Mitchell Maier Wins Texas Cup Invitational

Mitchell Maier of Richmond, Texas wins the 2024 Texas Cup Invitational at Eagle’s Bluff Country Club after finishing with a 3-under 210 in the tournament.

Maier fought all round scoring five birdies and three bogeys on the round to secure the win. On No.18, Maier hit 3 wood that caught the wind at just the right amount to roll his ball into the water. After his drop, he stuck his shot to 10 feet where he would go on to two-putt and secure his win. “I’m feeling great. I had a good round today with just keeping it in the fairways” shared the Junior. “I had a couple of struggles here and there, but I kept it pretty solid and steady.”

Maier won his second title on the LJT after winning the George Hannon Junior Invitational in 2022 at UT Golf Club. This is Maier’s first major on the LJT. “It means a lot to me. There was a great feel this week and I’m excited to have my name on the list of major winners,” the Texas A&M Golf commit said.

With the win, he earns exemptions into the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship at Lakewood Country Club and the 98^th Junior Texas Amateur at The Clubs of Kingwood. “It means a lot to me to earn exemptions into those tournaments. I need to keep my head down and keep working and play well in those tournaments.”

Finishing in a tie for second place was San Antonio’s Preston Hiller and The Woodlands’ Austin Hofferkamp after a 2-under 211 for the tournament. Hiller, a Baylor Golf Commit, tied the lowest round of the day with a 4-under 67. Hiller only had one bogey in the final round and five birdies to move from ninth place to second.  Hofferkamp showed his toughness after scoring a 1-under 70. The TCU Golf Commit would go on to score two birdies on the back nine to finish toward the top of the leaderboard.

Montgomery’s Tyler Sanford and McAllen’s Dylan Villarreal tied for fourth after a 1-under 212 for the tournament. Sanford, a Baylor Golf Commit as well, tied with Hiller for the lowest round of the final day. Sanford went bogey-free through 16 holes before bogeying No. 17. He went to birdie No.18 to tie for fourth.

The Texas Cup Invitational was the first of two boys-only majors on the LJT schedule. The Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship is the second one and will be played on June 4-6 at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas.

The Legends Junior Tour would like to thank Eagle’s Bluff Country Club for being a wonderful host and providing a spectacular experience to all our staff and players. This was Eagle’s Bluff’s third time hosting an LJT event in the last six months.

For more information on the Texas Cup Invitational, click here.

Parmar, Hymer tied for lead at Texas Cup Invitational

Shiv Parmar of Selma, Texas, and Jackson Hymer of San Antonio, Texas are tied for first after the second round of the 2024 Texas Cup Invitational. Both players sit at 2-under 140 heading into tomorrow’s final round.

Shiv Parmar shot a 1-under 70 in the second round of the Texas Cup Invitational to put himself tied for first with one round to go. “I played really good golf. I hit a lot of greens today but couldn’t get much to fall,” shared the Texas A&M Golf commit. “Being in play is important on this course and making par too.” Shiv birdied No. 2 today and bogeyed No. 3 to put himself back at 1-under. The rest of the round he played consistently and knocked down one more birdie to put himself in a great position heading into the final round. Shiv won the 2024 LJT Winter Classic at The Wilderness Golf Club and looks to win his first LJT Major Title.

Jackson Hymer had a hard-fought day that included two bogeys and seven birdies that helped him finish with a 3-under 68 in round two. “I played a good round today,” shared the Baylor Golf commit. “I started on the back nine today and it’s a little bit tougher so I was glad I got that nine out of the day before the wind picked up this afternoon.” Hymer is also seeking his first LJT Major Title.

Following behind the leaders are The Woodlands Austin Hofferkamp, and Richmond’s Mitchell Maier, l at 1-under 141. Hofferkamp was on fire today with five birdies which led him to a 3-under 68 in the second round.

