Florida PGA Junior Tour member from 2010-15 finished in a tie for second place at the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School Finals Monday at The Landings Club (Marsh) in Savannah, GA.

With his finish, Kozan will now receive guaranteed entry into the first 12 events of the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season and full membership status on the Korn Ferry Tour during the 2022 season.

Kozan, who graduated from Auburn University this past Spring, did not officially turn pro until deciding to take the Q-School route with hopes of obtaining status on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Stage one began at The Breakers Rees Jones Course at Breakers West in West Palm Beach, Fl, where he finished in first place with a four-day total of 21-under 267.

Stage two took place at the Plantation Preserve Golf Club in Plantation, FL, where he would finish T19 and only one stroke clear to advance. He wrapped the four round event at 9-under 275.

Moving onto the finals at The Landings Club (Marsh) in Savannah, GA, round one did not get off to the best start as he might have hoped for with a 2-over 73. He followed that with a 4-under 67 in round two, backed up by an 8-under 63 in round three, tied for the lowest round of any player over the four-day event. Entering the final round, Kozan had set himself up in prime position to earn a medal. He would go onto fire a 5-under 66 over the last 18 holes to conclude the event in a tie for second at 13-under 269.

Congratulations Andrew and we wish you the best of luck as you continue your journey in professional golf.

Prep Tour Concludes Season at Sandhill Crane Golf Club for Prep Tour Championship

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

November 8th 2021 - West Palm Beach, Fl - The South Florida PGA Prep Tour concluded its season Sunday with the Prep Tour Championship hosted at Sandhill Crane Golf Club.

Aidan Maclness of Bonita Springs took home the first place medal in the boys 13-18 division wrapping play at 8-over 80. Fisher Coleman-Sayer of Marathon finished in second at 9-over 81 after a scorecard playoff with Davis Crall of Palm Beach Gardens.

Winning the girls 13-18 division, Juliana LaPapa of West Palm Beach concluded the 18-hole Championship at 16-over 88. Claiming second place honors in a scorecard playoff, Ava DuMond of Lake Worth finished at 17-over 89.

After 18 holes in the boys 11-12 division, Jake Williams of Miami and Ryder Kenney of North Palm Beach were tied at 7-over 79. Williams would ultimately win in a scorecard playoff with a 39 on the back nine compared to a 40 for Kenney.

Laura Monsalve of Miami finished her round at 6-over 78, the lowest score across any age division, winning the girls 11-12 division. Coming in second, Yool Her of Pembroke Pines finished at 13-over 85 claiming second place in a scorecard playoff.

Chris Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens concluded play at 9-over 81, enough to win the boys 9-10 division. In second place, Jack Zejda of Naples finished at 13-over 85.

The Prep Tour Championship was an invite-only tournament, hosting the best 58 players from the Prep Tour this season. Thank you to all of our players and parents for making this a great season and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

Sandridge Golf Club Hosts Weekend Junior Tour Event

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMT

November 1st 2021 - Vero Beach, Fl - Raines Holmes of Vero Beach claimed first place honors in the boys 13-18 division while Gabriella Albert of Delray Beach won the girls 13-18 division Sunday in a South Florida PGA Junior Tour Event hosted at Sandridge Golf Club.

Holmes took home the title in the boys 13-18 division, concluding the 36-hole event at even-par, 71-73–144. Holmes edged off runner-up finisher Jack Martin of Palm Beach by one stroke. Martin handed in scorecards of 73-72–145.

Winning the girls 13-18 division, Gabriella Albert of Delray Beach maintained the lead over both rounds wrapping play at 2-over, 75-71–145. Jonna Hubbs of Palm Beach Gardens took home second place honors in a scorecard playoff.

Finishing with the lowest two round total at 3-under and winning the boys 11-12 division, Jude Desmond of Pompano Beach turned in scorecards of 71-70–141. Leah Gram of Jupiter won the girls 11-12 division, finishing at 22-over, 89-77–166.

The two-day, 36-hole event consisted of 66 boys and girls from both the Challenge and Champion tours.

Thank you to everyone who participated, and thank you Sandridge Golf Club for having us.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Alum TJ Vogel Advances to Final Stage of Korn Ferry Q-School

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

October 27th 2021 - Tj Vogel, a South Florida PGA Junior Tour alum has advanced to the final stage of Korn Ferry Tour Q-School, scheduled to be played November 4-7 at The Landings Club in Savannah, Georgia.

Vogel qualified through the second-stage, October 19-22 at Plantation Preserve Golf Club in Plantation, Florida, with a four-day total of 15-under 269, placing him in a tie for fourth, six strokes clear of the cut line to advance.

Vogel was coined the name, "Monday Qualifying Legend" by Golf Digest or "Best PGA TOUR Monday Qualifier in the World" by Golf.com, as his journey to earn his PGA TOUR card has crossed many different Monday Qualifying sites. During the 2018 season alone, Vogel Monday-qualified to play in eight PGA Tour events.

In 2012, Vogel won the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship which earned him a special exemption into the 2013 Masters.

After competing on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour in 2004, Vogel was a standout player at the University of Florida, ranking fifth all-time in Gator history for career stroke average at 72.0.

In addition to playing on the SFPGA Junior Tour, he is the son of South Florida PGA Professional, Joe Vogel, the Head Women's Golf Coach at Florida International University in Miami.

Best of luck as you continue your journey TJ!

Hammock Creek Golf Club Hosts South Florida PGA Prep Tour Event

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

October 24th 2021 - Palm City, Fl - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour teed it up Sunday at Hammock Creek Golf Club for a Prep Tour event, featuring 71 players.

Sebastian Ayala finished first place in the boys 13-18 division at 1-under 71. Ayala kept a steady scorecard all round with only one bogey combined with two birdies. Winning the girls 13-18 division, Dounia Bezzari of Vero Beach wrapped play at seven-over 79.

In the 11-12 division, Carson Lowe of West Palm Beach claimed first place honors for the boys side with a 2-over 74 final score while Catherine Andino of Boca Raton took the title in the girls side at 2-over 74.

Matching the lowest final score of the day at one-under 71, William Richards of Miami won the boys 9-10 division by two strokes. Richards dropped five birdies on the day.

Thank you to everyone who participated and thank you Hammock Creek Golf Club for hosting.

For more information on the South Florida PGA Junior Tours, please visit the South Florida PGA Junior Tour website at www.sfpgajuniorgolf.com.

The Club at Weston Hills Hosts South Florida PGA Prep Tour Event

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

October 17th 2021 - Weston, Fl - Yesterday, 64 South Florida PGA Junior Tour players took part in a one day, 18-hole Prep Tour event at The Club at Weston Hills.

Ethan Hyman of Plantation took home first place honors in the boys 13-18 division after signing a 5-over, 77 card. Winning the girls 13-18 division, Shanique Smith of Greenacres concluded play at 8-over, 80.

In the 11-12 age division, Patrick Shawger of Singer Island finished first on the boys side at 2-over, 74. Winning the girls' side, Laura Monsalve of Miami wrapped up play at 4-over, 76.

Carding the lowest round of the day for any age division at even-par, 72, Jack Zejda of Naples claimed first place in the boys 9-10 division. Zejda kept a consistent score card with only two bogeys to go along with two birdies.

Thank you to everyone who participated and thank you to The Club at Weston Hills for having us.

Indian Spring Country Club Hosts Weekend Junior Event

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

October 10th 2021 - Boynton Beach, Fl - Hubert Ramirez of Miami claimed first place honors in the boys 13-18 division after winning in a sudden death playoff Sunday at Indian Spring Country Club for a junior tour event hosted by the South Florida PGA.

Ramirez started the final round at even-par, four strokes behind the leader. After going 1-under, 71 over the final 18 holes, waiting for the final groups to come in, he found himself at the top of the leaderboard.

Ramirez and Jack Nicoletta of Palm Beach Gardens would go into a sudden-death playoff starting on hole 10. Ramirez would go on to par, good enough to win the trophy. He wrapped up the two rounds at 1-under, 72-71–143.

Winning the girls 13-18 division, Ariana Silva of Fort Lauderdale carded a career low in the final round at 5-under, 67. Her round included only one bogey to go along with four birdies and an eagle. Silva finished the 36-hole-event at 6-under, 71-67–138.

Sarp Gurdogen of Palm Beach Gardens won first place in the boys 11-12 division at 2-under, 73-69–142. Taking home the trophy in the girls 11-12 division, Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point finished at 9-over, 77-76–153.

The two-day, 36-hole-event included 79 juniors competing in four different divisions.

Thank you Indian Spring Country Club for hosting, and thank you Mike McLellan, PGA for all your help. For more information on the South Florida PGA Junior Tours, please visit the South Florida PGA Junior Tour website at www.sfpgajuniorgolf.com.

National Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifier Held at Jack Nicklaus' The Bear's Club

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

October 4th 2021 - It’s not easy to make it to the 2022 Drive, Chip & Putt National Finals, even for those who have made the journey before.

Eight fortunate and talented youngsters earned a trip to Augusta National in Sunday’s DCP Regional Qualifier at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, but the other 88 participants also left with special memories.

How fitting is it when you get an opportunity to earn a trip to Augusta National during a competition at a private club founded by the golfer synonymous with the Masters? Not only has Jack Nicklaus won more green jackets than anyone else (six), he was the oldest to do so (46) and at 81 continues to serve as an honorary starter.

For a glorious day, the future of golf got to experience what Bear’s Club members such as Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger and other game’s greats are treated to every day: Immaculate conditions and the presence of the Golden Bear.

No, Nicklaus was not at the Regional, but his presence was felt as much as the breezy conditions. After each of the eight age-group winners were announced, they were given a South Florida PGA flag with Nicklaus’ signature, creating another are-you-kidding-me moment.

“This is amazing Jack signed this flag for me,” said Paul Ancona of Pace, FL., who won the Boys 12-13. “It’s awesome!”

As much as the game has given Nicklaus, he has given back. Sunday was no different. Four months after a U.S. Open sectional qualifier was held at the Bear’s Club, Nicklaus again put out the welcome mat for the popular DCP program.

“Not only does Jack open the doors to his facility, he makes sure to give something to the winners,” said Geoff Lofstead, executive director of the South Florida PGA, which ran the DCP Regional. “With everything on the line to go to Augusta, Jack wanted them to be here. This is something the kids and their parents will remember the rest of their lives.”

The DCP competitions are usually family affairs, with parents and siblings on hand to support. Angela Nip of Port St. Lucie, FL., took that approach to another level when she won the Girls 14-15 competition to earn her first trip to Augusta – as a contestant.

Angela Nip has been there twice when her older sister Gloria qualified in 2015 and 2018. Now she’s the one who gets to bring her clubs to Augusta National.

“It means a lot to me to follow in my sister’s footsteps,” Angela Nip said. “She told me to stay calm and watch what the other people do. She said to treat it like it’s regular golf.” It’s not, of course. Each players gets only three drives, three chips and three putts. A tiny mistake or a lack of focus can end their chances quickly. Among those who survived the pressure were three Georgia residents: Lyla Hawker of Fort Gordon, GA., won Girls 7-9, Zane Madison of Fort Evans, GA., won Boys 7-9 and Trace Carter of Blackshear, GA., captured Boys 14-15.

“My drive won’t be as far, luckily,” said Hawker, who lives a mere 15 minutes from Augusta National.

The other winners were Angelina Pacheco of Orlando in Girls 12-13, Emma Kate Rice of Mountain Brook, AL., and Jeremy Castellanos of Windermere, FL., in the Boys 10-11.

Four players were hoping to earn a return trip to the DCP National Finals, including Tampa’s Elysee Meerdink, who won the Girls 10-11 this year. But golf is a game of inches; Meerdink finished second to Pacheco by 4 points – the difference a Meerdink drive that finished off the grid by less than a foot.

Ryan Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens was trying to make it to his third finals, but finished third in Boys 10-11 to Castellanos. Nana Tanke was obviously disappointed, but tried to remain upbeat afterward.

“It’s fine because you can’t win every single time,” Nana Tanke said. “Next year I’m going to come back and try to qualify again.”

Naples resident Braden Miller, who made it to the 2017 finals, finished second to Carter. And 2019 finalist Beka Yang of Sylvania, OH., tied for eighth in Girls 12-13.

It’s difficult to make it to the DCP Finals once, much less make it back. But they’ll always have those memories.

Crown Colony Golf and Country Club Hosts South Florida PGA West Coast High School Championship

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT

October 2nd 2021 - Fort Myers, Florida - After two days and 36 holes of golf for the South Florida PGA West Coast High School Championship hosted at Crown Colony Golf and Country Club, Christopher Columbus High School took home the boys team title while Westlake Prep finished first in the girls division.

Christopher Columbus High School jumped out to an early lead as a team with a tournament low, 2-under-par round one followed by a 7-over final round to win the title by 15 strokes. They wrapped play at 5-over-par, 286-295-581.

Claiming the boys individual title, Noah Kent of Gulf Coast High School finished at 3-under-par, 69-72-141. Kent found success both days on the back nine, carding five birdies with zero bogeys over the two rounds.

Winning the girls team title, Westlake Prep finished at 30-over-par, 304-302-606. Leading the way for the Bulldogs, Sofia Cherif Essakali signed back-to-back cards of 1-over-par 73.

Before a girls individual champion could be named, a playoff was necessary as three players were tied at 2-over-par. Jordan Knox of Fort Myers High School, Angela Nip of The Sagemont School and Essakil teed it up in a sudden-death playoff where Nip would eventually claim the title. She wrapped play after two rounds at 2-over-par, 74-72-146.

The championship hosted 11 schools from the South Florida area with a total 76 competitors. Thank you Crown Colony Golf and Country Club for being a great host.

For more information on the South Florida PGA Junior Tours, please visit the South Florida PGA Junior Tour website at www.sfpgajuniorgolf.com.

South Florida PGA Hosts East Coast High School Championship at Boca West Country Club

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

September 24th 2021 - Boca Raton, Florida - Vero Beach High School finished first in the Boys division while St. Andrews High School claimed first place honors in the girls division after weather impacted two days at the South Florida PGA East Coast High School Championship hosted at Boca West Country Club (Fazio II course).

Finishing at 2-under-par, 282 as a team after only 18 holes, Vero Beach High School won the boys division by nine strokes. James Hassel led the for Vero Beach turning in the lowest score card of the tournament at 5-under-par, 66. He carded five birdies with no bogeys en route to taking home the individual boys trophy.

St. Andrews High School wrapped play at 15-over-par, 293-290-583, finishing first place in the girls division. St. Andrews played their best golf throughout round two at 6-over-par, the lowest round for any girls team over two days.

At the end of 36 holes, Amelie Alcantara of St. Andrews High School and Sodia Cherif Essakali of West Lake Prep both finished at even-par, forcing a sudden death playoff. After both girls made par on the first playoff hole, number 18, Alcantar would go onto win in the second playoff hole, number 10 with a par. She finished with rounds of 72-72-142.

Round one was cut short for the girls afternoon wave Thursday because of lighting, making the final round start later than anticipated. With weather affecting the final round, the boys were not able to finish the round, only allowing their first 18 holes to count in scoring. Fortunately, because the girls had the morning wave, they were all able to finish 36 holes.

The event hosted 16 schools from the South Florida area with a total of 114 competitors.

For more information on the South Florida PGA Junior Tours, please visit the South Florida PGA Junior Tour website at www.sfpgajuniorgolf.com.

Prep Tour Takes Fairwinds Golf Course in Fort Pierce

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

September 20th 2021 Fort Pierce, FL- On Sunday, 58 South Florida PGA Junior Tour players teed it up for a Prep Tour event hosted at Fairwinds Golf Course in Fort Pierce.

In the boys 13-18 division, winning in a scorecard playoff, Sebastian Ayala of Boca Raton finished at 2-over-par, 74.

Jake Williams of Miami finished first in the boys 11-12 division at 1-over-par, 73, leading the field by five strokes.

Claiming the boys 9-10 division, William Richards of Miami signed for the lowest round score of the tournament at 1-under-par, 71. Richards fired off five birdies on the day.

In the girls 13-18 division, Dounia Bezzari of Vero Beach took home first place honors with a final score of 4-over-par, 76. Her round included a 1-under front nine score.

Laura Monsalve of Miami placed first in the girls 11-12 division at 4-over-par, 76.

Mayacoo Lakes Country Club Hosts Weekend Junior Event

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

West Palm Beach, Florida - Alexander Weinberg of Palm Beach Gardens claims the overall boys division title while Valentina Hurtado of Weston took home first place honors in the overall girls division at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club. The Junior Tour event featured Championship and Challenge Tour players.

Weinberg carded the lowest final round at 4-under-par, 67 to force a playoff with Elijah Zammarron of Sunrise. Weinberg would go onto birdie hole 18 in a sudden-death playoff to claim the title.

Weinberg signed cards of 71-67-138, which included nine birdies over 36 holes.

In the girls division, Hurtado finished the two-day, 36-hole event at 2-over par, handing in scorecards of 72-72-144. She would finish five strokes better than runner-up Skylee Shin of Doral. Shin wrapped up play at 7-over-par, 78-71-149, finishing runner-up in a scorecard playoff.

Winning the boys 11-12 division, Jaden Peterson of Port St. Lucie concluded play at 3-over-par, 71-74-145. Peterson led the division in birdies with seven. In second place, winning in a scorecard playoff, Cooper Foegan of Hobe Sound, finished at 8-over-par, 79-71-150.

The 36-hole-event consisted of 80 players from both the Championship and Challenge Tour.

A special thanks to Mayacoo Lakes Country Club for hosting and thank you to head pro, Alastair Mackenzie, PGA for all the help.

Alexander Weinberg and Jack Quinn Card Career Low Rounds at PGA Golf Club

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

As the Junior Tour approaches the end of the season, registration for the remaining events has opened up to all Challenge and Championship Tour players. PGA Golf Club in Port. St. Lucie hosted our juniors this weekend and it was a weekend to go low.

Alexander Weinberg of Palm Beach Gardens claimed the boys 13-18 division title on Sunday after shooting a career-low 65 on the Ryder Course to finish the tournament at four-under-par. Weinberg’s two rounds saw 10 birdies, including four straight birdies on the back during his second round. Jack Quinn of Palm Beach Gardens finished two strokes behind Weinberg. Quinn also had a career-low round of 68 on Sunday.

Bringing home the win in the girls 13-18 division was Katherine Schaefer of Hollywood with rounds of 74 and 69 to finish one-over. Schaefer carded two straight birdies on the back during her second round and kept her scorecard bogey-free. Abigail Smith of Port. St. Lucie edged out Zoe Shamy of Jupiter in a scorecard playoff to earn a second-place finish. Smith went 72-75 to finish five-over-par.

Brooks Colton of Riviera Beach won the boys 11-12 division after a two-day total of 138 with rounds of 71 and 67. Colton carded six birdies during his two rounds. Nicholas Brown of Sarasota won the scorecard playoff against Sarp Gurdogan of Palm Beach Gardens to claim a second-place finish with a two-day total of 142. This marks a first-time second-place finish for Brown.

Leah Gram of Jupiter took home the win in the girls 11-12 division with rounds of 88 and 81. Gram’s highlight came from her birdie on the 18th hole during Sunday’s round. Avery Deal of Naples finished second with back-to-back rounds of 88.

The shot of the weekend comes from Marley Pedrique of Palm Beach Gardens with an ace on the fifth hole on Saturday. Congratulations, Marley!

Gabriella Albert, Pavel Tsar Win South Florida PGA Junior Labor Day Classic

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT

By CRAIG DOLCH

Special to South Florida PGA

WEST PALM BEACH – Gabriella Albert birdied three of her last five holes Monday to win the girls title in the Labor Day Classic, a South Florida PGA junior major at PGA National-Estates.

Albert’s fast finish enabled her to shoot 2-under 70 and post 2-over 218, a stroke ahead of second-round leader Lucia Ramirez (72-219) of Miami. It was Albert’s first junior major title.

“I have been having trouble finishing tournaments, but I reached a par-5 (15th) in two shots and almost made the eagle,” said Albert, a freshman at St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton. “Something changed after that with my emotions. The shots just fell into place."

“It hasn’t even sunk in yet. I was crying on the 18th green because I didn’t know I had won until one of my playing partners told me. I had no idea this moment would finally come.”

Pavel Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens won the boys title with bookend 67s to finish at 12-under 204. Tsar won by four shots over Mateo Desmond (68-208) of Pompano Beach.

Jason Shwartz of Wellington fired a 65 to finish third at 7-under 209. Sam Brown was fourth (71-214).

In the girls, Addison Klonowski (75-220) of Naples was third, Angelina Marie Guertin (72-222) of Boynton Beach was fourth.

The Labor Day Classic is run by the South Florida PGA and Presented by the Honda Classic. Supporting partners are Don Law Golf Academy, Titleist, The Fun Group at Mirasol, Junior Golf Hub, Tee Times News, Loyal Auto Broker, OGIO, TimberTech Championship, Biolyte, FGCU, ASM Scholarships and First Tee-Florida Gold Coast.

Drive, Chip and Putt Subregionals Conclude; Players Advance to Regional Qualifier at The Bear's Club

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

August 29th 2021 - The Drive, Chip and Putt Subregional Qualifiers have concluded for the season here in south Florida and players are one step closer to competing on the big stage at Augusta National. The top two participants in each age division have advanced on to the Regional Qualifier set to take place on October 3 at The Bear’s Club.

The first of the two Subregionals took place at Old Collier Golf Club in Naples on August 21. Congratulations to the top two players in each division who will be moving on to the regional qualifier:

Girls 7-9: Bella Simoes (98) and Karina Marie Gonzalez (76)

Girls 10-11: Kinley Mills (94) and Alexandra Lohuis (79)

Girls 12-13: Elyse Meerdink (136) and Krishny Elwin (128)

Girls 14-15: Jamie Lowry (117) and Gia Culler Guerra (114)

Boys 7-9: Cameron Middleton (104) and Luke Williams (85)

Boys 10-11: Axel Monssoh (130) and Jack Zejda (117)

Boys 12-13: Patrick Pinkey (117) and Kaden Latreille (112)

Boys 14-15: Braden Miller (124) and Luis Cortes (124)

The second Subregional Qualifier took place at Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens on August 28. Congratulations to the top two players in each division who will be moving on to the regional qualifier:

Girls 7-9: Alyna Yensabai (132) and Gemma Hughes (110)

Girls 10-11: Leah Gram (130) and Grace Carter (122)

Girls 12-13: Callie Nelson (141) and Fernanda Carrion (139)

Girls 14-15: Margaret Luce (158) and Kierra Williams (140)

Boys 7-9: Jake McMillan (139) and Gavin Dornevil (131)

Boys 10-11: Ryan Nana Tanke (150) and Dallas Duffie (142)

Boys 12-13: Cooper Foegen (154) and Ryder Kenney (140)

Boys 14-15: Aiden Miller (140) and Colton Smith Nash (133)

Palm Cove Golf Club Hosts Prep Tour Event

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

More than 60 juniors had the opportunity to play Palm Cove Golf Club in Palm City on Sunday in a Prep Tour event.

Johnathan Kim of Boca Raton won the boys 13-18 division with a 75. Kim’s round included two birdies on the front. Taking home the win in the boys 11-12 division was Jake Williams of Miami. Williams shot a 73, including two birdies. William Richards of Miami went three-under-par to win the boys 9-10 division. Richards carded six birdies during his round.

Finishing in first place for the girls 13-18 division was Bruna Carvalho of Boynton Beach with a 79. Carvalho finished her round with two birdies and nine pars. Yool Her of Pembroke Pines went two-under to win the girls 11-12 division by 12 strokes. Her’s round included five birdies, three of which occurred on her final three holes. Olivia Hartman of Palm Beach Gardens shot a 72 to win the girls 9-10 division.

Team Don Law Golf Academy - Summer Wins South Florida PGA Jr. League Section Championship

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Jr. League Section Championship was held on Sunday at Osprey Point Golf Club. This year’s field featured seven teams including two teams in the 9U division and one in the 17U division.

The morning round consisted of nine holes of aggregate stroke play followed by a round of match-play competition in the afternoon.

The Championship Round was a battle between the two teams representing Don Law Golf Academy, Spring and Summer. Each team earned six flags, so it came down to the number of birdies. The Summer team was victorious with 17 birdies made during the final round, while the Spring team made 16.

The 17U team from Plantation Preserve, coached by Nick Pincket, PGA, has advanced to the Regional Finals.

Each Regional competition is made up of four Section Champions from each of the 12 Regions across the country for the 13U and 17U divisions. The 12 Regional champions from the 13U division advance to the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship, which will be held at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., in October.

Thank you to the PGA Professionals Bobby Conway, Don Law, Kenny Leech, Mike Richards, Zack Shriver and Tom O’Brien for coaching these Jr. League teams and continuing to teach golf’s future generation.

Filippo Serra, Vilda Westh Blanc Win South Florida PGA Doral Junior Open

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Doral Junior Open at Trump National Doral Miami produced a first-time SFPGA Junior Tour winner, Filippo Serra, in the boy's overall division, and a second consecutive major champion in the overall girl's division, Vilda Westh Blanc.

Serra of Ponte Vedra, who recently moved to Florida from Switzerland, fired a one-under 69 today on the Doral – Red Tiger course, finishing at three-under for the three-day tournament.

Moving three spots up the leaderboard, avenging a first-round 74, Serra fired six birdies today to hold off Chris Calvani of Palm Beach Gardens and Ryan Lopez of Pembroke Pines who finished at even and one-over for the tournament, respectively.

In the girl's division, Westh Blanc, who recently won the SFPGA Junior Tour Patty Berg Championship two weeks ago, took hold of the lead thanks to a first-round 72 and never let it go.

Westh Blanc followed her even-par round with another 72 today to beat the field by eight strokes, Madison Moman of Palm Beach Gardens finishing at 12-over for the tournament in second place.

Additionally, the boys 11-12 division played 36 holes with Sohan Patel of Weston taking the title after an impressive 69 in the first round. Patel shot 80 the second day to finish at six-over-par, four shots ahead of Jude Desmond of Pompano Beach.

The SFPGA Doral Junior Open is one of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour’s major championships, annually drawing fields of south Florida’s elite junior golfers.

South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour Takes Doral

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour tested their games at Trump National Doral Golf Club, Red Tiger Course this morning for 18 holes of stroke play.

Despite afternoon thunderstorms cutting the day short, over 70 players came out with some age divisions finishing their rounds while others completed less than 18 holes before weather cancelled the event

The Girl’s 13-18 Division finished their full 18 hole rounds with Ana Evora of Miami shooting a 78 to win by one stroke over Dounia Bezzari of Vero Beach

The Boy’s 13-18 Division finished 11 holes with Nicholas Shortal of Coral Gables shooting a 43 to win by two strokes over Joe Smillie of Bradenton

Raejon McKnight of Vero Beach won the Boy’s 11-12 Division with a 72 through 15 holes and Miranda Borges of Miami won the Girl’s 11-12 Division with a 79 after playing the full 18 holes

Lastly, in the Girl’s 9-10 Isabelle Michetti of Naples won with a 93 and William Richards of Miami won with a 52 after 13 holes

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour will be back in action later this week again at Trump National Doral with the Doral Junior Open, one of the SFPGA Junior Tour majors for the Championship and Challenge tours this Wednesday – Friday.

Bent Pine Golf Club Hosts Prep Tour Event

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Our SFPGA Prep Tour players had the opportunity on Tuesday to tee it up at Bent Pine Golf Club.

Nicholas Cecchini of Jupiter took home the boys 13-18 division title after posting a two-over-par 74. Cecchini’s round included three birdies. In the boys 11-12 division, Raejon McKnight of Vero Beach carded an 87 to win by a single stroke. Agustin Bunuel of Miami Springs won the boys 9-10 division with an 88.

Finishing in first place for the girls 13-18 division was Dounia Bezzari of Vero Beach with a 79. Bezzari finished her round with a birdie and 11 pars. Laura Monsalve of Miami took home the girls 11-12 division title with an 81, including a four-hole par streak.

Vilda Westh-Blanc (64), Eman Lim (70) Win Patty Berg Junior Championship

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

By CRAIG DOLCH

Special to South Florida PGA

NAPLES (July 25, 2021) – Vilda Westh-Blanc said it felt like a blackout. The rest of the field at the Patty Berg Junior Championship was rubbing its eyes after she posted an 8-under 64 Sunday to win the girls title by 13 shots.

Westh-Blanc, a 16-year-old who splits her time in Palm Beach Gardens and Tennessee, shot her career-best round at Cypress Lake Golf Club, bettering Saturday’s previous best of a 67.

“It was almost like a blackout,” Westh-Blanc said. “I looked at a putt and I holed it. It’s not something I can explain. It just happened. My mind and my body were completely in synch.”

Eman Lim of Lake Worth shot 2-under 70 to win the boys title by two shots at 2-under 214. Lim birdied his next-to-last hole, the par-3 eighth, and parred the ninth to hold off Michael Bevins (71-216) of Fort Myers, Manuel Cue Vargas (73-216) and Bennett Stone (73-216) of Jupiter.

Westh-Blanc has a diverse background. She is half Swedish and half French. She was born in Morocco, spent time in Cypress and now lives with her family on a boat in Florida. She is home-schooled.

Her game travels. She rebounded from an opening 75 to become the only player in the field to break 70 either day after making 15 birdies in the last 36 holes.

“The difference was putting,” she said. “I even had a four-putt the first day. I had switched to the claw grip and it took a little adjustment."

“I played a lot of golf in 2019, but not much last year. This is my first win of the year, though I can’t remember how many I’ve had in my career. It feels to have this one pay off.”

Sofia Cherif Essakali of Miami was second at 74-219, two ahead of Gabriella Albert (73-221) of Delray Beach.

The Patty Berg is one of the junior majors in the South Florida PGA. The event is named after the LPGA Hall of Famer who was a strong advocate of junior golf and was a co-founding member at Cypress Lake. This year, the golfers were treated to milkshakes after their round.

The Patty Berg Junior Championship is run by the South Florida PGA and the Southwest Florida Junior Golf Association. Supporting partners are the Honda Classic, Don Law Golf Academy, Titleist, The Fun Group at Mirasol, Junior Golf Hub, Tee Times News, Loyal Auto Broker, OGIO, TimberTech Championship, Biolyte, FGCU, ASM Scholarships and First Tee-Florida Gold Coast.

Prep Tour Visits Hammock Bay Golf and Country Club

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Fifty Prep Tour players had the opportunity to tee it up at Hammock Bay Golf and Country Club on Saturday.

Dominic Wirtz of Naples won the boys 13-18 division title after shooting three-over-par today. Wirtz’s round saw three birdies, including back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth hole. In the boys 11-12 division, Frank Muniz of Miami shot a 75 to finish his round at three-over. Muniz finished his round with three birdies. Agustin Bunuel of Miami Springs took home the boys 9-10 division title with an 86, including a birdie on the ninth hole.

Finishing in first place for the girls 13-18 division was Bruna Carvalho of Boynton Beach with a 78. Carvalho carded two birdies during her round. Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point took home the girls 11-12 division title after a one-over-par round, including three birdies. Earning the top spot in the girls 9-10 division was Olivia Hartman of Palm Beach Gardens. Hartman finished her round five-over-par.

Oscar Crowe, Zoe Pinillos Win Brendan Cunningham Junior Open

Sat, 17 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

By CRAIG DOLCH

Special to South Florida PGA

NAPLES – Oscar Crowe played his last five holes in 2-under Friday at Hammock Bay to win the Brendan Cunningham Junior Open for his first South Florida PGA junior major title.

Crowe, a 14-year-old who will be a freshman at Boca High, birdied the 14th and 15th holes and finished with three pars to shoot 1-under 71 and win by a stroke at 3-over 219 over Lorenzo Rodriguez (72) of Miami and Aiden Miller (71) of Palm Beach Gardens.

“I birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th holes the previous day, so I knew I liked those holes,” Crowe said. “I feel kind of in shock. I didn’t think I had the confidence to win up until this point. I wasn’t paired with the leaders, so I just had to stick with my game.”

Zoe Pinillos of Kissimmee shot 71 and won the girls title by nine shots at 1-under 215. The Peru native never trailed after opening with a 2-under 34 on the front nine Wednesday. She made 10 birdies.

“It was difficult at first because I was thinking the worst things: ‘What if someone shoots 7-under?’ But then I just concentrated on my game and I stayed calm,” Pinillos said. “I just tried to hit fairway, green and two putts, no more. One putt, perfect.”

Valentina Hurtado had a 73 and finished second at 8-over 224. Sydney Young (73) of Naples and Zoe Shamy (73) of Jupiter tied for third place at 225.

Formerly known as the South Florida Junior Open, the Brendan Cunningham Junior Open was named after Cunningham, a popular supporter and volunteer of the SFPGA. He died last September. It’s one of eight junior majors on the SFPGA Junior Tour.

The Brendan Cunningham Junior Open is run by the South Florida PGA. Supporting partners are Don Law Golf Academy, Titleist, The Fun Group at Mirasol, Junior Golf Hub, Tee Times News, Loyal Auto Broker, OGIO, TimberTech Championship, Biolyte, FGCU, ASM Scholarships and First Tee-Florida Gold Coast.

Old Marsh Golf Club Hosts Championship Tour Event

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Seventy-seven juniors competed in the Championship Tour event at Old Marsh Golf Club. Players battled a three-hour weather delay on Thursday afternoon but were able to complete all 36 holes.

