The TJGT Gleannloch Pines Junior Championship was played January 17th-18th 2015 at Gleannloch Pines Golf Club in Spring, Texas. Players from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mexico teed it up in front coaches from St Thomas University – Houston and Oklahoma City University in this 36-hole, nationally-ranked event.
Event Recap:
Glennloch Pines Golf Club played host to the TJGT once again. The 27-hole facility was more than a test for many of the youngsters this weekend. Thankfully, Mother Nature gave the field a reprieve from the frozen weather the Houston area had been experiencing for the past couple of weeks.
Sophia Briceno and Nikolas Keratsopoulos proved to be the class of the 11-14 year old divisions. Nikalos’s 1st place 167 led the way over Missouri City star James Strickland and Houston’s Ryan Byrd.
Cody Banach and Noah Purvis dueled it out for 1st place in the Boys 15-18 division and were ultimately separated by a single shot. Cody’s stellar play from tee to green allowed him to narrowly eclipse TJGT mainstay Noah who had a few shining moments of his own on the greens. Riley Casey and Chad Sewell needed an extra hole to decide the owner of 3rd place in the older Boys division. Chad’s solid two-putt par from 35-feet was no match to Riley’s 30-foot birdie bomb as he was finally rewarded for a solid day of multiple greens in regulation.
The Girls 15-18 saw a fantastic Sunday comeback by Clear Brook High School student and future Schriner College player Lauren Leslie. Lauren’s day 2 come back from four strokes back was strong enough to defeat Grace Cassity by two strokes. Sarah Zimmerle played strong enough to place 3rd.
Top Finishers:
Boys 15-18
1st place Cody Banach Houston TX 2016 73-75-148
2nd place Noah Purvis Katy, TX 2015 75-74-149
3rd place Riley Casey Abilene TX 2016 73-79-152
Boys 11-14
1st place Nikolas Keratsopoulos Cameron TX 2019 85-82-167
2nd place James Strickland Missouri City TX 2019 83-90-173
3rd place Ryan Byrd Houston TX 2019 96-90-186
Girls 15-18
1st place Lauren Leslie Houston TX 2015 85-81-166
2nd place Grace Cassity Katy TX 2018 81-89-170
3rd place Sarah Zimmerle Katy TX 2017 85-86-171
Girls 11-14
1st place Sophia Briceno The Woodlands TX 2018 97-101-198
Playoff details:
Riley Casey canned a 30-footer for birdie on the first hole of sudden death for 3rd place in the Boys 15-18 division.