Austin McCollum bidding to be first Wichitan to win T-O Golf Tournament in 59 years
Austin McCollum is flirting with history.
The 15-year-old golfer torched the Champions Course at Weeks Park during the second round of the Texas-Oklahoma Junior Golf Tournament, tying the course record with an 8-under 64 and moving into second place in the boys open championship.
McCollum, who won the TAPPS Class A state title while representing Christ Academy in May, tries to become the first Wichita Falls native to win the T-O’s boys open championship since Mike Castles achieved the feat in 1966.
Few local players have even threatened to end that drought with the last notable push coming from Wichitan Jason Fitzgerald in 2014. Fitzgerald finished third after an epic final round with future NCAA runner-up and three-time T-O champion Mason Overstreet and future Ole Miss golfer Brody Blackmon.
Standing in McCollum’s way is Amarillo’s Slayde Stevens, who leads after two rounds with a 7-under 136. McCollum is 5 under for the tournament, holding a two-stroke lead on Argyle’s Seth Lillis.
That trio tees off at 2:14 p.m. Wednesday at Wichita Falls Country Club’s No. 1 tee.
McCollum also must forget the struggles he had during the first round at WFCC when he shot a 3-over 74. Stevens is the only player in the field to have shot under par for both rounds, including a 3-under 68 at WFCC on Monday.
McCollum made nine birdies and one bogey in the second round at Weeks Park. He birdied six holes on the back nine, including four straight on Nos. 12 through 15. It was a stark contrast to the first round when he bogeyed four consecutive holes on the country club’s back nine.
Stevens had a bogey-free second round at Weeks Park and made five birdies with two bogeys at WFCC.
Pistana leads girls open division
Trophy Club’s Elle Pistana holds a two-stroke lead heading into the find round of the T-O’s girls open championship with a two-day total of 146, equating to 3 over for the tournament.
Prosper’s Savannah Bowers (76-72—148) is second with Andrews’ Emme Darnold (75-74—149) in third.
That trio tees off for the final round at WFCC at 8:24 a.m. Wednesday.
Texas-Oklahoma Junior Golf Tournament
at Wichita Falls Country Club, Par 71 (first & third rounds)
at Champions Course at Week’s Park, Par 72 (second round)
BOYS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Slayde Stevens, Amarillo, 67-69—136 (-7)
2. Austin McCollum, Wichita Falls, 74-64—138 (-5)
3. Seth Lillis, Argyle, 67-73—140 (-3)
4. Reed Blacklock, Lubbock, 72-69—141 (-2)
5. Colton Bichard, Lubbock, 76-68—144 (+1)
5. Collin Moody, Bridgeport, 74-70—144 (+1)
7. Cameron Van Horn, Kemp, 73-72—145 (+2)
7. Zach Kehoe, Bridgeport, 71-74—145 (+2)
9. JT Waltzer, League City, 73-73—146 (+3)
10. Nate Richter, Denton, 80-67—147 (+4)
10. Coleman Bales, Prosper, 72-75—147 (+4)
10. Tucker Smith, Andrews, 72-75—147 (+4)
Local golfers
27. Hayden Cleveland, Burkburnett, 78-73—151 (+8)
33. George Slagle, Henrietta, 77-75—152 (+9)
62. Linden Brown, Scotland, 80-77—157 (+14)
83. Samuel Malmquist, Wichita Falls, 83-77—160 (+17)
119. Slade Thompson, Wichita Falls, 89-81—170 (+27)
133. Gavin Robinson, Iowa Park, 90-93—183 (+40)
134. Brody Boyd, Burkburnett, 92-93—185 (+42)
135. Boston Morgette, Wichita Falls, 96-90—186 (+43)
GIRLS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Elle Pistana, Trophy Club, 72-74—146 (+3)
2. Savannah Bowers, Prosper, 76-72—148 (+5)
3. Emme Darnold, Andrews, 75-74—149 (+6)
4. Addison Oestreicher, Wylie, 75-77—152 (+9)
5. Addison Britten, Amarillo, 79-74—153 (+10)
6. Kendall Simms, Prosper, 79-76—155 (+12)
6. Avery Glanzer, Benbrook, 77-78—155 (+12)
8. Kaetie Samuels, Flower Mound, 80-76—156 (+13)
9. Margaret Kerr, Friendswood, 84-73—157 (+14)
10. Audrey Marler, Midland, 81-78—159 (+16)
Local golfers
11. Sage Bearden, Crowell, 81-79—160 (+17)
22. Maris Harris, Wichita Falls, 98-87—185 (+42)
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Texas-Oklahoma Junior Golf Tournament second round scores, results
