40th Texas Mid-Amateur Set for Sept. 29-Oct. 1

Midland Country Club will be the host site for the 40th Texas Mid-Amateur, the last of this year’s four men’s major amateur championships conducted by the TGA. The championship, which features the state’s top male amateur golfers aged 25 and older, is scheduled for Sept. 29-Oct. 1.

This will be the second Texas Mid-Amateur and 12th overall TGA championship to be held at the venerable West Texas club. In total, Midland Country Club has played host to six different TGA championships in its 96-year history, including the Texas Amateur, Women’s Texas Amateur, Texas Senior Amateur, West Texas Amateur, and Women’s Four-Ball. In addition, the club was also the site of the Web.com Tour’s (now Korn Ferry Tour) WNB Golf Classic from 2002-14.

“We are very excited to return to Midland Country Club for the 40th Texas Mid-Amateur,” said Chris Untiedt, TGA Senior Tournament Director. “To have the opportunity to conduct one of our major championships at such a great venue is truly special and we know the membership and staff will provide an outstanding experience for the players.”

Founded in 1927, Midland Country Club began as a nine-hole course with sand greens. The club moved to its current location in the mid-1950s with an 18-hole course designed by Texas Golf Hall of Fame member Ralph Plummer. The course has undergone several modifications through the years, and in 2017 the architectural firm of Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design completed a comprehensive renovation in time for the club’s 90th anniversary.

The 11-month, multimillion-dollar project included building all new tees, greens, bunkers, and water features to enhance and fortify the strategic elements of Plummer’s original design. The par-72 layout, which can stretch to 7,450 yards from the back tees, is spread out across 350 acres and presents an exacting challenge to even the most accomplished players.

“Midland Country Club has proven over time to be a formidable test of golf and we are certain it will once again provide a spectacular setting for this year’s championship,” Untiedt said.

The starting field for the 40th Texas Mid-Amateur will be comprised of 132 players who earned entry into the championship through an exemption category or successfully advanced out of 18-hole qualifying held at 14 sites statewide from July 17-Sept. 19.

Format for the championship is 54 holes individual stoke play. All contestants will play 18 holes Sept. 29-30. After 36 holes the field will be cut to the low 54 scorers and ties heading into the final round. In addition to the prize awarded to the overall champion, there also will be special recognition for the mid-master (players aged 40 and older) returning the lowest 54-hole score.

Starting times and pairings for the first and second rounds will be posted on the TGA website no later than Sept. 26. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from Midland Country Club.

The list of decorated amateurs who will assemble in West Texas is headed by Ryan O’Rear of Georgetown, who captured his second Texas Mid-Amateur title last year at Abilene Country Club’s South Course. O’Rear, whose first victory came in 2020 at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, carded rounds of 66-69-70 to finish at 11-under-par 205 and earned a one-stroke victory over runner-up Zach Atkinson of Colleyville. Atkinson, a two-time TGA state champion (2004 Texas Amateur, 2016 Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play), also earned low mid-master honors.

Eight other past Texas Mid-Amateur champions will join O’Rear in the starting field. They are Frederick Janneck of Fort Worth (who won in 2021), Christopher Wheeler of Addison (2019), Colby Harwell of San Antonio (2017-18), Joshua Irving of Dallas (2016), Terence Begnel of Midland (2014), Clay Hodge of Tyler (2013), Rob Couture of Celina (2008), and Mike Booker of Houston (2003).

Among the other notable players competing are 2020 and 2023 Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play champion Aaron Hickman of Tyler and 2023 South Mid-Amateur champion Logan Thomason of Montgomery, as well as top finishers returning from last year’s championship including Atkinson, Colby Amparan of Fort Worth (5th), Trey Todd of Abilene (T6), Ryan Zamorano of Dallas (T6), Dan Depasquale of Austin (T8), Josh Pasco of Midland (T8), and Cole Wiederkehr of Fort Worth (T8).

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.

