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McMellon, Lewis, and Yuan Win at Lanny Wadkins JC
Briefly: Garland’s Garrett McMellon claims his first LJT victory in a two-hole playoff after finishing at 3-under par 137 for the tournament. Joshua’s Kaylee Yuan goes wire to wire to won the Girls 12-18 Division at even par 140, while Dallas’ Cameron Lewis won the Boys 14 & Under Division in a playoff after finishing at 1 over-par 141.
Champions: Garrett McMellon entered Tuesday’s final round in the second to last group, two shots off the lead after a first round 68. McMellon started the day with bogeys on holes #1 & #3, but rallied with birdies on Holes #4, #10, and #12 to post 1-under 69 on the day. McMellon finished at 3-under par 137 for the tournament and secured his first LJT victory with a 12 foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole.
Joshua’s Kaylee Yuan won the Girls 12-18 Division after shooting rounds of 68-72 to finish the championship at even par and nine strokes ahead of the field. She posted the only under par round of the tournament in the girls division with a 2 under par score of 68 in the first round. This is Yuan’s second LJT victory in as many starts.
Dallas’ Cameron Lewis won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 1-over 141 overall in a playoff Dexter Zimmerman. Lewis drained a 50 foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to claim the title. Lewis recorded rounds of 72-69 for his first LJT victory.
Top Finishers: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Belton’s Chandler Cooke finished runner up after shooting rounds of 67-70 to finish at 3-under par 137 and losing in a playoff. Dallas’s Blake Goodnight, the first round leader, took home third place after finishing one off the pace at 2-under par 138. Jack Hollingsed of Dallas finished at 1-under par 139, which was good enough for fourth place, and New Braunfels’ Kyle Doolittle rounded out the top five at even-par 140.
In the Girls 12-18 Division, Prosper’s Lucy Kate Smith finished runner up at 9-over 149. Austin’s Julia Sosa finished in 3rd place with a score of 10-over 150. San Antonio’s Abby Jimenez claimed fourth place at 11-over 151, and Dallas’s Bella Scucchi rounded out the top five at 16-over 156.
In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Dallas’s Dexter Zimmerman finishes runner up after losing in a playoff at 1-over par 141. Lantana’s Henry Jackson finishes third at 8-over par 148.
Golf Course: Iron Horse Golf Course, located in North Richland Hills, is hosting the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship for the first time in the tournament’s 15-year history. Century-old oak, mesquite and cottonwood trees frame emerald Bermuda fairways and manicured greens, which traverse beneath a working railroad trestle – with numerous doglegs, two meandering creeks which come into play on 17 holes, and unique bunkering creating both strategic diversity and a breathtaking backdrop for golf. Adding to the charm and nostalgia of the course are three authentic caboose cars, which serve as on-course facilities.
Weather: Temperatures began in the low 80’s and did not creep into the 90’s until late in the afternoon. Players enjoyed cloud cover and a cool breeze in the morning as storms rolled through the opposite side of the DFW metro.
Tournament Format: The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship is a 36-hole stroke play event for players ages 12-18 years old. Membership with a Texas Junior Golf Alliance Partner is required to play in Legends Junior Tour events.
Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the three tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA, HGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.
Player of the Year Points: Garrett McMellon, Kaylee Yuan and Cameron Lewis all earned 1000 points in the Player of the Year Point Race. Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division.
Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour heads to White Bluff Resort on July 24-26 for the 97th Texas Junior Amateur. The 240-player field is split between four division: Boys, Girls, Boys 14 & Under and Girls 14 & Under. The Boys Division will play the New Course at White Bluff, while the Girls Division and both 14 & Under Divisions will play the Old Course at White Bluff.
For more information on the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship, click here. To see all the scores from Iron Horse Golf Course, click here.
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The latest golf-related news, notes, and feature stories from the TGA.
