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Tate’s Touchstone, Niceville’s Sharron repeat as Divot Derby champs

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The 2026 Divot Derby was all about resilience for Baylor Touchstone. The Tate rising senior went from a three-shot lead going into the final round of the event to a tie for first with Rocky Bayou Christian rising sophomore Aiden Yang by the start of the back nine.

But Touchstone, who returned to courses in June after sitting out six weeks due to a broken wrist, continued to stay in the fight. Even though he wanted some holes back when the round ended, it was still enough to win the 69th Divot Derby by two strokes and clinch back-to-back titles at the event.

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While the list of event winners includes future major champions like Jerry Pate and Bubba Watson, Milton graduate and former PGA golfer Heath Slocum won back-to-back Divot Derby titles in 1990-91.

“It means a lot, especially after my injury earlier this summer,” Touchstone said. “Not only is my name going to be up there with the greats. Back-to-back, it really means a lot because I did prove to myself that when you get down, you gotta get right back up and you gotta keep persevering, no matter what.”

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See highlights of the 69th Annual Divot Derby final round in Pensacola

Tenley Sharron hits from the fairway during the final round of the 69th Annual Divot Derby at the Marcus Pointe Golf Club in Pensacola on July 15, 2026.

(Gregg Pachkowski/Pensacola News Journal)

After missing time, Touchstone said he finally got his feel back “a couple weeks ago.”

Winning the Divot Derby requires more than just feel. Golfers compete at a different course in each of the three days. What they did in the last round has no bearing on the next one, with a totally different layout awaiting them the following day.

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Touchstone shot a 75 in the first round at Cypress Lakes Golf Club on July 13, tying for first with Yang. He then shot a 70 at Perdido Bay Golf Club on July 14.

Baylor Touchstone putts during the final round of the 69th Annual Divot Derby at the Marcus Pointe Golf Club in Pensacola on July 15, 2026.

The final round was a grind. Touchstone bogeyed three holes on the front, the second putting him into a tie with Yang. He pulled ahead on the 12th hole despite another bogey, as Yang quadrupled bogeyed the hole. Touchstone shot a 77 on the final day.

“I just told myself to shake it off,” Touchstone said. “To keep playing, to keep battling because the fight’s not over.”

Touchstone said he may be playing in one or two more events this summer before the high school season begins August 17. The Aggies are coming off their first district title in school history last fall, and Touchstone was the team’s highest placing golfer, tying for third with a 72.

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“We have an even better squad than last year,” Touchstone said. “We know we can do some serious damage and I’m telling these guys everyday that we have an extreme opportunity and there’s no reason we absolutely shouldn’t live up to it.”

Sharron cruises to repeat girls title

Tenley Sharron putts during the final round of the 69th Annual Divot Derby at the Marcus Pointe Golf Club in Pensacola on July 15, 2026.

Niceville rising juniot Tenley Sharron knew she was in a good spot entering the final round, entering with a nine-shot lead.

Still, she knew she could finish better after shooting a 38 on the front nine, so she decided to stay in the fight, .

Sharron shot a one-under par 35 on the back nine, finishing the day with a 73 to win the event by seven strokes over Gulf Breeze rising senior Michelle Burt.

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“I was just trying to finish the race on the back (nine),” Sharron said. “I was getting tired, I was making bad swings. I was just trying to come back on the back nine with a better attitude knowing it doesn’t really matter and I just have to finish.”

Sharron led after every round, shooting a 71 at Cypress Lakes on July 13 and then a 74 at Perdido Bay on July 14.

Playing in this event is a family tradition. Sharron’s father, played junior golf with Marty Stanovich, who serves as the First Tee Executive Director for Northwest Florida. Her grandfather and uncle also played in the event. But none of them won, so now Sharron has even more bragging rights.

“I think it’s really special to win it once,” Sharron said. “But to go back-to-back is really, really cool and so I’m super happy to get it done this year.

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Sharron will play at the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship at Trump-Doral later this month, then play in a match play event with Emerald Coast Junior Golf Tournament before diving into the high school season.

Last fall, she was District 1-3A runner-up, finished fifth at the Region 1-3A championship and 20th at the 3A state championship.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Tate’s Touchstone, Niceville’s Sharron repeat as Divot Derby champs

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