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.

LJT Spring Preview heads to Historic Cedar Crest Golf Course Feb. 24-25

ADDISON – The Legend’s Junior Tour Spring Preview heads to Cedar Crest Golf Course on Feb 24-25 for the first time in its 19-year history.

 “We are excited to bring this popular event to a great course,” shared Tournament Coordinator Preston Vinzant. “The kids are going to play a great layout which has an incredible history. A lot of golfers know about Cedar Crest, and we can’t wait to introduce these kids to the history behind it.” 

 The Spring Preview is an 84-player field across three age groups. The high-talent field will compete over 36 holes of stroke play and add their name to a great list of winners. Previous winners of the Tournament include Will Zalatoris, Cole Hammer, Anne Chen, Hailee Cooper, Cole Sherwood, and Andrew Petruzzelli. 

 Cedar Crest Golf Course is located in South Dallas and opened in 1919. The former Country Club that turned public in 1946 was designed by A.W. Tillinghast who also is the creator behind Texas courses such as Brook Hollow GC, Brackenridge Park,  Dallas CC, Lakewood CC, Colonial CC, and Oak Hills CC. The course hosted the 1927 PGA Championship won by 11-time major winner Walter Hagen. The course also hosted the Dallas Open in 1926 won by Macdonald Smith and the USGA Public Links Championship in 1954. The course built a new clubhouse in 2001 and the course was eventually renovated in 2004 by D.A. Weinberg. The course remains a favorite amongst Metroplex golfers.

 Cedar Crest Golf Course is the creator behind the “I Am a Golfer Foundation”. Established in 2018, IAMGF’s mission is to be a “Catalyst for community renewal and transformation in South Dallas through Programming, Preservation, and Promotion”.  IAMGF has engaged over 650 areas of youth in instructional programming, created and hosted over 90 paid internships, and awarded more than $300,000 in college and higher education scholarships. For more info on the IAMGF click here. 

 In last year’s event at the Golf Club at Texas A&M, Andrew Petruzzelli of Dallas won the Boys 15-18 Division with a 13-under 129. Shyla Brown of Dallas won in a playoff against Maelynn Kim of Katy in the Girls 12-18 division with an even-par 142 total. Henry Jackson of Lantana won the boys’ 14&U division with a three-over-par 145.  

 The Boys 15-18 Division winner will receive exemptions into The Texas Cup Invitational, Bluebonnet Championship, Byron Nelson Jr., Texas Junior Amateur, George Hannon Jr, and the Texas Jr. Golf Alliance. The Boys 14& Under winner will receive exemptions into the Bluebonnet Championship, George Hannon Jr., and TX Jr. Golf Alliance. The Girls 12-18 Division winner will receive exemptions into the Bluebonnet Championship, George Hannon Jr., Tx Jr. Golf Alliance, and the 16^th Texas Girls Invitational.  

LJT Flodder Financial Shootout Set for June 19-20

The Legends Junior Tour is headed back to The Club at Falcon Point in Katy for the 11th edition of the Flodder Financial Shootout. Scheduled for June 19-20, this is the sixth consecutive year the club has hosted the elite junior championship.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to return to The Club at Falcon Point,” said Adam Schulte, LJT Tournament Manager. “The club has been a fantastic venue for the Flodder Financial Shootout as well as a tremendous supporter of junior golf, and we are looking forward to another great event with a strong field of players.”

The Club at Falcon Point’s 18-hole golf course was designed by Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge and opened for play in 1984. The strategic par-72 layout was routed to utilize the area’s natural topography, resulting in a demanding course with a wide variety of holes guarded by vast native areas and numerous water hazards.

Flodder Financial Group has been the proud sponsor of the championship since the tournament’s inception in 2013. The company’s commitment and dedication to junior golf has allowed the championship to grow over the years and become one of the most popular events on the LJT’s annual schedule.

