Wick and Brian Comegys Win 43rd Father-Son Championship

BOERNE – Entering Sunday’s final round of the 43rd Texas Father-Son Championship three shots behind the leaders, Wick and Brian Comegys from Austin rallied to score a nine-shot victory at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort.

After two days of team four-ball format, the Championship Division switched to combined score for the final round. Brian Comegys, a sophomore at Abilene Christian University and the winner of the 2022 South Amateur, shot a 6-under-par 66 on his ball, while his dad Wick fired a 1-under 71. Their combined score of 7-under 137 gave them a three-day total of 21-under 267.

“It was so fun being out here with my dad and getting it done,” said Brain Comegys, who also won the Legends Junior Tour’s 2021 Jimmy Deramet Junior Classic. “Trophies come and go, but being out here with my dad is the best thing. It takes the competitive wrench out of it a little, and you can have fun, too, and really enjoy the tournament.”

Wick, who is known for this affable personality, couldn’t help but take a shot at himself even in victory. You can bet he’s going to enjoy this victory for a long time.

“My favorite memory this week was me three-putting the last hole and missing a 2-footer for par,” he said with a laugh. “But I still was excited to be out here with my son.”

Kyle and Derick Kelting from Amarillo and Dallas finished in second place at 12-under 276. They entered this year’s Father-Son Championship as the three-time defending champions. There’s no doubt they’ll be back again next year to try and score another win.

DOWN THE LEADERBOARD: Midland’s Rick and Richman Houston finished in third place at 11-under 277. Charles and Brandon Rougeau, respectively from Brenham and Georgetown, took fourth place at 10-under 278. They turned in the second-best combined score effort on Sunday with a 1-under 143. The Rougeaus and Comegys were the only teams to shoot under par in the final round.

Three-time winners Matt and Will Griffin from San Antonio tied for fifth place at 7-under 281 with Boerne’s Chris and Price Hill.

PRESIDENTS FLIGHT WINNERS: San Antonio’s John and Scott Stark won the Presidents Flight by one shot with a three-day total of 12-under 204. They combined to shoot a 5-under 67 in their final round of team four-ball. Fellow San Antonians Pat and Luke Youngs scored runner-up honors at 11-under 205. The Youngs teamed up to shoot 4-under 68 in the final round.

Complete scoring | More Information

NET FLIGHT WINNERS:

Hogan Flight – Nick and Charles Archer from Rockwall ran away from the field for an eight-shot victory. Their three-day total was 19-under 197 after they added a 2-under 70 on Sunday. Nick made two natural birdies and one net birdie. Charles added a birdie on the 18th hole.

Randy Mattingley from Flower Mound and Trey Rowe from Argyle scored runner-up honors at 11-under 205. They combined for a 2-under 70 in the final round.

Nelson Flight – Rockwall’s Marc and Mason Nelson hung on for a one-shot victory with a three-day total of 8-under 208 despite posting a final round score of 3-over 75. The Nelson managed one net and one natural birdie on the day, and they needed both of them.

One shot back in the runner-up position was Bill Ajello and Bill Ajello Jr., who combined for a 54-hole total of 7-under 209. The Ajellos posted 4-under 68s in the final two rounds of the Father-Son Championship.

Crenshaw Flight – Chad and Thomas Hampton from Cypress and College Station scored a three-shot victory thanks to a 1-under 71 in the final round. They combined for two natural and two net birdies on the day. The Hamptons finished with a 54-hole total of 13-under 203.

Second place belonged to Chris and Jeff Mudd, respectively from Houston and Fulshear, at 10-under 206. The Mudds teamed up for a 4-under 68 in Sunday’s final round.

Kite Flight – David Cash and David Cash Jr. won the Kite Flight for the third time since 2016 with an overall score of 15-under 201. Winners in 2016 and ’17 as well, the Cash team finished strong on Sunday with a final round score of 6-under 66. They won their flight by six shots.

Second place went to Coppell’s Ashley and Jacob Hunter with a 54-hole total of 9-under 207.

WEATHER: After three straight days of mild temperatures and mostly overcast skies, Sunday turned hot. The day started off gently enough, with morning temperatures in the mid-70s and mostly sunny skies. By noon, however, the mercury entered the 90s. By 2 p.m., it was 95 degrees. It didn’t seem to sour any of the players’ attitudes, though. Nearly every competitor genuinely looked happy to be playing golf with family for one more day, regardless of the heat.

GOLF COURSE: Nestled in a picturesque valley about 30 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio, Tapatio Springs opened in 1981 with a course originally designed by Bill Johnston. In 2015, Tripp Davis & Associates completed a wide-ranging renovation that included reshaped and rebuilt fairways, bunkers, tee boxes, and green complexes.

With a variety of long and shorter holes, as well as the numerous water features sprinkled throughout the routing, Tapatio Springs Resort tested the skills of all the participants.

SPECIAL THANKS: The TGA extends its sincere appreciation to Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort, including its members and staff, for creating such a welcoming atmosphere and a memorable championship week. We’re especially grateful to Director of Golf Operations Pat Roper, Head Professional Jason Rodriguez, Superintendent Eric Floyd, Events Services Bianca Weynand. Finally, and as always, we’re extra appreciative of our TGA Volunteers, who dedicate their time and expertise to ensure all the Father-Son Championship competitors have a quality experience.

