Regional Mid-Amateurs Set for March 24-26

The Texas Golf Association’s 2023 men’s regional tournament series continues this month with the North and South Mid-Amateurs. The championships will be held concurrently from March 24-26.

The North Mid-Amateur will be played at Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club in Rockwall. The Clubs of Kingwood’s Forest Course in Kingwood will be the host site for the South Mid-Amateur.

Situated along the northeastern edge of Lake Ray Hubbard, Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club (formerly The Shores Country Club) was originally designed by Ralph Plummer and opened in 1979. Jeffery Blume supervised a comprehensive remodel of the course in 2012. The Forest Course at The Clubs of Kingwood, considered the most challenging of the five layouts at the 90-hole facility, opened in 1992 and was designed by the architectural firm of Finger Dye Spann, Inc.

First played in 2003, Regional Mid-Amateur entries are open to male amateur golfers who are 25 years of age or older by the tournament start date, have an up-to-date WHS Handicap Index® not exceeding 8.4 issued through a member club of the TGA, and reside in the region relative to their respective championship. The delineation between the North and South regions is the 31st parallel in Salado.

Both championships are conducted using the same competitive format. The starting field of 84 players will play 54 holes of individual stroke play over three days with no cut. In addition to crowning an overall champion, special recognition will be given to the low mid-master (player aged 40 and older). The top three finishers and ties in each event, as well as low mid-master, will earn exemptions into this year’s Texas Mid-Amateur to be held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Midland Country Club in Midland.

Starting times and pairings for the first and second rounds will be posted on the TGA website no later than March 21. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from Rockwall Golf & Athletic Club and The Clubs of Kingwood.

At last year’s North Mid-Amateur, hosted by Paris Golf & Country Club in Paris, Jason Schultz of Allen won the overall division in a playoff over Scott Maurer of Dallas. The two finished tied at 7-under-par 203 at the end of regulation play. Schultz also claimed low mid-master honors. Daniel Depasquale of Austin posted a 54-hole total of 6-over 222 at Forest Creek Golf Club in Round Rock to capture both the overall and mid-master titles at the 2022 South Mid-Amateur.

In Memoriam: Diane Dill, 1936-2023

Rose Diane Dupree was born on July 21, 1936, in Gilmer, Texas to Jake and Ruth Dupree. As the only child of Jake and Ruth, she was the apple of their eyes. Diane loved athletics and the outdoors. She played football in the front yard with the boys in the neighborhood, always being the quarterback. She played baseball and tennis, and at the age of 14, she discovered true excitement in golf. She would play with her parents and other kids who were around.

Diane attended Gilmer schools while growing up. She was in the Gilmer Buckeye marching band, where she played trombone. Gilmer is home to the cherished tradition known as the East Texas Yamboree. It is a good-old fashioned small-town festival. It typically draws over 100,000 people to the small community. The annual four-day event is held each October to celebrate the yam cash crop. In 1953, Diane was selected to be Queen Yam XVI. She presided over the Queen’s coronation and the Queen’s parade and all the festivities during the Yamboree. The floats are built by Upshur County Schools. The float that wins First Place is the Queen’s Float in the parade on Saturday. Diane always loved this fabulous experience in her young life and being Queen Yam. She loved her East Texas roots.

After graduating from Gilmer High School, Diane attended the University of Texas. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority and earned a Bachelor of Business degree.

After Diane graduated from the University of Texas, she started playing golf with local friends. Wanting to be more competitive, she started taking lessons from a golf pro at the Humble Country Club in Pasadena. He helped refine her swing. His name was Bill Dill. Not only did Diane love golf, she loved and adored Bill Dill. The feeling was mutual, and Diane and Bill married in June 1963. Although Bill was 11 years older than Diane, it was a match made in heaven. They were inseparable and shared a love of hunting, fishing, traveling, cooking and of course, golf. Together they became the stars of Bentwater Country Club. Many of their closest friends are gathered today in Diane’s honor.

