ORLANDO, Fla. – Four deserving champions were crowned at Dubsdread Golf Course at the FJT Dubsdread Open (9-12). The weather was beautiful all weekend and gave the field the opportunity for great scoring conditions.
Boys (11-12)
Sunny conditions greeted the players on day one of the FJT Dubsdread Open (9-12) in Orlando, FL. With 36 players teeing it up in the Boys (11-12) division, there would surely be a battle to be crowned champion. Looking for his first win this year was the Port Orange native, Carson Perry. Perry opened his bid for the title with the lone sub-par round of the day, a 1-under, 69. The 2029 grad made birdies on holes 4 and 11 before a string of three bogies on holes 12 through 14. Perry would bounce back with a birdie on 15 and a tap-in birdie on the last to finish one shot clear of his nearest pursuers. Close on his heels at even par were the trio of Sebastian Eterovic, Jeremy Castellanos and Benny Ossi. Castellanos' round was highlighted by a hole out eagle on the par-4, 17th hole to go along with six other biridies on the day. Ossi would be looking for his third title this year after picking up wins at Palm Harbor and Lake City. Both Castellanos and Eterovic would be vying for the first win in 2023.
The final round would set up for an exciting finish with the quality of players at the top of the leaderboard. Shane Frasure came out firing in the final round rolling in six birdies in route to a 1-under par, 69. Playing in the final pairing, Jeremy Castellanos would have an eight foot birdie putt on the last hole of regulation to claim the title. The putt would pass just low of the hole to force a playoff with Frasure. The playoff went two holes with both players making birdies on the first playoff hole. Jeremy Castellanos sealed the deal for the victory on the second playoff hole by draining a 30ft putt for birdie from just off the edge of the green. Finishing in third place with a solid two day total of 144 was Sebastin Eterovic.
Girls (11-12)
The Girls (11-12) Division shaped up to be equally exciting at the conclusion of round 1. The lone under par round belonged to Xiyao Zhang after firing a 1-under par, 69. Zhang made five birdies on the day on holes 5,6,11,15 and 18. After two runner up finishes earlier on in the year, the Winter Garden native would be looking to notch her first victory by the time the final putt drops on Sunday. Following closely behind Zhang would be two competitiors that would be vying for the top spot. Finishing their round two shots back at 1-over par were Esther Li and Maren Richards. Li's round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5, 18th hole.
Xiyao Zhang would have four birdies on Sunday to complete the wire-to-wire victory with a two round total of 1-under par, 139. The remaining players in the top-5 were stacked up behind Zhang beginning with Iris Lee finishing in second place with a total of 2-over par, 142. Tied for third with a total of 144 were the trio of Claire Yang, Esther Li and Maren Richards.
Boys (9-10)
The Boys (9-10) division would be the only division with tied leaders after round one. Zachary Netz and Benny Minter would head into the final round with nothing between them after both firing rounds of 2-over par, 72. Netz made five birdies throughout his round, offset by five bogies and a double bogey. Meanwhile, Minter played steadier golf, making two birdies and four bogies. After a runner up finish at the 2023 Futures Championship, Minter would be looking to equal Netz' win count of one in 2023. Netz picked up his lone title thus far, earlier on in the year in Ocala.
The final round would prove equally as exciting as Zachary Netz and Benny Minter battleed it out. Netz would open up a three shot lead at the turn and move one step closer to the title. Minter quickly turned things around by making bogies on holes 12 and 13. After untimely bgoies by Netz on holes 10 and 13, Minter would grab a one shot lead with five holes remaining. Netz steadied the ship by bouncing back with a birdie on the 15th hole and a final birdie on the last. Minter would play his final five holes in two over par to finish in a tie for second place with Jonathan Castellanos at 7-over par, 147. Netz' two round total of 4-over par, 144 would give him his second victory by three shots.
Girls (9-10)
Eleven girls would tee it up in the Girls (9-10) division with the eyes set on the top prize. When the final putt dropped on round one, Alyna Yensabai would look to put one hand on the trophy after opening up a four-shot lead. The Lake Worth native would play steady golf throughout the day to shoot a 4-over par, 74. Four shots back at 8-over par was Madelyn Dickerson. Playing in her first FJT event, the Boca Raton native would put herself in a good position to finish on the podium. In a tie for third place at 12-over par was Enya Chavitranurak and Sritha Badiga.
Starting on the back nine on Sunday, Alyna Yensabai would sprint out of the box in the final round with a birdie on the 10th hole. The 2031 grad would make the turn at 1-under par to take a comfortable eight-shot lead into her second nine. She would seal the deal with a 3-over par, 73 to finish the tournament at 7-over par. Finishing in second place with one of the lowest rounds of the day was Madelyn Dickerson after rounds of 78-73--151. In third place was Sritha Badiga with scores of 82-79--161.
