GGGA student Niko Voutsaras peaked at the most critical point thus far in his young golf career.
Voutsaras, a student in the Post Graduate Program at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, fired a final round 4-under 68 to win the FCWT Junior at Falcons Fire.
Voutsaras had never shot an under par round or a round in the 60s in a tournament before, and he was all smiles following the final round, having made big strides in his game in just two months at GGGA.
“It was a fun day,” said Voutsaras of Michigan. “It was great having the support of my dad and everyone from the golf academy. We’ve got the best team here, the best guys and coaches here at the (Gary Gilchrist) Golf Academy.”
After opening with a 74 Saturday and trailing fellow GGGA student Adam Friedman by four, Voutsaras was at his best, when the pressure was at its highest. Voutsaras opened with birdies on five of his first seven holes and totaled seven on the round to finish the two-day event at 2-under 142.
Voutsaras, a 2015 graduate, opted to take a gap year after graduating high school to train full time for a year in the Post Graduate Program to prepare for his pursuit of playing college golf. In just two months at GGGA, he is well on his way through his journey and trusting his process.
The Learn, Prepare, Perform training model and holistic philosophy employed by Gary Gilchrist at GGGA promotes cyclical training that accelerates development but also prepares athletes for peaking during competition by separating technical training and pre-competition training phases.
Voutsaras wasn’t the only GGGA student vying for the win at Falcons Fire though. He had to fend off five other GGGA students, who would claim spots in the top five in the Boys 15-19 Division.
Adam Friedman, of Connecticut, took solo second at 1-under 143, followed by Bricker Reed, of Michigan, at even par 144 in third and a three-way tie for fourth by GGGA students Boston Coppins, of Canada, Taiga Fujii, of Japan, and Ryan DeCastilhos, of Oregon, at 2-over 146.
In the Girls 13-19 Division, GGGA student Michelle Lederman, of Bolivia, took second after forcing a playoff with a 2-under 70 in the final round and finished at even par 144.
