Louis Amira and Tyler McCumber each fired a 3-under par 69 to share the lead in the 53rd Florida State Boys Junior Championship at the Country Club of Ocala and Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club in Ocala. Cole Engelhardt also posted a 3-under par 69 to have a two-stroke advantage in the junior division. The Boys Junior Championship continues through Wednesday, July 11.
Louis Amira and Tyler McCumber each shot a 69 to lead the field by one. Amira, 17, of Valrico, posted the 69 at the Country Club of Ocala as McCumber, 16, recorded his 69 at Golden Hills. McCumber is looking to win his first Boys Junior Championship in the older division after winning last year’s junior division of the Championship. Four juniors posted a 70 to share third place heading into the second round of play including three-time FJT winner Michael Hebert, 16, of Orlando. Also shooting 70 was Derek Nelson, 17, of Palm Beach Gardens, Amit Odaiyar, 17, from Bradenton, and Zachery Sobel, 16, of Clearwater Beach.
In the 13-15 age division, Cole Engelhardt, 15, of Jacksonville, finished with a 69 at the Country Club of Ocala in the first round to lead the division by two. In a three-way tie for second place, Hojin Kang, 15, of Longwood, Alex Slaton, 14, from Gainesville, and JD Tomlinson Jr, 14, of Gainesville, each posted a first round 1-under par 71.
More than 340 entries were received for the 2007 Boys Junior Championship. Competitors first attempted to qualify for the Championship at one of six sites across the state in 18 holes of stroke play. The Championship field features 126 of the top male amateur golfers in the 16-18 age division and 42 top juniors in the 13-15 age division. In the Championship, competitors will play 18 holes on each course. The field will then be cut to the low 54 scores and ties in the 16-18 age division and low 18 scores and ties in the 13-15 age division playing the final 18 holes at the Country Club of Ocala.
