FJT Ocala Open (9-12)

Four Players Raise Trophies at Ocala GC

OCALA, Fla. – Four players took home Florida Junior Tour victories on Sunday at Ocala Golf Club. Nemo Tsai was victorious in the Boys 11-12 Division and Honorine Nobuta Ferry got the win in the Girls 11-12 Division. In the 9-10 Division, Niko Gordic-Ronderos was the winner in the Boy’s Division, while Marley Pedrique capture the win in the Girls’ Division. 

 Boys 11-12

Tsai picked up his first FJT win in dominating fashion, capturing the eight-shot victory with an 8-under 136 for the weekend. He began the tournament with a first-round 71 to take a one-shot lead over the field. 

 The Michigan native got off to a hot start on Sunday, carding a bogey-free front nine with five birdies, including birdieing four of his final five holes to close out the front side. He continued his strong play, birdieing the 10th and 11th.

Tsai finished the day with a 2-under back nine to post a 7-under 65 and secure the eight-shot win. His final-round 65 is the lowest 18-hole score in FJT history in the Boys 11-12 Division. 

 Miles Russell took home a runner-up finish, finishing the weekend with a pair of 72s at even-par 144. Joseph Ajax LaNasa finished third at 2-over 146. 

 Girls 11-12 

 Ferry captured her second-straight FJT win in Ocala, putting together a 4-over 148 for the weekend. She posted a 3-over 75 on Saturday to take a share of the first-round lead. 

In the final round, the North Carolina native closed out the front side with back-to-back birdies to make the turn at 1 over. Ferry added another birdie on the fifth, before carding two-straight bogeys. She bounced back with a birdie on the eighth and captured her victory with a final-round 72. 

 Angela Jiang finished one shot back of Ferry in second place at 5-over 149. Jiang carded a final-round 71 to earn the runner-up finish, the low round of the weekend in the Girls Division. Angelina Pacheco finished third at 7-over 151. 

Boys 9-10 

Gordic-Ronderos took home his second FJT win on Sunday, finishing the weekend at 7-over 151. He started the weekend with a 1-under 71, finishing the day with a birdie and an eagle on the par-5 17th hole. 

Beginning the final round with a five-shot lead over the field, Gordic-Ronderos carded a 4-over front nine. He ended the day with a 4-over back side, adding back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth. His final-round 80 secured the six-shot win. 

Noah Manly finished second at 13-over 157, while David Cochran finished one shot back of Manly at 14-over 158. 

Girls 9-10 

Pedrique used the only under-par score in her Division to take home the win in Ocala, finishing the weekend at 1-under 143. She got off to a strong start in the first round, posting an even-par 72 to take six-shot lead over the field. 

Coming out quick in the final round, the Palm Beach Gardens native put together a bogey-free front side, adding two birdies. Her lone bogey of the day came on the sixth, as she closed the tournament with a 1-under 71 to secure the four-shot win.

Alexandra Phung finished second at 3-over 147. The New York native fired a final-round 69, the low round of the weekend in the Girls Division. Leonie Tavares used a 6-over 150 to take third place.

Divisions and Approximate Yardages

• Boys 9-10 Age Division - 5,000 yards (gross only)
• Girls 9-10 Age Division - 4,200 yards (gross only)
• Boys 11-12 Age Division - 5,500 yards (gross only)
• Girls 11-12 Age Division - 5,000 yards (gross only)

How Entries are Accepted

• Entries will be accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis.
• Late entries will be accepted if space is available ($10 late entry fee).
• If entries have reached capacity, additional players will be placed on an alternate's list.
• The alternate's list will be posted to the FJT website under "Tee Times & Player Information."
• Entries close approximately 2 1/2 weeks prior to the tournament.
• At the close of entries, if the 9-10 division (boys or girls) has 3 or less entrants, those players must choose one of the following options: 1) Play up into the 11-12 division   OR    2) Withdraw from the event and receive a full refund.

Schedule of Events

Saturday, February 20th

10:00 AM - 12:30 AM - Tournament Registration (near pro shop) 11:00 AM - 12:57 AM - Round one tee times off the 1st and 10th tees

Mandatory Meeting - 30 to 45 minutes prior to tee time, 15 minutes long (more information below)

Sunday, February 21st

7:45 AM - 9:42 AM - Final round tee times off the 1st and 10th tees
Awards presentation immediately following the completion of play

Mandatory Educational Meeting - Saturday

• Each golfer MUST attend a mandatory meeting with FSGA staff prior to their tee time on Saturday. 
• Topics to include: Etiquette, rules, pace-of-play, how to feel comfortable playing in events, care for the course, appreciation of club staff and volunteers.
• Meetings will generally take place near or on the practice putting green.
• Each player MUST attend the meeting associated with his/her tee time.
• Meetings will be approximately 15 to 20 minutes long. 
• Parents are encouraged to attend.
  *If a players fails to make the meeting at their scheduled time, they will not be allowed to participate in the event.*

Five FJT Standards

Competing at beautiful clubs around the state is a privilege and it is important for all of our players and parents to place value on the following five duties:

• Say please and thank you to the club staff and our volunteers
• Rake bunkers
• Fix ball marks
• Step on/repair your divots
• Throw away your garbage! There should never be trash on the ground anywhere on the course (place trash in waste receptacles, golf carts or even your bag if no other place is available).

Showing Appreciation and Proper Manners - At all courses where juniors play, they should show appreciation to the members and staff. To all of our junior players, let's show the clubs that you are not only the most talented golfers in the country, but also the most respectful. A "thank you" to the club and taking care of the course are the best ways to make a positive impression on the club, fellow players, coaches and spectators.

How to Enter

Entries are submitted through the FSGA website. To enter, each player must create an FSGA account on this website (free to set-up), purchase a current Junior Membership ($40), and have an active Florida GHIN Handicap (included in membership if golfer does not already have one). To proceed, click the "Enter" button above once entries have opened.

Late Entry Fee: A late fee of $10 will be applied to entries submitted after the close of entries date. The entry fee and late fee will only be applied if the player gets accepted in to the tournament field.

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the tournament on a space-available basis. Tee times are only available after 12:00 noon the weekend prior.  The price for a practice round is $25.00 + tax. Please call (352) 401-6917 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.

National Rankings

AJGA Performance Based Entry (PBE)
Boys 11-12	Girls 11-12
Champion- 1 star	Champion- 1 star

Florida Junior Tour Policies

• Tournament & Entry Policies
• Hard Card
• Pace of Play
• Code of Conduct
• Spectator Policy

Host Hotel

There is no host hotel at this time. 

Directions

Ocala Golf Club
3130 East Silver Springs Blvd.
Ocala, FL 34470
(352) 401-6917

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