It was just another one of those crazy TJGT weekends where three events were going on simultaneously across the state. That’s where having a staff of over 50 high school coaches comes in handy.
First up is the Amistad Golf Festival was held November 14-15 at Tapatio Springs Resort. Seventy-eight players from Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, and Mexico teed it up in the event of friendship. The Boys 16-18 played 6,504 yards; the Boys 12-15 6,114 yards; and all Girls played 5,702 yards in this 36-hole Golfweek-ranked event. All TJGT players received the normal tournament gifts, a Nike golf shirt and two sleeves of premium golf balls. As a show of friendship, each Mexico Junior Golf Association player received a Nike golf cap and a TJGT t-shirt as their tournament gift. The first day found the players trying to feel their way around the golf course as the only players to shoot under par were in the Boys 12-15 division. Andres Guerra fired a two under par 70 to get off to a great start and take the first round lead. Juan Marcos Rodriguez found himself only one stroke back after posting a one under par 71 on the opening 18. Fernando Cruz, Diego Gudino, and Luis Navarette opened with rounds of even par 72 to assure that the race for the title would not be an easy one. In the Boys 16-18 division, Eloy Gonzalez, Kyle Johnson, and Guillermo Gomez got off to great starts with each player firing rounds of even par. Applying the pressure to these guys were Ethan Cowart, Diego Alarcon, and Roberto Sanchez each firing rounds of one over par 73. In the girls 16-18 division, the “Alejandra’s” dominated the opening round with Alexandra Oviedo firing an opening round 76 to take the lead. Finishing in a tie for second after the opening round were Alejandra White and Alejandra Arellano as each young lady fired a 77 to remain one back of Oviedo. The younger girls found the going a little tougher at Tapatio. Well everyone except for Maggie Byers who took the opening round lead with a great score of 77.
On day two, the players teed off with an 8:30 shotgun start. The weather was a bit chilly, but the play wasn’t. Ethan Cowart fired a four under par 68 to win the boys 16-18 division. For his efforts Cowart wins an AJGA exemption. Also shooting four under was Jose Antonio Hernandez, which was good enough to move him up the leaderboard all the way to 4th place. Kyle Johnson and Eloy Gonzalez each fired another round of even par golf to finish tied for second. Gonzalez claims the second place prize with a par on the second playoff hole. Gonzalez, Hernandez, and Johnson each earned an AJGA performance star for their work, as did fifth place finisher Andrew Carreon. Carreon fired very steady rounds of 74-73 to take fifth place. In the boys12-15 division, Fernando Cruz takes the title with a one under par total of 143 after his second round 71 propelled him to the top. Cruz earns a Junior All Star Tournament exemption for his great play. Diego Gudino takes second place with a second round 74 to finish at two over par for the tournament. Guillermo Munoz and Juan Marcos Rodriguez finish in a tie for third at four over par 148. Rodriguez takes the trophy by making a par on the first playoff hole. The girls 16-18 division may have been the most heated of all as first round leader Alexandra Oviedo shoots a second round 77 to fall into a tie for second with Alejandra White. Both girls finished at nine over 153. It took four extra holes for Oviedo to defeat White in the playoff. Taking the title in the older girls division was Alejandra Arellano. Arellano nipped Oviedo and White by one stroke by virtue of her second round 75. Arellano wins one AJGA tournament exemption, while Oviedo and White each earn a performance star. In the girls 12-15 division, Brenda Gonzalez takes the title by shooting a second round 81. Taylor Coleman also comes back to shoot an 81 to catch and tie Maggie Byers for second place. Coleman ended the drama quickly by winning the playoff on the first playoff hole.
Boys 12-15:
1st Place: Fernando Cruz, Mexico; 2014; 72-71-143
2nd Place: Diego Gudino, Mexico; 2013; 72-74-146
*3rd Place: Juan Marcos Rodriguez, 2014; 71-77-148
3rd Place: Guillermo Munoz, Garza Garcia, Mexico; 74-74-148
* - Rodriguez wins playoff for 3rd with par on first playoff hole.
Boys 16-18:
1st Place: Ethan Cowart, Edinburg; 2012; 73-68-141
*2nd Place: Eloy Gonzalez, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico; 2012; 72-72-144
2nd Place: Kyle Johnson, Houston; 2010; 72-72-144
* - Gonzalez wins playoff with par on second playoff hole
Girls 12-15:
1st Place: Brenda Gonzalez, Mexico; 2013; 85-81-166
*2nd Place: Taylor Coleman, San Antonio; 2015; 86-81-167
2nd Place: Maggie Byers, San Antonio; 2013; 77-90-167
* - Taylor Coleman wins second on the first playoff hole.
Girls 16-18:
1st Place: Alejandra Arellano, Mexico; 2011; 77-75-152
*2nd Place: Alexandra Oviedo, San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico; 2010; 76-77-153
2nd Place: Alejandra White, Tampico, Mexico; 2012; 77-76-153
* - Oviedo wins 2nd after four playoff holes.