Chris Calvani of Palm Beach Gardens edged out Chase Cohen of West Palm Beach after a two-hole sudden death playoff in the boys 13-18 division. Calvani went 71-73 to finish the tournament at even par. His two rounds included nine birdies. Cohen’s two rounds saw him seven birdies.

Gabriella Degasperis of Jupiter took home the girls 13-18 division title with a two-day total of one-under-par, including an impressive second round 67. DeGasperis carded four consecutive birdies on holes 2-5. Zoey Iglesias of Port St. Lucie placed second in her final Championship Tour event after finishing one-over-par for the tournament. Iglesias is headed off to Anderson University this fall to begin her collegiate golf journey.

Jaden Peterson of Port St. Lucie won the boys 11-12 division after a two-day total of seven-under-par with rounds of 69 and 68. Peterson finished his second round with three consecutive birdies. Tyler Lilienfeld of Palm City took second place after finishing back-to-back rounds of 70 to go four-under-par.

The shot of the day comes from Matthew Pollak of Jupiter who holed out from 120 yards to make a birdie after a blind second shot location on the fifth hole.

SFPGA Prep Tour Visits Plantation Preserve Golf Course and Club

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA hosted a Prep Tour event on Friday for south Florida’s junior tour players at Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club on Friday, July 2, 2021. Sixty-three Prep Tour players showed up at the event to compete for the first-place spots in their respective divisions.

Joshua Puerta of Miami carded a 78 during his round to win the boys 13-18 division. For the girls 13-18 division, Zoe Papell of Miami Beach took home the medal with a score of 82.

As for the boys 11-12 division, Jake William of Miami secured the win with a 76. Callie Nelson of Palm Beach took home the girls 11-12 division after carding a 75 for the event.

In the boys 9-10 division, Sebastian Betancourt of Weston carded an 82 to win his division title.

Congratulations to everyone who played in this event!

Prep Tour Visits Palm Beach Par 3

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The Prep Tour visited the Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course on Monday morning for the ninth event of the season.

Andrew Crout of Palm Beach Gardens finished first in the boys 13-18 division after carding a six-over-par 60, including three birdies. Talan Wilkes of Jupiter won in a scorecard playoff against Nicholas Cecchini of Jupiter at seven-over-par to finish second in the boys 13-18 division. Taking home the boys 11-12 division title was Lawson Ford of West Palm Beach. Ford’s one-over-par round included two birdies. One stroke behind Ford was Frank Muniz of Miami with a 56. Sebastian Betancourt of Weston finished his round with a 60 to win the boys 9-10 division by two strokes over Agustin Bunuel of Miami Springs.

In the girls 13-18 division, Zoe Papell of Miami Beach edged out fellow competitor Ava DuMond in a scorecard playoff. Papell’s four-over-par round included a highlight birdie on hole 13. Callie Nelson of Palm Beach and Marley Pedrique of Palm Beach Gardens both shot an impressive four-under-par in the girls 11-12 division. Pedrique fired six birdies during her round and finished the back nine with a 24 to slide past Nelson in the scorecard playoff. In the girls 9-10 division, Olivia Hartman of Palm Beach Gardens won her fifth Prep Tour event of the season with a 64 on Monday.

TJ Thompson, Gabriella Gomez Win Nicklaus Junior Championship

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

By CRAIG DOLCH

Special to South Florida PGA

JUPITER – The Nicklaus Junior Championship finished Friday with birdies by the winners.

TJ Thompson of Coral Springs used a hot putter and a clutch finish Friday to win the overall boys title at the Nicklaus Junior Championship. And Gabriella Gomez of Miami birdied the first hole of a playoff to win the girls title over Sofia Cherif Essakali of Miami.

Thompson, a 16-year-old junior at Stoneman Douglas, shot a 4-under 68 at the Bear’s Club to win by two shots over Chase Cohen of West Palm Beach. Thompson played the par-5s in 3-under, including a wedge to tap-in distance at the 18th hole.

“It’s awesome to win Jack’s tournament. It means a lot,” Thompson said. “I felt like I needed to birdie the last hole. After a little mishap off the tee, I hit a great second shot and a wedge close. The flat stick was working both days. I had only 10 putts on the front nine (Thursday at North Palm Beach Country Club). This ranks at the top of what I have accomplished in golf.”

Gomez, a 16-year-old junior at Doral Academy, shot the day’s low round – a 2-under 70 – and then birdied the par-5 18th hole in a playoff for her first career title. She finished about 45 minutes before Cherif Essakali (73) also posted even-par 143.

“I was really nervous. I’m still nervous,” Gomez said. “I’ve never been in this position before. I played better than I thought I would.”

Cohen shot a 69 to finish at 4-under 139. NaShawn Tyson (70) was third at 2-under 141. Sebastian Thrane of Palm Beach shot the low round at North Palm to finish fifth at 2-over 143.

Gabriella Albert of Delray Beach shot 74 and was third at 2-over 145. Hope Hall (75) of Boca Raton was fourth at 5-over 146.

Previous winners of the Nicklaus Junior Championship include four-time major champion Brooks Koepka, Daniel Berger, Chase Koepka, Derek Fathauer and Steve LeBrun.

The Nicklaus Junior Championship is presented by the Honda Classic and run jointly by the South Florida PGA and the Palm Beach County Golf Association. Supporting partners are Don Law Golf Academy, Titleist, The Fun Group at Mirasol, Junior Golf Hub, Tee Times News, Loyal Auto Broker, OGIO, TimberTech Championship, Biolyte, FGCU, ASM Scholarships and First Tee-Florida Gold Coast.

SFPGA Prep Tour Visits Hammock Creek Golf Club

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The junior tour season is in full swing for the summer. Sixty-six Prep Tour players visited Hammock Creek Golf Club on Monday.

Dounia Bezzari of Vero Beach and Sophia Quinones of Coral Springs tied this afternoon after both carding 82 in the girls 13-18 division. Bezzari won in a scorecard playoff to claim her first victory on the Prep Tour. In the girls 11-12 division, Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point went four-under-par to win the division. Balcom’s round included six birdies. Finishing two strokes behind Balcom with a 70 was Marley Pedrique of Palm Beach Gardens. Olivia Hartman of Palm Beach Gardens took home the girls 9-10 division with an 87. This marks Hartman’s fourth first-place finish this season on the Prep Tour.

Taking home first place in the boys 13-18 division was Jacob Kutner of Palm Beach Gardens. Kutner’s round saw two birdies and an eagle on 16 to finish one-over-par. Three strokes behind Kutner was Michael Louis of Palm Beach Gardens who placed second after a scorecard playoff with fellow competitor Sebastian Ayala of Boca Raton. In the boys 11-12 division, Patrick Shawger of Singer Island finished two-over-par to win his first Prep Tour event. Ryder Kenney of North Palm Beach placed second after winning the scorecard playoff against Beau Allen of Fort Pierce at five-over. Sebastian Betancourt of Weston claimed the boys 9-10 division title after carding an 80 today to win his first Prep Tour event. Three strokes behind Betancourt was Agustin Bunuel of Miami Springs to win his first Prep Tour event.

The Road to Augusta National Starts This Weekend With the First South Florida PGA DCP Qualifier

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The first of 10 local Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifiers administered by the South Florida PGA will take place this weekend at Vineyards Country Club in Naples.

Founded in 2013, Drive, Chip and Putt is a joint initiative through the Masters Tournament, the United States Golf Association and the PGA of America to grow the game of golf by offering a free nationwide competition.

Boys and girls, ages 7-15, can sign up and participate in any of the 10 qualifiers throughout south Florida and many others throughout the nation. Contestants compete in the three disciplines of driving, chipping and putting for the chance to advance to Augusta National Golf Club for the national competition, held in advance of the Masters.

Throughout the 10 stops this summer, the South Florida PGA expects to host nearly 1,000 junior golfers. In 2019 (2020 was canceled due to covid-19), five junior golfers from the south Florida area advanced to the national tournament with Elyse Meerdink taking home first place in the Girls 10-11 Division.

For more information on Drive, Chip and Putt and to follow along this summer, click here .

LOCAL QUALIFIERS:

June 19 Vineyards Country Club - Click here for pairings
June 22 Hammock Creek Golf Club
June 29 BallenIsles Country Club
July 11 Osprey Point Golf Course
July 19 Banyan Cay Resort & Club
July 26 Pelican Marsh Golf Club
July 29 Delray Dunes Golf & Country Club
August 3 The Biltmore Golf Course
August 9 Broken Sound - Old Course

SUB-REGIONALS:

August 21 Old Collier Club
August 28 Old Marsh Golf Club

REGIONAL:

October 3 The Bear's Club

Brett White, Nicole Yugay Win South Florida PGA Junior PGA Championship

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

WEST PALM BEACH – Brett White of Fort Lauderdale almost didn’t get to play in the South Florida PGA Junior PGA Championship. He didn’t play well in a qualifying tournament May 22 in Stuart and thought he wouldn’t advance.

But while he was at a Duffy’s restaurant, White looked at his phone and realized he was going to be in a playoff. He rushed back to the course just in time and made it through the 3-for-2 playoff.

White had no such worries Sunday at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club. The 17-year-old shot a 1-under 70 to win the South Florida PGA’s first junior major by five shots over Andres Barraza of Parkland at 3-under 139. White earned a spot in the national Junior PGA Championship (as did Barraza).

“I got the last qualifier spot (in May), but I didn’t think about that,” White said. “I just tried to play my own game. I didn’t make a bogey, but I made a double at the 12 because of a stupid mistake. But I came back and birdied the 13th and the 18th.”

Barraza clinched his spot in the national tournament when he made a 30-foot par putt at the last hole. He shot 73 and finished at 144.

“I was just trying to get it close, so I could two-putt, but it went in,” Barraza said. “During the (rain) delay, I checked and I knew where I stood. I just needed to make pars.”

Nicole Yugay of Delray Beach shot a 1-under 70 to win the girls title by a stroke over Addison Klonowski of Naples. Yugay birdied two of her first four holes and finished at 1-under 141.

“My putting was very average,” Yugay said. “I lipped out a lot of birdie putts, but it’s a big accomplishment. I have been working very hard recently, so it’s very validating.”

Klonowski made six birdies and six bogeys while shooting a pair of 71s. She edged out Kayla Bryant (68-75) for the final spot.

The Boys Junior PGA Championship is July 12-15 at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Ky. The Girls Junior PGA Championship is July 27-30 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.

Previous winners of the South Florida PGA Junior PGA Championship include major champion Lexi Thompson, Jaye Marie Green, Chase Koepka and Andrew Kozan, who qualified for this week’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

The South Florida PGA Junior PGA Championship is Presented by the Honda Classic. Supporting partners are Don Law Golf Academy, Titleist, The Fun Group at Mirasol, Junior Golf Hub, Tee Times News, Loyal Auto Broker, OGIO, TimberTech Championship, Biolyte, FGCU, ASM Scholarships and First Tee-Florida Gold Coast.

Justo and Jenkins Claim Challenge Tour Victory

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Sixty-one junior golfers took to Copperleaf Golf Club this weekend for the sixth Challenge Tour event of the season. Through rain and shine on Sunday resulting in a short weather delay, these players were eager to get back out on the course.

The boys 13-18 division resulted in a tie between Antonio Justo of Miami Shores and Braden Miller of Naples. After a playoff between the two, Justo took home the win. With a total of six birdies during his two rounds, Justo finished the tournament at even-par to win his first Challenge Tour event on Sunday.

With a two-over-par 146 finish, Pearl Jenkins of Naples claimed the girls 13-18 division title. Jenkins’ two rounds saw her six birdies, including back-to-back birdies on holes 4 and 5 on Sunday. This is her first win on the Challenge Tour. Sara Vitasek of Naples placed second with a two-day total of 152.

Ignacio Hurtado of Weston took home the boys 11-12 division title with a one-over-par for the weekend. Hurtado’s second round included back-to-back birdies on the front for a total of five birdies at the tournament. This marks Hurtado’s first win on the Challenge Tour. Finishing behind Hurtado was Liam Ly of Delray Beach with a two-day total of 151.

Avery Deal of Naples claimed the girl’s 11-12 division title with a two-day total of 172. This is Deal’s first win on the Challenge Tour, having previously placed third at last month’s event at Vineyards Country Club.

Prep Tour Visits Vineyards Country Club

Mon, 31 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour hosted a Prep Tour event at Vineyards Country Club in Naples on Sunday.

Pablo Munoz Montes from Key Biscayne won the boys 9-10 division with a two-under-par 70. Montes carded five birdies during his round. In the boys 11-12 division, Lawson Ford of West Palm Beach finished his round at even par, including three birdies. Carson Engelmann of Miami fired an even-par round on Sunday to win the boys 13-18 division. This marks Engelmann’s first win on the Prep Tour.

Earning the top spot in the girls 9-10 division was Olivia Hartman of Palm Beach Gardens. Hartman finished her round four-over-par. Nicole Sardinha of Doral fired a 73 to win the girls 11-12 division, including three straight birdies on the front nine. Summer Pilot of Boca Raton won the girls 13-18 division with a 76. This is Pilot’s third win of the 2021 season on the Prep Tour.

Russell and Nip Win Championship Tour Event at The Champions Club

Mon, 24 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Championship Tour held its fourth tournament of the season at The Champions Club at Summerfield. This weekend’s field featured 73 of south Florida’s top junior players.

Jaden Russell of Miami claimed the boys 13-18 division title after carding a 72-73 to finish one-over for the tournament. His two rounds included seven birdies. This marks Russell’s first win on the Junior Tour since the Winter Kickoff. Jonathan Mourin of Plantation finished one stroke behind Russell.

Gloria Nip of Port St. Lucie secured the girls 13-18 division title with a tournament finish of three-under-par. Nip’s first-round included three birdies and six birdies during her second round. This marks Nip’s lowest 36-hole record. Madison Moman of Palm Beach Gardens had back-to-back even-par rounds to take home second place.

The first round served as a qualifier for the upcoming South Florida Junior PGA Championship. Twelve spots were available for the boys and six spots were open for the girl's division.

Qualifiers:

Boys

Girls

A special thank you to PGA Professional David Ladd at The Champions Club for hosting these juniors this weekend.

The South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour is a series of two-day events at some of South Florida’s premier facilities. Membership is invitation only. Juniors are invited based on the previous year’s Junior Tour scoring average and point standings and current year’s performance prior to session checkpoints.

For the full leaderboard, click here .

Jensen Beach Golf Club Hosts Weekend Challenge Tour Event

Mon, 17 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Seventy-six junior golfers enjoyed two rounds at Jensen Beach Golf Club this weekend for the SFPGA Challenge Tour.

Elijah Zamarron of Sunrise secured the boys 13-18 division title with a two-day total of 151, including eight birdies. This marks back-to-back wins for Zamarron on the Challenge Tour. After carding a 77 during Saturday’s round, Zamarron bounced back with a 74. Maddox Vincent of Draper, Utah finished one stroke behind Zamarron at eight-over.

Madison Lowenstein of Boca Raton won the girls 13-18 division with a two-day total of 156. Lowenstein’s two rounds saw her five birdies, including back-to-back birdies on holes 5 and 6 during Saturday’s round. Five strokes behind Lowenstein was Angela Jiang of Coral Gables.

With a tournament finish of three-under-par, Brooks Colton of Riviera Beach won the boys 11-12 division. Colton carded a total of nine birdies over the two days, seven of which were from Sunday’s round. This marks Colton’s first win on the Challenge Tour. Evan Pena of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico and Sohan Patel of Weston tied for second, with Pena ultimately taking home the title after a scorecard playoff. Pena finished four strokes behind Colton at one-over-par.

Juno Taino of Studio City, Calif. won the girls 11-12 division with a two-day total of 165. Despite being only 10-years-old, Taino showed she has what it takes to compete on the Challenge Tour. This is Taino’s first SFPGA Junior Tour event as well as her first win.

Saturday’s round served as a qualifier for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship. There were five available spots for the boys and a single spot for the girls division.

Click here to view who qualified.

Logan Rohack Selected as 2021 South Florida PGA Foundation Scholarship Recipient

Sat, 15 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Atlantis, FL – Palm Beach Central High School senior and South Florida PGA Junior Tour member Logan Rohack is the 2021 recipient of the South Florida PGA Foundation Scholarship.

The Palm Beach Central High School Salutatorian and Wellington native plans to attend the University of Florida to pursue a degree in finance or accounting.

“I knew the call would only bring good or bad news, so I was very relieved when I found out it was the first one,” said Rohack on receiving the scholarship news.

First distributed in 2017, the South Florida PGA Foundation scholarship supports one high school senior who is connected in any way to the golf community with their future educational endeavors. The SFPGA Foundation Scholarship aims to lessen the financial burden for a student that excels in academics, community service and leadership.

The $20,000 scholarship, which will be distributed in four increments of $5,000, will allow Rohack to spend more time focused on his higher education, rather than worrying about the burdens of financing his degree.

“I am very appreciative that the SFPGA selected me for this scholarship,” explained Rohack. “I am also thankful for all the events they host because without these I wouldn’t have been able to continue playing competitive golf. With the SFPGA Foundation supporting me in college, I am very optimistic of what's to come in these next four years.”

Rohack is the fourth recipient of the SFPGA Foundation Scholarship. This fall, there will be a Foundation Scholar in every college grade level, with Rohack joining a group of students who continue to volunteer their time, lead additional organizations, play golf and work to change lives within their local community.

Rohack is set to graduate from Palm Beach Central High School in June and plans to celebrate with a round of golf. Looking forward to the independence college provides, Rohack plans to enjoy his entire collegiate experience playing golf and giving back to his community.

About the South Florida PGA Foundation Scholarship

The South Florida PGA Foundation Scholarship was created to annually provide one local student with a four-year, $20,000 scholarship to assist with their college education. The recipient is chosen based on their merit in scholarship, community service, leadership and overall representation of self. The student selected to receive the scholarship will receive it in $5,000 increments over the course of four years. To receive funding each year, additional paperwork including a copy of the student’s transcript must be submitted to the SFPGA Foundation to ensure the student is performing at an acceptable level.

About the South Florida PGA Foundation
The South Florida PGA Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded to support the South Florida community, with a focus on junior golf, education, scholarships and charitable gifting. The South Florida PGA Foundation falls under the direction of the South Florida PGA, a not-for-profit organization of over 1,850 men and women PGA Professionals serving as the experts in business and the game of golf.

Junior Tour Players Qualify for South Florida Junior PGA Championship

Tue, 11 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Over the weekend, the SFPGA Junior Tour hosted two qualifiers for the upcoming South Florida Junior PGA Championship in June at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club.

May 8

The following individuals qualified for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship on May 8 at PGA Golf Club. View the full leaderboard.

Boys

TJ Thompson
Dante Moser
Jackson Hiller
Stephen Scott
Raines Holmes
Allan Kournikova
Jack Quinn
Emile Lebrun
Chris Lee
James Earle
Henry Kuehne
Justin King
Sean Richards
Aiden Miller
Ibby Carrington
Tanner Vickers
Rocco Marando

Girls

Addison Klonowski
Gloria Nip
Angela Nip

May 9

The following individuals qualified for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship on May 9 at Boca Country Club. View the full leaderboard.

BoyRene Nicolas
Harrison Delisle
Jake Valentine
Hans Risvaer
Justin Ross
Ruan de Villiers
Sebastian Barcia
Eric Nguyen
Corbin Scott
Jake Manelas
Jack Cole
Hugo Stenstrom
Andres Barraza
Poonyapat Nantsupawat
Daniel Enrique Vanososte
Antonio Justo
Dragon Kim
Jack Kantowski

Girls

Kayla Bryant
Nicole Yugay
Alessandra Lorenz
Jennifer Lilly
Cynthia Liu
Valentina Marie Guertin

SFPGA Prep Tour Visits PGA National Fazio Course

Mon, 10 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA hosted a Prep Tour event on Sunday for South Florida’s junior tour featuring players from all over south Florida who came to compete at PGA National Fazio Course. During this Prep Tour event, junior golfers ranging in ages from 9 to 13 played in their respective division with hopes to secure the top spots in each category.

Robert Zyskowski of Westport, CT captured the low spot in the boys 13-18 division after carding an 80 during the tournament. In the girls 13-18 division, Kate Khvorostiana of Miami, FL took home the first place medal with a score of 79.

As for the boys 11-12 division, John Muniz of Miami, FL secured the win with a 77. Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point, FL took home the girls 11-12 division after carding an 81.

In the boys 9-10 division, Gordon Nip of Port St. Lucie, FL carded a 79 to win and Olivia Hartman of Palm Beach Gardens, FL secured the girls 9-10 division with an 86.

A Weekend on Florida's West Coast for the Challenge Tour

Mon, 03 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Challenge Tour players visited Vineyards Country Club for a two-day event on the North Course. Perfect weather and course conditions made for some low rounds from these juniors.

Elijah Zamarron of Sunrise won the boys 13-18 division with an impressive seven-under-par victory. Rounds of 71 and 66 for Zamarron included 11 birdies and a bogey-free back nine during his second round. Lorenzo Rodriguez of Miami and Aiden Arce of Davie finished three-under-par for the tournament, with Rodriguez winning the tiebreak and ultimately taking home a second-place finish. Rodriguez closed out Sunday’s round with an eagle on 18.

Angela Jiang of Coral Gables won the girls 13-18 division with a two-day total of 145 to go one-over-par for the tournament. Jiang carded six birdies during her two rounds. Jamie Lowry of Fort Myers finished three strokes behind Jiang to place second at the tournament. Lowry’s round saw her four birdies.

Sohan Patel of Weston had back-to-back impressive rounds, 68-69, this weekend to win the boys 11-12 division. Patel carded 11 birdies during his two rounds, including four straight birdies to open Sunday’s round. Finishing three strokes behind Patel was Jaden Peterson of Port St. Lucie with a total of six birdies for the weekend.

Nine-year-old Alexandra Phung of Forest Hills, N.Y. claimed the girls 11-12 division title with a two-day total of 160. Fernanda Carrion of Coral Gables finished three strokes behind Phung with 83-80 rounds.

Saturday’s round served as a qualifier for the South Florida Junior PGA Championship. The top five boys and girls from the 13-18 division qualified for the event on June 12-13 at Boca West Country Club.

Qualified (Boys)

Qualified (Girls)

Aiden Arce Earns Challenge Tour Victory After Sudden Death Playoff

Mon, 26 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Challenge Tour hit the links this weekend at Pointe West in Vero Beach.

The Boy’s 13-18 Division saw an exciting finish with a sudden playoff determining the overall winner. After 36 holes, Aiden Arce and Maddox Vincent were tied atop the leaderboard at four-over par (148). Arce walked away with the title after winning on the first playoff hole.

In the Girl’s 13-18 Division, Bianca Gibbs of Coral Springs edged out the field by three strokes with rounds of 76 and 78.

Jude Desmond of Pompano Beach fired a two-day total at five-under par to take home the overall Boy’s 11-12 Division. Desmond’s five birdies in round one helped pace him to an opening 69 before closing with a 70 on Sunday. Jaden Peterson of Port St. Lucie claimed second place after going two-over for the tournament.

Stephanie Weinberg of Palm Beach Gardens carded two rounds of 80 to win the Girls 11-12 Division.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is presented by the Honda Classic and will be back in action with another Challenge Tour next weekend in Naples at Vineyards Country Club.

Boone and Borovilos Win Third Championship Tour Event

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Championship Tour held its third tournament of the season at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne. This weekend’s field featured 47 of south Florida’s top junior players.

Graham Boone of Naples claimed the boys 13-18 division title after carding a 72-74, 146. His two-over-par finish included seven birdies during his two rounds. This is Boone’s first win on the Championship Tour. Bennett Stone of Jupiter finished two strokes behind Boone after carding back-to-back rounds of 74.

Vanessa Borovilos of Toronto secured the girls 13-18 division title. Borovilos’ two-day score of two-over-par, 146, saw her hole eight birdies. After carding a 74 during her first round, Borovilos came back on day two to card an even round on Sunday. This marks her first win on the Junior Tour. Angela Nip of Port St. Lucie finished three strokes behind Borovilos to earn second place, with a total of four birdies for the weekend.

Boone and Borovilos will each be receiving four AJGA stars for their win as well as the top 10% of the boys and girls divisions will each receive one star.

A special thank you to PGA Professionals Shane Warriner and Marty Caifano at Crandon Golf for hosting these juniors this weekend.

SFPGA Junior Tour Hosts Back-to-Back Prep Tour Events

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour wrapped up another weekend of events after hosting two Prep Tour tournaments in the south Florida area.

On Saturday, the Prep Tour visited Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach, where 60 junior golfers competed in a one-day 18-hole event.

Winning the boys 9-10 division, Axel Monssoh from Miami took the first-place spot after putting up an impressive one-under-par 71 during the event. In the boys 11-12 division, Jonah Fernandez of Miami Shores finished at the top of his division with a total score of 79. Talan Wilkes, from Jupiter, took home the first-place medal in the boys 13-18 division after shooting 80 at the event.

Earning the top spot in the girls 9-10 division, Leah Gram of Jupiter finished the event with a score of 85. Sophia Coronel from Miami, won the girls 11-12 division with a score of 87 and winning the girls 13-18 division was Summer Pilot of Boca Raton with a 67 through 15 holes.

On Sunday, Indian Spring Country Club in Boynton Beach hosted 71 junior tour players on their East Course. The strong wind conditions put these player’s skills to the ultimate test.

Monssoh carded another impressive four-under-par 68 on Sunday to win the boys 9-10 division. Finishing in first place for the boys 11-12 division was Ryder Kenney of North Palm Beach with a score of 78. Andrew Crout of Palm Beach Gardens won the boys 13-18 division after carding a 78.

In the girls 9-10 division, Olivia Hartman of Palm Beach Gardens finished the day with a 77. Catherine Andino of Boca Raton won the girls 11-12 after a scorecard playoff against Morgan Cole of Boca Raton. Andino carded a 79 with a total of two birdies. Pilot went back-to-back to win Sunday’s event with a 76, including a hole-in-one on the 13th.

2021 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals Returned to Augusta

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMT

On April 4th, 80 boys and girls in eight divisions competed in the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. Five of these players qualified for this national event through the south Florida DCP circuit.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour annually operates sub-regional and regional qualifying events to give juniors across south Florida the chance to earn their way to Augusta National.

Congratulations to Elijah Zamarron, Ryan Nana Tanke, Morgan Rodriguez, Elyse Meerdink and Reese McMillan who qualified for the National Drive, Chip and Putt finals. We are so proud of all of you.

Results

Boys 14-15

Elijah Zamarron - T5 finish

Drive- 5
Chip- 10
Putt- 1

Boys 7-9

Ryan Nana Tanke - 3rd place finish

Drive- 10
Chip- 5
Putt- 3.5

Girls 12-13

Morgan Rodriguez - T8 finish

Drive- 5
Chip- 1
Putt- 6

Girls 10-11

Elyse Meerdink - 1st place finish

Drive- 8
Chip- 10
Putt- 3.5

Girls 7-9

Reese McMillan - 9th place finish

Drive- 1
Chip- 6
Putt- 1

Crane Watch at Evergreen Hosts Second Challenge Tour Event of the Season

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Eighty SFPGA Challenge Tour players took to Crane Watch at Evergreen this weekend for another two-day event.

Wylie Inman of North Palm Beach and Andrew Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens were tied at even-par after round one. Aided by three birdies, Inman posted an even-par second round to win the boys 13-18 division. Finishing six strokes behind Inman was Aiden Arce of Davie. After a tough first round, Arce fought back to card an even-par second round.

Sofia Cherif Essakali of Miami claimed the girls 13-18 division after carding a 73 and a 75 to go four-over for the tournament. In second, Christiana Lee Marcellus recorded a six-over 152 with three total birdies.

Cooper Foegen of Hobe Sound won the boys 11-12 division after shooting an impressive two-day total of 139 to go five-under-par. Foegen carded a total of 10 birdies, seven of which occurred during his first round. Following Foegen for a second-place finish was Jessy Huebner of Port St. Lucie. Huebner shot three-under for the tournament with 141 total strokes and carded five birdies over the two days of play.

Inside the ropes with Gabe Prissert at The Honda Classic

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, SFPGA Junior Tour player Gabe Prissert had the opportunity to caddie at The Honda Classic Pro-Am. As presenting sponsor of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, The Honda Classic provided juniors with the chance to caddie for a player during Wednesday’s Pro-Am round.

“I was so lucky to be paired with a really fun and kind amateur. It was a beautiful day and we had a blast with each other and all the other players and caddies! Being so close and interacting with pros Beau Hossler and Maverick McNealy was just thrilling! Thank you South Florida PGA Junior Tour for this amazing opportunity,” said Prissert.

The Honda Classic is taking place March 18-21 at PGA National. Tickets are still available for the event. Click here to learn more .

Matsui and Plenge Win Second Championship Tour Event

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 23:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Championship Tour held its second tournament of the season at Jensen Beach Golf Club, formerly Eagle Marsh, this past weekend. This marks the first junior tournament held at Jensen Beach.

With sunny skies all weekend, Erik Plenge of Royal Palm Beach took home the boys division title, his first win on the SFPGA Championship Tour. Plenge carded nine birdies, two of which were back-to-back on his first two holes on Saturday, to finish one-under-par for the tournament. Jack Dunham of Tarpon Springs finished four strokes behind Plenge at three-over-par. Dunham carded a total of 10 birdies this weekend but it wasn't quite enough to beat out Plenge.

Hina Matsui of Port St. Lucie claimed the girls division title. Matsui’s two-day score of 2-under, 142, saw her hole nine birdies. Six of those were carded during her second round to go three-under-par on Sunday. This is Matsui’s first win on the Junior Tour since her win at the South Florida Junior Open in 2019. Ariana Silva of Fort Lauderdale finished four strokes behind Matsui. Silva’s scorecard saw three birdies on Saturday and two on Sunday.

Plenge and Matsui will each be receiving four AJGA stars for their win and the top 10% of boys and girls will receive one star.

The South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour is a series of two-day events at some of South Florida’s premier facilities. Membership is invitation only. Juniors are invited based on the previous year’s Junior Tour scoring average and point standings, and current year’s performance prior to session checkpoints.

South Florida PGA Prep Tour Faces Tough Test in Second Event

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Prep Tour held its second event of the season to a sold-out field at Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne, east of Miami on Sunday.

The field of girls and boys ages 9 to 18 battled through a windy day at the course with Thomas Nevico, Sebastian Ayala and Thomas Nevico placing in a tie for first with a score of 83 for the Boy’s 13-18 Division. Nevico, who birdied the first and 18th holes of his round, took home the win after a scorecard playoff
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On the girl’s side, Dariana Breto carded an 83 to win the girl’s overall 13-18 Division. Breto’s round included a birdie on the par-4 ninth hole to go out in 42 and help secure the win. In the girl’s 11-12 Division Alexandra Phung fired a 76 for the low female round of the day and to take her age division. Phung birdied the Par-3 sixth to pace her 38 on the front nine
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In a round that included three birdies, Brendon Gelnaw shot an 80 to win the boy’s 11-12 Division and Gordon Nip fired an impressive 73 for the low overall round of the day and to win the boy’s 9-10 Division. Nip’s round included birdies on holes 1, 3, 9 and 18
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The South Florida PGA Prep Tour is the intermediate tour for junior golfers who are in between the Links and Challenge Tours. The Prep Tour will return to action on April 10th at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach.

Drive, Chip and Putt Registration Now Open

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Drive, Chip and Putt is back! Registration is now open for the upcoming qualifying local season.

Register here

Drive, Chip and Putt is a free youth golf development initiative for junior golfers of all skill and ability levels, aimed at sparking a lifelong interest in the game. The initiative welcomes boys and girls, ages 7-15, to participate in local qualifying events in all 50 states throughout the months of May, June, July and August. Entrants will play in girls’ and boys’ divisions in four age categories, with scoring centered around golf’s three fundamental skills – driving, chipping and putting.

Learn more about the program

Sandridge Golf Club Hosts First Challenge Tour of Season

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Challenge Tour held its first event of the 2021 season to a sold-out field at Sandridge Golf Club this past weekend.

Jack Rosen of Boca Raton took home the boys 13-18 division title with a two-day total of 154. Despite the tough wind conditions, Rosen managed to card three birdies over the weekend. This marks Rosen’s first win on the Challenge Tour. Finishing one stroke behind Rosen was Ryan Miller of Naples. Miller carded back-to-back birdies on his first two holes during Sunday’s round and finished the day with a 75.

Polina Anisimova of Port St. Lucie won the girls 13-18 division with a two-day total of 161. Anisimova carded three birdies and 22 pars over the weekend. Finishing two strokes behind Anisimova was Annika Miller of Vero Beach. Miller carded three birdies and 21 pars for the tournament.

Cooper Foegen of Hobe Sound claimed the boys 11-12 division title after finishing nine-over-par for the weekend. Foegen shot 75 in the first round to set the pace. His round on Saturday included back-to-back birdies. Giuseppe Puebla of Royal Palm Beach finished two strokes behind Foegen with a two-day total of 155. Although Puebla led the division in most pars recorded, it was not quite enough to catch Foegen.

