Around the Green

LJT Spring Preview Moves to The Wilderness GC

LAKE JACKSON – The Legends Junior Tour’s Spring Preview heads to The Wilderness Golf Club on March 14-15 for the first time in the tournament’s 15-year history.

“We’re more than excited to bring the Spring Preview to Lake Jackson for the first time,” LJT Tournament Coordinator Adam Schulte said. “The Wilderness Golf Club’s commitment to junior golf and top-notch golf course make it a perfect fit for this event.”

The Wilderness GC opened in 2003 and was designed by Jeff Brauer. The 18-hole championship course is nestled in the wetlands just 10 miles north of the Texas Gulf Coast. Brauer framed the greens with dramatic bunkers and elevated faces. Players will not find a house or condo on the naturally beautiful golf course.

“The Wilderness Golf Club takes personal pride in its mission to help grow the game and share our love of golf with aspiring junior golfers from all over the state,” The Wilderness GC General Manager Doug Borow said.

The tournament has previously been held at Quail Valley Golf Course (2019), BlackHorse Golf Club (2014-18), Woodforest Golf Club (2011-13), The Golf Club at Twin Creeks (2009) and Cimarron Hills Country Club (2005-06).

The highest ranked junior boy in the field is Lake Jackson’s own Jacob Borow. The 2020 University of Houston commit’s father, Doug Borow, is The Wilderness GC general manager. Borow, who finished tied-fourth at last year’s Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship and runner-up at the 2018 Texas Junior Amateur, seeks his first LJT title. Andrew Spualding of Spring, Jacob Salazar of League City and Connor Adams of Dallas also feature the Boys 15-18 Division.

In the Girls 12-18 Division, Lauren Nguyen of Katy will look to win her first LJT title of the 2020 season. The 2021 high school graduate was the 2019 LJT Girls Player of the Year. Zoe Slaughter of Houston will also look to find the winner’s circle for the first time this season. The 2020 University of Houston commit’s last LJT victory was the 2017 Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship. 

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, the current leader in the Player of the Year Standings, Trenton Mierl of Austin, looks to win for a second time this season, while Bowen Ballis of Shenandoah defends his 2019 title.

At last year’s Spring Preview, McKinney’s Reed Foster won the Boys 15-18 Division after carding back-to-back 2-under 69s. It was Foster’s first LJT victory. In the Girls 12-18 Division, Sky Sudberry of The Woodlands clinched the title on the fifth sudden-death playoff hole, while Ballis claimed the Boys 14 & Under Division with consecutive rounds of even-par 71.

Past champions of this event include Will Zalatoris, Maddie Szeryk, Stratton Nolen, Brad Dalke, Nathan Weant, Brendan Redfern, Travis Vick, Julia Beck, Cole Hammer, Hailee Cooper, Kyle Hogan, Turner Hosch and Hanna Alberto.

The Spring Preview will be ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard and Golfweek. AJGA Performance Stars will be awarded to top finishers in both the Boys 15-18 Division and the Girls 12-18 Division. All three divisions will hand out exemptions into future LJT Invitationals.

To see full field of participants for the Spring Preview, click here. For more information on the Spring Preview at The Wilderness Golf Club, click here.