JAGA Tournaments
The 22nd JAGA Scholarship Trust Classic on Nov. 24th at Deerwood netted $20,000 for JAGA’s 51-year-old scholarship program that provides funding for area college-bound students. Sawgrass CC, which happens to be JAGA’s leading course contributor to the Trust, won both the Gross and Net divisions. For complete scores, click HERE
An added attraction at the JAGA Scholarship Trust event was Ben Kassman, a national long drive competitor who is an assistant pro at the Golf Club of Amelia. Kassman “played” the 10th hole, which goes around Lake Deerwood, by driving the green which was 365 yards away. Foursomes in the scramble event could use his drive.
The 22nd JAGA Scholarship Trust Classic on Nov. 24th at Deerwood netted $20,000 for JAGA’s 51-year-old scholarship program that provides funding for area college-bound students. Sawgrass CC, which happens to be JAGA’s leading course contributor to the Trust, won both the Gross and Net divisions. For complete scores, click HERE
An added attraction at the JAGA Scholarship Trust event was Ben Kassman, a national long drive competitor who is an assistant pro at the Golf Club of Amelia. Kassman “played” the 10th hole, which goes around Lake Deerwood, by driving the green which was 365 yards away. Foursomes in the scramble event could use his drive.
Scholarship Trust Golf Classic chairman Mike Charrie (left) unveils the $20,000 check to JAGA Scholarship Trust chairman John Tancredi (right), along with current JAGA scholars Matthew Stienkamp (middle left) and Sady Campbell (middle right).
Ben Kassman on Deerwood’s 10th tee.
Paxon HS senior William Lyle was among the younger golfers who competed in the JAGA Scholarship Trust Classic
• JAGA’s final tournament of the 2025 season is the popular Family Championship, Dec. 20th at Jax Beach GC. It’s not too late to enter your family team(s). It’s $99 per player / $198 per team….AM and PM shotguns. For details or to enter, click HERE
• The 2026 JAGA tournament season gets underway shortly after the New Year with the 10th JAGA First Coast Amateur presented by the City of Jacksonville at Deerwood CC, Jan. 17-19. It will feature 96 elite amateurs/college golfers from the eastern half of the United States and some from abroad. Defending champion Payne Denman is among them. Since winning the FCA last January, Denman departed the U. of Tennessee where he was assistant men’s golf coach to assume a similar role at the U. of South Florida. For FCA details, click HERE
• The 2026 JAGA tournament season gets underway shortly after the New Year with the 10th JAGA First Coast Amateur presented by the City of Jacksonville at Deerwood CC, Jan. 17-19. It will feature 96 elite amateurs/college golfers from the eastern half of the United States and some from abroad. Defending champion Payne Denman is among them. Since winning the FCA last January, Denman departed the U. of Tennessee where he was assistant men’s golf coach to assume a similar role at the U. of South Florida. For FCA details, click HERE
Inaugural Crown Jewel Invitational at San Jose a big success
San Jose Country Club hosted the inaugural Crown Jewel San Jose Men’s Invitational Nov. 8-9. Former UNF standout and 2019 JAGA Jacksonville Amateur presented by Pinnacle champion Jordan Batchelor was clearly the cream of the crop, bettering the 39-player field by seven shots. His 67-65—132 total was 12-under for the two trips around the 7,043-yard Donald Ross layout. Batchelor carded 10 birdies, two eagles (both in round one) and just two bogies. Nease graduate Andrew Morris was runner-up.
After graduating from UNF with an MBA in Business Administration in 2020, the Jacksonville-area native served as assistant men’s golf coach at his alma mater for one year before being hired by Callaway Golf in 2021. Batchelor currently leads College, Amateur and Developmental Tour Player Development for Callaway.
Former Sandalwood HS golfer J.P. Pearce had the shot of the tournament. He holed a 4-iron second for double-eagle on the 532-yard, par-5 third hole.