The team of Bill and Diane taught so many to play and enjoy golf. Diane’s amateur legacy is impressive, as she had 14 holes in one and played in two US Women’s Amateurs. She won six Women’s Senior Strike Play tournaments and captured the Super Senior and Legends Divisions three times. When Diane could no longer play because of a back injury, she volunteered for the Women’s TGA and attended the USGA Rules School. Volunteering for the TGA allowed her to be on the courses with young ladies at the collegiate and professional level. Diane volunteered at over 20 events and helped the TGA conduct top tier women’s championships. Diane was a TGA Director on the Women’s Committee, as well.

In 1958, Diane began her career with Humble Oil, which became Exxon. She joined the Marketing Department. Who could have been better to be an ambassador for the company than a talented, organized, and friendly young lady with a degree in business from the University of Texas?

In 1977, Diane became an analyst in administration where she handled management development and compensation.

Diane retired in 1988, after 30 years of service and received many professional accolades over those years.

In her leisure time, Diane found joy and great passion in golf. Her competitive spirit, drive and determination made her a shining star for others to follow. Her devotion to golf brought respect and honor to her while impacting many others along the way.

Dear Diane lived a dream life, a full life by every measure. She was showered with God’s countless blessings of having doting and loving parents, having a marriage to her wonderful soul mate, Bill Dill, living an honored professional life, and being surrounded with loving family and friends.

Diane is survived by her stepson Johnny Dill and his family Tara Ward, Brian Stewart, and daughter Ava, stepdaughter Mary Lou Dill, and is predeceased by stepdaughter Billie June Wilson, cousins Mike and Cathy Bullard, Courtney Duperier and husband Chris, Ross Bullard and their families, cousins Paul and Beverly Rowntree, Christopher and Brandi Rowntree, Michael and Alicia Rowntree, Matthew and Rachel Rowntree and their families.

May the Lord Bless you and keep you, Diane.

To make a donation in the memory of Diane Dill, click here.

Fulmer and Alden Win South Four-Ball

Date: February 26, 2023

Contact: Justin Guthrie, Texas Golf Association

Phone: (214) 468-8942

Email: [email protected]

Briefly: Austen Fulmer and Jonathan Alden overcome a two-shot deficit in final round to win the 2023 South Four-Ball. The duo from Cedar Park finished with a tournament score of 129, 15-under par, after rounds of 64 and 65. This was good for a one shot victory of a crowded leaderboard with 19 teams under par for the weekend.

Final Results

Golf Course: Vaaler Creek Golf Club, located off U.S. Highway 281 between Austin and San Antonio, opened in 2009 and was designed by Michael Lowry. The par-72 course played approximately 6,864 yards for this year’s South Four-Ball.

Weather: The weekend consisted of mostly cloudy and overcast skies during the South Four-Ball. Cool mornings and warmer afternoons were a consistent trend for the player. Along with a one hour and 15-miunte fog delay Sunday morning, players had to navigate wind gusts up to 30 mph.

Top Finishers: Fulmer and Alden finished the weekend bogey free while carding one eagle and 13 birdies. The pairs strongest golf came when it mattered most down the stretch on Sunday afternoon. Trailing by two strokes on the 14^th tee the team went birdie, birdie, birdie on holes 14, 15, and 16 to take a one-shot lead over the field. Back-to-back pars on the two closing holes was enough to take the clubhouse lead at 15-under par, and ultimately win the tournament.

Finishing one shot off the lead in second place was the team of Thomas Immenschuh and Sean Ferris. Round one leaders Carson Cooper and Grant Doggett finished in third place with a score of 131, 13-under par. Tied for fourth place was Colin Peck/Warren Smith and Marshall Roenigk/Nickolas Martinez. Both teams finished at 9-under par, 135.

Regional POY: South Player of the Year points will be awarded to the top finishers at the 2023 South Four-Ball. The winning team will receive 400 points, followed by 250 for second, 200 for third, 150 for fourth, and 100 for fifth. Points will be awarded to both players on the team individually. For Regional POY information, click here.

What’s Next: The South Regional Series will head to The Clubs of Kingwood for the 2023 South Mid-Amateur. The event will be played March 24-26 on the Forest Course.