Sitting in fifth is McAllen’s Dylan Villareal after a 1-over 72 in Round 2 and 142 for the tournament.

Heading into the final round of the 2024 Texas Cup Invitational, 12 players sit within three shots of the leaders in what is going to be an exciting final round for the first LJT Boys major of the season.

The par-4 ninth played as the toughest hole on the course today with an average score of 4.61. On top of the penalty areas on the hole, your second shot is directly uphill with a green that runs from back to front making any ball on the front of the green roll back off.

The Texas Cup Invitational, the first of the two boys-only majors on the LJT annual schedule, is the LJT boy’s first 54-hole event of the year.

The Final Round of the Texas Cup Invitational is scheduled for Wednesday, March 13 with tee times beginning at 8:30 AM. To see pairings, click here.

For more information on the Texas Cup Invitational, click here.

Mierl, Sanford tied for the lead at the Texas Cup Invitational

Tyler Sanford of Montgomery and Trenton Mierl of Austin share the lead after the First Round at the 2024 Texas Cup Invitational. Both players fired off a 3-under 68 to propel themselves to the top of the leaderboard at Eagle’s Bluff Country Club which is hosting the Texas Cup Invitational for the first time.

“I’m feeling good. My game felt sharp out there today,” shared Sanford. “I didn’t have any big mistakes out there, so it was a smooth round.” Sanford started his round with back-to-back birdies that helped set him up for a great round. After making a bogey on hole No. 7, he went on to score two more birdies on the back nine to stay at the top of the leaderboard. “I can take advantage of the par fives and get my driver out and go for it. I played the par threes well too which was an advantage for me.”

Mierl came into the Texas Cup right off his win at the 2024 Spring Preview Championship at Cedar Crest Golf Course. “It was a slow start out there,” shared the high school senior who started on No. 10 today. “I took it one shot at a time.” Mierl made five birdies on his back nine today including three straights to complete the round. “I got hot at the end especially after I chipped in on nine. I put myself in good positions and took advantage when I could.”

Tied for second are San Antonio’s Cameron Villarreal, Montgomery’s J.J. Worrell, and Round Rock’s Cole MacMillan after a two-under 69 for the First Round. “The course is nice, and the greens are rolling well. The par threes played long today but there were also some par fours that you can get after,” shared Worrell. “I got to stay feeling good and work on my tee shots tomorrow morning on the range. I need to keep the shots straighter and not have as many wayward shots.”

In a tight group tied for fifth are Charlie Dial of Fort Worth, Preston Hiller of San Antonio, Mitchell Maier of Richmond, Shiv Parmar of Selma, and Dylan Villarreal of McAllen after a First Round 1-under 70.

Colder weather welcomed the players in the morning with temperatures in the low 50’s. By the time all players made the turn, temperatures rose into the mid-to-high 60’s with a light breeze that made for a great day for golf.

Hole 13 played the toughest on the course today with an average score of 3.66. The 208-yard Par 3 sits in the pine trees where a crosswind from the south plays a major factor in landing on the green with a bunker on each side.

Official yardage for the First Round was 6,790 yards.

The Texas Cup Invitational, the first of the two boys-only majors on the LJT annual schedule, is the LJT boy’s first 54-hole event of the year.

The Second Round of the Texas Cup Invitational is scheduled for Tuesday, March 12 with tee times beginning at 8:30 AM. To see pairings, click here.

For more information on the Texas Cup Invitational, click here.

LJT Texas Cup Invitational Heads to Eagle’s Bluff Country Club

ADDISON – The 2024 Texas Cup Invitational will head to Eagle’s Bluff Country Club for the first time in its 17-year tournament history on March 11-13. Eagle’s Bluff Country Club hosted the Legends Junior Tour 2023 Jackie Burke Cup and the 2024 Texas Girls’ Invitational.

