Austin Hitt, Eric Berggren lead respective divisions after Florida Boy's Amateur second round
Austin Hitt
(Golfweek Photo)
SAINT AUGISTINE, FL (July 7, 2016) -- The 62nd Boys’
Junior Championship kicked off Wednesday at World
Golf Village - King & Bear Course and St. Johns Golf &
Country Club in Saint Augustine. Players in both the 16-
18 & 13-15 Age Division will play one round on each
golf course Wednesday and Thursday, then the field will
be cut to the low 50 & ties in the 16-18 Age Division,
and low 20 & ties in the 13-15 Age Division for the final
round at World Golf Village - King & Bear.
The field is highlighted by 2015 Boys’ Junior
Champion and University of North Carolina Signee
Austin Hitt, and 2015 FSGA Boys’ Junior Player of The
Year Brandon Mancheno in the 16-18 Age Division.
Joseph Pagdin highlights the 13-15 Age Division, he is a
two-time Future Masters Champion, and has three
Florida Junior Tour victories including the 2015 FJT Tour
Championship and 2016 FJT Major.
Boys 16-18 Age Division
Austin Hitt fired a low round of four-under par to be
the lone leader heading into the final round. Hitt carded
three birdies on both his front and back nine to finish in
first (135 total) over Chris Nido, of Palmetto Bay. After
a first round 69, Nido had four birdies in a row on holes
two through five and ended the day with an eagle on
the par five 18th hole for a 136 total. Anthony Muttillo,
Linus Samuelsson, and Manuel Girona tied for third
place with a two round total of 138. Advancing to the
final round are 51 players with a two round total of six
over-par (150) or better.
Boys 13-15 Age Division
An impressive second round of 67 (-5) propelled
Eric Berggren, of Windermere, into first place.
Berggren’s started the day strong with four birdies on
the front nine, three in a row on holes five through
seven, and finished with two birdies and one lone bogey
on the back nine. No stranger to competition, Eric
finished in the top ten in his Florida Junior Tour starts in
2016, including one win at River Wilderness in February.
There is a tight race at the top of the learderboard with
Berggren leading by one stroke (138 total) followed by
Joseph Pagdin in second place (139 total). The field was
cut at three over-par, 147, and 22 players advanced to
the final round.
ROUND ONE RECAP
Boys 16-18 Age Division
Defending Champion Austin Hitt, of Longwood &
Manuel Girona, of Windermere share the opening round
lead at the 62nd Boys’ Junior after opening with a 67
(-5) at St. Johns Golf & Country Club. Both player’s
round included seven birdies and two bogeys, with
Girona having a stretch of four in a row from 11-14. The
pair lead Zach Justice & 2015 FSGA Junior Player of the
Year Brandon Mancheno by one stroke, after both
opened with 68 (-4).
Boys 13-15 Age Division
Fred Biodi, of Port Saint Lucie went out in 67 (-5) to
take a one-stroke lead over Fletcher Wunderlich,
Nicholas Gabrelcik & Gray Albright. Biondi’s opening
round card would have only one blemish, a bogey on
the 17th, which he quickly answered by making an
eagle on the par-5 18th. Biondi has come out on top in
his only two Florida Juinor Tour starts in 2016, winning
at Ocala National in April and Indian Spring in May.
View results for Florida Junior Amateur
ABOUT THE Florida Junior Amateur
54 holes of stroke play to crown the top junior
in the state. Non exempt players need to
qualify at sites across the state in 18 holes of
stroke play. Started in 1955, former Boys
Junior Champions include Gary Koch, Len
Mattiace, Josh McCumber, Jeremy Anderson
and Matt Kuchar. Male amateur golfers ages
13-18. Entrant must not reached their 19th
birthday and not attending college. All players
must walk and carry their own clubs.
View Complete Tournament Information