The TJGT Region II Boys Shootout was played at the Twin Rivers Golf Club in Waco, TX while the TJGT Region II Girls Shootout was played Cottonwood Creek, home course to the Starburst Junior Classic each summer.
The Boys 16-18 played 7,123 yards and the Boys 12-15 played 6,257 yards while all of the girls played 5,716 yards in extremely windy conditions. Winds both days made both courses play super long with gusts up to 40 mph.
Between the two course we had the coaches from McClennan Community College and Baylor watching players from Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Mexico battle it out in these Golfweek-ranked events.
The Texas Junior Golf Tour’s 36-hole theme continued at the home of Baylor Golf, Twin Rivers Golf Club. Thirty-nine players teed it up in extremely windy conditions at the site of the Region II-5A Boys golf tournament. At registration, players were greeted with a Nike golf shirt and two sleeves of premium Nike golf balls. And once again, the players were allowed to ride in carts for the event. The TJGT also provided each player with a sack lunch at the end of the first round as players continued on to round 2. The course was set up very similar to the way it will be set up at the regional tournament so players were able to get a good feel of how the course will play. The greens were fast and firm, as were the fairways. But despite the wind, Andrew Johnson got around the course in a remarkable 11 over par total that included a first round 77, which he promptly followed up with a 78 to claim the title. First round co-leader Matt Gilchrest came in with an 81 to take second. Finishing tied for third were Jeffrey Merrell and young Cody Byford. Merrell was fresh off of a T3 finish at 2010 Vernon Newsom Memorial hosted by Mansfield High School. Merrell lost that playoff in a scorecard playoff, but this time he was not to be denied. Merrell took care of business quickly in the playoff by winning on the first playoff hole. In the boys 12-15 division, Waco native Bruce Popp fired two sub 80 rounds (no small feat in the conditions) to claim the title. Chris Valero improved his second round score by five strokes to shoot a 77 and tie first round leader Jake Goodman for second. Valero, like Merrell, ended the playoff quickly by winning the first playoff hole.
This was the last of the 36-hole shootout series hosted by the Texas Junior Golf Tour. The tour would like to thank all of the participants for playing and for being responsible in the carts. All total, 144 holes were played in carts over the last two weekends and there were no incidents involving the carts. Good luck to all those who will be competing at the district and regional events that are coming up in the next few weeks. The tour will be back in action the first weekend in May in the Austin area and the Houston area. Hope to see you there.
Boys 16 - 18:
1st Place: Andrew Johnson, Temple, TX; 2011; 77-78-155
2nd Place: Matt Gilchrest, Southlake, TX; 2013; 77-81-158
T-3rd Place: Jeffrey Merrell, Aledo, TX; 2011; 82-79-161
T-3rd Place: Cody Byford, Round Rock, TX; 2013; 81-80-161***
*** - Won sudden death playoff on first playoff hole.
Boys 12-15:
1st Place: Bruce Popp, Waco, TX; 2013; 79-79-158
T2nd Place: Chris Valero, Round Rock, TX; 2013; 82-77-159 ***
T2nd Place: Jake Goodman, San Antonio, TX; 2013; 77-82-159
*** - Won sudden death playoff for second place on first playoff hole.
In the boys 16-18 division, Jeffrey Merrell defeated Cody Byford on the first playoff hole to capture third place. In the boys 12-15 division, Chris Valero defeated Jake Goodman on the first playoff hole to capture second place. Goodman takes third.
The Girls AJGA PBE Award winners are:
Girls 16-18 – April McCoy, Carrollton TX, 2011, 80-80-160
GIRLS 16-18
1. April McCoy, Carrollton TX, 2011, 80-80=160
2. Katie Paxton, Spring TX, 2010, 82-79=161
3. Rachel Mulkey, Flower Mound, TX, 2011, 86-79=165
GIRLS 12-15
1. Maggie Neece, Colleyville TX, 2013 ,87=83-170
2. Courtney Dow, Frisco, TX, 2016, 87-91=178
3. Lelesse Mocio, Plano, TX, 2013, 100-92=192