 “We are very excited to be heading back to Eagle’s Bluff Country Club for the second time this season after they hosted the Texas Girls’ Invitational for us in February,” shared Tournament Director Adam Schulte. “The Texas Cup Invitational always has a lot of excitement around it. It is the first Major of the season for the boys and with it being earlier in the year they can’t wait to get out there and compete. Eagle’s Bluff has been a great host, and we can’t wait to show them the talented players we have in our Boys Division.”

 The Texas Cup Invitational is the first of two boys-only majors this season. The 54-stroke play tournament features the best young golfers in Texas and surrounding states to join a list of great champions for the Tournament.

 Eagle’s Bluff Country Club sits in East Texas right next to Lake Palestine.  The course features an Augusta National-like environment with a beautiful layout that plays throughout the pine tree woods. Designed by Carlton Gibson in 1999, the course stretches to just over 7,100+ yards from the back tees. In 2014, sixteen members purchased the club and invested back $2 million to make it one of the best courses in East Texas.

 Last year’s winner of the Texas Cup was Andrew Petruzzelli of Dallas, TX. Petruzzelli carded a six-under 66 on the final day to move from fifth place to first at Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater, TX. Other previous winners of the Texas Cup include Connor Henry, Patrick Kahanek, Brandon Massey, PGA Tour Players Ryan Grider, Braden Bailey, Chandler Phillips, and more. 

 A lot is up for grabs for the winner of the Texas Cup Invitational Winner. The winner will receive exemptions into the Bluebonnet Championship, George Hannon Junior Invitational,  Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational, 98^th Texas Junior Amateur, and the 25^th Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship.

 The First Round of the Texas Cup Invitational is scheduled for March 11 at 8:30 AM. For more information on the Texas Cup Invitational, click here.

Petruzzelli Wins Texas Cup Invitational

GLADEWATER – Dallas’ Andrew Petruzzelli fired a scorching 6-under 66 in Wednesday’s final round to win the Texas Cup Invitational. The TCU signee began the day three shots back of the lead and ended it three shots ahead of the field by carding the low round of the tournament. This is Petruzzelli’s second consecutive LJT victory after he won the Spring Preview at The Golf Club at Texas A&M back in February.

The class of 2023 senior saw his lead grow to as many as four shots on the back nine as he poured in birdies at Tempest Golf Club. The first time major champion went out in 4-under 32 and came in with a 2-under 34.

“I just tried to stay really patient,” Petruzzelli said. “I was three back heading into to today and knew I had to make some birdies. I focused on hitting good shots and making some putts and luckily that happened for me.”

Petruzzelli’s final round included six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole. As he approaches the end of his junior golf career, today’s victory won’t soon be forgotten.

“It means a lot. I hadn’t won much lately until these last couple LJT events. It just feels good that good golf is coming at the right time,” he said.

Finishing runner-up was Frisco’s Luke Colton who made a valiant effort in the final round by shooting a 5-under 67. He finished at 4-under for the championship and two shots ahead of a trio of players tied that for third.

Dallas’ Brooks Harper, 36-hole leader Grayson Sebastian, and Selma’s Shiv Parmar finished at 2-under overall and rounded out the top five in the major championship.

Ryan Shellberg joined the group under par for the week by finishing 1-under overall and in sixth place. Defending champion Connor Henry of Fort Worth put forth a great effort in his title defense but came up just short as he placed tied-ninth for the tournament.

The par-4 third hole which had played the hardest in the first two rounds saw ample improvement in the final round as it played tenth hardest. The par-4 14th hole played hardest as it played to 4.54 scoring average.

The Texas Cup Invitational was the first of two boys-only majors on the LJT schedule. The Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship is the second one and will be played on June 6-8 at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas.

The Legends Junior Tour would like to thank Tempest Golf Club for being a wonderful host and providing a spectacular experience to all our staff and players.

For more information on the Texas Cup Invitational, click here.

