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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tournament Leaderboard 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maier, O’Keefe, and Clancy Win George Hannon Junior Invitational

Funkhouser, O’Keefe, and Vargas Lead George Hannon Junior Invitational

Briefly: Jackson Funkhouser fired a 4-under 67 to take a one stroke lead in the Boys 15-18 Division on Monday in the opening round of the George Hannon Junior Invitational presented by Texas Mutual at the University of Texas Golf Club. Asher Vargas leads the Boys 14 & Under Division after a first round even-par 71. Farah O’Keefe sits atop the Girls Division after carding an opening 2-under 69.

Tournament Leaderboard

Leaders: College Station’s Jackson Funkhouser produced one of four under-par rounds and the low round across all divisions on Monday at UT Golf Club. His 4-under consisted of six total birdies, with three of them coming on the front nine which were his final nine holes. His birdie on the par-5 ninth was the one that put him in the lead heading into the Final Round. Austin’s Farah O’Keefe accounted for the lone round under par for the girls with a 2-under 69. O’Keefe amassed five birdies on the day to take a 2-shot lead heading into the final round. Springs’ Asher Vargas leads the Boys 14 & Under Division after shooting even-par 71 on Monday. Vargas made two birdies and two bogeys to card the clean scorecard in route to a one shot lead.

In Contention: Trailing Funkhouser by one stroke in the Boys 15-18 Division is Richmond’s Mitchell Maier, who shot 3-under 68 and was the third round under par on Monday. Carding the fourth and final round under par was Montgomery’s Eyan Edsall with a 1-under 70. In the Girls Division, three players sit two shots back after carding even par rounds of 71. Austin’s Ally Black and Mimi Burton, and Nirjara Gulhane of Cedar Park will all look to make a move in Tuesday’s final round. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Dallas’ Jeffrey Rubenstein is in second at 1-over, while Austin’s Luciano Fullmer occupies third at 2-over. Dylan Knox, William Mitchell, and Jack Clancy are tied for fourth at 3-over.

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

Weather: Temperatures started in the mid-80s on Monday and crept up to the high 90s by the end of play.

Tournament Format: The George Hannon Junior Invitational is a 36-hole stroke play event for players that have earned an exemption through the Texas Junior Golf Alliance or the Hannon Society. The 96-player field is one of the strongest in the state as they play 18 holes each day.

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.

About 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.

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

POY Points Race: Winners of each division will earn 1,500 points towards Player of the Year standings for the LJT.

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

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

George Hannon Junior Invitational Set for Aug. 8-9 

AUSTIN — The George Hannon Junior Invitational returns to the University of Texas Golf Club on Aug. 8-9 with Texas Mutual Insurance Company returning as the presenting sponsor. This 36-hole event, which features some of the best junior boy and girl golfers in Texas ages 12-18, sets up to be a great finish to another stellar LJT summer schedule. 

“Having a partnership with Texas Mutual is such a blessing to the Hannon Cup Association,” Hannon Cup Association Managing Director Randi Long said. “When we set out to have a junior tournament, the goal was to host one of the best ones in Texas.  Along with Texas Mutual and the Legends Junior Tour, I believe we have accomplished that goal.”   

Texas Mutual Insurance Company is one of the state’s leading workers’ compensation providers. Texas Mutual Vice President of Marketing and Customer Engagement Jeremiah Bentley said the company is proud to be associated with this year’s championship.  

“We’re happy to have the opportunity again to contribute to the organization’s mission,” Bentley said. “As a leader in the workers’ compensation industry, Texas Mutual is always seeking to partner with other leading organizations. This tournament is a high-quality event that provides value to sponsors and exposure to a first-class audience.” 

George Hannon was born in Kemp, Texas, and had a 59-year PGA career, including an 18-year term as the University of Texas Men’s Golf coach. Hannon’s career at UT included NCAA titles in 1971 and 1972, as well as 12 Southwest Conference Championships. Hannon coached legends such as Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Mark Brooks, Phil Blackmar, Brandel Chamblee, Warren Chancellor, Rik Massengale, and Paul Thomas. He was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 1991 and was the Golf Coaches Associations’ 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.   

The Legends Junior Tour has conducted the George Hannon Junior Invitational since the Hannon Cup Association created the event in 2009. It brings together the top 96 boys and girls in and around the state with players competing in a Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18, and Boys 14 & Under Division. 

 The field will take on UT Golf Club’s par-71 layout. Since it opened for play in 2003, the demanding Bechtol-Russel design has always had a championship pedigree. The Austin-based club is the home of the University of Texas Men’s and Women’s golf teams, including the 2012 and 2022 NCAA Men’s Golf National Champions. It’s played host to NCAA Regional Championships, the Betsy Rawls Invitational as well as TGA Major Championships, including the 99th Women’s Texas Amateur. 

Over the years, the club has welcomed some of the highest profile players in the game of golf. These include three-time major champion Jordan Spieth, PGA Tour winners Dylan Frittelli, Cody Gribble, and Jhonattan Vegas, reigning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Scottie Scheffler, and 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion Sophia Schubert. 

