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Lake Travis’ Jake Kittner breaks 80 for first time to win George Hannon Junior

Jake Kittner, left, won the boys’ 16-18 flight at the George Hannon Junior.

Jake Kittner had never broken 80 in his life heading into Wednesday’s George Hannon Junior at Morris Williams Golf Course.

And after bogeying the par-3 eighth — Kittner’s 17th hole of the day — to fall to 9 over on his round, another day of not being in the 70s was about to pass by again (Morris Williams is a Par 71).

When he arrived at his 18th hole of the day, the par-4 ninth, Kittner knew exactly what he needed to do — and that’s when the pressure started to settle in.

“I got super nervous,” said Kittner, a junior at Lake Travis High School. “I knew what had to get done.”

Kittner piped one of the most nervy tee shots of his life down the left side of the fairway. Step one was complete. He left himself just a flip wedge into the ninth green, much needed considering that the pin stood at the front part of the green.

Kittner refocused himself for his second shot and threw a dart, stopping his ball on a dime less than four feet underneath the hole. He converted the birdie to get him back to 8 over, finishing with a number less than 80 for the first time ever — a 79.

“It was sweet. It was very nerve-wracking the whole time,” Kittner said. “I had to give it everything I had.”

For anyone who has ever played golf, breaking 80 for the first time is an incredible achievement. Back at the clubhouse, an elated Kittner immediately called his father to update him on what just happened.

“He was super happy for me,” Kittner said. “He’s out of town right now, but he was super happy.”

Kittner soon realized that something else had just occurred. His birdie at the last hole for a 79 gave him a one-shot victory over Tyler Blonder in the boys’ 16-18 division.

The celebration didn’t last too long for Kittner, though. Even after his win and breaking a golf milestone, Kittner, agitated by some missed putts during the round, already had his mind focused on improving as he headed for the parking lot.

“I need to work on my putting,” Kittner said. “That’s where I’m going right now, is to the putting green.”

For the full results from the 2018 George Hannon Junior, click here: leaderboard.htm

The Austin City Junior Championship will be July 24-25 at Jimmy Clay Golf Course.

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Andrew Tan’s 76 highlights Ben Crenshaw Junior

Andrew Tan fired a 5-over 76 at the Ben Crenshaw Junior.

Less than two weeks after the best amateur players in the area took on “Muny” for the 72nd annual Firecracker Open, some of the area’s top juniors got their chance to do so in the Ben Crenshaw Junior.

The highlight of the day on Wednesday at Lions Municipal Golf Course was Andrew Tan, who fired an impressive 5-over 76 to win the boys’ 13-15 division by four shots. Tan was the only one in the flight to break 80, and he made his lone birdie of the day at the par-4 10th.

Andrew Tan hits his tee shot at the par-3 13th.

Trent Mierl, right, shot a 1-over 37.

Trent Mierl, who placed first at the Felix George Junior in June, claimed another first-place finish for the summer after posting a 1-over 37 for nine holes on Wednesday to win the boys’ 11-12 flight by four strokes.

Westlake High School’s Jack Evans posted an 86 to take first in the boys’ 16-18 division by two shots. It was Evans’ second first-place finish of the summer. He won the Joe Balander Junior in June.

Jack Evans hits his tee shot at the par-3 17th.

Mary Grace Davidson impressed with an 8-over 79 to claim first in the girls’ 16-18 division. She carded an eagle at the par-5 eighth and a birdie at the par-4 18th.

Mary Grace Davidson plays a chip shot at the par-4 16th.

For the full results from the 2018 Ben Crenshaw Junior, click here: leaderboard.htm

The next Austin junior golf tournament is the George Hannon Junior on Wednesday, July 18.

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Jake Hendrix wins Firecracker Open in playoff after stunning final-round 61

Jake Hendrix, a fifth-year senior at SFA, with the Serta Trophy after winning the 72nd Firecracker Open.

Jake Hendrix stood next to the Lions Municipal Golf Course clubhouse stunned.

His facial expressions seemed to indicate he had just seen a ghost, but in reality he had just pulled off one of the greatest final-round comebacks in Austin amateur golf history.

