LADY LAKE, Fla. – Taeyoung Lim and Angela (Yiting) Wang battled some tough conditions to end their year on a high note at Harbor Hills Country Club. Lim picked up his first FJT victory whilst Wang notched a remarkable 5th win in 2023.
Boys (13-15)
The threat of severe weather lurked as the weekend approached, however, Saturday's first round went off without a hitch. With only light showers persisting throughout the day with minimal wind, it was a great day for golf considering all the factors. Harbor Hills Country Club proved to be a tough track given the conditions. The low round of the day belonged to Taeyoung Lim with a brilliant 3-under par, 69. After begginning his round with a bogey on the first hole, the 2027 grad would have a clean scorecard fromn there on, making birdines on holes 3, 7, 10 and 14. This would put Lim two shots clear of second place heading into the final round. With four top 3 finishes in four events in 2023, Lim would be looking to notch his first FJT victory come Sunday. Sitting in second place at 1-under par was Nicklaus Downing. The Windermere native led the field with five birdies in tough conditions in round 1. In a tie for third place was Chase Bauer and Jacob Menard, after carding rounds of 1-over par, 73.
Sunday's final round would greet the competitors with some tough conditions. With winds gusting from 15 to 25 mph and a light rain persisting, the players would have to bring their best games to conquer Harbor Hills. With only a two-shot lead to start the day, Taeyoung Lim would make two birdies along with three bogies on his opening nine holes to make the turn at 1-over par for the day and 2-under par for the tournament. This would narrow his lead to one with nine holes to play after Nicklaus Downing was even par on his opening nine. Luke Splane would pull within three shots of the lead after an opening nine of 3-under par, highlighted by an eagle on the par four, 7th hole to go along with birdies on holes 3,5 and 6. Splane's second shot on the par four would spin back into the hole from 118 yards for eagle. Lim would play steady golf on the back nine making one bogey and one birdie to post a 1-over par, 73 in the final round. This would be enough for a 2-shot victory over Nicklaus Downing, who shot rounds of 71-73--144. Lim would end the year on a high note picking up his first FJT victory. In third place was Joshua Castellanos of Windermere with rounds of 74-72--146 (+2).
Girls (13-15)
The girls divison would see some stellar play at the top of the leaderboard. Krystine Basteiro would tie for the most birides in round 1, making five of them on the day. Birdies on holes 17 and 18 would put her comfortably at the top of the leaderboard after posting a 1-under par, 71. This opened up a three-shot lead over her nearest competitors as she looks to close out the year in style with her first FJT victory. Sitting in a tie for second place after round 1 was Ava Zhang and Dannika Hines at 2-over par. With multiple top-3 finishes between them, Basteiro would have to play consitent golf on Sunday to claim the title.
With the wind gusting, and the Girls (13-15) division starting on the harder nine, the players would have to be in full control of their game. With birdies on her first two holes, Dannika Hines would quickly jump into a tie for the lead at even par with Krystine Basteiro. Hines would make a string of bogies in the closing holes of her first nine to drop her out of contention. After the first nine holes, Basteiro would sit at 2-over par and have a comfortable lead. Things would change quickly as Angela (Yiting) Wang made a charge up the leaderboard. Standing on the 6th hole tee box, four shots back, Wang would birdie her final four holes to shoot even par, 72 in the final round and take the clubhouse lead at 3-over par. Playing in the group behind her, Basteiro would get to the final hole needing a birdie to force a playoff. The 2027 grad would drain a 30-foot birdie putt to force extra holes. Wang would need two extra holes to eventually win after making birdie on the second playoff hole. Wang would pick up an impressive 5th victory in 2023. In third place was Ava Zhang with scores of 74-74--148 (+4).
