The Texas Junior Golf Tour Elite Mini Tour division held the Falconhead Junior World Qualifier at Falconhead Golf Club in Austin, TX. As the name states, this 36 hole event served as a qualifier for the prestigious Callaway Junior Championship in beautiful San Diego, California. The Callaway Junior Championship was started in 1968 and includes current and former PGA stars Notah Begay III, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, David Toms, Ernie Els, Anthony Kim, Craig Stadler, and Corey Pavin, as well as LPGA stars Laura Baugh and Lorena Ochoa. This is an incredible opportunity for junior golfers that the TJGT is proud to offer to its members.
Day one of the event began with tee times off of hole number one at 11 am and Texas summer weather. The players were greeted with two sleeves of premium Nike golf balls and a Nike golf shirt of their choice. The mini tour players did a great job of handling the heat and the challenging golf course that features hard fairways and lots of elevation changes. In the boys 8-9 division, TK Schultz jumped out to an early lead with an opening round of 77, followed by Garrett Martin, and then Andy Cortez. Hanna Liu opened the event with an 82 in the Girls 8-9 division, while Sydney Roberts opened with a 90 in the Girls 12-13 division.
Day two began with an 8 am shotgun start and slightly cooler temperatures than day one. Almost all the players in the mini tour improved their score from day one. TK Schultz wins the event in the Boys 8-9 division with an impressive even par round that included three birdies against three bogeys. Coming in second was Garrett Martin, who improved by one stroke to an 81 in the second round. Garrett struggled on the front nine, but played the back nine in two over 38 that included a birdie on the par 4 fourteenth hole. Coming in third was Andy Cortez with rounds of 85-86. His second round included a birdie on the par 3 seventeenth hole, the signature hole at Falconhead. TK also won the qualifier for the Junior World Championship; however, due to a conflict in scheduling, TK declined the exemption, meaning that Garrett Martin will represent the Texas Junior Golf Tour in San Diego at the Callaway Junior Championship. The TJGT would like to wish Garrett the best of luck in San Diego. In the Girls 8-9 division, Hanna Liu wins yet another event with a second round 83 that included a birdie on the par 5 fifth hole. Sydney Roberts improved her day one score by to shoot an 89.
This was a great kickoff to the summer season for the Elite Mini Tour. Great golfers playing a great venue. The TJGT would like to wish all members good luck in the upcoming Starburst tournament in Waco and the prestigious Texas-Oklahoma held in Wichita Falls. The Elite Mini Tour has a full summer schedule that includes stops in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. The Elite Mini Tour’s next stop will be in Dallas at Oakmont Country Club at the end of June. We look forward to seeing you there!
Yardage played:
Girls 12-13: 4,875 yards
Boys & Girls 8-9: 3,720 yards
Top finishers:
Boys 8 - 9:
1st Place: T.K. Schultz, Bulverde, TX; 2019; 77-72-149
2nd Place: Garrett Martin, San Antonio, TX; 2019; 82-81-163
3rd Place: Andy Cortez, LaFeria, TX; 2019; 85-86-171
Girls 8-9:
1st Place: Hanna Liu, Austin, TX; 2019; 82-83-165
Girls 12-13:
Sydney Roberts, Brownwood, TX; 2016; 90-89-179