Goodnight, Yuan, and Zimmerman Lead at Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship
Briefly: Blake Goodnight of Dallas, TX, sits alone atop the Boys 15-18 Division of the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship after shooting a solid 4-under 66 at Iron Horse Golf Club. Dexter Zimmerman, also of Dallas, holds a two shot lead in the Boys 14 & Under division at even-par 70. Finally, Kaylee Yuan of Joshua leads the Girls Division by six strokes after her 2-under-par 68 in round 1.
In Contention: In the Boys 15-18 division, The Colony’s Jackson Vesper and Belton’s Chandler Cooke are tied for second after rounds of 3-under par 67. Garrett McMellon of Garland finds himself in solo fourth after a round of 2-under par 68. Grapevine’s Wylie Waldrip, Flint’s Braden Bergman, and Houston’s Ford Montgomery round out the top five after rounds of 1-under par 69.
In the Girls 12-18 Division, Prosper’s Lucy Kate Smith sits six shots back in second place after an opening round of 4-over par 74. Julia Sosa rounds out the second round’s final pairing in third place after a first round of 6-over par 76.
In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Dallas’ Cameron Lewis is in second place at 2-over par 72. Lantana’s Henry Jackson currently holds third at 3-over par 73, and Houston’s Freeman Woldert is in fourth at 7-over par 77.
Golf Course: Iron Horse Golf Course, located in North Richland Hills, is hosting the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship for the first time in the tournament’s 15-year history. Century-old oak, mesquite and cottonwood trees frame emerald Bermuda fairways and manicured greens, which traverse beneath a working railroad trestle – with numerous doglegs, two meandering creeks which come into play on 17 holes, and unique bunkering creating both strategic diversity and a breathtaking backdrop for golf. Adding to the charm and nostalgia of the course are three authentic caboose cars, which serve as on-course facilities.
Weather: The weather for Monday’s first round began with cloud cover and temperatures in the mid 80’s. The clouds cleared out in the afternoon and temperatures reached the mid to upper 90’s. Winds remained calm throughout the day, peaking around 10 mph.
Tournament Format: The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship is a 36-hole stroke play event for players 12-18 years old. All players in the field are required to have an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance.
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.
Future Tournament Exemptions Available:
Boys Division: The top three (3) finishers in the Boy’s 15-18 Division will be awarded an exemption to play in the Texas Junior Amateur. The Champion in the Boy’s 15-18 Division will earn exemptions to the George Hannon Junior Invitational, Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational, 2024 Texas Cup Invitational, 2024 Byron Nelson Junior Championship and the 2024 Bluebonnet Championship.
Boy’s 14 and Under Division: The Champion in the Boy’s 14 and under division will earn an exemption to play in the George Hannon Junior Invitational, Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational, and the 2024 Bluebonnet Invitational.
Girls Division: The Champion in the Girl’s Division will earn exemptions into the George Hannon Junior Invitational, Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational, 2024 Texas Girls’ Invitational, and the 2024 Bluebonnet Championship.
Player of the Year Points: 1000 points in the 2023 Player of the Year Point Race are up for grabs this weekend at the Winter Classic. Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division.
Next Up: The Final Round is scheduled to begin at 7:30 am off the No. 1 tee on Tuesday, July 11. To see the pairings for the Final Round, click here.
For more information on the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship, click here. To see all the scores from Iron Horse Golf Course, click here.
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Harper, McKay, and Madden Win at Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship
Harper, McKay, and Madden Win at Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship
Briefly: Dallas Brooks Harper wins the Boys 15-18 Division of the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship at Tangle Ridge Golf Club shooting an 8-under-par 136 to claim a one shot victory. McKinney’s Jenna Madden won the Girls 12-18 Division at even par , while Dallas’ Duff McKay won the Boys 14 & Under Division also shooting an 8-under-par 136.
Champions: Brooks Harper entered Wednesday’s final round in the leading group two shots back on the lead after a first round 67. Harper started the day off strong with a birdie on hole 3 that would have him tied for first early in the round. The back nine Harper came alive birdying 4 of the 9 holes. 18 saw Harper and Dortch tied at -7 both Harper and Dortch sent their drives into the same fairway bunker. Harper put his bunker shot to 3 feet and a tap in birdie claimed him the Boys 15-18 title.
