Around the Green

94th Texas Junior Amateur Returns to Horseshoe Bay

HORSESHOE BAY – The 94th Texas Junior Amateur will be held at Horseshoe Bay Resort’s Apple Rock Golf Course and Ram Rock Golf Course from July 27-29. The Legends Junior Tour returns to Horseshoe Bay for the ninth time in the last 11 years.

“The Legends Junior Tour is excited and honored to return to Horseshoe Bay Resort for the state’s biggest championship,” LJT Tournament Director Kevin Porter said. “The Ram Rock and Apple Rock Golf Courses provide a top-notch test for every division and highlight some of the state’s best terrain.”

Known for its dedicated involvement in junior golf, Horseshoe Bay Resort has embraced the opportunity to host the state’s longest-running junior championship. Director of Golf Operations Anthony Holder says it’s a privilege to be a part of the history associated with the Texas Junior Amateur.

“It’s an honor to be the host for such a prestigious junior golf event,” Holder said. “These kids are the future of our game and we are thankful to be part of that history. It is always so impressive to see the caliber of players this event attracts, and to see them play on our courses makes it even more special. Our mission is to host a venue that is not only fair for the competitors, but more importantly in this time, a safe environment for the kids to enjoy some friendly competition.”

The Boys Divisions will play the demanding Ram Rock Golf Course. The par-71 layout was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and is consistently ranked among the top-50 best courses in Texas. Famously known as the “Challenger,” it features narrow fairways, dramatic elevation changes and difficult approach shots. Since the course opened in 1981, the challenging layout and championship test of golf has hosted several elite events including the Texas State Open, USGA Qualifiers and TGA Major Championships.

The Girls Division as well as the Boys and Girls 14 & Under Divisions will compete on the newly renovated Apple Rock Golf Course. Also designed by the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr., Apple Rock is touted as one of the most scenic championship golf courses in the Texas Hill Country. In 2019, the par-72 layout was reopened following a renovation that included the installation of 007 Bentgrass greens, renovating and scaling down bunkers, improving the irrigation system and adding stone retaining walls along penalty areas. From its breathtaking views to beautiful holes along the shore of Lake LBJ, Apple Rock will be a great test of golf and worthy of crowning three distinguished champions.

The Texas Junior Amateur has been one of the strongest fields in recent years and produced some great champions. Last year’s winner, Zach Heffernan of Fair Oaks Ranch was one shot off the lead when he began his final round at The Clubs of Kingwood’s Forest Course. He started off with birdies on three of his opening five holes. Heffernan carried the momentum throughout his round and carded a bogey-free closing nine including a birdie on the par-4 18th to secure the title by one stroke. The 2021 Baylor University commit finished at 8-under for the tournament and will look to defend his title this year at Horseshoe Bay.

In the Girls Division, Austin’s Nicole Vivier carded a final round 1-under-par 71 to claim a five-shot victory at The Clubs of Kingwood’s Island Course. It was the only round under-par in the Girls Division of the entire week. The Southern Methodist University freshman’s name will live forever on the Dorothy Franey-Langkop Trophy. Vivier wrapped up her junior golf career this spring and will begin playing collegiately in August.

Ben Delarosa of Dallas won the Boys 14 & Under Division and will look to win the Boys 15-18 Division this year, while Sydney Givens of Austin won the Girls 14 & Under Division and will also look to win another Texas Junior Amateur title at Horseshoe Bay Resort.

Other past champions of the Texas Junior Amateur include Ben Crenshaw, Jordan Spieth, Jeff Maggert, Scott Verplank, Omar Uresti, Angela Stanford, Hunter Haas, Jacob Sosa, Sadie Englemann, Stratton Nolen, Kelsey Vines, Alex Moon, Heather Haas, Lindsey McCurdy, Morris Williams Jr. and Nancy Hager.

For the Boys Division, the Texas Junior Amateur is open to all residents of Texas with players earning an exemption through the Texas Junior Golf Alliance or by competing in one of 11 qualifiers for the championship. Qualifiers are spread throughout the state and feature 18 holes of stroke play competition to get into the championship.

Players in the Girls Division as well as the Boys and Girls 14 & Under Divisions are entered based on the LJT Priority Entry System, which awards players that have played well in LJT events as well as Texas Junior Golf Alliance events. The Alliance is made up of the Northern and Southern Texas PGAs along with the Houston Golf Association.

The Boys and Girls Divisions are 54 holes of stroke play competition while the Boys and Girls 14 & Under Divisions are 36 holes of stroke play. All four events are ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard and Golfweek, while the Boys and Girls Divisions also awards World Amateur Golf Ranking points. American Junior Golf Association Performance Stars are handed out to the top finishers of each division as well as double LJT Player of the Year Points.

For more information on the 94th Texas Junior Amateur at Horseshoe Bay Resort, click here.