Holtz and Andino Claim Titles at the 2024 SFPGA Tour Championship

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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