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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.

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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 17th. 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.


Fall Challenge

Cross Timbers Golf Course

September 30-October 1, 2023

Tournament Information
Date: September 30-October 1, 2023
Host Club: Cross Timbers Golf Course
LJT Staff Contact: Tournament Coordinator - Harris Milson

Entry & Eligibility Information
Entries Open: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Entries Close: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at 5:00 PM

Entry Fee: $300

Eligibility: Players must have a current membership with a member of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. Players can renew or sign up with the Northern Texas PGA or the Southern Texas PGA membership to be eligible.

Entry Procedure: Players will be added to the field according to the Priority Entry System immediately following the close of registration. For more information on the Priority Entry System, please check the LJT Eligibility & Entry Procedures.

Fall Challenge Priority Entry Criteria:

  • Champion of 2022 LJT Event
  • Finished in top 10 of any 2023 LJT Event (Girls – Top 5)
  • Finished in top 5 of any 2023 NTPGA All American Tour or STPGA Prestige Tour Event (Girls – Top 3)
  • Top 50 on 2023 LJT Player of the Year Points List (Girls – Top 20)
  • Top 750 in Junior Golf Scoreboard overall rankings (Girls – Top 500)

Championship Information

Format/Field Size: Play will be contested over 36 holes of individual stroke play. The field is limited to 84 players.

Divisions: Boys 15-18, Boys 14 & Under, Girls 12-18

Practice Round Information: Players will be responsible for making their own tee times with the club no earlier than seven days prior to the practice round date. The official practice round date is Friday, September 29 for the agreed upon price of $35. Please call the golf shop at (817) 444-4940 to schedule an official practice round.

Cancellation/Withdrawal Policy: The cancellation deadline is 10 days prior to the tournament start date. For refund details please check the LJT Championship Policies.

Caddies: Caddies will NOT be permitted for the event. Rule 10.3a will be modified in this way: A player must not have a caddie during the round.

Spectator Carts: Spectator carts are allowed and can be rented from the club for $30 per person.  Spectators that rent carts must follow LJT Spectator Policy when operating the cart.

For complete championship information, click here.



Schedule of Events

Wednesday, June 14
9:00 AM - Registration Opens

Wednesday, September 13
5:00 PM - Registration Closes

Thursday, September 14
10:00 AM - Players Added to Field

Friday, September 22
10:00 AM - Players May Contact Club for Practice Round

Wednesday, September 27
3:00 PM - Pairings Released

Friday, September 29
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Official Practice Rounds

Saturday, September 30
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM - Round 1 Tee Times off No. 1 & 10
3:00 PM - Pairings Made for Final Round

Sunday, October 1
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM - Round 2 Tee Times off No. 1 & 10

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Harper, Kim and Jackson Win the Fall Challenge

Briefly: Luke Harper of Dallas cruised in with a 67 on the final day to finish the tournament at 8-under par and secure the Boys Division of the Fall Challenge at Nutcracker Golf Club in Granbury. Ashley Kim of Westlake won the Girls Division at 4-under, while Henry Jackson from Lantana won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 2-under.  This was the first Legends Junior Tour win for all three champions.

Full Leaderboard

Division Winners: Luke Harper eagled the 16th hole and followed that up with a birdie on the 17th hole to pull away from a tight field of golfers to finish the tournament at 8-under 136. The first time LJT winner showed the poise of a champion down the stretch. In the Girls Division, Ashley Kim fired a 3-under par round of 69 to finish with a 3-stroke victory.  Ashley was 4-under par on her first nine holes, including an eagle on the 11th hole.  She finished the tournament with a statement birdie on her final hole to post 4-under par 140. Henry Jackson played steady golf over both days of the event and was the only player in his division to shoot under par in each round.  Jackson posted matching 71’s to finish the tournament at 2-under par 142.

Top Finishers: In the Boys Division, finishing in a three way tie for second was Blake Taylor of Mansfield, Austin Hofferkamp of The Woodlands and San Antonio’s Matt Pawly who all finished the tournament at 6-under par 138.  Rounding out the top 5 was Southlake’s Jason Lew who finished at 5 -under par 139. In the Girls Division, Lauren Madson of Arlington finished second at 1-under par, while Prosper’s Lucy Kate Smith and Dallas’s Adrienne Ahn wound up in a tie for third at 1-over. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Austin’s Luciano Follmer and College Station’s Ryan Lee finished in a tie for second two strokes behind the leader. Houston’s Mason An wound up fourth with a 4-over per total of 148.

