Hollis Captures Second Junior Title
June 22, 1999
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Andy Hollis shot a career-low 6-under 66 to win his second consecutive Florida State Junior Championship at Disney's Magnolia and Palm courses. The Palm Beach Gardens High School student finished two strokes ahead of fourteen-year old Major Manning of Ormond Beach.
After shooting a 2-under par 70 on the Magnolia course Monday, Hollis was tied for second with four other players at one stroke behind Sarasota's Brian Ward.
Manning, an upcoming freshman at Mainland High School, jumped out with birdies on his first three holes to take the lead. He closed with a 4-under par 68 with bogeys on sixteen and eighteen.
Hollis made two birdies on the Palm course's front side, then he turned it on down the stretch. Tied for the lead, Hollis made back-to-back 5-foot birdie putts on the final two holes to claim the title.
"I figured I had to birdie one of the last two holes to win," Hollis said. "I didn't know what had happened with everyone else. After the birdie on 17, I thought I probably had it,"
Hollis is the first player to defend his title since Lake Mary's Jeremy Anderson won in 1994 and 1995. (Anderson was recently named 1st team All-America while playing for UNLV.)
"I really wanted this one," Hollis added. “I practiced a little harder before coming here."
Although Manning finished in second place overall, he did win the 12-14 age division. With. his 70-68-138, he claimed the title by nine strokes. His name now joins other division winners such as Lake Mary's Matt Kuchar, Sawgrass' Len Mattiace, Sarasota's Scott Dunlap and Sarasota's Gary Koch.
"I've been looking forward to this championship," Manning said. "I just wanted to make a lot of birdies and see where I could finish." Manning eventually made 13 birdies over 36 holes with 5 bogeys and a double bogey.
West Palm Beach's Brandon Smith finished third at 70-69--139. Coral Gables' Ryan Blaum and Sarasota's Joey Lamielle rounded out the top five.
Complete Results