Sebastian Maintains Lead at Texas Cup Invitational

GLADEWATER – Richmond’s Grayson Sebastian battled in Tuesday’s second round of the Texas Cup Invitational to post a 1-under 71 and maintain his lead. The class of 2025 sophomore sits at 4-under for the championship and will take a one shot lead into Wednesday’s final round of the first LJT Boys Major of the year.

“My approach for tomorrow will be to just control what I can control,” said Sebastian after his round. “I plan to get some good rest and be energized for tomorrow. I’m not going to think about golf until I step back on the course tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.”

Sebastian had an up and down second round that included five birdies and four bogeys on the scorecard. He will look to claim his first LJT title on Wednesday.

Defending champion Connor Henry is hot on his heels after a solid second round score of 3-under 69. Henry sits in solo second at 3-under for the championship and has showed no signs of nerves in defending his title.

“I feel good. I’m very comfortable out there,” Henry said. “I feel like I’m doing a good job of putting myself in the right spots to score.”

Dallas’ Brooks Harper and Selma’s Shiv Parmar are in a tie for third at 2-under. Harper shot a 1-under 71 and Parmar carded an even-par 72 in round two.

Sitting tied for fifth is Burleson’s Blake Keen and Dallas’ Andrew Petruzzelli at 1-under overall. At even-par and tied for seventh is Tyler’s Connor Carver and Prosper’s Ryan Shellberg. All four of these juniors will look to come from behind and create a magical final round on Wednesday.

Three players occupy a tie for ninth at 1-over through 36 holes including Austin’s Sterling Hurd. The class of 2026 freshman fired the low round of the tournament thus far with a 5-under 67 in round two. Hurd’s impressive play vaulted him back up the leaderboard and in contention with 18 holes left.

“Today I was trying to get myself back into contention and I did,” Hurd said. “Hopefully tomorrow I can play the same way and maybe make even a few more putts. That’s the game plan for the final round.”

The par-4 third hole played the toughest again in round two at a 4.47 stroke average for the 84-player field. It yielded four birdies on the day which was double the amount from round one. Conversely, the par-5 sixth hole played the easiest with a stroke average of 4.94 and was the only hole that played under-par.

The Texas Cup Invitational, the first of the two boys-only majors on the LJT annual schedule, is the LJT boys first 54-hole event of the year.

The Final Round of the Texas Cup Invitational is scheduled for Wednesday, Mar. 15 with tee times beginning on No. 1 tee at 8:15 AM. To see pairings, click here.

For more information on the Texas Cup Invitational, click here.

Sebastian Leads at Texas Cup Invitational After Round 1

GLADEWATER – Grayson Sebastian, a class of 2025 sophomore out of Richmond, fired a 3-under 69 on Monday to take the early lead at the Texas Cup Invitational. Chilly temperatures and windy conditions kept scores at bay in round one of the first LJT Boys Major of the year.

“It was a really pretty day out here,” said Sebastian. “The course was in good condition. Firing at every pin and hitting it close was my game plan for the easy targets. The harder pins I just hit it to the center of the green. I think I executed really well on that, and I played really solid golf today.”

His opening round 69, put him one shot ahead of the best junior golfers in the state. Prior to this week, Sebastian had never played Tempest Golf Club before but you wouldn’t realize it looking at his round one scorecard that featured four birdies and just one bogey.

“I think Tempest fits my game very well. I play a cut off the tee and I think a lot of these holes fit my cut. The course is really well designed,” said Sebastian.

A jam-packed leaderboard is nipping at the heels of the leader. Prosper’s Ryan Shellberg and Selma’s Shiv Parmar sit in a tie for second after carding rounds of 2-under 70.

Shellberg was 5-under through ten holes but finished with three bogeys in his last eight holes.

“My plan is to just stay patient all week,” Shellberg said of his plan for the rest of the tournament. “Whatever happens, happens.”

