GJT Players of the Fall Announced
The conclusion of the fall portion of the 2018-2019 Golfweek Junior Tour schedule also wrapped up the race for the Players of the Fall. Each age division's points leader at the end of the season was crowned as the Player of the Fall.
The Player of the Fall in the Boys 16-19 division is Nels Surtani. Nels narrowly missed out on being named Player of the Fall last year, but secured the title this year with 4 top 5 finishes in the fall. He won at The Fort in Indianapolis in October and had a low round of 68 at NCR just a few weeks after that. The Purdue University golf commit ended the season with his lowest two day total with a 144 at Vanderbilt University.
Alejandro Murakami captured the Player of the Fall in the Boys 14-15 division. Alejandro won at Purgatory Golf Club and has two other runner-up finishes this fall. In 10 rounds, he only shot above 75 twice. He had a low round of 69 at the Golf Club of Dubln in October and a low 36 hole total of 147, when he won in a playoff at Purgatory.
Landen Howard ran away with the Boys 13 and Under Player of the Fall award. Landen had an excellent record through the first half of the season, racking up 5 wins and 7 additional top 5 finishes. He fired 14 round in the 70s since the new season began in June. Landen's best win came at Kearney Hill Golf Links. Despite being 2 back entering the final nine holes, he finished with a 72 and a 148 total for the win.
The Player of the Fall race for the Girls 15-19 division ended with a tie for first place. Kirsty Mitchell and Annika Manju were named co-Players of the Fall, a first in GJT history. Kirsty finished the fall strong, with her last 3 tournaments being her 3 best. Kirsty won her first event this fall at Heritage Hill in November. She followed that up the next week by shooting a 72 on Sunday at Westhaven Golf Club to get force a playoff. Annika played in 4 tournaments, never finishing outside of the top 3. She won at the Virtues in July after a Sunday comeback from 2 strokes down with a Sunday 75, her lowest round of the season.
The Player of the Fall in the Girls 14 and Under division was awarded to Ellie McNutt. Ellie played in 3 tournaments this season and won two of them at Dayton Country Club and the Virtues Golf Club. Ellie finished runner-up in the only tournament she didn't win this year.