Leaders: Esteban Gonzalez of McAllen took the lead after the second round of the 97th West Texas Amateur with a 2-under 70. Gonzalez got off to a slow start on the front nine but turned things around on the back, making birdie in his final three holes. He leads the field by two strokes heading into Sunday’s final round.
In the Senior Division, John Pierce of San Antonio surged up the leaderboard with a 5-under 67. Pierce carded two birdies on the front nine and added four birdies and an eagle on the back. He’ll look to claim the title and add to an already impressive amateur golf résumé.
In the Super Senior Division, Dave Davis of Saginaw maintained his lead after an even-par second round. Davis, who won the 10th Texas Super Senior Amateur at Live Oak Golf Club in Abilene, holds a two-shot advantage and will aim to capture his second title of the season on Sunday.
In Contention: Chasing Gonzalez after two rounds are Hunter Welch of Wolfforth and Shoichiro Kato of Arlington. Welch, a collegiate golfer at Midland College, carded a strong 3-under 69 to keep himself in the title hunt. Kato, who shared the lead after Round 1, shot an even-par 72 to remain near the top of the leaderboard. Jackson Hymer of San Antonio sits in solo fourth at 6-under 138 after firing a 4-under 68. The Sam Houston State University golfer put together a strong second round to stay in contention. One of the standout performances of the day in the Championship Division came from Colin Leonard of Ballinger, who jumped 34 spots on the leaderboard after a 6-under 66.
In the Senior Division, Mike Booker of Houston remains in solo second after posting a 2-under 70. Booker carded a birdie and an eagle on his final two holes to make a timely move before the final round. Sitting in third is John Stollenwerck of Dallas, who shot a 1-under 71 and trails by four shots in what’s shaping up to be a tight race.
In the Super Senior Division, Mark Johnson of Kingsland holds solo second after posting a second straight 73. Johnson trails Davis by two shots heading into Sunday. Tied for third are Steven Trafton of Georgetown and Henry Coffman of Mansfield, both at 3-over for the tournament and three shots back.
Golf Course: Abilene Country Club was established in 1921 and has served as a private club for families across five generations. Located in Abilene, the club features both a North and South Course, offering a variety of recreational amenities and services. The South Course has hosted several TGA and USGA events, including the recent 39th Texas Mid-Amateur, won by Ryan O’Rear, and a 2025 U.S. Open First Stage Qualifier.
Weather: For the second consecutive day, temperatures in the morning welcomed players in the mid-70s and mild winds. As the morning wave wrapped up play and the afternoon wave got ready to be sent off, temperatures climbed into the low 90s before peaking at 95 degrees for the day, and winds stayed consistent around 12-15 mph and gusts reaching 20-21 mph.
Tournament History: The West Texas Amateur is a 144-player tournament across three divisions. This Regional Event is open to all residents of Texas and has boasted some amazing past champions such as Charles Coody, Billy Maxwell, Bob Estes, and Alex Moon. This year’s event saw more than 300 signups.
TGA Regional Series: The TGA Regional Series is made up of four events for each region of North and South Texas. There is a Regional Four-Ball, Mid-Amateur, Senior Amateur, and Amateur for both the North and South. The West Texas Amateur also serves as an event in the Regional Series and is open to any players in the state of Texas who meet eligibility.
What’s Next: After the conclusion of Round 2, each division was cut in half, with 43 players moving on in the Championship Division, 21 players in the Senior Division and 11 in the Super Senior Division. The third round of the West Texas Amateur is set to begin at 7:30 am on Sunday, July 20. The Championship Division will go off No.1 tee while the Senior and Super Senior Divisions will go off No.10.
To view Round Two Results, click here. For more information on the West Texas Amateur, click here.