Prieto & Golovanov crowned champions at Florida Junior Amateur

The weather and Innisbrook Resort proved to be a tough test, but it was Nicholas Prieto and Matvey Golovanov who came out on top on Thursday at the 67th Boys’ Junior Amateur Championship.

Prieto went wire-to-wire to capture his first FSGA championship. He carded a 5-under 209 to secure the 11-shot victory in the 16-18 division.

“It means a lot,” Prieto said. “This is one of the biggest championships of the year and it’s the one you work hard for. The best junior in Florida coming out to compete on a tough course. To pull through and get the win is really amazing.”

Golovanov captured the four-shot win in the 13-15 division at 4-over 218 to earn his first FSGA championship.

“It’s such a great event, with a great field and a lot of history,” Golovanov said. “It’s the state title, so it so great to win such a big event.”

Beginning the day with a two-shot lead over the field, Prieto got off to a quick start with a birdie on the second. The Miami native added another on the ninth to make the turn at 1 under for the day. Prieto continued his strong play on the back side, rolling in a long birdie putt from the fringe on the 12th.

Prieto added another birdie on the par-3 15th to extend his lead.

“On 15, I was just off the green,” Prieto said. “I hit it a little hard and it hit the pin and went in, instead of about 5 feet by the hole. I think that was a big birdie for me.”

He finished the championship with back-to-back bogeys but captured a commanding 11-shot victory with a final-round 70. Prieto was the lone player in the field to finish under par for the championship and to post two under-par rounds in the championship.

Four players finished the championship in a tie for second at 6-over 220: James Bradley, Carson Brewer, Joshua Stewart and Moses Compaan.

Nicholas Prieto 👉 5-Shot Lead

He sits at the top of the leaderboard at 5 under with four holes to play.#FLBoysJunior pic.twitter.com/mnn14n1wAv

— Florida State Golf Association (@fsga) July 8, 2021

Golovanov got his final round started with a birdie on the second to move to even par for the championship. He native ran into some trouble on the front nine, playing Nos. 2-6 at 4 over. Golovanov turned it around and finished the front nine with tree pars, making the turn at 3 over for the day.

On the par-4 12th hole, Golovanov holed out for birdie from off the green.

“I wasn’t playing that well up until the 12th and I chipped it in for birdie,” Golovanov said. “It got me back into it.”

The Boca Raton native finished the back nine at even par to post a final-round 74 and capture the four-shot win. This is the fourth victory of the year for Golovanov, who has captured three Florida Junior Tour wins this season.

Matvey Golovanov with a chip-in birdie on the 13th. 👏

He holds a three-shot lead in the 13-15 division. #FLBoysJunior pic.twitter.com/RsN7hZv4hO

— Florida State Golf Association (@fsga) July 8, 2021

Lev Grinverg and Shawn Coultoff finished tied for second at 8-over 222 in the 13-15 division.