MORE INFORMATION: To learn more about the 43rd Texas Father-Son Championship, including complete scoring, click here.

Familiar Faces Atop 43rd Father-Son Leaderboard

BOERNE – The cream started rising to the top Saturday at the 43rd Texas Father-Son Championship, as the two most decorated duos in the 80-team event worked their way to the top of the leaderboard at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort. Matt and Will Griffin from San Antonio hold the Championship Division lead at 17-under-par 127 through 36 holes. Three shots back in a three-way tie for second place at 14-under 130 are Amarillo’s Derick and Kyle Kelting.

Between them, the two teams have six Texas Father-Son victories.

The Griffins first won the popular, 54-hole championship 2011. Then they went back-to-back in 2019-20. On Saturday at Tapatio Springs, they went bogey-free with eight birdies to shoot 8-under 64.

“This event seems to get better as our family gets bigger,” said Matt Griffin. “It’s just fun to see it brings out good golf from both of us.”

The Keltings, meanwhile, are the three-time defending champions. They also made it around Tapatio Springs without a bogey on Saturday. The talented team combined for five birdies, and Kyle poured in an eagle on the par-5 first hole. It added up to a second straight 7-under 65 and a share of second place.

LEADERBOARD CHECK: The Keltings are tied for second at 14-under 130 with Allen and Ryne Carter from Dallas, as well as with Austin’s Brian and Wick Comegys.

After a career-best score of 11-under 61 in Friday’s first round, Ryne Carter rolled in six birdies on Saturday to shoot 2-under 70 on his own ball. He combined with his dad Allen to post 3-under 69.

Brian Comegys, a former Legends Junior Tour standout, eased in four birdies and an eagle to combine with his dad, Wick, for a 6-under 66. Wick added two birdies and an eagle of his own.

Tied for fifth place at 13-under 131 are San Antonio’s Dave and Tom Moore and Hunter and Randy Rawls from Midland and Lubbock. The Moores shot 7-under 65 in the second round; The Rawls team came in with 4-under 68. Both teams will start Sunday’s final round four shots back of the Griffins.

Complete scoring | Final Round pairings

NET FLIGHTS UPDATE:

Hogan Flight – Nick and Charles Archer blitzed Tapatio Springs on Saturday with an 11-under 61 to stake an eight-shot lead with 18 holes to play. Charles rolled in six natural birdies and made a birdie-net-eagle for good measure. His son Nick added five more birdies of his own to get their team score to 17-under 127 overall.

“It’s not about a trophy, it’s about the three days you get to spend with your son,” Charles said. “We’re having an absolute blast.”

Flower Mound’s Randy Mattingley and Trey Rowe from Argyle got to 9-under 135 overall with a 3-under 69 on Saturday. Rowe dropped a pair of natural birdies, while his dad Mattingley recorded three net birdies.

Third place belongs to Tim and T.J. Bowe, respectively from Gunter and Frisco, at 7-under 137. They combined to shoot 4-under 68 in the second round.

Nelson Flight – Rockwall’s Marc and Mason Nelson lead their namesake flight at 11-under 133 overall. The Nelsons combined to for a 6-under 66, which included a natural eagle, a net eagle, two natural birdies, and a pair of net birdies.

Connor and Kevin Cartledge from Harlingen are tied for second place with Richard and Michael Baker from Houston and Katy. Both teams are 7-under 137 through 36 holes.

Crenshaw Flight – Chad and Thomas Hampton from Cypress and College Station lead their flight at 12-under 132 overall after a 7-under 65 on Saturday. Chad had a natural eagle, two natural birdies, and three more net birdies. Thomas added a pair of net birdies to help give them a six-shot lead through 36 holes.

Chris and Jeff Mudd from Houston and Fulshear hold second place at 6-under 138. They improved quite a bit from their Round 1 performance with a combined effort of 5-under 67 on Saturday. Chip and Mike Block from Houston and Kingwood own third place at 5-under 139. They combined for two natural birdies and three net birdies.

Kite Flight – David Cash and his son David Cash Jr. are on the verge of their third Father-Son Kite Flight victory. After a 6-under 66 in the first round, the Team Cash posted 3-under 69 on Saturday to get them to 9-under 135, good for a five-shot lead.

“We started out birdie-birdie, so that was fun,” said Cash Sr., who teamed with his son to win this flight in 2016 and ’17. “It was a grind after that, but we had a great time, as always. We love the courses you pick for this event.”

Broun and George Stacy, respectively from Houston and Dallas, shot the round of the day in the Kite Flight with an 8-under 64. They’re in second place at 4-under 140. Together, the made three natural birdies and four net birdies.

Russell and George Rozell from Austin and Dickinson are tied for third place at 3-under 141 with Zach and Preston Harvey from Dallas. Preston, the youngest competitor in the field at age 9, made three net birdies to help his dad Zach shoot 1-over 73.

WEATHER: Tapatio Springs dialed up another chamber of commerce morning for Saturday’s second round. Partly cloudy skies with a light breeze and temperatures in the mid-70s greeted players who went out early. It heated up a bit in the afternoon with lots of sun and temperatures rising into the mid-90s. The wind stayed in the 10-15 mph range with occasional gusts of up to 25 mph.

