Fort Myers Fall Junior Open
The Fort Myers Fall Junior Open, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour at Cape Royal Golf Club, unfolded under bright Florida skies but with course conditions that demanded precision, patience, and mental toughness across every division. With three different routings—King, Queen, and Prince—each offering its own challenges, players were forced to adapt on the fly and elevate their games when it mattered most.
In the Boys 16–18 division, Henry Liebwein set the tone for the weekend. His composed rounds of 73–74 delivered a tournament-winning +3, a performance built on discipline from tee to green. He held off a strong charge from Joseph Hansen, whose 74–75 kept the margin razor-thin until the final stretch. Local standout Blake Pecaro closed with a sharp 74 to secure third at +7, completing a podium defined by ball-striking quality and competitive poise.
The Boys 14–15 division produced a similarly tight complexion, with Aaron Che rising above a cluster of contenders to take the title at +8. Che’s combination of course management and steady control on the Prince greens proved decisive, edging out Eshaan Adi, who posted back-to-back +5 rounds to finish at +13. A pair of players—Lucas Coelho and Dominic Manfield—shared third after posting identical +16 finishes, each putting together gritty Sunday efforts.
In the Boys 12–13 field, Rory Hugo delivered one of the strongest performances of the weekend, firing 76–75 to win convincingly at +7. His crisp iron play and confident putting gave him full command of the division. Behind him, Zain Sadiq claimed runner-up honors at +17, while Viktor Bastasich rounded out the top three at +26.
The Boys 10–11 division saw Harrison Kraus grind through two demanding days to secure the win at +32, backed by rounds of 87–89. His toughness in the face of shifting winds and firming greens set the bar, while Hunter Neubert and Fraser Gannon completed the top three.
On the girls’ side, the Girls 14–18 division was shaped by consistency and smart course strategy, with Kate Freshwater taking command early and never relinquishing it. Her superb 82–73 finish delivered a winning +11, with the five-stroke improvement on Sunday serving as the weekend’s defining performance. Jade MacFarland held steady to take second at +15, and Magdalene Ford followed closely at +17.
In the Girls U13 division, Natalie Murphy emerged victorious at +74, putting together rounds of 113–105 to handle the King/Queen routing with maturity. Sydney Nibe earned runner-up honors at +85.
Across all divisions, the Fort Myers Fall Junior Open captured the essence of the HJGT: players rising to the moment, showcasing resilience under pressure, and delivering competitive golf that pushed the field forward. From breakthrough rounds to late-surge drama, the weekend at Cape Royal delivered a fitting highlight in the heart of the fall season.
boys 16-18
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At the Fort Myers Fall Junior Open, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour at Cape Royal Golf Club, Henry Liebwein delivered a wire-to-wire performance built on discipline and control, claiming the Boys 16–18 title at +3 with rounds of 73–74. Liebwein handled the shifting coastal winds with maturity beyond his years, leaning on crisp irons and steady lag putting to stay clear of the congestion forming behind him.
Just two shots back, Joseph Hansen of Cumberland Center, Maine, put pressure on the leader throughout the weekend, finishing at +5 after posting 74–75. Hansen’s blend of aggressive lines and resilient recovery shots kept him firmly in contention until the final holes.
Blake Pecaro (Naples, FL) rounded out the podium at +7, carding a notable 74 on Sunday—the second-lowest score of the final round—highlighting a strong closing push.
A competitive cluster followed, with Brady Grippo (Kinnelon, NJ) landing fourth at +11, while Alan Higgins (MD), Grant Noren (FL), and Camden Tegt (IN) shared fifth at +13 after grinding through demanding pin positions on the Queen course.
From the top of the leaderboard through the final pairing, the division showcased the depth and competitiveness that continues to define the HJGT. Liebwein’s consistency made the difference, but the weekend belonged to a field full of players who refused to back down from championship pressure.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Henry Liebwein
+3 Total
No. 2 Rank
Joseph Hansen
+5 Total
No. 3 Rank
Blake Pecaro
+7 Total
boys 14-15
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At the Fort Myers Fall Junior Open, hosted by the HJGT at Cape Royal Golf Club, Aaron Che (Richmond, BC) rose above shifting winds and demanding green complexes to capture the Boys 14–15 title with a composed 75–77 finish at +8. Che’s poise from tee to green separated him from a deep, volatile leaderboard, especially during a steady closing stretch on the Prince course.
Eshaan Adi (Fort Myers, FL) claimed runner-up honors at +13, delivering matching +5 rounds highlighted by confident wedge play and improved pace control on the greens. His Sunday 77 marked one of the cleanest cards in the field.
A tight battle unfolded for third, where Lucas Coelho (Cos Cob, CT) and Dominic Manfield (Naples, FL) shared the position at +16. Coelho’s 83–77 surge showed impressive day-two adjustments, while Manfield opened strong with a 78 before grinding through tougher conditions in round two.
Rounding out the top five were Max Amitsis (Upper Saddle River, NJ) and Silas Austin Esperanza (Okotoks, Alberta) at +20, each showing flashes of high-level shotmaking despite the course’s demanding layout.
