Huebner, Tanke and Dovhey Crowned Futures Champions
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - Jessy Huebner, Ryan Nana Tanke, and Bella Dovhey prevailed with impressive rounds of golf to hoist trophies at the Futures Championship hosted by Sugar Mill Country Club. Huebner was victorious in the Boys 11-12 Division, Nana Tanke picked up the win in the Boys 9-10 Division and Dovhey took home the victory in the Girls 11-12 Division.
Boys 11-12
Huebner, of Port Saint Lucie, played lights out golf to defend his title of Futures champion with a record-low 10-under par. The first round finished with Lev Grinberg in the lead, one stroke ahead of Huebner. Four Corners resident, Grinberg, carded three birdies on the both the front and back nine to take the early lead at 5-under 67. One less birdie for Huebner left him in second place, ready to chase Grinberg in the final round on Sunday.
The final round got off to a rough start for Grinberg, while Huebner birdied the fourth, sixth and seventh to take the lead by one stroke heading into the last nine holes. Despite Grinberg’s slow start, he fought back with three-straight birdies to remain within one stroke of the lead. A flawless back nine with four birdies, secured the back-to-back win for Huebner. Impressive rounds of 68-66 and a finish of 10-under 134 gave Huebner a five-stroke victory. Grinberg finished in third with a final-round 74 and 141 total. Miles Russell, of Jacksonville Beach, posted five birdies in his final round to erase a two-stroke deficit and finish in second place at 5-under 139.
Boys 9-10
Two steady rounds for Nana Tanke, of Palm Beach Gardens, secured him the top spot on the leaderboard in his first FSGA start. Nana Tanke took the early lead after a first-round 74 and never let first place out of sight in the final round.
In the final round, Nana Tanke had trouble on the fourth hole, but stayed strong and carded an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole. A birdie on the 10th hole followed by eight pars, allowed Nana Tanke to finish Sunday’s round at even par. Chase Bauer, of Gotha, stayed close to Nana Tanke in the final round. Bauer started the day two strokes back and carded a final-round 71 to finish in second place at 3-over 147. Nana Tanke captured the lead by one stroke at 2-over 146 and hoisted his first FSGA trophy.
Girls 11-12
Dovhey, of Orlando, prevailed to win her first FSGA championship after a two-hole playoff. A round-one 3-under 69 put Dovhey in the lead by one-stroke over Chloe Chang, of Sarasota. Excitement began in the final round as Kayla Bryant lit up the back nine with a string of four back-to-back birdies. Bryant, who has won two 9-12 FJT events this year, started the final round four strokes back. A final nine-hole score of 31 and a 67 finish tied Bryant with Dovhey in first place. Dovhey played a steady final round with three birdies to finish with a 71 and 4-under 140 tie at the top.
Dovhey and Bryant headed to the 10th hole for a playoff to determine the champion. Both players made a par on the first playoff hole and continued to the 11th. Dovhey sunk her par putt to earn her a win in her first-ever event with the FSGA. Chang finished in third four-strokes back after a final-round 74 and 144 finish.