Bianca Gibbs of Coral Springs was the solo participant in the girls 11-12 division this weekend. Gibbs concluded the tournament with a two-day total of 177, including two birdies and 12 pars. This marks Gibbs’ first win on the SFPGA Junior Tour.

Prep Tour Holds First Event of Season at PGA National - Estates Course

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Prep Tour held its first event of the season to a sold-out field at PGA National Estates Course on Sunday.

William Pincek of Parkland carded an 82 on Sunday to beat Talan Wilkes of Jupiter in a scorecard playoff for the boys 13-18 division. Pincek finished with a 39 on the back while Wilkes finished with a 42. Aliya Liberatore of Palm Beach Gardens led the girls 13-18 division with a round of 79 including two birdies on the front nine. Finishing behind Liberatore was Payton Balliet of Naples with an 88.

Lawson Ford of West Palm Beach carded a 77 including an even-par round on the front nine to win the boys 11-12 division. Ryder Kenney of North Palm Beach finished two strokes behind Ford with a 79. Nicole Sardinha of Miramar claimed the girls 11-12 division title with a five-over-par 77. Sardinha accumulated four birdies during her round, two of which were back-to-back. Marley Pedrique of Palm Beach Gardens finished one stroke behind Sardinha with a 78.

Finishing first in the boys 9-10 division was Gordon Nip of Port St. Lucie with a round of 79 with a birdie on 17. One stroke behind Nip was Chris Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens. In the girls 9-10 division, Leah Gram of Jupiter finished the round with an 86 to win four strokes over Sophia Christy of South Barrington, Ill.

Tsar and Umezu Win First Championship Tour Event of Season

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Championship Tour is back and kicked off the tournament schedule at Santa Lucia River Club this past weekend. This 36-hole event featured 64 of south Florida’s top junior players hungry to win the first Championship Tour event of the season.

Pavel Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens took home the boys division title. Tsar had back-to-back even rounds including eight birdies overall. Finishing four strokes behind Tsar were Hans Risvaer of Miami and Jules Gentil of Port St. Lucie. It came down to the final three holes and Gentil had the slight edge over Risvaer to claim the spot. While both Risvaer and Gentil had rounds under par on Sunday, it was not enough to catch Tsar.

Mayumi Umezu of Port St. Lucie claimed the girls division title after finishing three-over-par for her first win on the Championship Tour. Brianna Castaldi of Port St. Lucie and Jordan Fischer of North Fort Myers tied for second at seven-over-par. After comparing their back nine scores from Sunday's round, Fischer had the edge over Castaldi to claim the title.

South Florida PGA Season Begins With 2021 Winter Kickoff

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Junior Tour held its first-ever Winter Kickoff at Indian Spring Country Club this past weekend. The 54-hole event featured 80 of south Florida’s top junior players and marked the first event and major for the 2021 Junior Tour this season.

Leading the boys 13-18 division was Jaden Russell of Miami. Russell finished two-over-par after carding a 72 the first round and then back-to-back 73s. Over the course of the three rounds, Russell accumulated six birdies. One stroke behind Russell was Ibby Carrington of Port St. Lucie. Carrington finished his first round two-over-par before going one-under after his second round, followed by a 74 on Monday.

Addison Klonowski of Naples led the girls 13-18 division. Klonowski started the tournament four-over-par but turned things around during her second round after carding a 69, including six impressive birdies. Klonowski concluded the tournament five-over-par to win the first event of the season. Remi Bacardi of Miami finished second in the division, three strokes behind Klonowski. Bacardi carded five birdies during her final round.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour, Presented by the Honda Classic Kicks off 2021 Season, Member Registration Open

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, presented by the Honda Classic, will begin its 2021 season this weekend with the first-ever SFPGA Junior Tour Winter Kickoff. This 54-hole event at Indian Spring Country Club is currently sold out and will mark the first of over 100 events this year for junior players in south Florida.

The SFPGA Winter Kickoff is one of the major tournaments of the year on the SFPGA schedule, featuring some of the best junior golfers in the area.

Registration for the SFPGA Junior Tour is now open and offers a variety of tours for players of all skill level ages 6-18. The Links, Prep, Challenge and Championship tours provide a journey for young golfers who are just starting out to when they are competitive tournament players and perspective college golfers.

Links Tour – A series of 9-hole events which provides a competitive and fun tournament atmosphere for players to gain stroke play experience and learn the game of golf. This tour is aimed at beginner-level golfers, ages 6-14.

Prep Tour – Players on this tour must have some previous tournament golf experience as it is single day, 18-hole rounds for junior golfers ages 9-18.

Challenge Tour – This is a series of two-day tournaments for junior golfers ages 11-18 at some of south Florida’s premier golf facilities.

Championship Tour – The Championship Tour is an invitational-only tour based on the previous year’s scoring average and point standings. This tour features two or three-day events for juniors ages 13-18.

In addition to these events, the SFPGA Junior Tour schedule also includes PGA Jr. League , the Legends Tour for college students and the return of Drive, Chip and Putt .

To become a member of the tour, junior players register and pay an annual fee of $55, granting them access to all junior tour events they are eligible for as well as a membership kit, complete with a backpack, shirt and other South Florida PGA branded items.

Perspective members and renewing members can click here to register.

About the South Florida PGA Junior Tour

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic provides five levels of golf programming to youth ages 6-23 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at championship courses throughout South Florida.

For more information on the Junior Tour and its respective Championship and Challenge tours, please visit the new South Florida PGA Junior Tour website at www.sfpgajuniorgolf.com .

Alex Heard Raises More Than $3,000 for SFPGA Foundation

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

With more than 50 tournament victories on his resume, SFPGA Junior Tour Member Alex Heard is a stand out on the golf course. Alex started playing tournament golf when he was just six-years-old with the help of his father, Rick Heard, PGA. Starting out on the SFPGA Prep Tour in 2016, Alex quickly jumped through our programs and is now a force on the Championship Tour finishing the 2020 season with three top tens and one win.

Alex has proved that he is a champion on the golf course and off too. Between the years of 2016, 2017, and 2020 Alex has raised over $15,000 for the SFPGA Foundation through the Birdie Club program. The Birdie Club is a pledged based program for our juniors to learn the importance of community outreach through the game of golf. Members of the Birdie Club gather pledges from their friends and family for each birdie that they make throughout the season. All proceeds from the Birdie Club go to the SFPGA Foundation which includes: Junior Golf, Habitat for Humanity, Smiling Fore Life, and PGA Hope.

"The Birdie Club is an opportunity to give back to the community while doing something that I love and am passionate about," said Alex about why he got involved in the program. Alex got involved with giving back to his community at a really young age.

"As you can imagine, we are so proud of him for his charity work, and of course we have encouraged him and helped him along the way," said Rick Heard, PGA on his son's achievements. "He won the Pepsi Little People's Spirit of Giving award in 2016, in part because he donated a new bicycle he won in a raffle while playing in the Doral-Publix Junior Championship… which he won that year."

In addition, Alex has helped his friend and fellow SFPGA Junior Tour Player, Rafe Cochran in his charity work through Food for the Poor. Through Rafe's annual charity golf outing, Alex has helped to raise the funds for and attend the ribbon cutting of two schools in Jamaica for underprivileged children.

The SFPGA Birdie Club has raised over $58,000 for the SFPGA Foundation since its inception in 2008. This year Alex made 48 birdies and raised over $3,000.

"Alex's support of the SFPGA Foundation is important to Diane (wife) and to me as a PGA professional and a past Foundation Board member, knowing how impactful the Foundation has been to the many causes it supports. We truly appreciate the Foundation and its mission and hope to continue supporting it as Alex continues his play in the SFPGA Junior Tour. We love watching him make birdies, knowing that the money being raised is going to those in need."

Nip and Newton Win SFPGA Junior Tour Championship

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Junior Tour completed the final event of the season this Sunday at Banyan Cay Golf Club and Resort. The Junior Tour Championship, presented by The Honda Classic featured 105 of south Florida's top junior golfers.

James Newton of Palm City secured the boy's overall 13-18 division title with a four-under-par 68 today for a two-day total of 140. Newton finished three strokes ahead of fellow competitor Noah Kent of Naples (143).

In the girl's 13-18 division, Gloria Nip of Port St. Lucie won the overall division title after a sudden-death playoff with Ariana Silva of Fort Lauderdale. Nip and Silva were tied at two-over-par (146) going into the playoff. Ultimately, Nip secured a par after the first playoff hole to win the division title.

Tristan Rhodenizer of West Palm Beach carded an impressive first-round score of 64 on Saturday. After a two-day total of 10-under-par, Rhodenizer won the boy's 11-12 division title by one stroke over Jessy Huebner of Port St. Lucie.

The SFPGA Player of the Year recipients were also announced following Sunday's round. After a season-long points race, these awards were given to the top-scoring player in each division for both the Challenge and Championship tours.

Tyler Mistretta of North Palm Beach secured the Championship Tour Boy's 13-18 Player of the Year award with 1,489 points. Mistretta competed in six events this season and won the Doral Junior Open in August. In addition, Mistretta was also awarded the 2020 Honda Classic Most Improved Player award on Saturday.

Jordan Fischer of North Fort Myers won the Championship Tour Girl's 13-18 Player of the Year award with 1,152.5 points. Fischer competed in five events this season, winning four and finishing second in another.

Brett Moore of Hollywood is the 2020 Challenge Tour Boy's 13-18 Player of the Year. Moore earned himself 1,950.5 points throughout the season. Moore's strongest finish was his first-place win at the Monarch Country Club Challenge Tour event.

Gabriella DeGasperis of Jupiter secured the Challenge Tour Girl's 13-18 Player of the Year award with 1,495 points. DeGasperis played in eight events this season and had three wins along with two-second place finishes.

In addition to his win, Rhodenizer secured the Challenge Tour Boy's 11-12 Player of the Year award with 1,893 points. Rhodenizer competed in 11 events this season and finished first in three of those events.

Abigail Halpern of Palm City is the 2020 Challenge Tour Girl's 11-12 Player of the Year. Halpern competed in five events this season. Her two wins and two-second place finishes earned her 880 points.

The SFPGA would like to thank Jared Chipley and the staff at Banyan Cay for hosting the Junior Tour Championship this year. In addition, the season would not be possible without the support of our sponsors at Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Gulf Coast University PGM Program, Junior Golf Hub, Loyal Auto Brokers, Nike Junior Golf Camps, OGIO, The Mirasol Fun Group, The Tee Times, TimberTech Championship, Titleist and most importantly our presenting sponsor, The Honda Classic.

First Tee of Miami Wins PGA Jr. League Section Championship

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

This past weekend, 78 juniors competed in the PGA Jr. League Section Championship at Margate Executive Golf Course.

The first round included an aggregate score competition. Each of the 10 teams were broken up into two-person scrambles where the goal was to shoot the lowest score possible with the top two teams advancing to the championship round.

To score the event, the lowest three scores were taken from each team.

Leaderboard after Round 1:

First Tee of Miami (John Moscoso, PGA): 83*

Tiburon (Tom O'Brien, PGA): 90*

Wellington National Team 1 (Sherri Pla, PGA): 94

Don Law Academy Team 1 (Don Law, PGA): 95

Don Law Academy Team 2 (Don Law, PGA): 101

Abacoa (Dave Pesacov, PGA): 110

Boca Lago Country Club (Billy Ashford, PGA): 110

Wellington National Team 2 (Sherri Pla, PGA): 116

North Palm Beach (Zack Shriver, PGA): 128

PGA National- two teams (Ben Murray, PGA): 75

At the completion of the first round it was The First Tee of Miami and Tiburon Golf Club atop the leaderboard. They then went head-to-head in the final round. The championship round was a traditional PGA Jr. League style match play. After the first three matches, the teams were all square and it all came down to the last group on hole number 9. First Tee of Miami won 7.5 flags and Tiburon won 4.5.

The SFPGA would like to thank Jack Shoenfelt, PGA and his team at Margate Executive Golf Course for hosting the championship event and supporting junior golf.

Thank you for a great 2020 PGA Jr. League Season! We will see you all next year.

Questions? Contact Ellen Breighner at ebreighner@pgahq.com.

Junior Tour Event Held at The Fox Club

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Originally planned as a two-day tournament for 83 juniors, became a one-day round at The Fox Club in Palm City this weekend. Unfortunately, the severe weather shortened play and Sunday's round was canceled.

Despite the weather, all girls divisions and the boys 11-12 division completed 18 holes on Saturday.

Kyrsten Shawah of Boca Raton carded a four-over-par 76 to take home the overall girls 13-18 division title. Shawah completed her round with five birdies.

In the girls 16-18 division, Morgan Herring of Davie took home the title after finishing one stroke ahead of Manuela Herrera of Wellington with an 85.

Angela Nip of Port St. Lucie won the girls 13-15 division with a five-over-par 77. Jamie Lowry of Fort Myers finished in second place with an 84 after a three-way scorecard playoff.

In the boys 11-12 division, Ryan Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens carded a four-over par 76 to win the division by three strokes. Jessy Huebner of Port St. Lucie won in a scorecard playoff against Sarp Gurdogan of Palm Beach Gardens. Huebner carded a 79 on Saturday.

The entire boys 13-18 division did not complete 18 holes, therefore, their competition was canceled altogether.

The SFPGA would like to thank everyone for their patience this past weekend. Thank you for a terrific season and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2021.

SFPGA Junior Tour Player Kelly Shanahan Wins Girls State Title

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Kelly Shanahan sank a 40-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to take medalist honors if the Florida State Golf Tournament (Class 2A) with a two-day total of 140 and helped the American Heritage Girl's Golf Team win the team title as well.

This is the third state title for the girl's team in four years and a state-best ninth overall.

After shooting a 71 in the first round, tied with Sabree Lefebvre, Shanahan shot a 69 in the second round and won the first playoff hole.

"This means everything," Shanahan told the Sun Sentinel. "I worked my butt off for this the last five days. I came up early and did nothing but putt, play the course and put everything into it in getting ready and it paid off."

"It doesn't compare to anything I have ever done before," Shanahan added. "It is the first time I have won a tournament of this size. This is incredible."

The Patriots' Katherine Schafer, another SFPGA Junior Tour player, carded a two-day total of 151 to finish sixth as American Heritage shot 306 the second day to finish at 629 and win by 20 shots over McKeel High School.

Prep Tour Player of the Year Awards Announced

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 00:00:00 GMT

This past Sunday marked the end of the 2020 season for the SFPGA Prep Tour. Seventy two juniors took on the Fazio Course at PGA National Golf Club & Resort for the Prep Tour Championship.

In each age division, Player of the Year trophies were awarded to the top junior player who accumulated the highest number of points throughout the season.

Dax Greenwood of Naples claimed the Player of the Year trophy for the boys 13-18 division. Greenwood competed in 10 events this season with a scoring average of 78.7. With three wins and one runner-up finish, Greenwood earned 1,462.50 points, more than 500 points ahead of Alexander Huddas of North Palm Beach.

In the girls 13-18 division, Zoe Shamy of Jupiter earned 1,825 points to claim the Player of the Year trophy. With a 700 point lead ahead of Amelia Alonso of Fort Myers, Shamy safely secured the honor. Shamy competed in 11 events this season, finishing with five first-place wins and three runner-up positions.

Wylie Inman of North Palm Beach competed in 11 events this season with a scoring average of 72.4 to earn himself the Player of the Year title for the boys 11-12 division. Inman had eight first-place finishes and two runner-up finishes.

In the girls 11-12 division, Keira Ly of Delray Beach claimed the Player of the Year trophy. Ly competed in 11 events and carded a low round of 79 this year. She had two wins and finished runner-up in two events.

Tyler Lilienfeld of Palm City claimed the title for the boys 9-10 division. Lilienfeld competed in 10 events this season with a low round of 71. With three wins and five runner-up finishes, Lilienfeld earned himself 2,075 points.

Danielle Hernandez of Miami took home the girls 9-10 division Player of the Year trophy. Hernandez competed in eight events this season with a low round of 80. The four wins and three runner-up finishes earned her 1,375 points.

Iglesias and Sakchawanpob Win Junior Tour Event at Santa Lucia

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

This past weekend 69 juniors took to the course for the Junior Tour event at Santa Lucia River Club. Players endured tough wind conditions both days on top of a challenging course layout.

Natthawat Sakchawanpob of Boca Raton carded rounds of 72 and 75 to win the overall boys 13-18 division title by one stroke over fellow competitors Chris Calvani and Tomy Jaunet. Sakchawanpob posted three birdies during his two rounds. In the overall girls 13-18 division, Zoey Iglesias of Port St. Lucie took home the win with an eight-over-par. This is a first-time win on the SFPGA Junior Tour for Iglesias. Iglesias was the only competitor to break even during the tournament carding a 71, one-under-par round on the second day.

Tomy Jaunet of Port St. Lucie won the boys 16-18 division title in a scorecard playoff against Calvani. Jaunet carded three birdies in his first round. Mayumi Umezu of Port St. Lucie concluded the tournament with rounds of 80-79 to win the girls 16-18 division title.

Matthew Golovanov of Boca Raton took home the boys 13-15 division title after a scorecard playoff with Sam Brown. Golovanov and Brown tied with a total of five-over-par but it came down to the final six holes for these two. In the girls 13-15 division, Ariana Silva of Fort Lauderdale carded rounds of 77-79, four strokes ahead of Sabrina Kim.

Sagemont and Sarasota Riverview Win South Florida PGA West Coast High School Championship

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour held its first High School Championship on the west coast this past weekend. The two-day tournament hosted 11 high school teams, competing in 36-holes of stroke play at Crown Colony Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers.

In first place for the girl's division was The Sagemont School led by a three-under par from Ariana Silva. Sagemont also won our east coast championship on September 26. The team safely secured the win after going only five-over-par including 11 birdies and two eagles.Finishing in second for the girl's division was Bishop Verot Catholic.

In the boy's division, Sarasota Riverview took home the championship title. As a team, Sarasota Riverview carded five birdies and an eagle during the tournament as well as three consecutive birdies on holes 5-7 during round two. In second place for the boy's division, Gulf Coast High School and Bishop Verot Catholic tied for the title finishing five strokes behind Sarasota Riverview.

We would like to recognize high school coaches Alex Falls, PGA (Gulf Coast High School-Girls), Jeff Nixon, PGA and Bobby Conway, PGA (Bishop Verot Catholic-Girls) and Andy Scott, PGA (Bishop Verot Catholic-Boys) who also serve as SFPGA Professionals

Oxbridge Academy and Sagemont Take Home South Florida PGA High School Championship

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Layla Pedrique, an eighth-grader, fired an 8-under 63 at Indian Spring Country Club to lead The Sagemont School as the Lions captured the South Florida PGA High School Championship in the female division.

After the first round of competitions was canceled due to thunderstorms, the teams came out on Saturday for 18 holes of competitions. Pedrique did not waste any time getting her day started, with birdies on her first three holes to pace her low round for the day.

Finishing in second for the girl's division was Archbishop McCarthy who was led by a three-over 74 from Jennifer Lily.

In the boy's division, Oxbridge Academy came out on top after a team playoff with The Benjamin School. Birdies by Tyler Stachkunas (73) and Dante Moser (72) in the playoff helped Oxbridge hold off The Benjamin School.

Overall 20 schools came out to compete in the 2020 SFPGA High School Championship, 14 boys and six girls.

SFPGA Challenge Tour Heads to West Coast

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

This weekend the SFPGA hosted a Challenge Tour event at Copperleaf Golf Club. Despite a suspended second round of play on Sunday, these juniors still made the most of the event.

Tyler Stamerro of Naples and Graham Boone of Naples both carded a 70 on Saturday to share the overall boys 13-18 division title. Stamerro and Boone each carded four birdies during their round. In the girls 13-18 division, Ariana Silva of Fort Lauderdale took home the trophy with a one-over round 73. Silva finished her Saturday round with four birdies.

Bennett Stone of Palm Beach won the boys 16-18 division title with a one-under round 71. Jaeger Frost of Boca Raton finished two strokes behind Stone. Kayla Martellotti of Sebastian finished the tournament with a 79, two strokes ahead of fellow competitor Chelsea Baker of Naples, to win the girls 16-18 division title.

Brett Moore of Hollywood won the boys 13-15 division title after a scorecard playoff with Jack Quinn of Palm Beach Gardens. Moore and Quinn finished the tournament with an even round 72. While Quinn carded five birdies compared to Moore's four, it came down to the final six holes for these two. In the girls 13-15 division, Sydney Young of Naples completed her round with a three-over 75. One stroke behind Young was Jordan Knox of Fort Myers with a round of 76.

Manuela Herrera, Ethan Fan Win South Florida PGA Junior Tour Labor Day Classic

Mon, 07 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMT

PALM BEACH GARDENS (Sept. 7, 2020) - It had been so long since Manuela Herrera of Wellington won a golf tournament, she couldn't even remember the name of it.

Herrera had a more memorable day Monday, winning the Girls Division of the Labor Day Classic in a playoff at PGA National-Estates. Herrera won with a par on the second playoff hole after Noelle Jensen of Boca Raton had problems to win for the first time in six years.

"It's been frustrating because I've been working so hard, and the results just weren't coming," said Herrera, a 17-year-old senior at American Heritage (Delray). "I hadn't even had a second or a third, and today I won. It's crazy, but it feels great."

Herrera started the day four strokes back but shot a 74 and advanced to the playoff at 9-over 225. Herrera overcame a double bogey at the seventh hole with consecutive birdies on the back nine to catch Jensen (78).

"I just told myself to remain aggressive and confident and let my game come naturally," Herrera said. "I wanted to let my game come naturally and not put pressure on myself."

Kiley Malmberg (74) of Jupiter and Lily Celentano (76) of Weston tied for third place at 10-over 226.

In the Boys Division, Ethan Fan of Davie parlayed a second-round 66 into a three-shot victory over Mateo Desmond of Davie. Fan shot a final-round 73 to finish at 1-under 215.

Jonathan Mourin(72) was third at 3-over 219.

The Labor Day Classic, part of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour and run by the South Florida PGA, is sponsored by The Honda Classic, the Boca Raton Championship, Don Law Golf Improvement Center, Florida Gulf Coast University PGA Golf Management, Loyal Auto Broker, Junior Golf Hub, Nike Junior Golf Camps, OGIO, Tee Times News, the Fun Group at Mirasol and Titleist.

Strong Field of Junior Prep Tour Players Competed at Eastpointe Country Club

Mon, 31 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. - A full field of South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour members competed at Eastpointe Country Club this past weekend. Players aging from 9-18 years old battled it out on the course in some intense heat on Sunday.

Tyler Lilienfeld captured the boy's 9-10 age division shooting a round of 6-over, 79. The race for second place came down to an intense scorecard play-off between Liam Ly and Danilo Custer. After this deliberation, Liam Ly was runner-up in the boy's 9-10 age division with a round of 9-over par, 82. Wylie Inman took home the boy's 11-12 age division with a round of 3-over par, 76. Alan Gurdogan finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 5-over, 78.Alexander Huddas captured the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 1-over par, 74. Emilio Garcia took home the runner-up spot in a scorecard playoff shooting 76 in the boy's 13-18 age division. Emilio Garcia had an incredible finish with 3 birdies in a row on holes 16, 17 and 18.

Danielle Hernandez captured the girls 9-10 age division shooting a round of 7-over, 80. Laura Monsalve took second shooting a round of 16-over, 89. Marley Pedrique of West Palm Beach took home the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 4 over par, 77. Fernanda Carrion finished runner-up in the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 80. Zoe Shamy took home the girls 13-18 age division with a round of 9-over, 82. Amelia Alonso finished runner-up in the girls 13-18 age division after a round of 86.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

SFPGA Prep Tour Visits Banyan Cay

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA hosted a Prep Tour event on Sunday for 71 of South Florida's junior tour players at Banyan Cay Resort & Golf.

After a scorecard playoff, Rocco Marando of Miami Shores carded a 77 during his round to win the boys 13-18 division. Marando walked away with three birdies n Sunday. For the girls 13-18 division, Samantha Shann of Palm City took home the medal with a score of 84.
As for the boys 11-12 division, Wylie Inman of North Palm Beach secured the win, one stroke over fellow competitor Hugo Stenstrom, with a 74. Inman carded seven birdies during his round. Keira Ly of Delray Beach took home the girls 11-12 division after carding an 86.

In the boys 9-10 division, Liam Ly of Delray Beach carded a 75 to win by one stroke over competitor Tyler Lilienfeld. Ly finished the day with one birdie and 13 pars. Danielle Hernandez of Miami safely secured the girls 9-10 division with an 83 after carding eight pars during her round.

SFPGA Challenge Tour Visits Sandhill Crane Golf Club

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour held a Challenge Tour Event at Sandhill Crane Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, FL this weekend, where junior golfers from ages 11-18 faced two days of intense competition on the golf course during the 36-hole event. The weather played a hand into the tournament as a few impending storms delayed play during both days of the event.

After firing a 73 in round one, Mateo Desmond (Pompano Beach, FL) shot a 70 during round two of the event which secured him the first-place spot in the 13-18 boys overall division. Layla Pedrique (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) walked away as the girls 13-18 overall champion after posting a 72-72 for a two-round total of 144.

The boys division featured an exceptional leader board with multiple juniors finishing at the top.The race for first place in the boys 11-12 division was extremely tight as both Jessy Huebner (Port Saint Lucie, FL) and Tristan Rhodenizer (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) fished the 36-hole event at even par. However, after a score card playoff, Jessy Huebner took home the first-place trophy after shooting rounds of 73, 71.

James Earle (Jupiter, FL) secured the first-place spot in the boys 13-15 division after shooting rounds of 70, 75 during the two-day tournament. In the girls 13-15 division, Gabriella DeGasperis (Jupiter, FL) came out on top with rounds of 79, 75 with a two-day total of 154.

In the girls 16-18 division, Chelsea Baker (Naples, FL) placed first in her division after shooting round or 80, 88 for a two-day total of 168. The winner of the boys 16-18 division was Jacob Paul (Parkland, FL) posting a 75, 72 for a two-round total of 147.

SFPGA Junior Prep Tour Visits The Preserve at Ironhorse

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The Preserve at Ironhorse hosted a Prep Tour event on Sunday for 64 of South Florida's junior tour players.

Henry Kuehne of Palm Beach Gardens carded a 73 during his round to win the boys 13-18 division ahead of fellow competitor Nick Scully (78). As for the girls 13-18 division, Amelia Alonso of Fort Myers took home the medal with a score of 83. In second place, Zoe Shamy of Jupiter finished her round with an 87.

As for the boys 11-12 division, Alen Gurdogan of Palm Beach Gardens took home the win with a +4 round (76). Hugo Stenstrom of Miami came in second with a score of 78 after a scorecard playoff with competitor Sarp Gurdogan. Riley Fritz of Cape Coral won the girls 11-12 division by one stroke over Keira Ly of Delray Beach with her score of 84.

In the boys 9-10 division, Liam Ly of Delray Beach carded a 75 to win by one stroke over Tyler Lilienfeld. Ashley Balcom of Lighthouse Point finished two strokes ahead of Danielle Hernandez to win the girls 9-10 division with a 79.

Mistretta and Shin Win SFPGA Doral Junior Open

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

On August 5-7, Trump National Doral hosted 83 of south Florida's junior tour players at the second annual Doral Junior Open. Over the course of the three days, players participated in 54 holes of individual stroke play. After a brief rain delay on Wednesday, players were eager to conquer the Red Tiger course.

With three subpar rounds of 71-70-67 (-8), Tyler Mistretta of North Palm Beach won the overall boys 13-18 division. Mistretta carded 13 birdies and three eagles over the three days. Doral native, Skylee Shin took home the overall girls 13-18 division title with rounds of 75-77-76, resulting in a three-stroke lead over her fellow competitors.

In the boys 16-18 division, Carlos Caloca of Delray Beach concluded the tournament one-under-par with rounds of 69-71-75. Caloca carded 12 birdies and one eagle. Makenna Rodriguez of Delray Beach secured the girls 16-18 division title with rounds of 79-73-79.

Jake Manelas of Fort Lauderdale earned himself the boys 13-15 division champion title after carding 12 birdies to go four-under-par (70-69-73) for the tournament. Katherine Schaefer of Southwest Ranches turned her game around after the first day and took home the girls 13-15 division title with rounds of 83-79-71.

Matias Saavedra of Key Biscayne took home the boys 11-12 division title with rounds of 72-76-70 (+2), which resulted in a two-stroke lead over competitor Tristan Rhodenizer.

From Winning on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour to Competing in Professional Events, Taylor Collins, PGA Continues to Find Success

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, Taylor Collins, PGA won the South Florida PGA Southern Chapter DEK Roofing Classic at Plantation Preserve Golf Course and Club. One of just two girls in the field, Collins carded a seven-under 65 to win her most recent event with the South Florida PGA.

Collins is set to tee it up again with the South Florida PGA Section this week at the South Florida PGA Assistant Championship, held again at the Plantation Preserve Golf Course and Club. Her seven-under a week ago at the same venue, coupled with a long history of winning makes Collins one to beat this week.

While the DEK Roofing Classic was the first event Collins has won as a PGA Professional with the Section, Collins was a standout on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour, winning many events from 2004-07 while being coached by PGA Hall of Fame instructor Bob Toski, PGA.

Collins went on to compete at Nova Southeastern University where she was a five-time winner, including the 2011 individual medalist at the NCAA Division II National Championship, helping to cap the third consecutive Division II National Championship for Nova Southeastern as a team. The 2009 title was the first ever by a Nova team across all sports and raised the standard for the athletic department at the time.

After college, her success on the course continued. Collins was invited to compete on the Symetra Tour, including a T-4 finish, won the Big Break Mexico and in 2019 was inducted into the Nova Southeastern Hall of Fame.

Now, Collins serves as an Assistant PGA Professional at Coral Ridge Country Club and spends much of her time coaching junior golfers, bringing the game full circle, having learned herself from a top PGA Professional.

Collins is the only female set to compete in this week's PGA Assistant Professional Championship at Plantation Preserve Golf Course and Club where the top five players and four alternates will qualify for the 2020 National Car Rental Assistant PGA Championship set to be held November 12-15 at the PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker course in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The 2020 South Florida PGA Assistant Championship is presented by National Car Rental and supported by Srixon/Cleveland/XXIO/Asics, John Deere and the PGA TOUR.

SFPGA Junior PGA Championship Celebrates 45th Anniversary

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

On July 29-30, Banyan Golf Club hosted 76 of south Florida's junior players for the South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Championship.

With impressive rounds of 69-71 (-4), James Key of Palm Beach Gardens took home the overall boys 13-18 trophy. Brianna Castaldi of Port Saint Lucie finished the tournament +5 after carding 74-75.

Tomy Jaunet of Port Saint Lucie won the boys 13-15 division with a score of 74-74 (+4) after a scorecard playoff with fellow competitor Nicholas Prieto of Miami. Gabriella DeGasperis of Jupiter took home the girls 13-15 division after carding 76-74 to finish +6 at the tournament.

Jonathan Mourin of Plantation carded a 73-72 (+1) to take home the boys 16-18 division. Jenna Fonda of Wellington posted a 76-74 (+6) to win her final SFPGA Junior Tour event in the girls 16-18 division.

The South Florida Junior PGA Championship holds a unique history. Previously known as the Westfield Junior Championship, this tournament has showcased top junior players across south Florida. Previous winners of this event include LPGA and PGA touring professionals Lexi Thompson and Brooks Koepka.

Jordan Fischer Wins Patty Berg Junior Championship for the Third Straight Major Title; Noah Kent Earns Boys Title

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

FORT MYERS (July 26, 2020) - This is starting to become repetitive: Jordan Fischer wins another South Florida PGA junior major title.

The 15-year-old North Fort Myers resident won the Patty Berg Junior Championship by 11 shots Sunday at Cypress Lake Golf Club. Fischer fired a 3-under 69 to finish at 6-under 210, comfortably ahead of Madyson Gold (71-221) of Miramar.

It was Fischer's third consecutive junior major title in the South Florida PGA after she won the Nicklaus Junior Championship and the South Florida Junior Open. Her combined margin of victory in the three events is 26 shots.

"It's pretty cool to know my game is headed in the right direction," said Fischer, who recently turned 15 and works on her game with her father, Kay Schmiedler. "My short game was pretty good this week, especially my putting. I try to focus on my own game and not worry about what the others are doing."

Fischer opened with 68 and 73 to take a six-shot lead into the final round, all but clinching the title with three birdies on her first five holes Sunday. The remaining South Florida PGA junior majors are the Doral Junior Classic Aug. 5-7 at Trump Doral and the South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship Dec. 5-6.

"I'm trying to get into some AJGA events, but it's hard (because of the coronavirus pandemic)," Fischer said.

Gold won the 16-18 division. Gabriella DeGasperid (80) of Jupiter and Sherry Pla (83) of West Palm Beach tied for third in the overall division at 230.

Noah Kent of Naples had a 3-under 69 to win the boys overall title by a shot over Tyler Stachkunas of Lake Worth. Kent, 15, had a 3-under 33 on the back nine to finish at 3-under 213 and claim his first individual title.

Kent had a one-shot lead and was facing a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17 th hole when play was stopped for about an hour because of a thunderstorm. When play resumed, he made the putt to take a two-shot lead.

"It means a lot to win my first tournament," said Kent, who will be a sophomore at Gulf Coast High. "I play this golf course a lot with my dad. My putter was working well and so was my ball striking."