Golf Course: Nutcracker Golf Club, located in Granbury, TX is hosting the Fall Challenge for the first time. It was designed by Lee Singletary and opened in 1992. The course was initially carved out of the Leonard Bend Pecan Orchard and still features those same Pecan trees which line its fairways.  The course will play to 6805 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,495 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,944 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.

Weather: Temperatures started in the lower 60s for the final round and crept up into the mid 80s. Bright sunshine and a light breeze made for perfect conditions.

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. 9-10. The 84-player field will take on the Lozano Golf Center 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.

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Campbell, Ahn and Jackson Lead Fall Challenge

Briefly: Eli Walker Campbell of Richmond fired a 6-under 66 in the opening round of the Fall Challenge and leads the Boys Division by one stroke at The Nutcracker Golf Club in Granbury. Dallas’s Adrienne Ahn leads the Girls Division after shooting 2-under 70 on Saturday, while Lantana’s Henry Jackson leads the Boys 14 & Under Division at 1-under.

Full Leaderboard

Leaders: Eli Walker Campbell made four birdies and an eagle on the par 5 sixteenth to get to 6-under overall and one stroke lead in the Boys 15-18 Division. Campbell started his day on the back nine and blistered that side with a 5 under par 31.  He leveled out on the front nine posting eight straight pars until his birdie on the par 5 ninth to finish with a bogey free 66.  Adrienne Ahn holds a one-stroke lead in the Girls Division after shooting 2-under 70 in the first round. She played a solid round coupling four birdies with only 2 bogeys. Henry Jackson holds a slim 2 shot lead in the Boys 14 & Under Division after shooting 1-under on Saturday. Jackson made four birdies against 3 bogeys in his first round.  His late birdie on the picturesque par 3 seventeenth hole got him under par for the day.

In Contention: In the Boys Division, Matt Pawley fired a 5 under par 67 to trail Campbell by one stroke. Elijah Estonilo birdied his last 2 holes to finish the day at 4 under par 68 and is 2 strokes behind the leader. Three players are tied for fourth at 3-under including Jason Lew Southlake, Luke Harper of Dallas and Austin Hofferkamp of The Woodlands.  In the Girls Division, Ashley Kim of Westlake trails Ahn after shooting 1-under 71 at The Nutcracker Golf Club.  Lauren Madison of Arlington sits in third place at even-par, while Camille Pazouki of San Antonio, Raleygh Simpson of Kerrville and Lucy Kate Smith of Prosper are tied for fourth at 2-over. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Ryan Lee of College Station sits 2 back at 1-over par 73 with Luciano Follmer of Austin at one stroke behind him at 2-over par 74.

Golf Course: Nutcracker Golf Club, located in Granbury, TX is hosting the Fall Challenge for the first time. It was designed by Lee Singletary and opened in 1992. The course was initially carved out of the Leonard Bend Pecan Orchard and still features those same Pecan trees which line its fairways.  The course will play to 6805 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,495 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,944 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.

Weather: Temperatures started in the 50s and crept up to the mid-80s under sunny skies. Winds were light as Mother Nature provided the competitors with a perfect day for golf.

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 2nd. 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.

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Cooper, Han and Logis Win Fall Challenge

Briefly: Preston Cooper of Dallas made birdie on the first playoff hole to secure the Boys Division of the Fall Challenge at The Rawls Course. Jiyu Han of Cedar Park won the Girls Division at 2-under, while Nicholas Logis of Austin won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 7-under.

Full Leaderboard

Division Winners: Preston Cooper was tied with Brian Comegys at 7-under 137 following 36 holes and the two went into a sudden-death playoff to declare the champion. Cooper went first on the par-3 10th and stuck his tee shot to just inside of 10 feet, while Comegys found the left side of the green about 40 feet away. Comegys lagged up close and tapped in his par, but Cooper left no doubt as his birdie putt went into the middle of the hole. He picked up his first win with the Legends Junior Tour. Jiyu Han played consistent golf in the West Texas winds, carding two rounds of 1-under 71 to get to 2-under overall and two strokes ahead of the Girls Division. Han is the current Girls 12-18 Division Player of the Year leader and picked up her first win of the season on Sunday. Nicholas Logis completed his wire-to-wire victory in the Boys 14 & Under Division, shooting 6-under 66 in the first round and 1-under 71 in the second to get to 7-under overall and four strokes ahead of the field. Logis amassed 10 total birdies in 36 holes.

