Delarosa, Arts and Knox Win Winter Classic

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

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

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

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

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

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

Player of the Year Points:  Ben Delarosa, Jordyn Arts and Dylan Knox all earned 1000 points in the Player of the Year Point Race.  Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division.

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

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

To learn more about the Winter Classic, click here.

Delarosa, Arts, and Lewis Lead at Winter Classic

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

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

In Contention: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Dallas’s Aidan Dortch, Selma’s Shiv Parmar, Plano’s Alex Huang, Spring’s Asher Vargas, and The Hill’s Ethan Dufresne all sit tied for second after the first round. Each player carded a first round of 2-under 70. In the Girls 12-18 Division, Mansfield’s Lauren Madson, Wichita’s Meg Tilma, and San Antonio’s Dresden Bounds are all tied for second after posting rounds of 1-over 73. Plano’s Summer Lee currently sits in fifth place after a first round score of 2-over 74. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Austin’s Dylan Knox is currently second at 6-over 78. Wichita’s Kaden Leivian, Southlake’s Preston Mohon, and College Station’s Ryan Lee are tied for third at 7-over 79. Weather: Temperatures started in the mid 40’s when play began and rose into the mid 50’s by the afternoon. Light winds made for great scoring conditions for players throughout the day.

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

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

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

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

To learn more about the Winter Classic, click here.

Ovard, Ni, Hofferkamp Win Winter Classic

Dallas –Davis Ovard captured his first LJT win at the 2021 Winter Classic at 1-over 145 after carding a 2-over 74 in the final round. Maggie Ni made par on the first playoff hole to win the Girls 12-18 Division. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Austin Hofferkamp came from behind to claim the victory at Dallas Athletic Club’s Blue Course with a final round score of 4-under 68.

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Division Leaders: Davis Ovard claims his first LJT title at the Winter Classic after starting the day three shots back. Ovard hung on with to a one-shot victory in thanks to a final round score of 2-over 74. He played his final three holes 1-under par, with a par saving up and down on 18, to complete the comeback. After a final score of 4-over 76, Maggie Ni found herself in a three-way tie for first. Ni was able to two-putt from eight feet for par to secure the win on the first playoff hole.  After starting one shot back of the lead at the start of the day, Austin Hofferkamp cruised to a six-shot victory thanks to a bogey free 4-under 68.

In Contention: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Austin’s Ethan Parker, Flower Mound’s Awesome Burnett and Lucas’ Jay Pabin all finished tied for second at 2-over 146. Gage Doyle of Colleyville and Ty Holbrook both finished tied for fifth at 4-over 148.  In the Girls 12-18 Division, Austin’s Caroline Dasch and Cedar Park’s Jiyu Han finished in a tie for second at 7-over 151. Maelynn Kim of Katy finishes in fourth place at 9-over par 153, and Farah O’keefe of Austin rounds out the top five at 11-over 155 in fifth. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Dallas’ Reese Roberts finished runner up at 3-over 147, while Plano’s Rhett O’Rear finished in third at 6-over 150.

Shot of the Day: Westy McCabe had the shot of the day with a hole in one on the par 3 seventh. Using an eight iron from 164 yards, McCabe recorded his first ever hole in one.

Weather: Temperatures at Dallas Athletic Club’s Blue Course were around 41 degrees for the first tee time and warmed up into the mid-fifties by the early afternoon. Winds ranged from seven to twelve miles per hour throughout the day.

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

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

What’s Next: The LJT travels to Austin for the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic at Lakeway Country Club’s Live Oak Course on February 6-7. You can find more information on the tournament homepage here.

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

To learn more about the Winter Classic, click here.

Burnett, Dasch, and Roberts Lead at Winter Classic

Dallas – Awesome Burnett shoots 4-under 68 in the first round of the Winter Classic and leads the Boys 15-18 Division by one stroke heading into the final round at Dallas Athletic Club’s Blue Course. Caroline Dasch leads the Girls 12-18 Division after posting a first round of 1-over 73, while Reese Roberts holds a one-shot lead in the Boys 14 & Under Division at even-par.

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Division Leaders: Flower Mound’s Burnett posted the low round of the day in the Winter Classic with his 4-under 68. Burnett made eight birdies on the day, five of which came on the front nine, and leads the Boys 15-18 Division by one stroke. Austin’s Dasch finished the first round at 1-over-par. Dasch holed five birdies in her round and leads the Girls 12-18 Division by two strokes. Roberts of Dallas also recorded five birdies in the first round to lead the Boys 14 & Under Division at even-par 72.