After starting the final round nine shots behind leader Michael Rome, Hendrix stormed back to shoot a 10-under 61 — the lowest round of his tournament career — to force a playoff, which he won on the second hole to claim what very well could be the last Firecracker Open ever at “Muny.”

“I knew that to have any chance of winning I needed to shoot at least 10 under — maybe 9 would do it,” said Hendrix, an Austin native who is a fifth-year senior at Stephen F. Austin. “I just had to go out there and free-wheel it. I went for everything and made birdies.”

Jake Hendrix shakes hands with six-time Firecracker Open winner Billy Clagett.

Hendrix said afterward that he still didn’t expect to win entering the round. To be frank, not a single person could have expected him to. The day was supposed to be about two individuals only.

Rome, a sophomore at UTSA and Westlake High School alumnus, began the final round at 14 under carrying a two-shot lead. Fellow Westlake graduate Alex Ellis, a former Firecracker champion who is currently an assistant coach at the College of Charleston, trailed in second at 12 under. Trevor Brown, another former Westlake player, was in third at 8 under and played in the same group as Rome and Ellis.

A handful of other players lurked behind at 5 and 6 under par, including Hendrix at 5 under. But with fast greens, a steady wind and some of the most difficult pin locations possible, surely no one could get hot enough to mount a charge.

But when Ellis’ group arrived at the 18th hole, his caddie informed him of what had just happened and that he now trailed by one.

“I was kind of focused too much on Trevor and Michael,” Ellis said. “Then I get to 18 and they say Jake shot 61.”

Alex Ellis tees off at the par-3 7th hole during Monday’s final round.

For most of the day, Ellis was in the driver’s seat of this tournament. Rome faltered on the front nine, while Brown tried to ignite a charge but just could never get close enough. Ellis, meanwhile, stayed mostly steady.

Ellis bogeyed the par-3 17th to fall to 14 under. With Hendrix in the clubhouse at 15 under, Ellis needed a birdie at the last to force a playoff. He did just that when he drilled about a 15-footer for birdie on 18, sending the gallery of roughly 50 people into a frenzy.

“Those are the kind of putts why you play the game,” Ellis said.

Hendrix and Ellis went back to the 18th hole for a sudden-death playoff. After nervy pars, the two went to the par-4 first for the second playoff hole. Ellis and Hendrix each came up short with their approach shots, and then each chipped to about four feet.

After Hendrix made a tricky downhiller for his par, Ellis had a chance to force a third playoff hole. Ellis had made big, momentous putts all day long. This one just seemed like a formality. But nothing in golf is ever truly as simple as it seems.

Ellis pulled his par putt, stunning the gallery and giving an abrupt ending to one of the wildest final rounds in Firecracker Open history.

Jake Hendrix lines up a par putt at the second playoff hole.

“My game hadn’t been under tournament pressure like this in probably two years,” said Ellis, who just recently regained his amateur status and decided to compete again. “I didn’t really know what to expect. Ball-striking was off today, probably because of the nerves, but I felt like I grinded it out as hard as I can.”

Monday’s finish was just another classic example of how anything can happen in this game — and how quirky it can be. Before he even began the Firecracker Open, Hendrix’s game was not where he wanted it to be. He played so poorly at the Texas Amateur a few weeks ago at Whispering Pines Golf Club that he decided to change his grip from interlocking to overlapping.

“I’ve changed it before, and I just felt like I could be more consistent,” Hendrix said.

The change paid off. Hendrix shot rounds of 68 and 69 to put him at 5 under heading into Monday’s final round. Then he played the greatest round of his life to completely validate the grip change. He said he knew he had a chance to make a real run on Monday after he eagled the par-5 12th, which got him to 7 under on the day. Hendrix then kept his foot on the gas. He closed with birdies at the 14th, the always-demanding par-4 16th and the 18th to post 15 under.

Jake Hendrix tees off at the second playoff hole.

Hardly anyone at Lions on Monday could believe it. The length-deprived course is always gettable, but it still requires precision shot-making.

Asked after his round if he thought a 61 was possible, Hendrix spoke as if he still couldn’t believe what he had just done.

