114th Texas Amateur Set for June 15-18

The Clubs at Houston Oaks in Hockley is poised to host the 114th Texas Amateur. Conducted by the TGA since 1906, this year’s championship is scheduled for June 15-18.

“The goal of hosting the Texas Amateur started several years ago, and we’re very excited that all the hard work has come to fruition,” said Bob Gusella, The Clubs at Houston Oaks’ General Manager. “To be able to welcome the finest amateur golfers in the state for the 114th Texas Amateur this summer is an honor and a privilege for us. We can’t wait to showcase our club and our unique brand of Texas hospitality.”

This year’s Texas Amateur will be the second TGA men’s major and third overall TGA championship conducted at The Clubs at Houston Oaks. The club previously hosted the 2018 Texas Shootout and the 2021 Texas-Mid Amateur.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to return to The Clubs at Houston Oaks for the 114th Texas Amateur,” said Justin Guthrie, TGA Tournament Director. “The owners, members, and staff at Houston Oaks are such tremendous supporters of amateur golf, and we are excited to extend our relationship with them and to work together in conducting an unforgettable championship.”

The Clubs at Houston Oaks has been constantly growing and evolving ever since three couples got together to purchase the old Tennwood Country Club in the mid-2000s. They gave it a new name and purpose and implemented a long-range plan to enhance the entire facility in a multi-step approach. When it came time to redo the existing golf course, the new owners hired noted Texas-based architect Chet Williams.

In early 2016, Williams began work on a comprehensive overhaul of the course that involved reimagining everything above ground and modernizing all below-ground systems as well.

Following the completion of the 17-month, multimillion-dollar remodel, the modern-day Houston Oaks course was unveiled in late 2017. Williams’ stunning 7,007-yard, par-71 layout meanders through groves of centuries-old oak trees and in and around natural water features and vast native areas. The course features gentle undulations throughout with a wonderful variety of strategic challenges including long and short holes, doglegs, cleverly placed bunkers, and large green complexes.

“At first glance, it may not look as intimidating as some courses, but it’s a fantastic test of golf,” Gusella said. “The players will need precision and discipline starting from the tee box. They will need to hit the fairways most importantly, and then carefully maneuver their way around from there to score well.”

The golden opportunity to compete for the state’s most coveted amateur title at such a highly regarded venue as Houston Oaks was not lost on the players. The TGA accepted a record 1,176 entries for the 114th Texas Amateur, eclipsing the previous record of 1,010 accepted entries for the 111th Texas Amateur in 2020 at Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg. It is just the second time entries have surpassed the 1,000 mark.

“The Clubs at Houston Oaks is well known around the state, and we knew from the start there would be a tremendous amount of interest for this year’s championship,” Guthrie said. “It’s very gratifying to set a record for the number of entries, because it shows just how excited players are about competing in the Texas Amateur at such a special place.”

Holden Wisener of Dallas won last year’s Texas Amateur in a playoff at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler and is one of four past champions among the 41 players who were fully exempt from having to qualify. Joining Wisener are Austyn Reily of Pottsboro (2021), Trey Bosco of Austin (2020), and Zach Atkinson of Colleyville (2004).

Top finishers from the 2022 championship are also among the group of exempt players and include Hayes Hamilton of Kingwood (who finished T4), Francois Jacobs of League City (T4), Travis Woolf of Fort Worth (7th), Hunter Bott of Montgomery (T8), Garrett Leek of Brock (T8), and Cody Winkler of McKinney (T11).

To determine the remaining 103 spots in the 144-player starting field, 18-hole qualifiers were held April 10 – June 6 at 14 sites across the state.

The format for the walking-only championship is 72 holes of individual stroke play. All contestants play 18 holes on both June 15-16. After 36 holes the field will be cut to the low 54 scorers and ties heading into the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday.

Starting times and pairings for the first and second rounds will be posted on the TGA website no later than June 12. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from The Clubs at Houston Oaks.

