George Hannon Junior Invitational Presented by Texas Mutual Set for Aug. 12-13
ADDISON — The 15th edition of the George Hannon Junior Invitational presented by Texas Mutual is scheduled for Aug. 12-13 at the Golf Club of UT. The 36-hole event is one of the most prestigious junior tournaments in the state.
“We set out to host one of the most prestigious junior golf tournaments in the state,” said Randi Long, managing director of the Hannon Cup Association. “With the help of Texas Mutual and the Legends Junior Tour, we have accomplished that and get to see the best players in the state and surrounding areas compete for this historic title.”
Texas Mutual Insurance Company is one of the state’s leading workers’ compensation providers. Jeremiah Bentley, Texas Mutual vice president of marketing and customer engagement, said the company is proud to be associated with this year’s championship.
“We’re excited to be partnering with the Hannon Cup Association and everything they stand for,” Bentley said. “As a leading workers’ compensation provider, we want to partner with an association aiming to lead junior tournaments in Texas, and I believe we’ve achieved that.”
George Hannon, born in Kemp, Texas, had a 59-year PGA career, including an 18-year term as the University of Texas men’s golf coach. His career at UT included NCAA titles in 1971 and 1972, as well as 12 Southwest Conference championships. Hannon coached legends such as Ben Crenshaw, Tom Kite, Mark Brooks, Phil Blackmar, Brandel Chamblee, Warren Chancellor, Rik Massengale, and Paul Thomas. He was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 1991 and received the Golf Coaches Association’s 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award.
“This is such a great tournament,” said Tournament Manager Harris Milson. “A lot of Texas golfers know who George Hannon was, and it’s an honor to host a tournament that represents such a great man.”
The Legends Junior Tour has conducted the George Hannon Junior Invitational since the Hannon Cup Association created the event in 2009. The tournament brings together the top 90 boys and girls from around the state, competing in the Boys 15-18, Girls 12-18, and
Boys 14 & Under divisions.
Players will compete at the UT Golf Club in Austin. Designed by Bettie and Russell, the par-71 course measures just over 7,400 yards and features the scenic beauty of the hill country. The course is home to the University of Texas men’s and women’s golf teams and has hosted the 2012 and 2022 NCAA Men’s Golf National Championships, NCAA Regional Championships, the Betsy Rawls Invitational, and TGA Major Championships, including the 99th Women’s Texas Amateur.
At the 2023 George Hannon Junior Invitational, Rhett O’Rear of Plano claimed victory in the Boys 15-18 Division. O’Rear shot a 5-under 137, finishing four strokes ahead of the field to win his first title of the 2023 season.
In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Aadi Parmar continued his strong 2023 season by winning the division title with a 1-under 141. Parmar, who had already won a title earlier in the season, added another trophy to his collection.
In the Girls 12-18 Division, Arkansas Women’s Golf Commit Swetha Sathish finished with a 2-over 144, two strokes ahead of the competition. This was Sathish’s first Legends Junior Tour title of the 2023 season.
The George Hannon Junior Invitational is ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard, with the top half of each division earning points toward the LJT Player of the Year Standings. The top finishers in the Boys 15-18 and Girls 12-18 divisions will also earn AJGA Performance Stars.
Players in the George Hannon Junior Invitational are members of the Texas Junior Golf
Alliance, a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association and the Southern and Northern Texas PGA Sections. The alliance provides junior golfers with top-tier competition across the state and a path to gain experience and grow throughout their junior golfing careers.
For more information on the George Hannon Junior Invitational presented by Texas Mutual, click here.