NFJG Tournament - Palm Valley Par 3 - Winner!

Saturday - Sunday:
Saturday morning arrived and Ford with AA drove off early (6:30 a.m.) for her NFJG Tournament at Palm Valley. 
About the NFJG Tournament: The Second Annual Par-3 Championship presented by Capital Inventory is in our sights and it’s going to a weekend of fun! It’s not often we have pairings with six players in the group, but this is the one event for this type of pairing. Round one pairings were randomly paired, but for round two players will be paired according to round one scores regardless of division.
PGA TOUR Professional RUSSELL KNOX will be in the field on Sunday and he will be paired with our ADULT-JUNIOR Winners of the past two events (Amelia National and Mission Inn)
The course is a 9-hole set up and will be played twice from two sets of tees.
Round: 1 Course: Palm Valley Golf Club
Time: 8:30 AM; Hole: 8
Alyzabeth Morgan  2025, Fleming Island, FL
Kenzie Heba  2021, St Augustine FL
Helena Rios  2023, St Augustine, FL
Ava Cavataio  2023, Vail, CO
Sophie Thomas  2022, Jacksonville, FL
Sofia Rivera  2027, St. Augustine, FL

AA came home, a bit upset as she hit her ball into the water, the same hole twice. This course is played twice, the same nine holes, just from a different tee (Par 54). She finished in 5th with 9+ (over 63).

Round: 2 Time: 8:30 AM, Hole: 1

Alyzabeth Morgan  2025, Fleming Island, FL 63

Russell Knox

Nicholas Farraye  2022, St Augustine, FL 58

Alexander Lymus  2023, Jacksonville, FL 58

Brady Dougan  2028, St. John’s, FL 67

Anthony Rivera  2023, St Augustine, FL 62

Sunday, was a bit warmer, instead of 44 degrees, was 50 degrees, and forecast rain. It did rain on them for a few holes, then cleared with only clouds (it did reach 68 degrees). AA was paired with all boys including the PGA Pro! She was a little nervous thinking of the group of five boys/men and her, we did not find out why she was chosen, but so glad she was. She wore her #RainGirlGolf coat from Ms. Kathy Nyman.

Round 2 Group:

Ford told about Hole 8, round 2, AA drove onto the green but hit the back part, so bounced off the back side, this hole is one of the more difficult holes as have to carry the green to get on the green, could not hit it short due to water and bunker. The back side had a row of low bushes with mulch, and her ball in the bushes, could not be placed anywhere as would be closer to the green. She was told to put ball further away, other side of bushes: no grass on other side, with tree branches overhead. She needed a low shot but not roll off the green, needed to hold the green, and she did that brushing a tree branch and landing just short with a short roll onto the green. She had over 20' so two-putted. The NFJG Pro Mark handled the hole and made sure all was per rules; and he said well done. This was one time where a bogey was a good outcome to the situation. Ford was proud of her!

AA did well in round 2 with even par: a 54 which put her in first place. Winner! A very interesting trophy, a blue pottery with a clock. She also was given the champion ring, a NFJG towel, warm sweatband, a NFJG water travel cup, Titleist golf hat and gift card to a golf shop. Receiving her "goods":

Russell "Roo" chatting with AA:

Winner - Champion!

What was interesting was that NFJG partnered with local PGA golfer Russell Know. From Jack: We were honored to catch our NFJG TOUR AMBASSADOR - PGA TOUR Professional Russell Knox in town and Russell was nice enough to spend some time with us on the course and during our awards presentations. Russell is a graduate of Jacksonville University and is a four time Champion, winning on all of the tours he played on. The Web.com Tour, the PGA TOUR and the European (International) Tour. Russell has over $14 Million in career earnings and is ranked number #7 in greens in regulations on tour. More info: Russell Knox is a Scottish professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He had considerable success from 2014 to 2016 during which time he won the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions and the 2016 Travelers Championship.

Jack's Newsletter/Highlights: In the Girls, the battle was close throughout the division after round one with Jacksonville’s Sophie Thomas and St. Augustine’s Helena Rios tied for the lead at six over par with a score of 60 each. St Augustine’s Sofia Rivera would be one back at 61, followed by St. Augustine’s Kenzie Heba (62).

In round two Fleming Island’s Alyzabeth Morgan would be paired with PGA TOUR Player Russell Knox and you think our young talented players would be somewhat intimidated, but NOT! Especially Morgan who just went on about her business of trying to bring home another title to add to her massive collections of wins. Morgan would bring the “A” game posting six birdies in round two that would offset her six bogeys for her low round of the day at 54 to lead all the girls. Three back after round one, she stripe it all day to claim the championship by three shots over Runner-up Kenzie Heba who posted a four over par round of 58.