Amelia National Golf Club, in Amelia Island, provided the 16-18 division juniors perfect conditions all weekend allowing the players to open the tournament with great scores. Brandon Mancheno, of Jacksonville, lit up the boys’ division with a round one score of 4-under par, 68. Brandon made an impressive six birdies to take the early lead by three strokes over Logan Membrino. Membrino, of Ponte Vedra Beach, posted a 1-under par 71 for his opening round. Three players tied for third including, Prescott Butler, Cole Castro, and Jackson Suber with even par 72. Mancheno carded a FJT win at Belleair Country Club in January of this year and Membrino was crowned Champion of the Tour Championship that ended the 2015 FJT season in December. Sunday’s final round would be an exciting battle for first place!
Brandon Mancheno, the 2015 Junior Player of the Year, captured his second FJT victory of 2016 by one stroke. Mancheno had four birdies in his final round, two on the front-nine and two on the back-nine, for a 74, tournament total 2-under par 142. Membrino did not let Mancheno have much room for error with a consistent second round 72 for a tournament total 143. Membrino displayed impressive golf with an eagle on the par five 15th hole, followed by birdies on holes 16 and 18! Despite his exceptional finish, Membrino came up one stroke short of first. Spencer Slayden and Joe Parrini tied for third with a tournament total of 148. Parrini carded the low round of day two with a 1-under par, 71.
Julia Towne and Ailsa Clark fired rounds of four 4-over par 76, to tie for first place after Saturday’s round. Clark, from Navarre and Towne, of Eustis, were both chasing their first FJT victory! At the completion of round one there were six girls within two strokes of the lead. Morgan Baxendale and Amelia Root were tied for third at 5-over par 77, and Lauren Miller and Katie James were tied for fifth place with rounds of 78.
The final round in the girls’ division came down to a race between Lauren Miller, of Niceville, and Morgan Baxendale, of Windermere. Baxendale birdied the 1st and 17th hole for a second round 77 and tournament total, 154. Miller carded birdies on holes seven and nine, the two par 5's on the front-nine, for a final round 76, and a tie for first with Baxendale. Towne remained close to Baxendale and Miller in the final round until she struggled on number eight, her 17th hole, and finished with a 79, tournament total 155. Towne captured third place, one stroke from first and Amelia Root finished in fourth place (77-80—157). Baxendale and Miller headed to the first playoff hole where Miller excitingly chipped in from 20 yards for a birdie and the win!
