The IMG Junior Golf Tour was 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.
Held in Florida every December, and open to boys and girls ages 11-18, the the IMG Academy Junior World Florida Challengeis a qualification and invitation only event featuring an international field of over 200 players.News
IMG Junior Golf Tour returns to Sunshine State at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club
Bolivia's Jose Luis Montano wins Boys 15-18 Division; Tampa native Anna Newell takes Girls 15-18 Division
After a stop in the Northeast, the IMG Junior Golf Tour made its way back to Florida to take on the Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club’s South Course in Dade City this past weekend. Bolivia’s Jose Luis Montano stole the show on Saturday, shooting 65 and tying for the second best round in IMG Junior Golf Tour history. The 16-year old Montano finished the weekend with a comfortable 11-stroke advantage (65+74=139 (-5)) to win the Boys 15-18 Division. China’s Jet Wu and Spain’s Ignacio Dopereiro tied for second with totals of 150 (+6).
“I was hitting everything within ten feet and made all the putts,” Montano commented on his performance. “I had never played Jovita before, and the course favored me being a draw player, in addition to the greens rolling so fast.”
Montano came up one stroke shy of tying his own all-time 18-hole Tour scoring record, which he set last season with a 64 (-8) at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla.
Tampa’s own Anna Newell, a junior who is committed to the University of Tennessee, took the Girls 15-18 Division with a solid 74+72=146 (+2). Her final round of 72 included a stretch on the back nine where she made six consecutive birdies, recording eight birdies total. Newell is ranked as the No. 34 girl in the Polo Golf Rankings and No. 29 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Junior Rankings. China’s Symba Xu finished second with total of 149 (+5).
“My ball-striking was solid and I putted really well all weekend,” Newell said of her win. “I love the (course) architecture here and the greens were so nice.”
The event marked the IMG Junior Golf Tour’s first ever visit to Lake Jovita, a course that has held numerous collegiate, amateur and PGA Tour events. The IMG Junior Golf Tour will head to Central Florida for the next two events: Nov. 10-11 at Red Tail Golf Club; and Nov. 23-25 at Grand Cypress Golf Club.
For full results, visit the IMG Junior Golf Tour leaderboard by clicking HERE.
