Central Florida Junior Open at Stonegate

The Central Florida Junior Open at Stonegate delivered exactly what a strong HJGT weekend should: quality competition, movement on the leaderboard, and a venue that forced players to stay disciplined for all 36 holes. Hosted at Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita, the event gave the field a solid test with a layout that rewarded steady ball-striking and punished lapses in focus, which made for a leaderboard that stayed competitive deep into the final round. In the Boys 16-18 division, Asher Katz separated himself with two composed rounds of 70 and 71 to finish at 3-under par, the only player in the field to end the weekend under par. That kind of finish matters because it was not a runaway early—it had to be earned over two days against a group that kept applying pressure. Joshua Tandy made a real push and closed with a second-round 71 to finish even par, while a three-way tie for third at 1-over showed just how tight the battle was behind the lead. Owen Gellatly, Sumner Meekhof, and Cohen Stringer all found different ways to get there, with Meekhof posting one of the strongest rounds of the tournament on Sunday with a 69. What stood out most about this stop was the way Stonegate created separation through consistency rather than chaos. Players who managed their round, avoided big mistakes, and stayed patient were the ones who climbed. That is the kind of environment the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour wants in its tournaments—competitive, fair, and demanding enough to identify players who can hold up under pressure. From an HJGT standpoint, this event continued to reinforce the value of strong regional competition on quality golf courses. Weekends like this are not just about trophies; they are about giving junior golfers meaningful tournament reps in a setting that mirrors the kind of pressure they will see as they continue to develop. Stonegate proved to be a fitting host for that kind of test, and the Central Florida Junior Open added another strong chapter to the HJGT spring schedule.

At Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita, the Boys 14-15 division at the Central Florida Junior Open turned into a test of composure and consistency more than anything flashy. The course made players work for every score, and across two rounds it became clear that the ones who stayed patient, limited mistakes, and managed the golf course properly were the ones who gave themselves a chance. Neil Sullivan set the tone for the division and controlled the event from the top with rounds of 75 and 74 to finish at 5-over par. In a field where scoring was difficult to sustain, that steady two-day performance was the difference. He was the only player in the division to keep both rounds in the mid-70s, and that level of control gave him a comfortable winning margin. Taylor Ramos finished runner-up at 16-over, while Daniel Bessonov claimed third at 19-over, showing the kind of resilience this venue demanded over the full weekend. What this division really showed was how Stonegate does not hand anything away. It forces junior players to stay locked in, recover from mistakes quickly, and keep grinding even when low numbers are hard to find. That is a good thing. Events like this help separate players who can stay mentally engaged from start to finish, and that is exactly the type of competitive environment the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour aims to provide. For HJGT, this stop in Central Florida continued to deliver the kind of tournament setting that helps players grow. Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita gave the Boys 14-15 field a real challenge, and the result was a weekend where discipline, patience, and execution mattered on every hole.

The Boys 12-13 division at the Central Florida Junior Open brought one of the strongest turnaround performances of the weekend at Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita. On a course that demanded patience and maturity, Zain Sadiq separated himself with an impressive final-round response, following an opening 81 with an even-par 72 to close at 9-over and claim the division title in dominant fashion. That second-round 72 was the difference-maker. While the rest of the field battled the course and tried to keep scores in check, Sadiq elevated his game and posted the low round of the division by a wide margin. It was the kind of performance that showed resilience, adjustment, and the ability to settle in under tournament conditions. Benjamin Branam and Jayden Jiang shared runner-up honors at 23-over, while Sean Stuart finished fourth at 28-over. What made this division stand out was not just the final scores, but the way Stonegate required young players to stay mentally tough over two days. It is a course that exposes impatience and rewards players who can regroup quickly, and that is exactly what happened here. Zain’s bounce-back round was the clearest example of that, turning a competitive division into a convincing win through composure and execution. For the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, this is the kind of event environment that matters. These younger divisions need venues that challenge decision-making as much as ball-striking, and Stonegate did that. The Central Florida Junior Open gave the Boys 12-13 field a meaningful competitive test, and it gave the eventual champion a real stage to prove he could rise to it.

The Boys 10-11 division at the Central Florida Junior Open may have been small in size, but it still reflected what the weekend at Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita was all about: handling a demanding golf course with patience, focus, and composure. Eric Jiang stood alone in the division and still had to earn every shot, finishing with rounds of 79 and 78 to post a two-day total of 13-over par. What makes that result meaningful is that Stonegate did not ease up for any division. The course required discipline and steady execution throughout the weekend, and Jiang answered with back-to-back competitive rounds that showed consistency and maturity. Even without a large field around him, the challenge remained the golf course itself, and that is always the right measuring stick in junior competition. For the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, that matters. Every player deserves a tournament environment that feels real, structured, and challenging, regardless of division size. Stonegate provided that setting, giving young players an opportunity to test themselves in genuine tournament conditions and continue building confidence through competition. Eric Jiang’s performance gave the Boys 10-11 division a deserving champion and added to another solid HJGT weekend in Central Florida.

The Girls 14-18 division at the Central Florida Junior Open gave Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita one of the best finishes of the weekend, with Abygail Pina ultimately emerging as champion after winning a playoff. That alone tells you what kind of tournament this was—tight, competitive, and decided under pressure. On a course that demanded control and patience, the division stayed packed at the top from start to finish. Carlee Meilleur and Abygail Pina finished regulation tied at 2-over par, but they got there in very different ways. Meilleur made a strong Sunday charge with a final-round 70, the low round of the division, while Pina backed up an opening-round 70 with a closing 76 and then handled business in the playoff to secure the win. Ava Saavedra was right there as well, only one shot back at 3-over, which made the top of the leaderboard even tighter. That kind of finish is exactly what you want in a high-level junior event—multiple players in the mix, momentum shifts across the round, and a winner who had to earn it at the end. What stood out here was the quality at the top. This was not a division where one player ran away and hid. Stonegate forced players to stay present, and the leaderboard reflected that. Every mistake mattered, every birdie mattered, and the final result came down to who could hold their nerve in the biggest moment. Pina did that, and that is why the playoff win carries weight. For the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, this is the type of division and venue pairing that strengthens the value of the event. Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita gave the Girls 14-18 field a true competitive test, and the players responded with one of the most compelling battles of the weekend. With a playoff finish, a low final round of 70, and three players finishing within one shot, this division brought real intensity and gave HJGT another strong championship moment in Central Florida.

The Girls U13 division at the Central Florida Junior Open showed exactly what junior tournament golf is supposed to do—challenge young players, test their resilience, and give them a real stage to compete. At Stonegate Golf Club at Solivita, Madeline Raun handled that test best, putting together rounds of 90 and 88 to finish at 34-over par and earn the division title. Raun’s consistency across both rounds was the difference. On a course that made scoring difficult throughout the weekend, she stayed steady enough to separate herself and close out the win by five shots over Noelle Wood, who finished runner-up at 39-over. For this age group, that matters. These events are not just about the final number—they are about learning how to compete over multiple days, respond to adversity, and keep battling on a course that asks for patience and focus. Stonegate proved to be a valuable venue for that kind of development. It required discipline from every division, and the Girls U13 players were no exception. The course made them think, stay composed, and continue working through each hole, which is exactly the type of experience that helps young players grow. For the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, that is the bigger win. Providing younger players with structured, meaningful competition on quality courses is a critical part of development, and the Central Florida Junior Open delivered that. Madeline Raun’s performance gave the division a deserving champion and closed out another solid HJGT weekend at Stonegate.