Registration for the 114^th Texas Amateur is currently open and will close on March 29 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 and members of Vaaler Creek Golf Club as well as our volunteers for their integral part in making the South Four-Ball a memorable and successful event. For more information on the South Four-Ball, click here.

Petruzzelli, Brown and Jackson Win at Spring Preview

College Station, Texas – Andrew Petruzzelli fired a blistering 8-under par 63 in the Final Round to win the Spring Preview’s Boys 15-18 Division at The Golf Club at Texas A&M. Shyla Brown captured the Girls 12-18 Division, winning in a four-hole playoff while Henry Jackson won in the Boys 14 & Under Division.

Winners: Dallas’s Petruzzelli trailed by two strokes heading into Sunday’s Final Round. He finished with rounds of 66-63 to get to 13-under 129 overall and three strokes ahead of the field. Andrews’ round came together on the back nine as he fired a 7-under par 29 coming in.  The almost course record 63 was an amazing score as the leaders fought 20-30 mph winds throughout their round.  Shyla Brown of Dallas captured the Girls 12-18 Division winning in a 4-hole playoff over Maelynn Kim. She overcame a rough mid round stretch to claim her first LJT victory in her first start. Henry Jackson of Lantana won the Boys 14 & Under Division holding onto his first round lead and claiming his 2^nd LJT victory. Roberts finished the tournament at 3-over par 145.

Top Finishers: Austin’s Trenton Mierl followed up his first round 64 with a final round 68 to finish second behind Petruzzelli by 3 strokes. Katy’s Shauak Nair matched the low score of the day with an 8-under par 63 of his own to climb the leaderboard all the way up to third place.  First round leader, The Woodland’s Austin Hofferkamp fought through an illness and held on for a 4^th place at 6-under par.  Montgomery’s Tyler Sanford finished up his tournament in 5^th place after a final round 5-under par 66. In the Girls 12-18 Division, Katy’s Maelynn Kim finished runner-up in the Spring Preview for the second straight year.  Maelynn started the day 3 shots behind the first round leader Brown.  That deficit quickly turned into 6 shots through the first 3 holes, but Maelynn fought back to post a final round 72 to force the 4-hole sudden-death playoff. The Woodland’s Veronika Exposito finished third finishing at 4 over par for the tournament.  Austin’s Claire Wan and Mansfield’s Lauren Madson finished in a tie for 4^th at 5-over par. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, College Station’s Ryan (Woojin) Lee finished second, one shot behind Jackson and Austin’s Dylan Knox finished third, two shots behind the leader.  Selma’s Aadi Parmar finished fourth at 6-over with Prosper’s Grant Clapp rounding out the top 5 at 8-over par.

Weather: Sunday’s weather started with temperatures in the mid-60s and calm winds.  Conditions would quickly change by the time the leaders teed off as the temperature rose into the low 80’s and the calm wind transformed into very gusty conditions with winds topping of over 30 mph at times.

Host Course: The Golf Club at Texas A&M is hosting the Spring Preview for the second time in the event’s 18-year history. The club took on a $5 million renovation in 2013 and Texas A&M’s own Jeff Blume handled the redesign. The par-71 course is playing at around 6,700 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,300 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,800 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.

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.

Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour heads to Gladewater on March 13-15 for the Texas Cup Invitational. Tempest Golf Club is hosting the first Boys Major event in 2023 and the 84-player field will be set on March 2.

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

Hofferkamp, Mierl, Brown, and Jackson lead at Spring Preview

College Station, Texas – Trenton Mierl and Austin Hofferkamp both fire a 7-under par 64 in the opening round of the Spring Preview to lead the Boys 15-18 Division at The Golf Club at Texas A&M. Shyla Brown leads the Girls 12-18 Division at 4–under par 67, while Henry Jackson leads the Boys 14 & Under Division at 2–under par 69. 