McKinney’s Jenna Madden won the Girls 12-18 Division after shooting rounds of 70-74 to finish the championship at even par and five strokes ahead of the field. She posted the only under par round of the tournament in the girls division with a 2 under par score of 70 in the first round.
Dallas’ Duff McKay won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 8-under overall after rounds of 71-65 at Tangle Ridge Golf Club. His final round was one he will forever remember as Duff holed his tee shot on the 316 yard par 4 3rd hole to record his third career hole in one. Duff put the tournament out of reach from his competitors with a run of four straight birdies on holes 10 through 13.
Top Finishers: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Ethan Dufresne of The Hills finished T-2 with Dortch and claimed the trophy by way of a scorecard playoff by shooting a 34 on the back nine. Dallas Aiden Dortch finished T-2 with Dufresne losing scorecard playoff with his 36 on the back nine for the final round. Luke Colton of Frisco finished fourth firing a second round low total of 66 to climb up the leaderboard after entering the day at even par.
In the Girls 12-18 Division, two girls tied for second at 5 over par. Coppell’s Lauren Rios and Kate Strickland from Lincoln, Nebraska fought hard but could not catch Jenna Madden on the scoreboard. Dallas’ Sonia Hao finished alone in fourth place at 6 over par respectably.
In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Spring Branch’s Hunter Grimes finished runner up at 4 under par 140 for the championship. Jack Clancey fired a 67 on Wednesday to secure third place with a 2 under par 36 hole total. Highland Village’s Tyson Embry finished fourth at even par, followed by the trio of Plano’s Ryan Lee, Spring’s Asher Vargas and Houston’s Austin Le who all finished in a tie for fifth place at 1 over par for the championship.
Golf Course: Tangle Ridge Golf Club, located in Grand Prairie, is hosting the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship for the first time in the tournament’s 14-year history. The par-72 layout opened in 1995 and was designed by Jeffrey Brauer. The course features exciting elevation changes, subtle Champion Ultra dwarf Bermuda Grass Greens along with it’s tree lined fairways and multiple bunkers and water challenges.. The course played to 6788 yards for the boy’s 15-18 division, 6335 yards for the boy’s 12-14 division and 5870 yards for the girl’s division.
Weather: Wednesday’s weather was similar to Tuesday’s with the sun out and temperatures approaching 105 Degrees. The 5 – 10 mph winds did offer a little relief to the players battle with the course and the heat.
Tournament Format: The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship is a 36-hole stroke play event for players ages 12-18 years old. Membership with a Texas Junior Golf Alliance Partner is required to play in Legends Junior Tour events.
Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the three tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA, HGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.
Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour heads to Horseshoe Bay Resort on July 25-27 for the 96th Texas Junior Amateur. The 240-player field is split between four division: Boys, Girls, Boys 14 & Under and Girls 14 & Under. The Boys Division will play the Ram Rock Course, while the Girls Division and both 14 & Under Divisions will play the Apple Rock Course.
Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship
Tangle Ridge Golf Course
July 12-13
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Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship
Oakmont Country Club
July 12-13
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
General Information
Date: July 12-13, 2022
Host Club: Tangle Ridge Golf Club
Address: 818 Tangle Ridge Dr., Grand Prairie, TX 75104
Phone: (972) 299-6837
Tournament Director: Duffy Suhr
Entry & Eligibility Information
Entries Open: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 9:00 AM CST
Entries Close: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 at 5:00 PM CDT
Entry Fee: $285
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 with Priority Entry Status will be added to the field first, while players without Priority Status will be added based on available spots in the field and when they signed up. Players will begin being added to the field near the Entries Close Date.
Championship Information
Format: 36 Holes of Stroke Play
Field Size: 120 Players
Divisions: Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18, Boys 14 & Under
Practice Round Information: The official practice round date is Monday, July 11 with tee times beginning at 12:00 PM. Players are permitted one round and may begin contacting the club on Wednesday, July 6, players must have tee time scheduled prior to the morning of Saturday, July 9.