In Contention: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Jay Pabin of Lucas is just off the pace by one stroke heading into the final round after his score of 3-under 69 in the First Round. Frisco’s Davis Ovard, Granbury’s Ty Holbrook, Austin’s Ethan Parker, and Dallas’ John Vassallo all are tied for third at 1-under 71. In the Girls 12-18 Division, Austin’s Chaemin Kim, Cypress’s Maggie Ni, and Cedar Park’s Jiyu Han are all tied for second at 3-over, followed by Maelynn Kim of Katy in fifth place at 4-over 76. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Dallas’ Brooks Harper and The Woodlands’ Austin Hofferkamp are tied for second at 1-over 73. Matt Pawly of San Antonio is currently fourth at 2-over 74, while Austin’s Nicholas Logis rounds out the top five at 4-over 76.

Weather: Play was delayed for an hour and a half this morning due to frost. Temperatures started in the high thirties when play began and rose into the mid-fifties by the afternoon. After 20 miles per hour winds the day before, the players recieved much better playing conditions today, as winds only reached upwards of eight miles per hour.

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

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

What’s Next: The final round of the Winter Classic is set for Sunday, January 17 with tee times going off the No. 1 and 10 tees starting at 8:00 am. Pairings for Sunday are drawn according to score from the first round and can be found by clicking here. 

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

To learn more about the Winter Classic, click here.

Winter Classic Set for Jan. 16-17

DALLAS – For the eighth straight year, the Winter Classic will be the first event of the Legends Junior Tour season. Since its inception in 2010, the field has proved to be one of the top-ranked LJT events on its schedule.

“The LJT is excited to get back to work with the Winter Classic,” LJT Tournament Director Kevin Porter said. “We will continue to prioritize the health of our players, spectators, volunteers and staff throughout this season. We look forward to starting off this year with another safe and competitive championship at Dallas Athletic Club.”

DAC’s Blue Course will play host for the 12th consecutive year. It was originally designed by Ralph Plummer in 1954. Thirty years later, Jack Nicklaus, who won the 1963 PGA Championship held at DAC, remodeled the course to its current layout. The esteemed 18-hole championship venue has hosted many elite amateur events including the 110th Texas Amateur in 2019, as well as the 2012 Texas Mid-Amateur. The par-72 layout stretches to 6,922 yards.

The 84-player field is divided into three different divisions: Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18 and Boys 14 & Under. Players eligible for the tournament have an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance and have earned their way into the field by way of the LJT Priority Entry Status.

This year’s Winter Classic boasts another strong cast of competitors across all three divisions. Trenton Mierl of Austin and Connor Adams of Dallas highlight the Boys 15-18 Division. Mierl played last season in the Boys 14 & Under Division and finished second in the Player of the Year Standings. He won three times, including last year’s Winter Classic, and recorded top-10 finishes in all nine events he played. Adams, who is playing his final LJT season, closed out 2020 with three straight top-5 finishes, including a win at the James A. Ragan Memorial. Mierl and Adams will tee it up against a host of great players, including Trevor Mierl of Austin, Preston Stout of Richardson and Andrew Petruzzelli of Dallas.

In the Girls 12-18 Division, two players who won last season are in the field. Natalie Cao of Sugar Land won the Flodder Financial Shootout, while Farah O’Keefe of Austin won the Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship. Maelynn Kim of Katy, Mimi Burton of Austin, Jiyu Han of Cedar Park, Jenna Madden of McKinney and Sophie Biediger of Dallas are also players to watch and all finished in the top-12 of the 2020 Player of the Year Standings. This year, four out-of-state junior girls gained entry into the field through their national rankings and will compete in an LJT event for the first time.

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Rhett O’Rear of Plano will look to start his 2021 campaign right where he left off last fall. The 2025 high school graduate earned last year’s Boys 14 & Under Player of the Year honors and won twice. He registered nine top-10s and never finished worse than T11.

“The Winter Classic usually has a strong field as players are looking to get back into competition following a brief break over the holidays,” Porter said. “This year’s field is no different and will be a great way to start the 2021 season.”

Last year, Ethan Fang of Plano carded back-to-back rounds of 3-under-par 69 to run away with the Boys 15-18 title and win by seven strokes. Kaylee Vesley of Austin, who currently plays for the University of Oklahoma, won the Girls 12-18 Division with rounds of 71-78, while Trenton Mierl of Austin clinched the Boys 14 & Under Division by one stroke. Other past champions include Brad Dalke, Cole Hammer, Brandon Smith, Annika Clark, Hailey Jones, Grace Choi and Sadie Englemann.

The Winter Classic is the first of 10 open LJT events. The open events are available to any member of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance, which is made up of the TGA, NTPGA, STPGA and HGA. Players earn entry into the open events through their play on the LJT and in Texas Junior Golf Alliance events.

Tee times begin Saturday, Jan. 16, at 8 a.m. The final round takes place on Sunday, Jan. 17. For more information on the Winter Classic or the LJT, click here.