Stachkunas won the 16-18 title. Alex Heard (74) of Boca Raton was third overall at 220, two shots ahead of James Hassell of Vero Beach (76-222)

In its 28 th year, the Patty Berg Junior Championship, named after the World Golf Hall of Famer and longtime Fort Myers resident, is one of the longest-running junior events in Florida. Berg and fellow Hall of Famers Gene Sarazen and Herb Graffis were co-founders of Cypress Lake

The Patty Berg Junior Championship, run by the South Florida PGA in conjunction with the Southwest Florida Junior Golf Association, is sponsored by the Honda Classic, the Boca Raton Championship, Don Law Golf Improvement Center, Florida Golf Coast University PGA Golf Management, Loyal Auto Broker, Junior Golf Hub, Nike Junior Golf Camps, OGIO, Tee Times News, the Fun Group at Mirasol and Titleist.

SFPGA Hosts Second Junior Challenge Tour Event of the Summer

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA welcomed Junior Challenge Tour members to Sandridge Golf Club for a 36-hole event, which took place July 21 st-22 nd. This two-day event featured fierce competition amongst junior golfers between the ages of 11-18.

After firing off rounds of 84-78 (+18), Angela Jiang took home the first-place trophy in the girls 11-12 division. In the boys 11-12 division, Ryan Nana Tanke carded the impressive scores of 71-73 (EVEN) securing himself the first-place trophy.

William Jun captured the top spot in the boys 13-15 division after putting up rounds of 80-72 (+8) during the two-day event. In the girls 13-15 division with scores of 82-76 (+14), Polina Anisimova took home the first-place trophy.

Diego Rojas placed first in the boys 16-18 division after shooting rounds of 78-77 (+11) and in the girls 16-18 division, Alexandra DeLisle earned herself first place with scores of 86-84 (+26).

Madison Moman came out on top earning herself the girls 13-18 overall title for the tournament with scores of 78-79 (+13) and TJ Thompson claimed victory for the boys 13-18 overall spot after carding scores of 76-74 (+6).

South Florida Junior Prep Tour Visits Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour hosted a Prep Tour event at Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club this weekend on July 18th. The field was an impressive group of 70 competitors ranging in ages from 9 to 18. The Junior Prep Tour is an entry-level tour for junior golfers from ages 9-18 who are looking to make the jump from entry-level junior programs to the next level of competition.

Tyler Lilienfeld captured the first place spot in the boys 9-10 division after carding an 80 (+9) for the day. Although this event was Berkeley Young's first Prep Tour event, she claimed victory in the girls 9-10 division with a round of 86 (+15).

Winning the boys 11-12 division, Wylie Inman shot a 69 (-2). Inman has won two events in a row and has won three out of the last four events. Placing first in the girls 11-12 division, Fernanda Carrion put up a 77 (+6) for the day.

Justin King took home the boys 13-18 trophy after carding a 75 (+4) and Eva Lye won the girls 13-18 division after posting a score of 76 (+5).

Jordan Fischer, Aaron Jarvis Easily Win South Florida Junior Open

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

NAPLES (July 17, 2020) - Two majors down, three to go for Jordan Fischer.The 14-year-old North Fort Myers resident won the South Florida Junior Open by nine shots Friday at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. It was her second consecutive junior major title in the South Florida PGA after she won last month's Nicklaus Junior Championship at Lost Tree Club.

Fischer opened with 67 and 73 to take an eight-shot lead into the final round. She closed with another 73 to finish comfortably ahead of Nicole Yugay (74-222) of Delray Beach. Madyson Gold (68-230) of Miramar finished in third place. Gold won the 16-18 division.

Fischer's biggest opponent Friday proved to be Mother Nature - thunderstorms twice stopped play.

Aaron Jarvis of Grand Cayman won the boys overall title, also by nine shots, shooting 71 to finish at 6-under 207. He had a six-shot lead after 36 holes.

"The first two days my ball-striking was good and today it was my putting," said Jarvis, a 17-year-old who works on his game at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy near Orlando. "This is a nice win for me."

Jarvis plays for the Cayman Island's national team. His only hiccup Friday was a double bogey on the final hole he finished just before play was stopped for the second time.

"I didn't mind the double just to get the round over with," Jarvis said.

Sebastian Nachilly (72-216) of Jupiter was second, Tyler Mistretta (72-217) of North Palm Beach third and Noah Kent (79-221) of Naples fourth. Kent won the 13-15 age division.

Fischer is coming off a second in the recent Florida Junior Girls Championship. The remaining junior majors on the South Florida PGA schedule are the Patty Berg Junior Championship July 24-26 at Cypress Lake, the Doral Junior Classic Aug. 5-7 at Trump Doral and the South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship Dec. 5-6.

The South Florida Junior Open, run by the South Florida PGA, is sponsored by the Honda Classic, the Boca Raton Championship, Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Golf Coast University PGA Golf Management, Loyal Auto Brokers, Junior Golf Hub, Nike Junior Golf Camps, OGIO, the Tee Times, the Fun Group at Mirasol and Titleist.

SFPGA Junior Tour Hosts Second Legends Tour Event of the Summer

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour hosted its second Legends Tour Event of the summer at PGA National Resort and Spa (Fazio Course) on July 7th, 2020. The Legends Tour is the newest division to the SFPGA Junior Tour, providing a unique opportunity for any player aged 19-23 to continue their golf journey.

For the boys division, Chad Tracy, captured the first place spot after shooting rounds of 72, 74 (+2). Placing first in the girls division, Casey Sommer carded rounds of 78, 74 (+7).

Chad Tracy won the South Florida Junior Open as well as the Doral Junior Classic in 2019. Tracy also competed in the South Florida Open last week and tied for 14th overall and was the second low round for the amateurs.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Hosts First Ever Legends Tour Event!

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA hosted the first of fourLegends Tour events this summer on July 1st, 2020 at Plantation Preserve Golf Course. The Legends Touris an all new SFPGA Junior Tour division open to any player aged 19-23. Eligible participants do not need to be on a collegiate golf team.

Taking the first-place spot for the boy division, Peter George, a Senior on the Harvard golf team, carded an impressive score of -7 for a 65. For the girls division, there was ascorecard play-off for first place between Anina Ku and Taylor Morgan who both shot 73. (+1). Anina is a Junior at Harvard University where she plays on the golf team and Taylor Morgan is a Senior at Florida Atlantic University where she also plays on the golf team.

The Legends Tour is the newest division to the SFPGA Junior Tour andprovides a unique opportunity for former Junior Tour alumni to continue on their journey with the SFPGA. In light of the cancellation of so many national events such as the NCAA golf season and other amateur events, The Legends Tour provides an opportunity for college students in South Florida to continue their golf journeys.

Former SFPGA Junior Tour Alexa Pano Earns WAPT Event Exemption and Second Place Finish

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Former SFPGA Junior Tour member and current amateur golfer, Alexa Pano (Lake Worth, FL), finished in second place at the Cooper Communities NWA Classic, a WAPT event played last week in Bella Vista, Arkansas. The WAPT is a developmental tour that provides a pathway to the LPGA's Symetra Tour.

The 16-year-old golfer secured her second-place victory by carding a six-under 66 to finish at -10 to end the tournament. Out of a field of 62 players, only Pano and the tournament winner, Maria Fassi (Davenport, FL), were able to go low into the double digits for the week.

Alexa Pano is a former SFPG Championship Tour player. In 2016 Pano won the Tour Championship shooting 73,71. Pano was also the Girls Championship Tour player of the Year for 2016 at just 12-years-old.

Justin Ross, Jordan Fischer Win Nicklaus Junior Championship

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

NORTH PALM BEACH (June 26, 2020) - Justin Ross re-affirmed his status as one of Florida's best junior golfers Friday when he cruised to a seven-shot victory in the Nicklaus Junior Championship at Nicklaus' longtime home, Lost Tree Club.

Ross, the reigning Florida Boys Junior Amateur champion, overcame an early double bogey to shoot 4-under 68 and finish at 10-under 133. The Boca Raton resident entered with a three-shot lead after shooting 65 Thursday at North Palm Beach Country Club.
"I made a lot of putts, and my iron play was really good," said Ross, 17, a senior-to-be at St. Andrews. "I was hitting it 18-20 feet on almost every hole."

Jordan Fischer, a 14-year-old from North Fort Myers, shot consecutive 69s to win the girls' title by six shots over Gloria Nip of Port St. Lucie. Despite being four years younger than some of her competition, Fischer made just one bogey and six birdies the last two days.

"I don't think about if you're older, I just try to play my game and not worry about what the others are doing," Fischer said. "I hit a lot of greens. This (win) ranks up there."

This was the first tournament Ross has played in since the coronavirus pandemic shut down golf in March. Ross said he didn't play for 2.5 months and started practicing three weeks ago.

Ross gets a chance to defend his state title July 7-9 at Streamsong. It wasn't lost on him Friday that he won a tournament named after the Golden Bear at a course where Jack Nicklaus has lived for more than a half century.

"It means a lot because he's arguably the best player to play the game," Ross said.

Reed Greyserman of Boca Raton shot 71 and finished second at 3-under 140. Tyler Mistretta (71-141) of North Palm Beach was third.Nip, who has a win and a runner-up finish in the National Drive Chip & Putt at Augusta National, had a 1-under 71 to finish alone in second at 144. Kayla Holden of Coral Springs matched Fischer's 69 as the day's low round and was third.

Greyserman won the Boys 13-15 title. In the Boys 11-12, Reid Korody (74-149) of Jupiter, Jessy Huebner (74-149) of Port St. Lucie and Cruz Pierce (78-149) of Boca Raton shared first place.

The Nicklaus Junior Championship is run by the South Florida PGA in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Golf Association.

SFPGA Junior Tour to Hosts First Championship Tour Event of the Summer

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The first Championship Tour event of the summer did not disappoint with a sold-out field of 58 boys and 20 girls competing for the top spots in their respective divisions, as well as the overall title spots for the two-day, 36-hole event at Lost City Golf Club. This was the first Championship Tour event since play came to a halt three months ago due to concerns over COVID-19.

In the boys 13-15 division, Nicholas Prieto (Miami, FL) captured the first-place spot after shooting rounds of 72, 70. Tied for second place in the division, James Hassell (Vero Beach, FL)and Frank Kennedy (Tequesta, FL)both carded rounds of 72, 73.

Kayla Bryant (Boca Raton, FL)placed first in the girls 13-15 division after putting up two impressive rounds of 75, 76 during the two-day event. Lily Celentano (Weston, FL) came in second place with score of 78, 76.

After a scorecard playoff, the top title in the boys 16-18 division was won by Cameron Owens (Wellington, FL) who carded rounds of 76, 67. Anthony Amoroso (Homestead, FL) took the second-place spot with rounds of 69, 74.

Placing first in the girls 16-18 division, Amelie Alcantara (Boca Raton) put up rounds of 71, 77. Brianna Castaldi (Port St. Lucie, FL) ended the event in second place with scores of 73, 79.

The overall boys title of the Championship Tour event was won by Tyler Stachkunas (Lake Worth, FL) after he carded the low rounds of 66, 71 during the event for a two-day total of 137.

Winning the overall girls title, Jordan Fischer (North Ft. Myers, FL) was the low female golfer shooting 73 both days of the Championship Tour event for a two-day total of 146.

In addition to being a Championship Tour event, the event also served as the first of five qualifiers for the South Florida PGA Junior PGA Championship set to be held July 29-30.

Out of the field of 78 junior golfers, there were 20 boy's and four girl's spots up for contention for the South Florida PGA Junior PGA Championship to be played at Banyan Golf Club on July 29-30. The following junior golfers qualified for the South Florida PGA Junior PGA Championship:

Brianna Castaldi (Port St. Lucie, FL), Jordan Fischer (North Ft. Myers, FL), Kayla Bryant (Boca Raton, FL), Kelly Shanahan (Coral Springs, FL), Tyler Stachkunas (Lake Worth, FL), Anthony Amoroso (Homestead, FL), Chase Cohen (West Palm Beach, FL), James Hassell (Vero Beach, FL), Frank Kennedy (Tequesta, FL), Tyler Mistretta (North Palm Beach, FL), Nicholas Prieto (Miami, FL), Cade Coffey (Vero Beach, FL), Tomy Jaunet (Port Saint Lucie, FL), Hans Risvaer (Miami, FL), Jack Hasson (Palm Beach Gardens, FL), Alex Heard (Boca Raton, FL), Gabriel Hegerstrom (Parkland, FL), Jackson Kustin (Plantation, FL), Jake Manelas (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Jonathan Mourin (Plantation, FL), Chris Calvani (Palm Beach Gardens, FL), Stephen Weisman (Jupiter, FL), Harrison Hutchings (Singer Island, FL) and Kristian Urbaitis (Lake Worth, FL).

South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour - Back in Action!

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA welcomed 78 Junior Challenge Tour members back to the course at Hammock Creek Golf Club this past week after a three-month hiatus due to concerns surrounding COVID-19.This two-day event featured fierce competition and a sold-out field of junior golfers ages 11-18.

After firing off rounds of 76 and 82, Nicole Sardinha captured the first-place spot in the girls 11-12 division and Abigail Halpern took home the second-place spot with rounds of 91, 79.

In the boys 11-12 division, Ibby Carrington carded impressive scores of 70, 68 for a total of six-under, securing himself the first-place trophy. Cruz Pierce placed second in the division with rounds of 75, 69 which left him at even par for the two-day event.

Layla Pedrique secured the top spot in the girls 13-15 division with scores of 75, 76. In the boys 13-15 group, Francesco Abbonizio Orsi captured first place with scores of 73, 72 for the tournament.

In the girls 16-18 division, Jonna Hubbs earned herself first place with scores of 75, 78. Closely behind Hubbs and taking home second place in the division, Noelle Jensen carded scores of 71, 83.

Ben Weins placed first in the boys 16-18 division after shooting rounds of 76, 74 and Diego Rojas earned the second-place title in the division with rounds of 77, 76.

A playoff for both the overall titles in the girls 13-18 and boys 13-18 division ensued after Layla Pedrique and Staci Pla both ended the tournament with a combined two-day total of 151. After a sudden death playoff on 18, Staci Pla came out on top earning herself the overall girl's title for the tournament. The overall boy's play-off was equally as exciting with a sudden-death play-off between Pavel Tsar and Francesco Abbonizio Orsi who both had a combined two-day total of 145. The play-off which lasted three holes, in the end, Pavel Tsar secured the victory on the 18th green.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Hosts First Event Since Early March

Sun, 07 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Hosts First Event Since Early March

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is back in action after holding the Prep Tour Event #3 on Sunday at Boca Lago Country Club on the South and East Courses. The rain held off for the 18-hole event and the field of 78 juniors competed for the first time since early March when the SFPGA stopped all events over concerns surrounding COVID-19.

Winning the first event back in the boys 11-12 division, Wylie Inman carded a 72 for the day to take the top honor. Thomas Nevico and Hugo Stenstrom tied for second in the division after both players turned in scores of 85.

Alexander Huddas captured first place in the boys 13-18 division with a score of 76. The second-place spot was split four ways between James Earle, Jack Earle, Michael DeFloria, and Nick Viana after all players carded an 80 for the day.

For the boys 9-10 division, Gabriel Boone took home first place with a score of 74, and Alen Gurdogan and Tyler Lilienfeld tied for second place after both shooting 75.

Angela Jiang had the low round in the girls 11-12 division after shooting 81 and Valentina Hurtado filled the second-place spot in the division with a score of 85.

In the girls 13-18 division, Samantha Shann carded a score of 88 earning herself the first-place spot. closely behind her with a score of 89 was Zoe Shamny who took home second place.

With the overall low score of the day, Marley Pedrique took how first place in the girls 9-10 division after putting up a score of 71.Fernanda Carrion filled the second-place spot in the division with a score of 78.

In accordance with local rules and club guidelines, the SFPGA Junior Tour Prep Tour Event #3 looked a bit different with emphasis placed on social distancing Additionally, players were asked to wear masks at all times in common areas such as the scoring table, driving range and Pro Shop, while not on the course. Despite these changes, the junior golfers were able to enjoy the company of their peers and have a fun yet challenging day of golf.

South Florida PGA Junior Tour Set to Launch Legends Tour This Summer

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour will introduce a new program to its action-packed summer schedule, the Legends Tour which will offer additional playing opportunities to college students, aged 19-23.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cancellation of the NCAA spring golf season and many other high-profile amateur events has left players without a playing schedule for the 2020 summer season and the SFPGA Junior Legends Tour will offer college students the opportunity to continue competing.

The Legends Tour provides players four tournaments at premier, championship golf courses in south Florida throughout the month of July and will include no membership startup costs, rather just the entry fee for each tournament.

The cost of events will be $125 for 18 holes and $200 for 36 holes.

July 1: Plantation Preserve Golf Course

July 7-8: PGA National (Fazio Course)

July 22: The Strand

July 31-Aug. 1: Jonathan's Landing Old Trail (Hills Course)

While players are not required to belong on a college golf team to participate in Legends Tour events, a scoring average of 85 for boys and 87 for girls will be enforced and courses will be set to collegiate distances, Men (6,900-7,200) and Women (5,900-6,300).

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour has a history of administering high-quality events, operating four tours for all ages, providing its participants with a journey through golf starting with the Links Tour (ages 6-14) through the Championship Tour (ages 13-18).

ABOUT THE SOUTH FLORIDA PGA FOUNDATION

The South Florida PGA Foundation is a not-for-profit organization founded to support the South Florida community, with a focus on junior golf, education and scholarships, and charitable gifting. The South Florida PGA Foundation falls under the direction of the South Florida PGA, a not-for-profit organization comprised of approximately 1,850 men and women PGA Professionals serving as the experts in business and the game of golf.

Sold Out South Florida Prep Tour Event No. 1 Kicks Off 2020 Season

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, FL - With a sold-out field of 76, junior golfers on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour took on Club Med at Sandpiper Bay in Port St. Lucie for the first Prep Tour event of the 2020 season on Sunday, February 16th.

The young golfers on the Prep Tour competed for top spots in each of their divisions hoping to secure themselves a trophy at the end of the tournament. The Prep Tour offers playing opportunities for juniors ranging in ages from 9-18 who are looking to step up the competition level while still participating in fun, single-day events.

Taking home the top prize for the boys 9-10 division was Liam Ly with an overall score of 74 for the day and Wylie Inman took home his second Prep Tour career win in the boys 11-12 category with a 74.

With 30 players in the boys 13-18 field, the race for first place was extremely tight as 13 of those players were all within 5 shots of each other scores. Jack Earle ended up capturing the top spot placing first in the boys 13-18 division with a 79.

Laura Monsalve seized the first-place spot in the girls 9-10 division after carding an 86 during the first Prep Tour event of her career. The girls 11-12 category was won by Angela Jiang with an impressive 78.

Alex Heard and Brianna Castaldi Win South Florida PGA Championship Tour Event No. 1

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, FL - The 2020 South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour began this weekend during Championship Tour Event No. 1 at Santa Lucia River Club.

This two-day, 36-hole event challenged 77 junior golfers, ages 13-18, as they navigated between countless hazards and deceiving greens. The junior golfers were met by cold weather to start the event on Saturday, followed by a gusty day on Sunday, putting their accuracy and skills to the test.

First place for boys overall ages 13-18 was captured by Alex Heard with an impressive score of 77-70. Alex Heard is the son of Rick Heard, PGA who is a PGA Member and works at the Don Law Academy at Osprey Point.

Min Jun Kim and Fynn Fenstermacher were in a tight race for second overall and first place for boys 16-18. Kim and Fenstermacher battled it out on the course and ended in a scorecard playoff. Kim picked up second place for overall boys 13-18, as well as first place in the boys 16-18 division with rounds of 80-78.Fynn Fenstermacher carded scores of 78-80 claiming the third-place boys overall spot.

Leading the overall girls ages 13-18 division and securing first place was Brianna Castaldi. Castaldi grinded out both round, carding 80-77 and securing her the top spot.

After a scorecard playoff, Jordan Fischer took home the girls overall second place as well as first place for the girls 13-15 group with scores of 84-77. Gloria Nip was close behind for third place for girls overall shooting rounds of 77-84.

Winning the girls ages 16-18 division was Vanessa Chychrun with scores of 79-85. NaShawn Tyson took home the trophy for the boys 13-15 division after carding scores of 82-77 over the weekend.

SFPGA Hosts College Seminar for Junior Players

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMT

This Saturday the South Florida PGA hosted its annual College Seminar for the SFPGA juniors at Drive Shack in West Palm Beach. In an effort to help kids along their golf journey, the SFPGA hosts this free event every year to help both players and parents learn the many options that are out there for continuing their golf careers in college. We accomplish this through a panel of college coaches, Professional Golf Management directors, college players, and parents who have been through the process.

This year's panel included:

Sara Trew- Florida Gulf Coast University Women's Coach (NCAA I)
Tara McKenna, PGA- Florida Gulf Coast University- Professional Golf Management
Shelley Jahn- Parent of Student- Athletes and Former Junior Tour Members
Judy Dwyer- Lehigh University Former Women's Coach (NCAA I)
Craig Watson, PGA- Palm Beach Atlantic Men's and Women's Coach (NCAA II)
Andy Walker- Lynn University Men's Coach (NCAA II)
Ellen Breighner- PGA Staff Member and Former Student-Athlete (NCAA I)
Rodger Knick, PGA- Junior Golf Hub

Topics that were discussed:

PGA Golf Management Program
Opportunities for PGA Members
Standing Out as a Junior Golfer
Day in the Life of a College Golfer
Class and Practice Schedule
Starting the Search Process
Parent Involvement and Responsibility

Thank you to Drive Shack for donating the space for the event and for their continued support of the South Florida PGA.

Yugay, Giles Headline South Florida PGA Junior Tour Players of the Year

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Garrett Giles and Nicole Yugay are the 2019 South Florida PGA Championship Tour Players of the Year after a season-long points race that ended on Sunday, December 8 th.

The SFPGA Junior Tour Championship, presented by the Honda Classic took place December 7 th and 8 th at Jonathan's Landing Golf Club at Old Trail and was the last tournament for the 2019 SFPGA Junior Tour season, crowning the 2019 Players of the Year for the Challenge and Championship Tours.

Giles of Palm City who is headed to Iona College to compete next season, took home the Championship Tour Player of the Year title for the second year in a row, also winning the Challenge Tour Player of the Year in 2017.

Giles competed in six events this season and finished first at the Junior PGA Championship. Due to Giles' strong finish during the SFPGA Major tournaments and the Tour Championship, he was able to bring home the title with 271 points to spare.

Over the course of 10 events, Yugay earned seven Top Five finishes and a total of 1,222.5 points this season, finishing 200 points ahead of her competitors to win the Girl's Championship Tour Player of the Year.

Morgan Pichler of Hobe Sound took home the 2019 Girls 11-12 Challenge Tour Player of the Year. Pichler competed in 12 events this season with two first place finishes and six runner-up titles. In 2019, Pichler broke many personal records and came in under par for the first time in tournament play. Throughout the season, Pichler earned 1,515 points to secure her title by over 300 points.

Pavel Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens was the Boys 11-12 Challenge Tour Player of the Year. Over the course of his nine events this year, he earned a total of 1,208 points. Tsar's most notable achievement was his record-low 65 at Challenge Tour No. 9 at Wycliffe Golf and Country Club.

Jade Scott of Lauderhill, Florida won the 2019 Girls Overall Challenge Tour Player of the Year. With a total of 1,545 points, Scott was able to clinch her title before the SFPGA Junior Tour Championship. Scott competed in 11 events this season with three first place finishes. In addition to Player of the Year title, Scott was also awarded the Honda Classic Most Improved Player for 2019.

Scott dropped a total of four strokes on her yearly average and won her first event with the South Florida PGA Junior Tour this season. With a top five finish at the Tour finale, Scott placed in the top five in nine of her 11 events.

Payne McEntee of Wellington took home the boys overall 13-18 Challenge Player of the Year title. McEntee played in a total of 13 events this season, seven of which were top five finishes and 12 within the top 10. At this year's Tour Championship, McEntee carded a 76-73 for another top 5 finish in his age division.

Sacristan, Fischer Win Overall Titles in South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 00:00:00 GMT

JUPITER (Dec, 9, 2019) -- Sebastian Sacristan needed a timeout from golf. Jordan Fischer needs a bigger trophy case.

Sacristan and Fischer both got what they wanted Sunday - victories in the South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship Presented by Honda Classic at Jonathan's Landing Golf Club at Old Trail.

Sacristan, a 15-year-old Coral Springs resident, won the boys overall title with a 2-over 73 on the Hills course to finish at 1-over 143, a shot ahead of Maxmilian Jelinek (75), Tyler Stachkunas (73), Natthawat Sakchawanpob (70) and Jack Hasson (69).

"It's the biggest victory I've ever had," said Sacristan, a 10 th grader at American Heritage in Plantation. "Lately, my tournaments haven't been going my way, so I took a week off to get my mental game up to date. I was stressing out and not having enough fun. To come back and win this was pretty big."

Fischer, a 14-year-old North Fort Myers resident who is home schooled, won for the third time in four starts on the South Florida PGA Junior Tour. She shot a 1-over 72 for a two-day total of 3-over 145 to win by two over Nicole Yugay (75-147). Brianna Castaldi (74) and Amelia Novoa tied for third (78) at 152.

"I was kind of nervous during the round because I was playing with the two leaders, but my nerves went down because I was playing well," Fischer said. "It's pretty cool to win for the third time on this tour."

Stachkunas, Sakchawanpob and Hasson shared first place in the boys 16-18 division. Sacristan won the 13-15 division and Emil Lebrun (74-146) won the 11-12 group.

Lauren Davenport (76-153) won the girls 16-18 division, edging Amelie Alcantara (75-154) and Agatha Alesson (81-154). Fischer won the girls 13-15 group by two over Yugay. Ariana Silva shot a 69 - tying Hasson for the low round of the week - to win the girls 11-12 division at 7-over 149 by 16 over Sara Davey (82-165).

FISCHER AND HILTUNEN CAPTURE CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR EVENT #6

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - Championship Tour Event #6 was held at The Estates Course at PGA National in West Palm Beach, FL this past weekend. Players faced tough conditions with temperatures in the mid-upper 50's and winds gusting upwards of 25 MPH.

Duncan Fischer of North Ft. Myers found himself in the winners' circle after carding a final round 3-under par 69. Fischer started the second round five shots behind current Player of the Year points leader Garrett Giles after opening with a 75 in round 1. Fischer birdied #17 and #18 to close out his final round and secure his first Championship Tour victory by 1-shot while carding his career-low tournament round. Giles would take home the boys' 16-18 age division with scores of 70-75, while James Key of Palm Beach Gardens would take home the boys' 13-15 age division with scores of 74-73.

Kerttu Hiltunen of Palm Beach Gardens put on a dominating display this week. Hiltunen fired rounds of 73-71 to capture the overall girls' title by eight strokes. This was Hiltunen's first Championship Tour event of the year. Agatha Alesson of Weston took home the girls' 16-18 age division with scores of 78-74. Jordan Fischer, sister of the Boys' overall champion Duncan Fischer, took home the girls' 13-15 age division with scores of 78-74.

Hasson and Westh Blanc Win Challenge Tour Event No. 9

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Vilda Westh Blanc (Wellington) and Jack Hasson (Palm Beach Gardens) took home the nineth event of the South Florida PGA Challenge Tour season on November 10th at Wycliffe Golf and Country Club.

This 36-hole event welcomed junior golfers aged 11-18 from across south Florida to Wycliffe Golf and Country Club.

Westh Blanc (2022) carded a two-day score of 143 (72-71) to win the Overall Girl's 13-18 Division by six strokes over Gabrielle Albert of Delray Beach.

Hasson entered Sunday's final round a stroke behind MU Sun of Boynton Beach who carded a 72 during Saturday's opening round. Hasson used a 73 on Sunday to separate himself from Sun and the rest of the field recording a two-day score of 146 and winning the Overall Boy's 12-18 Division by two strokes.

In the Girl's and Boy's 11-12 Division, Valentina Marie Guertin (73-75, 148) and Tyler Chapman (67-69, 136) won their division. Chapman, who won the division after a three-hole playoff against Pavel Tsar, recorded a 2019 season low of 67 for the Boy's 11-12 Division before Tsar topped it on Sunday with a 65.

Westh Blanc and Sun took home low honors in the Girl's and Boy's 13-15 Division. As for the Girl's and Boy's 16-18 Division, Erin Marcelino (79-76, 169) and Hasson won their division titles.

The Challenge Tour is one of the South Florida PGA Junior Golf's five tours in which young golfers can compete. The South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour is a series of two-day events at some of South Florida's premiere facilities. Membership is open to all juniors 11-18 who meet certain scoring and age requirements.

South Florida PGA Prep Tour Awards Player of the Year

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour named the Player of The Year winners for each its six division this weekend. The South Florida PGA annually awards Player of the Year honors in the Prep Tour Girls and Boys 9-10 age division, 11-12 age division and 13-18 age division.

Coral Gables native Fernanda Carrion is the 2019 Prep Tour Girls 9-10 Player of the Year winner. Carrion captured three wins in her division this year as well as four runner-up finishes.

Abigail Halpern of Palm City has been named the 2019 Prep Tour Girls 11-12 Player of the Year winner. Halpern, a South Florida PGA Junior Tour member for two years, has captured back-to-back Player of the Year Prep Tour titles. The 11-year-old took home the 2018 Prep Tour Girls 9-10 Player of the Year title and won two events on this year's Prep Tour.

Greenacres native Jayda Dookie is the 2019 Prep Tour Girls 13-18 Player of the Year winner. Dookie began her journey with the South Florida PGA in 2016 in the Team Golf program. The 15-year-old made her move to the Prep Tour this year and excelled, winning five events.

Sohan Patel of Weston has been named the 2019 Prep Tour Boys 9-10 Player of the Year winner. Patel began his journey with the South Florida PGA last year in the Team Golf program. He participated in two Prep Tour events at the end of 2018 before capturing the victory in five events this year as a full-time member of the Prep Tour.

Boca Raton native Oscar Crowe has been named the 2019 Prep Tour Boys 11-12 Player of the Year winner. Crowe has been a member of the Prep Tour since 2017 and has shown tremendous improvement in that time. Crowe captured three wins this year, including a 3 under-par 69 at Cypress Woods in October.

Alex Greenlund of Wellington has been named the 2019 Prep Tour Boys 13-18 Player of the Year winner. Greenlund began his journey on the Prep Tour in 2016 and finished runner-up in three events and placed inside the top eight in all his events this year.

We congratulate all of these individuals on their outstanding performance.

ABOUT THE SOUTH FLORIDA PGA JUNIOR TOUR

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Titleist, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Gulf Coast University, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and The Oasis Championship.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Schaefer and Kennedy Win Challenge Event No. 8

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, FL - Katherine Schaefer (Southwest Ranches) and Frank Kennedy (Tequesta) took home the eighth event of the South Florida PGA Challenge Tour season on October 19 th at Weston Hills Country Club.

This 36-hole event welcomed junior golfers aged 11-18 from across south Florida to Weston Hills Country Club.

Schaefer, 2024, carded a 77, tying Morgan Pichler (Hobe Sound) after the first round. The second round again resulted in a tie between the two, each carding a 74. After a three-hole playoff, Schaefer birdied the hole to win the division by one shot over Pichler.

Kennedy, 2024, carded a first-round 73 to help take the lead by three over MU Sun (Boynton Beach) in the Overall Boy's 13-18 Division. After a second-round 74, Kennedy was able to hold his lead and edge out Sun by two.

In the Girl's and Boy's 11-12 Division, Ariana Silva (74-74, 148) and Pavel Tsar (69-72, 141) won their division. Schaefer and Kennedy took home the titles in the Girl's and Boy's 13-15 Division. As for the Girl's and Boy's 16-18 Division, Nadia Poncy (86-83, 169) and Diego Rojas (78-78, 156) won their division titles.

The Challenge Tour is one of the South Florida PGA Junior Golf's five tours in which young golfers can compete. The South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour is a series of two-day events at some of South Florida's premiere facilities. Membership is open to all juniors 11-18 who meet certain scoring and age requirements.

SFPGA Alumni Wins Car at First Professional Event

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

SFPGA Alumni Yurika Tanida caused quite the stir in her first professional event. Tanida played in the Symetra Tours Island Resort Championship under sponsorship exemption at the Sweet Grass Golf Club in Harris Michigan.

The Michigan S tate Junior was on the par three 15th looking at an island green just hoping to make land fall and ended up with an ace and a new car!

Alyssa Fritz, Natthawat Sakchawanpob Win South Florida Junior Championship Tour Event No. 5

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, FL - Alyssa Fritz (Cape Coral) and Natthawat Sakchawanpob (Boca Raton) took home the fifth event of the South Florida PGA Championship Tour season on October 6th at the Polo Club of Boca Raton.

The 36-hole event welcomed junior golfers aged 13-18 from across south Florida to the Polo Club of Boca Raton.

Fritz, 2022, overcame a first round 81 to shoot a five-under 67 during the final round to win the Overall Girl's 13-18 Division. Fueled by a final round that consisted of six birdies and one bogey, Fritz's overall 148 total over the two days was enough to win by three over Amelie Alcantara of Boca Raton.

