Tour Championship (16-18 & 13-15)

Adena Golf & Country Club hosted the Florida Junior Tour Championship, challenging the juniors while presenting them with beautiful scenery. The top junior players in the state teed off Saturday morning en route to determine who would be crowned Tour Champion!

After round one, there was a four-way tie at the top in the Boys’ 16-18 division at one under-par, 71. Jacob Penny, of Valrico, Brett Schell, of Saint Augustine, Jackson Suber, of Tampa, and Austin Aliff, of Vero Beach, led by one stroke over Chris Nido, of Palmetto Bay, heading into the final round. To highlight round one, Justin Rickerson, of Eusits, dunked a hole-in-one on the par three eighth hole!

Round two saw impressive golf from 2015 Player of the Year, Brandon Mancheno. Brandon went on a birdie streak from hole six to hole 10, making five straight birdies! Making the turn in his final round at four under-par, Mancheno continued playing strong moving up to first place going into the final holes. Two more birdies gave Mancheno a six under-par, 66 and 140 (-4) total. Brett Schell followed close behind carding four birdies on his front nine to turn at two under-par. A one under-par final nine also moved Schell to a 140 two-day total. Jacob Penny was also a force to be reckoned with. Penny lit up his final nine holes with birdies on holes 10, 12, 16, and 18 to finish with a 69 and 140 total. The great final round play saw Mancheno, Penny, and Schell tied for first place and heading into a sudden death playoff to determine the winner!

The three leaders made their way to the 18th hole for the first hole in the sudden death playoff. Penny continued on his hot streak and stuck his approach shot into the 364 yard par four to three feet. A one-putt birdie sealed his victory over Mancheno and Schell! Penny won two FJT events in 2016 to end his year with three wins.

In the Boys’ 13-15 division, Jake Beber-Frankel, of Miami, sat in first place by one stroke after a round one three under-par, 69.  Not far behind chased Joseph Pagdin, of Orlando, at two under-par, 70. Beber-Frankel held onto first place in round two with birdies on holes six, nine, 12 and 13. Jake finished the final round, one stroke over his first round, with a 70 and 139 (-5) total. A wire-to-wire first place win crowned Beber-Frankel Champion, four strokes ahead of second place. Jude Kim posted a two under-par second round to tie Joseph Pagdin for second place at a one under-par 143 total.

Julia Towne, of Eustis, and Jenny Kim, of Heathrow, tied for the lead after round one at three over-par 75. 2016 Girls’ Junior Player of the Year, Alyssa Lamoureux, of Seminole, tied Sarah Noonan, of Vero Beach, and Macy Somoskey, of Sanford, for second place heading into the final round at four over-par.

Lamoureux started the final round strong with an eagle on the 335 yard first hole followed by birdies on holes three, four, and eight to enter her last nine holes at five under-par. Alyssa’s strong play moved her up the leaderboard to first place. Towne and Kim faltered during the final round allowing Yurika Tanida, of Port Saint Lucie, to advance to second place heading into the final holes of the Championship. Alyssa finalized her victory with a birdie on the 16th hole to finish with a two under-par 70 and 146 total. Tanida captured second place by improving her first round score by eight strokes for a 148 total. Towne fell to third place at 149 and Sarah Noonan took fourth at 151. 

There were no ties at the top of the leaderboard in the Girls’ 13-15 division after round one. Orlando resident, Erika Smith, stole the early lead with a first round of two under-par, 70. Following close behind with a first round 71 was Victoria Hwang, who earned her spot in the Tour Championship one week prior by winning the FJT at Timacuan Golf and Country Club.

The second round saw Siyan Chen, of Howey-in-the-Hills, overcome Erika to capture first place!  Chen played an impressive front nine with four birdies and with two more birdies on her final nine holes she finished at one under-par, 71. Finishing the two days at even-par (144), Chen claimed first place honors one stroke above Erika Smith!  Smith and Hwang both posted a final round 75. Smith claimed second place with a 145 total while Hwang completed the top three with a 146 total. Chen can add Tour Champion to her 2016 resume that includes Girls’ Junior Amateur Champion and Girls’ Junior Match Play Champion!

Full Results

16-18 & 13-15 Age Division
$150 entry fee - see Field Determination Summary below
Membership is required

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

The 2016 Tour Championship is headed to Adena Golf & Country Club. This is a brand new facility that is sure to be a staple on the FSGA's schedule for years to come. A unique design that will command accuracy and precision on each golf shot. This venue is guaranteed to provide a fantastic finish for the 2016 Florida Junior Tour Season.

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. 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, November 2nd. Players are then accepted based off their standing on the FJT points lists. Approximately 69 boys and 21 girls will be accepted into the field (~42 in boys 16-18 division, 27 in the boys 13-15 division, 12 in the girls 16-18 division, and 9 in the girls 13-15 division).

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 10th

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

Sunday, December 11th

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 two weeks prior to the tournament on a space-available basis. Times times are only available after 12:00 noon on Friday-Sunday.  The price for a practice round is $30.00 + tax. Please call (352) 368-1220 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 6,900 yards
• Girls 16-18 and Girls 13-15 will play approximately 5,800 yards
• Boys 13-15 will play approximately 6,600 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 - 12 Performance Stars
• Top 5 - 8 Performance Stars
• Top 10 - 4 Performance Stars

Boys 13-15

• Champion - 2 Performance Stars
• Top 5 - 1 Performance Star

Girls 13-18

• Champion - 8 Performance Stars
• Top 3 - 4 Performance Stars
• Top 5 - 2 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.

Tee Times & Pairings

First round tee times and pairings will be available on the website. After the completion of the first round, all competitors will be repaired by score, within their age group, for their next round. Final round pairings will be available approximately one-hour after the final score has been posted. Pairings will be available on the website, at the club, and will be sent via text message. It is the player's responsibility to be at his/her respective starting tee at least 10 minutes prior to teeing off. We recommend that you always see your tee time in black and white (in print), and if you still have questions, please contact an FSGA Official at the host facility.

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.

Pace of Play

The FJT uses a checkpoint pace of play policy that provides no verbal warnings throughout the round. Each group is responsible for playing under the allotted time or finishing each checkpoint hole within 15 minutes of the group ahead of them.

Pace of play will be strictly enforced with anticipated rounds to be less than 4 hours and 45 minutes. We strongly recommend that all players and parents read and understand the Pace of Play Policy.

Hotel & Accommodations

Courtyard by Marriott - Ocala
3712 Southwest 38th Avenue
Ocala, FL 34474
(352) 237-8000

Standard King or Queen Room - $94.00 plus tax *breakfast not included with rate
For reservations please call 352-237-8000, and identify yourself as a Florida Junior Tour Room Block or click here to book online.
Must reserve by 11/21 to receive rate.

Fairfield Inn & Suites - Ocala
4101 SW 38th Ct
Ocala, FL 34474
352-861-8400

Standard King or Queen Room - $92.00 plus tax *breakfast included with rate
For reservations please call 352-861-8400, and identify yourself as a Florida Junior Tour Room Block or click here to book online.
Must reserve by 11/21 to receive rate.

Directions

Adena Golf & Country Club
875 NW 70th St.
Ocala, FL 34475

Click for Map