The Texas Junior Golf Tour travelled across the Red River this past weekend into the Sooner Nation to host the Sooner Junior Major Championship. The event was held at the fabulous Jimmie Austin Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma. Jimmie Austin Golf Club was the host site for the 2009 USGA Public Links Championship and has hosted several prestigious college events over the years. 91 players representing Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Washington, Arkansas, Missouri, California, and Mexico played this fantastic layout, with the boys playing from 6, 675 yards and the girls playing from 5,602 yards. The night before the event, all players were allowed to have a great Q & A session with Gregg Grost. On day one players were greeted at check in with some outstanding tee gifts that included a Golfsmith gift card, a Nike golf shirt, a satchel, a cap, and a dozen Titleist ProV1 golf balls. If only the weather had been as nice as the gifts! As players were checking in, Norman was deluged with over two and half inches of rain making the course unplayable and forcing the cancellation of the first round. The down time allowed for the players to have an off day. Some of the players were able to take in a movie, some drove further north to Oklahoma City to find a place to practice golf, while others just relaxed and enjoyed the college football that was on television.
Day two saw the rain dissipate overnight and give way to sunny skies. It was a beautiful day for golf with temperatures in the high 70’s and only a little wind. College coaches from Cameron University, Rogers State, and the University of Oklahoma (both men’s & women’s coaches were on property), as well as several junior college coaches made it out to watch the spectacular talent that the tour has to offer. And nobody’s talent showed brighter than 2012 Springdale, Arkansas resident Zachary Coats. Coats fired a 67 that included three birdies and an eagle on the par five eighth hole. For his efforts, Coats wins one AJGA tournament exemption. There was plenty of talent to go around as Preston Stanley and Mason Horner finished tied for second with scores of two under 69. Both of these guys recorded six birdies on their round. In the playoff, Stanley defeated Horner with a par on the first playoff hole. Both of these young men earn an AJGA Performance Star for their finishes. Finishing in a three way tie for fourth was Matt Gilchrest, Jamison Youree, and Polo Lopez. Gilchrest recorded three birdies on his round, Youree posted three birdies on his round that included three consecutive birdies on holes eight, nine, and ten, while Lopez recorded five birdies on his round. In the playoff, Gilchrest birdied the first playoff hole to claim fourth place, while Youree two putted for par to claim fifth. All three young men earn AJGA Performance Stars. In the girls division, young Emily Campbell wins the AJGA Tournament exemption for winning the girls division, as well as the Junior All Star exemption. Campbell adds to an already impressive resume by winning the event. Campbell recorded an eagle on the difficult par five 18th hole to go along with four bogeys. Finishing in second and winning an AJGA Performance Star was Hinton, Oklahoma’s own Maci Arrington with a great round of 74. Hinton posted three birdies on her way to winning second. Finishing in third was US Junior Qualifier Maggie Neece with a round of 75. Neece earns an AJGA Performance Star for her third place finish that included two birdies.
At the conclusion of the round, players were treated to a barbecue lunch under the pavilion. While scores were being posted and players were eating, OU Men’s Golf Coach Ryan Hybl spoke to the players and parents and did a short Q & A session.
What a great weekend in the Sooner Nation. Players had the opportunity to showcase their talents on a terrific venue and in front of numerous college coaches. Next weekend the Tour will be north of the Red River again with the Red River Shootout at historic Dornick Hills CC in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
The tour would like to thank Jimmie Austin Director of Golf Johnnie Jones and his staff for being so accommodating and having the course in tremendous shape. The tour looks forward to coming back to Norman next year.
Boys 16-18:
Zachary Coats, Springdale, AR; 2012; 1 Tournament Exemption
Preston Stanley, Katy, TX; 2011; 1 Performance Star
Mason Horner, Argyle, TX; 2011; 1 Performance Star
Jamie Youree, Fort Worth, TX; 2011; 1 Performance Star
Polo Lopez, Garza Garcia, MX; 2012; 1 Performance Star
Girls 12-18:
Emily Campbell, Carrollton, TX; 2015; 1 Tournament Exemption & 1 Junior All Star Exemption
Maci Arrington, Hinton, OK; 2013; 1 Performance Star
Maggie Neece, Colleyville, TX; 2013; 1 Performance Star
Boys 12-15:
Matt Gilchrest, Southlake, TX; 2013; 1 Junior All Star Exemption & 1 Performance Star
Top 3 finishers in each age group
Boys 12-18 Name Hometown Graduation year Score
1st place Zachary Coats Springdale, AR 2012 67
(T2) 2nd place Preston Stanley Katy, TX 2011 69
(T2) 3rd place Mason Horner Argyle, TX 2011 69
(T4) 4th place Matt Gilchrest Southlake, TX 2013 70
(T4) 5th place Jamison Youree Fort Worth, TX 2011 70
T4 Polo Lopez Garza Garcia, MX 2012 70
Girls 12-18 Name Hometown Graduation year Score
1st place Emily Campbell Carrollton, TX 2015 73
2nd place Maci Arrington Hinton, OK 2013 74
3rd place Maggie Neece Colleyville, TX 2013 75
*In the boys division, Preston Stanley and Mason Horner finished tied for second. Stanley beat Horner on the first playoff hole. Stanley finished second, while Horner finished third. Matt Gilchrest, Jamison Youree, and Polo Lopez finished in a three way tie for fourth and fifth. Gilchrest wins fourth with a birdie, while Youree finishes fifth with a par.