“Not really, to be honest,” Hendrix said. “I didn’t know if it was out there with these pins, obviously. I felt like 5 or 6 (under) would have been a good score, coming in fourth or third place. But it was pretty cool to get the win.”

For the full results from the 2018 Firecracker Open, click here: leaderboard.htm

Alex Ellis misses his par putt at the second playoff hole.

Jake Hendrix hugs his father after winning the Firecracker Open.

The gallery watches the second playoff hole of the Firecracker Open.

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UTSA’s Michael Rome surges into lead at Firecracker Open after second round

Michael Rome, right, leads the Firecracker Open by two shots heading into Monday’s final round.

Before he teed off on Sunday for the second round of the 72nd Firecracker Open, Michael Rome wanted to peek at the leaderboard just to see how things stood. What he saw wasn’t welcoming.

Tournament leader Alex Ellis, who torched Lions Municipal Golf Course with a 9-under 62 in Saturday’s opening round to give him a three-shot lead, had already made the turn at 4 under in his second round. Ellis was now 13 under for the tournament and seven shots clear of Rome.

But Rome didn’t flinch for a second. It was game on.

A little over four hours later, the once unlikely became a reality — Rome held a two-shot advantage at 14 under heading into Monday’s final round of the Firecracker Open.

“I’d figured (Ellis) was gonna take it pretty deep today,” Rome said of seeing Ellis’ front-nine total. “I didn’t try to think about it too much. Just tried to stick to my game plan and see what happens.”

Rome, a sophomore at UTSA, got off to a fast start with a birdie at the par-4 10th — his first hole of the day. From there it was a birdie barrage. He converted nine total for the round, with only one dropped shot at the par-5 second hole. He closed the round with three straight birdies, including a momentous chip-in from in front of the green at the par-4 9th.

“Yes!” Rome said with exuberance as he delivered a big fist pump to go along with it.

“That was huge,” Rome said after the round. “Just keep the momentum going into tomorrow and maybe a little extra cushion.”

Rome will have a two-shot lead over Ellis, who sits in second after finishing with a 3-under 68 on Sunday, when they step foot on the first tee for Monday’s final round.

“It’s nice. It’s been a while since I’ve been at the top of the leaderboard after a couple days,” Rome said. “I can’t think too much about it. I just got to stick to my gameplan and keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

After making the turn at 4-under on Sunday, Ellis started to fall apart. He played the first four holes of his back nine in 3 over, the first sign of any real slowing down he’s shown in this tournament. Ellis rebounded with birdies at his 14th and 17th holes of the day to get back to 12 under for the tournament and card a 3-under total for the day.

Alex Ellis

“You’re gonna go through those stretches throughout the course of a tournament,” said Ellis, an assistant coach at the College of Charleston. “I just took some deep breaths and made a birdie to kind of change the momentum and hung on from there.”

Rome and Ellis will be in the final group together on Monday afternoon, along with TCU junior Trevor Brown, who sits in third at 8 under. All three played high school golf at Westlake.

Ellis will have a leg up on his playing partners when they tee off Monday at 12:24 p.m. He’s won the Firecracker Open before (2011) and knows what it takes to close the deal here at “Muny.”

“Final round of the Firecracker is definitely a different feeling, different nerves,” Ellis said. “I feel like I’ve got some good past experience playing in the final group on the last day at Lions.”

Plenty of capable players still loom on the leaderboard heading into Monday, including Brown, Reid Davenport, Jake Ezell and former Firecracker champion Brian Noonan.

But for now, this tournament appears to be a two-horse race, and if the past two days have provided any indication, we could be in for a real shootout come Monday afternoon.

“I’ve played this course so many times to where it’s just I play it the same every time,” Ellis said. “It’s just Lions. No different mindset. (Monday) I might be a little more conservative depending on the situation, but same old Muny.”

For the full leaderboard after round two of the Firecracker Open, click here: leaderboard.htm

For Monday’s final round tee times, click here: pairings.htm

Spectators watch the Alex Ellis, Brian Noonan and Logan Boatner group on the ninth hole during Sunday’s second round.

