The Texas Junior Golf Tour held it's Houston Kickoff Classic Monday and Tuesday at the Walden on Lake Conroe Country Club. The event consisted of junior high and high school golfers from all over Texas. The competition was open to all TJGT members without invitation. Although this event consisted of only Texas players, the TJGT has members from 16 different states and five countries.

The TJGT is very popular for junior golfers, due to the abundance of attention they receive from college scouts at their events.

“College coaches from all over the country come to our banquets and question and answer segments with the kids and parents,” explained Tournament Director Rusty Herridge. “These are some of the most talented junior golfers in the state.”

Herridge, who coaches for Montgomery High School, is one of many high school coaches on staff for the TJGT, as it is a requirement to be a part of the administration. In fact, the TJGT was founded in 1989 by high school coaches and parents who felt there needed to be a higher level of competition during the fall and winter seasons.

Today’s event consisted of two divisions of boys and girls 12-15 and boys and girls 16-18. The winners of each division will receive an automatic bid to the American Junior Golf Association Tour, which is a great opportunity for junior golfers.

“The AJGA are the big dogs of junior golf, and we work really close with them,” said Harridge. “Our goal is to prepare kids for AJGA competition.”

In the boys 16-18 division, Andrew Rollins out of Round Rock, TX took first with a two-day total of 155. Zachary Smalls of Katy and Charles Smith of Sugar Land tied for second, but Smalls earned the second place spot with a victory in the two-hole playoff.

In the boys 12-15 division, William Young of Montgomery earned the spot at the top of the leader board with a two-day total of 152.

Brittany Butler of Sugar Land found her way to the top of the girls 16-18 division as she squeaked by second and third place finishers by one and two strokes. Butler shot a two-day total of 157. Shannon Jungman of Pflugerville took second with 158, and Kaylin Terry of Austin finished third at 159.

Katelyn McDougal earned her first place trophy for the girls 12-15 division, finishing four strokes ahead of second place finisher, Tezira Abe. McDougal finished with a two-day total of 171.

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