FIHS Hodge 12th at World Teen Golf

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor

Posted 12/31/69

PINEHURST, NC - With a scintillating three under par 69 on her second round of championship play, Fleming Island High golfer Cambree Hodge battled the top leaders at the U.S. Kids Golf World Teen …

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FIHS Hodge 12th at World Teen Golf

Fleming Island senior golfer Cambree Hodge, center, was in the mix for a top 10 finish into the third round of the US Kids World Golf Championships in North Carolina but finished 12th overall after three days of golf against the top teens in the world.

Staff photos by Randy Lefko

Posted Thursday, August 10, 2023 12:00 pm

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor

PINEHURST, NC - With a scintillating three under par 69 on her second round of championship play, Fleming Island High golfer Cambree Hodge battled the top leaders at the U.S. Kids Golf World Teen Championship to finish tied for 12th in the prestigious event held July 27-29 in Pinehurst, NC.

Hodge, who started with a somewhat sub-par 76 (4-Over), off a first-hole triple bogie, turned her game around in the second round and powered through with five birdies and just two bogies to knock her score to a three under 69 and position herself for a top 10 finish.

Eventual winner Olivia Hasselbach of Tampa (Carrollwood Day School) and Dagmar Soerensen of Denmark took a two-stroke lead into round two with a 71 and 70 to open the tournament in front of a handful of 73s behind them. Hodge was at 76.

In the second round, Laura Sofia Espinosa Gonzalez of Colombia torched the course with a 68, but Hodge was on her tail with her 69 to move up in the standings quickly.

Espinosa's round put her in the lead after two rounds with plenty of golfers lingering around for a shot to move up.

It was the third round that separated the leaders with four golfers punching in under 70; Hasselbach 68, Lavanya Gupta of India 68, and 69s from Ava Bunder of Indiana and Natalie Blonien of Oklahoma.

Hodge opened with a birdie for some optimism and hit for five pars to stay in the mix, but birdies at six, 11 and a nine on the par five 13 finished her with a 73 on the day and her 12th place finish.

Hasselbach and Gupta both crushed the course with 68 with Hasselbach winning by a stroke over Gonzalez's 211-212. Gupta finished at 213.

Also playing were Addy Vogt of St. Johns Country Day School who finished at 25th with a 224 total (77, 75, 72), Kalia Polete of Fleming Island also who was 63rd with a 239 total (82, 76, 81) and Chloe Blanc of Fleming Island who was 95th at 253 (89, 86, 78).