Leaders: Mierl of Austin and Hofferkamp of The Woodlands tied for the best round on Saturday at The Golf Club at Texas A&M. Mierl’s round consisted of seven birdies and zero bogeys, while Hofferkamps scorecard had a little bit of everything. He tallied a total of one eagle, seven birdies, and two bogeys. Dallas’s Brown leads by three strokes in the Girls 12-18 Division after shooting 67 in the first round. Brown had a clean card with no bogeys and 4 birdies, with her last one coming on her final hole of the day, the par 4 ninth.  Jackson of Lantana leads the Boys 14 & Under Division by two strokes after shooting a 2-under par 69. He tallied three birdies and one lone bogey, coming on the par 4 16th. 

In Contention: Andrew Petruzzelli of Dallas sits two strokes behind Mierl and Hofferkamp heading into Sunday’s final round of the Boys 15-18 Division. Rounding out the top 5 include Wimblery’s Jaxon Donaldson and Dallas’s Martin Kemp at 4-under par, three strokes off the lead. Two players are tied for second place in the Girls 15-18 Division. Maelynn Kim and Veronika Exposito will play with Brown in the final ground, sitting three strokes back. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Ryan (Woojin) Lee and Dylan Knox are tied for second at even par, while there is a three-way tie for fourth place. Declan Dent, Grant Clapp, and Aadi Parmar all sit at one-over par, three strokes off the lead.  

Weather: The morning started off chilly with cloudy skies, temperatures in the 50’s and a brisk wind. As the sun came out, temperatures crept up around 80 degrees in the afternoon with 10 mph winds. 

Host Course: The Golf Club at Texas A&M is hosting the Spring Preview for the second time in the event’s 18-year history. The club took on a $5 million renovation in 2013 and Texas A&M’s own Jeff Blume handled the redesign. The par-71 course is playing at around 6,700 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,300 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,800 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division. 

What’s at Stake: This is the third Open Event on the LJT schedule in 2023 and player of the year points are going to be awarded to the top half of each division. Along with points, the top finishers will get AJGA Stars and exemptions into future LJT Majors like the Bluebonnet Championship, Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship and Texas Junior Amateur. The event is ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard and Golfweek. 

Next Up:  Pairings for the Final Round of the Spring Preview are available and can be viewed by clicking here. Players will be teeing off of both #1 and #10 tees between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. 

To see all the scores from Saturday’s first round, click here. For more information on the LJT Spring Preview, click here. 

Regional Four-Balls Set for Feb. 25-26

The Texas Golf Association’s 2023 men’s tournament schedule kicks off with the North and South Regional Four-Ball Championships. The season openers will be held concurrently from Feb. 25-26.

The North Four-Ball will be played on The Courses at Watters Creek’s Traditions Course in Plano. Vaaler Creek Golf Club in Blanco will be the host site for the South Four-Ball.

Opened in 1986, the Traditions Course at Watters Creek was originally designed by Robert von Hagge and Bruce Devlin. It was remodeled by D.A. Weibring and Golf Resources Group in 2012. Vaaler Creek Golf Club, located off U.S. Highway 281 between Austin and San Antonio, opened in 2009 and was designed by Michael Lowry.

First played in 2003, Regional Four-Ball entries are open to two-player teams of male amateur golfers with each member of the team having an up-to-date WHS Handicap Index® not exceeding 8.4 issued through a member club of the TGA and residing in the region relative to their respective championship. The delineation between the North and South regions is the 31st parallel in Salado.

Both championships are conducted using the same competitive format. The starting field of 44 teams (88 players) will play 36 holes of four-ball stroke play over two days with no cut. Regional performance points, which are applied to the yearlong North and South Player of the Year races, are awarded to the top five team finishers.

Starting times and pairings for the first round will be posted on the TGA website no later than Feb. 21. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from The Courses at Watters Creek and Vaaler Creek Golf Club.

At last year’s North Four-Ball, three teams were tied for the lead at 12-under-par 132 after 36 holes of regulation play at Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater. Bobby Massa and Christopher Wheeler would go on to capture the title with a birdie on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff. Ryan Haselden and Matt Williams carded rounds of 68-68 to win the 2022 South Four-Ball at Sterling Country Club in Houston. Their 36-hole, 8-under 136 total was good for a one-shot victory over Jason Coffin and Vincent Martino.

