Knox, Bellendir and Diaz Win at the Fall Challenge
Briefly: Austin’s Dylan Knox wins the Boys 15-18 Division in a five-hole playoff, after finishing at 6-under par 138 for the tournament. Coppell’s Alicia Bellendir races away from the field for a six-shot victory with rounds of 67-70 to win at 7-under par 137 overall. Del Rio’s Isaiah Diaz wins the Boys 14 & Under Division in a one-hole playoff after rounds of 67-69 for 8-under par 136 total.
Champions: Knox started the day six shots off the lead after an opening round 71. He got off to a blistering start, making six birdies on the front nine, including four in a row from #6 – #9, to go out in 30. Knox would close with a 37 on the back and fire a second round 67 to get into a three-man playoff. Knox would take home the hard-fought victory after five playoff holes.
In the Girls Division, Alicia Bellendir picked up right where she left off yesterday. Bellendir opened the round with a three-shot lead and pushed it to four with birdie on her third hole of the day. She stumbled with 3 bogeys in the middle of her round but closed strong with four birdies on the second nine for a second round 2-under par 70. Bellendir finished the championship with a six-shot victory and a final score of 7-under 137 overall.
Diaz started the day three shots of the lead in the final group. He was cruising at 2-under early in the round before suffering a double bogey on #18, his 9th hole of the day. Diaz fought back with three birdies on his closing nine to secure his spot in the playoff and eventually came out on top. Diaz finished the event at 8-under par 136 overall.
After finishing in a three-way playoff in the Boys Division, Tomball’s Jace Beverly and Austin’s William Mangione finished tied for second at 6-under par 138 overall. Keller’s Gable Roach finished fourth at 5-under par 139, and Tomball’s Rhett Turner finished fifth at 4-under par 140. In the Girls Division, Lumberton’s Annie Whitehead and McKinney’s Adrielle Miller finished tied for second at 1-under par 143. In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Gunter’s Austin Anderson finishes runner-up after coming up short in the playoff. Dallas’s Jack Brown rounds out the top three in third place at 1-under par 143.
Golf Course: The Wilderness Golf Club, located in Lake Jackson, TX is hosting its first Fall Challenge. Designed by Jeffrey Brauer and opened in 2004, the course is bordered by the Brazos River and three wildlife sanctuaries. The property covers more than 230 acres and offers a sense of seclusion and harmony with nature. The Wilderness features holes that weave through and around hardwood forests, streams, marshes, and protected wetlands, with large contoured green complexes guarded by deep-faced bunkers. The course will play to 6,942 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,439 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and 5,926 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.
Tournament Format: The Fall Challenge is a 36-hole stroke play event with players ages 12-18 that have an active membership within the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. The 84-player field is split into a Boys Division, Girls Division and a Boys 14 & Under Division.
Weather: Temperatures again began in the low to mid 60s and rose to the mid-80’s. Light winds in the morning hours picked up to just under 10 mph in the early afternoon.
Player of the Year Points: Dylan Knox, Alicia Bellendir and Isaiah Diaz all earned 1000 points in the Player of the Year Point Race. Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division. Learn more about the LJT Player of the Year Points, click here.
What’s Next: The Legends Junior Tour heads to Corpus Christi for the James A. Ragan Memorial on October 12-13. The 84-player field will take on Corpus Christi Country Club as players continue to position themselves for Player of the Year and Jackie Burke Cup team places. For more information on the Fall Challenge, click here.