Houston’s Durbin Wins 86th Texas Senior Amateur

AMARILLO – Gary Durbin of Houston finished at 3-under-par after 54 holes at Amarillo Country Club and won the 86^th Texas Senior Amateur. This win marks Durbin’s third in the last six years.

“It’s beyond belief, one of my goals was to match my dear friend Mike Rice, who’s name is on that trophy three times,” said Durbin reflecting on his victory.

“Today was probably the toughest day, so you really had to hit some quality shots,” said Durbin. “This golf course you have to play from the fairway as it’s very tough to play from the rough.”

Durbin started the day one stroke back and found himself two back after a bogey on the par-3 second. He made birdie on No. 7, which gave him the lead, which he wouldn’t relinquish.

“I managed my game well today and kept hanging in there by making some key birdies,” said Durbin.

Durbin made a bogey on the par-4 10^th but bounced back with a birdie on the par-3 11^th. His drive found the right bunker on No. 12 and he was able to escape and get up-and-down for a par. He made par on Nos. 13-15 before knocking in a birdie on the par-4 16^th. He found the greenside rough on No. 17 and would make double-bogey, but still had a two-stroke lead on the 18^th tee.

He laid up short of the water and then hit a shot into the heart of the 18^th green. From there he two-putted for par and sealed his victory at Amarillo Country Club.

Burleson’s Lewis Stephenson finished solo second after posting the low round on Sunday. Stephenson made five birdies on the day, including the par-5 18^th which played right into the south wind. The past champion jumped up two spots on the day to claim runner-up honors.

San Antonio’s Bobby Baugh and Houston’s Sandy Pierce finished tied for third at even-par. Baugh was the 36-hole leader and finished with rounds of 69-68-76. Pierce is the defending Texas Senior Amateur Champion and fellow Champions Golf Club member with Durbin. Pierce was 4-over on the day after seven holes but finished 2-under in his last 11 to get to even-par overall.

Tray Tyner of Kerrville shot 1-under 70 and finished tied for fifth with Terrence Miskell of New Braunfels. Amarillo’s Kyle Kelting and Texarkana’s Chuck Gardner finished tied for seventh, while reigning Texas Golf Association Senior Player of the Year Mike Booker finished ninth.

The conditions were tough for the final day of the tournament, with winds gusting up to 35 miles per hour throughout the day. The winds switched out of the south, which serves as the prevailing wind, allowing Amarillo Country Club to show its strength.

This is the first time the Texas Senior Amateur has come out to Amarillo Country Club and the course put up a strong test over three days. The scoring average was 77.55 and the field produced a total of 506 birdies and five eagles for the week. The Texas Golf Association thanks the Amarillo CC staff, membership and committees for hosting this year’s event.

The Texas Senior Amateur is the state’s premier event for male golfers age 55 and older. This year’s championship featured a 144-player field that was made up from exemptions and 18-hole qualifiers. The qualifying schedule spanned across the state and saw more than 200 players attempt to qualify.

With this win Durbin secures 1,250 points towards the Senior Player of the Year. Mike Booker entered this week leading the 2023 Texas Senior Player of the Year race and earned 450 points with his ninth-place finish.

The 87^th Texas Senior Amateur will head to Byron Nelson Sports Club in Las Colinas next September. Qualifying sites will be announced by the new year and the players will take on the former tour stop.

For more information on the 86^th Texas Senior Amateur, click here. To see all the scores 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.

Baugh Leads Texas Senior Amateur after 36 Holes

AMARILLO – Bobby Baugh of San Antonio finished with back-to-back birdies on Saturday and climbed atop the 86^th Texas Senior Amateur leaderboard after two rounds. Baugh is 5-under through 36 holes at Amarillo Country Club.

“I had a really good drive on eight to set up a pitching wedge from 137 yards, which was hit to five feet and I made it,” said Baugh regarding his finish. “The final hole I hit a drive in the left rough, then missed the green to the left. Hit a flop shot to about six feet and I made the putt.”