GOLF COURSE: Nestled in a picturesque valley about 30 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio, Tapatio Springs opened in 1981 with a course originally designed by Bill Johnston. In 2015, Tripp Davis & Associates completed a wide-ranging renovation that included reshaped and rebuilt fairways, bunkers, tee boxes, and green complexes. Both challenging and fun, it’s a quintessential Hill Country-style course with plenty of elevation changes and a few blind shots.

With a variety of long and shorter holes, as well as the numerous water features sprinkled throughout the routing, Tapatio Springs Resort will serve as a quality test of skill for all the participants. This is the first time Tapatio Springs has welcomed the Father-Son since back-to-back years in 1984-85.

FORMAT: The Championship Flight consists of the 40 teams with the lowest combined handicap indexes. The Championship Flight plays four-ball stroke play for the first two rounds. After 36 holes, the low 20 teams (and ties) continue on in the Championship Flight and play combined individual stroke play in the final round. Each Championship Flight team’s three-day total is their overall score for the championship. Teams not making the 36-hole cut in the Championship Flight will compete in the Presidents Flight and play a third and final round of four-ball stroke play. The format for all other flights is 54-hole net four-ball stroke play.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY: This is the 43rd annual playing of the Texas Father-Son Championship. Kyle and Derick Kelting from Amarillo have won the popular championship in each of the past three years. It they’re able win for a fourth straight time, they’d move into a tie for the all-time most consecutive victories with another Amarillo duo, Tom and Will Doughtie. The Doughties won the Father-Son four times in a row from 2001-04. Last summer, the Keltings rallied from two strokes back in the final round to score the threepeat at Wichita Falls Country Club with a three-day total of 10-under-par 274.

NEXT UP: The final round begins Sunday at 7:30 a.m. at Tapatio Springs Resort. For more information, including complete scoring, click here.

Carters Lead Father-Son after a Sizzling 61

BOERNE – Allen Carter had a front row seat on Friday to watch his son Ryne shoot the best competitive score of his life in the first round of the 43rd Texas Father-Son Championship at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort. The father-son duo from Dallas combined to shoot 11-under-par 61. Ryne shot a 10-under 62 on his own ball.

“I took two weeks off from playing, then came back out for this tournament,” Ryne Carter said. “I didn’t expect it, but everything was working great today: putting, driving, everything.”

Carter opened with an eagle on the first hole, then proceeded to birdie six of his next 10 holes. With a smile, his dad Allen was quick to add he was more than just a cheerleader all day.

“I made one birdie today,” Allen Carter said. “Make sure that gets into the story.”

The Carters lead Jerry and Randall Searls from Van Alstyne by one shot headed into Saturday’s second round.

LEADERBOARD CHECK: The Searls combined for seven birdies and two eagles on their way to 10-under 62 and second place in the Championship Division. Jerry Searls eagled the par-5 first hole, and his son Randall eagled the par-5 10th

Three teams are tied for third place at 9-under 63. Three-time champions Matt and Will Griffin from San Antonio, Midland’s Rick and Richman Houston, and Hunter and Randy Rawls, respectively from Midland and Lubbock, are all two shots behind the Carters.

Three-time defending champions Kyle and Derick Kelting from Amarillo opened the 43rd Texas Father-Son with a 7-under 65. They’re tied for eighth place after Round 1.

Complete scoring | Round 2 pairings

NET FLIGHTS UPDATE:

Hogan Flight – There’s a three-way tie for first place after Friday’s opening round. Sharing the top spot at 6-under 66 are the teams of Randy Mattingley from Flower Mound and Trey Rowe from Argyle, along with Charles and Nick Archer, respectively from Rockwall and Rowlett, and Lufkin’s Wes Welch and Justin Blackledge from Midland.

Mattingley and Rowe combined for six total birdies. Four of those were Rowe’s natural birdies; Mattingley added a pair of net birdies, as well as a birdie-net-eagle on the uphill, par-3 11th.

Nick Archer started his team’s day with a natural eagle on the par-5 first hole. He added five more birdies on the day; three of those were natural birdies. His partner Charles added three natural birdies on his ball. Welch and Blackledge played nearly flawless ham-and-eggs partner golf. They combined for seven total birdies, and neither birdied the same hole.

Nelson Flight – Corinth’s Jeff Loch and Fort Worth’s Andrew Loch fired a 6-under 66 to grab first place after Round 1. Andrew rolled in four natural birdies and added one net birdie. Jeff contributed with one natural and one net birdie.

Marc and Mason Nelson from Rockwall finished with 5-under 67, good for second place. Patrick Pettit from Porter and Austin Pettit from Houston hold third place at 4-under 68.

Crenshaw Flight – Chad and Thomas Hampton, respectively from Cypress and College Station, staked a three-shot lead in their flight after they combined for eight birdies on their way to a 5-under 67 in Round 1. Chad rolled in four natural birdies and one net birdie; Thomas had four net birdies of his own. Only one of the Hampton’s overall birdies was negated when both Chad and Thomas scored net birdies the par-4 16th.

Chris and Paul Divis from Dallas are in second place at 2-under 70. Chris accounted for three net birdies, and Paul had two net and one natural birdie. Three teams are tied for third place in the Crenshaw Flight at 1-under 71. Chip and Mike Block, from Houston and Kingwood, along with Will and Bill Ward, from San Antonio and Sugar Land, and Chris and Jeff Mudd, from Houston and Fulshear, all will start Round 2 four shot behind the Hamptons.

