Southeast Florida Kickoff at Sandridge

The Southeast Florida Kickoff lived up to its name, opening the new year with a demanding championship test as the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour brought elite junior competition to Sandridge Country Club — a venue that rewards precision, patience, and the ability to finish strong. Sandridge doesn’t overwhelm with length, but it exposes every lapse in focus. Tight driving corridors, ever-present water, and firm greens turned the weekend into a thinking player’s challenge. Scoring opportunities were there, but only for those willing to commit fully and manage risk with discipline. In the Boys 16–18 division, Luke Kang of Orlando, Florida, delivered the defining performance of the tournament. After an opening-round 80 left him chasing, Kang flipped the script with a brilliant 69 in the final round — the lowest score of the division — to finish at +5 (149) and claim the title. It was a statement round built on aggressive confidence and controlled execution, the kind of response that separates contenders from champions. Behind him, Grant Noren of Naples, Florida, stayed steady throughout the weekend, finishing second at +7 (151), while Charlie Price of Orlando surged with a strong closing 71 to take third at +8 (152). The top of the leaderboard remained tight deep into the final round, with one or two swings consistently shifting momentum. As the field worked its way through Sandridge’s demanding layout, the pattern was clear. Players who chased pins paid the price. Players who stayed committed to smart targets stayed alive. The course didn’t reward impatience — it rewarded execution. That’s exactly why this event fits the HJGT blueprint. The Southeast Florida Kickoff wasn’t designed for comfort or low scoring — it was designed to prepare players for what comes next. Championship venues, professional operations, and real competitive pressure combined to create an environment that mirrors collegiate golf. When the final putts dropped, the message from Sandridge was unmistakable. The season doesn’t wait. The margin is thin. And if you want to contend on the HJGT, you have to be ready to respond when the moment demands it.

The Southeast Florida Kickoff continued to separate contenders from survivors as the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour tested the Boys 14–15 division at Sandridge Country Club, a venue that demands precision and patience long before it rewards aggression. Sandridge doesn’t overwhelm players with brute length — it challenges them with decision-making. Water lurks on nearly every hole, sightlines are tight, and approach shots must be placed with intention. For this division, the course became a lesson in restraint, forcing players to balance confidence with control across two demanding rounds. At the top of the leaderboard, George Hampel of Wayne, Pennsylvania, delivered the steadiest performance of the weekend. Rounds of 80 and 77 were enough to secure the title at +13 (157), as Hampel navigated the course with discipline and avoided the big numbers that reshaped the leaderboard throughout the event. Close behind, Luke Schneider of Larchmont, New York, surged with a strong closing 76 to finish second at +16 (160), applying pressure deep into the final round. Juan Diego Forero of Bogotá, Colombia, rounded out the top three at +24 (168), continuing the international presence that has become a hallmark of HJGT fields. As the rounds unfolded, Sandridge made its impact felt. Players who chased flags paid for it quickly, while those willing to take conservative lines stayed competitive. Momentum shifted hole by hole, reinforcing the reality that championship golf is often about minimizing mistakes rather than forcing opportunities. That’s exactly why the Southeast Florida Kickoff matters on the HJGT calendar. Events like this are designed to accelerate development — exposing players to real pressure, real consequences, and the mental grind of multi-round competition. By the time the final putts dropped, the takeaway was clear. Sandridge didn’t hand out wins — it demanded execution. And for the Boys 14–15 division, the lessons learned this weekend will carry forward as the season continues to build.

The Southeast Florida Kickoff continued to set a demanding early-season standard as the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour tested the Boys 12–13 division at Sandridge Country Club, a course that rewards patience and punishes impatience without hesitation. Sandridge isn’t overpowering on paper, but it plays heavy. Water shapes strategy on nearly every hole, angles matter off the tee, and the greens demand full commitment. For this age group, it was a true introduction to championship golf — where discipline matters more than distance and momentum can flip in a single swing. At the top of the leaderboard, Charlie Reich of Boca Raton, Florida, delivered the defining moment of the tournament. After opening with an 81, Reich answered with a composed 71 in the final round — one of the lowest scores of the division — to finish at +8 (152) and claim the title. His ability to reset, stay aggressive when opportunities appeared, and manage risk down the stretch separated him from the field. Bear Sullivan of Fort Worth, Texas, pushed throughout the final round, closing with a strong 74 to finish second at +14 (158), while Gunther Bielecki of Vero Beach, Florida, rounded out the podium at +24 (168), navigating familiar terrain with resilience and composure. As the rounds unfolded, the story stayed consistent. Players who chased flags found trouble quickly. Players who stayed committed to conservative targets stayed in contention. Sandridge demanded emotional control just as much as execution — a lesson that became more pronounced as the pressure mounted late on Sunday. That’s exactly why the Southeast Florida Kickoff holds its place on the HJGT calendar. It’s not designed for comfort. It’s designed for growth. Multi-round competition, a championship-caliber venue, and real consequences for every decision create an environment that accelerates development. When the final putts dropped, the takeaway was clear: Sandridge doesn’t give anything away. And for the Boys 12–13 division, the experience gained this weekend may prove just as valuable as the trophy itself as the season moves forward.

