FCWT Junior Golf Tournament at Whistling Straits after the rain

After two hours of rain early in the day, the sun came out and it was beautiful for the junior golfers tournament round.

Leighann Cabush

Leighann Cabush of Waukesha, WI (2013) leads the Girls division at the FCWT Junior Golf Tournament at Whistling Straits Golf Course.  Leighann opened with a round of 76 on the Irish Course and has a 3 stroke advantage over a 3-some tied for 2nd place.  McKenzie Parks of Oregon, WI (2012), Isabelle Kane of Winnetka, IL (2014), and Jessica Staed of Green Bay (2014) will all start the final round at 79.  Miss Cabush won at the FCWT Junior Golf Tournament at Arizona State in November.  In addition, she has three other Top 5 finishes this season.  Leighann co-led this division in birdies with 2 and pars with 11.  Eighteen holes remain for the junior golfers on Sunday.

Jeff Lang

Jeffrey Lang of Lexington, MA (2013) fired a two under par round on Saturday in the Boys division to lead by two strokes over

Nick McCall

Nicholas McCall of Winnetka, IL (2013).  Lang has finished tied for 2nd place in his last two FCWT junior Golf Tournaments:  Feather Sound and Red Tail.  On Sunday, seventeen-year-old Lang will be looking for his first win.  He will be paired with Nicholas McCall and

Lee Radke

Lee Radke of Sioux Falls (2015).  Three players are tied for 4th place at 75:  Chase Wheatley of Corona Del Mar, CA (2013), Max Donohue of Sioux Falls, SD (2014), and Eric Izzo of Naperville, IL (2012).

Among the 13-15 division players, Conor Dore of Chicago (2015) is leading at 76, followed by Nathan Zhao of Fairbault, MN (2015).  Will Seaman of Winnetka, IL (2015) and Alex Wrenn of Lake Oswego, OR (2014) are tied at 79.  Play resumes on Sunday for the final round.

Congratulations to Joe Leja of Fort Wayne, IN (2013) who made a hole in one on the 3rd hole 140-yards with a 7 iron.

Sean Smothers fired a second consecutive round of 69 on Sunday to win his first FCWT junior golf tournament.  The Boys 16-19 division at the Falcon’s Fire Golf Club was closely contested.  At the end of Round One, three players were tied for the lead, including Smothers.  Sean got out to a bit of a bumpy start with a bogey on the first hole, but he felt like things turned around for him when he made an eagle on the par 5, 4th hole.  Sean played the back nine at 2 under par to finish at 3 under for his round and 6 under for the tournament. 

Tokes Pedro of Bowie, MD (2015) earned the Low Round honors with his 4 under par 68 that put him just one stroke shy of Smothers.  Pedro finished tied for 2nd with Enrique Jaramillo of Colombia, one of the overnight leaders.  Gonzalo Rubio of Mexico, who was also a co-leader after Round One, finished 4th at 141, three strokes back of Smothers.  Eithel McGowen of Lima, Peru (2012) and Amin Hasham of Vancouver, BC, Canada finished tied for 5th at 142.  Congratulations to Joey Matulich of Los Angeles, CA, on two eagles for the tournament.  Mason Fox of Sarasota, FL (2014) led the Boys 16-19 division in birdies for the tournament with 12.  Peng Yan of China (2014), Richard Zhang of Bradenton, FL (2013), and Terrence Zhang of Orlando, FL (2015) co-led in pars with 27.

Congratulations Caleb Sibley on your final round of 69!

Boys 13-15 division

In the Boys 13-15 division, Michael Mattiace of Jacksonville, FL (2016) fired a final round of 2 under par 70 to win his first FCWT junior golf tournament.  Fourteen year old Michael led the boys 13-15 division in birdies for the tournament with 8.  Alex Lee of West Linn, OR (2015) finished in 2nd place at 148.  Fourteen-year-old Blake Wilson of Groveland, FL (2016) finished in 3rd place, his best finish of the season.  Myles Jacobs of Hogansburg, NY (2015) led the Boys 13-15 division in pars with 23 and finished in 4th place at 152.