Kite Flight – David Cash and David Cash Jr., respectively from Cottonwood Shores and Spicewood, combined to shoot 6-under 66 to take the Kite Flight lead by two shots after 18 holes. David Sr. made a birdie-net-eagle on the difficult par -4 fifth hole. He added another natural birdie, plus four more net birdies to help their cause. David Jr. added a pair of net birdies.

Zach and Preston Harvey from Dallas are two shots back at 4-under 68. At 9 years old, Preston is the youngest player in the field. The sweet-swinging lefty drained five net birdies on the day. His dad Zach added three natural birdies. Tyler and Robert Cloud, from San Antonio and Heath, hold third place at 2-under 70.

WEATHER: It was a gorgeous day for golf in the Hill Country, with overcast skies and temperatures in the mid-70s throughout the morning. Winds were steady in the 10-15 mph range. By 1 p.m., the sun finally peeked out, but the temperatures remained pleasant in the mid-80s.

GOLF COURSE: Nestled in a picturesque valley about 30 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio, Tapatio Springs opened in 1981 with a course originally designed by Bill Johnston. In 2015, Tripp Davis & Associates completed a wide-ranging renovation that included reshaped and rebuilt fairways, bunkers, tee boxes, and green complexes. Both challenging and fun, it’s a quintessential Hill Country-style course with plenty of elevation changes and a few blind shots.

With a variety of long and shorter holes, as well as the numerous water features sprinkled throughout the routing, Tapatio Springs Resort serves as a quality test of skill for all the participants. This is the first time Tapatio Springs has welcomed the Father-Son since back-to-back years in 1984-85.

FORMAT: The Championship Flight consists of the 40 teams with the lowest combined handicap indexes. The Championship Flight plays four-ball stroke play for the first two rounds. After 36 holes, the low 20 teams (and ties) continue on in the Championship Flight and play combined individual stroke play in the final round. Each Championship Flight team’s three-day total is their overall score for the championship. Teams not making the 36-hole cut in the Championship Flight will compete in the Presidents Flight and play a third and final round of four-ball stroke play. The format for all other flights is 54-hole net four-ball stroke play.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY: This is the 43rd annual playing of the Texas Father-Son Championship. Kyle and Derick Kelting from Amarillo have won the popular championship in each of the past three years. It they’re able win for a fourth straight time, they’d move into a tie for the all-time most consecutive victories with another Amarillo duo, Tom and Will Doughtie. The Doughties won the Father-Son four times in a row from 2001-04. Last summer, the Keltings rallied from two strokes back in the final round to score the threepeat at Wichita Falls Country Club with a three-day total of 10-under-par 274.

NEXT UP: Round 2 begins at 7:30 a.m. at Tapatio Springs Resort. For more information, including complete scoring, click here.

Bret Gray Leads 114th Texas Amateur with 18 Holes to Play

HOCKLEY – Eighteen holes separate San Antonio’s Bret Gray from etching his name into Texas golf history at The Clubs at Houston Oaks. After a second consecutive 4-under-par 67 on Saturday in the third round of the 114th Texas Amateur, the Sam Houston State junior holds a two-shot lead at 13-under 200 overall.

“Today was a grind,” said Gray, the 2022-23 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year. “On the front nine, I made nine straight pars. I didn’t really get any putts to go in, but I made some good pars. On the back nine, the putter started to heat up, and I made a few putts coming in.”

Gray made five birdies on his back nine, including four on the final six holes. He recorded six top-10s for the Bearkats last season, topped off by a victory at the Bayou City Classic in February. Gray also won the All-American Intercollege in 2022 as a freshman. He said he’ll draw on those college wins for confidence during Sunday’s final round.

“The course set up the past two days definitely has felt like a college tournament,” Gray said. “The guys I’m playing with are guys I see in college events, so it has a college feel to it, for sure. One thing I can pull from is really taking it one shot at a time and making golf almost easy. Just hit the fairway, hit the green, and two-putt. If you make a putt, awesome. But just playing simple golf, and that’s how I’ve gotten my two wins. Hopefully we can get a third.”

To make that a reality, he’ll have to fend off Oklahoma sophomore Jase Summy from Keller one more time. Summy, also a collegiate winner, shot a 3-under 68 on Saturday. Through three rounds, he sits at 11-under 202, just two shots behind Gray.

“The round today was OK,” said Summy, who drained a 20-foot birdie on 18 to inch a little closer to Gray. “It was clean, not a lot of bogeys. I’m right there. I’ll have a good day tomorrow and see what happens.”

Gray and Summy two have separated themselves from the pack with their tremendous play. The next closest chasers are Baylor junior Luke Dossey and former TCU standout Travis Woolf, who are tied for third place at 5-under 208. Dossey posted the low round of the day, a stellar 5-under 66.

“I think I’ll need a little bit of help, but another day like today with more putts dropping and hopefully I’ll put myself in a position tomorrow,” Dossey said.

With Gray and Summy respectively eight- and six-shots clear of the field, Sunday might have a match play feel to it. The operative word there is “might,” because there is a host of talented amateurs who could make things interesting before it’s over. That group includes Woolf, Dossey, and University of Houston redshirt junior Jacob Borow, who shot 2-under 69 on Saturday to climb into solo fifth place at 2-under 211.

