Around the Green

The latest golf-related news, notes, and feature stories from the TGA.

Adams and Sadagopan Tied for Lead at George Hannon Junior Invitational

AUSTIN— Dallas’ Connor Adams and Vishnu Sadagopan of Pearland are tied for the lead at the George Hannon Junior Invitational with rounds of 1-over 72 in the opening round at UT Golf Club. 
 
Adams played consistent golf all day. He had bogeys on the 392-yard par-4 3rdand the 400-yard par-4 6thwhich led him to shoot 2-over on his front nine. He was solid the rest of the way and made a birdie on the 562-yard par-5 14th to shoot 1-under on the back nine to get him back to 1-over for the day.
 
Sadagopan, on the other hand, had a more up-and-down day. After making three consecutive bogeys on holes six through eight he was able to birdie the 580-yard par-5 9thto shoot 2-over on the front side. Sadagopan went on to make three more birdies which were accompanied by two bogeys on the back nine to shoot 1-over-par for the day.
 
The leaderboard is stacked with 12 players within three strokes of the leaders. 
 
Frisco’s Crosby Guercio, Jay Pabin of Lucas, and Richmond’s Stephen Campbell are sitting just one shot behind the leaders at 2-over. 
 
David Harrison of Trophy Club, Austin’s Thomas Bockholt III, and Matthew Spaulding of Spring are all tied for sixth just two strokes back of the leaders at 3-over-par. 
 
UT Golf Club is hosting the George Hannon Junior Invitational for the first time since 2013. The par-71 layout was built in Texas Hill Country and overlooks Lake Austin. The course borders the Balcones Natural Wildlife Preserve and can stretch out to 7,412 yards.
 
In the Boys 14 & Under division, Abilene’s Karson Grigsby leads by five shots after an opening round even-par 71. He started fast by holing out his 60-yard approach shot on the 348-yard par-4 1sthole. Two bogeys on the front nine led him to make the turn at even-par. Grigsby was able to play steady for the remainder of the round and found himself on top of the leaderboard by quite a few.
 
Kaelen Dulany of Keller, Temple’s Daniel Moon, and Tanner Wardlaw of Dripping Springs are all tied for second at 5-over. 
 
In the Girls 12-18 division, Austin’s Jensen Jalufka and Waco’s Eubin Shim sit atop a crowded leaderboard with rounds of 3-over 74 in the first round of the George Hannon Junior. 
 
Jalufka started her round with a rollercoaster of a front nine. She opened with three straight pars but the next six holes would be a mixture of birdies and bogeys allowing her turn at 2-over. Jalufka was then able to steady herself by only allowing one bogey in her last nine holes. 
 
Shim opened her round with six straight pars but ran into trouble making a double-bogey on the 385-yard par-4 7thand a bogey on the par-5 9th. After allowing yet another double-bogey on the par-5 11thShim was able to recollect herself and make back-to-back birdies to give herself a share of the lead. 

Austin’s own Bentley Cotton, Ally Black, and Kaylee Vesely are all sitting at 4-over just one shot back of the leaders.
Temple’s Julia Garcia, Olivia Mitchell of Plano, and Frisco’s Gabbi Bentancourt are all tied for sixth just two shots behind the leaders. 

This tournament is the third major event on the LJT schedule for the Boys Division and the second for the Girls Division. Players will earn double points towards the LJT Player of the Year Points List, which will determine the LJT Player of the Year in 2018 and define the teams for the Jackie Burke Cup in November

The final round of the George Hannon Junior Invitational is scheduled to begin at 7:30 AM off the first tee on Tuesday.
 
For first round results, click here.