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TCU’s Trevor Brown tied for second after Firecracker first round

Trevor Brown hadn’t touched his TaylorMade Spider mallet putter in nearly six months.

But recently he decided to go back to it in order to spark his putting. That spark came just in time for one his most important tournaments of the year.

Brown, a junior on the TCU men’s golf team, immediately caught fire with the flat stick on Saturday at Lions Municipal Golf Course, helping him card a 6-under 65 to tie for second after the first round of the 72nd Firecracker Open.

“I got a lot of confidence with the putter right now,” Brown said. “I think I had 10 putts on the front nine. The putter was just rolling.Really confident with the putter, and the greens were the best I’ve seen them out here at Lions.”

Brown’s decision to try out a mallet putter this week in hopes of better luck on the greens is a familiar story. Many in the golf world are familiar with the fact that 14-time major champion Tiger Woods is playing with a new TaylorMade mallet putter this week at the Quicken Loans National in Potomac, Maryland. Woods has long trusted his Scotty Cameron blade putter, but after multiple disappointing putting performances this year, he decided to go with a new flat stick. That change has given Woods success on the greens this week.

Decisions like that are all about feel. Brown was in a similar situation and also turned to a mallet putter in hopes of better feel and better performance on the greens.

“Sometimes you just need change,” Brown said. “I wanted to look at something different. I’ve always putted with a blade my whole life. I’ve had the most success with (the Spider mallet putter). I don’t actually know why I ever went away from it. But it came back and getting some old success back.”

After a par at the 10th, his opening hole of the day, Brown went on a tear with three straight birdies followed by an eagle at the par-5 14th. He made another birdie at the short par-4 18th, his ninth hole of the day, to make the turn with a scorching 6-under 29 on the front.

Brown made birdie again at the par-5 second to put him at 7 under on the day. For a while, it looked as if he was gunning for a course record. But his putter eventually cooled off, and he didn’t record a birdie for the rest of the round. He closed with a bogey at the par-4 ninth after failing to get up and down from behind the green.

After playing his high school golf for Westlake, Brown signed with Rice to begin his college career. But one year with the Owls was enough for him. He decided to transfer to TCU after realizing Rice wasn’t necessarily the right place for him.

“It wasn’t a good fit for me,” Brown said. “We struggled a lot. I had a good season individually … I just thought there’d be other places for me where I could be happier as a person and a player.”

Brown sat out this past season due to NCAA rules, and he spent the year sharpening his game and getting better. Now, he’s contending on the leaderboard of one of Austin’s biggest tournaments.

The potential of his game was on full display on Saturday at Lions, and he sits only three off the lead heading into Sunday’s second round.

“I haven’t played in this thing in four years,” Brown said. “I’m just so happy and excited to be out here playing again in this because it’s one of my favorite tournaments in Austin and in Texas. It’s always an honor to be out here. The competition is always a lot of fun, and there’s a lot of local guys who I know. So we always have a good time out here.”

Alex Ellis shot a 9-under 62, including three eagles on the card, and holds a three-shot lead after the first round of the Firecracker Open. For the full leaderboard, click here: leaderboard.htm

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Alex Ellis Fires Career Low At Muny, Grabs 1st Round Lead in Firecracker Open

Alex Ellis, a former Westlake High School Golfer and currently an assistant golf coach at the College of Charleston had a pleasant homecoming.  He fired  a nine under par 62 to grab a three shot lead after the first round of the 2018 Firecracker Open.  Ellis started the round with four pars then birdied 5, 8 and nine to turn in three under par.  A good opening nine in the blustery winds.

And, in concert with the Firecracker tournament theme, the fireworks unfolded on the back nine.  Ellis drove the par four 10th green and rolled in an eagle putt.  He then birdied 11 and made another eagle on the par five 12th.  After a bogey on the par three 13th, he made another eagle on the par five 14th, and then closed with four pars to shoot 29 on the back nine.  33-29=62.

Post round conversations with him and other players indicated he had chances to add more birdies on the final four holes,  but had to settle for 62.  He said it was his career best at Muny and really had not been playing that well coming into the tournament.  Go figure….  Ellis won the Firecracker Open in 2011 and would love to add a second title to his resume.

