Child golfers having a blast in new Texas Star youth league

A kid at heart, it’s hard to tell who is having the best time with the new PGA Junior League team at Texas Star Golf Course, Jeff Langas or the kids he coaches.

Call it a draw.

“We’re all just having a blast,” said Langas, assistant golf professional and director of the program at the club.

The PGA Junior League expanded to Texas Star in Euless and a few other area courses this summer to create a new league. Also participating are Rolling Hills Country Club in Arlington, Prairie Lakes Golf Course in Grand Prairie and Grapevine Golf Course in Grapevine.

The league is for players age 13 and under. At Texas Star, the team includes 10 boys and three girls.

“I like being able to come out here and play with kids my age,” Addison Gardner, 10, said. “The main thing I’ve learned is having more patience.”

In the program, youngsters team up in pairs of two to play a scramble format. That is, wherever the best shot out of the two lands, that is where they will each take their next shot.

“The scramble format helps them. They’re not playing all their bad shots,” said Ken East, whose son Evan, 8, participates.

“They encourage each other. They encourage the other teams,” said Tricia Teal, whose sons Noah, 12, and Noble, 11, play. “Jeff is teaching all the little things.”

And they are paying close attention.

“I’ve learned a lot about putting. It takes a lot of patience,” Noah said.

“I like talking about the shots with my partner,” Evan said.

Even the coach’s son has learned a few new things.

“I like that I’m with other kids,” John Langas, 11, said. “I feel more relaxed.”

Matches are played Tuesday and Sunday, rotating among the four courses. Competition runs through July 26, after which an all-star team will be selected from throughout the five teams with a chance for players to compete in the finals in Arizona in mid-to-late August, Langas said.

Players are paired by ability.

“A pure beginner will do something he will be proud of,” Jeff Langas said. “A putt, chip, something. Our kids are totally focused, trying to get better and having fun.”

So are parents, he added.

“Our parents are a vital piece to this. They love it. They’re not sitting in the stands.”

Dan Walden, head pro at Texas Star, has three children who participate.

“Inter-club competition can only grow the game,” he said. “The format is conducive to all skill levels. Maybe a 13-year-old hits it harder, but a 7-year-old girl hits it straighter.”

Cost to participate in the PGA Junior League is $250, Langas said, and participants do not have to be members of any club. And clubs are a reasonable cost as well, he said, adding that members donated a lot of golf balls.

“They can lose at many as they want,” Langas said, chuckling.

In addition, Langas is holding a summer camp July 26-28 from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for ages 6-14. Cost is $100 and deadline to register is Saturday.

There is also a day camp each Friday from 9-10 a.m for ages 6-13. Cost is $15.

Contact Langas at 817-685-1840.

Surf wraps up regular season

The Bedford Surf swim team concluded the regular season at Granbury recently.

Leading the Surf was Yuzhou Liu in the Boys 13-14 division with a gold and two silvers. Among the ladies, Elizabeth Klamt (15-17) and Vicki Ford (40-Over) each won a gold, silver and bronze.

Other gold medal winners for the females were Masha Dyachok (15-17, also a silver), Alyssa Weaver (15-17, also a bronze), and Katelyn Hutchinson (15-17). Other male gold medal winners included Chris Tony (18-24, also a silver), Richard Kaloust (18-24, also a silver), Scott Painter (15-17, also a bronze), and Reggy Berger (15-17).

Euless runners qualify for state

Twenty-seven members of the Euless Track Team have qualified for the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation Games of Texas following their performances in the recent TAAF Region 4 Meet at The Colony. The TAAF Games are July 28-31 in McAllen.

Qualifying were:

GIRLS, 8-Under: Mikayla Simpson, first in 800. 10-Under: Morgan Wallace, second in 800. 1600 relay: (Javia Burton, Anyia Evann, Zoanne Tshilombo, Morgan Wallace), third. Brooke Lightfoot, first in shot put. Javier Burton, fourth in high jump. 12-Under: Faith Falana, fourth in 100, third in 200, third in long jump. Sasha Wellborn Houston, fifth in 400. Divine Tyson, second 80 hurdles. 14-Under: Deanna Robinson, first in 400, fifth in 200, first in triple jump, first in long jump. 16-Under: 400-meter relay (Shania Anthony, Blaique Webster, Shannon Farnsworth, Channing Hill), first place. Shannon Farnsworth, third in triple jump. Alivia Fields, first in long jump.

BOYS, 10-Under: Ethan Roemisch, third in 1600, fourth in 800. Micah Carson, fifth in 100. David Tyson, fourth in long jump. 12-Under: Hunter Davis, fifth in 800. David Wilson, third in shot put. 14-Under: Reginald Collier, second in 300 hurdles, third in shot put. Bryson Lightfoot, fifth in 200, first in long jump. 18-Under: Logan Roemisch, fifth in 1600. Elijah Davis, fifth in 100. Erik Echevarria, fourth in 300 hurdles. Peter Harris, first in long jump.

Calendar

July 23 - Ninth Annual Big Apple/NYPD SBW Cup, Softball World. Men’s D, Men’s E, Co-Ed. Call 817-267-7867 or visit www.eulesstx.gov/sbw.

July 27 - Neighborhood Fishing’ Catfish Stocking, Chisholm Park Pond, Hurst. Visit www.neighborhoodfishin.org.

July 30 - Mid-Cities Tennis Tournament at Hurst Tennis Center. Call 817-788-7330.

July 30 - Last Chance For State Tournament, softball world. Men’s C, Men’s D, Men’s E, Co-Ed. Call 817-267-7867 or visit www.eulesstx.gov/sbw.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 1:37 PM with the headline "Child golfers having a blast in new Texas Star youth league."