Inaugural FJT Crowns Two First Time Winners
The Florida Junior Tour Boys and Girls, 16-18 age division, battled through brutal weather conditions at one of the most difficult courses in Florida, The Conservatory at Hammock Beach. Despite facing cold temperatures, wind, and rain the players posted impressive scores in Palm Coast on January 10-11.
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In the Boys 16-18 age division, Kevin Slayden Jr., of Ponte Vedra Beach, fired an opening round of 73 to lead by two strokes after round one. Playing in colder temperatures and wind, the top of the leader board was tight going into round two. Chase Cutshall, of West Melbourne, finished round one in second place with a score of 75, Timothy Colanta, of Championsgate, posted a 77 to finish in third place and six players shot a 78 to tie for fourth place.
Round two, on Sunday, consisted of rain, wind, and cold weather. The final pairing collectively struggled, while Logan Membrino and Eli Hendricks made strides towards first place in the third to last group. Hendricks, of Tallahassee, posted five birdies to shoot a round two score of 74. Membrino, of Ponte Vedra Beach, fired four birdies to shoot 73 and tie Hendricks for first place with a tournament total of 152. Tim Graham birdied four of his 
last seven holes; however, a bogie on the 18th hole kept him one shot back of Eli and Logan. The two leaders proceeded to the first hole, a par four, for a sudden death playoff. Logan placed his approach shot 25 feet from the hole while Eli played his third shot out of the green-side bunker. Before Hendricks had the chance to try for par, Membrino drained his putt for birdie and claimed his first FJT win.
In the Girl’s 16-18 age division, Sydney Merchant, of Lake Mary, fought the tough conditions on Sunday to win her first FJT event. After a round one score of 78, Merchant was tied for second place with Claire Fitzgerald, of Lake Mary. Lauren Waidner, of Fleming Island, finished round one in first place with a 77 and Kelly Harris tied Hannah Leiner for fourth place with a score of 79. Sydney played in the final group on Sunday and made the turn with a first nine score of 40. Merchant steadied herself during her final nine holes by scoring a birdie on her tenth hole followed by another birdie on the difficult island green, par three, eighth hole. A par on the 18th hole sealed a one stroke victory for Merchant. Merchant recently moved to Florida from Colorado and started the 2015 FJT season with a win.
The FJT travels to Southwood Golf Club, next weekend, January 17-18. With many returning and new FJT members, the 2015 season will be filled with great competition at some of the best golf courses in Florida.
Click here to view the 2015 FJT schedule.
