Around the Green

The latest golf-related news, notes, and feature stories from the TGA.

Registration Updates for TGA Championships

As we continue to work through these uncertain times during the COVID-19 crisis, the Texas Golf Association made the decision to delay the registration process for several upcoming events.

Registration is scheduled to open for the following championships on May 26:

The TGA also recently announced the 111th Texas Amateur was rescheduled for Aug. 6-9 because of continued safety concerns around the COVID-19 virus. Originally scheduled for mid-June, the 72-hole, stroke play championship still will be held at Boot Ranch Golf Club in Fredericksburg.

We want all TGA Members to know that every decision during the COVID-19 pandemic is made with the health and well-being of the entire TGA Family and general public in mind. Most importantly, we want everyone to be safe and healthy.

The TGA will continue to rely on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), as well as state and local government guidelines in the locations where championships and qualifiers are to be conducted and in determining schedule considerations for other TGA events.

We urge you to stay safe and follow expert guidance from the CDC, WHO and your local government. Please also refer to the TGA Resource Hub for links to important information related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

We will continue to provide updates as needed.

Around the Green

The latest golf-related news, notes, and feature stories from the TGA.

111th Texas Amateur Moved to Aug. 6-9

TGA Golf DAC - Blue Hole 8

The 111th Texas Amateur has been rescheduled for Aug. 6-9 because of continued safety concerns from the COVID-19 virus. Originally scheduled for June 18-21, the 72-hole, stroke play championship still will be held at Boot Ranch Golf Club in Fredericksburg.

“From the onset of this unprecedented pandemic, the well-being and safety of every TGA Member and the general public has been and continues to be our No. 1 priority,” TGA Executive Director Stacy Dennis said. “We want to conduct the qualifying for the 111th Texas Amateur, as well as the championship itself, in the safest and most responsible manner. We also want to preserve the elite championship experience for the players.”

Along with new dates for the 111th Texas Amateur, the qualifying schedule also has changed. Qualifiers will be conducted from June 29 to July 24 under a modified schedule. More specific details about the re-scheduling of the 111th Texas Amateur and its qualifying schedule will be provided in the coming weeks.

“With only a week remaining before the start of qualifying, there were Stay-at-Home orders in place and dramatic modifications required at courses hosting qualifying rounds. With so much uncertainty, conducting our 111th Texas Amateur qualifiers on time became impossible”, said Kellen Kubasak, Director of Competitions for North Texas. “We want to provide a world-class championship experience and keep everyone involved safe. Moving everything back made the most sense. We’re grateful to Boot Ranch for accommodating us and the change in schedule.”

Texas Amateur qualifying originally was set to begin on May 4, but social distancing guidelines and governing orders continue to change rapidly.  Non-traditional modifications required for course operations, such as raised cups and the elimination of bunker rakes, as well as limits to gatherings and public events continue to be interpreted. In order to comply with all applicable recommendations and protect the competitive integrity of the Texas Amateur, the TGA has elected to wait until every qualifying site can be played under normal tournament conditions.

If you’ve registered for a Texas Amateur qualifier, please DO NOT withdraw from the competition online. In order to reset the registration process, the TGA will automatically delete all previous entries and issue full refunds to everyone who registered for the championship between Jan. 27 and April 22.

Every player will be required to re-register for Qualifiers starting on May 13. The new re-registration period closes on June 22.

Entries for the 111th Texas Amateur are open to male amateur golfers who reside in the state of Texas with a World Handicap System Index of 6.4 or less. The starting field will include 144 players, who will earn entry into the championship via qualifying at sites across the state or through an exemption category.

The TGA will continue to rely on Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, as well as state and local government guidelines in locations where championships and qualifiers are to be conducted, in determining any further schedule considerations for the remaining events on the 2020 Competitions Calendar.

Again, please DO NOT withdraw from your 111th Texas Amateur qualifier online. All players will receive full refunds, and all players will be required to re-register starting on May 13. The TGA will distribute more details about the new qualifying schedule and the Championship as it becomes available in the coming weeks.

Around the Green

The latest golf-related news, notes, and feature stories from the TGA.

Texas Junior Golf Alliance Set to Host LPGA Qualifier

Texas Junior Golf Alliance Set to Host LPGA Qualifier

DALLAS – The Texas Junior Golf Alliance partnered with the Volunteers of America Classic to give female junior golfers a chance to qualify for an LPGA tournament. Scheduled for Sept. 4-6, the 16-player match play qualifier will be played at the site of the LPGA tournament, Old American Golf Club in The Colony.

“One of our goals as an event is to impact the community in a meaningful way,” Octagon Senior Sales Director Brooke Lee said. “By allowing junior golfers from all over the region an opportunity to compete and win a spot into our tournament will continue to promote women’s golf in a positive light.”