Millet’s Low Round earns her the Girls title

Anna Millet of Spain (2014) captured her first FCWT tournament win in the Girls division at Falcon’s Fire.  Anna carded the Low Round on Sunday, a 73, to finish at one over for the tournament.  First round leader, Lina Sekerkova of Slovakia, finished at 146 in 2nd place, her best of the season.  Radi Sauro of Lake Worth, FL (2014) finished two strokes back of the lead at 147 to capture 3rd place.  Anna and Tong Wang of China (2013) co-led in birdies with 7, while Lina Sekerkova led in eagles with 1.  Radi Sauro led in pars with 28 for the tournament.

Lee leads Boys 13-15 division

Alex Lee on his opening round of 70 at the FCWT Falcon’s Fire Tournament

Michael Mattice on his opening round of 72

In the Boys 13-15 division, Alex Lee of West Linn, OR (2015) fired a two under par 70 to lead that division.  Lee finished in second place last weekend at the World Woods tournament and has three other Top 5 finishes this season.  Alex will be looking for his first FCWT junior golf tournament win when he tees it up on Sunday.  He will be paired with Michael Mattiace of Jacksonville, FL (2016) who carded a solid round of even par on Saturday.  Fourteen year old Michael is playing in his first FCWT tournament.  Joe He of China (2015) and Blake Wilson of Groveland, FL (2016) are tied for third place at 74.  He and Lee both carded 4 birdies on Saturday to lead the Boys 13-15 division, while Mattiace led in pars with 14.

Lina Sekerkova leads Girls Division after making an ACE on # 3

Lina's hole in one

Congrats to Lina Sekerkova on her hole in one on the 3rd hole at Falcon’s Fire. (Photo captured by GGGA coach Nick Duffy ( @jnickduffy)

Lina on her opening round at the FCWT Junior Golf Tournament at Falcon’s Fire

In the Girls 13-18 division, Lina Sekerkova of Slovakia fired a one under par 71 that included an ACE on the par 3 third hole. Lina leads by one over Anna Millet of Spain (2014) and Jasmine Wade of Oldsmar, FL (2012). But they aren’t the only competition that Lina will have to contend with on Sunday. Five girls are tied for fourth place at 73, just two shots back of the Lina‘s score: Mary Fran Hillow of Orlando, FL (2012), Radi Sauro of Lake Worth, FL (2014), Anastasia Adruzova of Russia (2014), Mia Zanghetti of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL (2013), and Lauren Riehle of Wesley Chapel, FL (2012). The Top 10 girls are within 5 strokes so there is a lot of golf left to play in this division. The Final Round begins on Sunday at 7:30am.

Boys 16-19 division

Sean Smothers and Mason Fox each carded 7 birdies during Saturday’s Round

Gonzalo Rubio on his opening round of 69

Enrique Jaramillo, co-leader, on his opening round of 69

The competition is close in the Boys 16-19 division as well.  Sean Smothers of Tamarac (2013), Enrique Jaramillo of Cali, Colombia, and Gonzalo Rubio of Mexico (2012) are all tied for the lead at 3 under par 69.  All three will be looking for their first FCWT junior golf tournament win.  Four players will start Sunday’s final round tied for 4th place:  Mason Fox of Sarasota, FL (2014), Parama Chansue of Bangkok (2014), Sam Horsfield of Davenport, FL (2015), and Sam Toomey of Massachusetts.  Horsfield is one of the only players in the Top 10 who has already won an FCWT junior golf tournament.  Sam won at Reunion in January and at Plantation in February.  Two shots back of the co-leaders and tied for eighth are: Priaynshu Singh of Delhi, India (2014), Sebastian Petersen of Denmark (2014), Arthur Nunes of Brazil (2012), Tokes Pedro of Bowie, MD (2015), and Amin Hasham of Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Rainbow in the Sky over the 10th hole at World Woods

The Final Round at the Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) junior golf tournament at World Woods began with a rainbow over the 10th hole.  Early on it was a rainy day, but then the sun came out towards the middle of the final round.  By the end the clouds were returning and the wind was picking up.

