Chris Wheeler wins North Mid-Amateur

Briefly: Chris Wheeler of Addison, TX captures the 2024 North Mid-Amateur, and earns low Mid-Master recognition, at The Courses at Watters Creek for his third TGA championship victory. Wheeler closed the event with a bogey free final round of 3-under par 69. Wheeler improved his scores each day and was the only player to record three rounds of par or better. Overall, Wheeler recorded rounds of 72-71-69 for a 4-under par 212. With this win Wheeler earns an exemption into the 115th Texas Amateur at Trinity Forest Golf Club

Wheeler duked it out against 36-hole co-leader Luke Condon throughout the better part of the final round. Condon held serve until the final three holes, which he played in 5-over par. Condon finished the championship in third place, which opened the door for Rob Couture. Couture stayed within striking distance after posting 73-73-146 after 36 holes. Couture recorded a bogey free final round of 3-under par 69 to finish at 1-under par 215 and work his way into second place for the championship. With his 2nd place finish, Couture will also earn an exemption into the 115th Texas Amateur.

Final Results

Golf Course: Formerly known as Chase Oaks and redesigned by the the Weibring/Wolfard team, The Courses at Watters Creek weaves through woodlands of red oak, cedar elm and pecan trees. Comprised of 419 Bermuda grass fairways and mini verde greens, The Courses at Watters Creek offers a challenge to all levels of players.

Weather: The players navigated a soft, wet course during Friday’s first round due to an inch of overnight rain. Temperatures ranged from the high 50’s in the AM to mid 60’s in the afternoon on the overcast day. Players experienced similar temperatures during Saturday’s second round, but the cloud cover broke for a sunny afternoon. Conditions ramped up for Sunday’s final round with wind speeds of 20 mph and 30 mph gusts.

Top Finishers: Dallas’s Will Strickler and Tyler’s Aaron Hickman both finished tied for fourth at 2-over par 218 overall. Hickman held the 36-hole co-lead coming into the final round, but moved backwards after a final round 78. Strickler’s championship was quite the opposite. After an uncharacteristic 82 in the opening round, Strickler recorded rounds of 7-under 65 & 1-under 71 to charge back into the top five.

Plano’s Paul McNamara, Richardson’s Kendrick Vinar, Lantana’s Chase Traughber, and Fort Worth’s Adam Valickus all finished tied for sixth at 3-over par 219 overall.

Regional POY: North Player of the Year points will be awarded to the top finishers at the 2024 North Mid-Amateur. The winning player will receive 900 points, followed by 750 for second, 650 for third, 600 for fourth, and 550 for fifth.  Points will be awarded through the top 30 players and ties. For Regional POY information, click here.

What’s Next: The North Regional Series will head to Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield, TX for the North Senior Amateur.

Registration for the 115th Texas Amateur is currently open and will close on March 27 at 5:00 PM. For more information and to register for the Texas Amateur, click here.

More Info: The Texas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the staff of The Courses at Watters Creek, as well as our volunteers for their integral part in making the North Mid-Amateur a memorable and successful event. For more information on the North Mid-Amateur, click here.

Mierl, Bellendir, Dent Win at Spring Preview

Dallas, Texas – Trenton Mierl claims the Spring Preview’s Boys 15-18 Division title with late round theatrics. Alicia Bellendir overcomes a two-shot deficit to win the Girls 12-18 Division and Declan Dent goes wire to wire to win the Boys 14 & Under Division.

Winners: Austin’s Trenton Mierl emerged victorious from a crowded leaderboard in the Boys 15-18 Division. Mierl started the final round three shots off the lead, but stayed within striking distance entering the back nine. After playing the first 15 holes 3-over par, Mierl holed a bunker shot for eagle on the par-5 16^th and rolled in a clutch birdie putt on the par-4 18^th to record an even-par 70 and finish at 1-under par 139 for the championship. This is Mierl’s first LJT victory in the Boys 15-18 Division. Playing in the final group, Coppell’s Alicia Bellendir began the final round two shots off the division lead. Bellendir recorded birdies on the par-5 14^th, par-4 18^th, and par-4 4^th enroute to a final round score of 4-over par 74. Bellendir finished the championship at 8-over par 148 after posting consecutive rounds of 74. This is Bellendir’s first victory with the LJT. Grapevine’s Declan Dent slept on a three shot lead after recording a first round 70, but completed the wire to wire victory after posting 1-over par 71 in the final round. Dent recorded five birdies in his final round, including three in a row between holes 14-16.