San Jose Country Club hosted the inaugural Crown Jewel San Jose Men’s Invitational Nov. 8-9. Former UNF standout and 2019 JAGA Jacksonville Amateur presented by Pinnacle champion Jordan Batchelor was clearly the cream of the crop, bettering the 39-player field by seven shots. His 67-65—132 total was 12-under for the two trips around the 7,043-yard Donald Ross layout. Batchelor carded 10 birdies, two eagles (both in round one) and just two bogies. Nease graduate Andrew Morris was runner-up.
After graduating from UNF with an MBA in Business Administration in 2020, the Jacksonville-area native served as assistant men’s golf coach at his alma mater for one year before being hired by Callaway Golf in 2021. Batchelor currently leads College, Amateur and Developmental Tour Player Development for Callaway.
Former Sandalwood HS golfer J.P. Pearce had the shot of the tournament. He holed a 4-iron second for double-eagle on the 532-yard, par-5 third hole.
Top-10 Finishers:
| 1 – Jordan Batchelor 67-65-132 | T5 – Sam Geise 69-74-143 |
| 2 – Andrew Morris 71-68-139 | T7 – Zach Lee 75-69-144 |
| T3 – Lance Lacombe 72-69-141 | T7 – Matthew Saxton 73-71-144 |
| T3 – Tyler Lamer 68-73-141 | T9 – Garrett Reist 75-71-146 |
| T5 – Cody Carroll 71-72-143 | T9 – Jeff Golden 75-71-146 |
Inaugural champion, Jordan Batchelor
Credit: San Jose CC
JAGA News
• The JAGA Annual Meeting is Dec. 9th at Stillwater G&CC. JAGA’s 2025 Award winners will be honored and its 2026 Officer elections will take place. Players Championship Executive Director, Lee Smith, will be the meeting’s featured guest.
• The 2026 JAGA Schedule of Events will be announced in early January, in conjunction with JAGA’s first meeting of the new year at San Jose CC on the 6th.
• The JAGA Family Championship will have a special guest. World Golf Hall of Fame and PGA of America Hall of Fame member Dennis Walters (along with his faithful companion Gussie) will perform his world-famous trick shot artistry in between the wrap-up of the morning shotgun and start of the afternoon wave (shortly after noon). The public is welcome to attend (free admission). Often referred to as the “most inspiring golfer of all time”, Walters has performed more than 3,500 exhibitions since breaking his back in a golf cart accident in 1974 when he was an aspiring tour professional from New Jersey.
• The JAGA Annual Meeting is Dec. 9th at Stillwater G&CC. JAGA’s 2025 Award winners will be honored and its 2026 Officer elections will take place. Players Championship Executive Director, Lee Smith, will be the meeting’s featured guest.
• The 2026 JAGA Schedule of Events will be announced in early January, in conjunction with JAGA’s first meeting of the new year at San Jose CC on the 6th.
• The JAGA Family Championship will have a special guest. World Golf Hall of Fame and PGA of America Hall of Fame member Dennis Walters (along with his faithful companion Gussie) will perform his world-famous trick shot artistry in between the wrap-up of the morning shotgun and start of the afternoon wave (shortly after noon). The public is welcome to attend (free admission). Often referred to as the “most inspiring golfer of all time”, Walters has performed more than 3,500 exhibitions since breaking his back in a golf cart accident in 1974 when he was an aspiring tour professional from New Jersey.
Dennis Walters and Gussie, flanked by fellow PGA members Mike Cooney (left) and Duke Butler III (right), JAGA’s president.
• The 2026 Celebration of Golf Banquet presented by Circle K will be Wednesday, Feb. 11th at Deerwood CC. The Deane Beman Award will be presented to the MacCurrach Family of Jacksonville, whose members have been industry leaders both locally and nationally in agronomy, golf course construction, and junior golf development. Family members include former Commissioner Beman’s first hire in 1974, the late Allan MacCurrach Jr., his wife Carol MacCurrach Taylor, daughter Jennifer, son Allan III, and grandson Allan IV.
