RUSKIN, Fla. – Four Florida Junior Tour winner were crowned on Sunday at Cypress Creek Golf Club in the 9-12 event. Giuseppe Puebla and Sofia Cherif Essakali were victorious in the 11-12 Division, while Bento Assis and Alexandra Phung took home wins in the 9-10 Division.
This is the first FJT victory for Puebla, while Essakali, Assis and Phung all captured their second FJT win.
Boys 11-12
Puebla went wire-to-wire to pick up the win at Cypress Creek, posting an even-par 144 for the weekend. The Royal Palm Beach native took a share of the first-round lead with a 2-over 74.
Beginning the final round with a share of the lead, Puebla for the day started with an even-par front side. He got hot on the back nine, birdieing three of the five holes on No. 12-16, to post a final round 70 and secure the win.
Brooks Colton used rounds of 75-70 to take home a runner-up finish at 1-over 145. Puebla and Colton’s final-round 70 were the low rounds of the day. Evan Pena finished third at2-over 146, with rounds of 75-71 for the weekend.
Girls 11-12
Essakali used round of 74-73 to earn the win in the Girls 11- 12 Division, carding a 3-over 147. She took the first-round lead with a 2-over 74.
Starting the final round with a one-shot lead over the field, Essakali began the final round with an even-par front nine. The Naples native added two birdies and three bogeys on the back side to secure the win with a final-round 73.
Angela Wang and Nicole Sardinha took a share of second place at 4-over 148. Wang finished the weekend with rounds of 75-73, while Sardinha put together round of 75-73.
Boys 9-10
Assis captured the win in the Boys 9-10 Division, carding an 8-over 152 to take home the six-shot victory. The Brazil native posted a first-round 76 to take the first-round lead.
He used another 4-over 76 to take home his second FJT victory of the year. Niko Gordic-Ronderos finished runner-up at 14-over 158, while Aaron Umholtz took third at 22-over 166.
Girls 9-10
Phung fired two under-par rounds to take home the 11-shot victory at 5-under 139. She opened the tournament with a 2-under 70 to take a two-shot lead over the field, finishing the first round with five birdies.
The New York native got off to a quick start in the final round with a birdied on her second. She went on a run to close out her front side, playing No. 15-18 at 3 under, with two birdies and an eagle on the par-5 18th.
Phung closed out the day with an even-par back side to card a 3-under 69. Her 5-under 139 is the lowest 36-hole total in FJT history in the Girls 9-10 Division, as she was the only player in the tournament to card two under-par rounds.
Marley Pedrique finished the day in second place at 6-over 150, while Leah Gram took third at 14-over 158.
Results
