Jacksonville's Nelson wins JAGA Championship
Duperval comes back on Tuesday, wins JAGA Championship
The JAGA Jacksonville City Jr. Championship was the most recent stop for the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour. The event was held at Deerwood Country Club on the South side of Jacksonville on June 17-18. Golfers experienced beautiful Florida sunshine, warm temperatures and excellent course conditions as they fought to be Jacksonville’s champion. There was more at stake than just becoming a city champion, with winners in the boys 15-18, girls 15-18, and boys 11-14 divisions earning AJGA Performance Stars if the field size requirements are met. The winners in those divisions will also earn an exemption into a Florida Junior Tour event. Additionally, winners in all divisions will earn an invite to the HJGT’s 2013 Tour Championship. Top ten finishers will earn valuable points towards year end honors, including state teams, Al-HJGT teams, and points towards the inaugural Hurricane Cup.
The Boys 15-18 featured a great finish that came down to the last putt on the 36th hole of the championship. Jake Nelson of Jacksonville, FL had a one shot lead over Chase Berlin of Ponte Vedre Beach, FL after 14 holes. After both made par at the long, par three 15th, Nelson found trouble to the left on 16, but scrambled to save par. Berlin, however used a long drive and a close approach to tie Nelson with a seven foot birdie putt. The difficult par four 17th would be the difference as Berlin made bogey and Nelson would make par. Berlin made it interesting on the 18th hole as he made a lengthy birdie putt. It wouldn’t be enough as Nelson hit his third shot into the par five inside of three feet to seal the victory. Nelson’s consistency proved to be the difference as the Jacksonville native shot 72-71 for a total of 143 (-1) while leading the field in pars with 25. Jake was impressive on the par threes as he averaged par on those holes and a 4.62 average on the par fives. Chase Berlin used a field leading nine birdies and a 3.85 par four performance to reel in his second place finish at an even par 144. Shanren Brienen of Orlando, FL, Kyle Flexsenhar of Lake Mary, FL, and Conner Reed of Jacksonville, FL finished tied for third with totals of 150 (+6). Brienen had six birdies over the two days and averaged 3.12 on par threes. Kyle Flexsenhar finished with seven birdies and Conner Reed finished with 23 pars. Chase Berlin took home the EFX Birdie Challenge Bracelet with six birdies and Matthew Solomon won the Golfpride Comeback Player of the Week when he improved his score by 11 strokes.
The Girls 15-18 division was won by Jacksonville’s own Kathleen Duperval, who shot a two day score of 147 (+3). Duperval’s rounds of 75-72 was good enough for a four shot victory. Duperval led in par three, par four, and par five performance with averages of 3.12, 4.15, and 4.88 respectively. Duperval led in pars as well with 25. In second was Nagisa Miura of Bradenton, FL. Miura was the leader after round one with a score of 73, but she couldn’t hold off Duperval and finished with a 78 on day two for a total of seven over. Miura led in birdies with seven to win her the EFX Birdie Challenge Bracelet. Miura averaged even in par five performance. Trailing the champion Duperval by five strokes was Courtney Cobb from Jacksonville, FL. Cobb had four birdies and 22 pars to earn her third place. The Golf Pride Comeback Player of the Week was Caroline Holloway who improved her score on Monday from 90 to a 77 on Tuesday.
George Eubank Jr. of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL took home the title in the Boys 11-14 division with a two day total of 144 (E). Eubank Jr. shot a 68 on day one, but struggled on day two as he finished with a 76. George did birdie the last two holes however on his way to a three shot victory. Eubank Jr. had an impressive ten birdies and averaged an outstanding 4.62 on the Deerwood par fives. In second place was Cody Carroll who used a very impressive 68 on day two to earn him a second place finish. The Jacksonville native, Carroll trailed Eubank by three strokes and he had 6 birdies over the two days and a field best 22 pars. Carroll was also impressive with an average of 4.05 on the par fours. Garrett Barber of Lantana, FL finished in third with a total of 149 (+5). Barber was consistent as he shot 75 on day one and 74 on day two. Barber had a 4.88 average on par fives and finished with six birdies. Eubank Jr.’s ten birdies were enough to earn him the EFX Birdie Challenge Bracelet. Cody Carroll took home the Golfpride Comeback Player of the Week award with his 11 stroke improvement.
In the Girls 11-14 division, Lauren Waidner of Fleming Island, FL cruised to a five shot victory and a two day total of 156 (+12). Waidner led in birdies with five and finished the two day event with 17 pars. Lauren struggled on day two after firing a 75 on day one, but she couldn’t be topped as second place finishers Krista Snyder and Sophie Guo both finished with totals of 161 (+17). Snyder, the Orlando, FL native was second in birdies with three and led in pars with 21. Guo of Bluffton, SC led in par four performance with a 4.40 average. Lauren Waidner took home the EFX Birdie Challenge Bracelet and Harlie Valinho took home Golfpride grips after she improved her score by twelve shots from 90 to 78. Weather: Monday: Partly cloudy, high 91. Winds 10-20 Tuesday: Partly cloudy, high 91. Winds 15-20 mph. Tournament Yardages: Boys 15-18: 6,853 yards Girls 15-18: 5,852 yards Boys 11-14: 6,184 yards Girls 15-18: 5,275 yards Tournament Awards: EFX Birdie Challenge: Boys 15-18: Chase Berlin Girls 15-18: Nagisa Miura Boys 11-14: George Eubank Jr. Girls 11-14: Lauren Waidner Golf Pride Comeback Player of the Week: Boys 15-18: Matthew Solomon Girls 15-18: Caroline Holloway Boys 11-14: Cody Carroll Girls 11-14: Harlie Valinho 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, and Ohio.