After 36 holes and an hour and twenty minute weather delay, Blayne Barber and Connor Arendell finished with a two-round total of 137 to have a one stroke advantage in the 52nd Florida State Boys Junior Championship at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville. Julian Suri continues to lead the junior division after shooting even par in the second round. The final round begins at 8:00 am on Wednesday, July 12.
In the Boys 16-18 age division, Blayne Barber, 16, from Lake City, moved ahead to share first place after shooting a second round score of 4-under par 68. Barber posted a 69 in the first round to finish tied with first round co-leader Connor Arendell after two rounds. Arendell, 16, of Cape Coral, fired a 68-69. Tyson Alexander, 17, of Gainesville, sits one back from the leaders at 138. Alexander, a first round co-leader with a 68, shot 70 in the second round. Two-time Champion of the junior division, Wesley Graham, 16, of Port Orange, jumped into a tie for 11th place blasting a 4-under 68 in the second round. Combined with his 76 in the first round, Graham is even through two rounds.
Julian Suri, 15, of St. Augustine, maintains his lead in the 13-15 age division recording a 139 for the first two rounds. Suri had a four stroke advantage after his first round score of 67 and with an even par in the second round holds a one stroke lead. Andrew Colvin, 15, of Longwood, pushed forward firing a 67 in the second round to go into the final round tied for second. Colvin and Tyler McCumber, of Ponte Vedra Beach, have a two-round total of 140. McCumber, 15, pulls closer to Suri posting a 69 in the second round.
Competitors first must have qualified at one of the six sites across the state in 18 holes of stroke play. The Championship field features 90 of the top male amateur golfers in the state including qualifiers and exempt players. The field is divided into two age divisions; 13-15 junior division and 16-18 regular division. The 16-18 age division of 63 includes 23 exempt players while the 13-15 age division features three exempt players. For the second year, competitors play 54 holes of stroke play over the course of three days.
The Champion of the Regular division receives three exemptions into AJGA events. The top five from the Regular division receive two exemptions each into AJGA events and the top ten finishers will receive one exemption toward an AJGA open tournament. Additionally, the top 14 finishes in the 16-18 division will be invited to compete in the Florida State Junior Match Play Invitational. The top eight finishes in the 13-15 division will also be invited to compete in the Junior Match Play Invitational.
To enter, participants must be between the ages of 13-18 and not attending college. Also, the juniors must not have a handicap index higher than 17.4. For pairings, tee-times and complete results, please see www.fsga.org.
Organized in 1913, the Florida State Golf Association is a not-for-profit organization that governs amateur golf in the state of Florida. In addition to conducting 22 championships for amateur golfers in the state, the FSGA is responsible for more than 40 qualifying tournaments for USGA National Championships and the new Florida Junior Tour. The FSGA also maintains the USGA Handicap System, performs course ratings throughout Florida and assists in junior programs and scholarships.