Baugh hit 16 of 18 fairways and greens in his second round but credited his putter for his solid play on Saturday.

“That’s what I’ve been struggling the most with lately, the putting,” said Baugh. “I’ve hit the ball well and luckily the hole got in the way of the ball a few times today.”

Following rounds of 69-68 in the first two days, Baugh seeks the Texas Senior Amateur title and will play alongside the last two champions of the tournament.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow and feel a lot better after having a good round of putting.”

Joining Baugh in the final pairing on Sunday, will be Round 1 co-leaders Gary Durbin and Sandy Pierce of Houston.

Durbin shot even-par 71 in the second round. He was the winner of this event in 2021 and 2019 and looks to become the sixth three-time winner of this event. Durbin’s rounds of 67-71 have him at 4-under-par.

Pierce posted a round of 2-over 73 on Saturday and is the defending champion. He is looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Don Addington won in 1997-1998. Through 36 holes he has made eight birdies and four bogeys or worse and is 2-under-par.

Tied for fourth is Texarakana’s Chuck Gardner and Burleson’s Lewis Stephenson. Gardner played 2-under in his second round, making four birdies as he moved 12 spots up the leaderboard. Stephenson, who is also a two-time winner of this event, stayed consistent with rounds of 71-72 to get to 1-over.

Terrence Miskell of New Braunfels is in sixth place at 2-over-par, while Aledo’s Wayne Wright is in seventh at 3-over. Five players are tied for eighth at 4-over, two players tied for 14^th at 5-over and six players tied for 15^th at 6-over.

The tournament was cut following the second round with 58 players finishing at 10-over or better on Saturday.

Through 36 holes, the 144-player field amassed 435 birdies and played to an average score of 77.6 at Amarillo Country Club. There were five total eagles with three of them coming on the par-5 ninth which plays 502 yards. The course played 6,622 yards in the second round.

Amarillo Country Club underwent a renovation in 2013 and features a compact par-71 layout on the northwest side of town. The routing offers a variety of left-to-right and right-to-left holes that are bordered by trees. There are only six penalty areas around the routing with the perimeter being the lone boundary to avoid.

This is the first time Amarillo CC is hosting the Texas Senior Amateur and joins an exclusive list of past host sites such as Champions Golf Club, Oak Hills Country Club, Brook Hollow Country Club and Midland Country Club. The tournament was first held at San Antonio Country Club in 1937 and was held there for the first 23 years. The Texas Senior Amateur returned to West Texas for the first time since 2010, when Odessa Country Club hosted.

Temperatures started in the low 60s on Saturday and reached the low 90s by the afternoon. Winds were steady but not as strong as the previous day as gusts were up to 20 miles per hour in the afternoon.

The Final Round is set to begin at 8:00 am off the No. 1 and 10 tees on Sunday, September 10. Pairings can be viewed by clicking here. For more information on the 86^th Texas Senior Amateur, click here. To see all the scores from the first two rounds, click here.

Pierce and Durbin Share Lead at Texas Senior Amateur

AMARILLO – Sandy Pierce and Gary Durbin of Houston each posted rounds of 4-under 67 at Amarillo Country Club and sit atop the 86^th Texas Senior Amateur field after the first round. Both players are seeking another win in the Texas Golf Association’s Senior Amateur Championship.

Pierce’s round started off hot with birdies on the par-4 first, fourth and seventh holes and finished the front nine with a four on the par-5 ninth. He added another birdie on the par-3 12^th to get to 5-under, but made bogey on the par-4 12^th.

“All-in-all I’m thrilled,” said Pierce following his round. “Sixty-seven on this course is a great score for me.”

Pierce is defending his win from last year’s championship, which was held at Champions Golf Club in Houston. He posted rounds of 72-71-68 to get to 2-under overall and won in a playoff.