Registration Information: There will be no official tournament registration before the event. Players will pick up tee gifts in the scoring area following their first round.
Starting Times/Pairings Information: Starting times/pairings for the first round will be available Friday, July 8 online at www.txga.org. Final round starting times/pairings will be available in the evening preceding play (approximately one hour after the completion of play) online at www.txga.org. Final round starting times/pairings will be re-drawn based on total score following the previous rounds of play.
Caddies: Caddies are NOT permitted for the championship. Rule 10.3a will be modified in this way: A player must not have a caddie during a round.
Cancellation/Withdrawal Procedure: Players may withdraw themselves from the field and receive a refund up until 10 days before the first round. If you need to withdraw, please contact the Tournament Director and they will instruct you on how to complete the WD. For full refund details, please reference the LJT Competition Policies.
Transportation: Players will be required to walk during the competition, unless acting under the direction of an LJT Rules Official. Non-motorized push/pull carts will be permitted during the championship. Spectator carts will be permitted for the championship and must be rented from the club.
Rules of Golf
The Championship will be contested under the 2019 Rules of Golf as approved by the United States Golf Association and R&A, its interpretations and clarifications, 2020 Legends Junior Tour Local Rules and Terms of Competition and any local rules give to the player on their first tee. For information on rules, visit the TGA Rules of Golf Hub.
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Tournament Information
Dates: July 12-13, 2022
Host Club: Tangle Ridge Golf Club
Address: 818 Tangle Ridge Dr., Grand Prairie, TX 75104
Phone: (972) 299-6837
Tournament Director: Duffy Suhr
Registration Information
Registration Opens: Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at 9:00 AM
Registration Closes: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at 5:00 PM
Tournament Fee: $285
Divisions: Boys 15-18, Boys 14 & Under, Girls 12-18
Field Size: 120 Players
Tournament Eligibility: All players must have an active membership with a member of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance.
Entry Procedure: Players will be added once the event registration period closes. Players with Priority Entry Status will be added to the field first, while players without Priority Status will be added based on available spots in the field and when they signed up.
Championship Information
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. Spectator carts will not be allowed during the practice rounds. Carts will be limited to one cart per player each day. Spectators that rent carts must follow LJT Spectator Policy when operating the cart.
Wednesday, March 2
9:00 AM -Registration Opens
Tuesday, June 23
5:00 PM - Registration Closes
Tuesday, July 5
10:00 AM - Players May Begin Contacting Club for Practice Round
Friday, July 8
3:00 PM - Pairings Released
Monday, July 11
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Official Practice Rounds
Tuesday, July 12
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Round 1 Morning Wave Tee Times off No. 1 & 10
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Round 1 Afternoon Wave Tee Times off No. 1 & 10
~6:00 PM - Pairings made for Final Round
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Round 2 Morning Wave Tee Times off No. 1 & 10
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Round 2 Afternoon Wave Tee Times off No. 1 & 10
Following Play - Awards Ceremony
Around the Green
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Foster, Pickrell and Harper Win at Lanny Wadkins JC
Briefly: Dallas’ Matthew Foster shot 8-under on Tuesday to win the Boys 15-18 Division of the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship at Oakmont Country Club. Austin’s Kate Pickrell won the Girls 12-18 Division at 5-under, while Dallas’ Brooks Harper won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 9-under.
Champions: Matthew Foster of Dallas captured his first victory with the Legends Junior Tour after posting rounds of 68-64. His 12-under total was one stroke better than the field as he amassed 13 birdies and one eagle over 36 holes. The eagle came on the par-5 15th in the final round and he followed it up with a birdie on the par-4 16th, which played as the toughest hole on Tuesday. He made par on the final two holes and secured his victory.
Austin’s Kate Pickrell won the Girls 12-18 Division after shooting rounds of 69-70 to get to 5-under overall and three strokes ahead of the field. She made one bogey in 36 holes with six birdies to capture her first win with the Legends Junior Tour.
Dallas’ Brooks Harper won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 9-under overall after rounds of 67-68 at Oakmont Country Club. He totaled five birdies in Tuesday’s final round, including three straight on holes 13-15. This was his first victory with the Legends Junior Tour.
