Future Golf Stars Headed to Southeast Texas: AJGA Tournament at Rayburn Resort Kicks Off March 27

Morning view of the course at Rayburn Resort, host of the 2025 AJGA Junior tournament.

Some of golf’s brightest future stars are headed to Southeast Texas this month as the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) prepares to host the AJGA Junior at Rayburn Resort presented by City of Jasper, March 27–30, 2025.

The tournament will welcome 96 of the best junior golfers from around the world, including players from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, South Korea, and Norway, making this event a rare and exciting international showcase for East Texas.

“This event has been two and a half years in the making,” said Austin Williams, Tournament Chairman and VP of the Babe Zaharias Foundation. “We worked tirelessly to bring an AJGA event to Beaumont but couldn’t make it happen. When one door closes, another opens, and thanks to the generosity of Joe Penland Jr., we now have this incredible opportunity at Rayburn Resort.”

In 2020, Joe Penland Jr. of Beaumont acquired Rayburn Resort with a vision to revitalize it. Over the past five years, Penland and his team have transformed the facility into a top-tier golf and recreation destination. Earlier this month, the resort successfully hosted the 2025 Texas Cup Invitational, part of the Legends Junior Tour, helping prepare the course for this national spotlight.

Photo courtesy of Texas Golf Association

Shiv Parmar of Selma, winner of the 2025 Texas Cup Invitational, part of the Legends Junior Tour held earlier this month at Rayburn Resort.

The AJGA tournament is known for producing the next generation of elite golfers. Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, and Lexi Thompson all began their competitive careers in AJGA events. In fact, 25 of the past 33 men’s NCAA Division I champions and 26 of the past 32 women’s champions are AJGA alumni.

This year’s event features participants from 15 U.S. states, with Texas boasting the highest number of competitors. Local talent will also be well-represented with standout players from East Texas and Louisiana, including:

Andrew Bird – Nacogdoches, TX

Logan & Hunter Houl – Diboll, TX

Jett Surratt – Carthage, TX

Reece Williams – Beaumont, TX

Hudson Greene – Bossier City, LA

Kye Hanks – Lake Charles, LA

“It’s such an honor to have these young amateurs compete at Rayburn Resort,” said Jordan Bell, Golf Professional at Rayburn Resort. “This is huge for our area. Many of these kids will go on to the PGA like other past amateurs. Rayburn Resort welcomes everyone to come and watch these great individuals navigate the course!”

As Rayburn Resort prepares for this prestigious national event, volunteers are still needed to help make the experience seamless for players and families. Opportunities are available in the following areas:

Registration
Shuttle drivers
Timing stations
Water rovers
Private housing for AJGA staff
Volunteers will receive event swag and enjoy the rare opportunity to watch the future of golf compete right here in Southeast Texas.