Kline & Furuya Capture Boys' Junior Titles

Jacob Kline captures the 59th Florida State Boys’ Junior Championship as Ryoto Furuya claimed the 13-15 division title at Sara Bay Country Club and Bradenton Country Club, on July 9-11.

In the 16-18 age division, Jacob Kline (16), of Saint Augustine, (pictured right) posted a tournament total of three-under par 210, to win the Boys’ Junior Championship by one-stroke. Kline opened up the Championship at Bradenton Country Club with a round of one-under par 70. Kline finished strong in the first round firing a four-under par 32 after his rough start. Playing Sara Bay Country Club in the second round, Kline continued his steady play posting a round of one-under par 70 to trail Logan Lanier, of Saint Augustine, by one stroke heading into the final 18-holes of play.

Playing in the final group on Thursday, Kline got off to a hot start making birdies on 3 and 4, but stumbled on number 5 and 8 with bogies. Jacob bounced back quickly by making birdie on number 9 to turn at one-under par 35. Kline would play holes 10-13 in one-under par, and after making birdie on the 14th hole he saw his lead stretch to four shots. After playing holes 15-17, in one-over par, Kline would head to the 18th tee with a two stroke lead. Kline said “I was really pumped after my par on 17, I hit one of the best chips of my life, and made playing the 18th hole a little easier.” Kline would just lip out his 10 foot par putt on the 18th hole to tap in for bogey, and capture the 59th Boys’ Junior crown.  Kline stated “My putting was great this week, I had under 30 putts each round. This victory is the biggest of my career, I am really happy I could accomplish this as a 16 year old.” Jordan Miller, of Oneco, and Austen Truslow, of New Smyrna Beach, finished tied for second place with a tournament total of two-under par 211. Thirty-six hole leader Logan Lanier, of Saint Augustine, struggled on Thursday posting a six-over par 77, to finish in sixth place.

In the 13-15 age division, Ryoto Furuya (15), of Wesley Chapel, (pictured left) posted an even par total of 213 to capture his first State Championship. After a first round of one-under par 70 at Sara Bay Country Club, Furuya would hold a share of the lead heading into the second round of play. Furuya continued his steady play at Bradenton Country Club in the second round with a one-over par round of 72, which included an eagle on the par-5 17th hole. Furuya found himself tied with Greyson Porter, of Clearwater, Anton Serafini, of Lake Mary, and Landon Weber, of Fort Myers, heading into the final round.

Furuya used a hot putter on the front nine in the final round making birdies on 2, 7, and 9, to go with only one bogey, to turn at two-under par 34. With the pressure of winning his first State Championship on the line, Furuya’s nerves came into play making bogies on 13 and 16. Playing the difficult par-4 17th hole, Furuya would make a clutch par to take a one shot lead into the 54th hole. After three great shots into the par-5 18th hole, Furuya would two putt for the one shot victory. Greyson Porter finished alone in second place with rounds of 70-72-72 for a tournament total of one-over par 214. Landon Weber finished in third place with a tournament total of three-over par 216. Weber also provided the shot of the tournament with a hole-in-one in the first round at Sara Bay Country Club on the fourth hole.

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