GAINSVILLE, Fla.- Players faced chilly weather and tight tree-lined fairways throughout the weekend at Hawkstone Country Club. Players put their skills to the test on this par 71 course taking on six par three's and five challenging par fives. After two rounds, Joseph Corcell and Keira Shavitranuruk captured the Boys (13-15) division after a decisive birdie on #10, while Keira captures the Girls (13-15) title.
Boys (13-15)
Round one saw chilly temperatures as players took to the course to begin their competition. Ethan Gossman, from Jacksonville, had an up and down day carding four bogeys and five birdies. His 1-under par round of 70 was enough for Gossman to take a one shot lead over fellow competitors Joseph Corcell and Will McGee. Corcell and McGee’s round of one over par 72 was enough to secure a leaders pairing.
Hawkstone did not hold back in round two. Tight, tree lined fairways proved to be a challenge for many, however, Corcell was up to the task. Throughout the front nine, Corcell, Gossman, and Karl Stenson were in a back and forth battle for first. Each player shooting under par on their opening nines, it was hole 10 where the momentum shifted. With three birdies and a bogey, Stenson had found himself narrowing the lead as he approach the difficult par 5, tenth hole. With bogey on the hole, and Corcell’s birdie, there was an instant flip in the leaderboard. Corcell never looked back from there pouring in two more birdies to claim the boys (13-15) title and first FJT victory.
Girls (13-15)
Keira Shavitranuruk began her event with back-to-back birdies on her opening holes enroot to a 1-under par, 70. Navigating the course well, Shavitranuruk managed to card five birdies in her opening round, with the only hiccup coming on the 17th hole. Lurking close behind was Catalina Dolan and Lily Chiang, both of which turned in rounds of even par, 71 to sit only one shot behind the lead.
The final round was an exciting one to say the least. Shavitranuruk got off to a hot start recording four birdies in her first nine holes and taking a six shot lead heading into the final nine. The lead started to quickly dwindle. Starting her day four shots off the lead, Grace Carter was quickly moving up the leaderboard in round two. Carter vaulted up the leaderboard and in contention with four birdies on her closing nine holes. A final round 4-under par, 67 turned out to be one shot shy of the lead, but was the low score of the tournament. Nicole Sardinha also found herself quickly moving up the leaderboard with a final round 3-under par, 68 ultimately capturing third place. A final par on the par 5 ninth hole was the ticket for Shavitranuruk to capture her first FJT (13-15) victory.