Hurd, Loya, and Parmar win at Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic

BURNET – Austin’s Sterling Hurd cards final round even-par 72 to win the Boys 15-18 Division with a two-day total of five-under-par 139. Marissa Loya of San Antonio won the Girls 12-18 Division by three shots with a two-day total of two-over-par 146. Aadi Parmar of Selma captured the Boys 14 & Under Division title with a two-day total of six-under-par 138.

Full Leaderboard

Champions: Hurd continued his consistent play on Sunday to go back-to-back as champion of the Boys 15-18 Division at the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic. Hurd’s stellar play over the weekend included eight birdies, with only one bogey and one double bogey. His two-day total of five-under-par 139 was good enough to win the division by five strokes, and he was the only player to finish under par in the division for the event.

Loya started off the day a bit rocky going out on the back at four-over 39, but she turned it around when it mattered most making three birdies on her final nine, coming in at two-under 35. Loya’s two round total of two-over-par 146 was enough to win the division by three strokes. This was Loya’s first LJT victory.

Selma’s Aadi Parmar came out firing and never let up over the weekend. His second round three-under-par 69 included five birdies and just two bogeys. His pair of 69’s was enough to win the Boys 14 & Under Division by five strokes.

In Contention: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Austin’s Jaxon Bandelier, San Antonio’s Nathan Marion, and Trenton Mierl of Austin tied for second with two-day totals of even- par 144.

In the Girls 12-18 Division, Lydia Portlock of San Antonio and Dallas’ Leya Glazer each shot a two-over-par 74 to tie for second at 5-over 149 overall.

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Houston’s Austin Le shot three-under-par 69 on the day to finish in second place with a two-day total one-under-par 143. Emerson Majma of Edmond, Oklahoma carded a four-under-par 68 on Sunday, leaving him in third place at even-par 144.

Course: Delaware Springs Golf Club is located in the heart of Hill Country in Burnet, TX. The course is cradled by the trees and gentle rolling hills near the Highland Lakes. Picturesque and challenging, this course played from 6,800 yards for the Boys Division, 6,300 for the Boy’s 14 and Under Division and 5,900 yards for the Girl’s Division.

Tournament Format: The Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic is a 36-hole stroke play event for players with an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. Players ages 12-18 are split into three different divisions: Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18 and Boys 14 & Under. The event is ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard, Golfweek and has AJGA Performance Stars that will be handed out to the top finishers.

What’s Next: The LJT will host the Texas Girls’ Invitational on February 18-20 at Victoria Country Club. For information about the tournament, click here.

About the LJT: The Legends Junior Tour is part of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance, which is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern PGA and Houston Golf Association. The tour operates as part of the Texas Golf Association and its foundation. Since its inception in 2005, the tour has provided funds to promote junior golf initiatives while conducting some of the state’s top junior championships including the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, Texas Junior Amateur and the Texas Girls’ Invitational as well as the Texas Cup Invitational.

Hurd, Loya and Parmar Lead Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic

Burnet – Austin’s Sterling Hurd leads the Boys 15-18 Division following the first round of the 2023 Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic. He carded an impressive 5-under-par 67. Marissa Loya of San Antonio posted an even-par 72 and leads the Girls 12-18 Division. Aadi Parmar of Selma leads the Boys 14 & Under Division following an opening 3-under-par 69.

Full Leaderboard

Division Leaders: Hurd was the definition of consistency en route to his first-round lead of the Boys 15-18 Division. He carded a bogey-free round with five birdies, including three on par-5’s. Hurd, who is looking to go back-to-back after his victory in 2022, leads his division by one with 18 holes left to play. In the Girls 12-18 Division, Loya battled her way to the top of the field. She carded three birdies and three bogeys to give her a three-stroke lead. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Parmar carded four birdies to jump out to a commanding five-stroke lead headed into Sunday’s final round.

