Palm Harbor, Fla. – 78 golfers ventured to Palm Harbor to spend their Labor Day weekend battling it out against each other to win the FJT Major (13-15) at Innisbrook. At the end of the long weekend, it was Chase Bauer and Alexandra Snyder who came from behind to secure their trophies.
The South Course at Innisbrook paired with the winds proved to be quite the test. The South course is unlike most Florida golf courses. The first few and last few holes are relatively normal to Florida having water on most holes. The real challenge begins when the golf course opens up to a wide open, hilly area, very susceptible to winds. This proved to be challenging to the players, having only two scores under 70 all week.
Boys (13-15)
Play began Saturday morning with players hungry to get their name to the top of the leaderboard. Three players did just that, with Chase Bauer, Hugo Stenstrom, and Jake Mason taking the first round lead with a score of one-under par 70. After winning at Sandridge a few weeks ago, Stenstrom continued his good play to grab a share of the lead. Mason finished T13 in the Sandridge event, while Bauer was playing in his first FJT event of the fall.
Although there were three players tied for the lead after round one, Bauer was the only remaining player at the top of the leaderboard from the final group on Sunday. James Nagle’s consistent rounds of 71-71 vaulted himself into a tie for the lead with Bauer. Nagle put himself into his first final pairing of the fall.
After a birdie on his opening hole, it was all downhill for Nagle from there on out. He was never able to find his momentum. With this drop on the leaderboard, the door was left open for Bauer and he did not disappoint.
He got off to a hot start playing the first three holes two-under, but a double bogey on his eighth hole halted the good round he had going. After finding his groove, Bauer was able to play his last 12 holes bogey-free with a lone birdie to win by two and secure his first FJT victory.
Maxwell Morgan posted his first second place finish of the fall while Gabriel Hull had the low round of the tournament en route to his third place finish.
Girls (13-15)
Eighteen girls teed off on Friday Morning with Alexandra Snyder and Junior Florida Cup member Ana Boone finding the top of the leaderboard after round one with scores of two-over 72.
After the second round, it started to become a two player race with Boone and Snyder running away from the rest of the field. Boone’s second round of even par was the low round of the tournament that consisted of two birdies and two bogeys. Snyder on the other hand, struggled on the par 5s, bogeying two out of the four en route to her second round of three-over.
With both players having only one round to play, it began to look more and more like a match play situation. The reigning Junior Match Play Champion Ana Boone double bogeyed her first hole and found herself tied with Alexandra Snyder after holding an overnight two shot lead. Boone struggled throughout the rest of the round and was four behind Snyder with three holes to play. Boone did not go down without a fight however. She birdied her 16th and 17th hole, to get it to two shots down with one to play, but Snyder birdied her last hole to seal the deal and win.
Ever since Alexandra Snyder won her first (9-12) event in March, her foot has not left the pedal. She has won five of her last six events, including a win at the Futures Championship. She looks to continue her good play at the Tour Championship in October.
