The Texas Junior Golf Tour’s Elite Mini Tour’s Holiday Mini Tour Classic was held December 28-30, 2009 at Grey Rock Golf Club in Austin. This was a true test for all of the players in the field with the Boys 12-13 playing 5,432 yards and all Boys & Girls 8-9 playing 3,535 yards in this 36-hole nationally-ranked event.
This event was held in conjunction with the ‘Big Tour’s’ Holiday event at beautiful Barton Creek. As usual, the mini tour players were showered with gifts that included a Nike golf pullover, two sleeves of premium Nike golf balls, and a TJGT logoed beanie. They players were greeted on day one with near freezing temperatures, but that didn’t stop the play from being hot on the first day. The boys 12-13 division got off to good start with 4 players posting rounds in the 70’s. Johnny Jones led the way with an opening round of 75 that included a 34 on the back nine. Jones eagled the par 5 17th to help him get to two under on the back and recover from a tough opening nine holes. One stroke off the pace was Daniel Martinez, who had a very steady 76. Jorey Knutson finished day one with a birdie on 18 to post a 78, while Hunter Glenn fired a 79 to stay in the chase as well. In the boys 8-9 division, Joseph Jones fired a career best 84 to take the lead by ten over Garrett Martin. In third place after the first day was Jason Marsh with a 98. In the girls 8-9 division, Hanna Liu got off to a good start with an opening round 87. At the conclusion of the round, the players went to Barton Creek where they were treated to a presentation by Lance Ringler, better known as Mr. College Golf. If there is anything you want to know about college golf, he is your man.
The second day in Austin was a tough one weather wise, that caused both the Elite Mini Tour and the ‘Big Tour’ to cancel their rounds. Temperatures barely reached 40, and there was rain and sleet mixed together. Some of the players did meet in the afternoon however for a question and answer session with some of the college golf coaches that were in attendance.
Day 3 was much better to the players in regards to the weather. The players were met with a wet golf course that played a little longer than it did on day one. This didn’t stop Daniel Martinez from putting up a good number though. Martinez fired a second round 75 that included an even par front nine. Martinez had a little hiccup on 12 with a double bogey, but rebounded nicely and finished his last 6 holes with only a bogey on the 18th. That was good enough to hold off Johnny Jones by a stroke and claim the Junior All-Star Exemption. Jones found himself two strokes back at the turn and mounted a charge on the back nine but it wasn’t enough as Martinez takes the crown. Shane Markwardt rebounded quite nicely from an opening round 81 with a one over par 73 in the second round to claim third place. Markwardt got off to a great start with a one over 37 on the opening nine, and then closed it with an even par back nine. In the boys 8-9 division, we had high drama for the championship. Joseph Jones began the day with a ten stroke lead over Garrett Martin. At the turn, Jones had increased his lead by one to stretch it to 11. However, Jones faltered on the back nine and Martin fired an even par 36 to move into a tie with Jones. They went to the 18th tee for the sudden death playoff and both players piped their drives right down the middle. Jones hit his approach first and missed the green long, and Martin left his approach short. Martin was able to get up and down for par to secure the victory. Coming in third place was Jason Marsh with a second round 99. In the girls 8-9 division, points leader Hanna Liu continues to pad her lead in the overall standings with yet another victory.
The Texas Junior Golf Tour would like to thank staff workers Josh Jones and Brent Blaum, both players for the nationally ranked LSU men’s golf team. We would also like to thank Grey Rock Golf and Director of Golf Chip Gist for their support of the tour. The mini tour will have two days off and be back in action this weekend at Hyatt Hill Country in San Antonio. We would like to take this time to wish each and every one a very Happy New Year.
