The field at the 101st Texas State Amateur was dominated by former TJGT alumni with former TJGT and Texas Tech All-American Chris Ward capturing championship honors.
From the moment Chris Ward teed off of his first hole on Thursday he had total control. From the time he completed his first round to his final putt on his 72nd hole, his name failed to be on top of the leader board for only one hole when Bryant Lach from The Woodlands took a one stroke lead with a birdie on the par 3, 8th hole (44th hole of the event) which Ward bogeyed.
One hole later, Ward took the lead again, but this time he wouldn’t relinquish it for the rest of the championship. Ward played near flawless golf as he cruised around the 7,068 yard track making four birdies with a lone bogey to finish the day at 3-under par putting him at 14-under for the championship.
Chris was a TJGT & AJGA standout and played high school golf for TJGT staff member, Coach Jerry Crumpton at McKinney Boyd. Chris had a standout senior season for Coach Greg Sands Texas Tech Red Raiders. Chris won the Big XII individual championship and was a team leader in Texas Tech’s top 8 finish at the 2010 NCAA Championships. Dave Jones, TJGT President stated, “ The field at the 101st Texas Amateur demonstrates once again why the TJGT is “The Road to College Golf” in the state of Texas. No other junior tour in Texas and the Southwest has produced more collegiate players in the past nine years. This speaks volumes to the fact the TJGT provides the best opportunity to showcase a players talent to college coaches across the nation. Of the top top 25 finishers in the 101st Texas Amateur, 23 of 25 players were TJGT Alumni. The entire field consisted of over 80% former TJGT players. It gives our staff of over 40 high school head coaches, former college coaches and thirteen board members of current & former collegiate players great satisfaction to see our players moving on to collegiate & elite amateur golf. Congrats to all the players at the 2010 Texas Amateur, specifically all the TJGT alumni.”
TEXAS AMATUER QUICK FACT: 2008 Champion Kelly Kraft, SMU & Runner Up: John Peterson: LSU, 2009 Runners-Up: Jonathan Schnitzer: Univ. of Texas, Bronson Burgoon, Texas A & M: ALL TJGT ALUMNI. Come play with the best, play the TJGT.
