Around the Green

Smith, Jones, Spaulding Win Alamo Shootout at Briggs Ranch

SAN ANTONIO – Jansen Smith of San Angelo, Texas, shot a final-round 3-under 69 to pick up his first Legends Junior Tour victory at the Alamo Shootout at Briggs Ranch Golf Club in San Antonio.

Spring’s Andrew Spaulding captured his first Legends Junior Tour victory as well Tuesday afternoon after outlasting his brother, Matthew, down the stretch with a 3-over 147 tournament total. In the Girls 12-18 division, Dallas’ Hailey Jones captured her
second tournament of the year after a final-round 4-under 68 at Briggs Ranch.

The Legends Junior Tour conducted the Alamo Shootout for the first time since 2011 when it was held at historic Brackenridge Golf Course.  This year’s event was held at Briggs Ranch Golf Club, one of the top private courses in the San Antonio Area. The Tom Fazio designed Briggs Ranch is nestled in the heart of the hill country, winding through the rolling hills some 20 miles from downtown San Antonio.

The players were treated to spectacular view of the city and surrounding areas, while also trying to focus their short game on the difficult, but perfect bent grass green complexes. The softened golf course, mixed with perfect weather conditions – upper 80’s with very little wind – allowed for several low scores throughout the tournament.

Smith, 17, had a bogey-free round in Monday’s opening round, but started with a bogey Tuesday morning on the 442-yard par 4 first hole. He played mistake-free for the next 16 holes, but with five birdies in that 15 hole stretch, he had pulled away from the field. He had one more bogey on the par-3 17^th hole, but that didn’t stop him from winning by three shots.

First-round leader along Smith, Mission’s Jun Min Lee finished in second after an even-par 72 Tuesday afternoon. He had two birdies on the fifth and sixth holes, but could never get anything going after that, carding only one more birdie against three bogeys. Carollton’s Sangmin Park, Granbury’s Tucker Allen, and Corpus Christi’s Billy Teichman finished tied for third place at 5-under-par 139 for the tournament.

In the Boys 14 & Under division, Andrew Spaulding carded a final-round 1-over 73. He was tied for third heading into the day, but managed to outlast his brother and first round leader Patrick Kahanek. All three players had an up-and-down day, but Andrew managed to come out victorious.

Matthew, winner of the James A. Ragan Memorial in February, finished one shot back of his brother, Andrew, at 4-over 148 for the tournament. Braeden Hoyt and Kahanek finished in a tie for third place, two shots back of Andrew.

In the Girls 15-18 division, Jones started out strong, making birdies on three of her opening five holes. She settled down and then carded back-to-back birdies on holes six and seven, her 15^th and 16^th of the day. Her lone bogey came on the par-3 eighth hole, her second to last, but the tournament was all but over at that point.

Cedar Park’s Calynne Rosholt finished in second place, six shots back of Jones. She shot a final-round 2-under 70 to get to 3-over 147 for the tournament. Austin’s Lauren Hinkle finished in third place at 148. Delaney Martin and Melena Barrientos finished tied for fourth place.

The Legends Junior Tour would like to thank Briggs Ranch Golf Club and it’s membership for hosting the Alamo Shootout.

For more information on the Alamo Shootout or the Legends Junior Tour, please visit www.TXGA.org.

For final round results, click here.