Top Finishers: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Trevor Algya of Highland Village came just shy of a second-straight victory with the Legends Junior Tour. Coming off his win at the Collegiate Preview on June 28-29, Algya made seven birdies in the final round to get to 11-under overall. Mansfield’s Cameron Beck finished third in the division followed by Jonathan Kim of Round Rock in fourth and Dallas’ Logan Johnson tied with Frisco’s Jaxon Copeland for fifth.
In the Girls 12-18 Division, three girls tied for second at 2-under. Southlake’s Makayla Tyrrell, Rogers’ Elizabeth Whalen and Prosper’s Lucy Kate Smith made up the three-way tie with Argyle’s Madison Baer and Austin’s Ally Black tying for fifth. Jenna Madden and Nitisha Manikandesh tied for seventh, while Sidney Robertson finished ninth and three girls tied for tenth.
In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Dallas’ Reese Roberts finished second at 6-under. Allen’s Elijah Estonilo finished third at 5-under, followed by Corinth’s Nathan Zmolik in fourth and Richmond’s Grayson Sebastian in fifth.
Golf Course: Oakmont Country Club is hosting the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship for the first time in the tournament’s 13-year history. The par-72 layout features champion Bermuda grass greens and Bermuda fairways surrounded by towering oak trees and 51 bunkers.
Weather: Tuesday’s weather was similar to Monday’s with the sun out and temperatures in the mid-90s. The winds were a little heavier ranged from 10-12 miles per hour, but conditions remained ideal for lower scores.
Tournament Format: The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship is a 36-hole stroke play event for players ages 12-18 years old. Membership with a Texas Junior Golf Alliance Partner is required to play in Legends Junior Tour events.
Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the three tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA, HGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.
Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour heads to The Clubs of Kingwood on July 26-28 for the 95th Texas Junior Amateur. The 240-player field is split between four division: Boys, Girls, Boys 14 & Under and Girls 14 & Under. The Boys Division will play the Island Course, while the Girls Division and both 14 & Under Divisions will play the Lakes Course.
For more information on the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship, click here. To see all the scores from Oakmont Country Club, click here.
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Low Scores at Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship
Briefly: Four players are tied atop the Boys 15-18 Division of the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship after shooting 4-under 68 at Oakmont Country Club. Elijah Estonilo of Allen shoots 7-under 65 and leads the Boys 14 & Under Division by two strokes, while Austin’s Kate Pickrell leads the Girls 12-18 Division at 3-under.
Leaders: In the Boys 15-18 Division, four players are tied for the lead at 4-under overall. Frisco’s Jaxon Copeland, Dallas’ Matthew Foster, Highland Village’s Trevor Algya and Keller’s Anthony Azzopardi are the players tied atop the division.
In the Girls 12-18 Division, Austin’s Kate Pickrell leads after posting 3-under 69 in her opening round. The bogey-free round saw three birdies made overall, including on the par-3 17th which is a picturesque hole over water. Pickrell seeks her first victory with the Legends Junior Tour on Tuesday.
In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Allen’s Elijah Estonilo leads by two strokes after shooting 7-under 65 on Monday. He shot 2-under 34 in his first nine holes and turned to the front and made birdie on five of the first six holes. He capped off the round with a birdie on the par-4 ninth and seeks his first victory with the Legends Junior Tour.
In Contention: Houston’s Rex Hargrove sits in fifth at 3-under and trails the leaders in the Boys 15-18 Division. Six players are tied for sixth in the division at 2-under while three are tied for 12th at 1-under and 11 players are tied for 15th at even-par.
In the Girls 12-18 Division, six players are tied for second at even-par. McKinney’s Jenna Madden is joined by Elizabeth Whalen of Rogers, Ark., Lucy Kate Smith of Prosper, Cathilyn Lee of Houston, Sidney Robertson of Chandler and Brecklyn Flanagan of Murphy. Madison Baer, Makayla Tyrrell and Ally Black are tied for eighth at 1-over.
