Vo, Vivier and Guan Win George Hannon Junior Invitational
Briefly: Keaton Vo of Austin wins the Boys 15-18 Division at the George Hannon Junior Invitational presented by Texas Mutual following a final round 6-under-par 65 at The University of Texas Golf Club. Nicole Vivier of Austin cards a final round 2-under-par 69 and wins the Girls 12-18 Division, while Irving’s Henry Guan captures the Boys 14 & Under title.
Leaderboard:
Boys 15-18
1) Keaton Vo Austin 68-65 | 133
2) Trevor Algya Highland Village 72-67 | 139
3) Andrew Tan Austin 71-69 | 140
Girls 12-18
1) Nicole Vivier Austin 70-69 | 139
2) Darrelyn Webster Austin 73-68 | 141
3) Alexa Saldana Naucalpan 69-73 | 142
Boys 14 & Under
1) Henry Guan Irving 73-68 | 141
2) Trenton Mierl Austin 73-69 | 142
3) Rhett O’Rear Plano 72-72 | 144
Golf Course: The University of Texas Golf Club was built in 2003 and designed by Bechtol Russell Golf Course Design. The par-71 championship golf course stretches across the Texas Hill Country and overlooks Lake Austin. The 7,412-yard layout offers challenging shots and some of the best views in Austin. It is the home of the University of Texas Men’s and Women’s Golf Teams and has played host to the George Hannon Junior Invitational presented by Texas Mutual four times. The final round was contested at 6,900 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division; 5,842 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division and 6,301 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division.
Weather: The temperature reached 102 degrees with winds reaching 10 mph out of the southwest.
Winner’s Info: Keaton Vo of Austin began the final round one stroke ahead of the field. The 2022 University of Texas commit never lost the lead and in fact, lengthened that lead on Tuesday. His 6-under 65 in the final round was the lowest score of the tournament and he won his division by six strokes.
“It was a great round,” Vo said. “I knew starting a little late, it was going to be a little more windy and if I can just keep it in play, I will be able to give myself some birdie looks, and I converted on those today which was nice.”
The junior at Chaparral Star Academy had a bogey-free final round. He carded six birdies, three on each side, and finished with a par on the par-4 eighteenth to get to 9-under 133 overall. Last Month, Vo verbally committed to the University of Texas Class for 2022 and he is excited to continue to play his home track in the future.
“This win is huge for me,” Vo said. “It’s an honor to be a Longhorn and I kind of had to protect my territory this week, which was what I did, and I am just happy to add another title to my record book and to UT.”
In the Girls 12-18 Division, Nicole Vivier of Austin took care of business in her final tournament as a junior golfer. The incoming Southern Methodist University freshman fired a bogey-free 69 in the final round to win by two strokes.
“It means a lot, Vivier said. “It’s just a great way to cap off my junior career and it gives me some good momentum going into college. I am just really excited, and I know that I will bring good golf into college.”
Vivier, a local Austinite, said she was in full control and played “boring golf” on Tuesday leaving herself a lot of easy pars. She was the only player in the Girls Division to post both rounds under- par.
“I hit my wedges really well, so I knew if I just put myself in the fairway, I was going to get inside 15-feet every time and get myself looks at birdie,” Vivier said. “If I missed the birdie I was like a foot away.”
In his debut on the Legends Junior Tour, Henry Guan of Irving won the Boys 14 & Under Division. He carded a 2-over 73 in Round 1 and trailed by one stroke heading into Tuesday’s round. The 12-year-old carded four birdies in the final round, bringing him to 1-under 141 overall to win by one stroke.
“This is my first Legends Junior Tour (event), so to actually win your first is almost like an accomplishment and a dream to actually win it on this course where Jordan Spieth played at,” Guan said.
In Contention: Trevor Algya of Highland Village carded a final round 4-under 67 and finished solo second and six shots back in the Boys 15-18 Division. Andrew Tan of Austin finished solo third at 2-under 140. Sam Dossey of Austin finished solo fourth at 1-under 141. Andrew Spaulding of Spring, Jay Pabin of Lucas, Truett Burns of Fredericksburg and Key Coker of Dallas all finished tied fifth at even-par 142.
Darrelyn Webster of Austin carded a final round 3-under 68 and finished solo second and two shots back in the Girls 12-18 Division. Alexa Saldana of Mexico finished solo third at even-par 142. Gabbi Bentancourt of Frisco and Mimi Burton of Austin rounded out the top-5 at 2-over 144.
Trenton Mierl of Austin, the 2019 George Hannon Junior Invitational 14 & Under Division champion, finished second at even par overall. Rhett O’Rear of Plano finished solo third at 2-over 144. Bowen Ballis of Shenandoah and Daniel Macias of Austin rounded out the top-5 at 4-over 146 in the Boys 14 & Under Division.
What’s Next: The Legends Junior Tour season continues with the Volunteers of America Classic Girls’ Match Play Championship at Old American Golf Club in The Colony September 4-6. You can view the entire Legends Junior Tour calendar here.
More Info: The Legends Junior Tour extends its sincere appreciation to the staff and members of UT Golf Club, the George Hannon Society and our volunteers for their integral part in making the George Hannon Junior Invitational presented by Texas Mutual a memorable and successful event. For more information on the George Hannon Junior Invitational presented by Texas Mutual, click here.