Top Finishers: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Duncanville’s Daniel Ferguson finished runner up at even-par 144 after recording a pair of even-par 70’s for the championship. Overnight leader Eli Walker Campbell finished third at 1-over par 141 after a final round 75. Rockwall’s Lucas Latimer recorded the low round of the day, 1-under 69, to move up into fourth place at 2-over 142. Wylie’s Jacob Lewallen, Norman’s Collin Bond, Dallas’s Andy Lieu, and Oklahoma City’s Ben Lathrop all finished tied for fifth at 4-over par 144. In the Girls 12-18 Division, Southlake’s Stephanie De Marco claims the runner-up title at 10-over 150, after a final round score of 1-over par 71. McKinney’s Kenzi Cho and Katy’s Maye Huang finished tied for third at 11-over par 151. McKinney’s Daniela Sitompul and Wichita’s Meg Tilma rounded out the top five tied for fifth at 12-over 152. In the Boys 14U Division, The Woodlands’ Anthony Butt finished in second, three shots off the pace at 4-over 144. Edmond’s Ainslie Stanford III and Tyler’s Davis Green finished tied for third at 8-over par 148. Flower Mound’s Nathan Lee rounded out the top five at 9-over par 149.

Weather: Sunday’s weather started with temperatures in the upper 50’s and rose throughout the day topping out at 80 degrees.  A challenging south wind blew all day long at 15-20 mph with 30 mph gusts adding another layer of difficulty.

Host Course: Cedar Crest Golf Course is located in South Dallas and opened in 1919. The former Country Club that turned public in 1946 was designed by A.W. Tillinghast who also is the creator behind courses such as Brook Hollow GC, Dallas CC, Lakewood CC, Colonial CC, and Oak Hills CC. The course hosted the 1927 PGA Championship won by 11-time major winner Walter Hagen. The course also hosted the Dallas Open in 1926 won by Macdonald Smith and the USGA Public Links Championship in 1954. The course built a clubhouse in 2001 and was eventually renovated in 2004 by D.A. Weinberg. The course is a favorite amongst Metroplex golfers.  

Cedar Crest Golf Course is home to the “I Am a Golfer Foundation”. Established in 2018, IAMGF’s mission is to be a “Catalyst for community renewal and transformation in South Dallas through Programming, Preservation, and Promotion”.  IAMGF has engaged over 650 area youth in instructional programming, created and hosted over 90 paid internships, and awarded more than $300,000 in college and higher education scholarships. For more info on the IAMGF click here. 

Tournament History: The Spring Preview has been played every year since its inception in 2006. Past champions of this event include William 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.

Player of the Year Points: With their wins today Trenton Mierl, Alicia Bellendir, and Declan Dent all earn 1000 points toward the 2024 Player of the Year Standings.

Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour heads to Bullard on March 11-13 for the Texas Cup Invitational. Eagle’s Bluff Country Club is hosting the first Major event for the Boys in 2024, after hosting the Texas Girls’ Invitational earlier this month.

To see all the scores from the Spring Preview, click here. For more information on the LJT Spring Preview, click here.

Waldrip, Madson, Jackson Win Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational

SUPHUR SPRINGS – Wylie Waldrip shot 4-under par 68 to win the Boys 15-18 Division of the weather shortened Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational at Sulphur Springs Country Club.  Lauren Madson won the Girls Division at 3-over par 75, while Henry Jackson won the Boys 14 & Under Division in a three-hole playoff, after finishing at 4-under par 68 for the tournament.

After the championship was converted to an 18-hole championship due to weather, Grapevine’s Wylie Waldrip notched a one stroke victory over Tomball’s Grayson Petru. Waldrip recorded five birdies and an eagle enroute to his round of 4-under 68, which included a crucial up and down to save par on the 18^th hole.

Trailing Waldrip was Tomball’s Grayson Petru who carded an impressive 3 under 69 in the tough conditions.  Dallas’s Deacon Dortch and Magnolia’s Aiden Wright finished tied for third at 2-under par, one stroke ahead of Dallas’s Nathan Zmolik in fifth place.

Mansfield’s Lauren Madson captured her first LJT victory of the year in a one-shot victory after posting 3-over par 75. Madson recorded birdies in the par 5 3^rd and par 5 11^th holes today.

Spring’s Darcy Wright, Tyler’s Sidney Robertson, and The Woodland’s Joann Bee finished tied for second and one shot off the lead at 4-over 76.  Houston’s Lauren Evans, McKinney’s Daniela Sitompul, and Frisco’s Grace Kalina all finished tied for fifth at 5-over 77.

Lantana’s Henry Jackson won the Boys 14 & Under Division in a playoff after 4-under 68. Jackson made three eagles and two birdies in his round on the day. Jackson bested Selma’s Aadi Parmar in a three hole playoff.  Dallas’s Luke Olive finishes in third after posting 2-under 70. Dallas’s JD Moore finishes in fourth at 1-under 71, and Spring’s Anthony Butt rounds out the top five at even par 72.