Top Finishers: In the Boys Division, Austin’s Brian Comegys finished runner-up after falling short in the playoff to Cooper. Comegys posted rounds of 68-69 to get to 7-under overall and missed his birdie putt in the playoff by inches. Sam Dossey, who has won the last two Boys Divisions at LJT events, finished third at 6-under, while Andrew Tan and Jonathan Kim finished tied for fourth at 5-under. In the Girls Division, Grace Frei of The Colony finished second at even-par, while McKinney’s Jenna Madden finished third at 1-over. Emma Von Hoffmann and Estelle Seon tied for fourth in the division. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Luke Colton of Frisco finished second, followed by Dallas’ Reese Roberts in third and three players tied for fourth. 

Golf Course: The Rawls Course at Texas Tech has hosted the Fall Challenge the last two times. The Rawls Course was designed by Tom Doak and opened in 2003. The course features wide fairways and contoured greens, stretching out to 7,000 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,500 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,900 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.

Weather: The winds picked up on Sunday as they stayed around 20 miles per hour throughout the day with gusts upwards of 30 mph. Temperatures started in the 60s for the final round and crept up into the low 80s with the sun shining.

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. 10-11. The 84-player field will take on 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.

 

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Dossey, Madden and Logis Lead Fall Challenge

Briefly: Sam Dossey of Austin fired a 7-under 65 in the opening round of the Fall Challenge and leads the Boys Division by two strokes at The Rawls Course in Lubbock. McKinney’s Jenna Madden leads the Girls Division after shooting 2-under 70 on Saturday, while Nicholas Logis leads the Boys 14 & Under Division at 6-under.

Full Leaderboard

Leaders: Sam Dossey made seven birdies in his final nine holes to get to 7-under overall and two strokes ahead in the Boys 15-18 Division. Dossey started his day with a bogey on the par-3 10th and got back to even-par with a birdie on No. 16. After making the turn at even-par he fired off five straight birdies on holes one through five followed by two pars and finished with a birdie on the par-4 eighth and another on the par-5 ninth. Jenna Madden holds a one-stroke lead in the Girls Division after shooting 2-under 70 in the first round. She made seven birdies, including three in her first five holes, including starting the day with a birdie on the par-4 first. Nicholas Logis holds a five-stroke lead in the Boys 14 & Under Division after shooting 6-under on Saturday. Logis made seven birdies in his first round, including five straight on holes No. 7-11. He kicked in two late birdies, one on the par-3 16th and another on the par-5 17th, to get to 6-under.   

In Contention: In the Boys Division, Hugh Donegan of Austin and Preston Cooper of Dallas trail Dossey by two strokes after shooting 5-under 67 in the first round. Five players are tied for fourth at 4-under, including Brian Comegys who won the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic earlier this year. In total the division had 17 players at even-par or better after the first round. In the Girls Division, Jiyu Han of Cedar Park trails Madden after shooting 1-under 71 at The Rawls Course. Grace Frei of The Colony sits in third place at even-par, while Emma Von Hoffmann of Spicewood, Estelle Seon of Carrollton and Adrienne Ahn of Dallas are tied for fourth at 1-over. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, current player of the year leader Rhett O’Rear of Plano is tied with Frisco’s Luke Colton and Dallas’ Reese Roberts for second at 1-under. Austin Hofferkamp and Brooks Simmons are tied for fifth at 1-over.

Golf Course: The Rawls Course at Texas Tech is hosting the Fall Challenge for the second time in the last three years. The course was designed by Tom Doak and opened in 2003 and is truly a unique experience in the plains of West Texas. The course features wide fairways and contoured greens, stretching out to 7,000 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,500 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,900 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.

On a Roll: Sam Dossey is seeking his third straight win on the Legends Junior Tour after winning the George Hannon Junior Invitational in August and the North Texas Classic earlier this month. Dossey is currently in second in the LJT Player of the Year standings for the Boys 15-18 Division, trailing Trevor Algya by 278 points.

Weather: Temperatures started in the 60s and crept up to the mid-80s once the sun started to come out. Winds were steady around 10 miles per hour throughout the day, providing a good day for golf.

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, Sept. 26. 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.

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Fall Challenge Heads West

ADDISONThe Fall Challenge returns to The Rawls Course in Lubbock after the event wasn’t held in 2020 due to scheduling conflicts. The 84-player event takes on the par-72 layout as players position themselves in the Player of the Year races with the season nearing the end.

This is the second event of the LJT Fall Season after the North Texas Classic crowned three champions earlier this month. The Fall Challenge is open to all players ages 12-18 with an active membership with a Texas Junior Golf Alliance Member. The tournament field was determined using the Legends Junior Tour Priority Entry System.

Boyd Owens of Baton Rouge, Louisiana won the Boys Division in 2019 at The Rawls Course with rounds of 7-70 to get to 7-under overall and four strokes ahead of the field. Frisco’s Caroline Kent won the Girls Division, while Austin’s Kevin Mu won the Boys 14 & Under Division.