Sakchawanpob, 2020, carded a first-round 68 to help take the lead by three over Tyler Stachkunas (Lake Worth) in the Overall Boy's 13-18 Division. After a second-round 75, Sakchawanpob was able to keep the lead and edge out Stachkunas by two.

Earning low medalists in the Boy's and Girl's 16-18 Division were Amelie Alcantara (77-79, 151) and Sakchawanpob and low medal honors in the Boy's and Girl's 13-15 Division were Frank Kennedy (78-73, 151) and Fritz.

The Championship Tour is one of the South Florida PGA Junior Golf's five tours in which young golfers can compete. The South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour is a series of two-day events at some of South Florida's premiere facilities. Membership is open to all juniors 13-18 who meet certain scoring and age requirements.

Palm Beach Gardens Advances to Regional Championship

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

This weekend, 40 of south Florida's top participants in PGA Jr. League gathered at Lost City Golf Club to participate in the SFPGA Jr. League Section Championship. Four teams competed in a match play style tournament with a morning match and an afternoon championship match to determine the team that would advance to the Regional Championship.

International Links (Miami), Coached by John Moscoso, took on Wellington National, coached by Sherri Pla. Palm Beach Gardens, Coached by Mike Valicenti, took on Boca/ West Palm- Summer, Coached by Don Law.

Palm Beach Gardens won over Boca/ West Palm- Summer, with Palm Beach Gardens winning all their matches. The second match came down to the wire with Wellington National beating out International Links by just half a point.

The afternoon started with a shotgun start between Wellington National and Palm Beach Gardens. Palm Beach Gardens came out on top beating Wellington National 10-2.

Palm Beach Gardens will be advancing to the Regional Championship at PGA National on September 7-8th, where they will compete against teams from North Florida, Alabama, North West Florida, and Georgia.

"I'm really proud of our team. They have been working really hard, improving and learning the game of golf with each practice and tournament," said Palm Beach Gardens coach Mike Valicenti. "They are also having a lot of fun and making new friends and great memories, which is what the pga jr league is all about. Th closer we get to nationals, the more excited they get but right now our focus is on the next tournament at PGA National."

The Palm Beach Gardens Team was comprised of: Andrew Tsar, Pavel Tsar, Jude Desmond, Mateo Desmond, Tyler Chapman, Tristan Wieland, Brooks Colton, Reecie Hoben, and Aiden Miller. Coaches: Mike Valicenti and Steven Cox.

Tracy, Gupta Win South Florida PGA Doral Junior Classic

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly 80 of South Florida's top junior golfers competed in a 36-hole stroke play event this week, ending in a one-day team match play tournament.

After Round One went unfinished on Tuesday due to weather, Wednesday play began at 7:30 a.m. to finish the first round before beginning the second.

Chad Tracy came out on top in the Boy's Division after carding a 69, 73 (-2) to win his last SFPGA event before heading off to College.

The Girl's Division was close after Round One with six girls at five over. Natalli Gupta pulled away in the second round, firing a 73 to come out on top.

Following the second round, the field was split and players were placed on two teams: Red Team and Blue Team.

After the Team Red and Team Blue ended in a tie, the low boy and girl from each team then went out for sudden death alternate shot. Chad Tracy and Nicole Cee represented the Blue Team and Natalli Gupta for the Red Team.

Both teams beat out adversity on the first hole making two fantastic birdies to head back to the tee for the second playoff hole. Both teams hit the green in two, and both had looks at birdie. Nicole Cees putt came up just short leaving the door open for the Red Team. Sebastian Nachilly made a 6-footer to clinch the win for the Red Team.

Members of the Red Team included: Sebastian Nachilly, John Hoffman, Fernando Castillo, Sebastian Barcia, Chris Lee, Matthew DePinto, Hans Risvaer, Jack Tharrington, Jake Manelas, Corbin Scott, Haris Khan, Natalii Gupta, Adrianna Albelo, Madison Lowenstein, Hope Hall, Nicole Yugay, and Morgan Rodriguez.

Andres Rodriguez and Kim Egozi Win 27th Annual Patty Berg Junior Championship

Fri, 26 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

NAPLES, FL - To both Andres Rodriguez and Kim Egozi, winning the 27 th Annual Patty Berg Junior Championship meant more than winning a South Florida PGA Junior Tour Major or any golf tournament.

Rodriguez, originally from Chile, played in his first golf tournament on American soil this week at Wyndemere Golf Club. A tournament he won by seven strokes, shooting a three-day total 221, five over par.

Meanwhile Egozi competed in her last tournament before heading to Florida Atlantic University to begin her freshman season on the women's golf team. Egozi proved to be ready for the college ranks, winning the Girl's 13-18 division by 11 strokes. The Bonita Springs native shot a seven-over 223 to capture the championship.

Finishing behind Rodriguez was Tommy Amendola who began play on Wednesday with a one-over 73, finished the tournament 79-76 for a 12-over par finish.

On the Girl's side, Nicole Yugay went 76-77-81 to go 12-over for the tournament and caption second place.

The Patty Berg Junior Championship is the fourth of six majors played throughout the South Florida PGA Junior Tour season.

About the South Florida PGA Junior Tour

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two-day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 29 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at twenty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

Southwest Florida Junior Golf Association

Over our 40 years of existence, our junior golf program has produced multiple PGA and LPGA touring professionals, local PGA and LPGA club professionals, as well as many local business leaders. Our game of golf and SWFJGA promotes personal character growth, responsibility, and social skills that create lifelong friendships and achievement.

The continued growth of golf is essential through today's junior golfers in order to develop our next generation of players in the next 10 to 20 years. These kids will be your next club members, business owners, teachers, and neighbors. Therefore, our commitment as a junior golf program is to continue making this game fun, affordable, and available to all kids.

Chad Tracy and Hina Matsui Win 2019 South Florida Junior Open

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMT

NAPLES, FL - After three days of play at the beautiful Naples Beach Golf Club, Chad Tracy and Hina Matsui held on to win the 2019 South Florida Junior Open titles in the Boy's and Girl's 13-18 division, respectively.

Tracy (2019), the Naples High School product, carded a five-under 66 on Wednesday to open the tournament, building a four-stroke lead that proved to be enough to edge out Garrett Giles (2020) of Palm City who won the South Florida Junior PGA Championship in June.

After splitting a pair of 75's on day two and 71's today with Giles, Tracy's lead never wavered. Despite a triple bogey on hole 10 during the final round, Tracy made four birdies, including three on the back nine to stay even for the tournament and clinch the victory. The incoming Thomas University (NAIA) freshman avenged a third-place 2018 finish to win his first South Florida PGA Junior Tour Major victory.

Tracy, who graduated from Naples High School in May, is the son of PGA member and Naples High School golf coach Don Tracy. The duo helped the Naples High School boy's golf team win back-to-back regional titles.

In the Girl's Division, Matsui (2021) used a first-round 69 to take the lead and never look back. The Port St. Lucie resident shot a 71 in the second round to build a 10-stroke lead headed into this morning's final round.

Leading aside, Matsui wasn't finished. The 16-year-old carded six birdies today to shoot 68 for a three-day total of 208, the lowest of any player in the field this week, boy or girl.

Jenna Fonda (2020) of Wellington, shook off a first-round 78 with a 72 and 74 (224) to finish with solo runner-up honors.

The 54-hole, stroke-play event welcomed over 90 of South Florida's best junior golfers, aged 11-18, to Naples Beach Golf Club for the third major of the South Florida PGA Junior Tour's season.

About the South Florida PGA Junior Tour

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two-day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 29 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at twenty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

Hole in Ones, Celebrity Sightings, and More at the 2019 Nicklaus Junior Championship.

Fri, 28 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Hole and ones, celebrity sightings, and more at the 2019 Nicklaus Junior Championship.

Jack and Barbra Nicklaus created the Nicklaus Junior Championship 35 years ago in an effort to highlight great junior golfers in South Florida. Prior to the tournament Jack Nicklaus said "Barbara and I love junior golf, and for decades we have tried to support numerous programs focused on introducing the game to young girls and boys, and nurturing their love of the game and of competition. We are honored that this event bears our name, and we are delighted that two clubs very special to us—The Bear's Club and Lost Tree—are hosting the Nicklaus Junior this year. I think the golfers will enjoy both golf courses. They should have fun, and I hope they all play great!"

Past Champions include: PGA Champion, Brooks Kopeka and 2 time PGA Tour winner, Daniel Berger. Who knows where these Juniors will end up in the future!

The event began on Thursday with the 168 players in field. They were split amongst Lost Tree Club and The Bear's Club, two of south Florida finest golf courses. Griffin Miamilead the Overall Boys 13-18 division after round one firing a -4, 68 at The Bear's Club. Maisie Filler of Palm Beach Gardens was the round one leader in the Overall Girls 13-18 division after going -5 at The Bears Club. Day two brought some unwanted weather to The Bear's Club resulting in two weather delays, however it did not affect the leaders who played their second rounds at the Lost Tree Club.

Both were victorious with Steutel shooting a 76 during the second and final round. Finishing just two shots behind Steutel was Cameron Owens of Wellington (74, 72).

Filler fired a final round score +2, 74 at Lost Tree Club to claim victory by 10 shots, over Agatha Alesson of Weston (75, 76).

While receiving their awards, the boys divisional champions were congratulated by PGA Tour Professional Daniel Berger, who just happened to be getting in some practice at The Bear's Club. It made for a pretty neat end to a phenomenal event for the Champions!

In the Boys 11-12 age division Matthew Golovanov of Boca Raton finished the event -1 (71, 72) to capture the trophy. Layla Pedrique of Palm Beach Gardens won the girls 11-12 division shooting a 80, 77 at The Bear's Club and Lost Tree respectively. These wins were firsts for the two of them who both aced holes during the event! Matthew had his first hole-in-one ever on number 12 at The Bear's Club and Layla had hers at Lost Tree on hole number 8.

The 2019 Nicklaus Junior Championship also served as the debut of the SFPGA College Division, created to provide collegiate players and South Florida PGA Junior Tour alum with an opportunity to continue to play the game competitively.

This division feature 4 collegiate male golfers and nine women. Zac Bunder of Port St. Lucie won the Men's division with scores of 74, 79. Scores of 74, 77 were just enough for Junior Tour Alum, Taylor Morgan of Coconut Creek to take home the Women's division title.

This event was held in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Golf Association.

GILES, SMITH WIN SOUTH FLORIDA JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, QUALIFY FOR NATIONAL JUNIOR PGA

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

BOCA RATON, Fl. (June 13, 2019) Garrett Giles of Palm City is glad he waited out a three-hour rain delay.

Giles almost left the South Florida Junior PGA Championship to play in a recreational basketball game because he didn't think the golf tournament would get finished Thursday and the scores would revert to 18 holes.

When play finally resumed, Giles made a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to rally from a two-shot deficit and win the Boys 16-18 division. Giles shot a 3-under 68 on the Fazio 2 Course at Boca West to finish at 5-under 137

"I had no idea what the greens were going to be like after the delay, but when I saw one of my partners hit it 8 feet past the hole, I played a lot more break and didn't hit it as hard," said Giles, a senior at Martin County High. "It's by far the biggest tournament I've won.

That partner, Jude Kim of Plantation, three-putted the last hole for a double bogey to finish at 4-under after a 69. Kim had birdied the last three holes before the delay.

Andie Smith of Hobe Sound shot 73 to win the Girls 16-18 division by two shots at even par. Gloria Nip of Port St. Lucie had a 71 and finished second at 2-over 144.

The winners and runners-up each qualified for the National Junior PGA Championship in July at Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford, Ct.

"The delay gave me time to think about what I had to do on the last hole," said Smith, a sophomore at The Pine School who has committed to Duke. "At the same time, you could also get ahead of yourself. I'm happy to qualify for the tournament in Connecticut."

Nip is no stranger to the national stage, having won the National Drive Chip & Putt and finished runner-up at Augusta National. Considering she just turned 13, this was another impressive performance for the home-schooled Nip.

"Winning the Drive Chip & Putt is still my best accomplishment, but this means a lot," Nip said.

2020 Drive, Chip and Putt Underway

Thu, 06 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Hammock Creek Golf Club- The 2020 Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifying season got under way this Wednesday at Hammock Creek Golf Club in Palm City.

Over 65 kids ages 7-15 competed to earn a spot to the Sub-Regional Qualifier at Lost Tree Club in August. The top three players in each age division moved on to the Sub Regional.

Gloria Nip, who made it all the way to the National Finals at Augusta National last year, earned herself another spot in to the Sub-Regionals.

Our next Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifier will be on Sunday June 9th at Eagle Trace Golf Club.

SUN AND FONDA CAPTURE TITLES AT CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR EVENT #4

Sun, 12 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA JuniorChampionshipTour presented byThe Honda Classic heldits fourth event of the season at Eagle Trace Golf Club in Coral Springs. The Mother's Day weekend was brought with mostly great weather aside from a slight weather delay on Sunday. Lots of mothers came out on Sunday to cheer on their juniors and we are fortunate to have them onsite with us.

Wanxi Sun came out on top this weekend with a two-day total of 146 (+2), shooting a one over par 73 consecutively. Sun battled it out Cameron Piedra who finished second with a 147 (+3). Sun's par, birdie finish clinched his title for overall winner. Boys 13-15 age division was lead by Reed Greyserman, shooting 76, 75 (+7).

Jenna Fonda came out on top for the girl's overall championship today with a two-day total of 152 (+8), shooting 79, 73. Second place was captured by Agatha Alesson with a two-day total of 158 (+14). Even with the weather delay these girls were able to keep their focus and power through with strong finishes. Sophia Louis took home the Girls 13-15 title with a two-day score of 158 firing consecutive 79's.

TYLER AND BRYANT CAPTURE TITLE AT CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT #4

Sun, 05 May 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #4 at the Vineyards Country Club on the North Course in Naples, FL. The weekend provided excellent weather but some challenging winds!

In just his second SFPGA tournament, Tommy Tyler captured the first-place title this weekend. After opening with a solid round of 76, Tyler found himself two strokes off the lead. Battling another round in 15-20 mph wind, Tyler fired back shooting just two over par to take home the victory. In the Boys 16-18 Division, Jack Hasson shot a 79-77 to win in a scorecard playoff. For the Boys 13-15 Division, Payne McEntee took home 1 st place with rounds 74-77 for an overall total of +7.

In the Girls 13-18 Division we had an exciting weekend and nail biter to say the least. With windy conditions and a wide range of scores from our top performers, anyone could take home the trophy at the end of the tournament. After Sunday's round we had a 3-way tie for 1 st place between Katherine Schaefer, Kayla Bryant and Melanie Bailes. After just one hole, Kayla Bryant (73-79) won the overall playoff with a par. In the Girls 13-15 Division, Katherine Schaefer walked away victorious shooting 77-75 between the two rounds. In the Girls 16-18 Division, Melanie Bailes shot a solid 76 both days to take home the 1 st place trophy.

In the Boys 11-12 Division, Jessy Huebner was on fire this weekend with phenomenal rounds of 72-69. After a 3-way scorecard playoff for 2 nd place, Pavel Tsar (74-73) captured the title after shooting 37 on the back nine.

Madison Lowenstein won the Girls 11-12 Division after shooting 75 in both rounds to finish +6 on the tournament. It was a close battle for second place on Sunday, but Sara Davey claimed it after shooting +15 after two rounds.

GREYSERMAN AND LOUIS CAPTURE TITLES AT CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR EVENT #3

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Championship Tour Event #3 at Indian Spring Country Club on the East Course in Boynton Beach, FL. The weekend provided excellent weather but some challenging winds!

Reed Greyserman competed in his first ever Championship Tour event for the South Florida PGA. After just one second place finish on the Challenge Tour earlier this year, he showed his talent this weekend. After opening with asolid round of 76, Greyserman found himself 1 stroke off the lead. Battling another round in 15-20 mph wind, Greyserman fired back with an even par round of 72 to take home the victory. In the Boys 16-18 Division, Fernando Castillo shot a 78-71 to win in a scorecard playoff. For the Boys 13-15 Division, Jackson Kustintook home first place with a pair of 75's for a total of 150.

It was an exciting weekend in the Girls 13-18 Division with a nail biting end. With windy conditions and a wide range of scores from top performers, anyone could have taken home the trophy on Sunday. Upon completion of the final round5 girls ended up tied for first place. With a reachable par 5 for the first playoff hole, this title could go to anyone. Lauren Davenport (76-74) and Sophia Louis (73-77) both ended up with putts for birdies. Louis went on to make the putt and walk away as the champion after just one hole. In the Girls 13-15 Division, Nicole Yugay took home first place shooting 76-74 winning in a scorecard playoff. In the Girls 16-18 Division, Kim Egozishot 78-72 to take home the first-place trophy.

Changing the World Through Golf

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

South Florida PGA Junior Tour member, Rafe Cochran is doing his best to change the world one person at a time through the game of golf. Cochran, whose story was featured on West Palm Beach CBS 12 News, is only 14 years old but has been helping those in need since he was 9. He was inspired to help when he saw all the great work Food for the Poor was doing, in places like Haiti and Jamaica.

With the inspiration that he got while in Jamacia he decided to do his part to help. He started with asking for pledges during his golf tournaments. These initial pledges lead to $18,000 raised to build three homes in Haiti. Now, 8 years later, he has raised over $200,000 to build homes and schools in Hatti and Jamaica.

This Saturday, April 27th, Banyan Cay Resort will be hosting the 4th annual Rafe Cochran Golf Classic, with proceeds going towards the great work Rafe is doing.

Cochran was the recipient of the 2018 Don Law Service Award. This award was created to recognize junior golfers who demonstrate leadership, character and community service through their involvement with the South Florida PGA Foundation as well as other charitable endeavors.

Rafe continues to live by the moto that he came up with when he was 9 years old: "You are never too young to take action and make a difference"

75 Players Competed in Vero Beach for the 4th Prep Tour Event of 2019

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

South Florida PGA Prep Tour Event #4

75 Players Competed at Sandridge Golf Club for the fourth Prep Tour Event of 2019

Vero Beach, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the fourth Prep Tour Event of the 2019 season at Sandridge Golf Club. This event featured a field of 75 players aging from 9-18 years old. The conditions were tough with high winds and rain looming in the distance, but that didn't stop players from putting up great scores.

Brooks Colton of Riviera Beach captured the boy's 9-10 age division shooting 81. Naples native Gabe Boone was runner-up in the boy's 9-10 age division with a round of 83. Dax Greenwood of Naples took home the boy's 11-12 age division with a round of 78. Boca Raton native Jack Cole finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 79. Christian Figueredo of Miami captured the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 79. Jaden Russell of Miami took home the runner-up spot in the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 80.

Marley Pedrique of Palm Beach Gardens captured the girls 9-10 age division shooting an 86. Miami native Sophia Coronel was runner-up in the girls 9-10 age division with a round of 89. Abigail Halpern of Palm City took home the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 88. Parkland native Mia Perez finished runner-up in the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 89. Jayda Dookie of Greenacres took home the girls 13-18 age division with a round of 89. Lake Worth native Vrishti Patel finished runner-up in the girls 13-18 age division after a round of 90.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Titleist, The Oasis Championship, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at twelve championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Team Golf Off and Running

Thu, 11 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Team golf is officially underway in all regions: Palm Beach, Lee/Collier, and Broward county. There are close to 300 participates in the program this year which is up from last.

Team golf is a program for beginner golfers that need a competitive and fun tournament environment to continue to grow and learn in the game of golf. Team golf tournaments have about 5-10 teams of 3-5 kids each team. The format is a 9 hole, two person scramble where each pairings score counts towards their teams overall score. The course is modified for the kids based off their age and ability with courses ranging between 2,300 yards to 1,300 yards. Kids can have their parents on the course with them as caddies to help with pace of play. In addition, parents drive carts for their kids as they walk the duration of the hole. The scoring is then done on a points system. So, the two man team with the lowest 9 hole score receives 200 points, 2 nd place 190 points and so on down the list; then the team with the highest combined score wins.

Team golf is a great way to get your kids interested in golf and make it a fun family activity on weekends. The whole family can come out and watch and experience all the fun of junior golf.

Team Golf is the first stop along the SFPGA Junior Tour journey, with the goal of educating new golfers about how to play the game and have fun doing it. The next step in the process is the Links Tour. The Links Tour is a 9 hole individual stroke play tournament for intermediate golfers. These tournaments will prepare kids for the more competitive 18 hole events of the Prep-Tour and then on to the 36 hole events of the Challenge and Champions Tours.

LIU AND KENNEDY CAPTURE CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT #3

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #3 at Lost City Golf Club in Atlantis, FL. The course was in perfect shape, but each competitor had to battle against fast greens, warm temperatures, and a steady breeze all weekend.

Frank Kennedy, of Jupiter, FL played in his first Challenge Tour event ever. Opening with one under par (71), Kennedy had the lead by two strokes! Not far behind was Carson Baez (73) of Palmetto Bay, FL and Reed Greyserman (74) of Boca Raton, FL. All players had a great round of golf on Sunday, but had a little more wind to play with than round 1. Kennedy ended up shooting a 73 to capture the Boys Overall 13-18 Division. After a scorecard playoff between Baez and Greyserman, Baez (151) took home first place in the Boys 13-15 age division. In the Boys 16-18 Division, Richard Russekoff took home first place shooting 77-78.

In the Girls Division, Hope Hall of Boca Raton, FL opened with an impressive 75 on Saturday. Just behind Hall was Cynthia Liu (77) of Parkland, FL and Taylor Oberparleiter (78) of Jupiter, FL. The girls knew they would have a close match up on Sunday and had to stay focused on every shot. Liu, came back with another strong score of 77 to secure the Girls Overall 13-18 Division. Hall and Oberparleiter were just behind Liu taking home their respective age divisions. Hall ended up posting 75-82 to take home the Girls 13-15 age divison, Oberparleiter went 78-79 for another great weekend and her second Girls 16-18 division win in a row.

In the Boys 11-12 division, we had a very close match up and a lot of low scores after round one. Tyler Chapman, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL lead after round one with an outstanding 72. Right behind Chapman, was Eric Nguyen (74) and Pavel Tsar (74), two players that have multiple wins with the SFPGA on both Prep and Challenge Tours. On Sunday, Chapman was on fire with 4 birdies and no bogeys, securing his victory seamlessly. In the Girls 11-12 Division, we had 4 players within 2 strokes after round 1, Polina Anisimov, of Port St. Lucie, FL was just out in front with a 78. All girls knew it could be a toss up on Sunday with anyone taking home the victory. At the end of round 2, Alana Hall (80-75) of Boca Raton, FL shot an outstanding 75 to claim first place by just one stroke.

SFPGA Juniors Take Augusta

Fri, 05 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Augusta, GA - It's that time of the year again! This Sunday is the start of Masters Week and for the sixth year the festivities are kicking off with The Drive, Chip, and Putt Finals at Augusta National. This year at the Drive, Chip, and Putt Finals the South Florida PGA will be represented by three outstanding young golfers: Talia Rodino, Ariana Silva, and Ryan Nana Tanke.

This is Rodinos fourth year of participating in the Drive, Chip, and Putt program and her first finals appearance. She made it to the second round qualifying at her home course of Stoneybrook Golf Course in Estero. The Local Qualifier then took her to the Sub-Regional Qualifier at Bonita Bay Club and then on to the Regional Qualifier at TPC Sawgrass. Rodino is one of ten girls competing in the girls 14-15 age division.

Ariana Silva will represent the section as well in the girls 10-11 age division. Silva of Weston, Florida made in through the Local Qualifiers for the first time this year having tried qualifying locally in 2016 and 2017. She then went on the Sub-Regional qualifier at Lost Tree Club where she moved on the Regional Qualifier at TPC Sawgrass.

Ryan Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida is taking on the finals in the boys 7-9 age division. Nana Tanke qualified locally at his home course of PGA National, which moved him on to the Sub-Regional Qualifier at Lost Tree Club. He then went on to TPC Sawgrass where he qualified in just his second year of participating.

Coverage of the Drive, Chip, and Putt Finals will air on the golf channel on Sunday April, 7th starting with Morning Drive at 7 am and live Drive, Chip, and Putt coverage starting at 8am- 1pm. Live Streaming of the coverage will also be available through the Golf Channel app. Make sure to tune in and cheer on our South Florida junior golfers.

78 Players Competed at Vineyards Country Club for the Third Prep Tour Event of 2019

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

South Florida PGA Prep Tour Event #3
78 Players Competed at Vineyards for the third Prep Tour Event of 2019

Naples, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the third Prep Tour Event of the 2019 season at Vineyards Country Club. This event featured a full field of 78 players aging from 9-18 years old. The course was in phenomenal condition and the weather could not have been better.

Sarp Gurdogan of Palm Beach Gardens captured the boy's 9-10 age division shooting a round of 7-over par, 79. Key Biscayne native Borja Friend was runner-up in the boy's 9-10 age division with a round of 13-over par, 85. Oscar Crowe of Boca Raton took home the boy's 11-12 age division with a round of 1-under par, 71. West Palm Beach native Haris Khan finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 3-over par, 75. Bennett Stone of West Palm Beach captured the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 2-over par, 74. Tequesta native Dalton Moore took home the runner-up spot in the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 3-over par, 75.

Fernanda Carrion of Coral Gables captured the girls 9-10 age division for the second time this year shooting an 80. Palm Beach Gardens native Marley Pedrique was runner-up in the girls 9-10 age division with a round of 83, her second runner-up finish this year. Annika Kohoutkova of Naples took home the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 79. Palm City native Abigail Halpern finished runner-up in the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 84. Rileigh Baker of Weston took home the girls 13-18 age division with a round of 78. Cooper City native Kelly Buker finished runner-up in the girls 13-18 age division in after a round of 86.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Titleist, The Oasis Championship, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at twelve championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

FISCHER AND OWENS CAPTURE CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR EVENT #2

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Championship Tour Event #2 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. This event was the second Championship Tour of the season!

The boy's division featured some heavy hitters this weekend. After round 1 we had 4 players all within 2 strokes of each other. Defending champion, Jeffery Liss opened with a 71, one under par to take the lead by just 1 stroke. Paired up with Liss, was Wellington native, Cameron Owens who is coming back from an injury in late 2018. On Sunday, these two players had an outstanding second round and were tied through 12 holes. After hole 12, Owens finished out with 3 more birdies for a career low of 66 to solidify his victory. Liss ended up with a first place finish in the Boys 16-18 division (71-74). In the boys 13-15 division, Jackson Kustin won in a scorecard playoff after shooting 75-70 against Andres Barraza.

Jordan Fischer, of North Ft. Myers, FL had an outstanding weekend opening with a 72 and a hole in one on Saturday. After winning the Championship Tour Event #1, Fischer showed everyone that she was capable of winning event #2 as well. However, Fischer had three players looking for a victory just 2 strokes back. On Sunday, Fischer had another outstanding round of 71 on Sunday to secure her 2nd victory of the year. In the Girls 16-18 division, Caroline Patterson, of Jupiter, FL shot a 75-73 to capture that age division by 5 strokes. In the 13-15 age division, Valentine Savioz had a great weekend of 74-76 to take home victory.

JADE SCOTT AND STEPHEN SCOTT CAPTURE VICTORY AT CHALLENGE EVENT #2

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #2 at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach, FL. Each competitor battled through a full day of rain on Saturday and some warm windy temperatures on Sunday.

Native to Vero Beach, FL, Stephen Scott opened with an impressive 2 over par (74) on Saturday to take the lead by one. With a tight leader board and two more competitors within two strokes of Scott, he new he had a lot of work ahead of him. Scott finalized his victory with a second round of 81 for his first win on the Challenge Tour. For the 13-15 division, Mathew Marceline took home 1 st place after a 3-way scorecard playoff at 157 (77-80). In the boys 16-18 division, Chase Cohen of Palm Beach Gardens, FL captured the victory with a two day total of 159 (79-80).

Native to Lauderhill, FL, Jade Scott opened with a 79 to take the lead by one stroke. Just behind was Taylor Oberparleiter (80) and Sabrina Kim (81) for the final pairing. All girls had to battle the strong winds on Sunday, but Scott was able to secure the victory with a second round score of 81 (160). For the girls 13-15 division, Talia Rodino, of Fort Myers, FL took home 1 st place after shooting 83-79. For the girls 16-18 division, Oberparleiter of Jupiter, FL finished up with an 84 and a two day total of 164.

In the Boys 11-12 division, we had a very close match up and tight leader board all weekend long. Jessy Huebner, of Port St. Lucie, FL captured the victory with two outstanding days of 75-72. Just behind Huebner, was Pavel Tsar (76-72) and Eric Nguyen (73-75). In the Girls 11-12 division, Morgan Pichler, of Hobe Sound, FL and Polina Anisimov, of Port St. Lucie, FL were a close match up and tied for the lead after round 1 with an 86 posted. On Sunday, both girls played outstanding golf, but Anisimov was able to come out one stroke ahead posting an impressive 78.

SFPGA JR Tour Alum Alexa Pano to be Recognized by PBCSC

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Former South Florida PGA Junior Tour player, Alexa Pano, will be recognized at the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame awards celebration on March 25, 2019 for her outstanding success in golf throughout the nation. Pano, of Lake Worth won her first tournament on the SFPGA Challenge Tour at 9 years of age in 2013. After moving up to the Championship Tour one year later she won their as well, in addition to capturing the 2016 Junior Tour Championship Title. She has continued to excel at a young age across the nation and has taken home some of the biggest titles in junior golf. Some of her recent accomplishments include helping the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup Team earn another victory, winning the 2018 Dixie Amateur in South Florida, and just recently captured the Dustin Johnson World Junior Championship.

72 Players Competed in the 2nd Prep Tour Event of 2019 at Weston Hills Country club

Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Weston, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the second Prep Tour Event of the 2019 season at Weston Hills Country Club. This event featured a full field of 78 players aging from 9-18 years old. The morning started off cloudy, but the sky opened up to reveal perfect playing conditions for the day.

Sohan Patel of Weston captured the boys 9-10 age division with a 7-over par 79. Fort Myers native Jackson Mills took home the runner-up spot in the boys 9-10 age division with a 9-over par 81. Cameron Baez of Palmetto Bay captured the boys 11-12 age division with a 4-over par 76. Miami native Hugo Stenstrom took home the runner-up spot in the boys 11-12 age division with a 5-over par 77. Jaden Russell of Miami captured the boys 13-18 age division with an even-par 72. Jupiter native Bennett Sullivan took home the runner-up spot in the boys 13-18 age division with a 2-over par 74.

Marley Pedrique of Palm Beach Gardens captured the girls 9-10 age division with a 14-over par 86. Lighthouse Point native Ashley Balcom took home the runner-up spot in the girls 9-10 age division with an 87. Kierra Williams of Davie captured the girls 11-12 age division with a 10-over par 82. Key Biscayne native Victoria Suarez took home runner-up spot in the girls 11-12 age division with a 18-over par 90. Jayda Dookie of Greenacres captured the girls 13-18 age division in a scorecard playoff with an 18-over par 90. Plantation native Isabel Van den Berg took home the runner-up spot in the girls 13-18 age division in a scorecard playoff with a 90.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Titleist, The Oasis Championship, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

FISCHER AND THARRINGTON CAPTURE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR EVENT OF 2019

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Championship Tour Event #1 at the Country Club of Coral Springs in Coral Springs, FL. The sold out field featured many of South Florida's top junior golfers.

The girls division featured a thriller weekend at the Country Club of Coral Springs. Jordan Fischer of North Ft. Myers, FL opened with an even Par round of 71. One stroke back was Kelly Shanahan of Coral Springs, FL. On Sunday afternoon, both battled gusty winds and fast greens in hopes to bring home the Overall Trophy. Fischer finished with an impressive 72 which was just enough to finalize her victory. Shanahan with a round 2 score of 73, she was the champion of the girls 13-15 division. For the girls 16-18 division, we had a scorecard playoff after both Alena Lindh and Laura Lou were tied with a two day total of 150. Laura Lou was able capture the 16-18 division with an outstanding even par round on Sunday.

The boys division had a stacked leaderboard after round 1. With two 69's posted and a handful of players right behind that, many players had a chance at victory on Sunday. From Boca Raton, FL, Jack Tharrington was able to secure victory with a two day total of 143. For the boys 13-15 division, Tyler Stachkunas took home first place shooting 69-77. In the boys 16-18 division, Garret Giles of Palm City, FL won after posting just 3 over par for both rounds.

78 Players Competed at Eastpointe Country Club in the first Prep Tour Event of 2019

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

West Palm Beach, Fla. - This Sunday, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the first Prep Tour Event of the 2019 season at Eastpointe Country Club. A sold out event of 78 players aging from 9-18 years of age competed on a beautiful Sunday. Despite the windy conditions, 12 players took home awards at the end of the day.

Jude Desmond of Pompano Beach took home the boys 9-10 age division with a 10-over par 81. Cape Coral native Adrian Banham finished runner-up in the boys 9-10 age division with a 15-over par 86. Jack Quinn of Palm Beach Gardens took home the boys 11-12 age division with a 7-over par 78. Royal Palm Beach native Kai Francis took home the runner-up spot in the boys 11-12 age division with an 11-over par 82. Diego Rojas of Port St. Lucie captured the boys 13-18 age division with a 7-over par 78. Palm City native Jake Navaretta took home runner-up for the boys 13-18 age division with a 9-over par 80.