The format for the 11th Flodder Financial Shootout is 36 holes of individual stroke play and will feature an 84-player starting field comprised of three divisions: Boys 15-18 (54 players), Girls 12-18 (16), and Boys 14 & Under (14). The winners in each division will be awarded a custom-made silver belt buckle, courtesy of the Flodder Financial Group. Also, a smaller belt buckle will be presented to the lowest scorer in the final round in each division. In addition to the one-of-a-kind trophies, the top finishers in each division will earn AJGA Performance Stars along with exemptions into upcoming LJT Invitational events.

At last year’s championship, Ethan Law of Spring carded rounds of 72-71 to win the Boys 15-18 Division. His 1-over-par total of 143 was good for a one-shot margin of victory over Aidan Dortch of Dallas. Brooke Frerichs of Calgary finished at 12-over 156 to capture the Girls 12-18 Division by one shot over runners-up Syna Nijhawan of Houston and Gaia Esparza of Helotes. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Grant Baer of Argyle posted a two-day total of 147 (+3) to win the title by three shots over Khai Reyes of Plano.

All three players joined a distinguished list of notable past champions that includes Cole Hammer, Walker Lee, Travis Vick, Ashni Dhruva, Macy Fox, Scott Roden, and Garrett Martin.

Starting times and pairings for the first round are posted on the LJT Flodder Financial Shootout main page. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from The Club at Falcon Point.

ABOUT FLODDER FINANCIAL GROUP: The Flodder Financial Group prides itself on serving its clients through strong relationships. Its experienced team of advisors work with each client on a personal level. The group helps develop and implement tax, savings, investment and estate planning strategies. To learn more, click here.

Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic Set for Feb. 4-5

BURNET – The Legends Junior Tour will head to Delaware Springs Golf Course for the first time as it hosts the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic on February 4-5.

Routinely played in February, last year’s edition was postponed to April due to icy conditions. The weather forecast looks much better this time around.

“This is the first LJT event we’ve hosted at Delaware Springs, so we are excited to bring our players there,” said Adam Schulte, LJT Tournament Manager. “Their staff has been wonderful to work with and the course looks great. Fingers crossed the weather forecast stays a bit warmer this year.”

The event is named after one of Texas’ golf legends, Jimmy Demaret, who won three Masters Tournaments and 31 PGA Tour events in a career that spanned from 1935-57. He became the first three-time Masters champion after his victory in 1950 and was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1983. The inaugural Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic was held at Onion Creek Club in 2008.

Scheduled for 36 holes of individual stroke play, the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic features 84 golfers playing in three different divisions: Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18 and Boys 14 & Under. This is the second event of the 2023 season following the Winter Classic held at Dallas Athletic Club on Jan. 21-22.

Last year, Austin’s Sterling Hurd fired rounds of 73-71 and won the Boys 15-18 Division by one stroke. Austin’s Sydney Givens claimed the Girls 12-18 Division with rounds of 75-73, while Jack Clancy won the Boys 14 & Under Division in a playoff.

Both Hurd and Givens are in the field again this year to defend their respective titles.

Other past champions of the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic include Cooper Dossey, Philip Barbaree, Cole Hammer, Annika Clark, Maddie Szeryk, Tayler Termeer, Mac Meissner, Macy Fox, and Libby Thomas.

Delaware Springs Golf Course, located in Burnet, originally opened in 1992 and was designed by Dave Axlander and Dan Proctor. The par-72 layout tips out at over 6,800 yards.

Tee times begin Saturday at 8 a.m. The final round takes place on Sunday, Feb. 5.

For more information about the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic, click here.

Henry, Clancy and O’Keefe Win at Bluebonnet Championship

Brownwood – Connor Henry won the Boys 15-18 Division of the Bluebonnet Championship at 13-under-par. Farah O’Keefe won the Girls 12-18 Division at 8-under, while Jack Clancy won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 2-under-par at Brownwood Country Club.