The Texas Amateur is the state’s oldest and most prestigious amateur championship and is one of the four men’s majors on the TGA’s annual schedule along with the Texas Four-Ball, Texas Senior Amateur and Texas Mid-Amateur. Notable past Texas Amateur champions include Charles Coody, Ben Crenshaw, Bruce Lietzke, Mark Brooks, Scott Verplank, Bob Estes, and Will Zalatoris.

2023 TEXAS AMATEUR NOTES

PAR AND YARDAGE: For the Championship, The Clubs at Houston Oaks will play approximately 7,007 yards with a par of 35-36 – 71.

SCHEDULE OF PLAY: Thursday, June 15 – First round, stroke play (18 holes). First wave starting times begin at 7:30 a.m. off No. 1 and No. 10 tees; Second wave starting times begin at 12:30 p.m. off No. 1 and No. 10 tees.

Friday, June 16 – Second round, stroke play (18 holes). First wave starting times begin at 7:30 a.m. off No. 1 and No. 10 tees; Second wave starting times begin at 12:30 p.m. off No. 1 and No. 10 tees. The starting field of 144 players will be cut after 36 holes to the low 54 scorers and ties.

Saturday, June 17 – Third round, stroke play (18 holes). Starting times begin at 7:30 a.m. off No. 1 and No. 10 tees.

Sunday, June 18 – Final round, stroke play (18 holes). Starting times begin at 7:30 a.m. off No. 1 and No. 10 tees. Lowest scorer for 72 holes will be the champion. In the event of a tie for the Championship, a hole-by-hole play-off will be held immediately following regulation play.

H.L. EDWARDS MEMORIAL TROPHY: The winner of the Texas Amateur receives custody of the H.L. Edwards Memorial Trophy, named in honor of Harry Lee Edwards, the “Father of Golf in Texas.” Edwards earned the descriptive title because he helped to establish the TGA in February of 1906, served as its first president, and won the first-ever Amateur Championship. Additionally, Edwards was also a founding member of both Dallas Country Club and Brook Hollow Golf Club.

AMATEUR CHAMPIONS SUCCESSFUL ON TOUR: Ten past Texas Amateur champions have combined for a remarkable 58 wins on the PGA Tour: Ben Crenshaw (1972) – 19; Bruce Lietzke (1971) – 13; Mark Brooks (1979, 1981) – 7; Scott Verplank (1982, 1984-85) – 5; Bob Estes (1988) – 4; Charles Coody (1959) – 3; Earl Stewart, Jr. (1947) – 3; Don Massengale (1958) – 2; Marty Fleckman (1964) – 1; and Will Zalatoris (2014) – 1.

FOLLOW THE TEXAS AMATEUR: Once the action gets underway from The Clubs at Houston Oaks, log on to the TGA website for up-to-date Texas Amateur news and information, including starting times, pairings, live scoring, and daily recaps. For enhanced Texas Amateur coverage, follow the TGA’s social media feeds on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Texas Mid-Amateur Set for Sept. 10-12

The state’s top amateur golfers aged 25 and older will gather at The Clubs at Houston Oaks in Hockley from Sept. 10-12 for the 38th Texas Mid-Amateur, the third of this year’s four men’s major amateur championships conducted by the Texas Golf Association.

This will be the first major stroke-play event and third TGA championship overall to be held at Houston Oaks. The club previously hosted two team match-play competitions, the 2018 Texas Shootout and 2020 Jackie Burke Cup Matches. Houston Oaks is also scheduled to host the 114th Texas Amateur in 2023.

“We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to return to The Clubs at Houston Oaks for the 38th Texas Mid-Amateur,” said John Cochran IV, Director of Competitions for the TGA. “The club is committed to promoting amateur golf, and we are honored to be back at this exceptional facility and working together with their staff in conducting a truly memorable championship.”

The Clubs at Houston Oaks is a luxury family resort situated on nearly 1,000 acres in picturesque Waller County, about 35 miles northwest of downtown Houston, that was once home to Tennwood Golf Club. The club’s 18-hole championship course was designed by Chet Williams and opened for play in 2017 following an extensive 17-month reimagining and overhaul of the existing property. Williams’ stunning 7,007-yard, par-71 layout is framed by groves of centuries-old oak trees, natural water features and vast native areas. With a wonderful variety of long and short holes, doglegs, rolling fairways and large green complexes, Houston Oaks is certain to test every facet of a player’s game and identify a worthy champion.