“Coming back this year and just seeing how many good players there are competing helped me realize what an achievement it was,” said Pierce. “As far as this week goes I’m going to try and keep doing what I’m doing and at the end of the week we’ll see where I stand.”

Durbin played in the afternoon and made an eagle on the par-5 ninth to get to 4-under-par and match the low score posted on Friday.

“I hit a really good drive and had 183 yards left, hit a seven iron to five feet and rolled it in,” said Durbin regarding his eagle on his last hole of the day.

Durbin is seeking his third victory in the Texas Senior Amateur after winning in 2021 at Westwood Golf Club and in 2019 at Deerwood Club. This is his first time playing Amarillo Country Club and he spoke about the importance of keeping the ball in the fairway.

“I think it’s critical at this golf course to drive the ball well,” said Durbin. “This is my first time being up at Amarillo Country Club and it’s a really good golf course.”

In third place is Terrence Miskell, who shot 3-under 68 in his opening round. The New Braunfels native was even-par through his first ten holes but made birdie on four of his next five holes. He dropped a shot on the par-4 eighth and made par on the ninth, which was his final hole, to finish at 3-under and one stroke behind the leaders.

Bobby Baugh of San Antonio made eagle on the par-5 18^th to finish at 2-under 69. Baugh was one of four players to finish in red numbers on the par-71 layout at Amarillo CC, which played to 6,685 yards in the First Round.

Amarillo’s Ralph Ellis posted a score of even-par 71 and sits tied for fifth. Burleson’s Lewis Stephenson equaled his even-par score on Friday and is a two-time champion of this event (2016 & 2018).

Five players finished tied for seventh at 1-over, while four players finished tied for 12^th at 2-over heading into Saturday’s second round.

Amarillo Country Club was established in 1919 and boasts a deep tradition of hosting amateur and professional events. The club hosted the Amarillo Open in 1990, which was won by Lindy Miller from Fort Worth. The course saw a renovation in 2013 by D.A. Weibring and Steve Wolfard before hosting the 2016 Women’s Senior Stroke Play and the 2018 West Texas Amateur, which are both conducted by the Texas Golf Association.

This year’s field features 144 of the top senior golfers in the state, including 10 past champions as well as the reigning Senior Player of the Year. Players earned their way into the tournament through exemptions or competing in one of five qualifiers around the state. This was the first year, the TGA installed 18-hole qualifying for the Texas Senior Amateur.

Temperatures started in the low 60s on Friday but crept up into the mid-90s by 2:00 pm. The winds also intensified for the afternoon wave with gusts out of the north up to 35 miles per hour.

The Second Round is set to begin at 7:45 am off the No. 1 and 10 tees on Saturday, September 9. Pairings can be viewed by clicking here. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 54 players and ties heading into Sunday’s Final Round.

For more information on the 86^th Texas Senior Amateur, click here. To see all the scores from the first round, click here.

86th Texas Senior Amateur Set for Sept. 8-10

Amarillo Country Club will be the host site for the 86th Texas Senior Amateur, the third of this year’s four men’s major amateur championships conducted by the Texas Golf Association (TGA). The championship, which features the state’s top amateur golfers aged 55 and older, is scheduled for Sept. 8-10.

The Texas Senior will be the third TGA championship to be held at the historic Texas Panhandle club, which previously hosted the 2016 Women’s Senior Stroke Play, won by Texas Golf Hall of Famer Carolyn Creekmore, and the 2018 West Texas Amateur, won by David Bolen.

“We are honored to be back at Amarillo Country Club and to have the opportunity to conduct one of most important championships at such a remarkable venue,” said Chris Untiedt, TGA Senior Tournament Director. “The club has been a tremendous supporter of amateur golf and it is a privilege to be working with the members and staff in providing a truly memorable experience for the players.”

Established in 1919 by banker and oilman Charles Fisk, Amarillo Country Club was the first of its kind in the region. The course was designed by William McConnell, who took advantage of the natural terrain of what was once rolling farmland to create the challenging layout. Warren Cantrell renovated the course in 1960, with additional revisions completed by Jay Morrish in 1983.

