Saddlebrook Winter Junior Open presented by GEICO

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. – The Saddlebrook Winter Junior Open presented by GEICO, hosted by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, brought together an elite and international field to Saddlebrook Resort’s Oak and Cypress courses on November 8–9, 2025. Across every division, players battled breezy Florida conditions and firm greens, showcasing poise, precision, and the competitive spirit that defines the HJGT experience. In the Boys 16–18 Division, Kaito Takahashi of Wesley Chapel, Florida, delivered one of the weekend’s most commanding performances, firing rounds of 70 and 69 to finish at three-under-par (139) and claim the title in front of a home crowd. Takahashi’s steady tempo and clinical putting separated him from the field, outpacing Jinyi Yan, also of Wesley Chapel, who took second at +1 (143). Lukas Konate of Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, rounded out the top three at +4 (146), followed by a deep international leaderboard featuring competitors from nine countries, including Japan, India, China, and Mexico. The Boys 14–15 Division saw Reece Goodson of North Palm Beach, Florida, rise to the occasion with rounds of 73 and 79 to post +10 (152) and capture an eight-stroke victory. His consistency and calm demeanor proved crucial as he navigated the challenging layout under steady winds. Dario Salazar of Melbourne, Australia, finished runner-up at +18 (160), while a four-way tie for third featured Kellen Clements, Grant Goetz, Aiden Wang, and Rhodes Verplank, all at +20 (162). In the Boys 12–13 Division, Haoyu Yong of Winter Garden, Florida, turned in a sharp performance to win with a total of +17 (124). Yong’s composed 82 on Saturday set the tone, and he maintained control through the second round to secure the victory ahead of Mason Reinhart of Winter Garden, who placed second at +24 (131). The Boys 10–11 Division was headlined by Cooper Waters of Tampa, Florida, who captured the championship with a two-day total of +29 (136). Waters’ mix of power and precision carried him to a wire-to-wire victory, showcasing maturity and focus on a course known for demanding ball control. On the girls’ side, Leila El Omari of Tampa, Florida, emerged victorious in the Girls 14–18 Division after a tightly contested battle that came down to the wire. El Omari posted a 73 and 43 to finish at +9 (116), holding off Norah Middleton of Laytonsville, Maryland, by just one stroke at +10 (117). Bela Dodd of Brookfield, Wisconsin, placed third at +12 (119), with a talented group of international competitors—including players from Indonesia, Taiwan, China, and Mexico—rounding out a diverse field that embodied the global spirit of HJGT. In the Girls U13 Division, Maisy Shewchuk of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, put together a dominant performance to take home the title at +23 (130). Her consistent ball striking and confident pace on the greens propelled her past Fernanda Flores of Orlando, Florida, who finished runner-up at +38 (145). From Takahashi’s precision to El Omari’s late composure, the Saddlebrook Winter Junior Open presented by GEICO captured the essence of competitive junior golf—discipline, diversity, and dedication. As one of the final Florida events of the fall schedule, Saddlebrook once again proved to be the perfect stage for the next generation of golfers to shine on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, where rising talent meets championship-level competition.