Ponte Vedra golfer wins Florida State Golf Association junior title

Easton Oliva is swooping into college golf with some fresh Sunshine State hardware.

Shooting a composed final-round 2-under 70 to finish at 11 under for 54 holes, the University of North Florida signee captured first place in the 72nd Florida State Golf Association Boys’ Junior Championship at Cabot Citrus Farms Karoo and Roost Courses in Brooksville.

Oliva, a recent Ponte Vedra High School graduate, adds his name to a distinguished list of Jacksonville-area golfers — including two-time PGA Tour winner Len Mattiace — to win the event at its various age levels.

Clearwater’s Noah Peens took second, a shot behind at 10 under, with Ryan Nana Tanke of Palm Beach Gardens at 9 under.

Oliva, who carried a one-stroke lead into the July 2 final round, had a couple of hiccups with bogeys at the par-4 No. 4, the par-5 No. 13 and the par-4 No. 16 on the Karoo Course, but each time bounced back with birdies on the following hole.

The FSGA Boys’ Junior title is the latest success for Oliva, whose victories also include the Florida Junior Tour Harbor Hills Open in December at Lady Lake. He helped Ponte Vedra to a Florida High School Athletic Association Class 2A championship in 2023.

Fleming Island High School graduate and Palm Beach Atlantic University signee Ryan Houck closely pursued Oliva until the end, when a double bogey-par-bogey finish dropped him to 7 under and a tie for fourth that also included Tocoi Creek High School rising junior Ambrose Kinnare.

Other high finishers from around Northeast Florida were Ponte Vedra graduate Cooper Franklin and Creekside High School rising junior Charlie Hipp, tied for ninth at 6 under. Ponte Vedra graduate Joey Hage and Tocoi Creek rising junior Kaden James were among a half-dozen golfers tied for 19th at 2 undre.

In the age 13-15 category, Michael Shane Frasure of Montverde Academy placed highest at 2 under.

All-time Jacksonville-area winners at Florida Boys’ Junior Championship

1976: Billy Tuten, Palatka, 12-14.

1980: Rob Burns, Orange Park, 12-14.

1982: Len Mattiace, Ponte Vedra, 12-14.

1983: Eric Brito, Neptune Beach, 12-14.

1985: Chris Chuck, Jacksonville, 12-14.

1990: Josh McCumber, Middleburg, 12-14.

2006: Blayne Barber, Lake City, 16-18

2006: Tyler McCumber, Ponte Vedra, 13-15

2008: Blayne Barber, Lake City, 16-18

2013: Jacob Kline, St. Augustine, 16-18

2023: Colton Swartz, Fleming Island, 16-18

2026: Easton Oliva, Ponte Vedra, 16-18

Boys Junior Championship

Brooksville

At Cabot Citrus Farms, Karoo and Roost Courses

Yardage: 7,249, par 72 (Karoo); 6,983, par 72 (Roost)

K-Karoo Course, R-Roost Course

Final round

Easton Oliva, Ponte Vedra;68R-67K-70K–205

Noah Peens, Clearwater;67K-69R-70K–206

Ryan Nana Tanke, Palm Beach Gardens;71R-67K-69K–207

Ambrose Kinnare, St. Augustine;70R-69K-70K–209

Matthew Stigliano, Palm Beach Gardens;67K-70R-72K–209

Kenny Klein, Palm Beach Gardens;72R-65K-72K–209

William Cui, Jupiter;68K-70R-71K–209

Ryan Houck, Fleming Island;67K-69R-73K–209

Charlie Hipp, St. Johns;71K-72R-67K–210

Wylie Inman, North Palm Beach;71R-71K-68K–210

Cooper Franklin, Ponte Vedra;71R-69K-70K–210

Hugo Stenstrom, Miami;68R-71K-71K–210

Darren Zhou, Bradenton;68K-70R-72K–210

Tyler Creavy, Orlando;73K-69R-69K–211

Jack Cook, Inlet Beach;70K;71R;70K–211

Gatlin Albright, Stuart;69R;71K;71K–211

Spencer Ives, Naples;68K-72R-71K–211

Nathan Erickson, Orlando;72K-67R-74K–213

Michael Shane Frasure, Clermont;70K-73R-71K–214

Jeremy Hsu, Port St. Lucie;69R-74K-71K–214

Liam Fernandez, Land O’Lakes;73R-72K-69K–214

Joey Hage, Ponte Vedra;71R-70K-73K–214

Finley Foster, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea;65K-74R-75K–214

Kaden James, St. Augustine;68K-72R-74K–214

Donovan Plakyda, Lakewood Ranch;73R-72K-70K–215

Jack Ryan Donovan, Ave Maria;73R-72K-70K–215

Henry Liebwein, Fort Myers;71K-70R-74K–215

Davis Daigle, Tampa;74R-73K-68K–215

Local finishers

Brady Dougan, Jacksonville;71R-72K-74K–217

Jaspreet Kondal, St. Augustine;70K-71R-76K–217

Aubrey Fellows, Jacksonville;68K-71R-79K–218

Jonah Nacional, St. Augustine;75R-69K-75K–219

James Nagle, Ponte Vedra;71R-75K-73K–219

Jake Mason, Ponte Vedra;74K-73R-75K–222

Samuel Ha, St. Augustine;72K-72R-79K–223

Ethan Gossman, Jacksonville;77R-69K-79K–225

Brendan Walrath, Jacksonville;71K-76R-78K–225

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ponte Vedra golfer wins Florida State Golf Association junior title