Tables ($1,200/8 seats) and individual tickets ($150) are now on sale at jagagolfbanquet.com. The banquet is hosted by JAGA with the support of the Jacksonville Women’s Golf Association, the Northern Chapter of the North Florida Section PGA, and the North Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association. JAGA’s goal is to fund at least one four-year scholarship ($10,000) for a deserving high school senior through the JAGA Scholarship Trust. Former PLAYERS Championship Redcoat Robert Davis of Deerwood CC chairs the event for the second year in a row.
Tables ($1,200/8 seats) and individual tickets ($150) are now on sale at jagagolfbanquet.com. The banquet is hosted by JAGA with the support of the Jacksonville Women’s Golf Association, the Northern Chapter of the North Florida Section PGA, and the North Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association. JAGA’s goal is to fund at least one four-year scholarship ($10,000) for a deserving high school senior through the JAGA Scholarship Trust. Former PLAYERS Championship Redcoat Robert Davis of Deerwood CC chairs the event for the second year in a row.
The MacCurrachs will be honored with the 2026 Deane Beman Award on Feb. 11th.
Credit: MacCurrach Family
Northern PGA Chapter News
• The Underwood Cup announced its dates, captains and a new venue for the 2026 matches. The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach will host for the first time, Feb. 2-3, with host professional Dean Grunewald and Cup amateur mainstay Steve Carter taking on the captain’s duties. This will be the 35th playing of the Underwood Cup. Underwood Jewelers/Clayton Bromberg have sponsored the event all 35 years. The first 30 matches were played at Timuquana CC. The Cup has rotated in recent years, with San Jose, Deerwood, and now The Plantation, welcoming the Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup-styled competition. The 12-person teams will be announced in January. The Amateurs hold an 18-13-3 advantage over the Professionals.
• The Northern Chapter’s final Pro-Am of 2025 was last month at TPC Sawgrass-Dye’s Valley with Rob Lee and a team from the Westside Golf Center winning by two strokes with 15-under 129. The tournament attracted the year’s best turnout of 30 teams and Ponte Vedra Inn head pro Josh Wolfe took low pro honors with a 68.
Team scores, with pro listed first:
129: Rob Lee (Westside Golf Center), Donny Allison, Jeremy Thole, Judd Nieman.
131: Tyler Gray (Marsh Landing), Brett Aring, Bert Bost, Lee Baggs; Jarrod Barsamian (Ponte Vedra Inn), Clayton Brewer, John Doster, Kylie Turner.
134: Jonathan Trauner (Club Champion), Scott Reinholt, Sam Young, Greg Howard.
135: Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth (San Jose), Mark Taylor, Tim Haug, John Ambrose; Mark Tullo (Deerwood), Peter Canazaro, Nick Gruen, Matt Miller.
Professionals:
68 – Josh Wolfe (Ponte Vedra Inn); 71 – Tyler Gray (Marsh Landing); 73 – Jonathan Trauner (Club Champion), Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth (San Jose), Jeff Hanson (Ponte Vedra Inn), Hayes Farley(San Jose); 74 – Will Rehberg (Deerwood), Jarrod Barsamian (Ponte Vedra Inn); 75 – Bob Wallace(Palencia).
• The Underwood Cup announced its dates, captains and a new venue for the 2026 matches. The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach will host for the first time, Feb. 2-3, with host professional Dean Grunewald and Cup amateur mainstay Steve Carter taking on the captain’s duties. This will be the 35th playing of the Underwood Cup. Underwood Jewelers/Clayton Bromberg have sponsored the event all 35 years. The first 30 matches were played at Timuquana CC. The Cup has rotated in recent years, with San Jose, Deerwood, and now The Plantation, welcoming the Ryder Cup/Presidents Cup-styled competition. The 12-person teams will be announced in January. The Amateurs hold an 18-13-3 advantage over the Professionals.