2023 Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational Leaderboard

The Course: Sulphur Springs Country Club is hosting the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational for the second time. The course played to just under 6500 yards for the Boys 15-18 division, 6200 yards for the Boys 12-14 division and 5700 for the girl’s division.

The Weather: The course received 5” of rain early Saturday morning and consistent showers throughout the day forced play to be cancelled. After being converted to an 18-hole championship, players battled through another ½” of rain fall Sunday morning and temperatures ranging in the low 50’s to high 40’s.

About the Event: The Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational is the final event on the Legends Junior Tour schedule for 2023 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.

About the Texas Junior Golf Alliance:  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.

Up Next: The Legends Junior Tour will take the Jackie Burke Cup Matches to Eagle’s Bluff Country Club in Bullard on Nov. 11-12. The Alliance Invitational was the final event for players to earn points towards the Jackie Burke Cup and the North and South Teams will be announced on Monday, October 30th. The South Team has won the cup the past two years.

Player of the Year Winners:  Congratulations to the Boys 15-18 Division Player of the Year, Garland’s Garrett McMellon. Joshua’s Kaylee Yuan ran away with the Girls Division Player of the Year honors by posting 4 victories in 6 events this year. Selma’s Aadi Parmar used a runner up finish this weekend to hang onto the Boys 14 & Under Player of the Year honors. Full POY Standings can be viewed here.

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

Rubenstein, Yuan, Knox Win Fall Challenge

Briefly: Dallas’s Jeffrey Rubenstein fired a final round 67 to finish the tournament at 5-under par and secure the Boys 15-18 Division of the Fall Challenge at Cross Timbers Golf Course in Azle. Joshua’s Kaylee Yuan won the Girls Division at 4-over, while Austin’s Dylan Knox won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 6-under. All Division Champions won in on-course playoffs.

Full Leaderboard

Division Winners: Rubenstein carded a bogey free final round of 5-under 67 to post the clubhouse lead at 5-under 139. Rubenstein would finish in a three-way tie after 36 holes. In the playoff, Rubenstein continued his stellar play and claimed the division title with an eagle on the first playoff hole. Yuan stumbled late in her final round 3-over 75 and found herself in a playoff for the division title. Yuan was able to regroup quickly and hold off Bella Scucchi and claim victory on the first playoff hole. Knox posted a bogey free round of 3-under 69 in the final round to finish at 6-under 138. Knox also found himself in a playoff after 36 holes. Knox picked up right where he left off and closed out the victory with a birdie on the first playoff hole.

Top Finishers: In the Boys Division, San Antonio’s Matt Pawly and Richmond’s Eli Walker Campbell both finished tied for second at 5-under 139. Dallas’s Andy Lieu, Fair Oaks Ranch’s Phoenix Guerra, Dallas’s Deacon Dortch, Grapevine’s Wylie Waldrip, Tomball’s Grayson Petru, and Spring’s Asher Vargas all finished tied for fourth at 3-under 141. In the Girls Division, Bella Scucchi posted a final round of even-par 72 to finish at 4-over 148, but came up just short in the playoff. Frisco’s Grace Kalina rounds out the top three after posting 6-over 150 overall. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Selma’s Aadi Parmar finishes runner up at 6-under 138 and College Station’s Ryan Woojin Lee finishes tied for third with Lantana’s Henry Jackson at even-par 144.

Golf Course: Cross Timbers Golf Course, located in Azle, TX is hosting the Fall Challenge for the first time. It was designed by Jeffrey Brauer and opened in 1995. The course overlooks scenic Mountain Lake and Downtown Fort Worth and offer a mix of short and long par 3’s, challenging par 4’s and risk/reward par 5’s.  The property features Champion Bermuda greens, undulating fairways and natural elevation changes reminiscent of Texas Hill Country.   The course will play to 6734 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,365 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,904 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.

Weather: Temperatures started in the lower 70s for the final round and crept up into the low 90s. Players took advantage of the ideal scoring conditions thanks to the calm to non-existent winds.

Player of the Years Points: Jeffrey Rubenstein, Kaylee Yuan and Dylan Knox all earned 1,000 points in the Player of the Year Point Race.  Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division.  2023 LJT Player of the Year Points Standings

Tournament Format: The Fall Challenge is a 36-hole stroke play event with players ages 12-18 that have an active membership within the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The 84-player field is split into a Boys Division, Girls Division and a Boys 14 & Under Division.

Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the three tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA, HGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.

Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour heads to Corpus Christi for the James A. Ragan Memorial on Oct. 8-9. The 84-player field will take on the recently renovated Corpus Christi Country Club as players continue to position themselves for Player of the Year and Jackie Burke Cup team places.

For more information on the Fall Challenge, click here.

Pawly, Yuan and Jackson Lead Fall Challenge

Briefly: San Antonio’s Matt Pawly fired a 4-under 68 in the opening round of the Fall Challenge and leads the Boys Division by two shots at Cross Timbers Golf Course. Joshua’s Kaylee Yuan leads the Girls Division after shooting 1-over 73 on Saturday, while Lantana’s Henry Jackson leads the Boys 14 & Under Division after posting a 4-under 68.

Full Leaderboard

Leaders: Matt Pawly made six birdies on the day to finish at 4-under overall and hold a two stroke lead in the Boys 15-18 Division. Pawly started his day on the back nine and started strong with a 3-under 33, including a stretch of three birdies in a row on holes 13-15.  Pawly recorded two more birdies and a bogey on the front to tack on one more and finish at 4-under for the day.  Kaylee Yuan holds a two stroke lead in the Girls Division after shooting 1-over 73 in the first round. Yuan birdied the second hole and then put it in cruise control. Yuan recorded 14 straight pars following the birdie on the second before stumbling on the closing stretch with a double bogey on the 17^th. Yuan looks to secure her fourth title of the 2023 season and add to her lead in the player of the year race with a victory tomorrow.  Henry Jackson holds a slim one shot lead in the Boys 14 & Under Division after shooting 4-under on Saturday. Jackson, the 2022 Fall Challenge Champion, made six birdies against a pair of bogeys in his first round. Jackson surged into the lead late from playing the final five holes in 3-under. Jackson is also looking to secure his fourth victory with the LJT in 2023.

In Contention: In the Boys Division, Richmond’s Eli Walker Campbell, Spring’s Asher Vargas, and College Station’s Raines Watson all finished tied for second at 2-under 70. Elijah Galvan, Tyson Embry, Abhay Duggal, Grayson Petru, and Lincoln Staats all finished tied for fifth at 1-under 71.  In the Girls Division, Frisco’s Grace Kalina finished the day in second after a round of 3-over 75. Dallas’s Bella Scucchi rounds out the top three in third place at 4-over 76.  In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Austin’s Dylan Knox sits one shot back at 3-under par 69, with Dallas’s Edward Lehner two shots off the lead at 2-under 70.

Golf Course: Cross Timbers Golf Course, located in Azle, TX is hosting the Fall Challenge for the first time. It was designed by Jeffrey Brauer and opened in 1995. The course overlooks scenic Mountain Lake and Downtown Fort Worth and offer a mix of short and long par 3’s, challenging par 4’s and risk/reward par 5’s.  The property features Champion Bermuda greens, undulating fairways and natural elevation changes reminiscent of Texas Hill Country.   The course will play to 6,734 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,365 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,904 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.

Weather: Temperatures started in the 70s and crept up to the low 90s near the end of play. Winds were light at the start of the day, before picking up to 12-15 mph in the early afternoon.

Tournament Format: The Fall Challenge is a 36-hole stroke play event with players ages 12-18 that have an active membership within the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The 84-player field is split into a Boys Division, Girls Division and a Boys 14 & Under Division.

Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the three tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA, HGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.

Next Up: The Final Round of the Fall Challenge is scheduled for tee times at 8:00 am on Sunday, October 1st. Pairings for the final round can be found by clicking here. Following Sunday’s play, awards will be handed out to the top finishers of each division along with LJT Player of the Year Points.

For more information on the Fall Challenge, click here.

Embry, Sherman, and Knox Claim North Texas Classic Titles

Briefly: Tyson Embry shot a 1-over 73 on Sunday to win the Boys Division of the North Texas Classic by 2 shots. Carly Sherman captured the Girls Division Title with a second round 1-over 73, while Dylan Knox birdied his 2^nd playoff hole to secure his victory in the Boys 14 & Under Division at 10-under par overall.

Tournament Leaderboard

Champions: Highland Village’s Tyson Embry went wire to wire to claim the North Texas Classic Victory.  He finished an impressive weekend with a 5-under par score of 139.  Embry followed up his amazing first round 66 with a gritty 1-over par 73 that saw a triple bogey on the ninth hole.  From that point, Embry recorded 4 birdies on the back nine to secure his first Legends Junior Tour victory. Bastrop’s Carly Sherman started the final round with a one-stroke lead and her 1-over par 73 was enough to secure a hard fought one stroke victory. Carly made birdies on holes 10 and 11 to start her final nine holes and finished the tournament at 4 -over par 148.   Austin’s Dylan Knox overcame a 5 shot deficit at the start of his final round with a round of 3-under 69 that included 5 birdies. Dylan finished the tournament at even par 144, and closed out his second LJT victory of the year with a birdie on his second playoff hole.

