ESTERO, Fla. – Four juniors raised the trophies at the Futures Championship on Sunday at Estero Country Club. Miles Russell captured the win the Boys (11-12) division and Sofia Cherif Essakali took home the victory in the Girls (11-12) division. Axel Monssoh was victorious in the Boys (9-10) division, while Marley Pedrique earned the win in the Girls (9-10) division.
Boys (11-12) Division
Russell fired an impressive final-round 66 to take home the victory in the Boys (11-12) division at 6-under 137. He began the championship with a 1-under 71 in the first round to sit two shots back of the leader heading into the final round.
The Jacksonville Beach native got off to a quick start on Sunday with back-to-back birdies to begin the day. He added a birdie on the sixth and finished the front side at 3 under for the day.
Russell kept it rolling on the back with a birdie on the 10th to move to 5 under for the day. He birdied two of his three holes on Nos. 15-17, securing the four-shot victory with a par on the final hole. His bogey free final-round 66 was the low round of the championship.
Joseph Ajax LaNasa took home third-place finish at 3-under 141, putting together rounds of 73-68. Sohan Patel put together rounds of 72-70 to earn third at 2-under 142.
Girls (11-12) Division
Essakali captured a commanding win in the Girls (11-12) division, securing the 10-shot victory with a 1-under 142. The Naples native fired a 5-under 67 in Saturday’s first round to take a nine-shot lead over the field.
She got off to a slow start, playing the first four holes at 2 over. Essakali quickly turned it around, playing the remainder of her first nine. She finished the day with a 1-over second nine to post a final-round 75 and secure the win.
Nicole Sardinha finished second at 8-over 152, carding rounds of 80-72. Callie Nelson took third place at 9-over 153.
Boys (9-10) Division
Monssoh picked up the victory in the Boys (9-10) division, finishing the championship at 2-over 146. The Miami resident began the weekend with a 1-over 73 to take a two-shot lead over the field.
He carded a 1-over first nine to begin the final round. Monssoh quickly birdied the first hole after the turn, adding two more on the day to finish with a 1-over 73 and capture the five-shot win.
Gordon Nip finished second at 7-over 151, with rounds of 75-76. Two players finished in a tie for third at 8-over 152: Niko Gordic-Ronderos and David Cochran.
Girls (9-10) Division
Pedrique used a 2-under 142 to capture the 17-shot win in the Girls (9-10) division. She began the championship with a 1-over 73 to take an 8-shot lead over the field.
Getting off to a hot start in the final round, Pedrique birdied the first hole and added another on the 17th. The Palm Beach Gardens native made the turn bogey free with two birdies. She continued her strong play on the second nine, adding three birdies to finish with a final-round 69.
Leah Gram took second place at 15-over 159, while Rain Jiang finished third at 29-over 173.
