Coultas & Martinez Lead After 36-Holes

John Coultas grabs the lead at eight-under par in the 60th Florida State Boys’ Junior Amateur Championship as Alberto Martinez leads the 13-15 age division heading into the final round of play at Belleair Country Club in Belleair. The final round will get underway tomorrow at 8:00 AM.

In the 16-18 age division, John Coultas, of Valrico, (pictured right) will take a one stroke lead heading into the final round of play with a 36-hole total of 134. After his first round of four-under par 67 on the East Course, Coultas would trail the first round leader by three strokes.  Playing the West Course in the second round, Coultas got off to a slow start playing the front nine in one over par. On the back nine Coultas got hot with the putter, making birdies on 10, 14, and 18. Coultas also added an eagle on the par-5 16th hole to cap off his back nine of five-under par 30. Coultas recently captured the Florida Junior Tour Major at Innisbrook over the Memorial Day weekend, and will look back at that experience to try and capture his first State Championship. Gabriel Lench, of Lake Mary and Kyler Tate, of Winter Garden, share second place with a two round total of seven-under par 137. Lench is looking to make history on Thursday, attempting to become the first player to capture the Boys’ Junior Amateur Championship and the Amateur Championship in the same year. Tyler Bakich, of Valrico made the biggest move of the day, after his round of six-under par 66 on the East Course, to move into 4th place. The Defending Champion Jacob Kline, of Saint Augustine, is currently tied for 16th place after his rounds of 72-69. Fifty-four juniors in the 16-18 age division advanced to play the final 18-holes on the West Course with a two-round total of 147 and better.

In the 13-15 age division, Alberto Martinez, of Weston, stands at five-under par 137 after 36-holes of play, and will take a one stroke lead into the final round. Martinez opened up the Championship with a two-under par round of 69 on the East Course to trail the first round leader by only one shot. Playing the West Course in the second round, Martinez would make five birdies and only two bogeys for his round of three-under par 68.  Sitting only one stroke behind Martinez is past State Champion, Tyler Strafaci, of Davie. Strafaci posted rounds of 71-67 for a 36-hole total of 138. Evan Sun, of Wesley Chapel, sits alone in third place with a Championship total of 139. Sun would fire a second round of seven-under par 64 which included seven birdies (five in a row on holes 13-17) and no bogeys. Twenty-three juniors in the 13-15 age division advanced to the final day posting a two-round total of 152 and better.

36-Hole Results