February 28 – 1, 2026
Tampa Bay Junior Open
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In a division where volatility often defines the leaderboard, Kairi Matsumoto brought steadiness.
At Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club, the Funabashi, Japan native opened with a 75 and followed with a composed 74 to finish at +5 (149), capturing the Boys 12–13 title at the Tampa Bay Junior Open.
Heritage Isles rewards discipline. Water guards key landing zones, and approach shots demand precise distance control into subtly contoured greens. For younger players, course management becomes the separator.
Matsumoto managed it better than anyone.
Jett Billy of Bradenton made the strongest push, closing with a 74 to secure solo second at +11 (155). Christian Lee finished third at +16 (160), while Ace Lowie placed fourth at +26 (170).
The winning difference wasn’t a single stretch of birdies.
It was consistency.
Matsumoto avoided the big number that often appears on water-framed holes and kept momentum through both rounds. In a field that included international representation and cross-country travel, his ability to stay steady under tournament conditions proved decisive.
At Heritage Isles, precision wins.
This weekend, it belonged to Matsumoto.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Kairi Matsumoto
+5 Total
No. 2 Rank
Jett Billy
+11 Total
No. 3 Rank
Christian Lee
+16 Total
February 28 – 1, 2026
College Prep Event at NC State
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At Lonnie Poole Golf Course, even the youngest division felt the weight of extra holes.
Shane Stepnicka delivered when it mattered most.
Stepnicka and Coleman Stanley finished tied at +28 (172), forcing a playoff to decide the Boys 12–13 title at the College Prep Event at NC State.
Both players battled through two demanding rounds on a course that rarely yields easy scoring. Elevated greens, tightly mown runoff areas, and shifting wind conditions made distance control critical. Miss on the wrong tier, and recovery quickly became defensive.
Stanley opened with an 83 before posting an 89 in Round 2. Stepnicka countered with rounds of 85-87, holding steady enough to match the clubhouse mark.
That set the stage for sudden death.
In the playoff, Stepnicka executed. One more hole. One composed swing. One decisive finish.
Remington Faunce finished just one shot back at +29 (173), while Lee Phillips followed at +30. The leaderboard remained compressed at the top before widening as Lonnie Poole continued to challenge aggressive play.
This wasn’t a scoring showcase.
It was a composure test.
At a collegiate venue designed to simulate next-level conditions, learning to manage pressure — and then winning in a playoff — carries weight.
Stepnicka handled both.
At NC State, that was enough.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Shane Stepnicka
+28 Total
No. 2 Rank
Coleman Stanley
+28 Total
No. 3 Rank
Remington Faunce
+29 Total
February 28 – 1, 2026
Nashville Junior Shootout at Hermitage
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At Hermitage Golf Club, the test is straightforward: keep the ball in position and limit mistakes.
Grayson Sanford did enough of both.
The Lebanon, Tennessee native posted rounds of 88-90 to finish at +34 (178), capturing the Boys 12–13 division at the Nashville Junior Shootout.
Hermitage demands disciplined tee shots into fairways that set up controlled approaches. Greens are receptive but require proper speed control. In this division, minimizing penalty strokes and avoiding compounding mistakes became the deciding factor.
Sanford maintained enough stability across 36 holes to separate himself.
The story wasn’t about low scoring.
It was about resilience on a course that asks for focus from the opening tee shot through the final putt.
At Hermitage, steady play earns results.
This weekend, Sanford earned it.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Grayson Sanford
+34 Total
February 28 – 1, 2026
Santa Lucia River Junior Open
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At Santa Lucia River Club, the Boys 12–13 division came down to extra holes.
Hunter Williams made them count.
Williams and Palmer Buchanan finished tied at +11 (155), each navigating two very different paths to the top of the leaderboard. Buchanan opened with an 80 before firing a closing 75 — the low round of the final pairing — to set the clubhouse mark.
Williams took the opposite route.
He opened with the division’s lowest round of the tournament, a 73, before battling through an 82 on Sunday to hold his position. The contrast in scorecards created the drama — one player surging late, the other protecting an early advantage.
That forced a playoff.
In sudden death, Williams executed. On a course defined by water-lined holes and demanding approach angles, one mistake can end it. Williams avoided it, securing the title.
Brooks Rodin finished just two shots back at +13 (157) after matching Buchanan’s Sunday 75, keeping the leaderboard tight into the final stretch. From there, separation widened as Santa Lucia continued to penalize missed targets and aggressive lines.
The story wasn’t dominance.
It was resilience.
At 12–13 years old, learning how to manage a lead, respond to pressure, and step into a playoff matters. Williams did all three.
At Santa Lucia River Club, composure decided it.
Williams walked away with the trophy.
Rank
Player
Total
No. 1 Rank
Hunter Williams
+11 Total
No. 2 Rank
Palmer Buchanan
+11 Total
No. 3 Rank
Brooks Rodin
+13 Total
