Central Florida Championship Returns to Winter Haven in 2025
February 24th- March 2nd, 2025
Country Club of Winter Haven
4200 Country Club Rd S
Winter Haven, FL 33881
Plata Earns First Professional Victory at Florida’s Natural Charity Classic
History has repeated itself at the 2024 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, as a playoff was needed to decide a champion for the second year in a row at the Country Club of Winter Haven. Agathe Laisne had the honor of hoisting the first trophy of the year in 2023 after winning in a playoff, and now Valery Plata is walking away on top of the 2024 Race for the Card standings after outlasting Ana Belac in extra holes.
The former Michigan State Spartan and 2020 Big Ten Player of the Year had a mostly clean scorecard, recording four birdies and a double bogey during Sunday’s final round to post a 2-under 70 and finish at 8-under overall. She also birdied both extra holes against runner-up Belac, who made birdie on the 54th hole to get to 8-under and force the playoff.
Plata knew she had to stay consistent for the last 18 holes to capture her first professional victory, and that thinking certainly paid off at the conclusion of the final round. “Starting the day, I knew I had to play well, like I’ve been playing the last couple of days. I just kind of focusing on my own thing, trying to make good swings and hit good shots,” said Plata. “I played pretty well throughout the day. A couple of mistakes here and there but a couple of bounce-backs as well, so it was kind of an up-and-down round.
“It’s the second playoff in my life ever. I played once before when I was maybe 11 or 12. So it’s been a couple of years. And again, I think I just try to do the same thing. Stayed focused on hitting my shots and my targets and made the best decisions to try to make as few shots as possible.”
THANK YOU TO OUR FOUNDING SPONSORS
Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation
Citrus World, Inc. organized the Florida’s Natural Growers Foundation in 2008. The Mission of the foundation is to support charitable organizations specializing in the field of health, education, and youth in the Central Florida citrus area. The Foundation grants 100% of its contributions back to community organizations. Their support over the past ten years totals over $1.5 Million in grants to charitable organizations.