Fernanda Carrion of Coral Gables captured the girls 9-10 age division with a 17-over par 88. Pembroke Pines native Abigail Lee took home the runner-up spot in the girls 9-10 age division with a 22-over par 93. Mia Perez of Parkland took home the girls 11-12 age division with an 18-over par 89. Palm City native Abigail Halpern was the runner-up for girls 11-12 age division with a 20-over par 91. Vrishti Patel of Lake Worth won the girls 13-18 age division with a 15-over par 86. Weston native Rileigh Baker took home the runner-up spot in the girls 13-18 age division with a 16-over par 87.

Caloca and Umezu Capture First Challenge Tour Event of 2019

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Event #1 at Sandpiper Bay Golf Club at Club Med in Port St. Lucie, FL. This event was the first Challenge Tour Event of the 2019 season.

Carlos Caloca of Delray Beach, FL won his first South Florida PGA Junior Tour event of his career this weekend. After shooting just 3 over par, Caloca entered Sunday tied for the lead with Port St. Lucie, FL resident Callen Hoskins. Hoskins had the advantage as Sandpiper Bay Golf Club is his home course. Both juniors battled through nerves all day, but in the end, Caloca was able to edge out the victory after rounds of 73-74. Callen Hoskins, ended up taking home the Boy's 13-15 age division, while Port St. Lucie resident Alex Kim, took home the Boys 13-18 age division.

Mayumi Umezu of Port St. Lucie, FL competed in her first SFPGA tournament ever. Opening with a spectacular round of even par she had the lead by 5. Firing back in round two with an impressive 71, one over par she was able to take home the overall Girls 13-18 division. The Girls 13-15 division had a close leaderboard throughout the weekend. Jade Scott, of Lauderhill, FL grinded out the whole weekend against a familiar competitor Nicole Yugay. Scott walked away victorious after two impressive rounds of 78-75, Yugay was one back after shooting 80-74. In the Girls 16-18 division, Kira Shellman took home the first place trophy shooting 83-78.

Pavel Tsar, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL captured the Boys 11-12 division with two outstanding rounds at 70-76. In the Girls 11-12 division, Layla Pedrique took home victory after shooting 79-74.

2019 Junior Tour Membership

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by the Honda Classic is now open for registration for the 2019 season. With the first Championship Tour event of 2019 taking place on February 16-17, the anticipation for the 2019 season is at an all-time high.

The SFPGA Championship Tour will feature 6 two-day tournaments in 2019 along with 5 Junior Majors, 3 of which will be 54-hole events. The Championship Tour will host tournaments from Vero Beach to Naples and all the way down to Miami. The Championship Tour is the SFPGA's elite level junior tour and is open to juniors age 13-18 who meet scoring requirements from the 2018 season. The 2019 Championship Tour is anticipated to generate some of the strongest fields in junior golf this year.

The SFPGA Challenge Tour will feature 9 two-day tournaments in 2019. The Challenge Tour is the SFPGA's middle level tour for juniors looking to bridge the gap and gain more experience. Players must have prior playing experience in order to play on the Challenge Tour. The Challenge Tour features an 11-12 age division for boys and girls as well as 13-15 and 16-18 boys and girls age divisions.

The SFPGA Prep Tour will feature 12 one-day tournaments in 2019. The Prep Tour is the SFPGA's entry level tour for juniors who are looking to get a start in competitive golf. The Prep Tour features a 9-10 age division for boys and girls as well as an 11-12 age division and a 13-18 age division for both boys and girls.

Prep Tour tournaments are one-day, 18-hole events while the Challenge Tour and Championship Tour tournaments are two-day, 36 hole events. Players earn Player of the Year points for each event based on their finish and the points are tallied all season long to determine the Player of the Year for the Prep, Challenge and Championship tours. Player of the Year points are also used to determine who will be invited to participate in the Junior Tour Championship at the end of the season. This year's Junior Tour Championship will be held on December 7-8, at Jonathan's Landing Golf Club at Old Trail. Each event provides juniors with Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings as well as AJGA PBE stars.

2019 College Golf Seminar

Fri, 04 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

The 2019 South Florida PGA College Golf Seminar is approaching quickly and we would like to see everyone there! The South Florida PGA is committed to helping Juniors prepare for and reach the next level in their careers. This FREE seminar is designed to provide valuable information to Junior Golfers and parents about what it is like and what it takes to reach the next level for athletics and education. Topics of discussion at the seminar include: the PGA Golf Management Program, NCAA, NAIA and JUCO rules and regulations, communication with coaches, the recruitment process, resumes and videos, official and unofficial visits to schools, and personal perspectives and experience from a current student, student-athlete, and parent of a student-athlete. This seminar will include: coaches from NCAA, NAIA, and JUCO schools, FGCU Golf Management Program Director, a current Golf Management Program student, a student-athlete, and the parent of a former student-athlete whose son is currently on the PGA Tour with 3 major titles.

If you are looking to reach the next level and have questions about how to get there, this seminar will be able to answer all the questions you may have! Again, this is a FREE seminar so do not miss this opportunity to gain exceptional information!

The Seminar is on Tuesday January 15th at Boca Lago Country Club from 6:00-8:00 PM.

2018 Birdie Club Results

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Golf is considered the most philanthropic sport in the world. This is thanks to the many generous patrons that play, give and support the lifelong game. The South Florida PGA Junior Tour seeks to start this legacy in the early stages of their participants' careers. Through the Birdie Club Program, junior golfers ages 7-18 get to learn how they can contribute to the philanthropic reputation of the game. This program charitably rewards the juniors success on the golf course throughout the season.

Some junior golfers have bought into this giving mentality and have excelled on-and-off the course. Kayla Bryant, of Boca Raton, is our 2018 Birdie Club champion with 24 birdies in 2018 SFPGA events alone. Friends and family of Bryant pledged to donate a specific amount of money for each birdie made that is given right to the SFPGA Foundation. Bryant's great success during the 2018 playing season, provided hope to military veterans, put smiles on pediatric patients' faces and more golfing opportunities for juniors in South Florida. These programs are just some of the many ways the South Florida PGA Foundation gives back to their local communities through the game of golf.

"Participating in the 2018 Birdie Club was an amazing opportunity because I can play the game I love and contribute by raising money thru the birdies I made throughout the year to help the community in a positive way" Bryant once said. Bryant cultivates her giving spirit through the Birdie Club and always having the greatest attitude out on the course.

Along with Bryant, Devan Chahal of Parkland and Eric Nguyen of Pembroke Pines were great contributors towards the Birdie Club. Chahal had an impressive 22 birdies coming in a close second, just behind that was Nguyen with an outstanding 19 birdies! In 2018, 11 juniors contributed to the Birdie Club and raised over $1000 for the SFPGA Foundation. We look forward to the 2019 Junior Tour season and seeing our junior participants excel on the greens while raising money for their local charities.

SFPGA Junior Players of the Year

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour named six Player of The Year winners last week. The South Florida PGA annually awards Player of the Year honors to one boy and girl in the Challenge Tour 11-12 age division, one boy and girl in the Challenge Tour 13-18 age division and one boy and girl in the Championship Tour division. This year we had a few very close races that came down to the very last event.

Palm City native Garrett Giles has been named the 2018 Championship Tour Player of the Year. Giles had an outstanding season finishing first in 3 tournaments. Two out of these three tournaments were Major Championships consisting of some of the best players in South Florida. In addition to these three incredible wins, Giles rounded out the year with a 73.4 scoring average and finished in the top 10 in 7 tournaments.

Skylee Shin of Doral has been named the 2018 Championship Tour girls Player of the Year for the second year in a row! Shin was named the Challenge Tour girls Player of the year in 2016 and followed it up with two dominating seasons on the Championship Tour. The 14 year old captured 3 victories, 3 runner up finishes, and finished top five in 11 out of 12 events! Shin continues to excel and improve her game every tournament, she will be one to watch for in years to come.

Kelly Shanahan of Coral Springs, FL was awarded the 2018 Challenge Tour Player of the Year honors. Shanahan put together an incredible season winning 4 of her 8 events, finishing top 5 in all but 1 tournament. At only 14 years old, Shanahan will be fun to watch compete on the Championship Tour in 2019 and the following years.

NaShawn Tyson of North Palm Beach, FL has earned the 2018 Challenge Tour Player of the Year. Tyson put together an outstanding season with a scoring average of 75. Tyson took home 2 victories throughout the season, and placed top 5 in an additional 3 events. At only 13 years of age, Tyson will be one to watch throughout high school as he moves up to our Championship Tour in 2019.

Eric Nguyen of Pembroke Pines, FL has been awarded the 2018 Challenge Tour (Boys 11-12) Player of the year. Nguyen had an impressive season placing top three in 9 of 12 events. At 11 years old Nguyen had an unbelievable scoring average of a 78.8.

Sara Davey of Fort Lauderdale, FL has earned the 2018 Challenge Tour (Girls 11-12) Player of the Year. Sara won 2 tournaments throughout the season and finished top 3 in five of her eight events.

2018 Award Winners

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

On December 2nd we announced our 2018 award winners at our SFPGA Junior Tour Championship presented by The Honda Classic. We awarded 5 juniors with very special awards they each earned throughout the year. These awards included the Honda Classic Most Impr...

GILES AND SMITH CAPTURE 2018 SFPGA JUNIOR TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship presented by The Honda Classic was held on the Estates Course at PGA National in West Palm Beach, FL. The invitation only field, consisting of South Florida's top junior golfers, did not disappoint

Garrett Giles of Palm City, FL put together two great rounds of golf this weekend. Opening with a great score of 74, Giles was right in the hunt for the overall trophy. Just two strokes behind the leader after round 1, Giles fired back with an impressive 70 on Sunday. Coming in just behind Giles was Fynn Fenstermacher shooting 73-72. Fenstermacher ended up winning the boys 16-18 age division and was outstanding all weekend long, giving Giles a tough fight right up until the end. Winning the boys 13-15 age division was Tyler Stachkunas, of Wellington, FL. Stachkunas opened up with a 77, firing right back with an even par 72 on Sunday.

Andie Smith of Hobe Sound, FL took home the title for the girls division this weekend. Smith played excellent all weekend long posting a 72-74. Battling against a tough course and strong winds, Smith also had to stay focused with some great players right behind her. Coming in a close second overall, and winning the girls 13-15 division was Skylee Shin (73-74). These two were neck and neck all weekend long, this title wasn't secured until Smith made a birdie on hole 18 to secure the win. Agatha Alesson of Weston, FL took home the girls 16-18 division poting a 76-75.

Pavel Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens, FL captured the boys 11-12 division this weekend. Tsar put together two great rounds of 77 for a two day total of 154. Just behind Tsar was Victor Herrera posting 81-78.

Miriam Barcalova of Boynton Beach, FL took home the title for the girls 11-12 division shooting 89-82.

2018 South Florida PGA College Signing

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is happy to announce 7 South Florida PGA Juniors have signed to play collegiate golf in 2019. These juniors have worked their way through The Journey and are now on their way to continue their successes. We congratulate all of these junior golfers and wish them the best of luck in their college careers. Juniors include:

Fred Biondi - University of Florida

Josh Braverman - Carnegie Mellon University

Gina Carvelli - Marymount University

Remi Chartier - East Tennessee State University

Allison Dusek - Samford University

Brianna Fitzpatrick - Wagner College

Hannah Foster - Lehigh University

Chase Scholze - Monmouth University

FISCHER SIBLINGS TAKE HOME VICTORY AT CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT #12

Sun, 18 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #12 on the Gold Course at Mariner Sands Country Club in Stuart, FL. Two talented siblings captured victory after two breezy days.

The boys' division featured an exceptional leader board after round 1 with countless juniors packed at the top. Round 2 proved to be far different from that. After firing a 79 in round one, Duncan Fischer shot his personal best 71 in round 2 leaving him in a tie atop the leader board with Maxmilian Jelinek. Both finished the event tied at 150 sending them into a sudden death playoff. After 2 exciting playoff holes, Fischer walked away as the Boys 13-18 overall champion, Maxmilian went home with the Boys 13-15 division title. The winner of the Boys 16-18 division was Marcus Calabria posting a 74-77 for a two-round total of 151.

In the Girls division, Jordan Fischer, sister of Duncan Fischer started the weekend out strong posting a first round score of 73. Fischer followed up her 73 with an outstanding 75, running away with the overall trophy by eight shots. Just behind Fischer there was a close race to win the divisional award. In the Girls 16-18 division, Brianna Fitzpatrick (78-81) came out on top with a two-day total of 159, and in the Girls 13-15 division at 156, Hanna Charlotte Koelker took home first place with a pair of 78's.

Competing in her first Challenge Tour event, Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton, FL took home the Girls 11-12 division after firing two rounds of 79. For the Boys 11-12 division, Jayden Brar took home first place shooting ever par both days.

Team Golf Fall Championship

Mon, 12 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

November 11, our 2018 Team Golf season came to an end at the Team Golf Fall Championship at Weston Hills Country Club. We had such a fun season watching over 400 new Team Golf members compete in Palm Beach, Broward, and Lee and Collier County. The Championship consisted of 11 teams with a total of 90 junior golfers competing to be crowned the "Overall Team Golf Champion". We had three teams from Palm Beach County, four teams from Lee and Collier counties and four teams from Broward County. All teams competed in our regular Team Golf format; a 9- hole, two-person scramble.

After competition ended, we began our awards ceremony announcing the 2018 fall season League Champions. To determine our League Champions, we totaled up all the points teams had earned during the five matches that were held throughout our season. In Palm Beach County, the "Abacoa Aces" coached by Adam Foegen, PGA were crowned champions. In Broward County, the "Plantation Preserve - Team 1" coached by Nick Pincket, PGA were victorious. In Lee and Collier County, the "Alico Jaguars" coached by Lee Puddefoot, PGA and Trey Sonnes, PGA achieved the title League Champions. Next we handed out the crystal, our Overall Runner Up and Overall Champion were announced. In second place, taking home the Overall Runner Up trophy, was the "Weston Hills Country Club -Orange" team coached by Nick Cupper, PGA. Concluding the season in first place, winning the overall champion trophy, was the "JGPA @ Quail Creek FREEDOM" team coached by Spencer Graham. Congratulations to all of our players and coaches on a great season!

Thank you to all PGA Professionals, host facilities and families who made Team Golf a complete success this year!

HILTUNEN AND LISS CAPTURE CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR EVENT #10

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, Championship Tour Event #10 was held at Wycliffe Golf & Country Club on the West Course in Wellington, FL. Two very talented and dedicated players captured the victory through tough wind in round 2.

The boys' division featured a packed leaderboard. Following play of round one, four juniors found themselves at even par or better. Out of the four players, Jeffrey Liss, who shot an astonishing 68 round 1, followed it up with a 73 round 2 to capture the Overall Title. Closely behind Liss was Garret Giles and Fynn Fenstermacher. Giles went low in round 2 posting a 70 (-2), finishing with a total of 144. Also finishing with a 144 total, Fenstermacher had an impressive weekend firing rounds of 71-73. In the Boys 13-15 age division, Alex Heard of Boca Raton took home 1 st place with a two-day total of 148.

For the Girls division, we had various personal best scores throughout the weekend. With the top three all under par after round 1, they knew Sunday wasn't going to be a walk in the park. Taking home the Girls 13-18 overall award was Kerttu Hiltunen. Hiltunen shot an impressive 71-69 to finish 5 under par (139). Closely behind throughout the weekend was Lauren Davenport of Delray Beach. Davenport shot a personal best of 68 on Saturday and followed it up with a 77. Winning the Girls 13-15 division was Skylee Shin of Doral, FL. Shin shot a two-day total of 148, with a 69 the first round.

8 Players Named 2018 Prep Tour Player of the Year Winners

Tue, 06 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour named eight Player of The Year winners for each division last weekend. The South Florida PGA annually awards Player of the Year honors in the Prep Tour Girls and Boys 9-10 age division, 11-12 age division and 13-18 age division.

Palm City native Abigail Halpern and Laney Ryan of Vero Beach have been named the 2018 Prep Tour Girls 9-10 Player of the Year winners. Halpern began her journey in the South Florida PGA Team Golf program and has progressed this year capturing three Prep Tour titles this year. Halpern looks to continue her progress through the journey and move onto the Challenge Tour in 2019. Ryan, new to the South Florida PGA Junior Tour this year, participated in four events where she captured the title in one event and had two runner-up finishes this season. At age 9, Ryan looks to continue her journey in the Prep Tour in 2019.

Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton has been named the 2018 Prep Tour Girls 11-12 Player of the Year winner. Bryant, a South Florida PGA Junior Tour member for two years, has captured back to back Player of the Year titles on the Prep Tour. The 11 year old took home the 2017 Prep Tour Girls 9-10 Player of the Year title and won eight events on this year's Prep Tour. Bryant will continue her journey as moves up to the Challenge Tour in 2019.

Jupiter native Theodora Scott and Cynthia Liu of Parkland have been named 2018 Prep Tour Girls 13-18 Player of the Year winners. Scott began her journey with the South Florida PGA Prep Tour in 2017 and has progressed rapidly, dropping her scoring average by seven strokes. Liu, new to the South Florida PGA Junior Tour this year, participated in eight events. The 13 year old exceled in the Prep Tour this year and recently moved onto the Challenge Tour.

Tristan Wieland of Jupiter has been named the 2018 Prep Tour Boys 9-10 Player of the Year winner. Wieland, a member of the South Florida PGA Prep Tour since the inaugural year in 2016, has grown and developed tremendously through his journey. The recently turned 11 year old, captured victory in seven of his eleven starts this season.

Boca Raton native Matthew Golovanov has been named the 2018 Prep Tour Boys 11-12 Player of the Year winner. Golovanov was seven for seven this year as he captured every Prep Tour event title that he participated in. Golovanov looks to continue his journey through the South Florida PGA Programs after three year on the Prep Tour by making the jump to the Challenge Tour in 2019.

Davis Dickinson of Palm Beach Gardens has been named the 2018 Prep Tour Boys 13-18 Player of the Year winner. Dickison began his journey in the South Florida PGA Team Golf program, progressed through to the Prep Tour and now looks to finish out the 2018 season on the Challenge Tour. The 14 year old progressed rapidly over the year, participating in eleven of our twelve events hosted.

We congratulate all of these individuals on their outstanding performance.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

72 Players Competed at Wellington National Golf Club for the final Prep Tour Event of 2018

Sat, 03 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Wellington, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the final Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at Wellington National Golf Club. This event featured a full field of 72 players aging from 9-18 years old. The junior's experienced fun competition with friends as they competed in their final round of the season.

Andrew Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens captured the boy's 9-10 age division shooting a round of 3-under par, 69. Riviera Beach native Brooks Colton was runner-up in the boy's 9-10 age division with a round of 7-over par, 79. Matthew Golovanov of Boca Raton took home the boy's 11-12 age division with a round of 2-under par, 70. Port Saint Lucie native Jessy Huebner finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of even par, 72. Ben Weins of Fort Lauderdale captured the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 4-over par, 76. Palm Beach Gardens native Davis Dickinson took home the runner-up spot in the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 7-over par, 79.

Abigail Halpern of Palm City captured the girls 9-10 age division shooting a 91. Jupiter native Jensi Kramel was runner-up in the girls 9-10 age division with a round of 93. Morgan Pichler of Hobe Sound took home the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 3-over par, 75. Boca Raton native Kayla Bryant finished runner-up in the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 4-over par, 76. Theodora Scott of Jupiter took home the girls 13-18 age division with a round of 88. West Palm Beach native Margie Lee finished runner-up in the girls 13-18 age division in a scorecard playoff after a round of 90.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Three South Florida PGA Juniors Receive All-American Honors

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Three of our South Florida PGA junior golfers were named as Rolex Junior All American's. Alexa Pano earned the No. 12 spot in the Rolex AJGA Rankings along with Frankie Harris and Nicklas Staub who earned Honorable Mention honors and placed amongst the top 50 in the Rolex AJGA rankings.

43 Players Competed at Sandridge Golf Club for the eleventh Prep Tour Event of 2018

Sat, 13 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Vero Beach, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the eleventh Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at Sandridge Golf Club. This event featured a field of 43 players aging from 9-18 years old. The juniors were focused in as they competed in the second to last event of the season before we crown the Player of the Year winners at the final event in a couple of weeks.

Hampton Beebe of West Palm Beach captured the boy's 9-10 age division shooting a round of 7-over par, 79. North Palm Beach native Wylie Inman was runner-up in the boy's 9-10 age division with a round of 90. Tristan Weiland of Jupiter took home the boy's 11-12 age division with a round of 3-over par, 75. Jupiter native Reid Korody finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 5-over, 77. Sebastian Barcia of Miami captured the boy's 13-18 age division in a scorecard playoff with a round of 5-over par, 77. Alejandro Arteta of Hollywood took home the runner-up spot in the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 5-over par, 77.

Abigail Halpern of Palm City captured the girls 9-10 age division shooting a 105. Vero Beach native Laney Ryan was runner-up in the girls 9-10 age division with a round of 115. Layla Pedrique of West Palm Beach took home the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 85. Hobe Sound native Aubrey Pichler finished runner-up in the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 101. Camilla Ariano of Miami took home the girls 13-18 age division with a round of 90. West Palm Beach native Margie Lee finished runner-up in the girls 13-18 age division after a round of 91.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Giles and Shin Capture Championship Tour Event #9

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, Championship Tour Event #9 was held at Quail Ridge Country Club on the South Course in Boynton Beach, FL. Two familiar faces captured victories battling through tough wind.

The boys' division featured a packed leaderboard this weekend. Following play of round one, three juniors found themselves tied for the lead after rounds of 1-under-par 71. Garrett Giles of Palm City, FL fired an opening round 74 to find himself 3 off the lead entering Sunday's final round. Giles fired a final round 2-under par 70 to capture the boys' title by two strokes. Rafe Cochran of Palm Beach, FL took home the boys' 13-15 age division, while Henry Horgan of West Palm Beach, FL would take home the boys' 16-18 age division.

Skylee Shin or Doral, FL returned to her winning ways this weekend. Shin fired a final round 1-under par 71 to erase a 2 stroke deficit during the final round and capture her second straight Championship Tour victory. Ava Marano of Jupiter, FL took the girls' 13-15 age division, while Laura Lou of Miramar, FL took home the girls' 16-18 age division.

About the South Florida PGA

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 39 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, the Challenge Tour and Prep Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Junior.Golf, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, Florida Gulf Coast University, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, SACSN, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at thirty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

SFPGA High School Championship Event

Sat, 29 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

BOCA RATON, FL - Friday and Saturday, September 28 th -29 th twenty-eight High School teams and seventeen individuals from all across south Florida competed in the 2 nd Annual South Florida PGA High School Championship supported by Callaway, Florida Institute of Performance, and Florida Gulf Coast University PGM Program at Boca Grove Golf Club and the Polo Club of Boca Raton.

The team of American Heritage Plantation proved to be the strongest girls team in the field today, capturing the overall girls title by shooting an impressive two-day team total of 600. The team was coached by Linda Sibio and was comprised of Alena Lindh (143), Casey Weidenfeld (146), Kelly Shanahan (152), Lily Celentano (159), and Ana Lopez (168). The team of Archbishop McCarthy High School was runner-up shooting a two-day team total of 607. The team was coached by Carl Phillips and was comprised of Taylor Roberts (139), Jennifer Lily (151), Natalia Jimenez (152), Morgan Herring (165), and Rileigh Baker (188).

Taylor Roberts representing Archbishop McCarthy High School captured the girls individual championship shooting rounds of 68 and 71 for a two-day total 139. Alena Lindh representing American Heritage Plantation was runner-up in the girls individual championship with a round of 71 and 72 for a two-day total 143. Maisie Filler representing Oxbridge Academy took home third place in the girls individual championship shooting rounds of 74 and 71 for a two-day total 145.

The team of Boca Raton High School proved to be the best boys team in the field today, capturing the overall boys title by shooting an impressive two-day team total of 588. The team was coached by Jordan Hernandez and the team was comprised of Frankie Harris (140), Jack Tharrington (147), James Nieporte (147), Nat Sakchawanpob (154), and Carson Parker (159). The team of Oxbridge Academy was runner-up shooting a two day team total of 609. The team was coached by Dan McLellan, PGA and the team was comprised of Tyler Stachkunas (149), Camden Waldt (150), Matt Myers (154), GT Nicklaus (158), and Henry Horgan (161).

Griffin Steutel representing Miami Country Day School captured the boys individual championship shooting rounds of 67 and 71 for a two-day total 138. Frankie Harris representing Boca Raton High School was runner-up in the boys individual championship with a round of 69 and 71 for a two-day total 140. Jack Tharrington representing Boca Raton High School took home third place in the boys individual championship shooting rounds of 79 and 68 for a two-day total 147.

Scoring method in the team competition was comprised of the four best scores from round one and the four best scores from round two.

This event was created in an effort to provide local high school golf programs with an opportunity to compete in a thirty-six hole championship event, better preparing them for the upcoming State Championship. Among the teams competing were:

Boys:

American Heritage Boca/Delray - Coach: Vincent Dotson
Archbishop McCarhty High School - Coach: Carl Phillips
Bishop Verot Catholic High School - Coach: Andy Scott, PGA
Boca Raton High School - Coach: Jordan Hernandez
Christopher Columbus High School - Coach: Michael Marinelli
First Baptist Academy of Naples - Coach: Marc Oates
Jupiter Christian School - Coach: Kevin Compare, PGA
Miami Country Day School - Coach: Bryan Parizo
Naples High School - Coach: Don Tracy, PGA
North Broward Preparatory School - Coach: Ross Devonport
Olympic Heights High School - Coach: David Keithley
Oxbridge Academy - Coach: Dan McLellan, PGA
Palm Beach Gardens Community High School - Coach: Carl Mistretta
Pine School - Coach: Ryan Crysler
Saint Andrews School - Coach: John O'Connell
Saint John Paul II - Coach: Bridget Ackley
Somerset Canyons Academy - Coach: Nicole Stachkunas
South Fork High School - Coach: Lee Vicker
Stoneman Douglas High School - Coach: Shannon Finn
Vero Beach High School - Coach: Mark Cammarene, PGA
Westminster Christian School - Coach: Steve Blaum

Girls:
American Heritage Boca /Delray - Coach: Donna Serino
American Heritage Plantation - Coach: Linda Sibio
Archbishop McCarthy High School - Coach: Carl Philips
Bishop Verot Catholic High School - Coach: Jeff Nixon, PGA & Bobby Conway, PGA
First Baptist Academy - Coach: Marc Oates
Oxbridge Academy - Coach: Carla Overhiser
Pine School - Coach: Ryan Crysler
Saint Andrews School - Coach: Pam Elders
Saint John Neumann High School - Coach: Jeff Jones
Spanish River High School - Coach: Robert Heinricks
The Benjamin School - Coach: Joshua McCumber
The Kings Academy - Coach: Sherri Pla, PGA
The Sagemont School - Coach: Marco Salemi

US Team Wins 2018 Junior Ryder Cup Featuring Two Former SFPGA Junior Tour Members

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The United States won the 11 th Junior Ryder Cup kicked off yesterday at Golf Disneyland and South Florida PGA's very own Alexa Pano and Lucy Li were on the girls team! This is the sixth consecutive time the U.S. has won, finishing out this year 12&12; to 11&12;.

In the Monday morning foursomes, the U.S. teams picked up wins from Lucy Li and Erica Shepherd (5&3), Cole Ponich and Alexa Pano (2&1) and many others. Lucy Li won the Tuesday singles matches, helping to attain a victory for the U.S.

Tyson and Shanahan Capture Challenge Tour Event #10

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #10 at Trump National Doral in Doral, FL. Juniors faced two brutally hot days on the demanding Red Tiger golf course.

The boy's division featured some excitement this weekend that rivaled Tiger Woods capturing his 80 th victory. John Marshall of Miami, FL fired an opening round 75. Marshall came out hot on Sunday and fired a final round 3-under-par 69. NaShawn Tyson of North Palm Beach, FL shot rounds of 74-70 to force a sudden death playoff with Marshall. The playoff would turn into a duel between the two. On the third playoff hole, Marshall hit his approach into the par-5 into the water. After taking a drop he was able to hit it to within 8 feet and save his par to match Tyson's par on the hole. On the fourth playoff hole, Marshall stuck his approach shot to ten feet. Tyson's approach would ended up 50 feet away on the fringe. Tyson would roll in the long birdie attempt and Marshall was unable to answer, giving Tyson the victory. David Miller of Davie, FL would take home the boy's 16-18 age division.

Kelly Shanahan of Coral Springs continued her winning ways this weekend. Shanahan fired rounds 75-74 to capture the Overall Girls' Title by eight strokes. This is Shanahan's 4 th win of the season. Gloria Nip of Port St Lucie, FL took home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Briana Fitzpatrick of Port St. Lucie, FL took home the girl's 16-18 age division.

Polina Anisimov of Port St. Lucie, FL took home the girl's 11-12 age division after rounds of 82-80. Pavel Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens, FL took home the boy's 11-12 age division after a three-hole sudden death playoff victory over Doral, FL native Victor Herrera.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 29 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, SACSN, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

37 Players Competed at the Eagle Lakes Golf Club for the tenth Prep Tour Event of 2018

Sat, 15 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Naples, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the tenth Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at Eagle Lakes Golf Club. This event featured a field of 37 players aging from 9-18 years old. The juniors competed in intense heat on this sunny September day.

Jessy Huebner of Port St. Lucie captured the boy's 9-10 age division shooting a round of 1-over par, 72. North Palm Beach native, Wylie Inman, was runner-up in the boy's 9-10 age division with a round of 82. Matthew Golovanov of Boca Raton took home the boy's 11-12 age division with a round of even par, 71. Naples native Graham Boone finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 5-over, 76. Alejandro Arteta of Hollywood captured the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 4-over par, 75. Davis Dickinson of Palm Beach Gardens took home the runner-up spot in the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 83.

Laney Ryan of Vero Beach captured the girls 9-10 age division shooting a 124. Morgan Pichler of Hobe Sound took home the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 80. Boca Raton native Madison Lowenstein finished runner-up in the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 84. Camilla Ariano of Miami took home the girls 13-18 age division with a round of 83. Parkland native Cynthia Liu finished runner-up in the girls 13-18 age division after a round of 84.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Shin and Nachilly Capture Championship Tour Event #8

Sun, 09 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, Championship Tour Event #8 was held at Trump National Doral on the Red Course in Doral, FL. Two familiar faces captured victories on the difficult course.

The boys' division featured a packed leaderboard this weekend. Following play of round one, four juniors found themselves tied for the lead after rounds of 1-under-par 71. Out of the four players, Sebastian Nachilly of Jupiter, FL was the only one to follow up his round one with a solid final round. Nachilly posted a final round 73 and finish with a tournament total of 144. Anthony Amoroso of Homestead, FL fired an opening round 1-over-par 73 and was able to fire a final round 1-under-par 71 to force a sudden death playoff with Nachilly. After a one-hour lightning delay, the playoff ended after one hole. Nachilly made par on the par-5 18th hole to capture title. Amoroso took home the boys' 13-15 age division, while Wellington, FL native Fernando Castillo took home the boys' 13-15 age division.

Skylee Shin or Doral, FL returned to her winning ways this weekend. Shin fired back to back rounds of 72 to capture the girls' division title by six strokes. Amelie Alcantara of Plantation, FL took home the girls' 13-15 age division, while Laura Lou of Miramar, FL took home the girls' 16-18 age division.

About the South Florida PGA

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 39 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, the Challenge Tour and Prep Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Junior.Golf, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, Florida Gulf Coast University, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, SACSN, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at thirty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

PGA Jr. League Section Championship

Sun, 26 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, the South Florida PGA held the PGA Jr. League Section Championship, presented by National Car Rental, at Turtle Creek Club. 40 junior golfers, forming 4 All-Star Teams, competed for a spot at the PGA Jr. League Regional Competition. Despite the rain and lightning storms the kids still managed to have fun and competed in standard PGA Jr. League match play. The format for PGA Jr. League is a two-person scramble-match play. Each match is 9 holes in length, broken into three 3-hole segments called "flags". There are three flags per match. Flags are the key scoring component of your games. Each flag is worth one point. Each match is played for three points.

The first match consisted of all 4 teams competing in this format. The Sandhill Crane team competed against the Palm Beach County Team while the Indian River Golf Foundation team competed against the Stoneybrook/Impact/Forest team. After a few storms and delays, the Palm Beach County and the IRGF teams came out on top and competed head to head in an afternoon match to determine the overall winner. The winner of the PGA Jr. League Section Championship was the Palm Beach County team. They will be competing at the Regional Competition at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, FL on September 22-23 rd.

The South Florida PGA is fortunate enough to hold the PGA Jr. League Section Qualifier and Championship. Throughout the summer, the South Florida PGA conducts multiple events for juniors of all ages. For more information on the South Florida PGA Junior Programs.

Drive Chip and Putt Sub-Regional Qualifiers

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Drive, Chip and Putt has officially come to an end for the South Florida Section. It has been an exciting three months running qualifiers and growing the game of golf throughout the area. We had 260 players compete at two Sub-Regional Qualifiers, one in Bonita Springs, FL at Bonita Bay Club and the other in Palm Beach Gardens, FL at Lost Tree Club. 32 participants will be moving on to compete at the Regional competition in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL at TPC Sawgrass on September 29th.

