Around the Green

Anderson, Borrero, Routzong Win Flodder Financial Shootout

KATY –Round Rock’s Jack Anderson won wire-to-wire at the fourth annual Flodder Financial Shootout after a final round 1-over 72 to capture his first Legends Junior Tour victory. In the Boys 14 & Under division, Cypress’ Lucas Borrero carded back-to-back 1-over 72’s for his first LJT victory. In the Girls 12-18 division, Richmond’s Valerie Routzong fired a 2-under 69 to overcome a two shot deficit to win her first championship of 2016.

The Golf Club at Cinco Ranch is hosting the Flodder Financial Shootout for the first time. The previous three years, Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club hosted the event. The Boys 15-18 division played the par-71 course at 6,727 yards, while the Girls 12-18 division played 5,744 yards and the Boys 14 & Under division played 6,226 yards.

Anderson, 16, started out his final round with six straight pars, then carded two straight birdies on holes seven and eight before a bogey to close out his front nine. He was in control of the championship throughout the final round, even though he made a bogey and double-bogey on his final two holes. That didn’t derail his first victory on the LJT.

Spring’s Ben McCall, playing in the penultimate group in front of Anderson, carded a final-round even-par 71 to jump up a spot from Monday’s first round. He finished three shots  back of Anderson for second place. Austin’s Holt Miller also shot a final round 71 to finish alone in third place, four back of Anderson. Jake Wittschiebe and Caleb Hicks finished tied for fourth place after final-round 71’s as well.

In the Boys 14 & Under division, Borrero was tied with Garrison Hoyt heading into Tuesday’s final round. Borrero took the lead for good with a birdie on the par-3 sixth hole, his second birdie in as many holes. He had back-to-back tap-in birdies on holes 13 and 14 to increase his lead. He bogeyed his final two holes, but by then, the victory was already wrapped up.

Borrero’s 2-over 144 tournament total was three shots better than Austin’s Evan Vo and Houston’s Hoyt, who finished in a tie for second place. Cole Sherwood finished in fourth place and Dallas Hankamer finished in fifth place.

Routzong, 15, has played in all four Flodder Financial Shootouts, finishing runner up in 2015. She finally secured that victory with a stellar 2-under-par 69 in the final round. She played a perfect round of golf until her final hole, carding birdies on the difficult par-4 first hole, 12^th, 15^th and 17^th holes. She got to the 18^th tee with a four shot lead, smiling. She double-bogeyed the last, but her first Flodder Financial Shootout victory was already secured.

First round leader, Katy’s own Elina Sinz, and Cedar Park’s Caylnne Rosholt finished in a tie for second place, two shots back of Routzong. Kaylee Vesely and Zoe Slaughter finished in a tie for fourth place, three shots behind the champion.

The Legends Junior Tour will again be back in the Houston area for the 90^th Texas State Junior Championship July 25-29 at The Woodlands Country Club. The Club’s Tournament Course and Panther Trail will host 240 golfers across four divisions, all trying to earn their claim as the state’s best.

For more information on the fourth annual Flodder Financial Shootout or the Legends Junior Tour, please visit www.TXGA.org. Final results from the championship can be found by clicking here.