Around the Green

Collegiate Preview Heads to Cimarron Hills

DALLAS— The LJT Collegiate Preview heads to Cimarron Hills Golf & Country Club for the first time in the tournament’s four-year history.

The tournament features players 14 years and older who are members of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The Collegiate Preview is a 54-hole event that is ranked nationally by Junior Golf Scoreboard, Golfweek and the World Amateur Golf Rankings. The 78-player field is set up like a collegiate event in that competitors play 36 holes on the first day and 18 on the second. This format helps prepare players for the next step in their golf careers.

“This event is modeled after the college format and it is good experience for the kids who are looking to make the leap to play college golf,” said LJT Director of Operations Kellen Kubasak.

Lewisville’s Ryan Grider won last year’s Boys Division at Ridgewood Country Club in Waco for his third win at this event. The current Baylor golfer posted rounds of 74-68-68 to get to even-par 210 overall. He finished three strokes ahead of Jansen Smith and Tucker Allen, both of which would go on to win LJT events later in the season.

Katy’s Elina Sinz won the Girls Division by three strokes over Isha Dhurva. Sinz played the final round in 5-over 75 to finish with an overall score of 233 after 54 holes.

The Collegiate Preview returned to Ridgewood Country Club last year after spending two years at Hurricane Creek Country Club in 2015-16. Cimarron Hills is hosting an LJT event for the first time since the 2011 Match Play event.

“We’re excited to return to Cimarron Hills,” said Kubasak, “The course is a great test for our golfers and the conditions are always top-notch.”

Along with points towards the LJT’s Player of the Year Points List, AJGA Performance Stars are awarded to the top 10 finishers in the Boys Division.

Exemptions into future LJT Invitational Tournaments also are up for grabs with the top-five finishers in the Boys Division earning spots in to the Byron Nelson Junior Championship and the Texas Junior Amateur, while the top-three finishers become exempt in the George Hannon Invitational and the Texas Cup Invitational.

The champion of the Girls Division receives a spot in the George Hannon Invitational and the top five finishers become exempt in the Texas Girls’ Invitational later this year at Sugar Creek Country Club.

For more information on the Collegiate Preview, click here.