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 members of the Jacksonville Area Golf Association Scholarship Fund Class of 2025 were recognized at a banquet on May 20 at the Deerwood Country Club. 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.2025 JAGA Scholarship recipients With club affiliation, high school and college:
Barton Abstein (St. Johns G&CC) Beachside, Oglethorpe University
Christianna Alexander (Brentwood GC) home schooled, FSCJ
Michael Bernardo (Deerwood CC), Bishop Kenny, University of Tampa
Tyson Brown (Moore-Myers), Riverside, Miles College
Mahalia Campbell (Timuquana CC), A. Philip Randolph, UNF
Sady Campbell (Fernandina Beach GC), home schooled, Southeastern University
Max Davis (Ponte Vedra Inn & Club), Bishop Kenny, Florida State
Gabe Drake (Hyde Park GC), West Nassau, FSCJ
Camron Faucett (Fleming Island CC), Middleburg, Fortis College
Colin Greenlaw (Atlantic Beach CC) Fletcher, Ohio State
Caden Luecke (Sawgrass CC), Joe E. Newsome, UNF
Noah Mayers (TPC Sawgrass), Ponte Vedra, Florida State
Nyla Mayers (TPC Sawgrass), home schooled, Southeastern University
Cole Mitchell (Marsh Landing CC), Ponte Vedra, Florida State
James O’Neal (Hyde Park GC), Wolfson, Florida Atlantic
Anjellina Ortiz (Sawgrass CC), Fletcher, UNF
Nathan Perry (Deerwood CC), Bishop Kenny, Georgia Southern
Juan Raigoza (Sawgrass CC), Assistant Professional Level 3 PGA Program
Evan Raynor (San Jose CC), Bishop Kenny, Jacksonville University
Kalani Smith (Moore-Myers CF), Trinity Christian, Florida State
Aliyah Sta Ana (Palencia Club), Nease, Florida State
Matthew Steinkamp (GC at South Hampton), Bartram Trail, Florida Gulf Coast
Addy Vogt (Timuquana CC), St. Johns Country Day, Rollins College
In addition, five enhanced scholarship awards were announced: Jim and Tabitha Furyk Scholarship Award: Kalani Smith, Tyson Brown. Billy and Brittany Horschel Scholarship Award: Luke Balaskiewicz, Addy Vogt. Kocerha Award: Kalani Smith. Henry Tuten Gator Bowl Pro-Am Award: Evan Raynor, Sady Campbell. Memorial Billy Walker/Billy Drake Community Service Award: Anjellina Ortiz. 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 duo named All-American 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.
Stella Jelinek of Flagler College has earned NCAA Division II All-American recognituions three times. 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 Kr?kstad, 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.First Coast players go deep in Mid-Am 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.Chloe McGrath gets first FJT victory 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. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: JAGA Scholarship Trust awards record 23 grants to First Coast students