Four more players are tied for sixth place at even-par 213, including Houston Oaks member Kade Stewart, 111th Texas Amateur champion Trey Bosco from Austin, Plano’s Ethan Fang, and Houston’s Jeffery Zatorski.

The National Weather Service’s Extreme Heat Warning remained in effect on Saturday for South Texas. A bit of cloud cover in the morning helped ease the effects of the heat, but it burned off by about 10 a.m. The heat index reached 100 degrees by noon, while the actual temperature hovering around 90 degrees.

Despite the soaring temperatures, all the players remaining in the field, as well as the Houston Oaks staff, the TGA Championships team, and the spectators enjoying the display of elite golf have been mindful to stay hydrated and soak up as much shade as possible. Thankfully, there have been no instances of anyone overheating this week.

The final round of the 114th Texas Amateur begins Sunday at 8 a.m. at Houston Oaks. For more information, including complete scoring, click here.

Gray Maintains Lead through 36 Holes at 114th Texas Amateur

HOCKLEY – Bret Gray from San Antonio fired a 4-under-par 67 on Friday at The Clubs at Houston Oaks in the second round of the 114th Texas Amateur. He maintained a one-shot lead at the halfway point of the state’s most celebrated amateur championship.

The Sam Houston State junior sits at 9-under 133 overall, one stroke in front of Keller’s Jase Summy, who lit up Houston Oaks on Friday morning for a course-record 7-under 64.

“Yeah, I saw (the 64) as I was about to tee off,” said Gray, a two-time collegiate winner and the 2022-23 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year. “I didn’t really think about it too much, but I knew the number I needed to get to if I wanted to stay in the lead, obviously. I knew this afternoon wave was going to hard. The wind is blowing, it’s hot as heck. I had a number in my head, but I didn’t think about it too much. I just kept playing my game.”

Gray said Thursday he likes to keep things simple: fairways, greens, no three-putts. He stuck to the program again Friday. He rolled in five birdies and chipped one in from off the green for par on No. 15 after a loose tee shot. He suffered just one bogey on the day.

“It was hot out there,” he said. “I was most proud of myself for staying in it all day, taking it one shot at a time, and not letting the heat get to me or making an excuse for that. I stayed even keeled. I was proud of that.”

Summy displayed a similar approach to his round earlier in the day. He poured in nine birdies on his way to breaking the competitive course record at The Clubs at Houston Oaks with his electric 64. The University of Oklahoma sophomore birdied three of his first five holes, then four of his first five on his second nine.

Only a lipped out par putt from 4 feet on his final hole kept him from sharing the lead headed into Saturday’s third round.

“I normally make a lot of birdies, so if I can clean it up and not make any big numbers, I’ll shoot pretty good normally,” said Summy, who won the 2023 Boilermaker Invitational in April and was a Big 12 All-Conference selection last season. “I had one three-putt today – I try not to have any of those; it’s always a goal – and I just thought I played a really clean round of golf. It could’ve been better, but it was just really clean.”

Gray and Summy separated themselves a bit from the rest of the field of top amateurs in the state. Third place belongs to Austin’s Sean-Karl Dobson, who shot a 3-under 68 in the second round to get to 4-under 138 overall. The incoming Stanford freshman is five shots back of Gray.

Fort Worth’s Travis Woolf is six shots behind in fourth place. The former TCU standout sits at 3-under 139 after his solid round of 2-under 69 on Friday. Houston’s Justin Kaplan rallied late with four birdies in his final seven holes to shoot 5-under 66 in the second round. He holds fifth place at 2-under 140.

Seven players are under par after two rounds at the sublime, par-71 Chet Williams-designed Houston Oaks course. Three more are at even-par 142, but they’re all looking up at Gray and Summy with two rounds to play.

With half the state of Texas under a Heat Advisory, it was another scorcher at Houston Oaks during the second round.

Friday’s weather unfortunately didn’t include the early morning cloud cover the field enjoyed on Thursday, which created a steamy environment almost from the start of the day. It was much breezier in the morning, too, with 15-20 mph gusts whipping through Houston Oaks by as early as 9 a.m.

At noon, the temperature at Houston Oaks was a toasty 93 degrees with a 103 index. The steady 20-25 mph winds helped ease the heat’s effects, but it also played havoc on plenty of competitors’ golf balls. The mercury topped out at 98 degrees from around 3-4:30 p.m. with “Feels Like” temperatures climbing to 108.

Hydration was a priority, and the 61 players who made the 36-hole cut at 8-over 150 or better can expect two more days of searing heat at one of the best golf courses in Texas. Among those who survived the cut were three past Texas Amateur winners.

Austin’s Trey Bosco, a senior at Baylor, won the 111th Texas Amateur in 2020 at Boot Ranch. He’s tied for 11th place currently at 1-over 143. Pottsboro’s Austyn Reily, a senior at the University of Houston, claimed the 112th Texas Amateur in 2021 at Midland Country Club. Reily shares apiece of 27th place at 4-over 146. Holden Wisener from Dallas, the defending champion who won the H.L. Edwards Memorial Trophy last summer at Willow Brook Country Club, is tied for 42nd place at 6-over 148.

