WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – 144 players made their way to Okeeheelee Golf Course with their eyes set on raising the trophy Sunday. Elijah Zamarron and Subin (Jackie) Jang were able to accomplish that goal with under par totals for the weekend.
Boys (16-18)
102 players teed off on Saturday in the Boys (16-18) Division but no one would have a better day on Okeeheelee’s Eagle and Heron courses than Elijah Zamarron. Making his way over from Sunrise, Elijah brought five birdies with him to go against just two bogeys on his way to a 3-under 69 in the opening round. A pack of three past FJT winners would be just one shot behind heading into the final round. Jaxon Brown, William Jun, and Ryan Miller all shot 2-under 70 on Saturday.
Zamarron, Miller, and Brown would come out of the gates ready to fight for the win as each birdied the opening hole. Zamarron extended his lead to two shots with another birdie on the 3rd hole and would grow to three shots as Miller and Brown each bogeyed one of the next two holes. A bogey on the final hole of the opening nine for Zamarron meant a two shot lead as they went to the final nine.
With the distance of the leaders, the par-5 10th would play as a two-shot hole and all three would make birdie. On the next two holes, Zamarron would find trouble as he went bogey-double bogey to see his lead be overtaken by Brown. Both players would continue to play the par-5’s well with another birdie on the 15th. With three holes remaining Brown held a one shot lead over Zamarron and Miller was two back.
A birdie from Zamarron would put him in a tie for the lead with just the par-3 18th to play. An untimely bogey from Brown would put Zamarron in the driver’s seat standing on the tee. His tee shot would find the green and a two putt would secure the victory. The 4-under total would be one shot clear of Jaxon Brown and Ryan Miller who tied for second. The win is Zamarron’s first of 2023 and second in his career.
Girls (16-18)
In her first Florida Junior Tour event, Subin (Jackie) Jang got off to a hot start with an opening nine 33 to take the lead early. With birdies on two of her last four holes Saturday Jang would finish at 4-under and have the round of the day in either division. The 2022 Girls’ Junior Champion, Brianna Castaldi, and 2022 Pam McCloskey-Brosnihan Champion, were right on her heals after they each finished 1-under for the day.
On Sunday, Jang came out with some nerves as she bogeyed the 1st hole to drop her lead down to just two shots. However, a bounce back birdie on the second hole would extend her lead back to three shots. Both Jang and Albert would play steady golf and separate from the rest of the field in the early stages of Round 2.
A birdie on the 6th hole for Albert shrunk the lead down to two shots for Jang. The lead would stay at two shots until the 12th hole for the final group. Albert would make a double-bogey to drop to 4 shots behind. Just as Jang could put one hand on the trophy, she would stumble on the par-5 15th with a double bogey that followed a bogey on the 14th to drop the lead to just one shot with three holes to play.
The final hole at Okeeheelee Golf Course is a long par-3 that would settle the Girls Division winner. Jang would make a par and Albert would find herself making a bogey to finish two shots back. The win is Jang’s first FJT victory in her first event on the tour. Albert continues a good season as she finishes in solo second at even par for her third top 5. Brianna Castaldi finished in third place with a final round 74 for a 1-over total.