Trevor Brown and Michael Rome shot six under par 65 to trail Ellis by three shots. Seger Howell and Reid Davenport shot 66 to trail by four. Dalton Hankamer and Tyler Ware shot four under par.

Full field results are listed below.  There will be a 36 hole cut.

Pos Players Today Thru Total R1 R2 R3 Total
1 Alex Ellis -9 F -9 62 62
T2 Trevor Brown -6 F -6 65 65
T2 Micheal Rome -6 F -6 65 65
T4 Seger Howell -5 F -5 66 66
T4 Reid Davenport -5 F -5 66 66
T6 Dalton Hankamer -4 F -4 67 67
T6 Tyler Ware -4 F -4 67 67
T8 Jake Hendrix -3 F -3 68 68
T8 Henrik Olsson -3 F -3 68 68
T8 Brian Noonan -3 F -3 68 68
T11 Gavin Trevino -2 F -2 69 69
T11 Kellen Gray -2 F -2 69 69
T11 Josh Luongo -2 F -2 69 69
T14 Cade Osgood -1 F -1 70 70
T14 Brandon Hoff -1 F -1 70 70
T14 Peach Reynolds -1 F -1 70 70
T14 Jakeb Mikel -1 F -1 70 70
T14 Jeff Wilson -1 F -1 70 70
T19 Rishi Kejriwal E F E 71 71
T19 Trace Martin E F E 71 71
T19 Thomas Bockholt E F E 71 71
T19 Nicholas Cristea E F E 71 71
T19 Nathan Shilling E F E 71 71
T19 Robert Shields E F E 71 71
T25 Drew Dewald +1 F +1 72 72
T25 Carter Patterson +1 F +1 72 72
T25 Jay Reynolds +1 F +1 72 72
T25 Patrick Shanahan +1 F +1 72 72
T25 Morgan Powell +1 F +1 72 72
T25 Alec Spencer +1 F +1 72 72
T25 Alex Woodward +1 F +1 72 72
T25 Jake Ezell +1 F +1 72 72
T25 Dallas Hankamer +1 F +1 72 72
T25 Jonathan Alden +1 F +1 72 72
T25 Matthew Denton +1 F +1 72 72
T36 Sam Wallach +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Chris Hartenstein +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Matthew Jungman +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Garrett White +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Sadie Englemann +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Mitchel Fagan +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Nick Erickson +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Adam Wennerstrom +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Logan Boatner +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Mike Grindle +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Miles Hindsman +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Kody King +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Lucas Mylet +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Nick Palmo +2 F +2 73 73
T36 Jeffrey Lanier +2 F +2 73 73
T51 Trey Bosco +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Jeff Shell +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Terry Hutchens +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Randy Zimmerhanzel +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Salvador Chavarria +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Coleman Houston +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Hayes Haydon +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Payne Wilkie +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Winn Smith +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Steven Bright +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Steve Paterson +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Matthew Wahl +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Robert Specjal +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Jacob Rockefeller +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Randy Reynolds +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Bret Darter +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Major Gammill +3 F +3 74 74
T51 Thomas Holtzman +3 F +3 74 74
T69 Jeremy Williams +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Nick Costello +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Rob Albertson +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Dalton Doerr +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Taylor Adams +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Chandler Roberts +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Caleb Schwertner +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Kiley Hardy +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Gene Black +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Tim Hamm +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Hudson Ross +4 F +4 75 75
T69 Tucker Tovar +4 F +4 75 75
T81 Mark Baldree +5 F +5 76 76
T81 William Dietlein +5 F +5 76 76
T81 Rob Ormand +5 F +5 76 76
T81 Jackson Goolsby +5 F +5 76 76
T81 Corey Rodriguez +5 F +5 76 76
T81 Matt Smith +5 F +5 76 76
T81 Michael Goldwater +5 F +5 76 76
T81 Seth Stuart +5 F +5 76 76
T81 Trevor Rismon +5 F +5 76 76
T81 Thomas Critch +5 F +5 76 76
T91 John Perez +6 F +6 77 77
T91 Austin Covert +6 F +6 77 77
T91 Brian Davis +6 F +6 77 77
T91 Lucas Garza +6 F +6 77 77
T91 Gabriel Vallejo +6 F +6 77 77
T91 Bobby Hughes +6 F +6 77 77
T91 Monte Glosson +6 F +6 77 77
T91 Trenton Leffingwell +6 F +6 77 77
T99 Duncan Campbell +7 F +7 78 78
T99 James Rollins +7 F +7 78 78
T99 Ben Carter +7 F +7 78 78
T99 Shane Morris +7 F +7 78 78
T103 Nathan Kreutz +8 F +8 79 79
T103 Justin Skorheim +8 F +8 79 79
T103 Taylor Greenway +8 F +8 79 79
T103 Kraig Zimmerhanzel +8 F +8 79 79
T103 Lance Kuhns +8 F +8 79 79
T103 Joe Ramos +8 F +8 79 79
109 Cyrus Turner +9 F +9 80 80
T110 Jacob Lantz +10 F +10 81 81
T110 Jacob Aden +10 F +10 81 81
T110 Jake Mulholland +10 F +10 81 81
T110 Mike Allen +10 F +10 81 81
T110 Nick Ratliff +10 F +10 81 81
T115 Nickolai Esau +11 F +11 82 82
T115 Christopher Barry +11 F +11 82 82
T115 Steven Eckelman +11 F +11 82 82
T115 Gerry Diaz Sr +11 F +11 82 82
T119 Kevin Marshburn +12 F +12 83 83
T119 Matt Wernecke +12 F +12 83 83
121 Austin Firth +18 F +18 89 89
Missed Cut
DQ Ryan McGinley
JWD Jake Goodman -2
* denotes a 10th hole start