From Bonita Bay Club 16 competitors will move on to the Regional Qualifier. Below are the qualifiers.

Girls 7-9

Fernanda Carrion and Brenna Nienke
Boys 7-9
David Cochran and Nathan Drummond
Girls 10-11
Chloe Chang and Sophia Dyer
Boys 10-11
Evan Westbroek and Clark Mason
Girls 12-13
Megan Bermejo and Katherine Schaefer
Boys 12-13
Juleon Habib and Nicolas Bencomo
Girls 14-15
Talia Rodino and Skylee Shin
Boys 14-15
Suraj Kollegal and Fabrice Laude

From Lost Tree Club 16 competitors will move on to the Regional Qualifier. Below are the qualifiers.

Girls 7-9
Ashley Balcom and Marley Black
Boys 7-9
Ryan Nana Tanke and Beau Allen
Girls 10-11
Valentina Hurtado and Ariana Silva
Boys 10-11
Ryder Kenney and Hampton Beebe
Girls 12-13
Morgan Rodriguez and Julia Gelsino
Boys 12-13
Michael Nardone and James Hassell
Girls 14-15
Angelica Holman and Erin Marcelino
Boys 14-15
Jake Manelas and Cameron James

67 Players Competed at the Club at Ibis for the ninth Prep Tour Event of 2018!

Sun, 12 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

West Palm Beach, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the ninth Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at the Club at Ibis. This event featured a field of 67 players aging from 9-18 years old. The juniors competed in intense heat on this sunny August day, hustling through the round to finish before the storms rolled in.

Tristian Wieland of Jupiter captured the boy's 9-10 age division shooting a round of 2-over par, 74. Palm Beach Gardens native, Tristan Rhodenizer, was runner-up in the boy's 9-10 age division with a round of 4-over par, 76. Matthew Golovanov of Boca Raton took home the boy's 11-12 age division with a round of 2-over par, 74. Pompano Beach native Mateo Desmond finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 4-over, 76. Patrick D'Amato of Palm City captured the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 3-over par, 75. Davis Dickinson of Palm Beach Gardens took home the runner-up spot in the boy's 13-18 age division with an 8-over par, 80.

Abigail Halpern of Palm City captured the girls 9-10 age division shooting a 98. Vero Beach native, Laney Ryan, took second shooting a 125. Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton took home the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 1-over par, 73. Hobe Sound native Morgan Pichler finished runner-up in the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 8-over par, 80. Cynthia Liu of Parkland took home the girls 13-18 age division with a round of 84. West Palm Beach native Margie Lee finished runner-up in the girls 13-18 age division after a round of 91.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Miller and Marcelino Capture Challenge Tour Event #8

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #8 at Normandy Shores Golf Club in Miami Beach, FL. Juniors faced two brutally hot days in the beautiful Miami Beach.

David Miller of Davie, FL had a breakout week. Miller, who had two victories on the Prep Tour in 2017, managed to capture his first Challenge Tour victory this week. Miller opened round one with a 1-under par 70 to take the round one lead in the boys' division. Miller finished with a final round 74 to capture the boys' overall title by one stroke. Jackson Langer of Coral Gables, FL took home the boys' 13-15 age division, while Kody Finn of Parkland, FL, who fired a final round 68, took home the boys' 16-18 age division. Victor Herrera captured the boys' 11-12 age division after rounds of 74-71.

Erin Marcelino of Plantation, FL captured her first Challenge Tour victory this week. Marcelino fired an opening round 80 to find herself two strokes off the lead. Marcelino fired a final round 72 to capture the girls' overall title by one stroke. Daria Korovina of Pompano Beach, FL took home the girls' 13-15 age division, while Makenna Brown of Boca Raton, FL took home the girls' 16-18 age division. Sara Davey of Fort Lauderdale, FL took home the girls' 11-12 age division.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 29 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, SACSN, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run unde r the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at twenty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

Parker and Smith Capture Championship Tour Event #7

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, Championship Tour Event #7 was held at The Breakers Rees Jones Course in West Palm Beach, FL. Two familiar faces captured victories on the difficult course.

Carson Parker of Boca Raton and Tyler Pham of Pembroke Pines found themselves tied for the lead in the boys' division after 36 regulation holes. Parker birdied the difficult 18 th hole to force the sudden death playoff. The playoff returned to the 18 th hole and Parker was able to make birdie again to capture the boys' overall title over Pham. Pham would take home the boys' 16-18 age division, while Nicholas Estrada of Lake Worth would take home the boys' 13-15 age division.

Andie Smith of Hobe Sound put on a dominating display this week. Smith fired rounds of 76-77 to capture the overall girls' title by three strokes. This is Smith's first Championship Tour victory. Caroline Patterson of Jupiter took home the girls' 13-15 age division, while Nicole Cee of Port St. Lucie took home the girls' 16-18 age division.

About the South Florida PGA

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 39 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, the Challenge Tour and Prep Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Junior.Golf, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, Florida Gulf Coast University, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, SACSN, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at thirty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

Caterbone and Lopez Capture Challenge Tour Event #7

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #7 at Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club. The challenging course provided a great tournament for all juniors.

Chase Caterbone of Plantation, FL captured his first SFPGA Challenge Tour victory this week. Caterbone fired an opening round 74 and followed it up with a 1-under par 71 today to capture the boys' division by one stroke over 3 other players. NaShawn Tyson of North Palm Beach, FL took home the boys' 13-15 age division, while Leif Sinclair Stuart, FL too home the boys'16-18 age division.

Ana Maria Lopez of Weston, FL captured her first SFPGA Challenge Tour victory this week as well. Lopez fired rounds of 76-76 to take home the girls' division by three strokes. Katherine Schaefer of Southwest Ranches, FL took home the girls' 13-15 age division, while Makenna Brown of Boca Raton, FL took home the girls' 16-18 age division.

Carson Baez of Palmetto Bay, FL took home the boys' 11-12 age division after rounds of 78-70. Baez's round featured an eagle on the par-4 13 th hole during his round. Logan Stachkunas of Lake Worth, FL finished in second place in the boys' 11-12 age division.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 29 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, SACSN, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at twenty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour

72 Players Competed at the Preserve at Ironhorse for the eighth Prep Tour Event of 2018

Thu, 26 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

West Palm Beach, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the eighth Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at the Preserve at Ironhorse. This event featured a field of 72 players aging from 9-18 years old. The juniors competed in intense heat on this sunny July day.

Tristian Wieland of Jupiter captured the boy's 9-10 age division shooting a round of even par, 72. Jupiter native, Reid Korody, was runner-up in the boy's 9-10 age division with a round of 2-over par, 74. Stefan Daley of Palm Beach Gardens took home the boy's 11-12 age division with a round of 3-over par, 75. Parkland native Rafael Frias finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 6-over, 78. Palm City native Patrick D'Amato captured the boy's 13-18 age division with a round of 5-over par, 77. Matthew Sample of Wellington took home the runner-up spot in a scorecard playoff shooting 79 in the boy's 13-18 age division.

Yi Liu of Port St. Lucie Florida captured the girls 9-10 age division shooting a 105. Port St. Lucie native, Yu Han Wang took second shooting a 124. Layla Pedrique of West Palm Beach took home the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 4 over par, 76. Hobe Sound native Morgan Pichler finished runner-up in the girls 11-12 age division after a round of 80. Zi Yun Lin of Port St. Lucie took home the girls 13-18 age division in a scorecard playoff with a round of 84. Jupiter native Theodora Scott finished runner-up in the girls 13-18 age division after a round of 84.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Weisman and Shanahan Win Challenge Tour Event #6 at Fort Lauderdale Country Club

Thu, 19 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #6 on the South Course at Fort Lauderdale Country Club. Warm conditions made the event a grind for the 72 player field.

Stephen Weisman of Jupiter, FL opened up round one with a 1-over par 73 to put himself tied atop the leaderboard with TJ Boros of Pompano Beach, FL. Weisman put together a final round 1-over-par 73 to capture his first South Florida PGA Challenge Tour Victory. McLean Morton of Jupiter, FL took home the boys' 13-15 age division after rounds of 78-72. TJ Boros took home the boys' 16-18 age division after rounds of 73-76.

Kelly Shanahan captured her third straight Challenge Tour victory this week. Shanahan fired rounds of 76-71 to take home the Overall Girls' Division by six strokes. Angelica Holman of Fort Pierce, FL took home the girls' 13-15 age division after rounds of 76-81. Allison Dusek of Fort Lauderdale took home the girls' 16-18 age division after rounds of 80-73.

Jackson Langer of Coral Gables, FL took home the boys' 11-12 age division after rounds of 76-77. Aiden Arce of Davie, FL and Eric Nguyen of Pembroke Pines, FL finished tied for second place with a tournament total 158. Sara Davey of Fort Lauderdale, FL took home the girls' 11-12 age division, while Pearl Jenkins would finish in second place.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 29 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, SACSN, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at twenty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

39 Players Competed at the Naples Beach Club For The Seventh Prep Tour Event of 2018

Sat, 14 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Naples, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the seventh Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at the Naples Beach Club. This event featured a field of 39 players aging from 9-18 years old. The juniors played a successful round of golf on this beautiful July day.

Tristian Weiland of Jupiter captured the boy's 9-10 age division shooting a round of 3-under par, 68. Port St. Lucie native, Jessy Huebner, was runner-up in the boy's 9-10 age division with a round of 2-over par, 73. Brayden Jenard of Wellington took home the boy's 11-12 age division with a round of 5-over par, 76. Naples native Ryan Miller finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 6-over, 77. Palm Beach Gardens native Davis Dickinson captured the boy's 13-18 age division in a scorecard playoff with a round of 6-over par, 77. Patrick D'Amato of Palm City took home the runner-up spot shooting 77 in the boys 13-18 age division.

Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton took home her seventh straight victory in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of 1-under par, 70. Boca Raton native Madison Lowenstein finished runner-up in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of 88. Isabel Van den Berg from Plantation took home the girl's 13-18 age division with a round of 93. Breegan O'Hearn from Naples finished runner-up in the girl's 13-18 age division after a round of 96.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Drive, Chip and Putt June Local Qualifiers

Fri, 13 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

It has been an exciting month for Drive, Chip and Putt. We have had a total of 403 participants competing in local qualifiers at PGA Center for Learning and Performance, The Old Course at Broken Sound Club, Stoneybrook Golf Club of Estero, and Country Club of Miami. <s> .</s>Every participant went through each station; driving, chipping and putting. We are excited to announce the following individuals who qualified to move onto the sub regional qualifiers at Bonita Bay Club on August 11 th and Lost Tree Club on August 18 th.

From two of these local qualifiers 48 participants will be moving on to the sub-regional competition at Lost Tree Club. These 48 participants competed at PGA Center for Learning and Performance and The Old Course at Broken Sound Club. From Stoneybrook Golf Club and Country Club of Miami 46 participants will be moving on to the Sub-Regional qualifier at Bonita Bay Club.

We have a full schedule for the month of July as we finish up all of our local qualifiers. We already had 90 participants compete at PGA National on July 5th and have a total of 386 participants to compete at Vineyards Country Club, Weston Hills Country Club, and The Club at Ibis.

The South Florida PGA is fortunate enough to hold all Drive, Chip, and Putt qualifiers in the South Florida Region. Throughout the summer, the South Florida PGA conducts multiple events for juniors of all ages.

Castillo and Edmonds Capture Championship Tour Event #6

Fri, 06 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, Championship Tour Event #6 was held at Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Two familiar names captured victories this week on the demanding golf course.

Fernando Castillo of Wellington, FL continued his hot streak coming off a victory at last weeks Nicklaus Junior Championship. Castillo fired an opening round 1-over par 73 to take a one stroke lead in the boys' division. Castillo fired a final round 2-under par 70 to capture the boys' division by four strokes. Zach Nohrenberg of Wellington took home the boys' 13-15 age division, while Cade Coffey of Vero Beach captured the boys' 16-18 age division.

Laura Edmonds of Weston, FL went wire to wire to capture the girls' title. Edmonds, who also captured the Nicklaus Junior Championship last week, fired rounds of 72-75 to capture the girls' division title. Jennifer Lilly of Pembroke Pines took home the girls' 13-15 age division, while Alena Lindh of Davie took home the girls' 16-18 age division.

About the South Florida PGA

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 39 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, the Challenge Tour and Prep Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Junior.Golf, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, Florida Gulf Coast University, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, SACSN, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at thirty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

Castillo and Edmonds Capture 34th Annual Nicklaus Junior Championship

Fri, 29 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, the 34 th Annual Nicklaus Junior Championship was held at the famed Lost Tree Club in North Palm Beach, FL. The 36-hole stroke play event was held for the first time at Lost Tree Club.

Fernando Castillo of Wellington, FL etched his name is South Florida history this week. Castillo fired a final round 1-under par 71 to rally from three shots back to capture the boys' title. The fifteen-year-old birdied the 17 th hole to capture the title over Palm Beach Gardens, FL resident James Key by one stroke. Key would end up finishing in second place, while Cameron Owens of Wellington, FL would take home the boys' 16-18 age division.

Laura Edmonds of Weston, FL went wire to wire to capture the girls' title. Edmonds, who recently signed to play golf this fall at Florida Gulf Coast University shot rounds of 72-73 to capture the girls' title by 2 strokes. Arielle Keating of Stuart, FL finished in second place after rounds of 75-72.

Pavle Tsar of Palm Beach Gardens, FL captured the boys' 11-12 age division title after rounds of 76-78. Alejandra Castillo of Wellington, FL captured the girl's 11-12 age division after rounds of 81-73.

Castillo and Edmonds will now join the likes of Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger as winners of the Nicklaus Junior Championship.

About the 34th Annual Nicklaus Junior Championship
Sponsored by Barbara and Jack Nicklaus, the Annual Nicklaus Junior Championship, provides junior golfers (ages 18 & younger) a chance to compete in a 36-hole championship stroke play event. Past Champions of the event include PGA Tour members Daniel Berger and 2-time US Open Champion Brooks Koepka.

About the South Florida PGA
The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 39 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, the Challenge Tour and Prep Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Junior.Golf, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, Florida Gulf Coast University, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, SACSN, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

60 Players Competed at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club For The Sixth Prep Tour Event of 2018

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Royal Palm Beach, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the sixth Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at Mayacoo Lakes Country Club. This event featured a field of 60 players aging from 9-18 years old. The juniors faced a challenging day on the golf course battling through the extreme heat.

Jessy Huebner of Port St. Lucie captured the boys 9-10 age division shooting a round of 3-over par, 75. Jupiter native Tristan Wieland was runner-up in the boy's 9-10 age division with a round of 4-over par, 76. Rafael Frias of Parkland took home the boy's 11-12 age division in a scorecard playoff with a round of 5-over par, 77. Wellington native Brayden Jenard finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 5-over 77. Miami native Quinn Walker captured the boys 13-18 age division with a round of 7-over par, 79. Lakshya Raj Poonia of Miami took home the runner-up spot in a scorecard playoff with a round of 10-over par, 82 in the boys 13-18 age division.

Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton took home her sixth straight victory in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of even par, 72. West Palm Beach native Layla Pedrique finished runner-up in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of 8-over par, 80. Kira Shellman of Vero Beach took home the girl's 13-18 age division with a round of 86. Parkland native Cynthia Liu finished runner-up in the girl's 13-18 age division after a round of 92.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Shanahan and Vickers Capture Challenge Tour Event #5

Thu, 21 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #5 at Fairwinds Golf Course in Fort Pierce, FL. The week featured great weather for the juniors.

Tanner Vickers of Stuart, FL took home his first South Florida PGA Challenge Tour win this week in Fort Pierce. Vickers fired and opening round 76, but a final round 1-under 71 put him tied for the Overall Boys' Division lead after 36 holes. Andres Barraza of Parkland, FL fired an opening round 73 and a final round 74 to force a sudden death playoff with Vickers. The playoff would last two holes with Vickers walking away victorious. Barraza would take home the boys' 13-15 age division, while David Miller of Davie, FL would take home the boys' 16-18 age division.

Kelly Shanahan captured her second straight Challenge Tour victory this week. Shanahan fired rounds of 74-74 to take home the Overall Girls' Division by three strokes. Gloria Nip of Port St. Lucie, FL took home the girls'13-15 age division, while Bridget Forgatch of Palm Beach Gardens, FL took home the girls' 16-18 age division.

Victor Herrera of Doral, FL took home the boys' 11-12 age division after rounds of 73-71. This is Herrera's second win in the 11-12 age division this season.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 29 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, SACSN, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at twenty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

20 Players Competed at TPC Dorado Beach Club For The First Local Qualifier of 2018

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Dorado Beach, PR. - Thursday, May 31 st the South Florida PGA held the very first Drive, Chip, and Putt of 2018 at TPC Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico. This was our third time hosting an event in Puerto Rico and we are fortunate to have the opportunity to conduct a qualifier for these juniors! Every participant went through each station starting with putting then chipping and rounded out with driving. We are excited to announce the following individuals who qualified to move onto the sub regional qualifier at Lost Tree Club set to be held on August 18 th.

For the girls divisions there were a total of 4 participants who qualified. From the girls 10-11 age division Krishny Elwin of Bayamon finished in first, Santo Domingo native Sophia Matos came in second and Keishlyan Vega of Bayamon finished in third. From the girls 12-13 age division Camelia Mujica of Guaynabo will be the only participant moving forward to the sub-regional qualifier.

For the boys divisions there were a total of 10 participants who qualified. From the boys 7-9 age division are Fernando Javier Leduc of San Juan, San Juan native Markus Cordero, and Michael Avila of Ceiba. From the boys 10-11 age division are Evan Pena of Bayamon and Carolina native Gabriel Rivera. In the boys 12-13 age division are Sergio Gonzalez of Toa Baja, Caguas native Esteban Hernandez and Joaquin Meugniot of Guaynabo. Finally, in the boys 14-15 age division are Bayamon native Jose Mcanales and Ianmikel Garcia of Carolina.

The next Drive, Chip, and Putt local qualifier will take place on June 4 th at PGA Center for Learning and Performance. We will have a total of 84 participants competing for a spot at the sub-regional qualifier at Lost Tree Club on August 18 th.

50 Players Competed at Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club For The Fifth Prep Tour Event of 2018

Sun, 13 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Naples, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the fifth Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at Cypress Woods Golf and Country Club. This event featured a field of 50 players aging from 9-18 years old. With a demanding course, the juniors faced a challenging day on the golf course. Unfortunately due to heavy thunderstorms, the event was cut sort. The boy's 9-10, boy's 11-12, and girl's 11-12 age divisions completed and scored for 9 holes. The boy's 13-18 and girl's 13-18 age divisions completed and scored for 8 holes.

Tristan Wieland of Jupiter captured the boy's 9-10 age division after taking home wins from the past two events shooting 35. In second place shooting 41 was Jupiter native Tristan Wieland. Matthew Golovanov of Boca Raton took home the boy's 11-12 age division after back to back wins with a round of 37. Parkland native Rafael Frias finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 44. Margate native Ethan Ashford captured the boys 13-18 age division with a score of 34. Davis Dickinson of Palm Beach Gardens took home the runner up spot with a score of 35 in the boys 13-18 age division.

Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton took home her fifth straight victory in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of 37. Hobe Sound native Morgan Pichler finished runner-up in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of 42. Kira Shellman of Vero Beach took home the girl's 13-18 age division with a round of 37. Parkland native Cynthia Liu finished runner-up in the girl's 13-18 age division after a round of 38.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Risvaer and Shanahan Capture Challenge Tour Event #4

Sun, 06 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #4 at Vineyards Country Club in Naples, FL on the South Course. The weekend featured great weather for the juniors.

Miami native Hans Risvaer opened up round one with a 2-under-par 70 to take the early lead in the boy's 13-18 division. Risvaer's round featured four birdies to just two bogeys on Saturday. Stuart native Cooper Carmody made a run during Sunday's final round. Carmody was 1-under-par heading to the 17 th tee, and with one stroke made it 3-under par. Carmody aced the par-3 17 th hole and finished the day at 3-under-par 69. Risvaer managed to grind out a 2-over-par 74 to hold off Carmody and capture the Overall Boy's Title. Oliver Rotermund of Palm Beach Gardens took home the boy's 13-15 age division, while Carmody took home the boy's 16-18 age division. Jackson Langer of Coral Gables took home the boy's 11-12 age division.

The girl's 13-18 age division featured an exciting finish this weekend. Angelica Holman of Fort Pierce opened up round one with an 80, but had a career day on Sunday. Holman fired a final round 1-over-par 73 to post 153 for the weekend. Kelly Shanahan of Coral Springs, who was playing in the final pairing after an opening round 75, fired a final 78 to tied Holman for the lead and force a sudden death playoff. During the first playoff hole, Holman's tee shot ended up behind a tree. The youngster hit an incredible recovery shot short of the green and saved par to match Shanahan. On the next playoff hole, Holman found the water hazard and Shanahan was able to secure the victory with a par. Holman took home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Naples native Sophie Shrader took home the girl's 16-18 age division. Gloria Nip of Port St. Lucie took home the girl's 11-12 age division.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 29 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, SACSN, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at twenty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

Shin and Oishi Capture Junior Championship Tour Event #4

Sat, 28 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Championship Tour Event #4 at Indian Spring Country Club on the West Course in Boynton Beach, FL. The weekend provided perfect weather conditions for the juniors.

Atsuya Oishi of Port St. Lucie is new to the South Florida PGA in 2018. After only four events, the youngster has found his way to the winners circle. Oishi opened up round one with a two-under par 69 to take the early lead in the boy's division. Oishi fired a final round 73 to capture the overall boy's title by four strokes. Nicholas Estrada of Lake Worth, FL took home the boy's 13-15 age division, while Stuart, FL native Chase Sholze captured the boy's 16-18 age division.

Skylee Shin of Doral, FL has multiple wins on the Challenge Tour, but is still searching for her first Championship Tour victory. Shin has finished in the top 5 in the first three Championship Tour Events of 2018 but has yet to claim the top spot. That all changed this weekend as Shin captured the overall girl's title after back to back rounds of even-par 71. Amelie Alcantara of Plantation, FL took home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Laura Lou of Miramar, FL took home the girl's 16-18 age division.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 29 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, Florida Gulf Coast University, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at twenty-nine championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Tour season.

Tyson and Bodden Capture Challenge Tour Event #3 at Weston Hills Country Club

Sun, 22 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #3 at Weston Hills Country Club in Weston, FL on the Players Course. Due to severe thunderstorms on Sunday, the event was shortened to 18 holes.

NaShawn Tyson of North Palm Beach, FL had a dominant career in the Challenge Tour 11-12 age division during the past two years. This year it was time for Tyson to advance to the 13-18 age division and test his game from the longer yardage. The 13 year old managed to capture his first Overall Boys Division title this weekend after a round of 1-under par, 71. Tyson's round featured two birdies to just one bogey. James Key of Palm Beach Gardens, FL took home the boy's 13-15 age division after a round of 75. Jack Rotermund of Palm Beach Gardens, FL took home the boy's 16-18 age division after a round of 74. Victor Herrera of Doral, FL took home the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 1-under-par 71.

Samiah Bodden of Miami, FL had a breakout weekend at Weston Hills Country Club. Bodden fired a round of 77 to capture the Overall Girls Title by one stroke. Bodden's round featured four birdies on the day. This is Bodden's first South Florida PGA title. Kelly Shanahan of Coral Springs, FL took home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Casey Sommer of Davie, FL took home the girl's 16-18 age division title. Alejandra Castillo of Wellington, FL captured the girl's 11-12 age division title after a round of 82.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-nine two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 29 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, SACSN, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

72 Players Competed at Pembroke Lakes Golf and Country Club For The Fourth Prep Tour Event of 2018

Sat, 14 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Pembroke Pines, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the fourth Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at Pembroke Lakes Golf and Country Club. This event featured a full field of 72 players aging from 9-18 years old. With high winds and warm weather, the juniors faced a challenging day on the golf course.

Tristan Wieland of Jupiter captured the boy's 9-10 age division after back to back wins shooting a round of 3-under par 69. In second place shooting a round of 3-over par 75 was Pompano Beach native Mateo Desmond. Matthew Golovanov of Boca Raton took home the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 1-over par 73. Wellington native Brayden Jenard finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 80. Davis Dickinson of Palm Beach Gardens took home first place in a scorecard playoff with a score of 7-over par 79 in the boys 13-18 age division. Hollywood's Alejandro Arteta finished runner-up in a scorecard playoff with a score of 7-over par 79.

Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton took home her fourth straight victory in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of 2-over par 74 today. Fort Lauderdale native Ariana Silva finished runner-up in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of 4-over par 76. Maria Colella of Weston took home the girl's 13-18 age division with a round of 84. Vero Beach native Kira Shellman finished runner-up in the girl's 13-18 age division after a round of 89 today.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season.

Five Junior Golfers Claim Victory at Championship Tour Event #5

Sun, 08 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Championship Tour Event #3 at Lost City Golf Club in Atlantis, FL. After high winds in the opening round tested everyone's skills, Sunday's final round was washed out after strong storms rendered the golf course unplayable.

Nicholas Estrada of Lake Worth, FL fired a two-under par 70 to capture the overall boy's title. Estrada's round featured four birdies to just two bogies. Lake Worth resident Tyler Stachkunas took home the boy's 13-15 age division after a round of 72. Jupiter resident Troy Stribling took home the boy's 16-18 age division after a round of one-under par 71.

After round one, four girl's found themselves tied at the top of the leaderboard. After Sunday's final round was canceled all four girls were crowned Champions. Nicole Cee of Port St. Lucie, Isabel Herrera of Wellington, Jenna Fonda of Wellington, and Amelie Alcantara of Plantation each fired rounds of two-over par 74 to capture the overall girl's title. Skylee Shin of Doral took home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Brianna Farrell took home the girl's 16-18 age division.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, Precision Pro Golf, Florida Institute of Performance, Florida Gulf Coast University, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

Nip and Krampel Excel at DCP Finals

Mon, 02 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

"On Sunday, April 1st, two south Florida natives competed at the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at Augusta National Golf club on the eve of the Masters.

Jensi Krampel of Naples competed in the Girls 7-9 age division. Starting out at the driving competition, Jensi finished in 5th place with a long drive of 137 yards and looked to gain momentum going into the chipping competition. Jensi's two chips finsihed a total of 8'6"" from the hole which gave her 1st place in chipping and she was tied for the lead going into the putting competition. She finished in 6th place in the putting competition and 3rd place overall. This was Jensi's first time at the Drive, Chip and Putt Finals and she will look to return in years to come.

Gloria Nip of Port St. Lucie competed in the Girls 10-11 age division. She also competed in the inaugural Drive, Chip and Putt Championship in 2014 where she finished in 9th place. Gloria started out strong with a long drive of 203 yards, earning her 2nd place in the driving competition. She earned 6th place in the chipping competition and was in 5th place overall going into the putting competition. Gloria's combined distance from the hole on her two putts was 2'4"" which gave her 1st place in the putting competition and 2nd place overall.

Congratulations to both Jensi and Gloria for representing south Florida at the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship!

Drive, Chip and Putt Championship Finals

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

On Sunday, April 1st, two south Florida junior golfers will compete in the 2018 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship at Augusta National. Jensi Krampel of Naples will compete in the Girls 7-9 age division in her first DCP Championship finals. Gloria Nip of P...

72 Players Competed at Eastpointe Country Club For the Third Prep Tour Event of 2018

Sat, 24 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the third Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at Eastpointe Country Club. This event featured a full field of 72 players aging from 9-18 years old. With warm weather and high winds the juniors faced a tough test of golf on the demanding course.

Tristan Wieland of Jupiter captured the boy's 9-10 age division after shooting a round of 77. Coming in second place with a score of 81 was Reid Korody of Jupiter. Brayden Jenard of Wellington took home the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 75. Parkland native Rafael Frias finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of 81. Noah Kent of Naples took home first place with a score of 80 in the boys 13-18 age division. Hollywood's Alejandro Arteta finished runner-up in a scorecard playoff with a score of 82.

Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton took home her third straight victory in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of 75 today. Boynton Beach native Valentina Marie Guertin finished runner-up in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of 87. Kira Shellman of Vero Beach took home the girl's 13-18 age division with a round of 83. Miami native Alejandra Sanchez finished runner-up in the girl's 13-18 age division after a round of 86 today.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 9-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Prep Tour offers twelve one day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Junior.Golf, Florida Gulf Coast University, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, SACSN, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour, run under the South Florida PGA Foundation, is committed to its mission of keeping membership and tournament-related costs low while providing first-class quality golf at ten championship courses throughout South Florida over the course of the entire Junior Prep Tour season

Hart and Forgatch Win Challenge Event #2

Sun, 18 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Event #2 at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach, FL on the Dunes Course. Players were treated with perfect weather on a challenging golf course.

Ryan Hart of Naples, FL opened up round one with a 4-over-par 76 to take a one stroke lead in the boy's division. Hart came out firing during Sunday's final round, making birdies on the first two holes. Hart would add two more birdies on the front 9 while only making two bogies. Hart was able to cruise on the back 9 and finish with a final round 75 to win the overall boy's title by four strokes. Devan Chahal of Parkland, FL fired a final round 1-under-par 71 to capture the boy's 13-15 age division. Rex Riefler of Vero Beach took home the boy's 16-18 age division after rounds of 83-76.

Bridget Forgatch of Palm Beach Gardens, FL took the round one lead in the girl's division after an 81. Forgatch was able to shoot a final round 82 to capture the girl's division by five strokes on the demanding Dunes Course. Ana Ojeda of Doral, FL took home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Meghan Faulkner of Stuart, FL took home the girl's 16-18 age division after winning a scorecard playoff.

Glorida Nip of Port St. Lucie captured the girl's 11-12 age division after rounds of 79-77. Jake Manelas of Fort Lauderdale, FL took home the boy's 11-12 age division after rounds of 76-77.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, Precision Pro Golf, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, SACSN, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

72 Players Battled it out at Weston Hills Country Club For the Second Prep Tour Event of 2018

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Weston, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the second Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at Weston Hills Country Club on the Players Course. This event featured a full field of 72 players aging from 9-18 years old. With warm weather conditions the juniors faced a tough test of golf on the demanding course.

Mateo Desmond of Pompano Beach captured the boy's 9-10 age division after shooting a round of one-over par 73. Desmond's round started with a birdie on #1 and #6, leading to a five stroke victory over Tristan Wieland of Jupiter. Matthew Golovanov of Boca Raton took home the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of one-over par 73. Roberto Mariella of Doral finished runner-up in the boy's 11-12 age division after a round of four-over par 76. Kristian Urbaitis of Lake Worth and Weston native Diego Arguello each fired rounds of 79 to tie for the boy's 13-18 title, sending the division to a scorecard playoff. Urbaitis would take home the title after winning the scorecard playoff with a closing 9 hole score of 37.

Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton took home her second straight victory in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round 80 today. Naples native Sara Vitasek finished runner-up in the girl's 11-12 age division after a round of 84. Taylor Oberparleiter of Jupiter took home the girl's 13-18 age division with a round of 84. Weston native Maria Colella finished runner-up in the girl's 13-18 age division after a round of 87 today.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Precision Pro Golf, Pukka, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

Martinez and Turnquest Capture Championship Tour Event #2

Sun, 04 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Championship Tour Event #2 at the Country Club of Coral Springs in Coral Springs, FL. The sold out field featured many of South Florida's top junior golfers.

The boy's division featured a thriller this weekend at the Country Club of Coral Springs. Weston native Alberto Martinez opened up round one with a 3-under-par 68 to take a one stroke lead in the boy's division. Pembroke Pines native Justin Lilly posted a 2-under-par 69 to keep within striking distance of Martinez. Lilly and Martinez would go on to have an exciting battle during Sunday's final round. Martinez fired a 1-under 35 to take a two stroke lead over Lilly. Martinez and Lilly entered the daunting par-3 18 th hole with Martinez holding a two stroke lead. Lilly managed to make birdie, while Martinez made bogey to force a sudden death playoff. The first playoff hole featured a drivable par-4. Martinez had the honor and managed to drive the green and put the pressure on Lilly. Lilly managed to drive the green as well, but ultimately ended up making par to leave Martinez with a chance to make birdie. Martinez drained the birdie putt to capture the Overall Boys Title. Lilly took home the boy's 16-18 age division, while Lake Worth native Nicolas Estrada took home the boy's 13-15 age division.

