Luke Balaskiewicz needed 23 FJT starts to record four top-10s. He's now got five in a row

It took Luke Balaskiewicz five years and 23 starts to post four top-10 finishes in Florida Junior Tour events.

He’s more than doubled that in his last five starts, capped by a victory last week in the boys 16-18 division of the Country Club of Ocala Open.

Balaskiewcz, a Jacksonville resident and a junior at Bolles birdied the 18^th hole to assure a two-shot victory over Anthony Monteleone of Winter Haven at 3-under-par 141. It was his first FJT Tour title and gives him five consecutive finishes of solo fifth or better, and four in a row among the top three.

Balaskiewicz tied for second at Stone Creek, for third at Eagle Harbor and for second at Deerwood. He had a solo fifth last December at Innisbrook, after winning district and regional titles for the Bulldogs.

Monteleone made a late run with a second-round 67 but fell short.

Luke Splane of St. Augustine (150) tied for 12^th.

Lily Wachter wins first FJT event

There was another first-time winner of an FJT tournament by a First Coast resident.

Lily Wachter of St. Augustine, less than a month after winning the 10-11 girls division of the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals at Augusta National, shot a pair of 73s and won the 11-12 division of the FJT Lakes at Boynton Beach by two shots over Iris Lee of Orlando, Lily Parker of North Palm Beach and Claire Young of Windermere.

Wachter, in her first FJT season, has finished sixth or better in four starts.

Dempsey leads area players in Senior Open

Todd Dempsey of Neptune Beach paced four First Coast residents who made the cut last week at the 47^th Florida Senior Open with a tie for 12^th at 1-under-par 215.

David Schuster of Fort Lauderdale shot 66 in the final round at Miromar Lakes Beach and Golf Club to beat former PGA Tour player Skip Kendall and David Hronek of Sarasota by four shots.

Bob Wallace of the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club (219) tied for 18^th; and former Jacksonville University player and two-time PGA Tour winner Donnie Hammond and Clint Avret of Jacksonville Beach (221) tied for 27^th.

St. Johns County Four-Ball rescheduled

The JAGA St. Johns County Four-Ball has been rescheduled for the fall of 2024, with details coming later. ... Registration for the 63rd Jacksonville Amateur at Jacksonville G&CC July 18-20 opens on May 15th at 8 a.m. There will be three categories of eligibility. ... Registration opens for the First Coast Women’s Amateur on May 20. The tournament will be at The Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach July 22-24 in four divisions, 13 and over, two 50 and over flights and 65 and over. Information and registration for all JAGA tournaments can be found at jaxareagolf.org. ... The 8th annual Eagle Invitational benefiting Moore-Myers Children’s Fund will be May 20 at Queen’s Harbour. The registration fee or players is $125, with sponsorships available. For information, visit moore-myers.org.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Luke Balaskiewicz continues hot streak on FJT by winning in Ocala