“We’re really excited about having the Texas Mid-Amateur here, and the course will be in excellent condition,” said Nick Holligan, Houston Oaks’ Head Golf Professional. “We’re proud to host the TGA’s big amateur championships and are going to do our best to put on a good show and make sure everyone enjoys their time at Houston Oaks.”

The Texas Mid-Amateur is open to male amateurs with a World Handicap System Index of 8.4 or less, have reached the age of 25 by the tournament start date and are current Texas residents.

This year’s starting field will include 132 players, who earned entry into the championship through an exemption category or 18-hole sectional qualifying at one of 13 sites across the state from July 7 – Sept. 1.

Format for the championship is 54 holes individual stoke play. All contestants will play 18 holes Sept. 10-11. After 36 holes the field will be cut to the low 54 players and ties heading into the final round. In addition to the overall champion, an award will be given to the Low Mid-Master (40-plus years of age).

At the 2020 Texas Mid-Amateur, held at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio, Ryan O’Rear of Leander drained an 8-foot birdie putt on the seventh playoff hole to win the title over two-time champion and host club member Colby Harwell. The two players were tied at the end of regulation play with 3-under-par 210 totals. Padden Nelson of Houston finished in third place, and also earned Low Mid-Master recognition, with a 2-under 211 total.

Both O’Rear and Harwell are set to compete at Houston Oaks and will be joined by five other Texas Mid-Amateur past champions. They are Christopher Wheeler of Addison (2019), Josh Irving of Dallas (2016), Clay Hodge of Bryan (2013), Beau Davis of Abilene (2011) and Rob Couture of Dallas (2008).

Among the other notable players who will be vying for the title include 2020 Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play champion Aaron Hickman of Tyler, 2020 Texas Senior Amateur champion John Derrick of Waco, 2020 Texas Senior Player of the Year Mike Lohner of Southlake and 2020 South Regional Player of the Year Kevin Liberto of Cypress.

Live scoring updates and daily recaps, as well as tee-times and pairings, will be available at txga.org once the action gets underway from The Clubs at Houston Oaks.

North Team Retains Jackie Burke Cup

Hockley, TX – The North Team won six of 12 matches on Sunday and gained 14 points to tie the Jackie Burke Cup against the South Team at The Clubs at Houston Oaks. The tie means the North Team retains the cup for a seventh straight year and leads the overall series 9-7.

Matthew Comegys was the first to win his Singles Match on Sunday and get the North Team two early points. The 2020 LJT Boys 15-18 Division Player of the Year defeated Sam Dossey, who finished runner-up in the player of the year standings, 5&3.

Dallas’ Ben Delarosa was the first player to tee off in the final round and beat Keaton Vo of Austin 2&1 to get the North Team two more points and tie the Jackie Burke Cup up at 14-14. The match was tied after 12 holes, but Delarosa made birdie on Nos. 15, 16 and 17 to win the match.

Austin’s Trevor Mierl was the next winner with a 3&2 win over Matthew Foster of Dallas. The win gave the South Team its first points of the day as they regained the lead 16-14 in the Jackie Burke Cup.

The next match to finish ended in a tie between Dallas’ Connor Adams and Austin’s Andrew Tan. Both players landed their approach shots on the green of No. 18 at Houston Oaks and they funneled down into a little swell on the left side of the green. Both players managed to get up and down to secure a point for their teams.

Fort Worth’s Savannah Barber defeated Grace Jin 5&4 to get the North back into a tie with the South. Barber won all three of her matches during the Jackie Burke Cup and secured six points for the North.

Plano’s Rhett O’Rear was the next winner and gave the North Team its first lead in the 2020 Jackie Burke Cup. The 2020 LJT Boys 14 & Under Player of the Year defeated Trenton Mierl, who finished runner-up in the player of the year standings, 2&1.

