Poe, Talarico, Diaz, and Loftin Lead at Jimmy Demaret
Burnet – Charlie Poe and Henry Talarico each shot an even-par 71 in the first round of the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic, leading the Boys 15-18 Division by one stroke heading into the final round at Delaware Springs. Isaiah Diaz holds a four-shot lead in the Boys 14 & Under Division after a 5-under 66 in the first round, while Krysta Loftin is leading the girl’s division shooting a 3-over 74.
Division Leaders: Austin’s Charlie Poe was first to tee off from the boy’s division, leading the field throughout the entirety of his round. Poe carded 4 bogeys and 4 birdies on the day. Talarico stuck around the top of the leaderboard all day, trading birdies and bogeys for his final score of even par. Del Rio’s Isaiah Diaz sits in solo first after shooting a 5-under round. Diaz carded an incredible 8 birdies on the day to create a lead of 4 shots over 2nd, and 9 shots over 3rd. Krysta Loftin of Pearland shot 3 birdies during her round, finishing at 3-over and 2 strokes ahead of 2nd place.
In Contention: In the Boys 15-18 Division, Fort Worth’s Parker Brown flirted with the lead all day, ending with a 1-over 72. In a packed leaderboard, Liberty Hill’s Sonny Figioli, Austin’s Carlos Castaneda Garza, Tyler’s David Green, Austin’s Thomas Ashy, and Farwell’s Cooper Nichols all show a 3-over 74 first round. The Boys 14 & Under Division, Austin’s Beckett McLaughlin sees himself in 2nd place, 4 behind the lead after carding a 70. Celina’s Wyatt Brindza sits in third after a 4-over 75. Tied for fourth with a score of 76 are Dallas’s Theodore Lieu and Leander’s Trevor Lane. Spring Branch’s Jordan Thomas and Houston’s Mason Hwang round out the top 7 tied for 6th, each shooting a 78 today. In the Girls 12-18 Southlake’s Stephanie DeMarco played solidly, shooting a 5-over 76. Laredo’s Alyssa Esparza is in third with a 78. Julia Hansen of Boerne sits in 4th with an 82.
Weather: The winter storm from the past week and a half has kept the course closed in preparation for Jimmy Demaret. The sun allowed most of the moisture on the ground to dry up by the first round. This Saturday morning brought frigid playing temperatures, with golfers teeing off in 30-degree weather. Gusts of wind throughout the day kept the players reminded of the cold atmosphere of today’s round. Finally, in the early afternoon, temperature rose to the mid-40’s, allowing for a brief stretch of pleasant weather. The weather is projected to get better on Sunday for the final round of the JDJC. Temperatures range from the mid-30’s in the morning, and low 50’s at the end of the round.
Course: Delaware Springs Golf Course is hosting the Jimmy Demaret for the second time in three years. The municipal course, owned by the city of Burnet, has hosted a multitude of LJT and TGA events in recent years. The course opened in 1992 and was designed by Dave Axland and Dan Proctor. It’s best known for its classic, minimalist approach. The course leans into the natural Hill Country landscape, uses elevation changes, strategic bunkering, and penalty areas to challenge players across all divisions. The course stretches out to 6,800 yards in the Boys 15-18 Division, 6,300 yards in the Boys 14 & Under Division and close to 5,900 yards in the Girls 12-18 Division.
Tournament Format: The Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic is a 36-hole stroke play event for players with an active membership with the Texas Junior Golf Alliance. Players ages 12-18 are split into three different divisions. The event is ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard, Golfweek and has AJGA Performance Stars that will be handed out to the top finishers in the Boys 15-18 and Girls divisions.
Player of the Year Points: 1000 points in the 2026 Player of the Year Point Race are up for grabs this weekend at the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic. Points are awarded at each tournament to the top half of each age division.
What’s Next: The final round of the Jimmy Demaret is set for Sunday, February 1, with tee times going off the No. 1 and 10 tees starting at 10:00 am. Pairings for Sunday are drawn according to score from the first round and can be found by clicking here.
About the LJT: The Legends Junior Tour is part of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance, which is a joint venture between the Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas PGA and Houston Golf Association. The Tour operates as part of the Texas Golf Association and its Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. Since its inception in 2005, the Tour has provided more than $300,000 to promote junior golf initiatives and exposure to the game to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity across the state.
To learn more about the Jimmy Demaret Junior Classic, click here.