Top Finishers: In the Boys Division, Tomball’s Joshua McGown fired a 2-under par 70 to finish in second place, 2 shots off the lead.   McGown was able to birdie three of his last 5 holes as his late charge came up just short.  Dallas’s Charles Nelson and Austin’s Trenton Mierl finished in a tie for third finishing the tournament at 1-under par, 143. Deacon Dortch of Dallas rounded out the top 5 with his 36 hole total of even par.

In the Girls Division, Prosper’s Lucy Kate Smith finished second as her second round 73 wasn’t enough to chase down Sherman. Smith finished the tournament 1-stroke back at 5-over par 149.  Finishing in a tie for 3^rd was Frisco’s Megan Lee, and McKinney’s Kate Bennett, both posting 7-over 151. Rounding out the top 5 was Plano’s Lindsey Li at 9-over 153.

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Selma’s Aadi Parmar shot a 1-under 71 in the final round to finish tied with Knox at even par 144.  Prosper’s Grant Clapp bogeyed his final hole to finish 1 stroke back and just outside of the playoff. Rounding out the top 4 was Garland’s Landon Hilario finishing at 4-over par.

Player of the Years Points: Tyson Embry, Carly Sherman and Dylan Knox all earned 1,000 points in the Player of the Year Point Race.  Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division.

Golf Course: Indian Creek Golf Club is hosting the North Texas Classic for the first time in the tournaments nine-year history with the Legends Junior Tour.  Located in Carrolton, the Lakes Course offers a challenge to the field, stretching out to 7,000 yards in the Boys Division, 6,500 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,900 yards in the Girls Division.  The Lakes Course was completely renovated back in 2019 and included new greens and fairways.  The Lakes Course lives up to its name with water present on 16 of the 18 holes.

Weather: The weather started off warm with overnight lows only falling to the mid 70’s.  Sunny skies prevailed as the temperature rose to a high of 93 degrees by early afternoon.  A steady 10 – 15 mile per hour west wind was present throughout the day.

Tournament Format: The North Texas Classic is a 36-hole stroke play event for players 12-18 years old. All players in the field are required to have an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The North Texas Classic kicks off the Fall Swing of the Legends Junior Tour schedule.

Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the three tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA, HGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.

Next Up: The LJT travels to Squaw Creek Golf Club in Willow Park on Sept. 30 – Oct. 1^st for the 2023 Fall Challenge. For more information on the Fall Challenge, click here.

For more information on the North Texas Classic, click here. To see all the scores from Indian Creek Golf Club, click here.

Embry, Lewis, Sherman Lead at North Texas Classic

Briefly: Tyson Embry cards a first round 66 to lead the Boys 15-18 Division of the North Texas Classic at Indian Creek Golf Club. In the Girls Division, Carly Sherman leads at 3-over, while Cameron Lewis leads the Boys 14 & Under Division at 2-under.

Tournament Leaderboard

Leaders: Highland Village’s Tyson Embry had the hot hand on Indian Creek’s Lakes Course during Saturday’s first round. Embry racked up seven birdies en route to a 6-under 66 to take the first-round lead in the Boys 15-18 Division. Embry recorded five of his seven birdies in a 6-hole stretch on the back nine. Embry will be on the hunt for his first LJT victory in tomorrow’s final group. Bastrop’s Carly Sherman holds a one-shot lead in the girls division heading into Sunday’s final round. On a tough scoring day for the Girls Division, Sherman played a steady round with three bogeys and a birdie on the par 5 11^th. Dallas’ Cameron Lewis leads the Boys 14 & Under Division by two strokes after an opening round 70 on Saturday. Lewis started off steady, playing his first nine at even par, before recording a pair of birdies to play the back side at 2-under.

In Contention: In the Boys Division, Austin’s Daniel Macias sits three shots back in second after his 3-under 69. Austin’s Trenton Mierl and The Woodlands Alex Malanga are both tied for third at 2-under 70. Houston’s Austin Le, Tomball’s Joshua McGown, and Dallas’ Deacon Dortch are all tied for fifth after posting rounds of1-under 71.

In the Girls Division, Prosper’s Lucy Kate Smith is in second at 4-over, while McKinney’s Kate Bennett, Plano’s Lindsey Li, and Frisco’s Megan Lee are all tied for third at 5-over.