The Rawls Course opened in 2003 and is designed by renowned architect Tom Doak. The course was created for Texas Tech University and was designed by taking a flat cotton field on the high plains and creating an entire landscape from scratch. The Rawls Course offers wide fairways and boldly contoured greens as players battle the winds in West Texas.

The Fall Challenge is the 15th event on the LJT schedule and is one of three remaining in 2021. Top finishers will earn the normal allotment of points for this event and the James A. Ragan Memorial, while Invitational Points will be awarded for the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational. The LJT Players of the Year will be crowned following the Invitational at Tempest Golf Club and Jackie Burke Cup Teams will be released.

The event will be ranked by Golfweek and Junior Golf Scoreboard along with LJT Player of the Year points. The top finishers will earn exemptions into Invitational events as well as all three LJT Majors in 2022.

Players in the Fall Challenge are all members of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance, which is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, the Northern Texas PGA and the Southern Texas PGA. The three have partnered together to create a path for junior golfers to take as they progress towards the next step of competitive golf.  Players compete in the regional tours in the beginning and move up to the state-wide tournaments with the LJT before heading off to compete nationally and at the collegiate level.

Scores will be updated throughout the weekend and can be followed by clicking here. Pairings for the first round will be sent out on Wednesday, Sept. 22. Pairings for the final round will be done according to scores from the first round and sent out Saturday evening.

For more information on the Fall Challenge, click here.

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Owens, Kent and Mu Win Divisions at Fall Challenge

LUBBOCK – Boyd Owens of Baton Rouge, La. gets to 7-under and wins the Boys 15-18 Division of the Fall Challenge at The Rawls Course. Frisco’s Caroline Kent completes her wire-to-wire victory in the Girls 12-18 Division, while Austin’s Kevin Mu wins the Boys 14 & Under Division.
 
Leaderboard:  

 

Boys 15-18
1. Boyd Owens                     -7     137
2. Shaheen Momin               -3     141
T3. Clifton Armstrong           -1     143
T3. Cooper New                   -1     143
5. Brian Boles                       +1     145

Girls 12-18
1.Caroline Kent                     +6     150
2. Estelle Seon                      +7     151
T3. Emily Mu                         +9     153
T3. Helen Park                      +9     153
T5. Ryann Honea                  +10   154
 
Boys 14 & Under
1.Kevin Mu                              E      144
2. Andrew Petruzzelli             +2     146
3. Daniel Macias                    +9     153
4. Grant Yerger                      +9     153
5. Austin Hofferkamp             +12   156

Full Leaderboard
 
Leaders: Owens earned his first victory in the Boys 15-18 Division by posting rounds of 67-70 and finishing four strokes ahead of the field. He made an eagle on the par-5 second hole and finished the week with two eagles and seven birdies in 36 holes. Kent held a one-stroke lead heading into Sunday’s round and finished one stroke ahead to pick up her first win with the Legends Junior Tour. She shot 5-over 77 in the final round, making birdie on holes two, four and 12. Mu was seven strokes back heading into the final round, but posted a score of 3-under 69 to win the Boys 14 & Under Division and earn his first win with the LJT. He made five birdies on Sunday and finished with seven total birdies in 36 holes.
 
Top Finishers: Shaheen Momin of Sugar Land finished runner-up in the Boys 15-18 Division after shooting rounds of 69-72. Keller’s Clifton Armstrong fired a 4-under 68 on Sunday and finished tied for third with Comfort’s Cooper New at 1-under 143.Lubbock’s Brian Boles finished fifth at 1-over 145, while Lucas Wright and Alex Kopenhaver tied for sixth at 2-over. Estelle Seon, who played in the final group with Kent, finished second in the Girls 12-18 Division at 151 overall. Plano’s Helen Park and Austin’s Emily Mu tied for third at 153, while four others tied for fifth at 154. Dallas’ Andrew Petruzzelli finished behind Mu in the Boys 14 & Under Division at 2-over 146, while Daniel Macias of Austin and Grant Yerger of Driftwood finished tied for third at 153 overall.
 
Weather: Similar to Saturday, the winds were up with an overcast sky for the final round of the Fall Challenge. Wind ranged around 25 miles per hour and gusted upwards of 40 miles per hour while temperatures crept up towards 90 degrees. There was no rain overnight, which allowed the groups to tee off on time.
 
Past Champions: Owens, Kent and Mu join a list of past champions that includes Crosby Guercio, Tucker Allen, Tomek Pickrell, Treed Huang, Hailey Jones and Halle Whitney.
 
