Double your pleasure, double your fun on the TJGT!
The Texas Junior Golf Tour had double duty going on Sunday, March 21st. Two events were held simultaneously at Eagle’s Pointe in Mont Belvieu and Raven’s Nest Golf Club in Huntsville. Eagle Pointe is the host site for the Region III 5A boys and girls golf tournament, while Raven’s Nest is the host site for the boys and girls Region III 4A boys and girls golf tournament, as well as home to both the men’s and women’s Sam Houston State golf programs. This was a great opportunity for TJGT players to play their respective regional tournaments. On hand at Raven’s Nest was Sam Houston State Lady Bearkats golf coach Tommy Chain. The Texas Junior Golf Tour would like to thank Coach Chain for taking the time out of his busy schedule to come out and watch some of the girls action. The format at each site was a 36-hole event in which players were allowed to ride in carts, much like they do at college events on the West coast. Action appeared to be the word of the day for Christina Stringham. Fresh off of an extended layoff for medical reasons, Stringham basically won the title on her first 18 holes with an opening round 74 that included four birdies. Three of the birdies were recorded on the front nine. Stringham’s stellar iron play and putting contributed to the only score posted in the 70’s in the first round. Stringham kept it going in the second round by posting a 79 to win the title going away. Ryanne Haddow finished in second with a beautiful bounce back round. After posting 85 in the morning round, Haddow bounced back with a 75 in round two to claim the runner up title. Finishing in third place was Katie Paxton. Katie record only one birdie for the 36 holes, but shot very solid rounds of 81-81 to finish tied for third with Katy Kile, rebound nicely as well with a second round 77 after posting 85 in the opening round. Paxton recorded birdie number two on the second playoff with a chip in after Kile had knocked it stiff from the tee on the par three eleventh hole. In the Boys 16-18 division, Jeffrey Litwak made the long drive Interstate 45 for one reason and one reason only…to win the event. And win he did. After posting an opening round 82 to start the day, Litwak came back in the afternoon round to fire a two over par 73, the low round of the day. Litwak was very steady in round two, record one over par totals on each nine. Making it an international affair and coming in second was Diego Alarcon from Zapopan, Mexico. Diego, like Litwak, opened the day with an 82, but fired a four over par 75 in round two to finish in second place alone. Battling it out for third was local favorite Brent Baker, and two Montgomery Bears, Matthew Hance and Jonathan Beatty. After thirty six holes, the players were tied at 158. Hance ends up winning third by virtue of par on the first playoff hole, the long par four 10th hole, that was playing even longer due to the wind. In the boys 12-15 divison, Matt Oesterling wins the title with very steady rounds of 80-82. Coming in second was mini tour graduate Andrew Liu. Liu posted the only round in the 70’s for this division with his second round 79. Coming in third was Jarred Jeter from College Station with rounds of 85-84.
The tour will be back in action next Sunday in Waco at Twin Rivers Golf Club and Cottonwood Creek. Twin Rivers, the home of the Baylor Bears, is the host site for the boys region II-5A golf tournament, while Cottonwood is the host site for the girls region II-5A golf tournament. The format will be the same as it was at Eagle Pointe and Raven’s Nest…thirty six holes in one day in carts. This is another great opportunity for players to get to play the regional site in tournament conditions. We look forward to seeing you in Waco next weekend.
4A Region III Shootout Raven’s Nest Golf Club – Huntsville, TX
Yardages played:
Boys 16-18: 6,830 yards
Boys 12-15: 6,406 yards
Girls 16-18: 5,690 yards
Boys 16 - 18:
1st Place: Jeffrey Litwak, Southlake, TX; 2010; 82-73-155
2nd Place: Diego Alarcon, Zapopan, Mexico; 2009; 82-75-157
T-3rd Place: Brent Baker, Huntsville, TX; 2010; 80-78-158
T-3rd Place: Matthew Hance, Montgomery, TX; 2012; 80-78-158***
T-3rd Place: Jonathan Beatty, Montgomery, TX; 2012; 84-78-158
*** - Won sudden death playoff with a par on the par 4 tenth hole, the first playoff hole.
Girls 16-18:
1st Place: Christina Stringham, Pasadena, TX; 2011; 74-79-153
2nd Place: Ryanne Haddow, Sugar Land, TX; 2010; 85-75-160
T-3rd Place: Katie Paxton, Spring, TX; 2010; 81-81-162 ***
T-3rd Place: Katy Kile, Montgomery, TX; 2011; 85-77-162
*** - Won sudden death playoff with chip in birdie on par 3 eleventh hole, the second playoff hole.
Boys 12-15:
1st Place: Matt Oesterling, The Woodlands, TX; 2013; 82-80-162
2nd Place: Andrew Liu, Austin, TX; 2014; 86-79-165
3rd Place: Jarred Jeter, College Station, TX; 2013; 85-84-169
*Playoff details: In the boys 16-18 division, Matthew Hance defeated Brent Baker and Jonathan Beatty with a par on the first playoff hole, the par 4 tenth hole. In the Girls 16-18 division, Katie Paxton defeats Katy Kile with a chip in birdie on the par three eleventh hole, the second playoff hole.
TJGT Houston 5A - Regional 3 Preview Eagle Pointe Golf Club
Yardages played:
Boys 16-18 6,851 yards
Boys 12-15 6,851 yards
Girls 12-18 5,754 yards
Old man winter will not go quietly. The youngsters playing in the TJGT Region 3 5A preview at Eaglepoint certainly learned this the hard way. With 30-35 mph winds brutally bashing the kids as they tried to make sense of conditions it made for extremely tough conditions.
The Cinco Ranch Cougars held a lock on the boys 16-18 field as Scott Newell and Jacob Leatherman duked it out over 36 holes for a 1-2 Cougar Paw finish.
Barrett Hennington held of Taylor Mackay in the young boys event.
Raquel Trevino is putting Pasadena HS on the map with her consistent play in the girls 12-15 division.
Cinco Ranch HS product Abby Newton claimed top honors over rival Katy HS Caitlyn Cassity in the girls 16-18.
Coach Nordstrom will be pleased with his daily double of Cougars.
AJGA Performance Based Entry:
JAS Boys 12-15
Barrett Hennington Seabrook Texas 2013
AJGA Boys 16-18
Scott Newell Katy Texas 2011
AJGA Girls 12-18
Abby Newton Katy Texas 2012
Boys 16-18
1st place Scott Newell Katy 2011 80-74-154
2nd place Jacob Leatherwood Katy 2011 83-72-155
3rd place Zach Winkler Kingwood 2010 84-76-160
Boys 12-15
1st place Barrett Hennington Seabrook 2013 84-80-164
2nd place Taylor MacKay Houston 2013 79-87-166
3rd place Thomas Roberson III Sugarland 2013 90-80-170
Girls 16-18
1st place Abby Newton Katy 2012 90-82-172
2nd place Caitlyn Cassity Katy 2011 93-93-186
3rd place Jennifer Paden League City 2010 97-91-188
Girls 12-15
1st place Raquel Trevino Pasadena 2012 93-95-188
2nd place Ashley McClain Kingwood 2012 102-100-202
3rd place Kristen Bush Houston 2013 105-98-203