LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Lakewood National posed a challenging test for the junior golfers competing in this year's FJT Tour Championship. Both rounds featured strong winds and difficult green complexes. The leaderboard remained close during the first round, but as the second round progressed, the leaderboard began to take shape.
What Happened?
Boys (16-18)
Round one was a great example of excellence in junior golf and Lakewood National was the perfect test. Konnor Kubica would hold the lead after the first nine at one-under. However, Ryan Nicholson quickly made his move, recording five birdies on the first six holes of his back nine. Kubica would follow two strokes behind, shooting a back-nine 34 (-2), putting him one stroke out of the lead after round one.
The second round remained challenging, but by its conclusion, four players emerged tied for the lead. Kubica, Anthony Monteleone, Nicholson, and Oscar Crowe all completed 36 holes at three-under, positioning themselves atop the leaderboard as they headed into the final round.
Girls (16-18)
The course proved equally challenging for both the girls and boys. Gabriella Albert took the solo lead after the first round, finishing at a solid two-under par. Her scorecard featured nine consecutive pars on the front nine, followed by birdies on holes 10, 11, and 18, with her only blemish being a bogey on the 15th hole. Valentina Guertin ended the round at even par, two strokes behind Albert.
Round Two was a showcase for Guertin, who delivered an impressive 65 (-7) and ended the day with a five-stroke lead over the competition. She recorded eight birdies during her final 18 holes. In second place, Gabriella Albert maintained a steady performance with a score of 72, finishing 36-holes at 2-under par.
Boys (13-15)
The Boys (13-15) Division would find the course's quick greens and windy conditions a little more challenging than the rest. Nolan DeForest would co-lead the pack staying calm and collected on his way to a solid, one-under-par finish. Jaden Peterson would also have a share of the lead at one-under-par. Peterson started his day out with an eagle on hole 10, followed by four birdies. However, with the second round still on the way and the next contender only two strokes back, it was still anyone's game.
Giancarlo Aguirre would climb three spots on the leaderboard during the final round, carding a 71 (-1) to secure solo first place. Meanwhile, Kondal and Peterson wrapped up the long day tied for second at 2-over par.
Girls (13-15)
While the course posed challenges for everyone else, Grace Carter effortlessly conquered Lakewood National this morning, finishing Round One with a bogey-free score of five-under-par. Her impressive 67 put her at the top of the leaderboard, ahead of her closest competitor, Alexandra Snyder, who finished at two under par.
By the end of the day, Carter not only claimed the top spot on the leaderboard but also set a new record for the lowest 36-hole score in any girl's division in history. Carter fired remarkable rounds of 67- 65 to finish at an outstanding 12-under par. Alexandra Snyder finished in solo second place with rounds of 70-73 to finish 1-under.
What’s Next?
The final 18 holes will begin tomorrow, Sunday, October 6th at 7:45 AM and run through 9:24 AM. By day’s end, we will crown four champions from each division.