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, The Woodlands’ Tripp Depoy trails by Lewis by two strokes after a round of even par 72, with Selma’s Aadi Parmar sitting in third at 1-over 73.

Golf Course: Indian Creek Golf Club is hosting the North Texas Classic for the first time in the tournaments nine-year history with the Legends Junior Tour.  Located in Carrolton, the Lakes Course offers a challenge to the field, stretching out to 7,000 yards in the Boys Division, 6,500 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,900 yards in the Girls Division.  The Lakes Course was completely renovated back in 2019 and included new greens and fairways.  The Lakes Course lives up to its name with water present on 16 of the 18 holes.

Weather: The Carrollton area experienced some early morning showers, which cooled off the temps to the mid 70’s for the first tee times at 8:00 AM.  Sunny skies prevailed as the day went on, and temperatures rose to a high of 95 degrees by midafternoon.  A steady 10 mile per hour west wind was present throughout the day.

Tournament Format: The North Texas Classic is a 36-hole stroke play event for players 12-18 years old. All players in the field are required to have an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The North Texas Classic kicks off the Fall Swing of the Legends Junior Tour schedule.

Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the three tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA, HGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.

Next Up: The Final Round is scheduled to begin at 8:00 am off the No. 1 and 10 tees on Sunday, September 11. To see the pairings for the Final Round, click here.

For more information on the North Texas Classic, click here. To see all the scores from Indian Creek Golf Club, click here.

O’Rear, Sathish, Parmar Win George Hannon Junior Invitational

Briefly: Plano’s Rhett O’Rear won the Boys 15-18 Division of the George Hannon Junior Invitational presented by Texas Mutual after firing another sub-par round at University of Texas Golf Club. Swetha Sathish of Oakville captured her first victory with the Legends Junior Tour, while Aadi Parmar of Selma won the Boys 14 & Under Division for his third LJT title of the year. 

Leaders: O’Rear picked up his first win in the Boys 15 – 18 Division with the Legends Junior Tour after firing 68 – 69 to finish at 5-under overall and win the division by four strokes. O’Rear had two days of solid play with his last day consisting of three birdies. Sathish’s consistent play and solid putting awarded her the victory in the Girls Division at 2-over 144 after rounds of 72-72 over the two days.  Parmar recorded rounds of 71-70 to get to 1-under 141 overall. Parmar played a consistent game this week, recording five birdies and 4 bogeys.  

In Contention: In the Boys 15 – 18 Division, Preston Hiller of San Antonio and Ryan Lee from Plano finished runner-up with 1-under, 141 total, for the two days. New Braunfels’ Kyle Doolittle finished fourth at even-par 142, while Garrett McMellon and Grayson Sebastian tied for fifth in the division with overall scores of 1-over 143. In the Girls Division, Austin’s Isabel Emanuels and Mimi Burton tied for second at 4-over 146 and Danica Lundgren and Lydia Portlock tied for fourth at 5-over 147. Henry Jackson of Lantana and Ainslie Stanford III tied for second in the Boys 14 & Under Division at 5-over 147, while Cameron Lewis finished fourth at 6-over 148 and Dylan Knox and Luke Olive tied for fifth at 8-over 150.  

Golf Course: The University of Texas Golf Club was designed by Bechtol Russell and opened in 2003. The course is set along the Colorado River and features stunning Texas Hill Country views along with a challenging par-71 layout.  

Weather: Temperatures reached 100 again on Tuesday with steady winds out of the south at 12 miles per hour with gusts around 20 mph which offered a challenge for the field.  

Player of the Year Points:  Rhett O’Rear, Aadi Parmer, and Swetha Sathish all earned 1500 points in the Player of the Year Point Race.  Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division.  2023 LJT Player of the Year Points Standings   

About George Hannon: George Hannon, who was affectionately called “Coach”, coached the University of Texas golf team for 18 seasons. Coach Hannon saw his Longhorns win two National Championships in 1971 and 1972, 12 Southwest Conference Titles and three individual titles. Hannon’s Horns included Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Mark Brooks, Phil Blackmar, Brandel Chamblee, Rik Massengale and Paul Thomas. 

Hannon Cup Association: The Hannon Cup Association contributes to golf scholarships, supports the Austin Junior Golf Academy and hosts the George Hannon Junior Invitational and Hannon Cup Matches. Mark Coward and Brent Buckman were instrumental in conceiving the idea and in organizing and forming the initial committee for the Hannon Cup. Support was provided by a group of individuals and businesses that became known as the Hannon Society. To date the Association has distributed more than $145,000 worth of secondary education scholarships through the Southern Texas PGA Foundation.  

Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the three tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA, HGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.  