Click here for full leaderboard

Winners: Connor Henry secured the title at the 21st Bluebonnet Championship. Fort Worth’s Henry made five birdies, an eagle, and a hole-in-one to post a final low round score of 8-under 64. Henry totaled ten birdies and three eagles across both rounds. In the Girls 12-18 Division, Austin’s Farah O’Keefe captured her second LJT victory of the season after getting to 8-under 136 overall and five strokes ahead of the field. She played two rounds of 4-under 68 over the weekend, totaling ten birdies and an eagle to only four bogeys. Dallas’ Jack Clancy won the Boys 14 & Under Division at 2-under, edging out Southlake’s Andrea Birolini in a 1-hole playoff. The current Winter Classic and Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic champion made three birdies on Sunday for a total of nine over two rounds.

In Contention: Austin’s Grant Yerger shot a final round score of 3-under 69 to finish runner up at 7-under overall. Austin’s Trenton Mierl, Garlands’ Sam Jenkins, The Woodland’s Austin Hofferkamp, and Dallas’ Matthew Foster tied for third at 6-under 138. Andrew Petruzzelli finished solo seventh at 5-under 137. San Antonio’s Lindsay Lee finished runner-up in the Girls 12-18 Division after a final round score of 5-under 67 for a tournament total of 141. Alexa Saldana of Mexico and Mason Lewis of Granbury tied for third in the division at 2- under, while Sydney Givens of Austin and Jiyu Han of Cedarpark tied for fifth at 1-under. Andrea Birolini of Southlake finished runner-up after back-to-back rounds of 1-under 70. Benjamin Padua of Cedar Park and Henry Jackson of Lantana round out the top three after finishing 3-over 147 overall.

Golf Course: Brownwood Country Club, which opened in 1929, has hosted the Bluebonnet Championship every year since its inception in 2001. The club sits in central Texas and features ample opportunities for players to go low and make birdies. The par-72 layout was designed by Leon Howard and stretches to 6,300 yards for the boys and 5,800 yards for the girls.

Tournament History: The Bluebonnet Championship is a 36-hole stroke play event for players ages 12-19 that have an active membership within the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The championship was started by Brownwood businessman Bart Johnson in 2001 and has an impressive list of past champions that include Patrick Reed, Cody Gribble, Scottie Scheffler, Pierceson Coody, Maddie Szeryk, Noah Goodwin, Hailey Jones and Hailee Cooper. The Legends Junior Tour took over the event in 2007 and the field has grown to 132 players from all over the state.

POY Points Race: Competitors who finish in the top half of the field will gain points towards the LJT Player of the Year Standings. By winning, Henry, Clancy, and O’Keefe are awarded 1500 points towards the Legend Junior Tour’s Player of the Year standings.

What’s Next: The Legends Junior Tour returns to Dallas and Lakewood Country Club for the Veritex -Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship on June 7-9, 2022. The championship is the second Major Event for the Boys Division of the year with the top players from Texas vying to etch their name on a trophy along with Jordan Spieth, Pierceson Coody, Cody Gribble and many more. For more information about the championship, click 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 PGA and Houston Golf Association. The tour operates as part of the Texas Golf Association and its foundation. Since its inception in 2005, the tour has provided funds to promote junior golf initiatives while conducting some of the state’s top junior championships including the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, Texas Junior Amateur and the Texas Girls’ Invitational as well as the Texas Cup Invitational.

For more information about the Bluebonnet Championship, click here. To see all the scores from Brownwood Country Club, click here.

Hagen, Clancy and O’Keefe Lead Bluebonnet Championship

Brownwood — Luke Hagen leads the Boys 15-18 Division of the Bluebonnet Championship after shooting a 6-under 66 at Brownwood Country Club. Jack Clancy sits atop the Boys 14 & Under Division leaderboard at 5-under, while Farah O’Keefe leads the Girls 12-18 Division after shooting 4-under 68 the first round.