In Contention: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Trenton Mierl of Austin posted a 4-under-par 68. He sits one shot off the lead thanks to six opening round birdies. San Antonio’s Nathan Marion sits in third place, with a first round 1-under-par 71. In the Girls 12-18 Division, there is a three-player tie for second place. Austin’s Sydney Givens, Dallas’ Leya Glazer, and San Antonio’s Lydia Portlock all sit three strokes off the lead following first round 3-over-par 75’s. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Austin Le of Houston sits five strokes off the lead in second place. His opening round 2-over-par 74 included three birdies. There is a three player tie for third place in the division after Oklahoma’s Emerson Majma, Prosper’s Grant Clapp, and Houston’s Nate Tipton all carded 4-over-par 76’s.

Course: Delaware Springs Golf Club is located in the heart of Hill Country in Burnet, TX. The course is cradled by the trees and gentle rolling hills near the Highland Lakes. Picturesque and challenging, this course played from 6,800 yards for the Boys Division, 6,300 for the Boy’s 14 and Under Division and 5,900 yards for the Girl’s Division.

Weather: Heavy fog delayed tee times for 45 minutes in the morning and temperatures ranged from the low 40’s in the morning to a high in the low 60’s during the afternoon. Winds ranged from 5 to 20 miles per hour throughout the round.

Tournament Format: The Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic is a 36-hole stroke play event for players with an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. Players ages 12-18 are split into three different divisions: Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18 and Boys 14 & Under. The event is ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard, Golfweek and has AJGA Performance Stars that will be handed out to the top finishers.

What’s Next: The Final Round of the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic is scheduled for Sunday, February 5th with tee times going off the No. 1 and 10 tees. To see pairings for the final round, click here.

For more information on the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic, click here.

About the LJT: The Legends Junior Tour is part of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance, which is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern PGA and Houston Golf Association. The tour operates as part of the Texas Golf Association and its foundation. Since its inception in 2005, the tour has provided funds to promote junior golf initiatives while conducting some of the state’s top junior championships including the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, Texas Junior Amateur and the Texas Girls’ Invitational as well as the Texas Cup Invitational.

Delarosa, Arts and Knox Win Winter Classic

Dallas – Dallas’s Ben Delarosa captured his second LJT win at the 2023 Winter Classic at 5-under 139 after carding a 1-over 73 in the final round. Jordyn Arts held onto her one-shot lead to claim the girls division title at 1-over 145. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Dylan Knox claims his first LJT victory in dramatic fashion.

Full Leaderboard

Division Leaders: Ben Delarosa claims his second LJT title at the Winter Classic after a final round of 1-over 73. The 2019 Texas Junior Amateur Boys 14 & under division champion started his round with a four shot lead and kept the field at arm’s length throughout the day. Delarosa went out in 1-under 35, which allowed him to coast to victory coming down the back nine. After a final score of 1-over 73, Trophy Club’s Jordyn Arts found herself with a two-shot victory in the Girls 12-18 Division. Arts made four birdies on the day, including a pair on holes #4 and #5, one of the tougher stretches on the course. After a tight two-hole playoff, Dylan Knox took home the Boys 14U division title after a par on the second playoff hole.

In Contention: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Prosper’s Ryan Shellberg carded a second round of 3-under 69 to finish at 2-under 142 and secure a second-place finish. Houston’s Charlie Wylie finished solo third after a final round of 1-under 71 & tournament score of 1-under 143. Benton’s Noah McWilliams finished in fourth at even par 144, and Corinth’s Nathan Zmolik took home fifth at 1-over 145. In the Girls 12-18 Division, Plano’s Summer Lee finished two shots back at 3-over 147. Spicewood’s Emma Von Hoffmann and San Antonio’s Dresden Bounds finished tied for third at 8-over 152. Rounding out the top five are Mansfield’s Lauren Madson and Austin’s Sydney Givens at 10-over 154. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, College Station’s Ryan (Woojin) Lee finished runner up at 12-over 156. Austin’s Luciano Follmer finished solo third after posting a 13-over 157.

Weather: Temperatures for the final round at Dallas Athletic Club’s Blue Course were around 40 degrees for the first tee time and warmed up into the low-50’s by the early afternoon. The winds picked up Sunday afternoon with speeds ranging from 15-20 mph.