Boys 12-13:
1st Place: Daniel Martinez, Austin, TX; 2017; 76-75-151
2nd Place: Johnny Jones, The Colony, TX; 2015; 75-77-152
3rd Place: Shane Markwardt, Fort Worth, TX; 2014; 81-73-154
Boys 8-9:
***1st Place: Garrett Martin, San Antonio, TX; 2019; 94-81-175
1st Place: Joseph Jones, The Colony, TX; 2019; 84-91-175
3rd Place: Jason Marsh, Cypress, TX; 2019; 98-99-197
*** Garrett Martin wins with a par on the first playoff hole.
Girls 8-9:
1st Place: Hanna Liu, Austin, TX; 2019; 87-89-176
Playoff details: Garrett Martin defeats Joseph Jones with a par on Hole #18, the first hole in the sudden death playoff.
The Texas Junior Golf Tour’s Elite Mini Tour’s Holiday Mini Tour Classic was held December 28-30, 2009 at Grey Rock Golf Club in Austin. This event was held in conjunction with the ‘Big Tour’s’ Holiday event at beautiful Barton Creek. As usual, the mini tour players were showered with gifts that included a Nike golf pullover, two sleeves of premium Nike golf balls, and a TJGT logoed beanie. They players were greeted on day one with near freezing temperatures, but that didn’t stop the play from being hot on the first day. The boys 12-13 division got off to good start with 4 players posting rounds in the 70’s. Johnny Jones led the way with an opening round of 75 that included a 34 on the back nine. Jones eagled the par 5 17th to help him get to two under on the back and recover from a tough opening nine holes. One stroke off the pace was Daniel Martinez, who had a very steady 76. Jorey Knutson finished day one with a birdie on 18 to post a 78, while Hunter Glenn fired a 79 to stay in the chase as well. In the boys 8-9 division, Joseph Jones fired a career best 84 to take the lead by ten over Garrett Martin. In third place after the first day was Jason Marsh with a 98. In the girls 8-9 division, Hanna Liu got off to a good start with an opening round 87. At the conclusion of the round, the players went to Barton Creek where they were treated to a presentation by Lance Ringler, better known as Mr. College Golf. If there is anything you want to know about college golf, he is your man.
The second day in Austin was a tough one weather wise, that caused both the Elite Mini Tour and the ‘Big Tour’ to cancel their rounds. Temperatures barely reached 40, and there was rain and sleet mixed together. Some of the players did meet in the afternoon however for a question and answer session with some of the college golf coaches that were in attendance.
Day 3 was much better to the players in regards to the weather. The players were met with a wet golf course that played a little longer than it did on day one. This didn’t stop Daniel Martinez from putting up a good number though. Martinez fired a second round 75 that included an even par front nine. Martinez had a little hiccup on 12 with a double bogey, but rebounded nicely and finished his last 6 holes with only a bogey on the 18th. That was good enough to hold off Johnny Jones by a stroke and claim the Junior All-Star Exemption. Jones found himself two strokes back at the turn and mounted a charge on the back nine but it wasn’t enough as Martinez takes the crown. Shane Markwardt rebounded quite nicely from an opening round 81 with a one over par 73 in the second round to claim third place. Markwardt got off to a great start with a one over 37 on the opening nine, and then closed it with an even par back nine. In the boys 8-9 division, we had high drama for the championship. Joseph Jones began the day with a ten stroke lead over Garrett Martin. At the turn, Jones had increased his lead by one to stretch it to 11. However, Jones faltered on the back nine and Martin fired an even par 36 to move into a tie with Jones. They went to the 18th tee for the sudden death playoff and both players piped their drives right down the middle. Jones hit his approach first and missed the green long, and Martin left his approach short. Martin was able to get up and down for par to secure the victory. Coming in third place was Jason Marsh with a second round 99. In the girls 8-9 division, points leader Hanna Liu continues to pad her lead in the overall standings with yet another victory.
The Texas Junior Golf Tour would like to thank staff workers Josh Jones and Brent Blaum, both players for the nationally ranked LSU men’s golf team. We would also like to thank Grey Rock Golf and Director of Golf Chip Gist for their support of the tour. The mini tour will have two days off and be back in action this weekend at Hyatt Hill Country in San Antonio. We would like to take this time to wish each and every one a very Happy New Year.