• The Northern Chapter’s final Pro-Am of 2025 was last month at TPC Sawgrass-Dye’s Valley with Rob Lee and a team from the Westside Golf Center winning by two strokes with 15-under 129. The tournament attracted the year’s best turnout of 30 teams and Ponte Vedra Inn head pro Josh Wolfe took low pro honors with a 68.
Team scores, with pro listed first:
129: Rob Lee (Westside Golf Center), Donny Allison, Jeremy Thole, Judd Nieman.
131: Tyler Gray (Marsh Landing), Brett Aring, Bert Bost, Lee Baggs; Jarrod Barsamian (Ponte Vedra Inn), Clayton Brewer, John Doster, Kylie Turner.
134: Jonathan Trauner (Club Champion), Scott Reinholt, Sam Young, Greg Howard.
135: Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth (San Jose), Mark Taylor, Tim Haug, John Ambrose; Mark Tullo (Deerwood), Peter Canazaro, Nick Gruen, Matt Miller.
Professionals:
68 – Josh Wolfe (Ponte Vedra Inn); 71 – Tyler Gray (Marsh Landing); 73 – Jonathan Trauner (Club Champion), Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth (San Jose), Jeff Hanson (Ponte Vedra Inn), Hayes Farley(San Jose); 74 – Will Rehberg (Deerwood), Jarrod Barsamian (Ponte Vedra Inn); 75 – Bob Wallace(Palencia).
FSGA Tournaments
• TPC Sawgrass staff employee Steve Pitts birdied the final hole to tie James Weick at the end of 36 holes (147/+3) only to bow to a Weick birdie on the first playoff hole in the Winter Series event at Indian Spring CC in Boynton Beach.
Other Tournaments
• The 20th St. Augustine Amateur tees off Dec. 5-7 at St. Johns GC in Elkton. The event has again attracted a diverse field of 84 players, which includes the following: 47 with World Amateur Golf Ranking status….from 20 states, 10 countries….47 colleges….36 high school players….ages 14 to 38 (UNF assistant coach Tyler Gulliksen)….53 teenagers….the five-man Ponte Vedra HS starting lineup….St. Johns County HS champion Charlie Hipp of Creekside and FHSAA Class 3A individual runner-up Jackson Runquist of Fletcher HS.
Net proceeds, generated through sponsorships, will benefit First Tee – North Florida. The goal is to make $25,000 like last year. For information and live scoring, click HERE
2023 St. Augustine Amateur champion Brody Stevenson of Florida Gulf Coast University returns home to St. Augustine to compete again.
Credit: St. Augustine Amateur Championship
Credit: St. Augustine Amateur Championship
• Sawgrass CC drubbed rival TPC Sawgrass 53 ½ to 30 ½ in the Sawgrass Cup. The format was better ball of partners in match play, with the first day’s play at Sawgrass CC and the second across A1A at TPC Sawgrass.
Other News
• The 2025 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry is Dec. 11-14, with the 180 contestants playing two rounds at both Sawgrass CC and TPC Sawgrass-Dye’s Valley. Only five PGA TOUR cards will be awarded. Those who finish 6th through 45th (and ties) earn KFT privileges. Second-stage qualifiers took place Dec. 2-5 at five locations across the U.S. One was held at The Conservatory in Palm Coast. It featured several players with area ties, including 2024 UNF graduate Nick Gabrelcik, who took medalist honors. Click here for complete scores:
• Miles Russell was extended one of 18 invitations to participate in the 2026 Walker Cup practice session. The three-day session will take place Dec. 18-20 at Seminole GC, Jupiter Hills Club and McArthur GC. The final squad will consist of 10 golfers. The 2026 matches will be played at Lahinch GC in Ireland. Russell, who turned 17 last month, has committed to attend Florida State next fall.
• In her second year on the LPGA, Nease HS graduate Auston Kim finished the 2025 season 32nd on the Race to CME Globe, up 31 spots from her rookie season. The 25-year-old former Vanderbilt golfer had five top 10s, including a T2 in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and a T4 and T7 in the last two events. She banked $1.7 million on top of last year’s $589,000.