x

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Westlake’s Jack Evans takes first at Joe Balander Junior

Pictured left to right: Christian Eidenschink, Tyler Blonder and Jack Evans.

Last week, Westlake High School’s Jack Evans and McNeil High School’s Christian Eidenschink were part of the contingent that braved the rain at the Felix George Junior.

The weather got so nasty that day at Morris Williams Golf Course that the tournament had to be abruptly shortened to nine holes, and golfers who had already made the turn were immediately pulled off the course. Evans and Eidenschink played in the same group that day.

On Wednesday at Jimmy Clay Golf Course in the Joe Balander Junior, Evans and Eidenschink were back in the same group together, this time welcomed by sunny skies and deservedly so after last week’s downpour at “Mo Willy.” But the conditions on Wednesday were not necessarily much easier as the wind whipped and gusted for most of the round.

Evans still preferred it.

“Not as tough as playing in the rain,” said Evans, who will be a junior at Westlake. “Greens were faster, which is nice.”

Jack Evans

Evans got off to a good start on Wednesday and made the turn with a 3-over 39 on the front. But he struggled on the back nine with the flat stick and shot a 45 to finish with an 84. Still, it was enough for Evans to best his competitors as he won the boys’ 16-18 division by three strokes.

“I feel like I played well,” Evans said. “Still didn’t play as well as I thought I could’ve on the back nine. But I’m happy with it.”

Evans plays an approach shot.

In the boys’ 13-15 flight, Drew Wagner and Bobby Lane each fired 5-over 77s to finish in a tie atop the leaderboard. But after a scorecard playoff, Wagner was awarded the win.

Megan Schultz picked up her second straight victory in the girls’ 9-10 division after carding a 1-over 37 for nine holes, and Jack Lorenz shot a 3-over 39 to take first place in the boys’ 11-12 flight.

For the full results from Wednesday’s Joe Balander Junior, click here: leaderboard.htm

The next Austin junior tournament is the Roy Kizer Junior slated for July 5 at Roy Kizer Golf Course.

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2018 Firecracker Open field set after second qualifier

Wes Hansen, Jake Ezell and Kody King attempt to move a rock on the 16th hole at Lions Municipal Golf Course during Saturday’s Firecracker Open qualifier.

It’s no secret that Lions Municipal Golf Course may not be around much longer. The elephant in the room is that the course’s home tournament, the Firecracker Open, which has been around since 1946 and is one of the premier amateur golf tournaments in Central Texas, could be played at “Muny” next weekend for the final time.

