College Prep Series at USF – April 18-19, 2015
Kumar holds off Wells
Kou wins her third
Tampa, FL: (April 19, 2015)The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour traveled to Tampa, Florida from April 18-19, 2015 for the College Prep Series at USF. Players battled early wet conditions and beautiful skies in both rounds of the series. Top three place winners in all divisions received an invitation to the 2015 Mid-Season Invitational and the first place winner in each age division received an invitation to the National Championship. The Boys 15-18 division winner received four AJGA performance stars while the top five finishers each received one AJGA performance star. The Girls 15-18 champion received four AJGA performance stars while the top three finishers each received one performance star. Our Girls 11-14 division champion received one AJGA performance star. All divisions were ranked by the Junior Golf Scoreboard. Additionally, the top ten finishers in each division received points towards year end honors which include state teams, ALL HJGT teams and the Hurricane Cup.
Our Boys 15-18 division was very tight from the start with eight players within two strokes of our day one leader, Alex Gibson of Wesley Chapel, FL who would record a score of 72 (+1) through day one. Sitting one stroke back was our future division winner, Sachin Kumar of Boca Raton, FL. With scores so tight after day one, the final round would bring a lot of excitement. A number of players would make moves up the leader board but Kumar was able to hold them off. One of those players was Anthony Wells of Plantation, FL who shot a day one total of 74(+3). Sitting three shots back of the leader, Wells knew he would have to make a push. After recording birdies on the first two holes, Wells would jump to the front of the pack. After recording the two birdies he would go on to par six of the next seven holes. Not far behind sat Kumar. After bogeying the first hole he would record seven straight pars to make the turn at an even 36 (E). The battle for first place would shape up to be an interesting one. Strong performances by Kumar and Wells on the back nine made for an interesting final four holes. Wells would start the back nine strong with four straight pars to take the lead from Kumar by one. The fourteenth hole Claw would be a tough match for the both of them but Kumar would ultimately get a stroke back. A strong finish in the final four holes for Kumar would be enough to hold off Wells for the win. He recorded a birdie and three pars in that final stretch to post a two day total of 145(+3) while Wells recorded a 146(+4). Congratulations to all our Boys 15-18 golfers on a wonderful weekend of golf!
Our Girls 15-18 division leader was clear after day one. After a strong performance by Cindy Kou of Windermere, FL it was clear that she had her eyes set on another first place finish on the season to bring her total to three victories in 2015. A bogey free front nine and two birdies on the back would give Kou a four stroke lead over our third place winner, Hallianne Hobson of Ft. Myers, FL. A strong back nine from Hobson on day one would bring excitement to the final round. Our eventual second place finisher sat just six strokes back from the leader after day one. Jennifer Zhou had her sights set on another top three finish and after a slow start to the tournament she would put it all together on day two. Thirteen pars on the final day would secure Zhou a second place finish. A birdie on each side would give Kou and even bigger lead through the end of the second round. She recorded a two day total of 144(+2). Hobson who sat in second after day one would finish the tournament in third place with a two day total of 152(+10).
Our Boys 13- 14 division had a clear cut winner from the start. Alan Klenor of Longboat Key, FL jumped out to a two stroke lead after the first round and never looked back. Recording a 71 (E) on day one would give him a two stroke lead over Haruki Takeda of Port St. Lucie, FL. Consistency was the key for Klenor through day one. He recorded a bogey free, one under back nine to record a 34(-1). However, a strong finish from Takeda on day one going two under through the final seven holes would make for an interesting final day. Our first place leader had different plans in mind. Klenor would open up the final round with six pars on the front nine and seven on the back. Plans would fall short for Takeda as Klenor kept his nerves cool and consistent scores would ultimately lead him to the win. After finishing day one tied for third, Grayson Maddox would finish day two strong recording pars on the final three holes to earn himself the third place trophy. Congratulations to our Boys 13-14 golfers for an exciting weekend of golf!
Our Girls 11-14 division was very exciting this weekend. Leading after day one was Karolina Krasova of Ricany, CZ with a day one total of 84(+13). With two girls within five strokes of her, players would have to play mistake free to catch her. That’s just what Sarah Scott of Oviedo, FL and Madison Hewlett of Oldsmar, FL did. Recording six pars and a birdie on the day would give Scott the first place trophy. With eight pars on the day, Hewlett would grab herself the second place trophy. Rounding out the podium was Krasova with a two day total of 174(+32). Congratulations to Scott who recorded two birdies on the weekend!
The Boys 11-12 division would be just exciting as the rest with three players within three strokes of our eventual winner Brendan Valdez of Orlando, FL. Consistency was the key to for Valdez as he took home his first victory in an HJGT event. After nine holes of the tournament both Valdez and Gregory Solhaug of Bradenton, FL sat tied at first with scores of 36 (E). Course conditions would prove to be tough for both of the players but four straight pars to end the round would give Valdez the lead heading into day two with a total score of 75(+4). Two birdies on the front nine would give Solhaug a one stroke lead over Valdez heading into the final nine holes of the second round. A great start from Valdez on the back nine would give him the lead heading into the final four holes. The two would exchange the lead through the next two holes but a birdie par finish would be the formula Valdez needed to take home his first victory. Congratulations to Ryan Song of Bradenton, FL who took home the third place trophy with a two day total of 158(+16). Weather: Day 1- Low of 75 to high of 88, Partly Cloudy, winds 3-5 MPH Day 2- Low of 80 to high of 90, Sunny, winds 10-15 MPH Tournament Yardages: Boys 15-18-6,695 yards Boys 13-14-6,131 yards Boys 11-12-5,650 yards Girls 15-18-5,650 yards Girls 11-14-5,650 yards About us: The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) was founded in 2007 with the intention of providing junior golfers between the ages of 11-18 an opportunity to play exceptional courses in a competitive environment. The tour’s vision is to provide superb hospitality and make every event a memorable one. With play open to both males and females, nearly every junior golfer is eligible to participate on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour. Currently the HJGT is the largest junior golf tour in the United States hosting more 2-day nationally ranked events than another other tour. The HJGT has been able to achieve this goal by running the most professional events and providing an exceptional value to all of our players and families over the last 8 years. There are several factors that set us apart from the competition which we call #TheHurricaneDifference. Based out of Jacksonville, FL, the HJGT administers events all across the country. In 2015 the HJGT will conduct events in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Louisiana, Mississippi, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Juniors will compete in 1 of 5 divisions which are: Boys 15-18, Boys 13-14, Boys 11-12, Girls 15-18, and Girls 11-14. Memberships for the 2015 season start at $139 and tournament fees range from $189-$229 for 36 hole events. The HJGT season is based on a calendar year and players earn points throughout the season towards year end honors beginning January 1. For more information regarding the HJGT, please visit our website at www.hjgt.org, call the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour headquarters at (904) 379-2697, or email info@hjgt.org