Tournament History: The George Hannon Junior Invitational finished it’s 14th year on the Legends Junior Tour schedule and features past champions such as Maxwell Miller, Cole Hammer, Chandler Phillips, Tayler Termeer, Hailee Cooper, Joe and Julia Beck, Matthew Comegys, Keaton Vo, Henry Guan and Nicole Vivier. This event has been held at UT Golf Club for the last six years.  

Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour heads to Indian Creek Golf Club in Carrollton for the North Texas Classic on September 9-10. The George Hannon Junior Invitational caps off a busy and exciting summer for the Legends Junior Tour. 

For more information on the George Hannon Junior Invitational, click here. To see all the scores from UT Golf Club, click here. 

Burt, O’Rear, Parmar, Sathish Lead at George Hannon Junior Invitational

Briefly: Blake Burt and Rhett O’Rear both fired a 3-under 68 in the opening round of the George Hannon Junior Invitational leading the Boys 15-18 Division by two strokes. Aadi Parmar leads the Boys 14 & Under Division at University of Texas Golf Club, and Swetha Sathish stayed focused and finished Round 1 as the sole leader of the Girls Division.  

Tournament Leaderboard 

Leaders: Austin’s Blake Burt and Plano’s Rhett O’Rear both shot 3-under par 68, on Monday at the UT Golf Club. Both O’Rear and Burt played consistently posting five and six birdies, respectively. Burt’s 3-under consisted of 5 total birdies, with four of them coming in his first 10 holes. O’Rear’s 3-under, 68 consisted of consisted of 6 total birdies, with four on the back nine at the UT Golf Club.  

Oakville’s Swetha Sathish fought hard to stand alone as the leader of the Girls 12-18 Division. Her round consisted of 4 birdies beginning on hole 9, and pulled her one-shot ahead of her competitors.   

in the Boys 14 & Under Division, Aadi Parmar from Selma attributed his even-par 71, to his putting. His first round consisted of 3 birdies and steady play.   

In Contention: There are seven players tied for third place in the Boy’s Division at 1-under par 70 including Burleson’s’ Blake Keen, Dallas’ Luke Harper and Jack Clancy, Richmond’s’ Grayson Sebastian, Highland Villages’ Tyson Embry, Plano’s’ Ryan Lee and McAllen’s’ Dylan Villarreal Trailing Parmar by two strokes in the Boys 14 & Under is Division is Luke Olive from Dallas, Henry Jackson from Lantana, Ainslie Stanford III from Edmond. Lydia Portlock from San Antonio is hot on Swetha’s heels in the Girls 12-18 Division shooting 2-over, 73, only 1-shot behind Swetha Sathish. Austin’s Caroline Dasch sits in fifth place in the division at 3-over. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Dallas’ Brooks Harper is in second at 2-over, while Duff Mckay of Dallas and Luke Colton of Frisco are tied for third at 3-over. Nicholas Logis and Austin Hofferkamp are tied for fifth at 4-over.  

Golf Course: The University of Texas Golf Club was designed by Bechtol Russell and opened in 2003. The course is set along the Colorado River and features stunning Texas Hill Country views along with a challenging par-71 layout. The course overlooks Lake Austin and borders the Balcones Natural Wildlife Preserve and has hosted the George Hannon Junior Invitational six times now, including the last four years.  

Weather: Temperatures started in the low 80s without a cloud in the sky on Monday and peaked above 100 degrees. Winds were light and out of the south at 10  – 15 mph. 

Tournament Format: The George Hannon Junior Invitational is a 36-hole stroke play event for players that have earned an exemption through the Texas Junior Golf Alliance or the Hannon Society. The 90-player field is one of the strongest in the state as they play 18 holes each day.   

Player of the Year Points: 1500 points in the 2023 Player of the Year Point Race are up for grabs to the winners this week at the George Hannon Junior Invitational.  Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division.  2023 LJT Player of the Year Points Standings 

About George Hannon: George Hannon, who was affectionately called “Coach”, coached the University of Texas golf team for 18 seasons. Coach Hannon saw his Longhorns win two National Championships in 1971 and 1972, 12 Southwest Conference Titles and three individual titles. Hannon’s Horns included Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Mark Brooks, Phil Blackmar, Brandel Chamblee, Rik Massengale and Paul Thomas. 

Hannon Cup Association: The Hannon Cup Association contributes to golf scholarships, supports the Austin Junior Golf Academy and hosts the George Hannon Junior Invitational and Hannon Cup Matches. Mark Coward and Brent Buckman were instrumental in conceiving the idea and in organizing and forming the initial committee for the Hannon Cup. Support was provided by a group of individuals and businesses that became known as the Hannon Society. To date the Association has distributed more than $145,000 worth of secondary education scholarships through the Southern Texas PGA Foundation. 