The Volunteers of America Classic Girls’ Match Play Championship is for elite players that have distinguished themselves throughout Texas Junior Golf Alliance events in 2020. The qualifier will feature 16 female junior golfers graduating high school no earlier than 2021: seven from the Legends Junior Tour, four from the Northern Texas PGA’s All-American Tour, four from the Southern Texas PGA’s Prestige Tour and one from the Houston Golf Association’s Performance Series.

The LJT exemptions include the champions of the Texas Girl’s Invitational (Ashley Yen), Lanny Wadkins Junior Championship on June 29-30, Texas Junior Amateur on July 27-29, George Hannon Junior Invitational on August 10-11 and the top three players not already exempt on the Player of the Year Standings.

The NTPGA exemptions include the champions of The Challenge at The Tribute on June 8-9, #WHOSNEXT Championship on June 15-16, Fort Worth Junior Open on June 29-30 and Azalea Trail Junior Classic on July 20-21.

“As a junior golfer, to have an opportunity to qualify and compete in an LPGA event in your home state is a bucket list item,” NTPGA Executive Director Mark Harrison said. “Every young lady who plays junior golf in Texas on the All-American Tour, Prestige Tour or Legends Junior Tour should aspire to try and qualify to compete in the Volunteers of America Classic Girls’ Match Play Championship.”

The STPGA exemptions include the champions of the Girls Junior PGA Championship Qualifier on June 8-9, Mid-Summer Showcase on June 22-23, Aggieland Classic on July 12-14 and Shootout in the Hills on July 20-21.

“We are always focused on providing our junior golf members a roadmap but more importantly unique opportunities to play at the next level,” STPGA Executive Director Thomas Hutton said. “An exemption like this will clearly motivate young ladies to work on their game and gain valuable experience within our programs.”

The HGA exemption will be the champion of the Eddie Burke Sr. Young Houstonian on June 23-25 at Cypresswood Golf Club in Spring.

The single-elimination bracket will be formed by a random drawing conducted at the player’s dinner on Thursday, Sept. 3. The seven LJT qualifiers and HGA qualifier will be selected to fill one side of the 16-player bracket, while the four NTPGA and four STPGA qualifiers will fill out the other side of the bracket.

The first two rounds of the VOA Classic Girls’ Match Play Championship will be played on Friday, Sept. 4. The semifinal matches will take place on Saturday, Sept. 5, and the championship match will determine the LPGA exemption on Sunday, Sept. 6.

“The VOA Classic Girls’ Match Play Championship delivers on our vision of providing Texans with opportunities for world-class competition in their home state,” TGA Executive Director Stacy Dennis said. “Providing our juniors with an opportunity to experience an LPGA event is a unique opportunity to help inspire our players.”

Over the years, the Texas Junior Golf Alliance has produced many professional female golfers. Last year’s Volunteers of America Classic Champion, Cheyenne Knight of Aledo, played on the NTPGA All-American Tour and was a two-time LJT champion. Other Texas Junior Golf Alliance alumna include two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, Kristen Gillman of Austin, and 12-time LPGA winner Stacy Lewis of The Woodlands.

The Texas Junior Golf Alliance extends its sincere appreciation to the Volunteers of America Classic for partnering to give these female junior golfers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Texas Junior Golf Alliance prides itself on growing the game and promoting women’s golf.

“The Volunteers of America Classic is excited to reward a young female athlete with the opportunity to play in a professional LPGA event and watch them learn from their experiences at our event,” Lee said. “We hope this will leave an everlasting impact on this young player and help them stay focused on their professional goals.”

The Volunteers of America Classic will be played one month after the qualifier at Old American Golf Club on Oct. 1-4. For more information on the VOA Classic Girls’ Match Play Championship, click here.

ABOUT THE TEXAS JUNIOR GOLF ALLIACNE: In 2012, the four most prominent junior golf tours in the state joined forces to create the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The partnership between the Legends Junior Tour, Northern Texas PGA, Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association strives to promote the game and give junior golfers greater access to top-tier statewide competition.

ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA CLASSIC: The 2020 Volunteers of America Classic will return to Old American Golf Club in The Colony for the third consecutive year. The official LPGA tournament will feature 144 of the world’s best female golfers in a four-day stroke-play event vying for $1.3 million purse. The 2020 VOA Classic is scheduled for Oct. 1-4.

ABOUT OCTAGON: At Octagon, we inspire brands, talent, and our people to see the world for all its potential. Then, we help our clients pick the right opportunity to make the next right move. We are a passionate team of 800 savvy veterans and bold upstarts, relentlessly committed to helping our clients and our teammates push forward. What’s Your Move? See more at Octagon.com and join us @Octagon.