After nearly 30 years without any significant upgrades, in 2011 the membership approved an extensive modernization plan overseen by Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design. The multimillion-dollar project touched on every aspect of the course including the rerouting of several holes, regrading landing zones and approaches, repositioning tees and bunkers, and rebuilding and reshaping green complexes. To improve playing conditions, more than 350 trees were removed, a new irrigation and drainage system was installed, and the course was reseeded with cool-season grasses.

The impressive renovation produced an exacting par-71 layout, which can now stretch to nearly 7,000 yards, highlighted by twisting doglegs in both directions, deep bunkers, canted greens, and thick fescue rough around the playing perimeters.

“Amarillo has a remarkable variety of holes and is a great test of strategy and execution,” Untiedt said. “The course is going to be in fantastic condition for the championship and we are confident it will provide a tremendous arena for the talented senior amateurs to showcase their skills.”

To continue to ensure the strongest fields possible for the state’s premier senior amateur championship, an 18-hole qualifying stage has been established for all except exempt players, beginning in 2023. In addition, there are also expanded pathways into the championship through increased exemption categories, including the top players ranked in the World Amateur Golf Rankings®.

Sandy Pierce of Houston won last year’s Texas Senior Amateur in a playoff at Champions Golf Club’s Jackrabbit Course and is one of seven past champions among the 70 players who were fully exempt from having to qualify. Joining Pierce are Gary Durbin of Houston (who won in 2019 and 2021), John Derrick of Waco (2020), Lewis Stephenson of Burleson (2016, ’18), Mike Booker of Houston (2015), Mike Peck of Irving (2013), and Chuck Palmer of Dallas (2012).

Among the other exempt players are current North Senior Amateur champion John Schaefer of Plano and Texas Super Senior champion Chuck Gardner of Texarkana, as well as top finishers from the 2022 championship including Andrew Hydorn of Houston (Runner-Up), Terrence Miskell of New Braunfels (T3), Kyle Kelting of Amarillo (T3), David Ortego of Spring (T6), Lee Sandlin of Dallas (T9), and Tray Tyner of Kerrville (T9).

The remaining 74 spots in the 144-player starting field have been filled with the players who successfully advanced out of the 18-hole qualifiers held Aug. 1-22 at five sites statewide.

The format for the championship is 54 holes of individual stroke play. All contestants play 18 holes on both Sept. 8-9. After 36 holes the field will be cut to the low 54 scorers and ties heading into the final round.

Starting times and pairings for the first and second rounds will be posted on the TGA website no later than Sept. 4. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from Amarillo Country Club.

TGA Texas Two-Step Coming Soon

A new Texas Golf Association casual team competition is coming this fall, one with a creative twist that is welcoming to golfers of all levels of ability.

The Texas Two-Step is set to debut Nov. 10-12 at Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville, as part of the TGA’s popular Fun Golf Series. The new event is a retooling of the old Texas Stableford Handicap tournament to make it more accessible to a wider range of players who want to experience the excitement of playing in a good-natured competition in a relaxed environment.

Many of the same features that made the Texas Stableford so appealing are incorporated in the Texas Two-Step, including playing with a partner, using handicap indexes and flight divisions, host venue, and overall laid-back atmosphere. What has changed is how the tournament is conducted. Instead of using a Modified Stableford scoring system, the Texas Two-Step will feature styles of play that are more familiar and inclusive.

“We wanted to provide another opportunity for TGA members to get together on a great course to compete and have a good time,” said Brian Fry, TGA Foundation/Outreach Manager. “We believe the Texas Two-Step fits the bill perfectly and will be a unique and rewarding tournament experience for the players.”

