Trace Wins by Two Uwadia Comes from Behind to Win her Third Tournament of the Year
The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour hosted the 54 Hole Challenge (Upper Division) at The Golf Club of Fleming Island on February 15-17. The three day tournament accumulated some of the best players of the boys and girls 15-18 divisions. The competitive field of boys and girls took on a challenging golf course, but two players ultimately came out of the tournament victorious. Winners from both age divisions were invited to the Mid-Season Invitational and the Tour Championship. AJGA performance stars were also awarded to both divisions. The Boys 15-18 Champion received four Performance Stars and the top 10% of the field received one performance star. In the Girls 15-18 division, the champion received four performance stars and the top 10% of the field earned 1 star. Both divisions were also ranked by the NJGS. Each of the top 15 finishers received points towards year end honors including state teams, all HJGT Team, and the Hurricane Cup.
Travis Trace of Jacksonville, Florida took home the Boys 15-18 trophy after a total score of 214. Trace’s three birdies on Saturday contributed to his first round score of 74. After bogeying the first three holes on Sunday, Trace bounced back with a total of six birdies on the day. Five of his birdies came on the back nine, and he carded a 30, five under par on his Sunday final nine holes. Trace shot even par on Monday and was able to claim the first place trophy by two strokes. He had another strong back nine during his final round, and posted birdies on holes 10, 12, 14, and 16. Jack Comstock of Jacksonville, Florida came in second place of the Boys 15-18 division after rounds of 75, 75 and an impressive 66. Comstock bounced back from a triple bogey on hole four during his Saturday round with a birdie on hole five. He also carded two birdies on his Saturday back nine. He again fired three birdies on Sunday to post another round of 75. Comstock’s 66 on Monday was the lowest score of the tournament. Comstock went bogey free on Monday and carded three birdies and an eagle on the 18th hole. Alec Weary’s total score of 219 was consistent enough for him to finish in third place. Weary, from Bluffton, South Carolina had scores of 76, 70, and 73. Weary made four birdies on Sunday that propelled him to card a second round score of 70, the lowest of his three days.
Anita Uwadia of Nigeria won the Girls 15-18 division after trailing by two strokes going into the final round. Uwadia birdied holes 12 and 18 on Saturday, and finished with a first round score of 73. Uwadia made two birdies again on Sunday, but more impressively carded two eagles on holes 12 and 18. Uwadia’s lowest round came on Monday after shooting even par. Her three day total was 217. With this win, Uwadia has now won three tournaments this year. Ariadna Fonseca of Apopka, Florida went back and forth with Uwadia, and finished the tournament in second place with a three day total of 219. Fonseca birdied the 18th hole on Saturday to opening the tournament with a score of 76. Fonseca fired a round score of 68 after five birdies on Sunday. Three of those birdies came on her Sunday back nine. Fonseca fired a strong 75 on Monday after making four birdies. Lauren Waidner of Fleming Island, Florida finished in third place after a total score of 228. Waidner’s first two rounds were in the 70’s with scores of 73 and 75, respectfully. She carded five birdies in her first two rounds at Fleming Island. Weather: Saturday- High of 66, cloudy and windy throughout the day Sunday- High of 67, partly cloudy and windy Monday- High of 71, and sunny Tournament Yardages: Boys 15-18- 6,640 yards Girls 15-18- 5,587 yards About us: The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) was founded in 2008 with the intention of providing junior golfers between the ages of 11-18 an opportunity to play exceptional courses in a competitive environment. Golfers who participate on the tour will compete in one of four age divisions: Boys 15-18, Boys 11-14, Girls 11-14, and Girls 15-18. Based out of Jacksonville, FL the HJGT administers events all across the nation, with stops in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, and Connecticut. For more information regarding the HJGT, please visit our website at www.hjgt.org or call the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour headquarters at (904) 379-2697, or email info@hjgt.org.