As we transition from summer to fall, it was another great TJGT “Triple-Header” weekend with three events across the state.
First up the TJGT Kingwood Forest Junior Championship was played at Kingwood Country Club on the Forest Course September 24th-25th down near Houston, Texas. The Boys 16-18 played 6,758 yards; the Boys 12-15 played 6,307 yards; and all Girls 12-18 played 5,850 yards in this 36-hole, nationally-ranked event.
According to Jeff Bellnap, the Kingwood HS Golf Coach, legend has it that the Kingwood CC Forest course was originally denied a course rating by the USGA due to the difficulty and perceived unfairness of the course. Tight fairways lined with encroaching hazards, natural waste areas, pot bunkers, grass bunkers and large amounts of mounding might have a little something to do with that legend. Of course the kids also had to deal with high winds and tough pin locations for the Kingwood Junior Championship.
Steven Schmulson was able to hold off Austin Wagner for 1st place in the Boys 12-14 division while Luke Smith was able to secure a 3rd place finish in a playoff over George Gilbert.
Kelly McGovern ran away with the girls 15-18 division with recent Lamar University signee Taylor Stockton claiming a distant 2nd. Jaquiline Rusheon was able to claim 3rd.
On day 1, no one wanted to lay claim to the boys 15-18 division as multiple solid players succumbed to the legend that is the Kingwood Forest Golf Course. Jake McCrory’s 77 was able to eek out a slim lead over Dylan Reynolds’ 78 and a plethora of players at 79. In the end, McCrory was able to hold off late charges by Will Bevivino who finished 2nd, Cody Davis, Mason Raine and Marcus Bennett who all tied for 3rd place with Cody taking 3rd place in a playoff.
top finishers:
Boys 15-18
1st place Jake McCrory Deer Park TX 2014 77-78-155
2nd place Will Bevivino Katy TX 2012 79-78-157
3rd place Cody Davis Houston TX 2012 84-75-159
Boys 12-14
1st place Steven Schmulson The Woodlands TX 2015 85-88-173
2nd place Austin Wagner Cyoress TX 2015 93-83-176
3rd place Luke Smith Montgomery TX 2015 94-91-185
Girls 15-18
1st place Kelly McGovern The Woodlands TX 2013 82-77-159
2nd place Taylor Stockton Houston TX 2012 88-87-165
3rd place Jaquiline Rusheon Kingwood TX 2013 91-87-178
Girls 12-14
1st place Susan Haggar Katy TX 2014 106
Playoff details :
Luke Smith defeated Georges Gilbert on the 1st hole of sudden death for 3rd place in the boys 12-14 division.
Cody Davis Defeated Mason Raine on the 1st hole of sudden death for 3rd place in the Boys 15-18 division.
The TJGT Champions Circle Junior Shootout was played at the incredible Golf Club at Champions Circle in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Boys 15-18 played 6,915 yards; the Boys 12-14 played 6,390 yards; and all Girls 12-18 played 5,721 yards in this 36-hole nationally-ranked event. Players from Texas and Oklahoma battled it out in nice fall weather.
Event recap: Weather was cool with a slight breeze on day one with temperatures around 86 degrees.
Boys 15-18 Alex Dickson and Spencer Reed rock the house with a pair of 70’s the first day.
Boys 12-14 Stephen Culin came out of the gates with a 76 and will try and hold a one shot lead over Murphy Harrison 77.
Girls 15-18 Maci Arrington shot 76 and has a one shot lead over Eji Kwon.
Girls 12-14 Brook Nolte shot 85 to lead the girls 12-14.
Highlights the second day: Weather was warmer and the breeze was stiffer.
Boys 15-18 Spencer Reed comes out with a victory and PBE’s shooting a solid 75 the second day.
Boys 12-14. Steven Culin has a great second day and wins wire to wire.
top finishers:
Boys 12-14 Name Hometown Graduation year Score
1st place Steven Culin Plano, tx 2015 76-74=150
2nd place Colin Kober Southlake, tx 2016 78-75=153
3rd place Travis McInroe Plano, tx 2016 81-72=153
Boys 15-18
1st place Spencer Reed Ft. Worth, tx 2014 70-75=145
2nd place Aaron Guanlao Haslet, tx 2014 77-70=147
3rd place Dennis Godoy Hideaway, tx 2012 75-72=147
Girls 15-18 Name Hometown Graduation year Score
1st place Maci Arrington Hinton, OK 2013 76-77=153
2nd place Eji Kwon Dallas, Tx 2013 77-78=155
3rd place Kellie Martin Burleson, Tx 2013 81-83=164
Girls 12-15 Name Hometown Graduation year Score
1st place Brooke Nolte Melissa, tx 2016 85-79=164
2nd place Lauren Pettijohn Plano, tx 2016 93-96=189
3rd place
Playoff details:
Boys 15-18 had a two way playoff for second…… Aaron Guanlao defeated Dennis Godoy for the victory.
Boys 12-14 … a three way tie for second. After three holes of sudden death Colin Kober wins the playoff with a par.
Rounding out the TJGT Triple-Header the TJGT Live Oak Junior Championship was played at the Live Oak Golf Course in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.
The Boys 15-18 played 6,849 yards; the Boys 12-14 played 6,435 yards; and all Girls played 5,659 yards, in yet another 36-hole, nationally-ranked event.
Event recap: Day 1was hot and dry. Joey Hearn and Jamie Bibby scorched the front and backside’s respectively of the golf course with rounds of 32. With two rounds under par and many more in the low 70’s scoring was at a premium. Day 2 was again hot with winds gusting. Scores were generally higher with Maggie Byers shooting the low round of the day of even par 72.
Top 3 finishers:
• Boys 15-18
o 1st Place – Joey Hearn, Austin, TX Grad Class 2013 Rounds of 69-80-149
o 2nd Place – Jordan Hawkes, Wimberly, TX Class of 2012 Rounds of 73-79-152
o 3rd Place – Jose Narro, Tampico, MX Grad Class 2013 Rounds of 73-81-154
• Boy 12-14
o 1st Place – Dillon Baxter, New Braunfels, TX Grad Class 2015 Rounds of 74-79-153
o 2nd Place – Cooper Dossey, Austin, TX Grad Class 2016 Rounds of 74-81-155
o 3rd Place – Nicholas Winborn, Lakeway, TX Grad Class 2016 Rounds of 77-80-157
• Girls 15-18
o 1st Place – Maggie Byers, San Antonio, TX Grad Class 2013 Rounds of 76-72-148
o 2nd Place – Jamie Bibby, Corpus Christi, TX Grad Class 2013 Rounds of 71-79-150
o 3rd Place – Kristen Miller, Austin, TX Grad Class 2013 Rounds of 76-76-152
• Girls 12-14
o 1st Place – Lizeth Reyes, Laredo, TX Grad Class 2017 Rounds of 80-84-164
