TAMPA, Fla. – Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club in Ocala will host a Florida Junior Tour (FJT) event on February 4-5 for boys and girls ages 16-18. Tee-times begin at 11:30 am on Saturday, February 4, 2006.
In the boys 16-18 age division of 63 juniors, Zachary Walker, 16, of Bradenton, is in the field vying for his second title of the year. Walker shares the lead in the boys 16-18 points standings with a win at PGA Golf Club earlier this season. Also in the field is Matt Cooney, 16, from Tampa, who is tied for fourth in the points standings. Cooney most recently had his best finish at Lake Jovita where he placed second. Kyle Cobb, 17, of Tallahassee, who won last season at North Shore, will also be competing at Golden Hills. The boys 16-18 will play from approximately 6,800 yards.
Twenty-one girls will be competing for the title in the 16-18 age division including the top three from the girls 16-18 points standings. Evan Jensen, 16, from Belleair, leads the girls with three top ten finishes this season including a win at PGA. Sandra Changkija, 16, from Orlando, and Jamie Brabb, 17, of Maitland, are also in the field. They are ranked two and three respectively. Alexis Thompson, 10, of Coral Springs, has three wins in the 13-15 age division and will be going for her first title in the older division. The girls 16-18 will play from approximately 5,800 yards.
Conducted by the Florida State Golf Association, the Florida Junior Tour (FJT) is a junior golf tour offering highly competitive and affordable competitions for juniors in Florida. The 2005-2006 season consists of 15 events for juniors, male and female, ages 13-18. Beginning September and running through May, the FJT schedule will play at some of the state’s top courses including PGA Golf Club and Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club. This year will feature a 54-hole event for both age divisions as well as the first four-ball event. The FJT’s focus is on quality, affordability and integrity. Tournaments consist of 36 holes conducted over 2 days, typically weekends, with an entry fee of $95. Scholarship entry is available to junior golfers unable to afford the entry fee.
Working closely with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), FJT top competitors will receive exemptions and performance points towards AJGA events. The FJT is the only Florida tour to participate in the AJGA’s Performance Based Process. In addition, FJT events will be ranked by Golfweek/Titleist and Junior Golf Scoreboard. The FJT will maintain a points list to assist in determining Junior Player-of-the-Year and invitations to other tournaments.
To view complete pairings, tee times, and results, please see www.floridajuniortour.org.
The FJT is conducted by the Florida State Golf Association which conducts 22 State Championships and over 40 qualifying tournaments for USGA National Championships. The FSGA also maintains the USGA Handicap System, performs course ratings throughout Florida and assists in junior programs and scholarships.
Contact:
Alyson Bartell
(813) 632-3742
abartell@fsga.org