The Southeast Florida Kickoff offered no shortcuts, even for the youngest competitors, as the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour challenged the Boys 10–11 division at Sandridge Country Club — a course that tests patience before it rewards confidence. Sandridge played firm and demanding, with water shaping strategy and greens that required full commitment. For this age group, it was championship golf in its purest form: stay composed, manage mistakes, and learn how to finish when conditions refuse to ease up. At the top of the leaderboard, Jiarun Lu of Beijing, China, rose to the occasion. Across two steady rounds of 92 and 91, Lu finished at +39 (183) to capture the division title. On a course where every hole asked a question, his consistency and perseverance proved decisive. This wasn’t about chasing birdies — it was about learning how to compete. For young players, that lesson matters as much as any scorecard. Navigating Sandridge required focus, emotional control, and the ability to move on from mistakes — traits that define long-term development. That’s the hallmark of the HJGT experience. Events like the Southeast Florida Kickoff aren’t built for comfort; they’re built to prepare players early for the realities of competitive golf. And for the Boys 10–11 division, the weekend at Sandridge delivered exactly that — a foundation formed under real championship pressure.

The Southeast Florida Kickoff delivered a true championship tone in the Girls 14–18 division, as the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour opened the year at Sandridge Country Club, a course that doesn’t reward hype — only execution. Sandridge demanded discipline from the opening tee shot. Water shaped strategy on nearly every hole, fairways narrowed landing zones, and firm greens punished indecision. Scoring chances existed, but only for players willing to stay patient and trust conservative targets. The result was a leaderboard defined by resilience rather than flash. At the center of it all was Gabriella Collelo of Venice, Florida, who delivered the most complete performance of the week. Rounds of 75 and 73 capped a steady, confident showing that finished at +4 (148) — the lowest total in the division and one of the strongest performances across the entire event. Collelo never forced the moment, relying instead on smart decisions and clean execution when it mattered most. Behind her, the chase stayed tight. Regan Andrusyk of Hamilton, Ontario, and Aubrey Molaison of Waukesha, Wisconsin, finished tied for second at +18 (162), each navigating the same demanding conditions with composure and grit. From the top five through the middle of the field, momentum shifted constantly as Sandridge continued to test emotional control as much as ball-striking. What stood out across the division was how quickly the course separated approaches. Players who chased pins paid for it immediately. Those who accepted pars, played away from trouble, and managed misses stayed in contention deep into the final round. That’s exactly why this event matters within the HJGT calendar. The Southeast Florida Kickoff isn’t designed to produce easy numbers — it’s built to prepare players for what comes next. Collegiate-style conditions, professional tournament operations, and real pressure combine to accelerate development at the highest junior levels. When the final putts dropped, the message from Sandridge was clear: championships aren’t won by forcing the issue — they’re earned through patience, discipline, and the ability to finish strong. And for the Girls 14–18 division, this weekend provided a benchmark that will carry forward as the season continues to unfold.

The Southeast Florida Kickoff stayed true to its reputation as a no-easy-days championship, as the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour challenged the Girls U13 division at Sandridge Country Club — a course that demands patience long before it offers reward. Sandridge doesn’t overpower players with distance, but it constantly applies pressure. Water hazards shape nearly every hole, angles off the tee matter, and greens punish hesitation. For young competitors, it was a true introduction to tournament golf where composure matters as much as mechanics. At the top of the leaderboard, Emma De Leon of Naples, Florida, delivered a resilient two-round performance to claim the division title at +40 (184). After opening with a 99, De Leon responded with an improved 85 in the final round, showing the kind of adjustment and mental toughness that defines long-term development. On a course where mistakes linger, her ability to respond and finish strong made the difference. Morgan Miller of Jupiter, Florida, completed the championship in second place, gaining valuable experience in a demanding competitive environment designed to test focus and perseverance. For the Girls U13 field, the Southeast Florida Kickoff was about more than the final scores. It was about learning how to compete when conditions don’t soften, how to reset after a tough hole, and how to stay engaged across two full championship rounds. That’s the standard the HJGT continues to set. Events like this aren’t built for comfort — they’re built to prepare young players early, giving them a foundation rooted in discipline, resilience, and real competitive pressure. At Sandridge, those lessons came fast — and they’ll last well beyond the weekend.