About Texas Mutual: Texas Mutual is the presenting sponsor of the George Hannon Junior Invitational and has been caring for hardworking Texans for more than 25 years. Taking care of people is what Texas Mutual does and that’s why they invest time, energy and resources into increasing safety, wellness and education for all Texans. Texas Mutual has been the presenting sponsor of this event for the last three years.  

Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the three tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA, HGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.  

Next Up: The Final Round of the George Hannon Junior Invitational is scheduled for Tuesday with tee times starting at 7:30 am off the No. 1 and 10 tees. Following Tuesday’s Final Round, awards will be handed to the top five in the Boys Division and top three in the Girls and Boys 14 & Under Divisions.  

For more information on the George Hannon Junior Invitational, click here. To see all the scores from UT Golf Club, click here. 

McMellon, Lewis, and Yuan Win at Lanny Wadkins JC

Briefly:  Garland’s Garrett McMellon claims his first LJT victory in a two-hole playoff after finishing at 3-under par 137 for the tournament. Joshua’s Kaylee Yuan goes wire to wire to won the Girls 12-18 Division at even par 140, while Dallas’ Cameron Lewis won the Boys 14 & Under Division in a playoff after finishing at 1 over-par 141.

Tournament Leaderboard

Champions: Garrett McMellon entered Tuesday’s final round in the second to last group, two shots off the lead after a first round 68.  McMellon started the day with bogeys on holes #1 & #3, but rallied with birdies on Holes #4, #10, and #12 to post 1-under 69 on the day.  McMellon finished at 3-under par 137 for the tournament and secured his first LJT victory with a 12 foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole.

Joshua’s Kaylee Yuan won the Girls 12-18 Division after shooting rounds of 68-72 to finish the championship at even par and nine strokes ahead of the field. She posted the only under par round of the tournament in the girls division with a 2 under par score of 68 in the first round. This is Yuan’s second LJT victory in as many starts.

Dallas’ Cameron Lewis won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 1-over 141 overall in a playoff Dexter Zimmerman. Lewis drained a 50 foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to claim the title. Lewis recorded rounds of 72-69 for his first LJT victory.

Top Finishers: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Belton’s Chandler Cooke finished runner up after shooting rounds of 67-70 to finish at 3-under par 137 and losing in a playoff. Dallas’s Blake Goodnight, the first round leader, took home third place after finishing one off the pace at 2-under par 138. Jack Hollingsed of Dallas finished at 1-under par 139, which was good enough for fourth place, and New Braunfels’ Kyle Doolittle rounded out the top five at even-par 140.

In the Girls 12-18 Division, Prosper’s Lucy Kate Smith finished runner up at 9-over 149. Austin’s Julia Sosa finished in 3^rd place with a score of 10-over 150. San Antonio’s Abby Jimenez claimed fourth place at 11-over 151, and Dallas’s Bella Scucchi rounded out the top five at 16-over 156.

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Dallas’s Dexter Zimmerman finishes runner up after losing in a playoff at 1-over par 141. Lantana’s Henry Jackson finishes third at 8-over par 148.

Golf Course: Iron Horse Golf Course, located in North Richland Hills, is hosting the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship for the first time in the tournament’s 15-year history. Century-old oak, mesquite and cottonwood trees frame emerald Bermuda fairways and manicured greens, which traverse beneath a working railroad trestle – with numerous doglegs, two meandering creeks which come into play on 17 holes, and unique bunkering creating both strategic diversity and a breathtaking backdrop for golf. Adding to the charm and nostalgia of the course are three authentic caboose cars, which serve as on-course facilities.

Weather: Temperatures began in the low 80’s and did not creep into the 90’s until late in the afternoon. Players enjoyed cloud cover and a cool breeze in the morning as storms rolled through the opposite side of the DFW metro.

Tournament Format: The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship is a 36-hole stroke play event for players ages 12-18 years old. Membership with a Texas Junior Golf Alliance Partner is required to play in Legends Junior Tour events.

Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the three tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA, HGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.

Player of the Year Points:  Garrett McMellon, Kaylee Yuan and Cameron Lewis all earned 1000 points in the Player of the Year Point Race.  Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division.

Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour heads to White Bluff Resort on July 24-26 for the 97^th Texas Junior Amateur. The 240-player field is split between four division: Boys, Girls, Boys 14 & Under and Girls 14 & Under. The Boys Division will play the New Course at White Bluff, while the Girls Division and both 14 & Under Divisions will play the Old Course at White Bluff.

For more information on the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship, click here. To see all the scores from Iron Horse Golf Course, click here.