San Antonio’s Julia Vollmer picked up two points for the South and tied the matches at 19-19. Vollmer beat Dallas’ Sophie Biediger 5&3 after winning six straight holes to close out the front side.

The final Boys 14 & Under Match was between Dallas’ Brooks Simmons and Shenandoah’s Bowen Ballis. The match started with Ballis winning holes three and four before Simmons won holes five, seven, eight and nine. Ballis squared the match back up by winning Nos. 11, 13 and 15, but Simmons won No. 17 with a par and both players made bogey on the 18^th to end in a tie and secure one point for each team.

Needing five points to win the Jackie Burke Cup, Preston Rouse of Houston won his match 3&2 for the South. He won the first two holes of the day before dropping the next three. He took a 2 up lead at the turn before dropping one at No. 10 and winning holes 14 and 16 to win his match. The South Team now led the Jackie Burke Cup 22-20 with three matches out on the course.

Needing four points in the final three matches, a win for the North wasn’t looking great with the South leading the next two matches. Trevor Algya was 1 down through 14 holes before winning No. 15 with a par and No. 16 with a birdie. He now had a 1 up lead and tied the 17^th with a bogey before making par on No. 18 and winning his match 2 up. The North were now tied with the South 22-22 and needed one more win.

Plano’s Ethan Fang secured the final win for the North by beating Daniel Zou 2&1. The two battled on the front nine, but Fang took a 2 up lead on No. 10 and never gave up the lead. He dropped the 12^th and 15^th holes but won the 14^th and 17^th to win his match and guarantee the Jackie Burke Cup would stay with the North.

Spring’s Andrew Spaulding won the final match 2 up over Gage Doyle. The final two points went to the South and the Jackie Burke Cup finished tied at 24-24. The tie means the North Team retains the cup and the South is still seeking its first Jackie Burke Cup victory since 2014.

The Jackie Burke Cup is a team match play event modeled after the Ryder Cup. Each team features 12 players as North Texas takes on South Texas. Players earned their way onto their respective teams by their play within the Texas Junior Golf Alliance and their standings in the LJT Player of the Year. This year’s Jackie Burke Cup featured 18 first timers.

The Clubs at Houston Oaks is hosting the Jackie Burke Cup Matches for the first time. Houston Oaks is located just north of Houston in Hockley, Texas and is ranked as the No. 2 course by the Dallas Morning News. The par-71 layout challenges the players as they have to manage their way around a hilly terrain and avoid the massive oak trees and various bodies of water. The course joins a stellar list of clubs to have hosted the Jackie Burke Cup including Whispering Pines Golf Club, Champions Golf Club, Brookhollow Country Club, Spanish Oaks Golf Club, Miramont Golf Club and Escondido Golf and Lake Club.

To see all the scores from Sunday at the Jackie Burke Cup, click here. For more information on the event, click here.

South Team Leads by Four Points at Jackie Burke Cup

Hockley, TX – The South Team won six of 12 matches and totaled 14 points on Saturday to lead the Jackie Burke Cup at The Clubs at Houston Oaks. Singles Matches are set and scheduled for Sunday with 24 points up for grabs.

Austin’s Keaton Vo and Trevor Mierl were on a roll in the Four-Ball Matches, combining the make seven birdies in 12 holes. Vo started off the round with a birdie on the par-4 first, while Mierl made birdie on the par-5 fourth. Both players birdied the par-4 sixth, while Vo kicked in birdies on the par-3 seventh and the par-5 eighth. The duo opened up the back-nine with back-to-back birdies and made par on the 12^th to secure their 7&6 win for the South Team.

The second match to finish fell for the South Team as Spring’s Andrew Spaulding and Houston’s Preston Rouse won 2&1. In the first match of the day Spaulding and Rouse made four birdies en route to securing two more points for the South Team, which took a 4-0 lead early.

Dallas’ Ben Delarosa and Matthew Foster got the North Team on the board with a 2&1 win in their Four-Ball Match. After a back-and-forth front nine, they managed to take a lead with an eagle on the par-5 11^th. The match was tied up after the 14^th, but Foster made par on No. 15 and both players made par on 16 to get to 2 up with two to play. They halved the hole on No. 17 and won the match 2&1.

