A team made up of a proud father and son triumphed in the fifth rendition of the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association Junior-Senior Championship last Wednesday. Dallas residents John Stollenwerck, 58, and John Stollenwerck Jr., 23, won the title at Paiute Golf Resort in Las Vegas, prevailing by two strokes over fellow Dallas players David Schultz and Neal Barfield.
“It feels great to win, especially because it’s our first win as a father and son in an event as prestigious as this,” the elder Stollenwerck said. “It’s something that brings up great memories [with my son] as a father.”
Debuting in 2021, the Junior-Senior Championship is an annual 54-hole, best-ball tournament. This year there were 22 teams in the scratch division, each consisting of a senior player (55 and older) and a junior player (22-54).
The Stollenwercks, who shot 66-64-68 (-18), topped a field including six other father-and-son teams. The elder Stollenwerck taught his son golf when he was 12 years old, and the younger Stollenwerck said winning this tournament is one of the most special moments he’s shared with his dad.
“It’s definitely the best golf memory,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of good ones like from outdoors fishing and hunting, but this is special to win a tournament like this with such good players.”
Other notable players in the field included 2024 U.S. Amateur quarterfinalist and U.S. Mid-Amateur runner-up Bobby Massa, who’s also from Dallas. In both tournaments, Massa lost in match play to the eventual champion, both of whom recently played in the Masters: José Luis Ballester and Evan Beck. In the Junior-Senior Championship, Massa teamed with senior golfer Steven Kenny. They shot 66-68-67 (-15) and finished third.
“The last two tee times on Wednesday were all guys from our golf course in Dallas so we were all fighting it out amongst each other. It was fun to get bragging rights for back home.”
John Stollenwerck Jr.
Defending champions Brian Lovett and Buddy Allen were also in the field, but this time on different teams. The pair had to split this year because Lovett turned 55, meaning he and Allen are both seniors now. Lovett also won this event in 2023 with former U.S. Walker Cup captain Mike McCoy.
This year, Lovett teamed with Patrick Britt, a friend and fellow competitor from the St. Louis area. The pair shot 74-68-66 (-8) to finish T8, while Allen and partner Tom Sinak shot 68-69-67 (-12) to finish sixth. Lovett, while disappointed to finish behind Allen and fall short of a three-peat, says he loves coming to this tournament every year because it allows him to do more than scratch the competitive itch.
“Everyone who comes here wants to beat up on the other guys,” Lovett said. “But it’s not so competitive that you can’t have fun and enjoy hanging out with the guys.”
The Stollenwercks also believe camaraderie between competitors makes this event attractive. John Jr. said five groups who played in the Junior-Senior Championship are from where they play in Dallas.
“We all stayed in the same hotel, ate dinner together every night, travelled together and played blackjack together,” he said.
Because they competed against friends from home, the Stollenwercks went back to Dallas with more than a trophy.
“The last two tee times on Wednesday were all guys from our golf course in Dallas so we were all fighting it out amongst each other,” John Jr. said. “It was fun to get bragging rights for back home.”
RESULTS
Everett Munez