Stenson and Jin Rise Above at Rio Pinar
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida Junior Tour returned to Rio Pinar Golf Club after a three year hiatus and was met with fast greens and windy conditions. Eighty-four juniors made their way to Orlando, with ambitions of being the lone player at the top of the leaderboard on Sunday.
Boys (16-18)
Rio Pinar Golf Club showed its teeth as strong winds persisted throughout the day. Jaden Peterson was determined to make the most of his Saturday as he finsihed his day with the low round of the day. The Port Saint Lucie native was able to maintain a flawless card, making 17 pars to go along with a lone birdie on the par 4, 12th hole. Peterson's bogey-free round of 1-under par, 71 gave him the lead heading into the final round. The 2027 grad would have work to do on Sunday however, with a slew of players closely on his heels. Anthony Monteleone and Campbell Ryan would both shoot even par rounds to sit in a tie for second place with 18 holes to play.
Jaden Peterson would start his final round with a roller coaster opening nine, making three birdies and four bogies to turn at even par. Meanwhile, Packy Mokris would be making a charge up the leaderboard. After an opening round of 7-over par, 79, the Winter Park native would make five birdies on the front nine to turn at 3-over par for the tournament eventually finishing at 4-over par. Mokris' 3-under par, 69 would be the low round of the event and would move the 2025 grad 22 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 4th place. Karl Stenson would insert his name into the conversation by playing consistent golf throughout the day. The Orlando native would make a birdie on the 10th hole to bring him back to even par for the event and in a tie for the lead with Peterson. Stenson would continue his consistent play making a string of pars on the back nine and ultimately making a bogey on his final hole to post a final round of even par, 72. Stenson would have to sit and wait nervously in the clubhouse as the final groups finished. Meanwhile, Peterson would find himself in a spot of bother on the par 5, 16th hole, having to pitch out from behind a tree resulting in a double bogey. A further bogey on the 17th hole would throw the 2027 grad out of contention and into third place at 3-over par. Anthony Monteleone would continue his consistent play making four birdies along with six bogies for the event. The 2025 grad would finish in solo second place at 2-over par. Stenson's victory at Rio Pinar would be his second in three starts and first in the (16-18) division after picking up the FJT Candler Hills Open (13-15) in February.
Girls (16-18)
Annie Jin would lead the way after the completion of round one. Jin would start her round with bogies on 4 and 5 to get to 2-over par but would quickly turn the tide, making five birdies to get to 3-under par. Bogies on the 17th and 18th holes would bring her two shots closer to the field and ultimately lead the way at 1-under par. Bella Dovhey, playing at her home course, would finish round one in a tie for second place with Madison Moman at 1-over par, two shots back of the leader.
Sunday's final round would bring excitement as the lead changed hands multiple times throughout the round. Grace Carter and Annie Jin would quickly separate themselves from the field however as the pair made the turn into the final nine holes. Carter, starting the day four shots back of Jin, would make the turn at even par after an opening nine of 3-under par, 33. Jin, on the other hand would make three bogies on the opening nine to turn at 2-over par and two shots back of Carter. The momentum would swing back into Jin's favor as the pair headed for the final nine holes. Bogies on the 3rd and 6th holes would set the Jupiter native back as Jin made three birdies in the same six hole stretch. Jin would cap off her round with a birdie on the final hole to fire consistent rounds of 71-71 and finish the event at 2-under par. Carter would finish in solo second at 2-over par after rounds of 75-71. Rounding out the top three was Ana Boone after having the low round in the girls' division with a final round 70.
