Around the Green

Guercio, Pickrell and Jones win the Fall Challenge

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Crosby Guercio posted a 2-under round of 69 to win the Boys 15-18 Division of the Fall Challenge at The Golf Club at Texas A&M. Tomek Pickrell won the Boys 14 & Under Division, while Hailey Jones won the Girls 12-18 Division.

Guercio was the only player under par in his division. A bogey on the second hole put the Frisco-native to even par overall through 20 holes. He made a birdie on the 558-yard sixth hole and then made another bogey on the par-4 ninth to turn at 1-over.

On the 10^th hole of the day, Guercio made an eagle three on the 550-yard par-5. That eagle got him back under par for the tournament and he played the final seven holes at 2-under to win by four strokes.

Austin’s Zachary Slayton finished runner-up in the Boys 15-18 Division after matching Guercio’s 2-under 69 on Sunday and finishing at 1-over 143 overall. Spring’s Andrew Spaulding finished third in the division at 2-over 144, while T. Payne Johnson of Shreveport, Louisiana tied with Lake Jackson’s Jacob Borow and Austin’s Thomas Bockholt III, who was the leader of the Boys 15-18 Division Player of the Year Standings entering the Fall Challenge.

First-round leader Hunter McDonough finished tied for seventh along with Joshua Lim, Matthew Spaulding and Matthew Comegys at 4-over 146 overall.

Cypress’ Pickrell played 1-over in the final round after shooting 2-under 69 on Saturday to finish 1-under overall. Pickrell made nine birdies through 36 holes, including three birdies in his final nine holes. This is the first win for Pickrell on the Legends Junior Tour.

Jack Gilbert of Houston finished second in the Boys 14 & Under Division at 3-over 145, while Driftwood’s Grant Yerger finished third at 4-over 146. Dallas’ Ben Delarosa finished fourth in the division after shooting 5-under 66 in the final round, which was the lowest score of the weekend.

Dallas’ Jones picked up her first win of the season with rounds of 73-74. The three-time reigning Girls 12-18 Division Player of the Year made five birdies through two rounds and won by two strokes. Houston’s Zoe Slaughter tied with Richmond’s Valerie Routzong for runner-up in the division.

Katy’s Lauren Nguyen finished fourth, while Elina Sinz and Tillie Glaggett tied for fifth.

The final round was delayed two hours due to wet conditions on the golf course. The Golf Club at Texas A&M received close to four inches of rain overnight after the first round. This was the first time the Golf Club at Texas A&M was hosting the Fall Challenge. The course was opened in 1950 and renovated recently by Texas A&M alum Jeff Blume. The par-71 layout features an exciting 18 holes along with numerous bunkers and rolling fairways.

This is the final open event on the Legends Junior Tour schedule. The tour heads to Fort Worth for the next event, which is the Texas Cup Invitational on November 3-4.

For more information on the Fall Challenge, click here. To see all the scores from this weekend’s action, click here.