Palm Beach Junior Open

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — The Palm Beach Junior Open delivered a demanding South Florida championship as the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour brought elite junior competition to Westchester Country Club, utilizing the club’s Red/Gold course combination. Over two rounds, the venue provided a stern, traditional test that rewarded discipline, patience, and intelligent course management. Westchester asserted its challenge immediately. Tree-lined fairways narrowed landing areas and forced players to prioritize accuracy over power, while strategic bunkering and subtle doglegs required thoughtful positioning off the tee. Missed fairways often dictated defensive play, turning approach shots into recovery situations rather than scoring chances. Approach play became the defining separator throughout the event. Firm, subtly contoured greens demanded precise distance control and confident commitment. Shots that missed their intended tiers were rarely forgiven, placing consistent pressure on short games and putting. As the rounds progressed, pars carried real value, and momentum proved difficult to sustain on a layout that steadily pushed back against aggression. The Boys 16–18 field reflected the difficulty of the test, with tight margins at the top and scores that underscored Westchester’s championship character. Rocco Romano emerged as the most composed competitor, navigating the Red/Gold routing to secure the title at +12, a score shaped by patience and execution rather than risk-taking. What made Westchester an ideal host for the Palm Beach Junior Open was its balance. The course tested every facet of the game — tee-to-green control, short-game touch, and emotional discipline — while remaining fair to players who respected its design. Long rounds and sustained pressure mirrored the realities of higher-level tournament golf, aligning perfectly with the HJGT’s developmental mission. By the conclusion of the weekend, Westchester Country Club reaffirmed its reputation as a respected South Florida championship venue. Hosting the Palm Beach Junior Open, the club delivered more than a competition — it provided a meaningful benchmark for HJGT players, reinforcing that success at this level is earned through smart decisions, patience, and the ability to execute under pressure from the first tee shot to the final putt.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Westchester Country Club once again proved to be a demanding South Florida championship venue as it hosted the Palm Beach Junior Open for the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, with the Boys 14–15 division navigating the club’s challenging Red/Gold course combination over two competitive rounds. From the opening tee shots, Westchester placed a premium on accuracy and decision-making. Tree-lined fairways narrowed landing zones and punished loose drives, while subtle doglegs and strategic bunkering forced players to think carefully about positioning rather than simply relying on distance. The course consistently rewarded those who stayed patient and committed to conservative targets. At the top of the leaderboard, Blake Waidlich delivered the most composed performance of the division, finishing at +10 after rounds of 79 and 75. Competing out of Keene, New Hampshire, Waidlich managed the golf course with maturity, limiting mistakes and capitalizing when opportunities presented themselves. His steady closing round highlighted the importance of discipline on a layout where momentum is difficult to sustain. Behind him, Michael Skolnick of Boca Raton finished second at +22, while Parker Heaton of Juno Beach followed closely at +23, as the remainder of the field contended with Westchester’s firm greens and demanding approach shots. Distance control into the putting surfaces proved critical, with short-sided misses often leading to difficult recoveries and added pressure on the short game. What made Westchester an ideal host for the Palm Beach Junior Open was its ability to test every facet of a player’s game. The Red/Gold routing challenged tee-to-green precision, short-game touch, and emotional control, mirroring the realities of higher-level tournament golf. Pars carried real value, and players who rushed decisions were quickly forced into damage-control mode. By the conclusion of the event, Westchester Country Club reaffirmed its reputation as a respected South Florida championship venue. For the Boys 14–15 field, the Palm Beach Junior Open offered more than a competition — it provided a meaningful benchmark in development, reinforcing that success on demanding layouts comes through patience, smart decisions, and the ability to execute under sustained pressure.