Rene Nicolas, Valentina Marie Guertin and Jack Zejda Win 38th Nicklaus Junior Championship

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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