The third round of the 114th Texas Amateur begins at 8 a.m. at Houston Oaks. For more information, including complete scoring, click here.

In the Volunteer Spotlight: Pam Murray

Every TGA volunteer found their way to the rewarding job via different avenues. For Pam Murray, it was the Course Rating Team that drew her into giving decades of service to further the game of golf.

Murray’s family is no stranger to the sport. Her father introduced her to the game. Her two brothers are both PGA Class-A Club Professionals who recently retired in the Pacific Northwest. It wasn’t until she graduated college that Murray decided to play and truly learn the game of golf though.

“My family would always play golf together because my mom would get us out of the house,” Murray said. “I got tired of my brothers always cheating me on the golf course. They would tell me I couldn’t do this, or I couldn’t do that. So, I decided I better learn the rules.”

Murray, former President of the Women’s Texas Golf Association from 2008-10, first spent her time with the Course Rating Team from 1997-2002. In 2002, she retired and had more time to learn the Rules. This allowed her to transition into becoming a Rules official at tournaments.

The Richardson native has served in numerous capacities since 2002 for the USGA and TGA. She became a member of the USGA Women’s Committee in 2011, serving as vice-chairman from 2015-16 and then as chairman from 2017-18.

She presided over the newly created U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Committee in 2014-15 and before that the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Committee in 2013-14. Murray also was a longtime member of the TGA Rules Committee.

Prior to becoming a TGA volunteer, Murray spent her working career in education. As a retired educator, she has seen that part of her profession pay dividends on the golf course.

“It helps you relate to the people you are dealing with,” Murray said.

At the top of her list of favorite memories from volunteering in golf are being able to be involved with the USGA’s inaugural 2022 U.S. Adaptive Open and helping with President Bush’s Warrior Open for five years.

Having been heavily involved in the game since 1997, Murray has seen great change over the past couple of decades.

“I see a lot more young girls and women playing golf than there were in 1997,” Murray said. “I think the TGA and what was the WTGA were very instrumental in getting a lot more women involved in the state of Texas.”

Murray estimates that she spends around 75 days of the year volunteering. She says it’s the people who bring her back. This is the same reason that a countless number of our volunteers continuously cite as their inspiration for devoting their time to the TGA.

“I’ve been lucky enough to travel around the world officiating,” Murray said. “It’s been a great experience just meeting other rules officials, players, and juniors. And watching my juniors grow up to now participate on the LPGA and PGA TOUR is special.”

The TGA thanks Pam for her countless years of service to the Association and the game of golf. If you see her at a TGA or USGA event this year make sure to say hello!

A Playbook for Golf & Life

“Golf is a metaphor of life. As soon as you assume something’s going to happen, it usually doesn’t. And maybe even the opposite happens.”

– Mike Booker, Texas Golf Association

If anyone knows what it takes to build the type of mindset needed to become a successful competitive golfer, it’s Houston’s Mike Booker. Winner of 14 TGA Championships, a 2019 Texas Golf Hall of Fame inductee, and a collegiate All-American on the late 1970s powerhouse University of Houston golf teams, Booker at age 68 knows exactly what constitutes a tournament golfer.

Or as he would put it, a Tournament Golfer: capital T, capital G.

The four-time Texas Senior Player of the Year recently published his first book. It’s a unique self-help offering for anyone who wants to know how to improve their tournament results and become more successful in their daily lives. It’s called The Tournament Golfer’s Playbook and identifies two very different types of competitive golfers and how becoming one of them can lead to triumph – in tournaments and life itself.

“My book is for players who want to win golf tournaments,” said Booker, who notched his latest triumph at the 2023 South Texas Senior Amateur. You see, Booker believes there are Golfers-Who-Play-Tournaments, and then there are Tournament Golfers. There is about a 700-yard, par-5 gulf between these two types of competitors.

For example, the Golfer-Who-Plays-Tournaments has a list of excuses for poor scores. It was a bad back, or inclement weather, or unlucky lip-outs that kept him from meeting his expectations. The Tournament Golfer, meanwhile, has no such rationalizations. This competitor, Booker notes, is drama-free. He turns in his scorecard without alibis.

Or, as Booker says in his book, “Don’t explain, don’t complain.”

There’s much more to the dichotomy, of course. Booker gets into all of it. The Golfer-Who-Plays-Tournaments has bad habits of getting ahead of themselves, thinking too far into the future (or the past), over-celebrating good shots and getting upset over bad ones.

Booker understands this because he is a Tournament Golfer. He is quick to add, however, that wasn’t always the case. He was a Golfer-Who-Plays-Tournaments for years and years.

There’s a great anecdote early in the book about when he was 16 years old and advanced to the semifinals of the California Junior Match Play Championship. He faced one of the top-ranked juniors in the state, future U.S. Open champion Scott Simpson. Booker took a quick lead – Simpson duck-hooked tee balls out of bounds on the first two holes – and he started thinking about who he’d face in the finals.

Cut to the end, Simpson won 3&2. Even as a teenager, Simpson displayed winning characteristics even when he was 2 down. No alibis.

“Scott was a Tournament Golfer, and I had no idea what had just happened to me,” Booker said. “It would take me over a decade to understand what he – and many other Tournament Golfers I encountered – possessed that I did not. In my book, I detail how the reader can become a Tournament Golfer and stop being just a Golfer-Who-Plays-Tournaments.”

