FJT Tour Championship (16-18 & 13-15)

Full Results

PALM COAST, Fla. – After battling the rain and wind on Sunday, four players were crowned champions at the Florida Junior Tour Championship at The Conservatory at Hammock Beach. Brendan Valdes captured the Boys 16-18 division, while Sam Kodak took home the Boys 13-15 title. On the girls’ side, Bailey Shoemaker won the 16-18 trophy, and Madison Hewlett secured the 13-15 title.

Valdes secured the win in the Boys 16-18 division, carding a seven-under 137 for the two-day championship. After the first round, he was in second place and one shot behind Boy’s Junior Player of the Year, Tyler Wilkes. Valdes shot 5-under 66 on Saturday, posting eight birdies on the round.   

He began the round with a birdie on the first hole, before a double bogey on the fourth hole after hitting it into the water. The 2021 graduate then birdied three of the next four holes and finished the final round with a 2-under 70. In total, he carded 15 birdies on the weekend. This is Valdes’ second FJT win of the season, after he won at Fairwinds Golf Club in May.

Wilkes finished runner-up, while also posting the low-round of the tournament (66). Jordan Sarhaddi and Drew Angelo finished in a tie for third.

Kodak earned his first FJT win at Hammock Dunes with the Tour Championship win in the Boys 13-15 division. He posted a 1-under 70 on Saturday and entered the final round with a one-stroke lead over Parker Bell, Jay Brooks, Leo Goosen and Yuze Zhang.

The Naples, Fla. native got off to a quick start on Sunday, birding three of the first five holes. He posted a final 1-under 143, the only under-par round in his division. Yuze Zhang took second place, while Parker Bell finished third.

Shoemaker took home the title for the Girls 16-18 division, earning her third FJT win of the season. She recorded the only under-par round in her division on Saturday (1-under 71) to hold a one-shot lead over Aaron Whitley heading into the final round.

She posted a 1-over 73 on Sunday to finish the championship with an even-par 144. The West Edmeston, N.Y. native has competed in a total of three FJT events, winning all three. She captured wins at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club, the first event of the year, and at Ocala Golf Club. Jacqueline Putrino and Whitney finished tied for second.

Hewlett won the Girls 13-15 division to secure her third win of the season. After the first round, Hewlett and Lauren Clark were in a tie for first after posting 3-under 69. Hewlett went on to shoot 1-under 71 on Sunday to secure the championship. The Oldsmar, Fla. native was the only player in her division to card two under-par rounds.

In addition to the Tour Championship winners, the FJT Points Champions were decided. Chloe Schiavone and Tyler Wilkes had FJT Points Champions for the 16-18 age division locked up prior to the Tour Championship. Valdes and Hewlett were awarded the Points titles for the 13-15 division.

16-18 & 13-15 Age Division
$150 entry fee - see Field Determination Summary below
Membership is required.
All rounds are played on the Conservatory course.

FJT exemptions are not used in determining the field. See the field determination policy below.

 The 2018 FJT Tour Championship is hosted by the Conservatory at Hammock Beach. The Tom Watson Signature designed course is sure to cap off our season proper. This breathtaking course is highlighted by waterfalls, babbling brooks and veneered field stone work. To the 140 sand and coquina bunkers, Watson also added three sod-faced bunkers, a nod to his affinity for British links-style golf. Over the years, the Conservatory course has been recognized by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as one of the top courses you can pay to play in Florida.

Click here to visit the club's website.

Entry Fee

The entry fee of $150 includes:

• Tournament rounds
• Pair of FootJoy golf shoes
• FJT tee gifts

Field Determination Summary

The field is determined in the following method:

1.  FJT winners from the current season (16-18 & 13-15 age division only). A spot will be reserved for the boy and girl winners of the events that are held after the entry deadline. If the winners decline the reserved spot then the next alternates will be accepted.

2.  All other entries are held until Wednesday, October 31st. Players are then accepted based off of their standing on the FJT points lists. Approximately 63 boys and 27 girls will be accepted into the field.

3.  An alternates list will be posted to the FJT website under "Tee Times & Player Information".

Click here for further details.

The FSGA reserves the right to modify the selection process and field sizes. 

Schedule of Play

Saturday, December 8th

7:00 AM - 9:00 AM - Tournament registration (near clubhouse)
8:00 AM - 10:06 AM - Round one tee times off the 1st and 10th tees

Sunday, December 9th

8:00 AM - 10:06 AM - Final round tee times off the 1st and 10th tees
*Awards ceremony immediately following play*

Practice Rounds

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the tournament on a space-available basis. Tee times are only available after 12:00 PM on Friday-Sunday.  The price for a practice round is $35 + tax. Please call (386) 246-6710 to arrange your practice round. The proper place to practice your golf swing is on the driving range, hitting multiple shots on the course, not filling divots, and not repairing ball marks are unacceptable and may cause removal from the tournament without a refund.

Walking and Pull/Push Carts

Players must walk and carry their clubs during the competition rounds (pull/push carts are permitted). Caddies are not permitted.

Tees To Play

Tees are not selected until the tournament staff arrives on site. Tournament set-up may change, including yardages, to offset inclement weather or other course conditions (i.e. wet course conditions). Typical yardages are below:

• Boys 16-18 will play approximately 7,000 yards
• Girls 16-18 and Girls 13-15 will play approximately 6,000 yards
• Boys 13-15 will play approximately 6,700 yards

The Girls 13-15 & 16-18 divisions will play the same set of tees and the results will be combined for AJGA and ranking websites. The divisions will stay seperate for FJT purposes (FJT points, exemptions, and awards).

National Rankings

This event is ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard and GolfWeek.

AJGA - PBE (Performance Based Entrance)

Boys 16-18

• Champion receives 12 performance stars
• Top five receive 8 performance stars
• Top ten receive 4 performance stars

Boys 13-15

• Will be awarded retroactively based on field size and numbers (2017 was Champion - 2 stars and Top 5 - 1 star)

Girls 13-18

• Champion receives 12 performance stars
• Top five receive 8 performance stars
• Top ten receive 4 performance stars

The Girls 13-15 & 16-18 divisions will play the same set of tees and the results will be combined for AJGA and ranking websites. The divisions will stay separate for FJT purposes (FJT points, exemptions, and awards).

Spectator Carts

Spectators will be authorized to rent carts, but must follow the Spectator policies. Spectator carts will cost $25 a day, plus tax. Spectator carts may be limited, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Rules

USGA Rules of Golf will govern play. Review the FSGA Hard Card and Pace of Play Policy. The Notice to Players (local rules and hole locations) will be distributed on the starting tee.

Hotel & Accommodations

The FSGA does not have a host hotel at this time.

Directions

The Conservatory at Hammock Beach
300 Conservatory Dr.
Palm Coast, FL 32137

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