Local student-athletes show out at Arnold Palmer Invitational Jr.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational Junior tournament was held July 29 to Aug. 1 at Bay Hill Club and Lodge for boys and girls golfers ages 12-19. 

Pavel Tsar, a senior from Palm Beach Gardens, won the boys division crown by four strokes, with a final score of 211 (-5) over 54 holes. Isabella Wu, a sophomore from California, won the girls division title by two strokes. She finished with a total score of 210 (-6). 

A handful of golfers from West Orange and Southwest Orange high schools had good showings at the API Jr. event, including TFA’s individual girls back-to-back state champion, Mi Li — who finished tied for seventh with a score of 221 (+5) — and her teammate Youyang Li — who finished 23rd, 239 (+23). 

On the boys side, the area was also well-represented. Windermere High graduate Carson Baez finished tied for third with a score of 216 (E). While his younger brother and current Windermere senior, Cameron Baez, finished tied for 13th with a score of 222 (+6).

TFA had a pair of players show out on the boys, as well. Junior Mingbo Jiang finished tied for fifth with a score of 217 (+1), while recent graduate Palmer Haynes finished tied for eighth with a three-over, 219.