The Florida Junior Tour is back in action after the summer break with the 16-18 Division heading to Vero Beach's Sandridge Golf Club for the weekend. The tight layout of the Dunes Course proved to be a test for these players, but two juniors came out on top.
During Saturday's round only one player in the field, Latanna Stone of Riverview, posted a red number, one-under par 71. Stone was on a par train through her first five holes before she continued to birdie the sixth hole, but follow it up with a bogey on the closing hole of her front nine. Latanna finished the back nine with all pars and a birdie on the par five twelfth. Vero Beach local Sarah Noonan stood only two shots back of Stone, carding a one-over 73. In the Boys Division, past FJT Champion, Calvin Sierota held the lead with an even par 72. Spencer Alexander and Callum Brown both trailed Sierota by one, posting a pair of 73's, while eight other players stood tied for fourth with 74. Dylan Miranda, of Sebastian, provided some excitement during Saturday's round, recording his first ever hole in one on the 171 yard par 3 17th hole.
Sunday would lead to an impressive turnaround for one of those eight players tied at 74. Manny Girona turned in a 67 for his first 16-18 FJT victory. After the round, Girona discussed how difficult holes 7-9 were playing, and in the understatement of the century, Girona stated that he "held it together and produced good scores." Shortly after those self-attributed difficult holes, he went eagle-birdie-birdie on holes 12-14. The boys' leaderboard was packed with names from the Junior Florida Cup matches, as each of the top four finishers participated in the event in early August at Vero Beach Country Club.
Latanna Stone blew away the girls' division - something that she has grown accustomed to - winning by ten strokes. This victory marks her eleventh Florida Junior Tour win, and her second victory in 2015. When asked to sum up what was working well this weekend for her, Stone responded with, "Honestly, everything. I hit it solid off the tee, putted well, and my chipping was great all weekend." Stone posted an even par 72 on Sunday to finish at 71-72-143. The ten shot victory is just two behind the FJT 16-18 girls' record of twelve shots.
The Florida Junior Tour is back in session after a break during the summer, and will continue with weekly events from September 12 to October 18. Thank you to Sandridge Golf Club's staff and members for their assistance and for hosting the FJT at their course for two days.
