Around the Green

Field Set for Third Annual James A. Ragan Memorial

DALLAS – The James A. Ragan Memorial field is set for Corpus Christi Country Club on Feb. 19-20. This is the second tournament on the LJT’s 2017 schedule and the first time Corpus Christi CC has hosted this event.

James Ragan was a former Legends Junior Tour Player that was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer when he was 13 years old. Ragan founded the Triumph Over Kids Cancer Foundation, which has raised more than $2 million for cancer research.

James started playing on the Legends Junior Tour in 2008 and recorded three top-25 finishes. 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.

James played in more than 20 events on the LJT, but his friendships and positive attitude are what inspired this honor.

“The Legends Junior Tour is about friendships and growing, along with competitive golf,” said LJT Director of Operations Kellen Kubasak, “James lived his life that way and we’re here to honor him for that.”

After two years at Palmilla Beach Golf Club in Port Aransas, Texas, the James A. Ragan Memorial moved to Corpus Christi Country Club, which was the home course of James. Corpus Christi Country Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. and features 18 holes of championship golf nestled next to Corpus Christi Bay.

Last year, San Antonio’s McClure Meissner won the Boys 15-18 Division by two strokes over Austin’s Michael Anthony Rome. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Kingwood’s Damin Strydom fired rounds of 73-70 to win by one stroke over Reed Foster. Dallas’ Hailey Jones won the Girls 12-18 Division with a birdie on the second playoff hole.

The James A. Ragan Memorial is ranked nationally by Junior Golf Scoreboard and Golfweek. The event’s 84-player field will vie for exemptions into future LJT Invitationals like the Byron Nelson Junior Championship, the Texas State Junior Championship, The Texas Girls’ Invitational and the Texas Cup Invitational as well as compete for AJGA Performance Stars.

The tournament starts on Sunday, Feb. 19 with tee times starting at 8:00 AM. The final round is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 20 with tee times starting at 8:00 AM. The awards ceremony will take place as soon as play is completed on Monday.

For more information about the James A. Ragan Memorial, click here. If you would like to learn more about James’ foundation, Triumph Over Kids Cancer, click here.