Tournament History: The Fall Challenge was created three years ago to fill the demand of more open events on the Legends Junior Tour. The event has posted a strong 84-player field each year and The Rawls Course joins Traditions Club and The Campus Course at Texas A&M as past host sites of this event.
 
Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour will head south to Corpus Christi, Texas for the James A. Ragan Memorial at Corpus Christi Country Club. The 84-player field will take on the Robert Trent Jones Sr. course and be tested by some more windy conditions.
 
For more information on the Fall Challenge, click here.
 

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Boyd Owens Fires 67 and Leads Fall Challenge

LUBBOCK – Boyd Owens of Baton Rouge, La. posts a 5-under 67 in the opening round of the Fall Challenge and leads the Boys 15-18 Division by one stroke at The Rawls Course. Frisco’s Caroline Kent leads the Girls 12-18 Division by one stroke after shooting 1-over 73, while Dallas’ Andrew Petruzzelli leads the Boys 14 & Under Division at 4-under 68.
 
Leaderboard:  

 

Boys 15-18
1. Boyd Owens                    -5            67
2. Mikey Bullock                  -4            68
3. Shaheen Momin              -3            69
T4. Hunter McDonough       -1            71
T4. Garrett Endicott             -1            71
 
Girls 12-18
1. Caroline Kent                   +1           73
2. Emily Mu                          +2           74
T3. Ally Black                       +3           75
T3. Alexis Escobedo            +3           75
T3. MacKenzie Moore          +3           75
 
Boys 14 & Under
1. Andrew Petruzzelli           -4            68
2. Kevin Mu                         +3           75
T3. Austin Hofferkamp         +6           78
T3. Trenton Mierl                 +6           78
5. Grant Yerger                    +7           79

Full Leaderboard
 
Leaders: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Owens went off in the last group off the No. 1 tee and finished with the lowest score of the day. He made four birdies and an eagle on the day with one lone bogey. The eagle came on the par-5 ninth, which was playing into the wind at 539 yards. In the Girls 12-18 Division Kent leads after making five birdies on the day, including a birdie on her final hole, the par-5 18th. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Petruzzelli shot 4-under 68 and leads by seven strokes. He made four birdies in the round, but the eagle on No. 11 was his shot of the day. He was 100-yards away and after hitting the green, backed his ball back into the hole for a two on the par-4. Petruzzelli is looking for his second-consecutive victory in the Boys 14 & Under Division after winning the North Texas Classic earlier this month.
 
In Contention: Harlingen’s Mikey Bullock trails Owens in the Boys 15-18 Division by one stroke after shooting 4-under 68 in the first round. Sugar Land’s Shaheen Momin sits in third place at 3-under 69, while Spicewood’s Hunter McDonough and San Antonio’s Garrett Endicott are tied for fourth at 1-under 71. Four more players are tied for sixth at even par and five strokes back of the leader. Emily Mu of Austin trails Kent in the Girls 12-18 Division after shooting 2-over 74 on Saturday. Ally Black, Alexis Escobedo, MacKenzie Moore, Maggie Ni and Estelle Seon are all tied for third in the division at 3-over 75. Austin’s Kevin Mu trails Petruzzelli in the Boys 14 & Under Division at 3-over 75. Austin Hofferkamp of the Woodlands and Trenton Mierl of Austin are tied for third in the division at 6-over 78, while Grant Yerger of Driftwood sits alone in fifth place heading into the final round at 7-over.
 
Golf Course: The Rawls Course at Texas Tech is hosting the Fall Challenge for the first time in the tournament’s history. The Rawls Course was designed by Tom Doak and opened in 2003. The course features wide fairways and stretches out to 7,000 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,500 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,900 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division. The fairways are wide and surrounded by fescue grass along with bunkers all throughout the property. The course sits just north of the Texas Tech University campus and is home to the Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams.  
 
Weather: Rain and lightning hit the Lubbock area around 2:30 am on Saturday and didn’t move on until around 8:00 am. The first round was delayed three hours as crews worked to clear the inch and a half of rain that fell overnight and into the morning. The sun came out around 10:00 am and so did the wind. The breeze was steady around 20 miles per hour throughout the day with gusts reaching up to 30 miles per hour.
 
Next Up: The final round of the Fall Challenge is scheduled to begin at 8:00 am on Sunday, September 29 at The Rawls Course. Players were repaired according to scores from the previous round and sent off the No. 1 and 10 tees. To see the pairings for the Final Round, click here.
 
For more information on the Fall Challenge, click here.