In the Boys 14 & Under Division Dallas’ Brooks Harper and Reese Roberts are tied for second at 5-under, while Austin’s Jaxon Bandelier is in fourth at 4-under. Corinth’s Nathan Zmolik is tied with Frisco’s Luke Colton in fifth at 3-under, while Mitchell Maier is in seventh at 2-under and Jack Watters is in eighth at even-par.
Golf Course: Oakmont Country Club is hosting the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship for the first time in the tournament’s 13-year history. The par-72 layout features champion Bermuda grass greens and Bermuda fairways surrounded by towering oak trees and 51 bunkers.
Weather: The weather for Monday’s First Round was ideal with temperatures in the mid 90s and winds staying steady between five to 10 miles per hour. The sun was out all day and offered players ideal scoring conditions.
Tournament Format: The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship is a 36-hole stroke play event for players 12-18 years old. All players in the field are required to have an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance.
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 Exemptions: The top three finishers of each division will earn a spot in the upcoming Texas Junior Amateur at The Clubs of Kingwood on July 26-28.
Next Up: The Final Round is scheduled to begin at 7:30 am off the No. 1 and 10 tees on Tuesday, July 13. The Girls 12-18 and Boys 14 & Under Divisions will tee off in the morning wave, while the Boys 15-18 Division will tee off in the afternoon wave. To see the pairings for the Final Round, click here.
For more information on the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship, click here. To see all the scores from Oakmont Country Club, click here.
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Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship Moves to Oakmont CC
ADDISON– The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship is set to head to Oakmont Country Club in Corinth on July 12-13. This will be the fourth event this summer for the Legends Junior Tour and the last event before the 95th Texas Junior Amateur.
“We’re looking forward to bringing the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship to Oakmont Country Club for the first time,” said Tournament Director Adam Schulte. “The course is a great championship layout that should provide a solid challenge for all and produce a great group of champions.”
Oakmont Country Club was opened in 1986 and designed by Roger Packard with consulting from Don January. The par-72 layout stretches out to 6,800 yards and the Bermuda greens and champion Bermuda fairways will offer a nice test to the 120-player field.
The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship is a 36-hole stroke play event with players competing in three different divisions. There is a Boys 15-18 Division, a Boys 14 & Under Division and a Girls 12-18 Division. Players are required to have an active membership within the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern Texas PGA, Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association.
“The Texas Junior Golf Alliance does a great job of helping players map out their junior golfing careers,” said Legends Junior Tour staffer Kevin Porter. “The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship offers a great opportunity for players to start competing on a state-wide level versus a regional level.”
Now in it’s 13th year, the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship has been named after the Hall of Fame golfer since 2008. Wadkins won the 1970 U.S. Amateur Championship and turned professional the following year. He compiled 21 victories on the PGA Tour, including the 1977 PGA Championship at Pebble Beach and The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in 1979. He was a perennial member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, playing on eight teams and winning 20 matches and 21.5 points.
Matthew Watkins of Heath won last year’s Boys 15-18 Division at Brookhaven Country Club’s Masters Course. His 6-under score was two strokes better than Seth Bearden of Crowell and three strokes ahead of Plano’s Matthew Comegys, who would go on to win player of the year honors in the division.
Austin’s Farah O’Keefe won the Girls 12-18 Division by one stroke. O’Keefe just recently competed in the LPGA’s Volunteers of America Classic after qualifying through the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. Dallas’ Nathan Miller won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 3-under 141 overall.
Other past champions include Sam Rosenberg, Blaine Hale Jr., Matthew Zampello, Travis McInroe, Ryan Grider, Pierceson Coody, Grace Do, Amber Wang and Callie Scheffler.
This is the final LJT event before the 240-player Texas Junior Amateur, which returns to the Clubs of Kingwood on July 26-28. The top three finishers of each division will earn an exemption into the 95th Texas Junior Amateur.
Along with exemptions into future LJT Major and Invitational event, players are competing for AJGA Performance Stars as well as LJT Player of the Year Points. The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship is ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard as well as Golfweek.