Course: Dallas Athletic Club is hosting the Winter Classic for the 14th straight year. The Blue Course was originally designed Ralph Plummer and then remodeled by Jack Nicklaus in 1984. Nicklaus won the 1963 PGA Championship, which was held at Dallas Athletic Club. The course stretches out to 6,700 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,200 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and close to 6,000 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.

Tournament Format: The Winter Classic is a 36-hole stroke play event for players with an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. Players ages 12-18 are split into three different divisions. The event is ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard, Golfweek and has AJGA Performance Stars that will be handed out to the top finishers.

Player of the Year Points:  Ben Delarosa, Jordyn Arts and Dylan Knox 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.

What’s Next: The LJT travels to the hill country for the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic at Delaware Springs Golf Course in Burnet on February 4-5. You can find more information on the tournament homepage here.

About the LJT: The Legends Junior Tour is part of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance, which is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The Tour operates as part of the Texas Golf Association and its Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. Since its inception in 2005, the Tour has provided more than $250,000 to promote junior golf initiatives and exposure to the game to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity across the state.

To learn more about the Winter Classic, click here.

Delarosa, Arts, and Lewis Lead at Winter Classic

Dallas – Ben Delarosa shot 6-under 66 in the first round of the Winter Classic, leading the Boys 15-18 Division by four strokes heading into the final round at Dallas Athletic Club’s Blue Course. Jordyn Arts leads the Girls 12-18 Division after posting a first round of even par 72, while Cameron Lewis holds a two-shot lead in the Boys 14 & Under Division after a 4-over 76 in the first round.  

Full Leaderboard 

Division Leaders: Dallas’s Ben Delarosa carded the low round of the day at 6-under 66. Delarosa rolled in seven birdies, highlighted by three in a row on holes #4, #5 and #6. He currently holds a four-shot lead over five players tied for second. Trophy Club’s Jordyn Arts finished he rounds at even par to lead the Girls 12-18 Division by one shot. Arts recorded birdies on the par 3 fourth, par 5 tenth, and par 4 18^th. Dallas’s Cameron Lewis carded a pair of birdies in the first round, en route to a 4-over 76 and a two-shot lead the Boys 14 & Under Division.  

In Contention: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Dallas’s Aidan Dortch, Selma’s Shiv Parmar, Plano’s Alex Huang, Spring’s Asher Vargas, and The Hill’s Ethan Dufresne all sit tied for second after the first round. Each player carded a first round of 2-under 70. In the Girls 12-18 Division, Mansfield’s Lauren Madson, Wichita’s Meg Tilma, and San Antonio’s Dresden Bounds are all tied for second after posting rounds of 1-over 73. Plano’s Summer Lee currently sits in fifth place after a first round score of 2-over 74. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Austin’s Dylan Knox is currently second at 6-over 78. Wichita’s Kaden Leivian, Southlake’s Preston Mohon, and College Station’s Ryan Lee are tied for third at 7-over 79.  

Weather: Temperatures started in the mid 40’s when play began and rose into the mid 50’s by the afternoon. Light winds made for great scoring conditions for players throughout the day.  

Course: Dallas Athletic Club is hosting the Winter Classic for the 14th straight year. The Blue Course was originally designed Ralph Plummer and then remodeled by Jack Nicklaus in 1984. Nicklaus won the 1963 PGA Championship, which was held at Dallas Athletic Club. The course stretches out to 6,700 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,200 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and close to 6,000 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.  

Tournament Format: The Winter Classic is a 36-hole stroke play event for players with an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. Players ages 12-18 are split into three different divisions. The event is ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard, Golfweek and has AJGA Performance Stars that will be handed out to the top finishers.  

What’s Next: The final round of the Winter Classic is set for Sunday, January 22 with tee times going off the No. 1 and 10 tees starting at 8:00 am. Pairings for Sunday are drawn according to score from the first round and can be found by clicking here. 

About the LJT: The Legends Junior Tour is part of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance, which is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The Tour operates as part of the Texas Golf Association and its Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. Since its inception in 2005, the Tour has provided more than $300,000 to promote junior golf initiatives and exposure to the game to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity across the state.  

To learn more about the Winter Classic, click here.