By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
PALM VALLEY — Things might look a little different in the world of sports, but one thing remains the same: There will be a strong, competitive field for the South Texas Junior Golf Classic.
The 38th annual STJGC, sponsored by the Gillman Auto Group, will take place July 10-12 at the Harlingen Country Club. The tournament will tee off at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. STJGC director Durrell Lovell is expecting a large turnout for the event.
“I feel like not only kids but parents have been cooped up so long they’re looking to get out, so I’m anticipating at least (75 participants), if not more,” Lovell said. “There is a South Texas PGA junior golf program, and they play every Monday at different courses across the (Rio Grande Valley). I’ve been to several of those events and normally it’s about 50 or 60 kids, but the last two or three weeks they’ve had 75, 80, 90 kids. We’ve not seen a decline from our local kids yet.”
Lovell said the tournament was started by Lee Wylie to “provide a golfing experience for all young kids in South Texas.” It’s a sanctioned South Texas PGA event. Participants have come from Laredo, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Houston and beyond in past years, but out-of-town numbers may be down this year due to the spikes in COVID-19 cases across the state.
Bracy Wilson, the director of golf at the HCC, played in the STJGC from 1984-86. Now he assists Lovell with running the tournament. They had to make a few tweaks, but neither Wilson nor Lovell think the tournament will look too different.
Masks will be required and social distancing encouraged when people are on the back patio of the club, either as spectators or golfers gathering after their rounds are completed. Shared water cannot be provided for the children, so Lovell is putting bags together for each participant to carry with them on the course that has water and snacks for the day. Parents will drive around the course Sunday to hand out water and cold towels to combat the heat.
“We have some rules we have to follow, but for the most part it really doesn’t affect golf a whole lot,” Wilson said. “It’ll be good for them to get out and get back in the groove of things since they’ve been shut down for so long. I think it’s going to be a great tournament, it’ll be a good field, and I think it’ll be pretty close. I don’t think anyone’s going to run away with it.”
The Harlingen South and Harlingen High boys golf teams house some of the names to watch in the boys 15- to 18-year-olds division. This will be the first competitive tournament for Hawks golfer and STJGC defending champion Javier Vento since the coronavirus ended the high school season.
“I don’t expect to win anything, because that puts more pressure on you. But I still feel confident in my game. I’ve been practicing all summer and I feel good, I feel comfortable,” Vento said.
South teammates Nolan Garrison and Nicklaus Sanchez, along with Cardinals golfer Nate Newman, will be vying to dethrone Vento. This will be Sanchez’s first go-round in the STJGC, and he’s excited for the opportunity.
“You get to play the best in the Valley that are coming out, and you find out the men from the boys,” Sanchez said. “I’m just going to take it like every other tournament. If I shoot good, great. If not, oh well, I’ll win it next time.”
One of the young names to watch will be Isabella Bullock, 14, of Harlingen, who won the 13-14 girls division last year. Her mother, Wendy Werley Bullock, is a golf professional at HCC and a former LPGA player. Isabella Bullock has been practicing with her mother’s guidance at her home for the STJGC.
Regardless of the impact of COVID-19 elsewhere, Lovell is confident the 2020 STJGC will be just as challenging and beneficial as always for the youth golfers in South Texas. Garrison is looking forward to competing for the fourth year, and he expects a strong showing from local golfers.
“I love getting to compete whenever I can. It’s fun because you know (your competitors) and you’re friends with them, but it also makes you want to beat them that much more,” Garrison said. “I think it’ll be a great field, it’ll be completely loaded. It should be a fun weekend.”