100 Years of Champions: The Texas Junior Amateur

Every champion starts somewhere. For the past 100 years, the Texas Junior Amateur has been that starting point for some of golf’s brightest talents—a place where potential first meets pressure, and where future stars begin to separate themselves. Generations of young players have arrived with promise, but it’s here, under the weight of competition, where that promise begins to take shape.

As the championship celebrates its 100th playing, the milestone offers more than just a look back at names engraved on a trophy. It’s a chance to trace the early footsteps of players who would go on to leave their mark on the game at the collegiate, professional, and even international levels. Long before leaderboards, television coverage, and major championships, there was this moment—early tee times, long summer rounds, and a final putt that meant everything. For many, it was the first real glimpse of what might be possible.

The tournament itself has evolved over the decades, but its purpose has remained remarkably consistent: identify, challenge, and reveal the next generation of talent.

Not every champion’s journey followed the same path. Some built decorated college careers. Others climbed all the way to the professional ranks. A few became household names. Many stayed connected to the game in ways that still shape Texas golf today. But all of them share a common thread: at one point, they were Texas juniors who proved themselves on this stage.

While it would take far more than a single story to capture the full scope of 100 champions, this milestone provides the perfect opportunity to spotlight a select group whose victories at the Texas Junior Amateur were just the beginning. These are the players who didn’t just win—they launched.

• Ben Crenshaw
  • 1967, 1969 Junior Texas Amateur Champion
    • 19 PGA Tour Victories, 23 Worldwide
    • 2x Masters Champion
    • 1999 Ryder Cup Captain
    • 4x Ryder Cup Member
    • 3x NCAA Individual Champion
    • 1972 Texas Amateur Champion
• Scott Verplank
  • 1981 Texas Junior Amateur Champion
    • 5x PGA Tour Winner
    • 2x Ryder Cup Member
    • 2002 Ben Hogan Award Winner
    • 1998 PGA Tour Comeback Player of the Year
    • 1986 Haskins Award Winner
• Jordan Spieth
  • 2006 Boys 14 & Under Division Texas Junior Amateur Champion
    • PGA Tour Professional
    • 2012 Team D1 NCAA National Champion
    • 3x Major Winner
    • 2015 FedEx Cup Champion
    • 13x PGA Tour Winner
• Parker Coody
  • 2013 Boys 14 & Under Texas Junior Amateur Champion
    • 2022 Team D1 Men’s Golf National Champion
    • 2022 Individual D1 Men’s Golf Runner-Up
    • PGA Tour Canada Champion
    • Currently on Korn Ferry Tour
• Jase Summy
  • 2017 Boys 14 & Under Texas Junior Amateur Champion
    • Plays at University of Oklahoma
    • 2x Collegiate Champion
    • Top 5 PGA Tour U Rankings
    • 50^th U.S. Walker Cup Participant
    • 123^rd Western Amateur Champion
• Hailee Cooper
  • 2014 Texas Junior Amateur Girls’ Division Champion
    • 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Champion
    • 2015 Junior Solheim Cup Participant
    • 2016 Junior Ryder Cup Participant
    • 2019 Big 12 Freshman of the Year
    • 3x Annika Women’s All Pro Tour Champion
    • Multiple Top 10’ on Epson Tour
    • Earned LPGA Tour Card for 2026
• Sadie Englemann
  • 2017 Texas Junior Amateur Girls’ Division Champion
    • 2x NCAA Team Champion
    • Pac-12 Team Champion
    • 2023 East Lake Cup Champion
    • 18 Career Top-10 Collegiate Finishes
• Hailey Jones
  • 2015 and 2016 Texas Junior Amateur Girls’ Division Champion
    • 2021 NCAA Individual Champion (Dale McNamara Invitaitonal)
    • 2024 Texas State Invitational Champion
    • 2x Annika Women’s All Pro Tour Champion