Bryan, Texas – August 17, 2016 – The TJGT and Texas High School Golf Association hosted the first ever Texas State Junior Match Play Championship over the past three days. The event was played on the Traditions Club, home to the Texas A&M Aggies Mens and Women’s golf teams. This event is the first of it’s kind and aimed at providing juniors an avenue to hone their match play skills. The weather was overcast and rainy, however the juniors were able to complete all three rounds. Here are official re-caps from each round:
Round One:
The first ever Texas State Junior Match Play championship began at 8 am on Monday morning, as rain was falling, 64 players teed it up in hopes of making it into the boys top 16 or girls top 8, to get a chance at becoming the first ever champion of this event. Day One was the 36 hole stroke play portion, and the players faced a wet golf course and the weather elements, as it rained for most of the entire day. The players hung tough, and battled through the weather. Three gentleman managed to finish under par for the 36 holes: Chad Sewell, Kevin Graves, and Andre Jacobs all fired 1 under par 141, and clinched their spot in the top 16, and qualified for the match play portion. There was a two way playoff to decide the last 2 match play spots in the top 16 for the boys. Clayton King birdied the first playoff hole to jump in the 15 seed position, and after 3 more grueling holes, Jacob Garcia secured the last spot in and was the 16 seed heading into match play. In the girls division, 8 players would make it on to match play. Esther Ahn secured the number 1 overall seed. The girls also had a two way playoff for one spot, and on the first playoff hole, Raelynn Hardgrave captured that 8th and final spot.
Day Two:
The boys round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals would all be played on Tuesday. Fantastic matches happened left and right. In the round of 16, Clayton King upset the number 2 overall seed, and Cortland Curgus, as the 11 seed upset number 6 seed Peter Relf. The matches really started to heat up in the Quarterfinals as 5 of the 8 matches made it to at least their second to last holes before being decided. Andre Jacobs, Steven Fabik, Clayton King, and Kevin Graves all made it out of the quarters and into the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, the match of day between Andre Jacobs and Steven Fabik made it to the 18th hole with Andre 1 up. After hitting it in the greenside bunker, Andre had to get it up and down to stay out of a playoff and secure his spot against Kevin Graves in the Finals. He was successful in getting that bunker shot up and down, holing a 10ft par putt to Defeat Fabik 1 up.
Highly competitive girls matches happened in their bracket as well. Esther Ahn, Mackenzie Moore, Isabel Amezcua and Abby Adams all made it successfully through to the semi-finals after their quarter final victories. Mackenzie Moore would take down the number 1 seed Ester Ahn, and secure her spot in the final. She waited to see who she would be facing in the final matchup. HS Teammates, Isabel and Abby battled it out, but Abby hung tough and defeated Isabel 3&2 to punch her ticket to the finals, and have a match up against Mackenzie Moore.
Day Three: Championship Wednesday
Kevin Graves and Andre Jacobs both came out firing and created a fantastic championship Match in the boys division. Jacobs birdied the 2nd hole to take an early 1 up lead, but after two front 9 birdies, Graves made the turn at 1 up. With birdies on 10 and 12 Graves extended his lead to 3 up, however Jacobs kept battling. Jacobs made a solid par to win hole 14, birdied hole 15 and was right back in the match at 1 down with 3 to play. Graves just wouldn’t be stopped this round, managing to hole a 15 foot birdie putt on 16 to go dormie 2 on Jacobs and would eventually close out the match on 17, winning 2&1. On the day, between the two players, 10 birdies were made and only 4 holes were halved. This was a great way to start the Championship Matches of the First ever Texas St Jr. Match Play Championship.
On the girls side, Mackenzie Moore got off to a fast start winning four of the first 6 holes to take a commanding lead over Abby Adams. It seemed like this match would be over early, however, Abby showed why and how she made the championship match, by getting it back to only 1 down thru 14 holes. Adams had a slip up on 15, and Mackenzie only needed a par on 16 to close out her match 3 &2 to take the champion spot in the girls division.
Boys Division Match Play
(Name, Hometown, Grad Year, Scores):
Champion Kevin Graves Lewisville, Tx 2017 2&1
Runner Up Andre Jacobs League City, Tx 2018
Semi-Finalist Steven Fabik Plano, Tx 2017
Semi Finalist Clayton King Uvalde, Tx 2017
Girls Division Match Play
(Name, Hometown, Grad Year, Scores):
Champion Mackenzie Moore – Trophy Club Tx 2021 3&2
Runner Up Abby Adams – New Braunfels, Tx 2018
Semi-Finalist Esther Ahn – Harker Height, Tx 2017
Semi-Finalist Isabel Amezcua – New Braunfels, Tx 2020