Pairings for the First Round will be available on Friday, July 9, and tee times for Monday’s first round will begin at 7:30 am off the No. 1 and 10 tees. The tournament will be in two waves with the Boys 15-18 Division going off in the morning and the Girls 12-18 and the Boys 14 & Under Divisions going in the afternoon. The final round pairings will be sent out following Monday’s play and the divisions will flip.
For more information about the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship, click here.
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Watkins, O’Keefe and Miller Win at Lanny Wadkins Junior Champsionship
Briefly: Matthew Watkins of Heath wins the Boys 15-18 Division at 6-under 138 overall. Farah O’Keefe of Austin wins the Girls 12-18 Division by one shot, while Nathan Miller of Dallas wins the Boys 14 & Under Division.
Leaderboard:
Boys 15-18 Division
- Matthew Watkins, Heath 138
2. Seth Bearden, Crowell 140
3. Matthew Comegys, Plano 141
T4. Daniel Moon, Temple 143
T4. Davis Ovard, Frisco 143
Girls 12-18
- Farah O’Keefe, Austin 150
2. Alise Knudson, Dallas 151
T3. Delaney Martin, Boerne 152
T3. Halle Whitney, Magnolia 152
5. Allyn Stephens, Houston 153
Boys 14 & Under
- Nathan Miller, Dallas 141
2. Finn Burkholder, The Woodlands 147
3. Rhett O’Rear, Plano 151
4. Brooks Harper, Dallas 153
5. Elijah Estonilo, Allen 154
Winners: Matthew Watkins recorded rounds of 70-68 to win the Boys 15-18 Division by two shots. Watkins recorded 10 birdies over two days and played the front nine at 6-under par for the event. Farah O’Keefe birdied 18 on the final day to win by one in the Girls 12-18 Division. With her win, O’Keefe earns and exemptions in the Volunteers of America Classis Girl’s Match Play Championship on September 4-6 at Old American Golf Club. Nathan Miller posted rounds of 70-71 to earn his first LJT victory in the Boys 14 & Under Division. He tallied nine birdies over the two days to secure a six-shot victory.
In Contention: Crowell’s Seth Bearden finished in solo second at 4-under 140, thanks to a final round score of 3-under 69, which included three birdies and an eagle. Plano’s Matthew Comegys used two eagles in is final six holes to finish the tournament in solo third at 3-under 141. Playing up in the Boys 15-18 Division, Frisco’s Davis Ovard tied for fourth with Temple’s Daniel Moon at 1-under 143. Alise Knudson of Dallas finished runner up in the Girls 12-18 Division at 7-over 151. Delaney Martin of Boerne and Magnolia’s Halle Whitney finished tied for third at 8-over 152. Rounding out the top five is Houston’s Allyn Stephens at 9-over 153. The Woodlands’ Finn Burkholder used a final round 69 to finish second in the Boys 14 & Under Division at 3-over 147. Rhett O’Rear of Plano finishes in third at 7-over 151. Brooks Harper of Dallas and Allen’s Elijah Estonilo rounded out the top five at 9-over 153 and 10-over 154 respectively.
Golf Course: Brookhaven Country Club features three unique courses that were designed by Byron Nelson and Press Maxwell in 1958. The Masters Course is hosting the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship for the second straight year and stretches out to 6,900 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,500 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 6,000 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.
Weather: After a cool and cloudy morning, temperatures crept up above 94 degrees with blue skies and mild winds.
Tournament Format: The Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship is a 36-hole stroke-play event for players ages 12-19 that have an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The event is divided into three divisions: Boys 15-18, Boys 14 & Under and Girls 12-18.
Tournament Exemptions: All players that finish in the top half of each division will earn points towards the LJT Player of the Year Standings. The event is ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard and Golfweek.
Next Up: The Legends Junior Tour heads to Hurricane Creek Country Club for the Collegiate Preview on July 6-7. Qualifying for the Texas Junior Amateur Boys Division is currently underway throughout the state.
For more information on the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship, click here. To see all the scores from Brookhaven Country Club, click here.