The Texas Junior Golf Tour held the TPC Four Season’s Invitational at the prestigious TPC Four Seasons Resort Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. All boys played 6,964 yards while the girls played 5,727 yards. What a treat for the players to get to play the same course that the PGA conducts the HP Byron Nelson Championship! There were 105 players from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mexico that teed it up in one of the Tour’s biggest invitational events of the year. The TPC Four Seasons Resort extended to the players the opportunity to play practice one practice round for free. Players were greeted at registration with an assortment of gifts from the tour that included an Ogio golf shirt and cap, two sleeves of premium Nike golf balls, a custom TPC Four Seasons divot tool/ball marker, girls received a very nice handbag and fashion t-shirt, guys received a Nike cinch bag, and all players received an electronic gift, the Altec/Lansing “Mighty Little Speaker” courtesy of Integra Marketing.
Day one began with players being treated to a continental breakfast compliments of the TJGT and the Four Seasons staff. Players teed off in extreme summer conditions, with high humidity, heat, and lots of sunshine. But no player sizzled more than Emily Collins. Collins, getting the rare opportunity to play her home course under tournament conditions, scorched the field with an opening round 66. Collins’ round included an impressive 29 on the back nine, where she went on a five hole birdie streak beginning on hole twelve, and then capped off the back nine by making birdie on the difficult par four 18th hole. After the first round, Collins held a four stroke lead over Austin girls Taylor Moreno and Alex Rossi. Both Moreno and Rossi began the event with even par rounds of 70. Rossi recorded back to back bogeys on the front nine, but erased the bogeys with back to back birdies on holes 15 and 16, while Moreno recorded four birdies and four bogeys on her round. Elisabeth Rau, defending champion Carly Ragains, and Jessa LaBarbera all managed to stay in contention with opening rounds of 75. The boys found the going a little bit tougher than the girls on day one. Thomas Birdsey and Charles Neel White each opened with rounds of one over 71 to tie for the lead. However, there was some great play in the boy’s field as there were twenty guys that were within five strokes of the lead. In other words, a bunched leaderboard was going to make for an interesting second day! A hot day one was capped off by with a pool party and complimentary lunch again courtesy of the Four Seasons.
On day two, the players were treated to a double tee start with the leaders in both the boys and girls divisions teeing off of hole one. In the boys division, Derek Oland made the biggest move of the day. Oland began his round with a birdie on 10, his first hole. Then lightning struck on hole 13 when he made an ace on the 180 yard par three. The ace got him to the three under, and when he birdied 18 to shoot four under on his opening nine, he had climbed a considerable distance up the leaderboard. Oland finished the final round with a 69, the only boy to post a number in red for the tournament. Oland began the day in 29th place, but ended the day in 6th, jumping an incredible 23 spots. But the man of the day was Thomas Birdsey. Birdsey made four birdies against five bogeys to post an impressive round of 71. It took the last hole of the event for Birdsey to win the title. He hit a wedge into the Sunday pin on 18, and spun it to about 5 feet, then calmly sank the birdie putt. Little did he know how important that birdie was because Eric Redeker, in the group in front of the leaders, had fired an even par 70 to put himself in contention. Redeker got off to a fast start and was 2 under after recording three birdies and a bogey on the front nine. Redeker’s efforts earned him a second place finish in the event. Charles Neel White and Preston Standley finished tied for third. Both players played extremely well, finishing at 144. Logan Boatner continues to have a torrid summer, finishing in fifth alone at 145. White and Standley had to go two more holes to break the tie for third. It was agreed that the competitors in the playoff would play holes 17 and 18 continuously until the tie was broken. It took two playoff holes for Standley to claim the third place trophy. For their efforts, Birdsey earned two AJGA tournament exemptions as well as an exemption into the Dixie Amateur, Redeker and Standley each earned one AJGA tournament exemption, while White and Boatner, as well as the rest of the players that round out the top ten each earn AJGA performance stars. Congratulations to each of these young men.
In the girls division, it took more than 36 holes to decide the outcome. First round leader and University of Oklahoma signee Collins posted a 78 in the second round. This opened the door for Rossi and Moreno, and Rossi was more than happy to walk right in. Rossi fired a second round 74 to forge a tie with Collins. Collins won the playoff for first with a par on the second playoff hole. Moreno posted a final round 76 to end up two back of the leaders. But the player making the largest move was the champion from Oakmont the previous week. Elisabeth Rau fired an impressive one over 71 to move into a tie for third with Moreno. Rau recorded five birdies on the round, and shot one under on the back nine to catch Moreno. Moreno defeated Rau on the first playoff hole with a par.
Collins wins two AJGA tournament exemptions for her work the last two days; Rossi earns one tournament exemption, and Moreno earns a performance start. All three of these girls also earned an exemption into the Dixie Amateur.
Wow! Great play…great golf course…great field! A field that talented is bound to attract college coaches. College coaches in attendance were Dallas Baptist University Women’s coach, the Midwestern coach, Houston Baptist assistant coach, University of North Texas, and the UT Dallas coach. They were treated to some spectacular play.
The tour would like to thank Mike and Cathy Neece for all of the work that was put in to make this event happen, as well as the TPC staff for being so accommodating. The tour will be back in action next week with an event in the Houston area and an event in the Dallas area. Hope to see you there.
Boys 12 - 18:
1st Place: Thomas Birdsey, Trophy Club, TX; 2010; 71-71-142
2nd Place: Eric Redeker, Katy, TX; 2011; 73-70-143
T-3rd Place: Preston Standley, Katy, TX; 2011; 72-72-144
T-3rd Place: Charles Neel White, Austin, TX; 2012; 71-73-144***
5th Place: Logan Boatner, Atascocita, TX; 2011; 72-73-145
*** - Won sudden death playoff on first playoff hole.
Girls 12-18:
T1st Place: Emily Collins, Colleyville, TX; 2010; 66-78-144
T1st Place: Alex Rossi, Austin, TX; 2012; 70-74-144 ***
T3rd Place: Elisabeth Rau, Irving, TX; 2013; 75-71-146
T3rd Place: Taylor Moreno, Austin, TX; 2011; 70-76-146
*** - Won sudden death playoff for second place on first playoff hole.
Playoff details: In the Girls division, Emily Collins defeats Alex Rossi with a par on the second playoff hole. Collins earns the victory while Rossi finishes second. Taylor Moreno defeated Elisabeth Rau on the first playoff hole with a par. In the boys division, Preston Standley defeats Charles Neel White with a par on the second playoff hole with a par.
