Around the Green

James A. Ragan Memorial Returns to Corpus Christi Country Club 

ADDISON – The Legends Junior Tour is set to head south for the 9th James A. Ragan Memorial at Corpus Christi Country Club on Oct. 8-9. 

James Ragan was a former Legends Junior Tour Player that was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer when he was 13 years old. Ragan founded the Triumph Over Kids Cancer Foundation, which has raised more than $3 million for cancer research. 

James started playing on the Legends Junior Tour in 2008 and recorded three top-25 finishes. The Corpus Christi native won the 2010 Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic and earned his way into the prestigious Jackie Burke Cup. The same year, he was presented with the LJT’s first Sportsmanship Award and a year later the award was named after him. James passed away in February of 2014.  

Corpus Christi CC hosted this event from 2017-2021 and was the home course of James Ragan. Last year the tournament was hosted at Gabe Lozano GC as Corpus Christi CC was finishing up a renovation.  

In celebration of its centennial anniversary, Corpus Christi Country Club unveiled its newly renovated, 18-hole championship course in late October of 2022.  

For 41 years, the club resided on Nueces Beach, but in 1963 it purchased more than 150 acres of land about 12 miles south. That’s where Robert Trent Jones designed the classic 18-hole course that has resided there for the past 59 years.   

In 2017, Ham Rogers, a member of the Club, spearheaded an effort to renovate the course. A vote was passed in 2021, and the project began in February of last year.  

Chet Williams Design was tabbed to complete the project. Williams has designed or renovated many notable courses including Whispering Pines, Houston Oaks, Traditions Club at Texas A&M, Royal Oaks Country Club – Dallas, Dallas Athletic Club’s Blue & Gold Courses, and many more. Additionally, Sanders Golf oversaw the construction on the project. 

The James A. Ragan Memorial is ranked nationally by Junior Golf Scoreboard and Golfweek. The event’s 84-player field will vie for exemptions into future LJT Invitational events like the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, the Texas Junior Amateur, The Texas Girls’ Invitational and the Texas Cup Invitational as well as compete for AJGA Performance Stars.  

Past champions include accomplished players like Walker Lee, Mac Meissner, Ellie Szeryk, Meagan Winans, and Keaton Vo. 

The tournament starts on Sunday, Oct. 8 with tee times starting at 8:00 AM. The final round is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 9 with tee times starting at 8:00 AM. The awards ceremony will take place as soon as play is completed on Monday.  

For more information about the James A. Ragan Memorial, click here. If you would like to learn more about James’ foundation, Triumph Over Kids Cancer, click here.