That made qualifying for this year’s tournament that much more meaningful. Wes Hansen, whose father worked as an assistant pro at Lions back in the day, knew how important it was for him to make it into the Firecracker’s field next weekend.

But Hansen struggled to a 7-over 78 on Saturday at the second qualifier at Lions, missing out on the cut by four shots.

“I really wanted to qualify. One of the things that’s kind of, I guess, where you feel the pressure is you really want to play in this tournament because it means a lot to Austin, and Muny may not be around next year,” said Hansen, a 35-year-old realtor. “So part of it is kind of sentimental for me and I’m sure a lot of people in regards to wanting to participate in this event.”

Wes Hansen

Hansen had a steady round going through 11 holes. He birdied the par-4 11th to get back to even par on the day. From then on it was a grind just to get back to the clubhouse. He double bogeyed the par-5 12th to fall to 2 over. After consecutive pars at the 13th and 14th, Hansen played his last four holes in 5 over.

The most costly moment for Hansen came at the tough par-4 16th when his third shot came to rest right behind a big rock left of the green. Hansen and his playing partners attempted to move the rock, but they were unsuccessful in doing so. He was forced to take an unplayable penalty, and he walked off the green with a triple bogey on the card.

“After that poor break, it was just tough to overcome,” Hansen said.

Hansen admitted after the round on Saturday that he felt “distracted” by the pressure of qualifying for this event. That, combined with his recent high level of play, made qualifying even more paramount for him. Hansen tied for third earlier this month at the Mid-Am Match Play at Jimmy Clay Golf Course, and he said he felt good about his form heading into Saturday.

Although Hansen won’t be at next weekend’s Firecracker, his playing partners on Saturday, Kody King and Jake Ezell, will be. King fired an even-par 71 to finish in a tie for ninth, while Ezell grinded his way to a 2-over 73.

Ezell, an alumnus of Lake Travis High School and Charleston Southern University, did not have his A-game for most of the day. He bogeyed three of his first four holes and was fighting his swing during the round. Ezell said afterward that he’s made some swing changes recently and is still trying to get comfortable with them on the course.

“It was a struggle,” Ezell said. “I don’t think I felt comfortable over a single golf shot. (I was) just trying to get it into the house.”

Jake Ezell

Tyler Ware finished Saturday’s qualifier as the leader after firing a 5-under 66. Jeff Wilson finished second and one shot back after a 4-under 67. For the full results from the second qualifier for the 2018 Firecracker Open, click here: leaderboard.htm

The 2018 Firecracker Open will be June 30-July 2 at Lions Municipal Golf Course.

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Rain shortens Felix George Junior to nine holes

Players battle the rain during the Felix George Junior on Wednesday at Morris Williams Golf Course.

The rain was forecasted primarily for the afternoon, but Mother Nature had other ideas.

What started out as a cool, overcast day turned into a downpour on Wednesday morning at Morris Williams Golf Course, forcing the Felix George Junior tournament to be shortened to only nine holes. Golfers who had already made the turn were summoned quickly back to the clubhouse as the rain continued to beat down. Those who still had to complete their front nines did so.

Just before 10 a.m., less than three hours after the tournament at “Mo Willy” began, it was already over.

Back at the clubhouse, the juniors appeared content to be out of the rain, but some would’ve been just fine with completing the 18-hole round.

“I didn’t mind it,” said Christian Eidenschink, a 17-year-old from McNeil High School.

His fellow McNeil teammate, Landry Caver, didn’t seem to mind the rain either. Caver played alongside Eidenschink and Westlake High School’s Jack Evans.

Landry Caver, left, won the boys’ 16-18 division with a 4-over 40.

“I’m actually kind of used to playing in the rain, so it wasn’t really all that hard for me,” Caver said. “But had we still been out there, it (the club) probably would’ve slipped out of my hands.”

Caver turned in a solid nine-hole total of 4-over 40 to lead the boys’ 16-18 division in the tournament. Caver said this came after playing one of his worst rounds ever on Monday.

