Around the Green

Tan Shoots 65 and Leads Alliance Invitational

GLADEWATER – Andrew Tan fires a 7-under 65 in the opening round of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational and leads the Boys Division. Sophie Biediger and Jiyu Han are tied atop the Girls Division, while Coltrane Mittag leads the Boys 14 & Under Division at Tempest Golf Club.

Austin’s Tan continued his stellar play on the Legends Junior Tour by making eight birdies to one bogey in his first 18 holes. The Louisville commit is coming off a win at the James A. Ragan Memorial and seeking his second of the season as he currently sits third in the Player of the Year standings.

Trailing Tan in the Boys Division is Brooks Simmons of Dallas and Noah McWilliams of Benton, La. at 3-under, while Austin’s Kevin Mu and Sam Dossey are tied for fourth at 2-under. Dossey is the current leader in the Boys 15-18 Division Player of the Year Standings.

Cedar Park’s Han came into the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational as the leader of the Girls 12-18 Division Player of the Year standings and looks for her second win after capturing the Fall Challenge last month. Han made two birdies with no bogeys on Saturday and is tied with Dallas’ Biediger, who made a birdie on the par-4 18^th to get to 2-under. Biediger is also seeking her second win of the season with the LJT.

McKinney’s Jenna Madden joins the leaders in the final group on Sunday after shooting 2-over 74 at Tempest. Fort Worth’s Savannah Barber sits in fourth at 3-over, while Houston’s Cathilyn Lee is in fifth at 5-over.

Mittag holds a two-stroke lead in the Boys 14 & Under Division after the Nebraska native made five birdies, including back-to-back birdies on the par-5 10^th and the par-4 11^th. Mittag looks to win his first LJT event on Sunday with two runner-up finishes already under his belt this year.

Garland’s Aiden Tiet trails Mittag at even-par and they are joined by Brooks Harper of Dallas in the final group on Sunday. Selma’s Shiv Parmar is coming off a win at the James A. Ragan Memorial and is fourth at 2-over, while three players are tied for fifth at 3-over.

Tempest Golf Club is hosting the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational for the first time. Located in Gladewater, which is just outside of Tyler, Tempest Golf Club was opened in 2018 and the par-72 layout is a distinct look with it’s tall pine trees and hilly terrain. Jeffrey Brauer designed the course, which has now hosted USGA Qualifying as well as collegiate events in the short time it’s been open.

The temperatures started in the 40s on Saturday, but crept into the 70s in the afternoon to make for a near-perfect day. The winds remained calm around five miles per hour out of the north.

The Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational is the final event on the Legends Junior Tour schedule for 2021 and the last chance players have to earn points towards the Player of the Year Standings and earn spots on their respective Jackie Burke Cup teams. The Invitational is open to all players that have an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. Players earn exemptions into the field through the Alliance Partners.

The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern Texas PGA and Southern Texas PGA. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. The players transition from regional events like the NTPGA and STPGA into statewide events like the LJT. The elevation of tours allows junior golfers a chance to grow their game, while preparing them for the next level.

The Final Round of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational is scheduled for Sunday at 8:00 am. Tee times will go off the No. 1 & 10 tees in the morning and the champions will be crowned once play has finished that afternoon.

For more information on the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational, click here.