• The 2025 PGA TOUR Q-School presented by Korn Ferry is Dec. 11-14, with the 180 contestants playing two rounds at both Sawgrass CC and TPC Sawgrass-Dye’s Valley. Only five PGA TOUR cards will be awarded. Those who finish 6th through 45th (and ties) earn KFT privileges. Second-stage qualifiers took place Dec. 2-5 at five locations across the U.S. One was held at The Conservatory in Palm Coast. It featured several players with area ties, including 2024 UNF graduate Nick Gabrelcik, who took medalist honors. Click here for complete scores:
• Miles Russell was extended one of 18 invitations to participate in the 2026 Walker Cup practice session. The three-day session will take place Dec. 18-20 at Seminole GC, Jupiter Hills Club and McArthur GC. The final squad will consist of 10 golfers. The 2026 matches will be played at Lahinch GC in Ireland. Russell, who turned 17 last month, has committed to attend Florida State next fall.
• In her second year on the LPGA, Nease HS graduate Auston Kim finished the 2025 season 32nd on the Race to CME Globe, up 31 spots from her rookie season. The 25-year-old former Vanderbilt golfer had five top 10s, including a T2 in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and a T4 and T7 in the last two events. She banked $1.7 million on top of last year’s $589,000.
Nease HS grad and rising LPGA player Auston Kim
College Golf
The Fall season concluded in early November. The Spring season kicks off in late January.
The Fall season concluded in early November. The Spring season kicks off in late January.
State High School Championships
Girls
- Class 1A – Our area’s lone team participant, Bolles, finished 9th. Qualifying as an individual was Episcopal junior Sahana Chokshi who placed 8th, three off the co-winners’ score of 137.
- Class 2A – Ryan Donaldson of Suwannee/Live Oak won the individual competition by one, with Sophia Moody of Fleming Island placing 6th and Lily Chiang of Stanton T9.
- Class 3A – Beachside junior Sofia Rivera won the individual title by four shots, posting a 5-under-par 137. Rivera, who reportedly has committed to Indiana, joined Sadaly Campbell of Fernandina Beach(2024) as the First Coast’s two most recent state girls’ champions. There have been five dating back to 1968. In the team competition, Ponte Vedra finished T5, Beachside 11th and Nease 15th.
Boys
- Class 1A – With two local teams advancing to the State Championship, Episcopal and Providence were 11th and 12th, respectively. Benjamin captured the team title, with Charlie Woods (son of Tiger) firing a tournament-equaling low of 68 in the second/final round to finish T4 and help propel his team to a three-shot victory.
- Class 2A – In defense of its 2024 Class 2A title, Fleming Island fell one shot short of forcing a playoff with new state champion Bishop Moore Catholic of Orlando. Senior Tyler Mawhinney of Fleming Island, who won the 2023 State 3A individual title, was joint runner-up in Class 2A this year for the second year in a row. Sohan Patel of American Heritage was one better than Mawhinney, despite the latter’s furious finish in which he birdied five of his last six holes. Both Mawhinney and Patel have announced their intentions to play at Vanderbilt – Mawhinney in 2026 and Patel in 2027. Finishing T4 were Ryan Houck of Fleming Island and Turner Hersey of Palatka. Fleming Island coach Bruce Cloudis retiring this season after a highly successful four-year run.
- Class 3A – The Fletcher boys continued their strong post-season play with a school-record second-place finish. The Senators were led by Jackson Runquist, whose two-day two-under 142 score placed him two back of individual champion Hampton Beebe of Palm Beach Gardens Dwyer. Ponte Vedra finished third and Beachside T4. Tocoi Creek was 8th. Playing as individuals, Nease senior Dmytro Kulykfinished third and Jonah Nacional of Beachside fourth.
How the locals fared on the PGA TOUR in 2025
Jacksonville and the beaches area of Northeast Florida are home or a part-time home to many PGA TOUR members who compete on either the PGA TOUR and/or the Korn Ferry Tour. Here is a rundown of their results in 2025.