Click here for full leaderboard

Leaders: Luke Hagen of Austin leads the Boys 15-18 Division after shooting 6-under 66 in the opening round. Hagen made four birdies throughout the round and an eagle on the par-5 18th hole. In the Boys 14 & Under division, Jack Clancy of Dallas leads at 5-under 67. Clancy, the current Winter Classic champion, made a total of six birdies in his first 18 holes and played the front 9 holes at 3-under. His lone bogey came on the par-5 12th hole. Farah O’Keefe of Austin, the current Texas Girls’ Invitational champion, made five birdies and matched Hagen’s eagle on the par-5 18th hole in the first round.

In Contention: Three players, Blake Burt, Connor Henry, and Shiv Parmar, are all one stroke back of the leader in the Boys 15-18 Division after a round of 5-under on Saturday. Grant Yerger of Austin and Matt Pawly of San Antonio are tied for fifth at 4-under, while Austin Hofferkamp of The Woodlands and Barret Wisener of Dallas are tied for seventh at 3-under. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Andrea Birolini of Southlake is one stroke back of the leader at 1-under, shooting the only other under-par score in Saturday’s round. Two players are tied for third in the division at 1-over. Austin’s Sydney Givens is just one stroke behind the leader, while Mason Lewis of Granbury sits in solo third after shooting a 2-under 70 on Saturday.

Course: Brownwood Country Club has hosted the Bluebonnet Championship every year since its inception in 2000. The club sits in central Texas and features ample opportunities for players to go low and make birdies. The par-72 layout stretches to 6,300 yards for the boys and 5,800 yards for the girls.

Tournament History: The Legends Junior Tour continues its tradition of hosting the annual Bluebonnet Championship with the 21st playing of the event this year. The Bluebonnet Championship was started by local businessman Bart Johnson in 2002 and has been played at Brownwood Country Club since its inception. The 36-hole championship features three separate divisions: Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18 and Boys 14 & under. This championship is ranked by both Junior Golf Scoreboard and Golfweek. The top three finishers (and ties) in the Boys 15-18 Division will earn a spot in the 2022 Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship and the top five finishers for the 96th Texas Junior Amateur. The winners of the Boys 14 & Under Division and the Girls 12-18 Division will each earn an exemption into the 2022 Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational and 2022 George Hannon Junior Invitational. Along with rankings on the Legends Junior Tour, the top finishers in each division will earn AJGA stars based on their finishes.

POY Points Race: Competitors who finish in the top half of the field will gain points towards the LJT Player of the Year Standings. The champions will each get 1500 points towards the statewide honor followed by 1200 for runner-up, 1050 for third, 900 for fourth and 750 for fifth. For the full LJT POY points breakdown, click here.

What’s Next: The LJT heads out to Lakewood Country Club for the LJT Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, June 7-9. For more information about the championship, click 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 PGA and Houston Golf Association. The tour operates as part of the Texas Golf Association and its foundation. Since its inception in 2005, the tour has provided funds to promote junior golf initiatives while conducting some of the state’s top junior championships including the Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, Texas Junior Amateur and the Texas Girls’ Invitational as well as the Texas Cup Invitational.

For More information about the Bluebonnet Championship, click here. To see all the scores from Brownwood Country Club, click here.

Bluebonnet Championship Set for 21st Year

BROWNWOOD – The Legends Junior Tour continues its tradition of hosting the annual Bluebonnet Championship with the 21st playing of the event this year.

“Brownwood Country Club has always been an amazing host for the Bluebonnet Championship and continues to welcome us with open arms,” Legends Junior Tour Tournament Manager Adam Schulte said. “This has always been one of the most competitive and fun events each year and the LJT is thrilled to continue hosting the best juniors in the state in Brownwood.”

The Bluebonnet Championship was started by local businessman Bart Johnson in 2002 and has been played at Brownwood Country Club since its inception. The par-72 course was designed by Leon Howard and opened in 1929. It features bentgrass greens and wide fairways that give players ample opportunities for low scores. It also showcases many scenic views on hilltops throughout the course. The 36-hole championship features three separate divisions: Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18 and Boys 14 & Under.

