Tsar & Donaldson Earn Victories at Highlands Ridge
AVON PARK, Fla. – Andrew Tsar and Ryan Donaldson captured Florida Junior Tour victories at Highlands Ridge Golf Club. Tsar posted a three-under-par tournament total to grab the victory by one stroke and Donaldson fired an even par total over two rounds to outlast her division by one stroke. The event consisted of 75 players between a Boys and Girls Division with ages ranging from 16 to 18 years old.
This is Highlands Ridge second time hosting a Florida Junior Tour event and the course features narrow landing zones and undulating greens. Ball placement is necessary to score well as Tsar and Donaldson showcased throughout the weekend.
Boys (16-18)
The first round had excellent playing conditions as the juniors teed off for an afternoon round. Jordan Brown fired a four-under-par, 68 in the first round to hold the lead heading over Andrew Tsar. Brown fired six consecutive birdies during the first round. After one par on his twelfth hole ended his birdie streak, he continued to make two more consecutive birdies to reach seven-under-par after fourteen holes. However, a triple brought him back to four-under-par for the day with a three stroke lead over the field.
The final round brought some exciting rounds as Andrew Tsar, Jack Minutoli and Max Colby Bendixen all fought for the lead throughout the entire eighteen holes. However, it was Tsar who outlasted the field and ended his round in style with birdies on his final two holes capture the victory by one stroke over Minutoli.
Minutoli finished in solo second place with a tournament total of two-under-par and posting consistent rounds of 71-71. He birdied three out of his last four holes to make a charge to the top of the leaderboard, but ultimately fell short of Tsar. In addition, Bendixen fired a one-under-par during the final round to secure a solo third place finish.
Girls (16-18)
Ryan Donaldson held the lead the majority of the day for the Girls Division and she ended her round as the solo leader going into the final day. Donaldson posted a four-under-par, 68 with six birdies over eighteen holes. Man Yang only two strokes behind Donaldson with a two-under-par, 70. Yan carded five birdies over the eighteen holes.
Donaldson secured her wire-to-wire victory after firing a four-over-par, 76 in the final round which brought her to even par for the tournament. Man Yang captured a solo second place finish with a tournament total of one-over-par and scores of 70-75. Moreover, Krishny Elwin secured a solo third place finish after firing the low round of the day in the Girls Division with an even par, 72.