This is the seventh time in the tournament’s 13-year history for UT Golf Club to host the George Hannon Junior Invitational. It’s a challenging test of golf complemented by scenic Texas Hill Country views and always delivers a great championship. Other host clubs of this event include Austin Country Club, Spanish Oaks Golf Club and The Hills Country Club. 

“It’s always exciting to cap off a great summer with a trip to Austin for the George Hannon Junior Invitational,” LJT Tournament Manager Adam Schulte said. “It’s a great event year after year and we can’t thank the Hannon Cup Association, Texas Mutual Insurance and UT Golf Club enough for making it all possible.” 

 At the 2021 George Hannon Junior Invitational, Austin’s own Sam Dossey picked up his first win of the season with the Legends Junior Tour and the second of his career after going 70-69 and winning the Boys 15-18 division by one stroke. Dossey was the only player in the division to go bogey free for both rounds and picked up his three birdies on the par-4 first, the par-4 seventh and the par-5 14th. The Austin-native picked up the win at his home course.  

Emma Von Hoffmann was tied with Sophie Biediger following 36 holes at 3-under 139 overall. The two went to a sudden-death playoff starting on the first hole and proceeded to match each other for six holes, before Von Hoffmann made par on the par-4 seventh to win the Girls 12-18 title. 

Reese Roberts completed the wire-to-wire victory in the Boys 14 & Under Division with rounds of 71-74 to get to 3-over 145 overall. After starting the day on No. 10, he was tied going into the par-3 eighth but made a birdie on the 160-yard hole and took a one-stroke lead. He finished with a par on the par-5 ninth and picked up his second victory with the LJT in 2021.  

 The George Hannon Junior Invitational is held in the Austin area annually and features one of the top-ranked fields on the LJT Schedule. Past champions of this event include Max Miller, Joe and Julia Beck, Scottie and Callie Scheffler, Brendan Redfern, Cole Hammer, Thomas Critch, Levi Valadez, Alexandra Rossi, Chandler Phillips, Hailee Cooper, and Stephen Campbell Jr. 

 The George Hannon Junior Invitational is ranked by Golfweek and Junior Golf Scoreboard with the top half of each division earning points towards the LJT Player of the Year Standings. The top finishers of the Boys 15-18 and Girls 12-18 Divisions will also earn AJGA Performance Stars.   

 Players in the George Hannon Junior Invitational are members of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance which is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association and the Southern and Northern Texas PGA Sections. The alliance provides junior golfers with top tier competition across the state and a path to gain experience and grow throughout their junior golfing careers. 

 For more information about the George Hannon Junior Invitational, click here. To learn more about the Hannon Cup Association, click here.   

Dossey, Von Hoffmann and Roberts Win George Hannon Jr Invitational

Briefly: Austin’s Sam Dossey won the Boys Division of the George Hannon Junior Invitational presented by Texas Mutual after going bogey free over 36 holes at University of Texas Golf Club. Emma Von Hoffmann of Spicewood endured a seven-hole playoff after Tuesday’s Final Round to capture her first victory with the Legends Junior Tour, while Reese Roberts of Dallas won the Boys 14 & Under Division with a crucial late birdie.

Tournament Leaderboard

Leaders: Dossey picked up his first win of the season with the Legends Junior Tour and the second of his career after going 70-69 and winning the division by one stroke. Dossey was the only player in the division to go bogey free for both rounds and picked up his three birdies on the par-4 first, the par-4 seventh and the par-5 14^th. The Austin-native picked up the win at his home course. Emma Von Hoffmann was tied with Sophie Biediger following 36 holes at 3-under 139 overall. The two went to a sudden-death playoff starting on the first hole and proceeded to match each other for six holes, before Von Hoffmann made par on the par-4 seventh. Reese Roberts completed the wire-to-wire victory in the Boys 14 & Under Division with rounds of 71-74 to get to 3-over 145 overall. After starting the day on No. 10, he was tied going into the par-3 eighth, but made a birdie on the 160-yard hole and took a one-stroke lead. He finished with a par on the par-5 ninth and picked up his second victory with the LJT in 2021.

In Contention: In the Boys Division, Eyan Edsall of Montgomery shot 3-under 68 on Tuesday to finish runner-up to Dossey. Austin’s Prayaag Oruganti finished third, while Andrew Tan and Luke D’Alise tied for fourth and Jeffrey Zatorski and Kellan McGinnis tied for sixth. Jarrett Grinnell, Tyler Blackwell and Preston Cooper tied for eighth in the division. Dallas’ Sophie Biediger finished runner-up in the Girls Division after falling short in the playoff. Tillie Claggett of The Woodlands finished third, while Maye Hang and Lindsay Lee tied for fourth. Austin Hofferkamp of The Woodlands and Nicholas Logis of Austin tied for second in the Boys 14 & Under Division, while Luke Colton finished fourth and Mitchell Maier finished fifth.

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 were in the high 90s again on Tuesday with the heat index reaching 105 degrees. The winds were out of the south again at 10-12 miles per hour which offered a challenge for the field.

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 12 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 four years.

Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour heads to Bentwater Yacht & Country Club for the Texas Girls’ Invitational, which was rescheduled after the February storm. 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.