Tyson Alexander
- Played in 26 KFT events; made 14 cuts; one 2nd; 59th in KFT points.
Ludvig Aberg
- Played in 20 PGA TOUR events; made 16 cuts; 1 win; 21st in FedExCup points
Samuel Anderson
- Played in 26 KFT events; made 15 cuts; 72nd in points.
Derek Bard
- Played in 14 KFT events; made 7 cuts; 144th in KFT points.
Chandler Blanchet
- Played in 22 KFT events; made 19 cuts; 2 wins; 2nd in KFT points to secure PGA TOUR card.
Sebastian Cappelan
- Played in 26 events; made 10 cuts; one 2nd; 49th in KFT points.
Ricky Castillo
- Played in 28 PGA TOUR events; made 16 cuts; 2 top 10s; 102nd in FedExCup points.
Vince Covello
- Played in 13 PGA TOUR events on a medical exemption; made 4 cuts; 213th in FedExCup points.
Adrien Dumont de Chassart
- Played in 21 KFT events; made 16 cuts; 1 win; 7th in KFT points to secure PGA TOUR card.
- Played 4 PGA TOUR events; made 1 cut; 214th in FedExCup points.
Tyler Duncan
- Played in 7 PGA TOUR events; 2 cuts made; 211th in FedExCup points.
- Played in 21 KFT events; made 15 cuts; 2 top 10s; 63rd in KFT points.
Nico Echavarria
- Played in 27 PGA TOUR events; made 19 cuts; one 2nd; 55th in FedExCup points.
Tano Goya
- Played in 14 KFT events; made 5 cuts; 153rd in KFT points.
Austin Greaser
- Played in 22 KFT events; made 14 cuts; 1 top 10; 103rd in KFT points.
Luke Guthrie
- Played in 25 KFT events; made 12 cuts; 1 top 10; 92nd in KFT points.
Lanto Griffin
- Played in 29 PGA TOUR events; made 11 cuts; 2 top 10s; 125th in FedExCup points.
Billy Horschel
- Played in 14 PGA TOUR events; made 9 cuts; 2 top 10s; 116th in FedExCup points. Had mid-season hip surgery.
Philip Knowles
- Played in 17 PGA TOUR events; made 4 cuts; 1 top 25; 187th in FedExCup points.
- Played in 8 FKT events; made 3 cuts; 2 top 10s; 127th in KFT points.
Russell Knox
- Played in 3 PGA TOUR events; made 1 cut; 235th in FedExCup points.
- Played in 21 KFT events; made 11 cuts; one 2nd / 4 top 10s; 36th in KFT points.
Ben Kohles
- Played in 28 PGA TOUR events; 16 cuts made; 1 top 10; 145th in FedExCup points.
Hank Lebioda
- Played in 23 KFT events; made 17 cuts; 1 win / 1 2nd; 6th in KFT points to secure PGA TOUR card.
Tyler McCumber
- Did not play due to medical exemption.
Aaron Rai
- Played in 21 PGA TOUR events; made 17 cuts; 2 top 10s / 10 top 25s; 58th in FedExCup points.
Doc Redman
- Played in 3 PGA TOUR events; made 3 cuts.
- Played in 15 KFT events; 7 cuts made; 2 top 25s; 138th in KFT points
Sam Ryder
- Played in 28 PGA TOUR events; made 19 cuts; 8 top 25s; 123rd in FedExCup points.
Jimmy Stanger
- Played in 3 KFT events; made 1 cut; 227th in KFT points. Had elbow surgery in June.
Julian Suri
- Played in 23 KFT events; made 11 cuts; 1 win / one 2nd; 23rd in KFT points.
Travis Trace
- Played in 14 KFT events; made 6 cuts; 2 top 10s; 94th in KFT points.
Karl Vilips
- Played in 21 PGA TOUR events; made 12 cuts; 1 win; 100th in FedExCup points.
