The TJGT/OJGT Red River Challenge was played October 31st-November 1st, 2009 at the historic Dornick Hills Golf and Country Club in Ardmore, Oklahoma. The event was a mere 48 hours away from not being played due to all of the heavy rain the course had received but the crew at Dornick Hills did a fantastic job of getting the course ready. You couldn’t have asked for better Fall weather as well with two days in the 60’s and only slight wind on Saturday. There were 111 players from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Canada, and Mexico playing in this 36-hole, Golfweek-ranked event that features a team format along with individual competition.
As has been the case in past years several college coaches came out to watch the best players from Texas compete against the best from Oklahoma and there year was no exception. Over 20 college coaches were in attendance from Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and the National Junior College Athletic Association, from schools like Oklahoma, TCU, SMU, Arkansas, Wichita State, OCU, Kansas, and Cameron University, just to name a few. All Boys 12-18 played 6,501 yards and all Girls 12-18 played 5,550 yards on this classic course that demanded you be in the right position to have any chance to score.
This was an incredible event played on the host course of the Maxwell Intercollegiate, where great players such Tiger Woods, Justin Leonard, Anthony Kim, Charles Howell III, David Duval, Stewart Cink, Mike Weir, and Jim Furyk have all played. Designed in 1914 by noted course designer Perry Maxwell, Dornick Hills was the first course that Maxwell designed and built. As always the players were showered with registration gifts which included two Nike golf shirts, two sleeves of Nike balls, a Nike golf cap, as well as various other golf accessories. The practice round on Friday was cancelled due to recent rains. However, the players were allowed to walk the course and take some notes so they wouldn’t have to play the course blind. On Friday the TJGT hosted another college coach Q&A in the banquet hall at Dornick Hills with a very diverse panel with college coaches from the Division I, Division II, Division III, and Junior College level’s. The TJGT would like to thank Coach Todd Selders from SMU, Coach Rick Goodwyn from Cameron University, Coach Michael Bond from the University of Central Oklahoma, as well as Coach Ray Roberts from Hill Junior College in Hillsboro, Texas. The Q&A lasted approximately 45 minutes and was very informational for both players and parents.
Day one recap:
The first day featured some great play in both the boys and girls divisions. Oklahoma State signee Talor Gooch, Oklahoma Men’s Amateur Champion Colton Staggs, and Sam Fidone from Lufkin all fired rounds of 1 under par 69 to take the first day lead. Pushing those guys on the top were Thomas Birdsey, a Kansas State signee, and Ian Davis, also an Oklahoma State signee, with rounds of even par 70. Several other players turned in great opening rounds as well, with Tyler Frye, Matt Helms, and Charlie Saxon all shooting rounds of two over par 72. The girls found the going a little tougher than the boys. But Rachel Mulkey, Emily Collins, and Christina Cantu all played hard and took the opening round lead with a score of 76. Coming in three strokes behind were Katie Paxton, Jade Staggs, Taylor Moreno, and Chaney Uhles. The end of the first round found Team Texas and Team Oklahoma tied in the team standings. Team Oklahoma found themselves up 6 points to 4 points after all the boys scores were posted. However, Team Texas surged to a 7-all tie after the Team Texas girls won 3 of their 4 matches. The race for the cup was going to be tight going in to the second day…
The first day concluded with a banquet in the Dornick Hills dining hall. The guest speaker was Coach Jerry Hrnciar from Cameron University. Coach Hrnciar brought to the table over 35 years of college coaching experience. He is a former PGA tour player and has coached over 35 All-Americans.
Day two recap:
The second day found the going a little easier for the boys as there were five rounds of par or better posted by the guys. Colton Staggs led the way by firing a 3 under par 67 to claim the title. Talor Gooch fired an even par 70 to claim second place. First round co-leader Sam Fidone shot a second round 73 to take third. There was a four-way tie for the fourth and fifth spots. Taylor Moore fired a second round 72 to move into a tie fourth, Charlie Saxon fired a second consecutive 72, Thomas Birdsey fired a 74, as did Ian Davis. Davis wins fourth in the playoff, while Moore captures 5th. In the girls division, Rachel Mulkey followed up her impressive win at the Sooner Invitational with an even more impressive win at the Red River Challenge. Mulkey fired a second round 77 to earn three exemptions on the AJGA. Finishing tied for second were Katie Paxton and Kayli Quinton. Quinton’s 73 was the low round of the day for girls and helped her move into a tie for second with Paxton. Paxton fired a second round 77. The playoff took four holes to complete, with Quinton claiming second by making a dramatic 25-foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole. Quinton and Paxton each earn 2 AJGA exemptions for their efforts. Coming in T4 and earning an AJGA exemption were Lakaraber Abe, Mariana Sims, and Emily Collins. The team standings were again tight, but Team Texas manages to retain the cup by one point over Team Oklahoma due to the strong play of the Texas girls. Nine out of the top ten girls spots went to players representing Team Texas. Congratulations to Team Texas for retaining the Cup!
Boys 12-18:
1st Place: Colton Staggs, Tulsa, OK; 2011; 69-67-136
2nd Place: Talor Gooch, Midwest City, OK; 2010; 69-70-139
3rd Place: Sam Fidone, Lufkin, TX; 2011; 70-72-142
*T4: Ian Davis, Edmond, OK; 2010; 70-74-144
T4: Taylor Moore, Edmond, OK; 2012; 73-71-144
T4: Charlie Saxon, Tulsa, OK; 2011; 76-73-149
T4: Thomas Birdsey, Trophy Club, TX; 2010; 70-74-144
* In the boys division Ian Davis claims fourth and Taylor Moore wins 5th. Davis birdied the first hole to claim fourth place. The playoff continued with Moore, Saxon, and Birdsey. Moore wins fifth by making a birdie on the 4th playoff hole.
Girls 12-18
1st Place: Rachel Mulkey, Flower Mound, TX; 2011; 76-77-153
**T2: Kayli Quinton, Cypress, TX; 2012; 83-73-156
T2: Katie Paxton, Spring, TX; 2010; 79-77-156
**In the Girls 12-18 division, there was a tie for 2nd place between Kayli Quinton and Katie Paxton. It took four sudden death playoff holes to decide the winner. Kayli Quinton wins the playoff by sinking a 25 foot birdie putt on the fourth playoff hole.
The TJGT would like to thank the Dornick Hills Golf Club for their hospitality and help with the event. We look forward to coming back here in the future and continuing this tradition.
