Fort Myers Fall Junior Open

The Fort Myers Fall Junior Open, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour at Cape Royal Golf Club, unfolded under bright Florida skies but with course conditions that demanded precision, patience, and mental toughness across every division. With three different routings—King, Queen, and Prince—each offering its own challenges, players were forced to adapt on the fly and elevate their games when it mattered most. In the Boys 16–18 division, Henry Liebwein set the tone for the weekend. His composed rounds of 73–74 delivered a tournament-winning +3, a performance built on discipline from tee to green. He held off a strong charge from Joseph Hansen, whose 74–75 kept the margin razor-thin until the final stretch. Local standout Blake Pecaro closed with a sharp 74 to secure third at +7, completing a podium defined by ball-striking quality and competitive poise. The Boys 14–15 division produced a similarly tight complexion, with Aaron Che rising above a cluster of contenders to take the title at +8. Che’s combination of course management and steady control on the Prince greens proved decisive, edging out Eshaan Adi, who posted back-to-back +5 rounds to finish at +13. A pair of players—Lucas Coelho and Dominic Manfield—shared third after posting identical +16 finishes, each putting together gritty Sunday efforts. In the Boys 12–13 field, Rory Hugo delivered one of the strongest performances of the weekend, firing 76–75 to win convincingly at +7. His crisp iron play and confident putting gave him full command of the division. Behind him, Zain Sadiq claimed runner-up honors at +17, while Viktor Bastasich rounded out the top three at +26. The Boys 10–11 division saw Harrison Kraus grind through two demanding days to secure the win at +32, backed by rounds of 87–89. His toughness in the face of shifting winds and firming greens set the bar, while Hunter Neubert and Fraser Gannon completed the top three. On the girls’ side, the Girls 14–18 division was shaped by consistency and smart course strategy, with Kate Freshwater taking command early and never relinquishing it. Her superb 82–73 finish delivered a winning +11, with the five-stroke improvement on Sunday serving as the weekend’s defining performance. Jade MacFarland held steady to take second at +15, and Magdalene Ford followed closely at +17. In the Girls U13 division, Natalie Murphy emerged victorious at +74, putting together rounds of 113–105 to handle the King/Queen routing with maturity. Sydney Nibe earned runner-up honors at +85. Across all divisions, the Fort Myers Fall Junior Open captured the essence of the HJGT: players rising to the moment, showcasing resilience under pressure, and delivering competitive golf that pushed the field forward. From breakthrough rounds to late-surge drama, the weekend at Cape Royal delivered a fitting highlight in the heart of the fall season.