Last year, Matthew Comegys of Plano carded rounds of 64-66 to post 14-under-par 130 to win the Boys 15-18 Division title by three strokes over Austin’s Trevor Mierl. In the Girls 12-18 Division, Mimi Burton of Austin edged out San Antonio’s Lindsay Lee and Arlington’s Mason Lewis by two strokes with rounds of 70-70.

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Rhett O’Rear of Plano captured victory via rounds of 69-71 to finish one stroke ahead of Austin Hofferkamp of The Woodlands.

Comegys, Burton, and O’Rear are just a few of the decorated past champions of this prestigious junior championship. The impressive list of past Bluebonnet Championship winners includes new World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who just won the Masters in April. That is elite company for the winners of this event.

Joining Scheffler among the list of notable past champions include the likes of 2019 Texas Amateur champion Ryan Grider, USA Walker Cup Team Member Pierceson Coody, Cooper Dossey and former Texas Junior Amateur champions Stratton Nolen and Hailee Cooper.

This championship is ranked by both Junior Golf Scoreboard and Golfweek. Competitors who finish in the top half of the field will gain points towards the LJT Player of the Year Standings. The top five finishers in the Boys 15-18 Division will earn a spot in the 2022 Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship and the 97th Texas Junior Amateur. The winners of the Boys 14 & Under Division and the Girls 12-18 Division will each earn an exemption into the 2022 Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational and 2022 George Hannon Junior Invitational.

Along with rankings on the Legends Junior Tour, the top finishers in each division will earn AJGA stars based on their finishes.

For more information about the Bluebonnet Championship, click here.

TGA, STPGA, and NTPGA Extend Junior Golf Alliance In 4-Year Agreement

The Texas Golf Association, along with the Northern and Southern Texas PGA Sections, recently announced a four-year extension of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance (TJGA).

Established in 2013 to formalize the relationships between the TGA and PGA Sections, the TJGA creates a statewide partnership that highlights playing opportunities for juniors in each region of the state based on playing ability. The Alliance establishes a local, regional, and statewide roadmap for competitors operated by the governing bodies and leaders of the golf community in Texas.

The new extension takes the TJGA partnership through the 2025 season.

“Texas has an incredible heritage in championship golf, and many of the greatest players in the game have come up through our junior ranks,” said Stacy Dennis, Executive Director of the TGA. “By extending the TJGA partnership and solidifying the relationships between the NTPGA, STPGA and LJT, we can collectively continue to provide Texas junior golfers the best platform to compete and chart their course to accomplish their goals and achieve their dreams. I am so proud to be a part of delivering this opportunity to Texas kids.”

Junior golfers become members of the TJGA and LJT by joining their respective PGA Section’s junior program. Alliance members have opportunities to play in the events conducted by the PGA Section in their region. Through playing in NTPGA All-American Tour and STPGA Srixon Prestige Tour events, Alliance members earn status and exemptions into LJT events, which are conducted by the TGA.

As a result, participation at the local level is encouraged and supported, and LJT Championships attract the best players throughout the state. This allows LJT events to earn American Junior Golf Association Performance Stars, higher World Amateur Golf Rankings, and greater attention from the collegiate golf community, including coaches.

“We are very proud of the partnership that we have with the TGA and STPGA,” said Mark Harrison, Executive Director/CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “The Alliance provides a clear player pathway for our local junior players on the Sections’ Junior Tours to reach the Legends Junior Tour, which is the top of the playing pyramid in Texas. With the likes of Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, and Will Zalatoris, amongst others who are by-products of the Alliance and Junior Golf here in Texas, the future is bright for the Legends Junior Tour and our partner organizations. However, most importantly, it is bright for the junior golfers and their parents that we collectively serve.”

As the top of the TJGA pyramid, the LJT formed in 2005 to establish an elite-level, statewide junior tour to provide the state’s top young competitors opportunities to compete at the highest level without leaving Texas. Extending the partnerships with the All-American Tour in North Texas and Srixon Prestige Tour in South Texas continues to fortify the LJT’s position as the proving grounds for the most elite junior golfers in the state.

