Boynton Beach, Fla. - Players prevail through tough conditions on Saturday, as Sunday's round was cancelled due to unplayable conditions. Alex Heard came out of the gate strong to capture the Boys (16-18) Division and we had three co-champions for the Girls (16-18) Division; Brianna Castaldi, Remi Bacardi, and Yeji Kwon. The 18 hole championship proved to be a tough test for players.
Boys (16-18)
Players showed up Saturday morning to find wet conditions and gusting winds of 25-35 mph that continued throughout the entire day. Alex Heard started his front nine off strong, posting a 3-under bogey free 33 in the gusty conditions. Jules Gentil followed him up by carding three birdies in his first four holes of the day to post a front nine total of 3-under 33. With a long list of competitors close behind them on the leaderboard, Heard followed up his front nine score with more red numbers to secure a 4-under round of 68 to earn his first FJT victory.
It was a tight race for second place. Carson Yonge posted an impressive bogey-free front nine at 2 under, and finished out the day with a 2-under 70 to join five others in a tie for second place. Jake Manelas and Jacob Vasquez both had bogey-free back nines that included three birdies each to move them up into a tie for second place at 2-under. Emile Lebrun and Travis Robertson also posted under-par back nines to move into a tie for second, along with Jules Gentil who posted a 1-over 37 on his back nine.
Girls (16-18)
Through nine holes it was a tight race for the girls, and the windy conditions did not stop their great play. Lydia Lin posted the only under-par score on the front nine, with a 1-under 35, but she had many competitors behind her looking to make a run on the back nine. Brianna Castaldi, Remi Bacardi, and Yeji Kwon all posted under-par scores on the back nine to tie for first place, shooting a 2-under 70. Castaldi, our 2022 Girls' Junior champion, carded four birdies on her back nine to secure her victory, along with Bacardi, the 2022 Girls' Junior (13-15) champion, having a 2-under bogey free back nine to tie with Castaldi and Kwon. Kwon had an impressive seven birdies throughout the day and posted a 3-under 33 on her back nine to secure her second FJT victory.
Not too far behind our champions was past FJT champion, Kayla Bryant. The Boca Raton native captured solo fourth place and had the low nine hole total of the tournament, posting a 4-under 32 on her back nine.
