The beginning of the second half-century of the Jacksonville Area Golf Association Scholarship Trust saw a record number of recipients who will receive financial assistance to 14 colleges and universities and in one case, to further PGA of America certification.
The class of 23 JAGA scholarship recipients was recognized on May 20 at a banquet at the Deerwood Country Club. It’s the largest in the 51-year history of the Scholarship Trust, which has awarded grants of more than $2 million to more than 400 students.
The group’s grade point average is 3.5. They will be attending colleges on the First Coast, but also to Florida State, Ohio State and Georgia Southern.
Juan Raigoza of the Sawgrass Country Club will receive a level 3 PGA assistant professional scholarship. He is working towards his PGA Class A certificate and is active in junior golf development on the staff of Sawgrass director of golf Nate Marozzi.
With club affiliation, high school and college:
In addition, five enhanced scholarship awards were announced:
Applicants for JAGA scholarships must be sons, daughters or grandchildren of a member of a JAGA member club/organization; or an employee of a member club who resides in JAGA’s Northeast Florida region. Applicants are sponsored and screened by JAGA directors.
Those interested in making contributions to the Scholarship Trust can visit jaxareagolf.org/scholarships.
Flagler College juniors Stella Jelinek and Henriette Stranda were selected to the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Division II All-America team and the All-South Region team after leading the Saints to another appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championship match play.
It’s the third All-American honor for Jelinek and the second for Stranda. Jelinek has earned three all-region selections and Stranda two.
Jelinek is ranked No. 4 in the current SCOREBOARD national rankings and was the Peach Belt Conference Golfer of the Year for the third consecutive season. The Leimen, Germany native played in 11 tournaments this season and had seven top-10 finishes and two victories.
Stranda is fifth in the latest national ranking The Kråkstad, Norway native had nine top-10 finishes in 11 tournaments and won twice.
Flagler finished third in the stroke play phase of the National Championship and reached the semifinals before a 3-2 loss to Central Missouri at the Boulder Creek Golf Club’s Desert Hawk Coyote Run course in Nevada.
Graham Nichols of Jacksonville and Mike Smith of Ponte Vedra Beach contended well into the week of the 44th Florida State Golf Association Mid-Amateur.
Nichols won three matches to get to the semifinals, where he lost to Ty Capps of Palm Coast 1-up. Capps fell in the championship match to Kyle Martin of Plant City 3 and 2.
Nichols beat Justin Grant 1-up, Lance Lecombe of Jacksonville 2 and 1 and David Morgan 3 and 2.
Smith beat Ryan Webber 3 and 2 and Jake Marriott 2-up before falling to Capps 3 and 1.
After finishing among the top 10 six times in 10 starts over the last two years, Chloe McGrath of Jacksonville won her first Florida Junior Tour event, posting a 2-over 146 in the FJT Harbor Hills Open (13-15) in Lady Lake. McGrath opened with a 71 and held off Victoria Feng of Windermere by one shot. Sophia Moody of Fleming Island (149) tied for fourth and Lily Chiang of Jacksonville (152) tied for 10th. … Luke Splane of St. Augustine shot even-par 144 at the Black Diamond Ranch Open (16-18) and finished solo fourth, five shots behind Trevor Tringle of Miami. Cooper Franklin of Ponte Vedra Beach (146) tied for seventh. Addy Vogt of Jacksonville (150) finished fifth in the girls division. … Tama Caldabaugh of Ponte Vedra and Lin Culver of Palm Coast shot 2-under 142 to finish solo fifth in the FSGA Women’s Shootout at the Vineyards Country Club in Naples. The two shot 67 in a scramble format in the first round and 75 in a Four-Ball in the second. Kim Benedict of Bonita Springs and Madyson Gold of Tampa won at 10-under 134.
