Junior golf tours hold high-profile events at Bay Hill, O.C. National

The American Junior Golf Association made a stop in Bay Hill last week, with the annual playing of the Jim Bell Memorial Junior attracting some of the top youth golfers from around the nation — and beyond.

The boys champion was Tyler Wilkes, of Tampa, who completed the three-round tournament with a six-under-par 210.

The top local finisher among the boys field was Jonah Leach, an Olympia High student from Windermere. Leach finished fourth, overall, with a one-over-par 217.

In the girls event, Jiayi Wang, of China, placed first, with a one-under-par 215. Top local finishers from the Central Florida area included Izzy Pellot, of Altamonte Springs (tied fourth at seven-over-par 223); Victoria Hwang, of Orlando (sixth at nine-over-par 225); and Juliana Camargo, of Winter Garden (tied eighth at 12-over-par 228).

Just days after the AJGA event completed, another big-time event rolled through the coverage area — the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour Summer World Championship took place Aug. 4 to 6 at Orange County National in Horizon West.

The event featured a plethora of golfers from Central Florida and beyond, with a few locals highlighting the field. Ariana Carvalho, of Windermere, won the Girls 13-and-Under event, finishing at six-over-par.

In the Boys 14-15 division, Ocoee’s Brian Park won at nine under par, with another Ocoee resident, Alex Song, finishing as runner-up at two under par.