IMG Junior Golf Tour makes first stop at World Golf Village's Slammer & Squire Golf Course

The IMG Junior Golf Tour made its first stop at the World Golf Village this weekend, with 72 players competing on the championship Bobby Weed-designed course. Located in Jacksonville, Florida just ten minutes north of St. Augustine, the course has played host to the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, a Senior PGA Tour event, and currently hosts an array of other top golf events, such as the Handa Cup. The Slammer & Squire is one of four stops on the IMG Junior Golf Tour 2011-12 schedule that is included in the Golfweek/ Sagarin Junior Rankings.

The 72-player field was very competitive and over the weekend, leading to the breaking of two IMG Junior Golf Tour records. Andy Zhang of Reunion, Florida, set a new IMG Junior Golf Tour tournament record, breaking Jeffrey Meltzer’s prior record set earlier this year, by shooting a 70-65=135(-9) and placing first overall in the Boys 15-18 division. This marks the fourteen-year old’s second Tour victory of the year, his first win coming back in November at Grand Cypress. IMG Academy golf program students Mario Beltran of Valencia, Spain and Rodrigo Munoz of Bradenton, Florida, finished the tournament in second and third, respectively, shooting 73-70=143 (-1) and 75-69=144(E). 

In the Girls 15-18 division, August Kim of St. Augustine, Florida, who is committed to play at Purdue, shot a 73-69=142(-2), taking first place. This marks Kim’s first IMG Junior Golf Tour win. IMG Academy golf program students Silvia Garces of Colombia and Hadas Libman of Israel finished the tournament in second and third, respectively. Garces shot a 74-74=148 (+4) and Libman finished with a 74-76=150 (+6). Libman’s performance moved her into second place for the LPGA Symetra Tour exemption race, leaving only 80 points between her and Yvonne Zheng. Libman is currently the second-ranked female junior in Israel; she was the female champion of the 2011 Israel Amateur Open Golf Championships.

Additionally, IMG Academy Leadbetter golf program Academy student Brett Beazant of England, won the Boys 11-14 division scoring a 71-74=145(+1).  The Bite Tech Most Improved player award went to Jose Luis Montano of Miami, Florida, who shaved twenty strokes of his score between rounds one and two. On Sunday, he posted a 64 and broke the Tour’s single-round scoring record. On the girls’ side, the Bite Tech Most Improved title went to Natalia Perez, who came in twelve shots better than her prior round on Sunday. 

The IMG Junior Golf Tour will be back in action February 18-19 at The Club at Savannah Harbor located in Savannah, Georgia. The Club previously hosted the 2010 Georgia PGA State Open Championship. Registration remains open for both Tour membership and future individual events. Tournaments are open to boys and girls ages 11-18 (11-14 & 15-18 age divisions for both boys and girls). A new lower pricing option ($184, excluding meals, practice round) is available this season for members.

About the IMG Junior Golf Tour 

Developed to fill a key niche in junior golf, the IMG Junior Golf Tour provides an elite setting for junior golfers to compete and gain exposure to college golf, professional golf, national junior rankings and athletic excellence. Participants have access to championship-rated courses and are provided with unique resources that enable them to grow and develop not only as an athlete but as an individual. Interactive educational events provide players and their families with an opportunity at each event to meet and receive advice from experts and professionals on topics such as fitness and nutrition, mental performance, media training, and college recruiting. Tour sponsors include Gatorade, Bite Tech and the National Collegiate Scouting Association (NCSA). Find us at: www.imgjuniorgolftour.com and on Facebook.