Perhaps the most impressive story of the morning was 10-year-old Megan Schultz from Austin Country Club. Schultz carded a blistering 4-under 32 to run away with first place in the girls’ 9-10 division.

Megan Schultz, center, won the girls’ 9-10 division with a 4-under 32.

All four boys who competed in the 9-10 division posted impressive scores as well. Carson Tan, Benjamin Cates and Kaden Frierson fired even-par 36s, and William Mangione posted a 1-over 37.

In the boys’ 11-12 division, Trent Mierl was the only one to break 40, carding a 3-over 39. His brother, Trevor, also shot a 39 and was the only one in the boys’ 13-15 division to break 40.

For the full results from Wednesday’s Felix George Junior at Morris Williams, click here: leaderboard.htm

The next Austin junior tournament is the Joe Balander Junior, which will take place Wednesday, June 27, at Jimmy Clay Golf Course.

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Texas-ex Wennerstrom shakes off rust, impresses at Firecracker qualifier

Adam Wennerstrom watches his chip shot from off the ninth green at Lions Municipal Golf Course during Monday’s Firecracker Open qualifier.

Adam Wennerstrom didn’t need long to shake the rust off.

Roughly four years removed from having played in a competitive golf tournament, Wennerstrom fired a 2-under 69 to finish in a tie for third and one shot back at the first qualifier for the Firecracker Open on Monday at Lions Municipal Golf Course.

“Today, the goal is just to qualify,” Wennerstrom said. “You’re just keeping everything out in front of you. Keep it simple.”

Wennerstrom, who played his college golf at the University of Texas, was on the team when the Longhorns won the national championship in 2012. It was a monumental moment in UT’s proud golf history. The program claimed its third national title and its first since legends Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite led the Longhorns to back-to-back wins in the early 1970s.

That championship team in 2012 is best remembered for having three-time major winner and world No. 5-ranked Jordan Spieth on it.

Six years have passed since then, and the 28-year-old Wennerstrom, a Lake Travis High School alumnus, is now the CEO of Austin-based ACW Real Estate Solutions. But his passion for playing competitive golf still looms large.

“I wanted a little break after college and after playing professionally. It’s kind of feeling about the right time,” Wennerstrom said. “The one thing that’s kind of got me motivated about playing amateur golf is that you can go win the U.S. Mid-Am and you got a ticket to the Masters. So that’s kind of the ultimate goal.”

Wennerstrom gained his amateur status back in March and now has his sights set on making a name for himself in the Austin amateur golf circuit. He said he wants to play in plenty of local events this summer and see where his game is at, then eventually start to play in bigger tournaments.

“You have some opportunities to really put your name out there and get back,” Wennerstrom said. “I want to get back into Austin golf. I feel like I kind of got lost in the fray over a couple years. Like hey guys, I’m still a good player. I’m still in Austin, and I want to be part of some of these things. I want to be a part of that conversation again.”

Monday’s Firecracker qualifier at “Muny” was Wennerstrom’s first audition back into the Austin golf scene conversation, and he certainly made the most of it.

Wennerstrom played his first 10 holes in 1 over and was in fine position. But then he started to turn it on. He made three consecutive birdies to vault him to 2 under on his round.

“That really settled me in,” Wennerstrom said. “It’s like, OK, now I can go after it. The golf course is gettable for sure. You hit good golf shots, you can take advantage of it.”

At the difficult par-4 16th, a hole that the legendary Ben Hogan once claimed didn’t have a fairway, Wennerstrom’s approach shot landed just short of the green. But he failed to get up and down and made a bogey to fall back to 1 under.

Wennerstrom rebounded at the short par-4 18th, though. His tee shot settled just short of the green, and this time Wennerstrom got up and down for birdie to get back to 2 under.

“I like where (my game) is,” Wennerstrom said. “Just overall, I responded really well to a couple tough spots, gave myself a lot of good opportunities. I feel like I can put a really good number out at the Firecracker and give (myself) a chance. And ultimately, if you’re an Austin golfer, you want to put your name on that trophy.”

For the full results from Monday’s Firecracker Open qualifier, click here:

The 2018 Firecracker Open takes place June 30-July 2 at Lions Municipal Golf Course.

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