Playoff details (if applicable): In the boys 16-18 division, Eloy Gonzalez defeats Kyle Johnson for second place with a par on the second playoff hole. In the Boys 12-15 division, Juan Marcos Rodriguez defeats Guillermo Munoz with a par on the first playoff hole for third place. In the Girls 12-15 division, Taylor Coleman defeats Maggie Byers on the first playoff hole to claim second place. In the Girls 16-18 division, Alexandra Oviedo defeats Alejandra White after four playoff holes to take second place.
Next up we have the TJGT Winstar Championship. The TJGT Winstar Championship was played November 14th-15th at the Winstar Golf Course just north (about a driver, 9-iron) of the Texas/Oklahoma border. The weather was nice on Saturday but chilly and breezy on Sunday. The boys 16-18 played 6,823 yards; the boys 12-15 played 6,272 yards; and all girls 12-18 played 5,360 yards, in this 36-hole, nationally-ranked event.
The AJGA PBE Award winners are:
Boys 16-18– Blake Pugh, Southlake TX, 2011, 75-73-148
Girls 16-18 – Kendra Mann, Newalla OK, 2011, 67-75-142
Boys JAS (12-15)- Matt Gilchrest, Southlake TX, 2013, 76-72-148
Top 3 finishers in each age group (MUST INCLUDE players name, hometown,
grad year, and scores by round):
BOYS 16-18
1. Blake Pugh, Southlake TX, 2011, 75-73-148
2. Patrick Russo, Lewisville, 2010, 74-76-150
3. *Jared Street, Lake Dallas TX, 2010, 77-76-153
BOYS 12-15
1. Matt Gilchrest , Southlake TX, 2013, 76-72=148
2. Corbin Kasten, Southlake, TX, 2013, 77-75=152
3. Austin Connelly, Irving,TX, 2015, 77-79=156
GIRLS 16-18
1. Kendra Mann, Newalla OK, 2011, 67-75-142
2. Abby Bobo, Wichita Falls TX, 2011, 74-75-149
3. Taylor Renfro, Keller, TX, 2010, 78-72-150
GIRLS 12-15
1. Maty Monzingo, Trophy Club TX, 2013 ,74-72-146
2. Ashton Gores, Ardmore OK, 2012, 89-87-176
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*Jared Street beat Bradley Phelps in a two-hole playoff with a par to place 3rd in the Boys 16-18 division.
And last but not least we have the TJGT Kingwood Junior Classic played at Kingwood Country Club on the Marsh Course. Other than the quick shower on Sunday the weather was absolutely beautiful for the middle of November. The boys 16-18 played 6,754 yards; the boys 12-15 played 6,184 yards; and the girls 12-15 played 5,865 yards in front college coaches from McNeese State and SFA in this 36-hole, nationally-ranked event. Players from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma fought hard for 36-holes on a challenging course. Special shout out to Jacob Veerman who made a hole-in-one on the par-3 # 17 on Saturday.
On the course Mia Ayer shot 2 great scores over the 2-day event to threaten even the older girls divisions. The Nacogdoches product showed great golf with a 2-day total of 174 to win the girls 10-11.
Ben Robinson of the woodlands, paced the Boys 12-13 division with a great effort of 176 while the New Texas Hammer, Cole Hammer knocked out a solid score of 164.
Emily Gilbreth cruised to victory over Katherine Patrick and Raquel Trevino in the Girls 12-15 division.
Newly signed North Texas’ Mean Green Katie Paxton wins by one stroke over Courtney Ferguson. One stroke always counts! We had 5 girls within 4 strokes of the lead. Recent McNeese-signee Audrey Koncaba finished 3rd
Scott Terrell dominated the field with a two over par 146, continuing an impressive run of golf over the last few months. One stroke separated 2nd and 3rd with Keaton Kelley’s 152 over Andrew Winters 153.
Carter Patterson beat the sun going down for a 2-stroke victory over Chandler Phillips in the Boys 12-15 division.
Boys 16-18 Name Hometown Graduation year Score
1st place Scott Terrell Houston, TX 2011 73-73-146
2nd place Keaton Kelley Sugar Land, TX 2011 79-73-152
3rd place Andrew Winters Houston, TX 2012 79-74-153
Boys 12-15 Name Hometown Graduation year Score
1st place Carter Patterson The Woodlands, TX 2015 80-75-155
2nd place Chandler Phillips Huntsville, TX 2015 80-77-157
3rd place Matt Ferguson Houston, TX 2013 81-79-160
Girls 16-18 Name Hometown Graduation year Score
1st place Katie Paxton Spring, TX 2010 83-79-162
2nd place Courtney Ferguson Houston, TX 2011 79-84-163
3rd place Audrey Koncaba Houston, TX 2010 84-81-165
Girls 12-15 Name Hometown Graduation year Score
1st place Emily Gilbreth Houston, TX 2013 89-90-179
2nd place Katherine Patrick West University, TX 2015 94-92-186
3rd place Raquel Trevino Pasadena, TX 2012 91-98-189
