VERO BEACH, Fla. - The first weekend in March set the perfect scene for this week's Florida Junior Tour event at Sandridge Golf Club. With perfect weather throughout the weekend, it allowed for the players to see the course in all its glory, posing a good test for them. After two rounds, it was Reed Abdelnour who would raise the trophy in the Boys (11-12), Victor Monssoh would secure the Boys (9-10) division. Catherin Lily Chen would win the Girls (11-12), and Lilo Tsai would run away with the Girls (9-10) winning by 5 shots.
Boys (11-12)
Round one at Sandridge proved to have its challenges for the field, but Reed Abdelnour saw opportunity and took it posting the only under par round in the Boys (11-12) division. Abdelnour carded six birdies on holes four, then three in a row on holes six, seven, and eight, and carded two more on eleven and thirteen. After Round one Abdelnour held a three shot lead over his nearest competitor, Parker Osborne.
Round Two’s slightly breezier conditions proved to have its effect on the field. Abdelnour would hold a one shot lead through nine. Parker Osborne would birdie hole thirteen and would take a one shot lead over Abdelnour. Abdelnour would respond with a birdie on fourteen to share the lead with Osborne. The two would come into the clubhouse tied for the lead. In the end, Abdelnour would win the first playoff hole and would hoist the trophy, capturing his second FJT win in a row of the season.
Boys (9-10)
The Boys (9-10) division’s leaderboard was much tighter after round one. After the front nine it was Travis Reaves who held the lead shooting even. However on the back, Alexander Hueberger birdied both holes ten and eleven to help him shoot one under on the back nine and hoist him into the lead one above second place, Travis Reaves , and Victor Monssoh would sit two back in third place at the end of round one.
During Round 2, the lead in the Boys (9-10) division would continue to bounce between Travis Reaves and Victor Monssoh. Reaves would hold the lead through nine by one. They would both birdie hole 11, but a triple bogey for Reaves on hole 12 would propel Monssoh into the lead by two. After Monssoh would take hold of the lead he would never look back, and would continue on to win the Boys (9-10) division by seven shots. This win will make it Monssoh’s third FJT victory.
Girls (11-12)
After their first nine it was Nishika Koduru who held the lead carding a bogey free, one under par. As the day went on, Bella Simoes would separate herself from the field, posting even par on the second nine, carding three birdies on her back nine. Simoes finished round one two strokes ahead of second place, Catherine Lily Chen.
During Round two, Simoes would hold her lead through nine posting a consistent two-over, posting eight pars in a row. On the back nine, Mia Heuberger would post a flawless three-under par to launch herself into the mix for the win. With some hiccups on the back nine Simoes would fall behind leaving Catherine Lily Chen and Hueberger to fend for the title in a playoff. Chen would win on the first playoff hole. Mia Hueberger would take second and in a tie for third would be Bella Simoes and Priya Natajaran, who shot an impressive two under par today. This is Chen’s first FJT victory.
Girls (9-10)
Lilo Tsai, showed up round one and never looked back. Shooting an impressive two-under, Tsai would card four birdies total on the day. Her back nine was flawless, carding one birdie among a sea of eight pars. This great round would put Tsai eight strokes ahead of her nearest competitor, former FJT Champion, Enya Chavitranurak.
Lilo Tsai would continue to hold her commanding lead, making the turn still four shots ahead of her nearest competitor. At the end of the day Tsai would hold an impressive five shot lead off of second place, Jiratarn Pornchai. Former FJT Champion, Enya Chavitranurak and Scarlet Konecny would tie for third.
This is Tsai’s first FJT win.
