NAPLES, Fla. - Elijah Zamarron and Lua Pousa Dacasa both came from behind to win at Eagle Creek Golf and Country Club. The course was a challenging test for both the boys and girls divisions, but Zamarron and Dacasa were able to overcome the tough, windy conditions to collect their first Florida Junior Tour wins.
Boys (16-18)
After a first-round 69, Hans Risvaer, of Miami, jumped out to a four-shot lead over Jake Manelas who fired a 1-over 73. However, it was Elijah Zamarron shooting a final-round 66 to overcome a nine-shot deficit to secure the trophy at Eagle Creek Golf and Country Club.
After finishing his round over an hour before the leaders, Zamarras waited anxiously in the clubhouse to see if his two birdies over his last four holes would be enough to give him the trophy.
Manelas birdied his final hole to tie Zamarron’s two-day total of even par, while Risvaer remained steady on the back nine after a tough front nine score of 39 to finish at even par to get into a three-way playoff. After three holes of battle, it was Zamarron who kept his great play going by birdieing the third playoff hole to capture the FJT win.
Girls (16-18)
Yetong (Alicia) Qian took the overnight lead over Lua Pousa Dacasa, but it was Dacasa who ultimately overcame a one-shot deficit to come from behind victorious over Qian.
Dacasa got off to a hot start, birdieing three of her first five holes to get the outright lead. She remained steady until bogeying the 13th, 17th and 18th to finish at even par for the day and a two-day total of even par after rounds of 72-72. However, it was enough to take down the rest of the field and bring home the hardware.
Qian did not go down without a fight though. She birdied her 16th hole to tie the lead, but an untimely double bogey on the par-3 17th cost her the tournament as she finished in second by two shots, firing rounds of 71-75 for a two-day total of 2-over 146.