With the North Team trailing 4-2, the third match of the day went to the 18^th hole tied up. Austin’s Sam Dossey and Andrew Tan made birdie on the par-4 18^th to secure a 1 up victory and extend the South Team lead to 6-2.

The fifth match of the day pitted the Boys 14 & Under Players for each team. Brooks Simmons and Rhett O’Rear fought hard with Bowen Ballis and Trenton Mierl but ultimately held on to win 1 up. They were 2 up heading to No. 17 before Ballis made a birdie to extend the match to No. 18. All four players made par and the North Team secured two more points.

The final match of Four-Ball featured the Girls Division. Savannah Barber and Sophie Biediger dropped the first two holes of the day, but caught one back on No. 4. As they made the turn, they were down two and needed a boost. Fort Worth’s Barber rolled off three straight pars and the North Team won five of the next six holes to take a 3-up lead. San Antonio’s Grace Jin won the par-4 16^th, but they halved on No. 17 and the North won 2&1 to even up the score 6-6 following the first round.

In the Afternoon, Dossey and Vo secured the first two points for the South Team in the Foursomes Matches, winning 7&6. The duo was 3-up through three before losing the par-5 fourth, but bounced back winning the sixth, eighth and ninth holes. They capped off their victory with a birdie on No. 11 and a par on No. 12. Both Dossey and Vo won four points each for the South Team on Saturday.

Andrew Spaulding and Daniel Zou won their Foursomes Match 1 up to give the South Team a 10-6 lead. Spaulding and Zou went 2 up after 13 but lost the 14^th to get to 1 up with four to play. The duo halved the last four holes, including making birdie on the 18^th to win their match.

The North’s first points of the afternoon came from a halved match between Trevor Algya and Gage Doyle against Matthew Spaulding and Preston Rouse. Algya and Doyle won the final four holes to halve the match after trailing the since the fourth hole.

Andrew Tan and Trevor Mierl held a 1 up lead heading to the 18^th green, but Connor Adams had plans for splitting a point. He sent his 20-footer towards the hole and it found the bottom, winning the hole for the North and halving the match. The South remained in the lead 12-8 with two matches still to be decided.

Trenton Mierl and Bowen Ballis secured two more points for the South Team to stretch the lead out to six points. The 14 & Under boys took a 1 up lead on No. 14 and held on for the next three holes before winning the 18^th and winning the match 2 up.

Savannah Barber and Sophie Biediger won their Foursomes Match and secured their fourth point of the day for the North Team. They were three down after hole No. 6, but won six of the final 11 holes to win their match 2 up.

The Jackie Burke Cup is a team match play event modeled after the Ryder Cup. Each team features 12 players as North Texas takes on South Texas. Each match is worth two points and the team with the most points after Sunday will win the cup.

The Clubs at Houston Oaks is hosting the Jackie Burke Cup Matches for the first time. Houston Oaks is located just north of Houston in Hockley, Texas and is ranked as the No. 2 course by the Dallas Morning News. The par-71 layout challenges the players as they have to manage their way around a hilly terrain and avoid the massive oak trees and various bodies of water. The course joins a stellar list of clubs to have hosted the Jackie Burke Cup including Whispering Pines Golf Club, Champions Golf Club, Brookhollow Country Club, Spanish Oaks Golf Club, Miramont Golf Club and Escondido Golf and Lake Club.

The Final Round of the Jackie Burke Cup is Singles Matches with tee times starting at 7:30 am at The Clubs at Houston Oaks. Following the conclusion of the Final Round, the cup will be awarded to the winning team or the North Team if there is a tie.

To see all the scores from Saturday at the Jackie Burke Cup, click here. For more information on the event, click here.

Jackie Burke Cup Set for Nov. 14-15

HOCKLEY – The state’s top 24 junior golfers from North and South Texas will gather at The Clubs at Houston Oaks for the 16th Annual Jackie Burke Cup from Nov. 14-15.

