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Daniel Candon Jr. is making progress.

Three years ago, Candon finished third in his age group at the International Junior Golf Classic at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. In 2004, he was second. And he was second again last year.

Wednesday, the 17-year-old from Miami Beach took the next step, winning the boys overall title by two shots and earning an exemption into the Junior Orange Bowl Invitational later this year.

“I’ve wanted to play in the Orange Bowl the last three years,” said Candon, who was 6-under for his final round through 11 holes before finishing with a 4-under 68 and 208 total. “I consider this one of my big (victories). Even without the exemption, just with the field. Samuel Chavez and Josh Leppo, and the other top players.”

Defending champion Jaime Zabala of Naples closed strong — although not with a 64 like he did a year ago. He shot a 3-under-par 69 to finish second at 210. Candon couldn’t help but look over his shoulder as Zabala came down the stretch. It was Zabala’s 64 that edged Candon last year.

“I was kind of worried,” said Candon, who was born in Spain and came to the United States when he was 4.

Candon was able to survive bogeys on two of the final three holes and still win by two shots.

Garrett Hubbard / Daily News

Nathan Renouf, 13, prepares to tee off on the first hole during the 22nd Annual International Junior Golf Classic at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club on Wednesday morning. Renouf and his group were finishing their final hole from the previous day’s round after a rain delay and hoped to finish Wednesday’s round before storms caused more delays.

Leppo, who’s from Naples, and Samuel Chavez tied for third overall at 211. Leppo shot a second-round 67, but closed with a 73.

Zabala won the boys 18 division, and Leppo won the 16-17. Eduardo Chavez of Hillsborough, Calif., won the boys 14-15, closing with a pair of 70s for a 216 total, and Felipe Quiroga of Orlando won the boys 11-13 with a 243.

Diana Davis of Pembroke Pines won the girls title easily with a 216, 13 shots ahead of her nearest competitor.

Golfers had two or three holes remaining Wednesday morning to finish their second rounds after rain suspended play.

-- ARENDELL FOURTH AT BOYS JUNIOR: Cape Coral’s Connor Arendell shot a final-round 75 and ended up tied for fourth at the 52nd Boys Junior Championship in Jacksonville on Wednesday. Arendell entered the final round tied for the lead with Blayne Barber of Lake City, who shot a 69 to win by a stroke.

Carl Santos-Ocampo of Naples shot a 72 and tied for 11th at 217. Fort Myers’ Aaron Sherry finished at 224, and Alexander Medinis of Fort Myers was at 227.

- - -

22nd International Junior Golf Classic at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club

Garrett Hubbard / Daily News

International Junior Golf Classic players, left to right, Nathan Renouf, Felipe Quiroga and Geoffrey Stephenson, all 13, tally their scores from the previous day’s round of golf after a rain delay postponed play and forced them to resume early Wednesday morning at the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. Players ages 8-18 competed in the three-round tournament. Quiroga won the boys 11-13 age group, and Daniel Candon Jr., of Miami Beach, won the boys overall title by two shots to earn a spot in the Junior Orange Bowl Invitational.

Boys

Overall — Daniel Candon Jr. 66-74-68/208

18

Jaime Zabala 69-72-69/210, Mike Dignam 71-76-72/219, Rob Thorngate 76-75-71/222, Justin Robinson 74-75-75/224, Tyler Johansson 85-80-75/240

16-17

Josh Leppo 71-67-73/211, Samuel Chavez 65-74-72/211, Robert DeMaio 73-72-72/217, Matt Hebert 72-73-73/218, Loren David 70-76-72/218, Daniel Martin 77-74-74/225, Nick Santora 73-81-77/231, Jack Schroeder 75-79-80/234, Juan Rodriguez 79-73-84/236, Jake Gable 79-81-80/240, Kevin D’Agustino 83-81-76/240, Jesse Geriak 82-81-77/240, Griffin Hanson 80-79-81/240, Greig Ewing 77-84-82/243, Ross Padgett 73-90-84/247, Paul Josephs 82-85-84/251, Ryan Grafton 79-88-87/254, Anthony Ward 87-77-91/255, Joshua Waring 89-91-86/266, Keenan Murphy NC

14-15

Eduardo Chavez 76-70-70/216, Taylor Vogel 67-84-81/232, Matt Green 74-75-75/224, Ryan Moxey 77-76-81/234, Tanner Hoban 86-71-81/238, Grant Burgess 78-77-85/240, Keaton Phillips 76-81-83/240, Paul Polito 81-78-83/242, Eathan Hanson 82-82-78/242, Cameron Taylor 94-72-78/244, Reeves Dignam 87-80-85/252, Niko Pagkanlungan 86-81-85/252, Dax Kelso 88-76-90/254, Drake Kelso 84-84-88/256, Michael Post 101-91-97/289, Wil Smith WD

11-13

Felipe Quiroga 78-83-82/243, Michael Primavera 82-82-84/248, Samuel Murphy 88-85-81/254, Nathan Renouf 87-85-84/256, Geoffrey Stephenson 83-90-85/258, Brad Wollman 105-90-90/285, Jeff Heuerman 103-103-93/299, Dylan Hanson 100-94-108/302

9-10

(9 holes per round)

Christopher DeMartino 45-51-46/142, Trevor Vente 57-53-53/163

8-and-under

(4 holes per round)

Taylor Burke 19-24/43

Girls

Overall — Diana Davis 73-72-71/216

16-17

Lisanne Schmidt 69-79-74/222, Alexandra Schmidt 86-80-81/247

14-15

Jaime Ritter 81-76-72/229, Jackie Fernandez 81-82-75/238, Kelly Kurtyka 90-83-89/262

11-13

Jaye Green 79-77-80/236, Stephanie Carlozzi 99-96-102/297

9-10

(9 holes per round)

Ann Buersmeyer 51-45-43/139, Emily Buersmeyer 58-56-67/181

8-and-under

(4 holes per round)

Shanon Renouf 20-22/42