“While this alliance showcases how Texas is the best place for junior golf, it more importantly showcases all three organizations’ desire to create lifelong golfers and introduce the game to as many people as possible,” said Thomas Hutton, Executive Director of the Southern Texas PGA. “The STPGA believes strongly that we need to create a player pathway for all junior golfers, and we are excited that the alliance continues to be strong for the best junior golfers in Texas.”

For more information on the LJT, click here. For more on the NTPGA’s All-American Tour, click here. For more on the STPGA’s Srixon Prestige Tour, click here.

Austin’s Farah O’Keefe Wins 12th Texas Girls’ Invitational

MONTGOMERY – Farah O’Keefe fires a final round even-par 72 at Bentwater Yacht & Country Club’s Weiskopf course on Monday resulting in a resounding seven-stroke victory at LJTs 12th Texas Girls’ Invitational.

Competing in her first Texas Girls’ Invitational, the Austin-native posted rounds of 76-66-72. She started her final round with a birdie on No. 2 and remained 1-under until a bogey on the par 4 sixth hole. She finished off the front nine with a birdie and turned at 1-under overall. Her next birdie came on No. 11 followed by four straight pars extending her lead. O’Keefe made two bogeys in her final 9-holes to get to even-par after 18-holes.

O’Keefe’s win at Bentwater Yacht & Country Club highlights what has been an amazing run lately on the links for the high school junior. She made history shooting a tournament low round of 6-under 66 on Sunday. O’Keefe, who made her LPGA debut last summer at the Volunteers of America Classic after earning an exemption through the Northern Texas PGA’s VOA Classic Girls Championship. She recently claimed first place at the Alamo Shootout this past December, the last event on the 2021 LJT schedule.

Leaderboard:
1) Farah O’Keefe, Austin 76-66-72—214
2) Ashleen Kaur, Cypress 77-72-72—221
3) Maye Huang, Katy 75-75-73—223
4) Darrelyn Webster, Austin 79-74-71—224
5) Chaemin Kim, Austin 78-73-73—224

Full Leaderboard

Cypress’s Ashleen Kaur tiptoed up to the leader group throughout Monday’s final round matching O’Keefe’s even-par score of 72. Kaur made birdie on the 166-yard par 3 third hole followed by a bogey on No. 5 where she remained even-par after 9-holes. The high school junior finished the week with a total of eight birdies in 54-holes.

Katy’s Maye Huang, class of 2025, finished third overall with a 7-over 223. Huang carded a final round of 1-over 73 which consisted of back-to-back birdies in her first 5-holes on No’s. 2 and 3. A bogey on the 492-yard par 5 seventh hole brought her back to 1-under where she went head to head with Kaur. She dropped two-strokes back after a bogey on No. 10 and double bogey on No. 14 but made birdie on the par 5 fifteenth hole to pull off a third place finish.

Rounding out the top five at 8-over 224 overall are Austin-natives Darrelyn Webster and Chaemin Kim. After a scorecard playoff, Webster’s final round 1-under 71 resulted in a fourth place finish followed by Kim, who carded a final round 1-over 73.

The weather at Bentwater Yacht & Country Club consisted of overcast skies and light drizzle in the morning. In the afternoon temperatures reached the high 70s as the sun came out. The wind was a factor in today’s round with rising up to 17 miles per hours making the back nine the most challenging.

The Texas Girls’ Invitational is a 54-hole stroke play event for girls that are members of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The event is one of the top-ranked tournaments in Texas.

Next up for the Legends Junior Tour is the Spring Preview at Firewheel Golf Park’s The Bridges course in Garland. For more information about the Spring Preview, click here.

For all the scores from Monday’s action at Bentwater Yacht & Country Club, click here. To learn more about the Texas Girls’ Invitational, click here.