Danny Walker
- Played in 26 PGA TOUR events; made 11 cuts; 2 top 10s; 97th in FedExCup points
Thomas Walsh
- Played in 19 KFT events; made 9 cuts; 5 top 25s; 105th in KFT points.
Joe Weiler
- Played in 26 KFT events; made 12 cuts; 3 top 10s; 57th in KFT points.
Eligibility and status on both the PGA TOUR and Korn Ferry Tour have many layers. The top 100 players on the PGA TOUR at season’s end secure access to all full-field and The PLAYERS Championship in 2026. The top 20 players at the end of the Korn Ferry Tour season are awarded PGA TOUR cards for 2026. Those outside the top 100 (down from 125 last year) and top 20 (down from 30 last year) on these tours have conditional status dependent upon where they stand on their respective lists.
HERE is a link to the eligibility details:
HERE is a link to the eligibility details:
Spotlight – Matt Borocz
Online publication, the Global Golf Post, recently rolled out its “inaugural GGP Futures”, a new initiative designed to identify and celebrate the emerging leaders of the game and the golf industry.” Included in the 43-member Class of 2025 is TPC Sawgrass general manager Matt Borocz. Congratulations, Matt! HERE is the link to Matt’s spotlight:
Online publication, the Global Golf Post, recently rolled out its “inaugural GGP Futures”, a new initiative designed to identify and celebrate the emerging leaders of the game and the golf industry.” Included in the 43-member Class of 2025 is TPC Sawgrass general manager Matt Borocz. Congratulations, Matt! HERE is the link to Matt’s spotlight:
TPC Sawgrass general manager Matt Borocz.
Credit: Global Golf Post
Golden Golf Era of High School Golf – 2000-2025
If you’re a Florida Times-Union subscriber or have access to the paper’s archives, you’ll want to be sure to catch Garry Smits’ feature about the “Golden Golf Era” that appeared in the Sunday, Nov. 23rd “Sports Huddle” section.
Garry Smits, who’s been covering golf for the T-U for approximately 30 years, recaps “The best high school golf champions in the last 25 years.”
High school golf on the First Coast has been among the best this century of any area in the state of Florida. Lots of interesting events, familiar faces and feats to check out. The Times-Union gave the top team nods jointly to the 2008 Bartram Trail and Nease teams for boys and the 2023 Beachside team for girls.
If you’re a Florida Times-Union subscriber or have access to the paper’s archives, you’ll want to be sure to catch Garry Smits’ feature about the “Golden Golf Era” that appeared in the Sunday, Nov. 23rd “Sports Huddle” section.
Garry Smits, who’s been covering golf for the T-U for approximately 30 years, recaps “The best high school golf champions in the last 25 years.”
High school golf on the First Coast has been among the best this century of any area in the state of Florida. Lots of interesting events, familiar faces and feats to check out. The Times-Union gave the top team nods jointly to the 2008 Bartram Trail and Nease teams for boys and the 2023 Beachside team for girls.
Northeast Florida Golf News is written and edited by
JAGA directors Fred Seely (Timuquana CC) and Jeff Adams (TPC Sawgrass).
Photos: Credit “JAGA” unless otherwise noted.
Reporting from Garry Smits’ Florida Times-Union “Golf Notebook” is used in NEWS.
ABOUT JAGA
Established in 1954, JAGA celebrates its 72nd year in 2025. It is a not-for-profit corporation of approximately 40-member golf facilities located in Northeast Florida. JAGA’s mission is to promote golf, community and goodwill through tournaments and related events and activities. It conducts or supports 12 tournaments, including six championship events and six others that feature team formats. JAGA has a charitable arm that manages a scholarship program which currently provides college funding for 62 area students. Since 1974, the program has generated approximately $2 million in financial aid to approximately 400 students.
Anyone interested in receiving JAGA’s monthly “Northeast Florida Golf News” and announcements about JAGA and its tournaments for free via email may do so by clicking here or going to the JAGA homepage (www.jaxareagolf.org) link that reads “Subscribe to JAGA Email”.