There is a log jam at 1-under and two shots off the lead in tied fourth overall. Included in that large pack is Fort Worth’s Cason Ayers, Dallas’ Andrew Petruzzelli, Dallas’ Brooks Harper, Dallas’ Matthew Foster, Austin’s Trenton Mierl, Southlake’s Andrea Birolini, Burleson’s Blake Keen, and Heath’s Max Chan.

Ayers, like many other players, gave praise to Tempest Golf Club’s beautiful track.

“I like that it’s challenging. You have to be precise off the tee. I felt like I was precise off the box today,” he said. “The greens are true. Very true.”

Defending champion Connor Henry headlines a group of six players who sit tied 12th at even par and three shots back of the lead.

The par-4 third hole played the toughest in round one at a 4.65 stroke average for the 84-player field. It yielded only two birdies on the day.

The Texas Cup Invitational, the first of the two boys-only majors on the LJT annual schedule, is the LJT boys first 54-hole event of the year.

The Second Round of the Texas Cup Invitational is scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 14 with tee times beginning on No. 1 tee at 8:15 AM. To see pairings, click here.

For more information on the Texas Cup Invitational, click here.

LJT Texas Cup Invitational Heads to Tempest Golf Club

ADDISON – The Legends Junior Tour’s Texas Cup Invitational heads to Tempest Golf Club on March 13-15 for the first time in the tournament’s 16-year history.

“The Texas Cup Invitational always garners a lot of interest because it’s the first major of the year for the boys, and we are excited to be heading east this year for what is sure to be another compelling championship” said Tournament Manager Adam Schulte. “Tempest Golf Club is looking forward to showcasing their incredible course to the best juniors in the state and providing a truly memorable experience for players and spectators alike.”

The Texas Cup Invitational, the first of the two boys-only majors on the LJT annual schedule, will feature a starting field of 84 of the top junior boys aged 12-18 playing 54 holes of stroke-play competition. This will be the LJT boys first 54-hole event of the year.

Tempest Golf Club, a beautiful and challenging layout, resides just outside of Tyler in the small town of Gladewater. Tempest has slowly but surely been widening its fan base as more and more people from the DFW and Shreveport areas continue to discover its many charms.

Tempest’s Director of Golf Randy Wade says, “Tempest is unique because of the property that it was built on. The topography is unlike any courses in the East Texas or surrounding areas. The elevation changes, rolling hills and tall pine trees create a beauty versus challenge experience for all golfers.”

In 2018, the course underwent a $20 million dollar renovation led by Arlington-based architect Jeffrey D. Brauer and opened after switching ownership. The past couple of years have been the busiest yet for the club in terms of total rounds played. The accolades have started to roll in as well. Following Brauer’s extensive redo, the Dallas Morning News ranked Tempest as the 2nd best new/renovated golf course in 2020 and 59th on the list of Top 100 Courses in Texas in 2022.

The Texas Cup Invitational has previously been played at Abilene Country Club’s South Course (2022), Ridgewood Country Club (2021), Stonebridge Ranch Country Club (2019-20), Ridglea Country Club (2017-18), Mira Vista Country Club (2013-16) and The Honors Club of Dallas (2008-12), now known as Maridoe Golf Club.

Last year’s championship was shortened to 36-holes due to icy conditions. Fort Worth’s Connor Henry captured the 2022 title by finishing at even-par 144 for the tournament and edged out Parker Sands of Edmond, Okla., by a stroke.

The tournament has produced some elite past champions including Stratton Nolen (2010), Andrew Winters (2011), Chandler Phillips (2012), Braden Bailey (2013), Ryan Grider (2016), Thomas Bockholt III (2018) and Brian Boles (2019).

The event is ranked by the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Golfweek and Junior Golf Scoreboard and offers numerous AJGA Stars to the top finishers. Additionally, exemptions into future LJT Invitationals will be awarded.

For more information on the Texas Cup Invitational at Tempest Golf Club and to follow along with live scoring for the week, click here.