Texas Father-Son Round One Recap
Mansfield – The race for the championship is already taking shape as the team of John and Drew Ironside and Patrick and Jackson Powers share the first-round lead in the Championship Division at 6-under par, with Mike and Connor Chisum and Luke and Kacy Groves just one stroke behind.
Team Ironside wasted no time making a statement early with an eagle on hole one by Drew Ironside. This spark gave the team the hot start they needed to linger around the top of the leaderboard and eventually hold the lead at the end of round one. John Ironside quickly followed with a pair of birdies on holes #3 and #6, with the team relying on his score for the next five holes following Drew’s eagle on one. Steady, mistake-free golf defined the remainder of the round as Team Ironside carded no bogeys and added two more birdies on the back nine to finish tied for the lead
Team Powers on the other hand took a different path to the top leaning heavily on Patrick Powers who carded a 64 on his own ball. His brilliant round of golf was highlighted by a blistering back nine that consisted of 6 total birdies for a score of 29. Patrick didn’t quite have as hot of a front nine but played consistently enough to shoot even par with one birdie and one bogey. The Powers will look to build on Patrick’s monstrous first day to remain atop after the second round.
Team Chisum overcame a slow start to remain still in the hunt, finishing one back from the leaders. Their day began with consecutive bogeys on the first two holes, but they quickly steadied the ship with a birdy on the third. The momentum shifted when an eagle ignited their round on the 18th hole before making the turn to their second nine. Conner would go on to card three more birdies on the back nine restoring their confidence and giving them a share of second place.
Luke and Kacy Groves similarly had 7 total birdies throughout their round with two bogeys, one on each nine. A very clean score of 5 under par puts them tied at second and eager to get after it tomorrow to chase the leaders.
Leaderboard | Wednesday Pairings
NET FLIGHTS UPDATE:
Hogan Flight – Jacob Bowen and Jackson Bowen lead the Hogan flight after a net 4-under par 66 in the first round. Contributions from both team members allowed for a steady round of golf for the pair. Marc and Mason Nelson along with Thomas and Blake Cruickshank sit T2 one stroke back from the leaders.
Nelson Flight – The Nelson Flight will be a fun one to keep tabs on as there are four teams tied at net 5-under par fighting for the top position. The teams include Scott and Jake Beard, Trip and Burl Hobson, Trey Rowe and Randy Mattingly, and Ron and Benjamin Ballard.
Crenshaw Flight – Sam Lyon and Carter Lyon shoot an immaculate net 7-under 63 in round one to lead by 3 strokes. William and Zach Bell sit in solo second with Mark and Jim LaRose in third (3-under par).
Kite Flight – A dominate performance by the team of Tim and Ted Watson gives them a 4-stroke lead over the field after carding a net 65 5-under par. Broun and George Stacy sit at net 1-under in solo second.
WEATHER: The championship division teed off early this morning with temperatures right around 75 degrees. The temperature steadily rose up to its peak at 1:30pm at 89 degrees serving for hot humid afternoon of play. Play was suspended at 2:58pm for lightning and rain in the area for a total of 58 minutes. Short spurts of rain then filled the later afternoon but play continued. Wind stayed mild all day, only reaching 9 mph towards the evening.
GOLF COURSE: Located in Mansfield TX, Walnut Creek Country Club is comprised of two championship-worthy golf courses. The Texas Father-Son is being held on the Pecan Course, designed by Don January, which is the club’s original course. Measuring 6,618 yards and playing to a par 70, the Pecan Course features a classic design that offers an excellent test for golfers of all skill levels. The back nine of the Pecan Course presents a particularly demanding challenge, testing every player’s shot-making ability as it plays into the prevailing southerly wind. Combined with the need for consistent execution, strong shot-making will undoubtedly be a key factor in determining the outcome of this exciting event.
FORMAT: The Championship Division consists of 32 teams. These teams will play four-ball stroke play in rounds one and two. After 36 holes, the Championship Division will be separated into two flights. The low 50% (and ties) will make up the Championship Flight and will play Combined Score (individual stroke play using both players scores) in the final round to determine the overall champion. The team with the lowest 54-hole total will determine the overall champions. The remaining teams from the Championship Division will be placed in the Presidents Flight and will play another round of four-ball stroke play for their final round. Teams will carry their 36-hole total score forward to determine the President Flight winner. The team with the lowest 54-hole total will determine the winner.
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The Texas Father-Son Championship, now in its 46th year, is one of the most popular events on the Texas Golf Association’s annual schedule. First held in 1981, this tournament has become a longstanding summer tradition for many families. In the 2025 edition, Chris and Price Hill prevailed after a weather-shortened event. To read more up on last year’s Texas Father-Son, click the link here.
NEXT UP: Play will begin at 7:30 am tomorrow morning on the Pecan Course. For more information, including complete scoring, click here.