“The Legends Junior Tour is very fortunate to be able to bring the Jackie Burke Cup to The Clubs at Houston Oaks,” LJT Tournament Director Kevin Porter said. “This is one of the most incredible properties in the state and the top-rated course will pose a great challenge to our teams this year.”

The new Chet Williams-designed golf course, which in 2020 was ranked by the Dallas Morning News as the second-best course in Texas, will welcome the Legends Junior Tour for the first time. After a 17-month reimaging and overhaul of the existing property, the modern-day Houston Oaks course was unveiled in 2017. Williams’ stunning 7,007-yard, par-71 layout if framed by groves of oak trees, natural water features and vast native areas.

“The Clubs at Houston Oaks is proud to be the host venue for the Jackie Burke Cup in 2020,” Head Golf Professional Nick Holligan said. “The Jackie Burke Cup is not only the best of junior golf in Texas, it also allows funds to be raised for fantastic causes. I’m sure the smooth fast greens, pure fairways and challenging bunkers will be a delight for the competitors to show off their vast array of skills. Texas has so many fantastic golf courses, and we could not be happier to be the chosen venue for the premier tournament on the junior calendar.”

First conducted in 2005, the season-ending Jackie Burke Cup is by invitation-only and features the top 12 players from North Texas squaring off against their counterparts from South Texas in a Ryder Cup-style competition. Each team consists of eight players from the Boys 15-18 Division, two from the Girls 12-18 Division and two from the Boys 14 & Under Division.

The teams will face off in four-ball, foursome and singles matches over the two days. Matches are worth two points and a tied match is split: one point for each team. The matches start with six four-ball matches Saturday morning followed by six foursome matches in the afternoon. On Sunday, players are selected for 12 singles matches, leaving 48 possible points to be earned throughout the weekend. The North Team will need 24 points to retain the cup, while the South Team will need 25 points to win the cup.

Players earned their way onto their respective teams by accumulating points throughout the year in designated LJT and Texas Junior Golf Alliance tournaments. North and South regions are defined as either being above or below the 31’ parallel (Salado, Texas).

“Both teams always feature the players that played the best all year on the Legends Junior Tour and it’s a fun event to sit back and watch from an administration standpoint,” Porter said. “These players have consistently finished toward the top all season. Now, they get a chance to compete with each other in a team event and have some fun to finish off another great LJT season.”

The North Team has won the last six Jackie Burke Cup matches and leads the overall series 8-7. Leading the North in 2020 is Plano’s Matthew Comegys, who earned Player of the Year honors in the Boys 15-18 Division. Connor Adams of Dallas, Trevor Algya of Highland Village, Ben Delarosa of Dallas, Gage Doyle of Colleyville, Ethan Fang of Plano, Matthew Foster of Dallas and Davis Ovard of Frisco round out the older boys competing for the North Team. North Texas will also be represented by Savannah Barber of Fort Worth and Sophie Beidiger of Dallas. Plano’s Rhett O’Rear, the Boys 14 & Under Player of the Year, and Brooks Simmons of Dallas will round out this year’s North Team.

The South Team, which looks to win its first Jackie Burke Cup since 2013, will consist of Austin’s Sam Dossey, who finished second in the Boys 15-18 Player of the Year Standings, Spring’s Andrew and Matthew Spaulding, Houston’s Preston Rouse, Austin’s Andrew Tan, Trevor Mierl and Keaton Vo. Following the players from Boys 15-18 Division, the South will be represented by San Antonio’s Julia Vollmer, who finished second in the Girls 12-18 Player of the Year Standings, and Grace Jin of San Antonio. Daniel Zou of The Woodlands and Trenton Mierl of Austin will represent the South from the Boys 14 & Under Division.

At the 2019 Jackie Burke Cup, hosted by Wichita Falls Country Club in Tyler, the North Team claimed their eighth overall victory and sixth straight win over the South Team 34-14.

For more information on the 16th Jackie Burke Cup, click here.

NORTH TEAM:

SOUTH TEAM: