Charlie Woods, the 16-year-old son of golf icon Tiger Woods, fired a 1-over 72 to lead The Benjamin School to victory at the Region 1-4A Championship at The Park West Palm on Monday.
Woods’ round — capped with a clutch 20-foot birdie on the 18th — helped the Bucs finish four shots clear of defending state champions Oxbridge Academy to claim the regional crown.
The win sends Benjamin through to next week’s Florida’s Class 1A State Championship as regional champions.
It’s the team’s second straight title after last week’s District 13-1A triumph at the Champions Club at Summerfield in Stuart, as Benjamin continue their blistering run of fall form.
Woods’ final stretch summed up the day — raw emotion, resilience, and a flash of brilliance when it mattered most.
Though he appeared frustrated after settling for par on the tough 17th, where gusting winds topping 25 mph made scoring brutal.
“Charlie plays very emotional and he always has,” Benjamin head coach Toby Harbeck told The Palm Beach Post.
“He felt like he didn’t hit the ball very well today, and that’s understandable.
“But still, when you can grind it out and shoot 72 and not have your best stuff, that says a lot about your No. 1.”
Harbeck couldn’t resist a fitting pun on Woods’ game: “He’s got a heart, he’s got a will, and he’s got a drive like no other.”
Benjamin Buccaneers ranked top high school golf team in Florida heading to state championship
Benjamin now head to the state championship as Florida’s top-ranked high school team, according to the FHSAA’s iWanamaker rankings.
The 2025 Florida Class 1A State Championship takes place at Mission Resort + Club in Howey-in-the-Hills from 14-15 November.
Last year, proud father Tiger watched on as his young cub and the Bucs nearly pulled off a miracle comeback for the state title.
This time around, Harbeck wants to see the Bucs seal the deal from the start.
“The comeback was great,” Harbeck said.
“And I told them just a few minutes ago, ‘We’re not waiting for a comeback this year.’ I feel like we’ve got a good chance.”
The regional win adds another highlight reel to what’s already been a standout 2025 season for Charlie.
Earlier this season, he captured his first-ever AJGA title at the Team TaylorMade Invitational in May — a breakthrough moment that showcased how far his game has come.
Charlie then followed it up with a sensational hole-in-one at the iconic 17th at famed TPC Sawgrass during the Junior Players Championship in September.
Woods has also been a constant force for Benjamin throughout the fall, helping the team to multiple tournament victories, including last month’s South Florida PGA Junior Golf West Coast High School Championship at The Club at TwinEagles Talon Course in Naples.
Charlie is currently ranked ninth in the latest AJGA standings – though he remains outside the top 900 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR).
With confidence soaring and momentum on their side, Woods and the Bucs will now look to finish what they started when they chase Class 1A state honours next week.