SPENCER AND COTHRAN BATTLE WIND TO TAKE SOONER JUNIOR INVITATIONAL TITLES
The TJGT Sooner Jr. Invitational was played October 4th-5th, 2008 at the Jimmie Austin Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma, home of the OU Men and Women’s golf teams. Over 70 players from five states and Mexico teed it up in the nationally-ranked, Golfweek event with a limited invitation-only field.
Several college coaches were in attendance coming to watch some of the best junior golfers in the region. You will be hard-pressed to find a deeper girls field on any regional tour than what you find in a TJGT invitational and the Sooner Jr. Invitational was no exception. Warm and windy weather greeted players both days with the wind really picking up on day two with gusts close to 35 mph making the site of the 2009 US Pub Links play even tougher. The bent grass greens were great with good speed, rolling to about 12 on the second day. The course yielded 2 under par scores each day with Chelsey Cothran carding a 71 the first day along with Seth Sullivant. Two boys shot under par on Sunday, 69 for Jake Spencer and 71 for Ryan O’rear. Amy Ruengmateekhum provided some excitement the first day carding a double-eagle 2 on the par 5 #8. The banquet on Saturday night was held at the Stadium Club on the OU campus overlooking the football field at Memorial Stadium, home of the #1 ranked Sooners. Even par wins in windy conditions for the boys while the girls champion shot a total of four over par.
The course was great for spectators and the Jimmie Austin staff was very hospitable. Head pro Johnny Johnson was a great help on the course, getting involved in rulings, helping with pace of play, and welcoming and greeting parents of the players.
Here’s how things looked after the dust settled on Sunday:
Boys 12-18
1. Jake Spencer 75-69--144 Anthony, NM 2009
2. Ryan O’rear 71-74--145 Salado, TX 2009
3. Nathan Chambers 73-73--146 Purcell, OK 2009
4. Seth Sullivant 71-75--146 Mountain Home, AR 2010
5. Hunter Sparks 75-75--150 Oklahoma City, OK 2009
Girls 12-18
1. Chelsey Cothran 71-75--146 Springdale, AR 2009
2. Mariana Sims 76-75--151 Austin, TX 2012
3. Casey Grice 73-79 College Station, TX 2010
Special recognition to the Boys 12-15 Champion Sarosh Adi (78-80--158 Frisco, TX 2011) and the Girls 12-15 Champion Michelle Chen (83-91--174 Plano, TX 2011).
In the Boys division Nathan Chambers defeated Seth Sullivant on the first playoff hole with a birdie for 3rd place.
The TJGT would again like to thank all players, parents, and staff for making the TJGT what it is- THE best place to play competitive junior golf. Make sure to click on the TJGT Video icon and watch the video recap along with interviews with players and parents from the Sooner Jr. Invitational.