Around the Green

Legends Junior Tour's 2016 Season Kicks Off with the Eighth Winter Classic

DALLAS, TX – Thomas Critch and Ben Dunne, both of Cedar Park, are leading the eighth annual Winter Classic after carding even-par 72’s. Austin’s Thomas Bockholt III leads the Boys 14 & Under division by three shots at the Legends Junior Tour’s first event of the 2016 season. Lubbock’s Haley Vargas and Allen’s Amber Park lead the Girls 12-18 division after carding 1-over 73’s.

With temperatures below freezing for all players’ starting times, Dallas Athletic Club’s Blue Course held its own against some of the best players in the state. As the day progressed, the sun came out and even though temperatures got warmer, the scores never got lower.

Dunne, playing in the fourth group of the day off the 10^th tee, bogeyed the opening par-5. After that he birdied holes 13 and 15 and then carded one lone bogey on his back nine. Critch played in the second to last group off the par-5 10^th hole. He went out in 1-under 35 on his front nine and then turned and carded three birdies against four bogeys for his even-par 72.

Plano’s Parker Coody and Houston’s Shuai Ming Wong sit one back of Dunne and Critch heading into Sunday’s final round. Coody’s brother Pierceson, the 2015 Boys 15-18 Player of the Year, Sean Wilcox and Tucker Allen sit in a tie for fifth place, two shots back of the leaders.

In the Boys 14 & Under division, Bockholt carded a 2-over –par 74 in the opening round. He eagled the second hole, hitting a 4-iron and watched it roll into the cup. He also birdied the 16^th hole en route to his three-shot lead. Plano’s Rohan Aerrabolu and Matthew Watkins of Heath sit in a tie for third place after carding 5-over par 77’s.

In the Girls 12-18 division, Lubbock’s Vargas double-bogeyed her opening hole, but fought back with four birdies against three bogeys the rest of her round for her 1-over-par 73. Park, playing in the group in front of Vargas, was 2-under after her opening nine, but struggled down the stretch with a bogey, followed by a double bogey on holes 14 and 15.

The 2015 Girls Player of the Year, Hailey Jones carded a 2-over 74 on her home course and sits one shot back of the leaders. Jennie Park and Chandler Rosholt also carded 74’s in their opening round and sit tied for third with Jones.

Final round tee times for the eighth annual Winter Classic are scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM off the first and 10^th tees Sunday.