The Jason Floyd Golf Academy Tournament Travel Squad returned from Portugal earlier this month following a demanding and developmental week. With 17 JFGA students travelling to compete across two international events, the trip combined high-level competition, challenging conditions and invaluable learning experiences both on and off the golf course.
This year’s squad faced particularly difficult weather across the entire trip. Strong winds and heavy rain disrupted practice schedules and ultimately impacted both tournaments. While the conditions limited playing time, they also provided one of the most important tests in elite golf: resilience. To the credit of every player involved, the group embraced the challenge and made the most of every opportunity presented.
Portuguese Intercollegiate Open
📍 Penha Longa Resort
📅 February 1–4
The first event of the trip, the Portuguese Intercollegiate Open, was unfortunately cut short due to adverse weather, with only the opening round completed. Despite the shortened format, JFGA players made their presence felt immediately.
Rafa Butnaru delivered a standout performance to claim victory in the U14 Boys category. In extremely testing conditions, he scored 90 (+18), securing the win by two shots. It was a calm and disciplined performance in conditions where controlling ball flight and decision-making mattered just as much as navigating the course itself.
Erik Groth also set the tone early, leading the tournament after the opening six holes — an impressive start that reflected the squad’s eagerness from day one. Harry Riley and Vincent Carbonare both finished tied fourth with rounds of 83 (+11), while five JFGA students placed inside the top 10 of the overall boys’ category, underlining the depth and strength within the academy.
In the U23 Boys category, Vincent Carbonare secured second place with his 83 (+11), closely followed by Nicholas Bradley in third with 84 (+12). Although the tournament was reduced to a single round, it provided valuable competitive exposure in demanding conditions.
Atlantic Youth Trophy
📍 Montado Hotel & Golf Resort
📅 February 5–8
The second event, the Atlantic Youth Trophy, followed a similar pattern, with weather once again interfering changing the tournament location last minute and the second round postponed to day three. In total, only two rounds were completed, but there were several standout performances from the squad.
Ryan Killorn produced one of the performances of the week, finishing sixth overall. After opening with a 75 that included two birdies, he followed it up with a superb 70 (-2) in round two, carding four birdies and recording the second-best score of the entire field that day. He finished at +1 overall, just one shot shy of a tie for fourth — a reflection of both his consistency and ability to capitalise when opportunities arose.
Harry Riley continued his strong form with rounds of 73 and 76 to finish 11th overall at +5. Once again, five JFGA players secured positions inside the top 20 of the overall boys’ category, demonstrating collective progress across the group.
Development Beyond the Scorecard
While the tournaments provided competitive benchmarks, the week offered far more than leaderboard results. With weather occasionally restricting outdoor practice, professional golf coach Sam Atkins and D1 college golfer and university search manager Erik Jansson ensured that downtime was transformed into productive development.
Structured presentations and Q&A sessions gave players valuable insights into topics such as scheduling practice effectively and creating meaningful, purposeful sessions when working independently. Erik also shared first-hand experiences of the U.S. college pathway, offering perspective on what it truly takes to transition into the American collegiate system.
Away from competition, the group maintained structure through organised gym sessions and recovery work, making use of the hotel’s facilities. Sam and Erik also introduced competitive table tennis and pool tournaments, creating focus and healthy competition during free time.
Most importantly, the trip strengthened team cohesion. Challenging conditions can often define a squad, and this group responded with maturity, positivity and professionalism. There was a clear sense of unity throughout the week, with players supporting one another both on the course and off it.
Despite the weather disruptions, the 2026 Tournament Travel Squad trip was a success. It delivered victories, valuable experience and growth. These experiences – learning to adapt, compete and develop in unfortunate circumstances are what ultimately prepare our players for the next stage of their journeys. We are incredibly proud of all 17 students who represented JFGA in Portugal and look forward to seeing how they build on this experience in the months ahead.
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