Published in January, The Tournament Golfer’s Playbook debuted at #1 on Amazon’s New Release list. It also made it to #1 on Amazon’s Best Seller list in February. It’s stuffed full of the kind of advice, anecdotes, and insider information every serious golfer needs.

It’s more than that, though. At the end of each chapter, Booker gives readers a “Life Hack” that relates how becoming a Tournament Golfer also can help them succeed in life off the golf course.

The chapter about “Taking Responsibility” illuminates why and how the Tournament Golfer benefits from owning up for their actions on the golf course.

“Taking responsibility gives the player true freedom,” Booker said. “Everyone in life and business makes mistakes. The Tournament Golfer attitude calls for us to take responsibility: own (the mistake), fix it, and eliminate it.”

This new book is just the latest way Booker has given back to golf. Mike and his wife, Pat, founded the Booker Family Foundation that supports a wide array of worthy causes, including the TGA’s Youth on Course program that allows juniors to play for $5 or less at select courses across the state.

A melanoma skin cancer survivor himself, Booker’s foundation has raised more than $1 million for the Booker Melanoma Research Endowment for UT/MD Anderson to help eradicate the disease. He and Pat are Trustees for The First Tee, and ardent supporters of the University of Houston golf program. They funded the UH short game area at the Golf Club of Houston, the home course for Mike’s alma mater, the UH Men’s & Women’s Golf Teams.

Now he can add author to his impressive list of accomplishments. Once you read  The Tournament Golfer’s Playbook, you might start adding successful bullet points to your lists, too.

For more information or to order the book,  click here. To read an excerpt from  The Tournament Golfer’s Playbook,  click here.

North Texas Welcomes KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship

Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco is located approximately 953 miles from Augusta National Golf Club. Put another way, it’s roughly a 13-hour, 51-minute drive – if you adhere to the posted speed limits.

While the two sites couldn’t be more distinct – one a former Texas cattle ranch, one a former Georgia nursery – there is a little-known connection between the courses. They both will have played host to the event now known as the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

When the 83rd edition of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship takes place next month in North Texas, it will have evolved significantly from those inaugural 1937-38 championships contested at Augusta National. Despite the growth and changes, it rightfully maintains its position as the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf.

It’s a designation befitting a championship with beginnings so entrenched at perhaps the most famous golf course in the world and with a list of past champions equally as impressive. Legends of the game, from Sarazen and Snead to Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino, and Watson, have had their names etched on the Alfred S. Bourne Trophy.

Set for May 24-28, this year’s KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is the inaugural Major Championship to be contested on Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, or what has come to be known as the “Modern Home of Golf.”

PGA Frisco consists of the Omni PGA Frisco Resort, the Home of the PGA of America, the headquarters of the Northern Texas PGA Section, and a retail and entertainment district, all which is centered around the Fields Ranch East and West golf courses. The new venue will be home to more than 26 PGA of America championships between now and 2034.

The run of major championships slated to be held on Fields Ranch East also includes the 2025 and 2031 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and the 2027 and 2034 PGA Championships, as well as another KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 2029.

KitchenAid’s involvement with the Senior PGA Championship dates to 2011 and has added some “foodie” culture to this special major. Amateur gourmet fans should check out KitchenAid’s main attraction at the event, the Fairway Club, which will host chef demonstrations throughout the week, including some likely familiar faces to any fans of the Food Network or Cooking Channel. In addition to the Fairway Club, KitchenAid will have other activities and product displays throughout the PGA District and Fields Ranch East.

There are a limited number of hospitality, pro-am, and ticket opportunities that remain available to be a part of the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf. If you would like more information on options for hosting clients, potential clients, employees, or your family during the Championship, please visit SRPGA.com.

Youth On Course is Full Speed Ahead

Perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise, especially after the TGA Foundation’s success in 2022 in growing the number of participating Youth on Course (YOC) facilities around the state, but 2023 is shaping up to be a blockbuster year for broadening the reach of this life-changing program throughout Texas.

This is the fourth year of the TGA Foundation’s partnership with YOC, a national non-profit grow-the-game initiative that allows kids and teens ages 6-18 to play golf for $5 or less, plus opportunities for paid internships, caddie programs, and college scholarships. The collaboration initially began in January 2020 as a pilot project in the San Antonio area with 11 courses, including all eight that comprise the Alamo City Golf Trail.

As 2023 moves forward, the gained momentum continues apace with a multitude of new YOC facilities introduced in big cities and small towns alike. But that’s just the start of what is expected to be an outpouring of good news about YOC in Texas to arrive this year.

Through the first quarter of 2023, nine facilities have officially joined the YOC community, with another nine in process. When all the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed, that will bring the total number of participating YOC facilities in Texas to 65.

That’s a 38% increase in just three months since the end of 2022, and a whopping 140% jump in the number of locations from the same period last year. For comparison, there were 27 facilities heading into April 2022, and 47 total by the end of the year.

Not so coincidentally, membership numbers are on the rise too. There are currently 2,210 young people in Texas with YOC memberships, which is on pace for a projected record-high of over 3,500 members once school lets out.

