Around the Green

Palmilla Beach Set to Host Second Annual James A. Ragan Memorial

DALLAS – The James A. Ragan Memorial returns to Palmilla Beach Golf Club in Port Aransas, Texas, on Feb. 15-16. This is the second tournament on the LJT’s 2016 schedule and the second year the Legends Junior Tour has conducted the James A. Ragan Memorial.

James Ragan started playing on the Legends Junior Tour in 2008 and recorded three top-25 finishes. While making friends on tour, the Corpus Christi native won the 2010 Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic and earned his way in to the prestigious Jackie Burke Cup. The same year, he was presented with the LJT’s first Sportsmanship Award and a year later the award was named after him.

Ragan was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer called osteosarcoma when he was 13 years old and in 2007 he founded the Triumph Over Kid Cancer Foundation, which has raised more than $1.5 million for cancer research. James played in more than 20 events on the LJT, but his friendships and positive attitude are what inspired this honor.

“When we were approached by the Ragan family to host an LJT event in James’ honor, it was a no-brainer,” said Kellen Kubasak, Director of Operations for the LJT. “He impacted so many players and family’s lives while playing on the Legends Junior Tour. We felt that this was a great way to continue his legacy through our tour.”

Last year Walker Lee of Houston won the Boys 15-18 Division with a birdie on the first playoff hole. Lee was tied with Kade Miller of Lorena and Tommy Boone of Richardson at 3-over 145 after 36 holes. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Dallas’ Turner Hosch, who won the Boys 14 & Under Player of the Year Award in 2015, captured his first victory of 2015 with a one-stroke win over Austin’s Trey Bosco. Allen’s Ellie Szeryk won the Girls 12-18 Division with an overall score of 4-over 145. Szeryk won by five strokes over Dallas’ Hailey Jones, who won the Girls 12-18 Division Player of the Year Award in 2015.

The first round of the James A. Ragan Memorial tees off at 8:00 a.m. on Feb. 14. The second round follows on Feb. 15. Players will compete in three age divisions: Boys 15-18, Boys 14 & Under, and Girls 12-18, in a stroke-play competition. Practice rounds for the competition can be scheduled with the club for Saturday, Feb. 13. The tournament will be Golfweek and Junior Golf Scoreboard ranked. Players will also have a chance to earn AJGA Performance Stars in the Boys 15-18 Division and the Girls 12-18 Division.

Palmilla Beach Golf Club has been named one of the top 10 courses you can play in Texas by Golfweek Magazine in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Dallas Morning News ranked it in the top three of Texas for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. Palmilla Beach maneuvers through sweeping untamed native dunes and offers spectacular views of both the Gulf of Mexico and Corpus Christi Bay. Reminiscent of the coastal links in Scotland, the Arnold Palmer designed course features rolling fairways lined with native grasses and imposing greens.

About the Legends Junior Tour

The Legends Junior Tour is part of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance, a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The Tour operates as part of the Texas Golf Association and its Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. Since its inception in 2005, the Tour has provided over $250,000 to promote junior golf initiatives and exposure to the game to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity across the state.