The Texas Two-Step is open to all TGA members with an up-to-date WHS Handicap Index® and will have gross and net flight divisions for men’s, women’s and mixed teams. The creative twist to the new 36-hole, two-person team competition is its novel format, which will feature two different tournaments in one. On Day 1, teams will play 18 holes of best ball, then on Day 2 the format switches to an 18-hole scramble. Prizes will be awarded on both days to the lowest team scores in each division after the conclusion of play.

In a two-person best ball, each player on the team plays his or her own golf ball throughout the hole and the team uses the lowest score on the hole. In a two-person scramble, each player on the team hits a tee shot, selects the one in the better position, then both players hit their second shots from that spot. The better of the second shots is determined, and then both play their third shots from that spot, and so on until the ball is holed. The scramble format allows for each player on a team to contribute good shots and putts while minimizing an individual’s poor shots.

“These two different formats are among the most fun and entertaining ways to play a team event and will provide an enjoyable outing for everyone involved,” Fry said. “I’m really looking forward to being a part of the first Texas Two-Step ever and I know that Riverhill Country Club will be an ideal host site for the event and will roll out the red carpet for the players.”

Designed by World Golf Hall of Fame member Byron Nelson and Joe Finger, Riverhill opened for play in 1974. Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, the par-72 course offers beautiful scenery and atmosphere as it winds its way through rolling terrain, groves of centuries-old trees, and natural water features. With numerous combination tees and yardages, Riverhill is the perfect setting for a memorable test of golf for players of all ages and abilities.

Registration for the Texas Two-Step will open at 9 a.m. on Sept. 1. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join the TGA this fall for a casual weekend getaway filled with competition and camaraderie at wonderful Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville. For more information about the Texas Two-Step, click here.

48th Texas Four-Ball Set for Aug. 18-20

The 48th Texas Four-Ball, the second of this year’s four men’s major amateur championships, will be played Aug. 18-20 at Pinecrest Country Club in Longview.

This will be the first TGA championship held at the historic East Texas club, which recently marked its 100th anniversary.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to conduct one of our premier championships at Pinecrest Country Club,” said Chris Untiedt, TGA Senior Tournament Director. “We know the membership and staff will provide a fantastic championship experience and the players will enjoy competing on this wonderful course.”

Founded in 1921, Pinecrest Country Club began as a nine-hole course with sand greens. The club expanded to 18 holes in 1958 and was designed by Press Maxwell, son of famed golf course architect Perry Maxwell. Although not long by today’s standards, the 6,541-yard, par-70 layout offers up plenty of challenges with narrow fairways lined by towering pine trees, contoured greens guarded by deep bunkers, and water coming into play on many holes.

“Pinecrest is a very strategic course with numerous risk-reward opportunities throughout the round,” Untiedt said. “It encourages teams to play aggressively and is certain to make for an exciting championship.”

The 48th Texas Four-Ball will feature three divisions: Championship, Senior (age 55 and older), and Super Senior (age 65 and older). The starting field limit is 80 teams, with 48 spots allotted to the Championship Division, 20 to the Senior Division, and 12 to the Super Senior Division. The three divisions compete from different sets of tees and yardages, with separate champions recognized in each division.

The format for the championship is 54 holes of four-ball stroke play. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the lowest 40 team scores and ties, with a pro-rated representation from each division.

Starting times and pairings for the first and second rounds will be posted on the TGA website no later than Aug. 16. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from Pinecrest Country Club.

At the 2022 championship held at Comanche Trace in Kerrville, the San Antonio team of Chase Clayton and Josh Logan posted a 54-hole total of 21-under-par 195 to win the Championship Division by three shots over Chris Donahoe of Austin and Will Dusenbury of Bulverde. Mike Booker of Houston and Pat Youngs of San Antonio finished at 23-under 193 to claim a two-stroke victory in the Senior Division over Chris Goodspeed of Farmers Branch and Bill Steen of Frisco. Tom Burns of Houston and Michael Puls of Irving also carded a three-day total of 23-under 193 to win the Super Senior Division by seven over Hollis Sullivan of Westworth Village and Steve Whiteside of Midland.

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.