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — The Palm Beach Junior Open continued to showcase the demanding nature of Westchester Country Club as the Boys 12–13 division took on the club’s challenging Red/Gold routing, a layout that emphasized accuracy, patience, and disciplined course management from start to finish. Leading the way was Thomas Zur, who delivered the most complete performance of the division to finish at +7. Competing out of Miami Beach, Florida, Zur opened with a steady 78 before closing with a composed 73, navigating Westchester’s tight corridors and firm greens with maturity. On a course where missed fairways quickly turn into defensive situations, his ability to stay in position and limit mistakes proved decisive. The battle behind him remained competitive throughout the weekend. Brody Blackwell of Sarasota and Ethan Glasband of Palm Beach Gardens finished tied for second at +15, each contending with the same demanding approach shots and greens that required precise distance control and confident putting. Pars consistently carried value, and momentum was difficult to sustain as Westchester applied steady pressure. Westchester’s strength as a venue was evident throughout the division. Tree-lined fairways forced conservative decisions off the tee, while approach shots demanded exact yardages into subtly contoured putting surfaces. Short-sided misses were rarely forgiven, placing a premium on smart targets and emotional control across both rounds. As host of the Palm Beach Junior Open, the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour once again delivered a championship-style environment that mirrors higher-level tournament golf. For the Boys 12–13 field, the event served as a meaningful developmental benchmark — one that reinforced the importance of patience, preparation, and respect for the course. By the conclusion of the weekend, Westchester Country Club reaffirmed its reputation as a true South Florida test. For Zur, the victory reflected disciplined execution and trust in process, earned on a layout that rewards smart golf and consistently challenges every aspect of a player’s game.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Championship drama unfolded at Westchester Country Club as the Palm Beach Junior Open concluded with a playoff finish in the Girls 14–18 division, a fitting ending on a course that consistently demands composure, discipline, and mental toughness. The Red/Gold routing once again proved to be a true examination of tournament golf. Narrow, tree-lined fairways forced conservative decisions off the tee, while firm, subtly contoured greens placed a premium on distance control and confident putting. Players who strayed offline were quickly tested, and momentum was difficult to maintain across two demanding rounds. That challenge set the stage for a tightly contested battle at the top of the leaderboard. Andiara Raton of Parkland, Florida and Londonrose Rinaldi of Chevy Chase, Maryland finished tied at +25, each navigating Westchester’s steady pressure with resilience. In the ensuing playoff, Raton rose to the moment, delivering when it mattered most to secure the victory and cap a weekend defined by perseverance and poise. Behind the leaders, the course continued to assert itself. Scores reflected the difficulty of sustaining clean rounds, as approach shots into guarded greens and tricky recovery situations tested every aspect of the players’ games. Pars carried significant value, and patience often proved more important than aggression. As host of the Palm Beach Junior Open, the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour once again provided a championship-caliber environment that mirrors the challenges players face at higher competitive levels. For the Girls 14–18 field, Westchester Country Club served as both a proving ground and a classroom — rewarding smart decisions, emotional control, and the ability to perform under pressure. By the end of the weekend, Westchester reaffirmed its reputation as one of South Florida’s more demanding tournament venues. For Raton, the playoff win was a testament to staying patient, trusting her game, and embracing the moment — exactly the qualities the course demands and the HJGT strives to develop.

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — The Palm Beach Junior Open continued to underscore the demanding nature of Westchester Country Club as the Girls U13 division faced the Red/Gold routing, a layout that rewarded patience, steady decision-making, and mental resilience across two challenging rounds. At a venue where narrow landing areas and firm greens rarely allow players to settle in, Sophia Brooks of Slingerlands, New York delivered the most composed performance of the division. Brooks finished at +37, opening with a 96 before responding with an improved 85 in the final round — a clear reflection of adaptation and learning as the weekend progressed. Her ability to adjust to Westchester’s demanding sightlines and approach angles proved decisive. For the Girls U13 field, Westchester provided a true test of fundamentals. Tee shots required commitment and smart club selection, while approach play demanded careful distance control into greens that punish misses on the wrong side. Recovery shots often dictated scoring, reinforcing the importance of course management over pure aggression. As host of the Palm Beach Junior Open, the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour once again delivered a competitive environment designed to challenge and develop young players. The Girls U13 division experienced a course that emphasizes growth through adversity, offering valuable lessons that extend beyond the scorecard. By the close of the tournament, Westchester Country Club once again affirmed its role as a meaningful developmental venue within the HJGT schedule. For Brooks, the victory was earned through persistence and adaptability — qualities that align perfectly with the demands of the Red/Gold layout and the competitive standard set by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour.