Butt Scorches the Backside
Altmann’s Consistency Earns Her the Crown
Orlando, FL (December 9)- All of the excitement of the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s 2012 season came to an end this weekend as the season culminated with the Tour Championship. ChampionsGate Golf Resort was the host site for the biggest event of the season, with the best field of the year as well. The festivities began with the awards banquet where all members of the All HJGT Team and Players of the Year were honored, followed by two special guest speakers and then a dinner for the players and parents. Jim Thorpe, a 13-time winner on the Champions Tour, spoke to the players about how to win a golf tournament. He was followed by Dr. Bob Winters, a well-known mental conditioning coach, who talked to the players about having the right attitude on the course and in preparation as well. After all of the festivities wrapped up, it was finally time to play golf. Participants arrived early on Saturday morning to some dense fog layering the course and limiting visibility to about 75 yards. The conditions during the weekend were great for scoring and the players took full advantage of that with a low round of 68 after the first round. The Boys 11-14 division was won by a very familiar name on the tour. Zak Butt, came into the final round trailing by 2 strokes and then finished the front nine with a three-over 39. Butt then proceeded to finish six-under for his final six holes. Butt eagled the par-5 13th hole, birdied the par-3 14th, and then finished with three straight birdies. Butt, who hails from Summerville, SC, is the 2012 Tour Champion after posting a two-day total of 140 (-4). This is Butt’s 7th win on tour this year and his fifth in his last five tournaments played with the HJGT. Butt led his division in total eagles, most pars or better, and par 5 performance (an outstanding 4.12 average). Josh Lewis, from Lake Mary, FL, took second place this weekend with a two-day total of 141 (-3). Lewis, the round one leader, has played well on tour throughout the season and this was just another example of that. He led his division in total birdies, most par breakers, and par 4 performance. Lewis was also second in par 5 performance, with another exceptional average of 4.50. S.M Lee and Austin Hitt finished the weekend in a tie for third place, both with a two-day total of 144 (E). Lee finished tied for the lead in par 4 performance, as well as tied for third in total birdie made. Lee has been a consistent performer on the tour this year as well, with this weekend being his fifth top 5 finish. Austin Hitt led the division in par 3 performance, tied for the lead in most pars or better, and second in par 4 performance. This weekend marks Hitt’s fourth top ten finish. Luiza Altmann is the name to be aware of in the Girls 11-14 division following her performance this weekend at ChampionsGate. Altmann recorded a two-day total of 146 (+2) on her way to a seven shot victory over the second place finisher. This is her third victory on tour this year in as many events played. Altmann won the event by playing consistent golf and never letting herself have a blowup hole. From Brazil, Luiza Altmann has established herself on tour as a legitimate threat to win in every event she is a part of. Altmann led her division in almost every statistical category including total birdies, total pars, par 4 performance, par 5 performance, and most pars or better. Kanyanat Saithip, from Thailand, finished in second place with a two-day total of 153 (+9). Saithip finished second in par 4 performance and third in par 5 performance. She also recorded 22 pars on the weekend to go with 3 birdies. Anne Yu, the Florida native, finished third in the Girls 11-14 division with a two-day total of 154 (+10). Yu finished tied for first in total birdies and also most par breakers. To go with those, she finished second in par 5 performance and third in par 4 performance. Weather: Saturday: Temperature in the low to mid-80’s, partly cloudy with dense morning fog Sunday: Temperature in the low to mid-80’s, mostly sunny Tournament Yardages: Boy’s 11-14 Division: 6,270 Girl’s 11-14 Division: 5,275 Tournament Awards:Boys 11-14 Division:
EFX Birdie Challenge: Josh Lewis Seaforth Par 4 Performance: Josh Lewis and S.M. Lee Coolheads Par 5 Performance: Zak Butt Girls 11-14 Division: EFX Birdie Challenge: Luiza Altmann and Anne Yu Seaforth Par 4 Performance: Luiza Altmann Coolheads Par 5 Performance: Luiza Altmann 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 Division, Boys 11-14 and Girls 15-18 Division and 11-14 Division. Based out of Jacksonville, FL, the HJGT administers events all across the southeast, with stops in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.