Mattiace records first win in playoff
Messana maintains lead
Ft. Lauderdale, FL (May 13, 2012) – The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour traveled to Ft. Lauderdale, FL this weekend for the Ft. Lauderdale Junior Open. The weather was hot and windy the entire weekend, which was typical for South East Florida. Players ranged from all over the state of Florida as well as parts of South Carolina. The Woodmont Country Club was an exceptional host venue with a golf course in simply immaculate shape.
In the boys 15-18 division Michael Mattiace from Jacksonville, FL took home the winner’s trophy by posting a two day total of 153 (78+75). Mattiace took home the trophy on the third playoff hole, sinking a 35 foot birdie putt to close it out in dramatic fashion. Mattiace had the second most birdies in his division (4) and also had the third most pars (20). Coming in second place by virtue of a playoff hole was Anthony Gardner out of Myrtle Beach, SC who also finished with a two day total of 153 ( 76+77). Gardner had the best overall par 4 average (4.12) as well as the second most overall pars (23). There was a three way tie for third place between, Joe Simpson (Jupiter, FL), Donald Wasoff (Safety Harbor, FL), and Guilermo Saade (Miami, FL). Each player finished with a two day total of 155. Simpson had the third best par 4 average (4.31), Wasoff owned the best par 3 average (3.10), and Saade had the second best par 3 average (3.30).
The girls 15-18 division was won by Marisa Messana from Plantation, FL. Messana held the overnight lead and never looked back from there. Messana had a two day total of 153 (74+79) and also had the best par 4 average (4.25). Second place was won by Maggie Chio playing out of Bradenton, FL with a two day total of 155 (79+76). Chio had the best par 5 average (5.20) and the best par breaker percentage (16.7%). Coming in third was Alexa Popowitz from Boca Raton, FL. who scored a two day total of 159 (78+81). Popowitz had the second best par 4 average (4.38) and the third most pars (19).
In the boys 11-14 division Matthew Galluzzo from Plantation, FL was the champion with a two day total of 153 (73+80). Galluzzo had the most overall birdies (5) as well as the best par 3 (3.20) and par 4 average (4.31). Coming in second was David Giandomenico from Boynton Beach, FL with a tournament score of 156 (78+78). Giandomenico had the most pars (24) and the third best par 5 average (5.20).There was a third place tie between Konstantin Kotschenreuther out of Naples, FL who had a two day total of 156 (78+80) and Jake Holt from West Palm Beach, FL (79+79). Kotschenreuther had the best par 5 average (5.00) and Holt had the second most birdies (3)
In the girls 11-14 divisions, current points leader Paige Lee Garris out of West Palm Beach, FL was the winner with a two day total of 167 (89+78). Garris led her division with the best overall par 3 average (3.70) as well as the best par 5 average (5.20). Coming in second place was Jill Iten from Naples, FL with a tournament score of 184 (92+92). Iten had the second best par 4 average (5.31) as well as the second best par or better percentage (16.7%).
For more information about the HJGT, please visit the HJGT fan page on Facebook.com. To get up to the minute tweets during the tournaments and important HJGT news follow us on Twitter. Also, be sure to check out player quotes in our weekly video, which can be found on the HJGT website. For a direct link to the HJGT Facebook page, Twitter account, YouTube channel and final round results please visit www.hjgt.org.
Weather:
Saturday: Low 90’s, Windy
Sunday: High 80’s, Windy
Tournament Yardages:
Boys 15-18: 6779
Boys 11-14: 6216
Girls 15-18: 5836
Girls 11-14: 5262
Tournament Awards:
Bridgestone Challenge Winners: Holes 4,8,13
Girls 15-18 Division: Kristin Gonzalez
Boys 11-14 Division: Jake Holt
Girls 11-14: Paige Lee Garris
Boys 15-18:
EFX Birdie Challenge: Francisco Yanez
Seaforth Par 4 Performance: Anthony Gardner
Coolheads Par 5 Performance: Francisco Yanez
Golf Pride: Evan Fangqiu Fu
Girls 15-18 Division:
EFX Birdie Challenge: Maggie Chio
Seaforth Par 4 Performance: Marisa Messana
Coolheads Par 5 Performance: Maggie Chio
Golf Pride: Valentina Haupt
Boys 11-14 Division:
EFX Birdie Challenge: Matthew Galluzzo
Seaforth Par 4 Performance: Matthew Galluzzo
Coolheads Par 5 Performance: Konstantin Kotschenreuther
Golf Pride: Robby Stockard
Girls 11-14 Division:
EFX Birdie Challenge: Paige Lee Garris
Seaforth Par 4 Performance: Paige Lee Garris
Coolheads Par 5 Performance: Paige Lee Garris
Golf Pride: Paige Lee Garris
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 tour will compete in one of four age divisions: Boys 15-18, 11-14 and Girls 15-18 and 11-14. Based out of Jacksonville, FL, the HJGT administers events all across the southeast, with stops in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.