Around the Green

George Hannon Junior Invitational Set for Aug. 8-9 

AUSTIN — The George Hannon Junior Invitational returns to the University of Texas Golf Club on Aug. 8-9 with Texas Mutual Insurance Company returning as the presenting sponsor. This 36-hole event, which features some of the best junior boy and girl golfers in Texas ages 12-18, sets up to be a great finish to another stellar LJT summer schedule. 

“Having a partnership with Texas Mutual is such a blessing to the Hannon Cup Association,” Hannon Cup Association Managing Director Randi Long said. “When we set out to have a junior tournament, the goal was to host one of the best ones in Texas.  Along with Texas Mutual and the Legends Junior Tour, I believe we have accomplished that goal.”   

Texas Mutual Insurance Company is one of the state’s leading workers’ compensation providers. Texas Mutual Vice President of Marketing and Customer Engagement Jeremiah Bentley said the company is proud to be associated with this year’s championship.  

“We’re happy to have the opportunity again to contribute to the organization’s mission,” Bentley said. “As a leader in the workers’ compensation industry, Texas Mutual is always seeking to partner with other leading organizations. This tournament is a high-quality event that provides value to sponsors and exposure to a first-class audience.” 

George Hannon was born in Kemp, Texas, and had a 59-year PGA career, including an 18-year term as the University of Texas Men’s Golf coach. Hannon’s career at UT included NCAA titles in 1971 and 1972, as well as 12 Southwest Conference Championships. Hannon coached legends such as Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Mark Brooks, Phil Blackmar, Brandel Chamblee, Warren Chancellor, Rik Massengale, and Paul Thomas. He was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 1991 and was the Golf Coaches Associations’ 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.   

The Legends Junior Tour has conducted the George Hannon Junior Invitational since the Hannon Cup Association created the event in 2009. It brings together the top 96 boys and girls in and around the state with players competing in a Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18, and Boys 14 & Under Division. 

 The field will take on UT Golf Club’s par-71 layout. Since it opened for play in 2003, the demanding Bechtol-Russel design has always had a championship pedigree. The Austin-based club is the home of the University of Texas Men’s and Women’s golf teams, including the 2012 and 2022 NCAA Men’s Golf National Champions. It’s played host to NCAA Regional Championships, the Betsy Rawls Invitational as well as TGA Major Championships, including the 99th Women’s Texas Amateur. 

Over the years, the club has welcomed some of the highest profile players in the game of golf. These include three-time major champion Jordan Spieth, PGA Tour winners Dylan Frittelli, Cody Gribble, and Jhonattan Vegas, reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Scottie Scheffler, and 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion Sophia Schubert. 

This is the seventh time in the tournament’s 13-year history for UT Golf Club to host the George Hannon Junior Invitational. It’s a challenging test of golf complemented by scenic Texas Hill Country views and always delivers a great championship. Other host clubs of this event include Austin Country Club, Spanish Oaks Golf Club and The Hills Country Club. 

“It’s always exciting to cap off a great summer with a trip to Austin for the George Hannon Junior Invitational,” LJT Tournament Manager Adam Schulte said. “It’s a great event year after year and we can’t thank the Hannon Cup Association, Texas Mutual Insurance and UT Golf Club enough for making it all possible.” 

 At the 2021 George Hannon Junior Invitational, Austin’s own Sam Dossey picked up his first win of the season with the Legends Junior Tour and the second of his career after going 70-69 and winning the Boys 15-18 division by one stroke. Dossey was the only player in the division to go bogey free for both rounds and picked up his three birdies on the par-4 first, the par-4 seventh and the par-5 14th. The Austin-native picked up the win at his home course.  

Emma Von Hoffmann was tied with Sophie Biediger following 36 holes at 3-under 139 overall. The two went to a sudden-death playoff starting on the first hole and proceeded to match each other for six holes, before Von Hoffmann made par on the par-4 seventh to win the Girls 12-18 title. 

Reese Roberts completed the wire-to-wire victory in the Boys 14 & Under Division with rounds of 71-74 to get to 3-over 145 overall. After starting the day on No. 10, he was tied going into the par-3 eighth but made a birdie on the 160-yard hole and took a one-stroke lead. He finished with a par on the par-5 ninth and picked up his second victory with the LJT in 2021.  

 The George Hannon Junior Invitational is held in the Austin area annually and features one of the top-ranked fields on the LJT Schedule. Past champions of this event include Max Miller, Joe and Julia Beck, Scottie and Callie Scheffler, Brendan Redfern, Cole Hammer, Thomas Critch, Levi Valadez, Alexandra Rossi, Chandler Phillips, Hailee Cooper, and Stephen Campbell Jr. 

 The George Hannon Junior Invitational is ranked by Golfweek and Junior Golf Scoreboard with the top half of each division earning points towards the LJT Player of the Year Standings. The top finishers of the Boys 15-18 and Girls 12-18 Divisions will also earn AJGA Performance Stars.   

 Players in the George Hannon Junior Invitational are members of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance which is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association and the Southern and Northern Texas PGA Sections. The alliance provides junior golfers with top tier competition across the state and a path to gain experience and grow throughout their junior golfing careers. 

 For more information about the George Hannon Junior Invitational, click here. To learn more about the Hannon Cup Association, click here.