Poe, Alvarado, and Lieu Lead North Texas Classic
Briefly: Charlie Poe out of Austin, Texas leads after Round 1 in the Boys Division after posting a 1-under-par 69. In the Girls Division, Zayley Alvarado out of Midland shoots a 1-over 71 to take the solo lead going in to Round 2, while Dallas native Theodore Lieu is currently setting the pace in the Boys 14 & Under Division at solid 3-under par.
The Boys Division features a crowded leaderboard, with seven players tied at even-par 70—just one stroke off the lead. This group includes Luke Alford, Cullen Jerke, Austin McCollum, Logan Houl, Luke An, Kaleb Orshalick, and William Ballotta. With 19 players sitting within three strokes of the lead, the race for the title remains completely wide-open heading into Round 2.
In the Girls Division, LJT Girls Player of the Year points leader Lois Lee headlines a tight three-way tie for second place at even-par 72, alongside Elizabeth Bellendir and Annabelle Mitzel, just one stroke off the lead. Meanwhile, Madeline Buckley and Alivia Bravo remain firmly in contention heading into Round 2 after carding solid opening rounds of 74 to sit just three shots back.
In the Boys 14U Division, Reed Rodriguez of Missouri City sits in second place just one shot back after a 2-under 68. Celina’s Wyatt Brindza holds third after carding a 1-under 69, while Cole Murphy, Luke Langly, and Owen Layton remain right in contention following even-par rounds of 70.
Golf Course: Cedar Crest Golf Course is hosting the North Texas Classic for the second time in the tournament’s eleven-year history with the Legends Junior Tour. As an A.W. Tillinghast designed course, Cedar Crest is home of the 1927 PGA Championship and Golf Channel televised event, the Southwest Airlines Showcase. Tillinghast is also the creator behind Texas courses such Colonial Country Club, Lakewood Country Club, and Brook Hollow Golf Club. The course also hosted the Dallas Open in 1936 and the USGA Public Links Championship in 1954. Located in Southern Dallas, the par 70 golf course offers a challenge to the field, stretching out to 6,600 yards in the Boys Division, 6,100 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,600 yards in the Girls Division. Cedar Crest Golf Course is also home to the I AM a Golfer Foundation.
I AM a Golfer Foundation is committed to being a catalyst for community renewal and transformation in southern Dallas by delivering impactful programming, preserving the historic Cedar Crest Golf Course, and promoting inclusive access to the game of golf for youth and families. Through their junior golf program, they have introduced over 2,000 local kids to the sport, offering meaningful instruction and life-shaping experiences. The paid internship program has provided high school and college young adults with hands-on, career-building opportunities, while their scholarship initiative has awarded over $400,000 in college support to 46 deserving students. For more on their work and how you can get involved, visit www.iamagolfer.com.
Tournament Format: The North Texas Classic is a 36-hole stroke play event for players 12-18 years old. All players in the field are required to have an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The North Texas Classic kicks off the Fall Swing of the Legends Junior Tour schedule.
Weather: Morning temperatures started off in the mid-80s with a light dew covering the course. However, Temperatures rose quickly throughout the day and peaked at 100 as golfers battled through the heat.
Player of the Year Points: 1000 points in the 2026 Player of the Year Point Race presented by Huntington Bank are up for grabs this weekend at the North Texas Classic. Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division.
Texas Junior Golf Alliance: The Alliance is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, North Texas PGA, and South Texas PGA. The goal of the Alliance was to allow junior golfers a clear path to the best tournaments in Texas. Each of the tier-two organizations (STPGA, NTPGA) conduct events that serve as qualifiers into the statewide tier-one events run by the Legends Junior Tour (LJT). This allows players to compete in local events in which they can earn spots to play in statewide tournaments.
What’s Next: The Final Round is scheduled to begin at 7:30 am tomorrow morning off the 1st tee. To see the pairings for the Final Round, click here. For more information on the North Texas Classic, click here. To see all the scores from Cedar Crest Golf Course, click here.