The girl's division featured some outstanding play this weekend. Loxahatchee native Haylie Turnquest opened up round one with a 4-over-par 75 to put herself one off the lead held by Port St. Lucie resident Valentine Savioz. Turnquest put together a strong final round 1-over-par 72 to capture the Overall Girls Title by six strokes. Plantation resident Amelie Alcantara took home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Miramar native Madyson Gold took home the girl's 16-18 age division.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, The Boca Raton Regional Hospital Championship, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

2018 South Florida PGA Junior Tour Signees

Tue, 20 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is happy to announce 25 South Florida PGA Juniors have signed to play collegiate golf in 2018. These juniors have worked their way through The Journey and are now on their way to continue their successes. We congratulate all of these junior golfers and wish them the best of luck in their college careers. These juniors include:

Austin Aliff - Lipscomb University

Garrett Barber - Louisiana State University

Cassidy Blair - Waldorf University

Mackenzie Dieter - University of Delaware

Sophia Dieter - University of Delaware

Luke Farmer - Florida Gulf Coast University

Brianna Farrell - Florida Atlantic University

Sabrina Fonda - Winthrop University

Amadeo Figus - University of South Florida

Luke Gifford - University of South Florida

Sarah Kahn - Highpoint University

Stephanie Luma - Jefferson State College

Sophia Mancuso - Elon University

Alberto Martinez - Florida State University

Trey Meadows - McNeese State University

Anthony Muttillo - University of South Florida

David Morgan - University of Virginia

Daisuke Nakano - Washington State University

Logan Othmer - George Washington University

Valaria Pacheco - Texas Christian University

Lily Rinker - University of Cincinnati

Alexa Rivas - Boston College

Hannah Rizzolo - Florida Southern College

Troy Stribling - Greensboro College

Bryan Wiyang Teoh - University of California Los Angeles

Congratulations again to all of those who signed to play collegiate golf in 2018 and best of luck in all future endeavors.

HOWLEY AND MATSUI CAPTURE FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR EVENT OF 2018

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Championship Tour Event #1 at Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Port St. Lucie, FL. This event was the first Championship Tour Event of 2018.

The boy's division featured some heavy hitters this weekend. Jeffery Liss of Port St. Lucie, FL won this event in 2017 and was looking to repeat on his home course. Alberto Martinez of Weston, FL signed with Florida State this year and has been a big name in Junior Golf over the last three years. Brendan Hughes of Port St. Lucie, FL opened up round one with a 3-under-par 67 to take the early lead in the boy's division. Royce Howley of Stuart, FL posted an opening round 1-under-par 69 to put himself in great position heading into Sunday's final round. Liss opened up round one with an even-par 70 to give himself a great chance to repeat in 2018. Sunday's final round was filled with great golf, especially by Howley who posted a final round 2-under-par 68 to capture the overall boy's title. This is Howley's first Championship Tour victory. Liss went on to win the boy's 16-18 age division, while Chris Lee of Port St. Lucie, FL took home the boy's 13-15 age division.

Hina Matsui of Port St. Lucie, FL finished strong in 2017 with her first win on the Challenge Tour. Entering the 2018 season, Matsui set out to prove her skills on the Championship Tour. Matsui opened up round one with a 75 to put herself two strokes off the lead set by Pembroke Pines, FL native Jennifer Lilly. 2017 Challenge Tour Player of the Year Skylee Shin fired an opening round 74 to put herself in prime position for Sunday's final round. Shin and Matsui battled back and forth on Sunday with the tournament coming down to the final hole. Shin hit her approach shot on the par-5 9 th, her final hole of the day, to 8 feet. Shin would need that putt to fall to force a playoff with Matsui. Despite Shin's great attempt, the birdie putt would not fall and Matsui claimed her first Championship Tour victory of her young career. Shin took home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Lauren Davenport of Delray Beach took home the girl's 16-18 age division.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, and Titleist.

The Country Club of Coral Springs Host First Prep Tour Event of 2018 Season!

Sun, 11 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Coral Springs, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the first Prep Tour Event of the 2018 season at The Country Club of Coral Springs. This event featured a full field of 72 players aging from 9-18 years old. With windy weather conditions the juniors started out the season by meeting new friends and enjoying the game.

Jessy Huebner of Port St. Lucie captured the boys 9-10 age division with a 2-over par 73. Boca Raton native Oscar Crowe took home the runner-up spot in the boys 9-10 age division with a 3-over par 74. Matthew Golovanov of Boca Raton captured the boys 11-12 age division with a 2-over par 73. Boca Raton native Corbin Scott took home the runner-up spot in the boys 11-12 age division with a 4-over par 75. Ethan Fan of Davie captured the boys 13-18 age division with a 2-under par 69. Naples native Kody Horton took home the runner-up spot in the boys 13-18 age division with a 5-over par 76.

Ariana Silva of Fort Lauderdale captured the girls 9-10 age division with a 6-over par 77. Miami native Sophia Coronel took home the runner-up spot in the girls 9-10 age division with a 94. Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton captured the girls 11-12 age division with a 7-over par 78. Miami native Remi Bacardi took home runner-up spot in the girls 11-12 age division with a 9-over par 80. Maria Colella of Weston captured the girls 13-18 age division with a 5-over par 76. Coral Springs native Madison Lenard took home the runner-up spot in the girls 13-18 age division in a scorecard playoff with a 91.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Don Law Golf Academy, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, and The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol.

SINCLAIR AND SAVIOZ CAPTURE FIRST CHALLENGE TOUR EVENT OF 2018

Sun, 04 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Event #1 at Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Port St. Lucie, FL. This event was the first Challenge Tour Event of 2018.

Leif Sinclair of Stuart, FL entered his first South Florida PGA Junior Tour event of his career this weekend. After two days of rainy and windy conditions, Sinclair managed to capture a victory in his first tournament. Sinclair entered Sunday's final round tied for the lead with Port St. Lucie, FL resident Callen Hoskins. Hoskins had the advantage as Club Med Sandpiper Bay is his home course, but this was Hoskins first time playing in the final group on Sunday. Both juniors battled through nerves all day, but in the end Sinclair was able to edge out the victory after rounds of 71-73. John Marshall of Miami, FL took home the boy's 13-15 age division, while Miami Beach, FL resident Yoshi Petetersson took home the boy's 16-18 age division.

Ana Maria Lopez of Weston, FL opened up round one with a 7-over-par 77 to put herself on top of the girl's division after day one. Valentine Savioz of Port St. Lucie, FL found herself four strokes off the lead after Saturday's round. Savioz, who plays out of the Club Med Golf Academy, remained confident that she could bounce back on Sunday. Savioz managed to grind out a final round 77 to edge out Lopez by one stroke and take home her first Challenge Tour victory. Angelica Holman of Fort Pierce, FL took home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Lopez took home the girl's 16-18 age division.

Jackson Langer of Coral Gables, FL started off the year with a win after rounds of 74-78 in the boy's 11-12 age division. Kathrine Schaefer of Southwest Ranches, FL captured the girl's 11-12 age division after rounds of 77-86.

SOUTH FLORIDA PGA NAMES JUNIOR ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour annually awards juniors for their dedication on and off the golf course. For the 2017 season, one male and one female were each selected for the Honda Classic Most Improved Player, one male and one female were each selected for the Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award, as well as one Junior selected for the newly created Don Law Service Award.

Hannah Foster of Hobe Sound was selected as the 2017 recipient of the Don Law Service Award. At the age of 17, Hannah put her name into the American Junior Golf Association Leadership Links to help in raising funds to support the SFPGA Foundation and the programs it administers. This year, Foster raised nearly $1,300 in support the South Florida PGA Foundation. Foster has been a South Florida PGA Junior Tour player since 2012. She is beloved not only by her family and friends on and off the course, but has also impacted the staff and PGA members through her journey with the South Florida PGA.

The Don Law Service Award was created to recognize junior golfers who demonstrate leadership, character and community service through their involvement with the South Florida PGA Foundation as well as other charitable endeavors. The Don Law Service Award honors someone who has a desire to give back to their community and be a role model to others.

Madisyn Bloom of Wellington was selected as the 2017 female recipient of the Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award. Bloom was selected for her dedication to the game of golf, and her outstanding etiquette on and off the golf course. Bloom will be attending Florida Golf Coast University in 2018 to pursue her dream of becoming a PGA member.

Troy Stribling of Jupiter was selected as the 2017 male recipient of the Ed Ficker Sportsmanship Award. Stribling is known for being one of the longest hitters on the golf course, and an outstanding gentleman on and off the course. Stribling always treats volunteers, facility staff and spectators with the upmost respect.

Taylor Caradonna of Boca Raton was selected as the 2017 female recipient of the Honda Classic Most Improved player. Caradonna had an incredible season, finishing runner up at the South Florida Junior PGA Championship and capturing the inaugural South Florida Junior Open. Caradonna managed to improve her scoring average over 5 strokes since the 2016 season.

Cameron Owens of Wellington was selected as the 2017 male recipient of the Honda Classic Most Improved Player. Owens had the most impressive improvement to his game in 2017 after improving his scoring average nearly 7 strokes since 2016.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-five two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 25 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Antigua, Club Chef, Don Law Golf Academy, Junior.Golf, Lipman Produce, Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Power Crunch, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, Skimp, Titleist, Florida Institute for Performance and TLINK Golf.

SOUTH FLORIDA PGA NAMES JUNIOR PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - The South Florida PGA Junior Tour named six Player of The Year winners for each division last week. The South Florida PGA annually awards Player of the Year honors to one boy and girl in the Challenge Tour 11-12 age division, one boy and girl in the Challenge Tour 13-18 age division and one boy and girl in the Championship Tour division.

Port St. Lucie native Daisuke Nakano has been named the 2017 Championship Tour boys Player of the Year. Nakano, who plays out of Club Med Golf Academy, recently signed with Washington State University for the 2018 season. This is the second consecutive year Nakano has been named Player of the Year for the Championship Tour. Nakano had one win in 2017, and never finished outside the top 5 in any of the events.

Skylee Shin of Doral has been named the 2017 Championship Tour girls Player of the Year. Shin was named the Challenge Tour girls Player of the year in 2016 and followed it up with another dominating season. The 13 year old captured five victories and two runner up finishes.

Garrett Giles of Palm City was named the 2017 Challenge Tour boys Player of the Year after a strong season. The 15 year old won three Challenge Tour Events while also finishing in the top 10 on six occasions.

Chole Kovelesky of Boca Raton was awarded the 2017 Challenge Tour girls Player of the Year honors. Kovelesky put together one of the most dominating seasons on the Challenge Tour this year, capturing top honors in three events, while also never finishing outside the top 10 for the entire season.

Alex Heard of Boca Raton was named the 2017 Challenge Tour boys 11-12 Player of the Year. Heard entered the Junior Tour Championship ranked third in the Player of the Year race, but after a come from behind victory on Sunday at the Junior Tour Championship, Heard also solidified his Player of the Year title as well. Heard finished the year with five victories in the 11-12 age division.

Gabriela Sierra of Weston was named the 2017 Challenge Tour girls 11-12 Player of the Year. Sierra won four events in 2017, while also finishing runner up in four occasions.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-five two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 25 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

CEE AND STAUB CAPTURE 2017 JUNIOR TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Sun, 03 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Tour Championship presented by The Honda Classic was held on the Hills Course at Jonathan's Landing Golf Club at Old Trail in Jupiter, FL. The invitation only field consisting of South Florida's top junior golfers did not disappoint.

Nicklas Staub of Boynton Beach put together an incredible performance this weekend. Staub opened up round one with a 4-under-par 67 to take the early lead in the boy's division. Staub put together a solid final round even-par 71 to capture the 2017 Junior Tour Championship boy's division by four strokes. Fernando Castillo of Wellington took home the boy's 13-15 age division after rounds of 74-70. James Nieporte of Boca Raton took home the boy's 16-18 age division after rounds of 68-74.

Nicole Cee of Port St. Lucie was named the Honda Classic Most Improved player at the 2016 Junior Tour Championship. A year later everything came full circle as Cee capture the 2017 Junior Tour Championship girl's title this weekend. Cee opened up round one with a 1-over-par 72 to take the early lead in the girl's division. Cee managed to fend off Laura Edmonds of Weston who fired a final round 1-under-par 70. This is Cee's first Junior Major Championship of her career. Hina Matsui of Port St. Lucie took home the girl's 13-15 age division after rounds of 77-75, while Edmons took home the girl's 16-18 age division after rounds of 76-70.

Alex Heard of Boca Raton captured the boy's 11-12 age division this weekend. Heard entered the final round two strokes back of NaShawn Tyson of North Palm Beach. Heard fired a back-9 4-under-par 32 to surge past Tyson and capture the title. Gabriela Sierra of Weston took home another victory in the girl's 11-12 age division after rounds of 82-78.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-five two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 25 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Allianz Championship, Antigua, Club Chef, Don Law Golf Academy, Natalie's Orchid Island Juice Company, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, The Men's Fun Group at Mirasol, Titleist and Skimp.

2017 Signing

Mon, 20 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The South Florida PGA Junior Tour is happy to announce 30 South Florida PGA Juniors have signed this year to play collegiate golf in 2017 and 2018. We congratulate all of these junior golfers and wish them the best of luck in their college careers. These juniors include:

Austin Aliff - Lipscomb University

Garrett Barber - Louisiana State University

Justin Burkhamer - Iona College

Abigail Chai-Onn - Siena College

Mackenzie Dieter - University of Delaware

Sophia Dieter - University of Delaware

Holly Davenport - Williams College

Brianna Farrell - Florida Atlantic University

Sabrina Fonda - Winthrop University

Robert Fox - Eastern Florida State College

Amadeo Figus - University of South Florida

Luke Gifford - University of South Florida

Clay Gibbs - Concordia University

Grant Horvat - Palm Beach Atlantic University

Sarah Kahn - Highpoint University

Alberto Martinez - Florida State University

Trey Meadows - McNeese State University

Anthony Muttillo - University of South Florida

David Morgan - University of Virginia

Daisuke Nakano - Washington State University

Krit Oukosavanna - Iona College

Valaria Pacheco - Texas Christian University

Lily Rinker - University of Cincinnati

Alexa Rivas - Boston College

Hannah Rizzolo - Florida Southern College

Ana Sofia Rodriguez - Hofstra University

Cameron Starr - LaGrange College

Allie Tully - University of Hartford

Yurika Tanida - Michigan State University

Bryan Wiyang Teoh - University of California Los Angeles

Congratulations again to all of those who signed this year and best of luck in all future endeavors.

Matsui and Coffey Capture Challenge Tour Event #12

Sun, 19 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Event #12 at St. Lucie Trail Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL. This was the final regular season Challenge Tour event of 2017 before the season ending Junior Tour Championship.

Vero Beach native Cade Coffey opened up round one with an even-par 72 to take the early lead in the boy's division. Coral Springs native Sebastian Sacristan fired an opening round 73 to put himself within striking distance of Coffey. Wellington native Estevan Valdes had a memorable round on Sunday. Valdes managed to make his first career hole in one on the par 3 #12 that was playing 165 yards. Valdes ended up firing an even-par 72 on Sunday, but it wasn't enough to overcome Coffey's lead. Coffey put together a final round 75 to capture the boy's overall title. Valdes took home the boy's 16-18 age division, while Palm City native Garret Giles took home the boy's 13-15 age division.

Hina Matsui has been playing out of the Club Med Golf Academy in Port St. Lucie for the past two years. This weekend, the youngster had a breakthrough win at St. Lucie Trail Golf Club. Matsui fired an opening round 79 to take a one stroke lead in the girl's division. Matsui put together an impressive 3-over-par 75 on Sunday to capture the overall girl's title by nine strokes. Valentine Savioz of Port St. Lucie took home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Weston native Ana Maria Lopez would take home the girl's 16-18 age division.

Boca Raton native Alex Heard had another impressive week after rounds of 72-75 to capture his fourth win in the boy's 11-12 age division this season. Boca Raton native Nicole Yugay took home the girl's 11-12 age division after rounds of 81-77.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-five two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 28 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

Jonathan's Landing at Old Trail Hosts Final Prep Tour Event of 2017 Season

Sun, 12 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Jupiter, Fla. - Today, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the final Prep Tour Event of the 2017 season at Jonathans Landing at Old Trail. This event featured a full field of 72 players aging from 9-18 years old. With windy and rainy weather conditions the juniors rounded out the season by making memories, enjoying the game, and closed out the day with great food.

Eric Nguyen of Pembroke Pines and Boca Raton native Matthew Golovanov captured the boys 9-10 age division with a 7-over par 78. Gavin Schlembach of Delray Beach took home the boys 11-12 age division with an 81. Lake Worth native Kristian Urbaitis was runner-up in the boys 11-12 age division in a scorecard playoff with an 83. Tanner Vickers of Stuart captured the boys 13-18 age division with an an 82. Davie native David Miller III was runner-up in the boys 13-18 age division with an 83.

Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton and Delray Beach native Morgan Rodriguez captured the girls 9-10 age division with an 83. Christiana Lee Marcellus of Loxahatchee captured the girls 11-12 age division with an 84. Davie native Alessandra Tabora-Lorenz took home runner-up in the girls 11-12 age division with an 87. Amanda Harper of Jupiter captured the girls 13-18 age division with an 88. Jupiter native Morgan Wade took home runner-up in the girls 13-18 age division with a 90.

Eric Nguyen of Pembroke Pines captured the boys 9-10 player of the year award with a total of 1,608 points for the 2017 season. Fort Lauderdale native Sam Davey took home the boys 11-12 player of the year award with a total of 1,224 points. David Miller III of Davie captured the boys 13-18 player of the year award with a total of 1,103 points.

Kayla Bryant of Boca Raton captured the girls 9-10 player of the year award with a total of 1,050 points for the 2017 season. Pembroke Pines native Rachel Gomez took home the girls 11-12 player of the year award with a total of 1,225 points. Madison Elia of Boynton Beach captured the girls 13-18 player of the year award with a total of 710 points.

The South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour is proudly presented by The Honda Classic and supported by Antigua, Don Law Golf Academy, Florida Institute of Performance, Junior.Golf, Lipman, Palm Beach County Sports Commission, Pukka, Skimp, and TLink.

For more information on the Junior Tour and its respective Championship, Challenge, and Prep tours, please visit the South Florida PGA Junior Tour website at www.sfpgajuniorgolf.com"

Staub and Edmonds Capture Don Law Golf Academy Junior Championship

Sun, 12 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the Don Law Golf Academy Junior Championship on the Players Course at Weston Hills Country Club. The field featured many of South Florida's top junior golfers.

Boynton Beach native Nicklas Staub has become one of South Florida's top junior golfers over the past two years. The 14 year old has found himself atop the leader board frequently, and this weekend was no different. Staub opened up round one with a 2-under-par 70 to find himself tied for the lead with Port St. Lucie native Daisuke Nakano. Staub battled tough conditions on Sunday as winds reached 25 mph and rain passing through the course on and off throughout the round. Despite the tough elements, Staub still managed to put together a final round 1-under-par 71 to capture the Overall Boy's Title. Palm Beach native Allan Kournikova would take home the boy's 13-15 age division title, while Nakano would take home the boy's 16-18 age division title.

Laura Edmonds moved to Weston, FL 2 months ago. During that time she managed to win her first Challenge Tour event last month, and this weekend she managed to capture her first Championship Tour event to prove she can hang with the section's top junior golfers. Edmonds, fired an opening round even-par 72 to put herself two strokes clear of Doral native Skylee Shin. Edmonds put together another even-par 72 on Sunday to capture the Overall Girl's Title by 7 strokes. Shin would go on to capture the girl's 13-15 age division, while Wellington native Isabel Herrera would take home the girl's 16-18 age division.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-five two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 28 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

Team Golf Season Comes To A Close

Thu, 09 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

The 2017 Team Golf season has come to a close with the year ending Fall Championship on Sunday, November 5 at Weston Hills Country Club. Fifteen facilities from across south Florida competed in the season ending Championship for a chance to win the overall title. It was a tight race, but after the nine-hole competition the PGA Golden Bears from PGA National Golf Club took home first place. Team coach Steve Cox, PGA and his team of 8 junior golfers capped off a successful season by winning the Fall Championship.

""SFPGA Team Golf is an integral dynamic of PGA National's Junior Development Program. It's capacity to grow the game is second to none. Congratulations to our PGA Golden Bears on their success and another championship season,"" said Steven Cox, PGA, team coach of the PGA Golden Bears.

In its fifth season, Team Golf continues to provide a fun and social atmosphere for young golfers to develop their skills at an entry tournament level. Since April, 66 total tournaments were conducted with six separate leagues and over 550 junior golfers participated this year.

Over 50 PGA and LPGA Professionals, at both public and private golf facilities, helped form teams and served as the team coach at their facility. Teams are comprised of 6-12 players ages 6-14. Teams can be coed and the tournament format is a two-person scramble, playing 9-holes of stroke play. Leagues are separated by county and were located as far north as Indian River County, as far south as Miami-Dade County and as far west as Naples/Fort Myers.

Thank you to all the PGA Professionals, host facilities and families who made Team Golf a success in 2017!

GILES AND EDMONDS WIN CHALLENGE EVENT #11

Mon, 23 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Tour Event #11 on the Old Orange Course at Verandah Golf Club in Fort Myers, FL.

Palm City native Garret Giles continued his strong season this weekend. Giles, who has two wins and two top-five finishes on the season, opened up round one with an even-par 72 to take a three stroke lead in the boy's 13-18 age division. Parkland native Gabriel Hegerstrom and Stuart native Royce Howley each fired rounds of 75 to keep within distance of Giles. Giles saw his lead start to slip away on the front nine after a 3-over-par 39 but was able to battle back with a birdie on hole 12 to capture the overall boy's title by two strokes. Hegerstrom would take home the boy's 13-15 age division, while Miami native Justin Rabin would take home the boy's 16-18 age division.

Laura Edmonds moved to Weston, FL less than a month ago. Eager to establish herself in South Florida, Edmonds joined the South Florida PGA to see how her game would stack up in the area. Edmonds fired an even par 72 during round one to take a four stroke lead over Boca Raton native Chloe Kovelesky. Edmonds followed up her strong opening round with a final round 3-under-par 69 to capture the overall girl's title. Edmonds proved this weekend she can be a force in the girl's division for a long time. Kovelesky would go on to capture the girl's 13-15 age division, while Estero native Kelli Kragh took home the girl's 16-18 age division.

North Palm Beach native NaShawn Tyson won his fifth title in the boy's 11-12 age division after rounds of 73-72. Port St. Lucie native Gloria Nip captured her 2nd title in the girl's 11-12 age division after rounds of 76-77.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-five two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 28 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

Gittens and Nakano Win Power Crunch Junior Championship

Sun, 22 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This weekend, the South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the Power Crunch Junior Championship on the Golden Palm Course at Trump National Doral. The field featured many of South Florida's top junior golfers.

Port St. Lucie native Daisuke Nakano has been a big name in Junior Golf in South Florida over the past few years. Nakano, the 2016 South Florida PGA Championship Tour Player of the Year opened up round one with an even par-71. Nakano was 3-under-par on his round before finishing with a triple bogey on his final hole during Saturday's round. Nakano found himself tied atop the leaderboard with Boynton Beach native Nicklas Staub heading into Sunday's final round. Nakano redeemed himself on the Golden Palm Course on Sunday after by a 4-under-par 67 to capture the overall boy's championship by four strokes. Nakano's round featured 5 birdies to just one bogey. Jupiter native Sabastian Nachilly took home the boy's 13-15 age division are a solid weekend of 72-70 to finish at 1-under-par for the tournament. Davie native Derek Li would take home the boy's 16-18 age division.

Boynton Beach native Zora Gittens had a breakthrough weekend at Trump National Doral. Gittens opened up round one with an even-par 71 to take the early lead in the girl's division. Doral native Skylee Shin put herself one stroke off Gittens lead after an opening round 1-over-par 71. Gittens put together a great final round 4-over-par 76 to capture the overall girl's title by one stroke over Shin. Shin would capture the girl's 13-15 age division, while West Palm Beach native Hannah Rizzolo would take home the girl's 16-18 age division.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-five two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 28 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

Two South Florida Juniors Headed to Augusta

Mon, 16 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

On October 14th, south Florida juniors competed at the Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at TPC Sawgrass. One qualifier in each age division advanced to the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship Finals on April 1, 2018 at Augusta National Golf Club on the eve of the 2018 Masters. Two south Florida juniors qualified for the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship finals: Jensi Krampel and Gloria Nip.

Jensi Krampel of Naples qualified in the Girls 7-9 division. She scored 120 points and was 30 points ahead of her nearest competitor. Gloria Nip of Port Saint Lucie qualified in the Girls 10-11 division. She scored 152 points, 39 ahead of the 2nd place contestant. Gloria competed in the 2014 Drive, Chip and Putt Championship. Good luck in April to Jensi and Gloria!

The south Florida juniors who competed included:

Boys 7-9: Tristan Rhodenizer, Palm Beach Gardens (2nd), Elias Treusch, Aventura (9th)

Girls 7-9: Jensi Krampel, Naples (1st), Brianna Breto, Hialeah (10th) and Sophia Coronel, Miami (11th)

Boys 10-11: Nicholas Valor, Sunny Isles (11th), Braden Miller, Naples (12th) and Roan Greyvensten, Tequesta (14th)

Girls 10-11: Gloria Nip, Port Saint Lucie (1st), Chloe Kovelesky, Boca Raton (4th) and Angela Nip, Port Saint Lucie ( 5th)

Boys 12-13: Allan Kournikova, Palm Beach (2nd), Hans Risvaer, Miami (4th), NaShawn Tyson, North Palm Beach (8th) and Kevin Kelly, Cape Coral (10th)

Girls 12-13: Nicole Yugay, Boca Raton (4th)

Boys 14-15: Conner MacDonald, Stuart (9th) and Natthawat Sakchawanpob, Boca Raton (11th)

Girls 14-15: Caroline Patterson, Jupiter (2nd), Mimi Chen, Longwood (4th) and Zoey Iglesias, Port Saint Lucie (11th)

Wycliffe Golf and Country Club Host Ninth Prep Tour Event of 2017!

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Wellington, Fla. - Saturday, October 14th, the South Florida PGA Junior Prep Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the ninth Prep Tour Event of the 2017 season at Wycliffe Golf & Country Club on the west course. The field was comprised of 63 players aging from 9-18 ready for a great day until the storms rolled in and play was suspended.

After a long delay featuring heavy rain, it was determined that the course was unplayable, and only those who had completed an entire nine were able to be scored. Three of the six divisions competing in the event were awarded, while the others unfortunately were not.

Tristan Wieland of Jupiter took home the boys 9-10 age division with a 1-over par 36. Pembroke Pines native Eric Nguyen took home the runner-up spot in the boys 9-10 age division with a 2-over par 37. Pavel Anisimov of Port Saint Lucie captured the boys 11-12 age division with a 1-over par 38. Fort Lauderdale native Sam Davey took home the runner-up spot in the boys 11-12 age division with a 3-over par 40.

Rachel Gomez of Pembroke Pines took home the girls 11-12 age division with a 4-over par 39. Hobe Sound native Morgan Pichler took home the runner-up spot in the girls 11-12 age division with a 5-over par 40.

The tenth and final Prep Tour event of the season will be held November 12 th at Jonathan's Landing Golf Club at Old Trail.

South Florida PGA 1st Annual High School Championship Event

Sat, 07 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

"BOYNTON BEACH, FL - Friday and Saturday, October 6 th and 7 th ten High School teams and sixteen individuals from all across south Florida competed in the 1 st Annual South Florida PGA High School Championship presented by the Seminole Tribe supported by Titleist at Quail Ridge Country Club on the South Course.

Great weather made for a wonderful event. Within the event four competitions were administered crowning one Overall Boys Team Champion, one Overall Girls Team Champion, the Overall Individual Boy Champion, and the Overall Individual Girl Champion.

The team for Spanish River High in Boca Raton proved to be the strongest boys team in the field today capturing the overall boys title by firing an impressive 584. The team was coached by Aaron Lampman the team was comprised of Ryan Adams (146), Jack Braverman (149), Michael Checo (146), Adiraj Sibia (162), and Drew Steiner (143). Drew Steiner of Spanish River also captured the Overall Individual Boys Champion title with his one under par two round total.

The Girls Overall Team Champion was The Benjamin School coached by Wesley Logsdon comprised of Sarah Beqaj (145), Jenna Fonda (151), Sabrina Fonda (155), Hannah Foster (155) and Ava Marano (160) bringing their team total to 603.

Firing two impressive subpar rounds of 68 and 70 to capture the overall girls individual title was Jillian Bourdage. Jillian was the South Florida PGA Junior Championship overall winner in 2015 representing South Florida at the national championship.

Scoring method in the team competition was comprised of the four best scores from round one and the four best scores from round two.

This event was created in an effort to provide local high school golf programs with an opportunity to compete in a thirty-six hole event, better preparing them for the upcoming State Championship. Among the teams competing were:

Boys:

Bishop Verot Catholic High School - Coach: Andy Scott, PGA

Cypress Bay High School - Coach: Steve Evans

First Baptist Academy of Naples - Coach: Marc Oates

North Broward Preparatory School - Coach: Ross Devonport

Oxbridge Academy - Coach: Dan McClellan, PGA

Spanish River High School - Coach: Aaron Lampman

The Sagemont School - Coach: Marco Salemi

Girls:

American Heritage Plantation - Coach: Linda Sibio

Archbishop McCarthy High School - Coach: Vince Carver

The Benjamin School - Coach: Wesley Logsdon

STACHKUNAS AND ALESSON WIN CHALLENGE EVENT #9

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Event #9 on the East Course at Hunters Run Golf & Racquet Club in Boynton Beach, FL. The event was shortened to 18 holes due to weather.

Lake Worth native Tyler Stachkunas had a career day on the East Course of Hunters Run. Stachkunas fired a round of 5-under-par 66, which featured 8 birdies on his card. Stachkunas captured the overall boy's title by three strokes. Lighthouse Point native Jon Mourin, Miami Lakes native Luke Clanton, and Wellington native Fernando Castillo each fired rounds of 2-under-par 69's. Clanton would take home the boy's 13-15 age division, while Loxahatchee native Zach Mize would take home the boy's 16-18 age division.

Doral native Agatha Alesson is making a name for herself on the Challenge Tour. Alesson, who won Challenge Tour event #8, managed to capture her second straight victory this week after a round of 1-over-par 72. Alesson edged our Boca Raton native Chloe Kovelesky by one stroke to capture the girl's title. Kovelesky would take home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Palm Beach Gardens native Anna Rippert took home the girl's 16-18 age division.

Boca Raton native Alex Heard captured his 3rdChallenge Tour victory of the season in the boy's 11-12 age division this week. Heard fired a round of 1-under-par 70 to capture the title. Weston native Gabriela Sierra captured her 3rd victory of the season in the girl's 11-12 age division. Sierra fired a 5-over-par 76.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-five two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 28 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

Starr and Shin Win Natalie's Juice Company Junior Championship

Thu, 03 Aug 2017 00:00:00 GMT

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - This week, the South Florida PGA Junior Championship Tour presented by The Honda Classic held the Natalie's Juice Company Junior Championship at The Breakers Rees Jones Course. The field featured many of South Florida's top junior golfers.

North Palm Beach Native Billy Civitella and Cameron Starr from Palm Beach Gardens each opened up round one with a three under par 69 to take the round one lead in the boys division. Vero Beach native Carter Dalili fired an open round even par 72 to put himself within striking distance of the lead. Civitella and Starr battled it out in the final round. Starr ended up victorious shooting a tournament total of 145.

Vero Beach native Carter Dalil captured the boys 13-15 age division with a tournament total of 148, and Ryan Adams captured the boys 16-18 age division with a tournament total of 148.

Skylee Shin from Doral and Jenna Fonda from Wellington both finished round one with a three over par, 75's. Port St. Lucie native Nicole Cee finished round one with a six over par, 78. These three battled it out in the final round of the tournament, and Skylee Shin came out victorious with a tournament total of 150. Nicole Cee will capture the girls 13-15 age division with a tournament total of 159, and Miami native, Cassandra Chen will take home the gold for the 16-18 age division with a tournament total of 158.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-five two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 28 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

Owens and Eathakotti Win Challenge Event #8

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMT

ATLANTIS, Fla. - This week, the South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Tour presented by The Honda Classic held Challenge Event #8 at Plantation Preserve Golf Course in Plantation, FL.

Wellington native Cameron Owens got off to a hot start on Wednesday and never looked back. Owens fired an opening round 4-under-par 68 which featured 5 birdies to just one bogey on the day. Doral native Manuel Romero found himself in second place after an opening round even-par 72. Owens put together a steady final round even-par 72 to capture the overall boy's title by five strokes. Plantation native Jackson Kustin would take home the boy's 13-15 age division, while Romero would take home the boy's 16-18 age division title.

The girl's 13-18 age division featured some outstanding play this week. Coral Gables native Tanya Eathakotti fired a 5-under-par 67 which included 8 birdies on the day. Doral resident Agatha Alesson played in the group behind Eathakotti during round 1 and managed to keep pace with her by posting a 4-under-par 68. Eathakotti kept her momentum going during Thursday's final round and posted a 1-over-par 73 to capture the overall girl's title. Boca Raton native Chloe Kovelesky would take home the girl's 13-15 age division, while Alesson would take home the girl's 16-18 age division.

The boy's 11-12 age division featured a great amount of excitement this week. Boca Raton native Alex Heard and North Palm Beach native NaShawn Tyson each posted a two-day total of 142 to send the division to a sudden death playoff. Heard managed to outlast Tyson in the 5 hole sudden death playoff to capture the title. Weston native Gabriella Sierra took home the girl's 11-12 age division.

The SFPGA Junior Tour presented by The Honda Classic is a membership-based tour open to boys and girls ages 11-18 in South Florida with the aspirations and skill levels to compete at the High School and Collegiate level and features some of South Florida's most talented junior golfers. The Junior Tour offers twenty-five two day championship events for junior golfers in South Florida. The 28 events are divided between the Championship Tour, an invitational tour featuring extended yardages, and the Challenge Tour.

South Florida JR Section - PGA

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