The Texas Junior Golf Tour hosted it’s first Invitational of the 2007-2008 season August 20th and 21st at the incredible Houstonian Golf & Country Club in Richmond, TX, home of the 2006 Nationwide Tour Championship. This 1999 Reese Jones designed golf course also hosted the 2002 Southern Junior Championship.
Sunday night was incredible! Besides the scrumptious double-sided buffet, the hit of the evening was the College Coach Q & A that featured LSU Men’s coach Chuck Winstead, Texas A & M’s Men’s coach JT Higgins and new Women’s coach Trelle McCombs, North Texas Men’s coach Jim Bob Jackson, and the new Houston Baptist University golf coach, Dave Shuster.
Over 110 players teed it up in 90*+ temperatures and slightly overcast skies. The wind picked up both days and the players really had to think their way around the course. Both groups played collegiate yardages with the 12-18 boys playing just over 7,100 yards and the 12-18 girls playing 6,038 yards.
Players and parents were treated to incredible food at the Monday night banquet. The evening was highlighted by a keynote presentation from LSU Men’s coach Chuck Winstead. He shared tons of insight and knowledge with the group that ranged from being a top 100 instructor, playing college golf with David Toms, to the 3 T’s, talent, technique, and time, and how to use them to become the best player you can be. Thanks coach for a great evening!
Boys 12-18
What an exciting way to finish the first invitational of the season! We had a 4-way tie for the lead after 36-holes. First round leader Drew Evans was joined by Thomas Tatum (2008 Dallas, TX), John Darden, and Robert Mills (2008 Houston, TX) who all shot 71 giving them a two-day total of 144. It took two playoff holes, but when Robert Mills hit a 5 iron to 12-feet and made birdie, it was all over. Drew Evans took home 2nd, followed by Thomas Tatum, and John Darden.
Ryan Kelley (2009 The Woodland, TX) took home 5th and tied for the low round of the tournament shooting a 3-under 69 fueled by an eagle 2 on the first hole and 4 birdies. This gave him a two-day total of 147.
Girls 12-18
Heather Lott’s birdie on 16, her third of the day, gave her a second round 75 and a one-shot victory over Kyndall Ardoin whose 74 gave her a two-day total of 151 and solo second. Kelsey Welber slipped to an 82 and finished alone in third with a two-day total of 158. Three players tied for 4th, Mei Liu (2009 Austin, TX), Kayli Quniton (2012 Cypress, TX), and Chelsey Cothran (2009 Springdale, AR) shooting two-day totals of 164.
Collegiate Coaches from the following Conferences attended the invitational to scout the talent: SEC, Big XII, Conference USA, Southland, Sun Belt & Mid Continent.
Congratulations to all golfers who participated in this great event played on a challenging course! A special “thank you” goes out to the staff and crew at The Houstonian. The TJGT could not have picked a better place to hold the first invitational of the season. Thank you also to all of the banquet sponsors and to tour sponsors Lodge Lumber, THC Technologies, and Dominion Gas.
Remember the next two events of the season will be played on September 8th and 9th at Bear Creek in DFW and Pecan Valley in San Antonio. There are still a limited number of spots available for players wanting to play in both events. You can register at www.tjgt.com. click for more info. Also, make sure to watch and listen to Junior Golf Radio only on www.OnTheGreenTV.com.