Zhu and Doherty Claim First FJT Victories
The challenging Deer Run Course, at Sun ‘N Lake Golf and Country Club, served as a great venue for the Florida Junior Tour (16-18 Age Division) players this weekend, October 11 – 12. There were sunny and warm weather conditions in Sebring for a great weekend of golf.
In the Boys’ Division, Jerry Zhu, of Lake Mary, played consistently both days of the tournament to seal his first FJT victory. Amanda Doherty, in the Girls’ Division, fired the only under-par round to claim first place and her first FJT victory.
After round one, there was a tight race at the top of the leaderboard in the Boys’ Division. There was a three way tie at first place with an even-par score of 72. Zachary Smith, of Palm Beach, Jerry Zhu, and William Wrigley, of Winter Garden, shared the lead. Mark Nauert and Patrick Mills both shot one-over par, 73, to tie for fourth place after round one. Following Mills and Nauert was a five-way tie at sixth place with the score of 74.
During round two, there was a race between the three players tied for the lead. William Wrigley fired a front nine score of 35 to take the lead which he held until he reached the challenging island green on hole number 18. Wrigley put his tee shot in the water and finished the hole with a triple bogey sending him to a tie for third place with a tournament total146. Jerry Zhu on the other hand made the most of hole number 18. Zhu sat at one-over par on the day as he entered his final hole. His tee shot landed in the greenside bunker where he managed to hole his bunker shot for a birdie, 2, and a one shot victory.
Some other highlights from the Boy’s Division, Jake Holt was the only player to shoot an under-par round. Holt shot a 75 in round one and came back to fire
the tournament low 70 (35-35) in round two with birdies on holes 3, 7, and 14. At one point, he held the clubhouse lead as he waited for the final groups to come in. Zachary Smith, who was tied for first after round one, shot a round two score of 74 and tournament total 146 to drop to a tied for third place finish. Zhu scored his first FJT win with his two rounds of 72 and tournament total 144.
In the Girls’ Division, eight girls competed for first place. After round one, Amanda Doherty, of Atlanta, led the field by seven strokes with a one-under par round of 71. Sydney Shrader, of Naples, posted a score of 78 to claim second place after round one. Doherty came out and shot a steady round two score of 78 to claim her first FJT victory by nine shots. Shrader held onto second place with a round two score of 80 and tournament total 158. Amanda Leslie, who like Doherty is from Atlanta, Georgia, finished in third place with a tournament total 162. Amanda Doherty captured her first FJT victory and she earned a birth in the FJT Tour Championship.
This tournament marked the last event to earn points towards acceptance into the FJT Tour Championship. FJT winners of the current season automatically have a spot reserved in the Championship held at TPC Sawgrass, December 13-14.
