NFJG Junior Azalea at Palatka Golf Course

This is a BIG day for Alyzabeth.
First time self-caddying for 18 holes at the white tees (5700 yards).
First time in a tournament in the "BIG" girls group - age 13 - 18.
This tournament has from age 13 - 17; Alyzabeth is the youngest at age 11.
So proud of how well she played on Round 1. One birdie, one bogey for #14 strokes over (It's a Par 70 course) and holding 3rd place. It is anyone's game to win tomorrow as the top 7 of 8 total girls are all within 4 - 7 strokes.
My comments (AA's) after Round 1 were: "I think the hardest thing I had to do was push the Clicgear pushcart up and down the hills. Plus my right pinkie toe aches and I did better than I thought; I thought I shot in the nineties".

Round 1, Saturday, March 3rd:

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	OUT
Par	4	4	3	5	5	3	4	4	4	36
Score	4	5	4	6	5	2	5	5	5	41

Hole	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	IN
Par	5	4	3	4	3	4	3	4	4	34
Score	6	6	4	4	4	5	4	5	5	43

Eagle      Birdie      Bogey      Dbl Bogey

From Facebook:
NFJG Junior Azalea: Several firsts this weekend for AA: First time playing 18 Holes from the White Tees, First time self-caddying for herself for 18 Holes from White Tees (no Daddy-Caddie allowed); First time Playing in the "older" and only Girls Group (ages 13 - 18; AA is 11 years old). Youngest girl playing. So proud of her scores, both rounds in the 80's. She wasn't happy with Round 2 so not a big day in her mind. We are so proud of her ability to push through and do her best. She placed 5th which was five (only 5) strokes from first place (36 holes). She can do this, she's moving on up! #NFJG #JuniorAzalea #PalatkaGolf #AlyzabethMorganGolf #GirlsGolf#JuniorGolf

Paired with Beatrice Dietz in Round 2:

A big congratulations goes to our Orlando Golfing Family, Shawn Coultoff (Parents Eric and Lisa, sister Kenzie). Shawn won the Boys 10 - 12 age group. Daddy Eric wrote this on Facebook: Back in the winners’ circle. Shawn took 6 weeks off from tournament play to enjoy some non-golf activities, and to work with PGA Tour winner/coach Chris Couch on some important swing changes. Also competed for the first time with his new Cobra F8 clubs. The hiatus and the hard work paid off in his first event back. Won The Junior Azalea tournament this weekend, as well as posting the lowest score for all age groups overall.

From Jack's Newsletter:
The Palatka “Junior Azalea”. The start of another great traditional golf tournament and the start of the “Donald Ross Swing” (Palatka Golf Club, Mark Bostic Golf Club, Hyde Park, San Jose and Timuquana). Now for the Azalea, three Azalea Tournaments will run in succession. First the NFJG TOUR’s “Junior Azalea”, then a week later the Palatka “Senior Azalea” and finally ending with the Palatka “Azalea”. Did you know, the “Azalea” is one of the top amateur golf tournaments around? It is and with the great condition of the Palatka Golf Course, it will become even BIGGER!

Round one would create some pretty interesting and entertaining golf. This elevated Donald Ross golf course certainly challenges every level of golfer. Keep your cool, manage your game and know that there is going to be a trade-off somewhere along the way between birdie and bogey. It’s just the way Donald Ross wanted and the way it is. He wanted you to earn it the old fashion way, through hard work, thorough thought and understanding of the way golf is played on this type of golf course. If you putted from off the green or worked on your bump and run with a 7 or 8 iron then you probably saved yourself a few strokes. If you tried flopping it all day, you no doubt lost a few. Simply put you have to modify how you would normally play your tactics to attack this style of golf course. Adjusting to conditions is just part of the game.

The Girls 13-18 would find St. Augustine’s Marissa Cardenas and South Daytona’s Erica Darcy tied for the lead at 80 each with Orange Park’s Alyzabeth Morgan playing in her first Girls 13-18 Division event would be back at 84. Finally in the Boys 10-12 Division Shawn Coultoff would have a single stroke lead over St. Augustine’s Nolan Harper 72-73. Phillip Dunham with bookend birdies on hole #1 and #18 would be four back at 76. 

Round 2: In the Girls Division, it was truly anyone’s to win. Admittedly all in the field would struggle from the start. Young Alyzabeth Morgan with her steady bogey play would catch the leaders at the turn, but the par-5 10th hole, which cost many their tournament would claim another who would hit one across the road out of bounds. When it was all said and done, South Daytona’ Erica Darcy (168) would endure to take a one stroke victory over Marissa Cardenas (169).

Finally, the Boys 10-12 Division had some pretty heavy hitters in the field. This group of players, so close in talent is certainly a joy to watch as they battle each other back and forth from event to event. This week the TOUR would see a new comer from Winter Haven take center stage. Shawn Coultoff would play some pretty steady golf in rounds one and two. One could ask, why would this youngster out shine the likes of Phillip Dunham, Jackson Klauk, Nolan Harper and Gavin Fleming, especially with their recent outstanding play at our previously played tournaments. The answer, knowledge of Donald Ross style golf. This young man plays a Donald Ross golf course similar to that of Palatka Golf Course every day. 72-72 = 144 is pretty stellar. His Dad and caddie made the comment that his son was out for revenge as he just recently played in an FJT event at Palatka which left a sour taste in his mouth. Sounds to me he squared things up. Coultoff’s score of 144 not only won the division by nine strokes, it was also good enough to take the overall championship away from James Clay Tucker by two strokes.