From top to bottom, the division reflected the spirit of HJGT competition—talent, resilience, and players refusing to back down from a challenging championship test.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Aaron Che
+8 Total
No. 2 Rank
Eshaan Adi
+13 Total
No. 3 Rank
Lucas Coelho
+16 Total
No. 4 Rank
Dominic Manfield
+16 Total
boys 12-13
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The Fort Myers Fall Junior Open, hosted by the HJGT at Cape Royal Golf Club, showcased a composed and confident performance from Rory Hugo of Brooksville, FL, who captured the Boys 12–13 title with rounds of 76–75 to finish at +7. Hugo set the tone on the King/Queen course with disciplined ball-striking and closed even stronger on the Prince rotation, navigating tight landing areas and firm greens with maturity well beyond his age.
Zain Sadiq (Sanford, FL) secured the runner-up spot at +17, piecing together one of Sunday’s more controlled rounds with a 79 highlighted by improved iron play and steadier lag putting. His ability to adjust from a challenging first day kept him comfortably in the top tier.
In third, Viktor Bastasich of Naples, FL posted 82–88 to finish at +26, fighting through a tough second round but flashing solid fundamentals throughout the weekend. James Gannon (Doylestown, PA) delivered a strong rebound Sunday with an 85 to take fourth at +39, while Eli Shaul (Cape Coral, FL) rounded out the division, continuing to develop his game on tournament-caliber courses.
The division’s play reflected the spirit of the HJGT—steady growth, competitive grit, and the kind of emerging talent that continues to elevate junior golf across the country.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Rory Hugo
+7 Total
No. 2 Rank
Zain Sadiq
+17 Total
No. 3 Rank
Viktor Bastasich
+26 Total
boys 10-11
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At the Fort Myers Fall Junior Open, hosted by the HJGT at Cape Royal Golf Club, the Boys 10–11 field battled two demanding layouts and shifting winds that turned every hole into a test of patience and resilience. Rising above the challenge was Harrison Kraus of Hudson, NH, who posted rounds of 87–89 to claim the division title at +32. Kraus set the early standard with a composed opening round on the King/Queen rotation, then closed the weekend with steady control on the Prince course to secure the win.
Hunter Neubert of North Fort Myers, FL finished runner-up at +42, recovering well on Sunday with a determined 90 after a tough start. His ability to tighten his swing and regain rhythm across the back nine highlighted one of the division’s strongest bounce-back performances.
In third, Fraser Gannon (Doylestown, PA) posted consistent ball-striking on his way to a 100–99 finish at +55, edging out several competitors with a gritty final round. Colton Nibe of Cape Coral, FL rounded out the leaderboard at +70, highlighted by a strong closing stretch Sunday that showcased his developing game.
The youngest boys’ division delivered exactly what the HJGT has come to expect—heart, competitive fire, and a glimpse at the future of junior golf as these players continue sharpening their skills on championship-caliber courses.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Harrison Kraus
+32 Total
No. 2 Rank
Hunter Neubert
+42 Total
No. 3 Rank
Fraser Gannon
+55 Total
girls 14-18
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At the Fort Myers Fall Junior Open, hosted by the HJGT at Cape Royal Golf Club, the Girls 14–18 field delivered one of the weekend’s most composed performances—led wire-to-wire by Kate Freshwater of Naples, FL, who claimed the title at +11 with rounds of 82–73. Freshwater’s closing 73 was among the sharpest rounds posted across any girls division on Sunday, highlighted by confident approaches on the Prince course and a poised finish that kept her comfortably ahead of the pack.
Jade MacFarland of Bradenton, FL made a strong push of her own, settling into rhythm during a steady 78 in the final round to finish at +15, good for runner-up. Her consistency from tee to green allowed her to chip away at the deficit early before Freshwater’s surge on the back nine kept the lead intact.
Magdalene Ford (St. Petersburg, FL) rounded out the top three at +17 after posting back-to-back solid rounds of 83–78, showcasing the kind of balanced game that kept her in the hunt throughout the weekend. Close behind was Adyson Ice of Parker, CO at +19, whose combination of length and resilience helped her navigate the shifting coastal winds.
The middle of the leaderboard saw a tightly packed group, with Jocelyn Wintersteen, Erin Erol, and Giuliana Dickson each finding stretches of strong scoring on a course layout that demanded creativity around the greens. Dickson’s massive leap on Sunday—from 101 to a polished 78—was one of the division’s most impressive turnarounds.
With Florida sunshine, swirling breezes, and a field full of emerging talent, the Girls 14–18 division once again delivered the competitive drama and rising-star storylines that define every HJGT stop.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Kate Freshwater
+11 Total
No. 2 Rank
Jade MacFarland
+15 Total
No. 3 Rank
Magdalene Ford
+17 Total
girls 13 & under
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In the Girls U13 division at the Fort Myers Fall Junior Open, hosted by the HJGT, Natalie Murphy of Naples, FL powered her way to the top with a determined weekend performance at Cape Royal Golf Club. Murphy posted rounds of 113–105 to finish at +74, showcasing noticeable improvement from Saturday to Sunday as she settled into the tight corridors and heavy marshland winds of the Prince and King/Queen rotations. Her ability to regroup after tough stretches and find momentum on the back nine proved key as the field battled changing conditions throughout the weekend.
Sydney Nibe of Cape Coral claimed runner-up honors at +85 after carding 122–107, putting together one of Sunday’s steadiest rounds in the division. Nibe’s ball-striking improved significantly in the final round, allowing her to climb back into contention and close the gap on Murphy heading into the late holes.
Both young competitors showed grit and maturity well beyond their years as the HJGT’s Fort Myers stop once again provided a demanding stage for rising junior talent.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Natalie Murphy
+74 Total
No. 2 Rank
Sydney Nibe
+85 Total