Karen Arimoto

Arimoto earns 5th FCWT junior golf tournament win

In the Girls division, overnight leader Karen Arimoto of Japan (2015) found herself tied with fellow countryman and classmate at Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy at the end of 36 holes.  Miss Arimoto who opened with a 5 under par 66, posted a final round of 76 on Sunday while Yuka Kaijiki of Japan (2014) posted consecutive rounds of 71.  On the playoff hole, Karen made par on the first playoff hole (# 18) to earn her 5th FCWT junior golf tournament of the season.  Her previous wins came at Innisbrook, University of Florida, Mission Inn, and Saddlebrook.  Yuka earned her third Top 5 finish of the season with her 2nd place finish.  Mai Dechathipat, another player from @GGGAgolf finished in 3rd place, allowing the Gilchrist Golf Academy Girls to sweep the awards.  Mai carded the only eagle for the 36-hole tournament.  Yuka led in birdies with 8 and Karen led in pars with 25.

about 20 spectator carts follow the boys 16-19 playoff at World Woods

Edelman wins on 4th playoff hole in the Boys division

Arthur Edelman

Eighteen year old senior Arthur Edelman of France (2012) fired a final round of 69 on Sunday to force a playoff in the Boys 16-19 division with overnight leader Payton Taylor of Vero Beach, FL (2014).  Taylor, a newcomer to the Future Collegians World Tour, may have been a bit surprised at the following he and Arthur received for the playoff.  Arthur, who is in his third season playing FCWT junior golf tournaments, is a student at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy.  His teammates were a large part of the following.  Edelman made a big par to take the playoff to the par 3, 10th hole.  Later Arthur, known as Arti to his friends, was in close for a birdie on the third playoff hole.  Finally on the 12th hole, playoff hole #4, Arti made a birdie and the onlookers erupted with cheers, applause, and “well done!” (see video).  Edelman won his very first FCWT junior golf tournament on September 27, 2009 at TPC Tampa Bay in the Boys 13-15 division.  He has had many good finishes since then, but today marked his first win since that day.  Edelman is scheduled to play the season ending Tour Championship, May 26-28, 2012.  He’s going in on a personal high.  Ryan Borg of Orangeville, ON, Canada (2013) matched Edelman’s closing round of 69 to tie for Low Round honors and also to take home 3rd place.  Borg is a student at Core Golf Academy.

Leonardo Coll of Fort Lauderdale, FL (2015) had the best finish for the Boys 13-15 division players.  His tied for 7th finish overall also earned him first place in the Boys 13-15 division.  This was Leonardo’s third FCWT tournament win.  He won at Inverrary in February, then at Feather Sound in March.  Alex Lee of West Linn, OR (2015) finished tied for 14th overall and earned the 2nd place for the Boys 13-15 division.  Luis Garza of Mexico (2016) finished tied for 16th overall and was the 3rd best finisher for the 13-15 level.

Kari Bellville and Sarah Kolodzik

Bellville birdies playoff hole to earn 3rd FCWT junior golf tournament win

In the Girls division of the Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) junior golf tournament at The Golf Course at Yankee Trace, overnight leader Kari Bellville of Granger, IN (2014) made an eagle 2 on the 17th hole, only to have to return the strokes to the golf course on the 18th hole where she made a double-bogey 7 that opened the door for a playoff with Sarah Kolodzik of Belbrook, OH (2014).  In the playoff Kari made a 20 footer for birdie to win her 3rd FCWT junior golf tournament of the season. 

Allie Lindley and Tess Fraser

Allie Lindley of Kokomo, IN (2013) and Tess Fraser of Marysville, OH (2012) finished tied for 3rd place at 154, 5 strokes off the pace.

L to r Josh Wick, Nicolas Paxson, Mert Selamet

Wick wins 2nd FCWT title in the Boys 16-19 division

In the Boys 16-19 division, Josh Wick of Upper Arlington, OH (2013) earned his second FCWT junior golf tournament win.  Wick, who won the FCWT Duke tournament in November, took the first round lead with a 72.  On Sunday, he posted a 75 to edge out Nicolas Paxson of Cincinnati, OH (2013) who posted 74-74-148.  Mert Selamet of Dublin, OH (2013) finished in 3rd place at 151.  The top finishing non-Ohio player was Coop Musselman of Louisville (2013) who finished tied for 4th with Joey Arcuri of Cincinnati (2013).

Drew Scott

Scott scores a win in the Boys 13-15 division at Yankee Trace

Drew Scott of Upper Arlington, OH (2014) posted rounds of 86-84 at the Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) junior golf tournament at The Golf Club at Yankee Trace to win the Boys 13-15 division.  Scott, 15, previously finished T2 at the FCWT tournament at Purdue.  Drew led the boys 13-15 division in birdies with 2.  Kyle Fancy of Hillsburgh, ON, Canada (2015) led in pars with 16.  Fancy, who was co-leading with Scott at the end of Round One, finished in 2nd place at 173.