The partnership expands upon the TGA Foundation’s current lineup of junior golf development programming, which now includes the Bill Penn Internship, Junior Girls’ Travel Fund, Bob Romero Scholarship, and the Doris Kallina/’Nez Muhleman Scholarship.

Among the new participating YOC facilities in 2023 are Tenison Park’s Glen Course in Dallas, Deer Run Golf Club in West Tawakoni, Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater, Lake Waco Golf Club’s Executive Course in Waco, Blue Lake Golf Club in Horseshoe Bay, and Olympia Hills Golf Course in San Antonio.

There are also three new facilities in the Greater Houston area. They are Hermann Park Golf Course in Houston, Pearland Golf Club in Pearland, and the La Quinta Course at Quail Valley Golf Course & City Centre in Missouri City.

While it’s exciting news for junior golfers in and around the Bayou City, the TGA Foundation and YOC are working diligently to add more facilities. The approximately 10,000-square-mile region is the fifth-most populous metropolitan statistical area in the U.S., and that means there are lots and lots of kids that could benefit from access to affordable golf and off-course opportunities. It’s one of the main reasons why the two organizations will be concentrating on expanding the network in that area.

“It’s rewarding to witness the commitment from the Youth on Course partner community,” said Tai Moran, a San Antonio-based Regional Development Officer with Youth on Course. “With each Texas facility added, we confirm our commitment to access and changing the economics of the game. One can only imagine the impact as we focus on Houston and its surrounding areas.”

But the collaborative efforts to help grow the game by encouraging more facilities to open their doors to YOC members won’t be limited to just the Southeast region of the state. As the geographical diversity of the new courses that have been added so far in 2023 indicates, the continued goal will be to expand the footprint to as many areas as possible in the months and years ahead.

“We’re incredibly excited about the recent signings and the momentum we have in the early part of 2023,” Kilgo said. “We’re so appreciative of all our new and current YOC facilities, but there are still so many areas in Texas yet to cover. We will be working hard to make sure that more kids will have access to this far-reaching program and the opportunities it provides both on and off the golf course.”

Partner courses that provide a nurturing atmosphere where YOC members feel welcome to play golf, have fun, learn, and grow, are helping to ensure the long-term future of the game. They are also realizing an immediate benefit as well.

Because partner courses are in full control and decide when YOC members can play the course at the special rate, they’re able to fill their tee sheets with enthusiastic young golfers during normally slow times. In addition to receiving a monthly check for the subsidized rounds, partner courses report that at least 60% of the time, a parent or guardian joined the junior golfer and paid full price for their round. That means additional revenue from green fees, cart fees, pro shop merchandise sales, and food and beverage purchases.

For more information about becoming a YOC partner course, click here.

It’s a proven win-win relationship between YOC members and partner courses that has worked incredibly well since the program’s inception in 2006. There are currently more than 140,000 YOC members that have access to nearly 2,000 courses across the U.S. and Canada, where they can play a round of golf for $5 or less.

Over the years, YOC members have played more than two million subsidized rounds of golf while the organization has helped generate more than $8 million in tee-time revenue reimbursed back to individual golf courses.

With the constant addition of new partner courses and summer just around the corner, and the promise of long days of sunshine ideally suited for being outside playing lots of golf, now is the perfect time for kids and teens to be a part of the growing YOC community.

Turn the page to learn more about YOC membership, including how the program works, benefits and opportunities, plus easy instructions on how to sign up.

Victoria CC to host Texas Girls’ Invitational

ADDISON – The Texas Girls’ Invitational travels to Victoria Country Club for the first time in the 14th edition of the event. Set for Feb. 18-20, this will be the first major championship of the 2023 LJT season.

The Texas Girls’ Invitational will feature a 76-player, girls-only field. Over the past decade it has become one of the top junior events in Texas on the schedule. The inaugural playing of this event featured 12 players back in 2010, but now boasts one of the most competitive fields each year.

In 2019, the event became a 54-hole championship held in February with World Amateur Golf Ranking points up for grabs. Additionally, the tournament also offers numerous AJGA Performance Stars to the top finishers including 12 for the champion. Prior to 2019 the event was 36 holes and annually held in the fall.

This is the first LJT event to be played at Victoria CC. Originally built by E.L. Grunder as a nine-hole course in 1924, the current eighteen-hole layout was redesigned by Joe Finger. The course is considered one of the finest in South Texas and tips out at just under 7,000 yards.

“We are very excited to host the Texas Girls’ Invitational at Victoria Country Club for the first time as we welcome many of the best girls in the state,” Tournament Coordinator Katie O’Connell said. “The field for this event continues to get stronger each year. We are excited to crown our first major champion of the year.”

Austin’s Farah O’Keefe won by an impressive seven strokes last year at the Texas Girls’ Invitational by finishing two-under par. A field of rising stars and previous LJT winners will take on the Victoria CC this year and look to etch their name on the Nez Muhleman trophy.

The ’Nez Muhleman trophy is named after Inez “’Nez” Muhleman of Houston. She was long known for her dedication to junior golf.

Past champions of this girls-only championship include Kaci McCartan, Lakareber Abe, Maddie McCrary, Vanessa Ha, Jaravee Boonchant, Anne Chen, Makenzie Niblett, Hailey Jones, and Tillie Claggett.

This is the first Major Championship for the girls of the 2023 LJT season. For more information on the Texas Girls’ Invitational, please click here.