The Ark-La-Tex Junior Golf Tour hosted its annual Tournament of Champions at Pinecrest Country Club in Longview, Texas, on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. The elite field consisted of golfers who earned their place by winning one of the tour’s 12 qualifying events during the summer season.

Fresh off a victory at the Coushatta Country Club Junior Championship just three days earlier, local standout Philip Guidry arrived with confidence but never imagined what the day would bring. Philip opened his memorable round by choosing a 3-wood off the first tee, sending the ball just left of the green. After a delicate chip onto the putting surface, his birdie attempt narrowly missed before he tapped in a six-inch putt for par.

That first hole became the blueprint for the rest of the day.

Displaying remarkable consistency, Philip carded seven pars, with five of those holes ending in tap-in putts of less than 2 feet. His steady play produced a 4-over-par 39, which proved good enough to claim the coveted Ark-La-Tex Junior Tour Tournament of Champions title. When asked what made the round so special, Philip credited both his ball-striking and the help of his caddie.
“I was able to keep the ball pretty straight today,” he said. “I was lucky to have my cousin, Slayte, on the bag, too.”

When asked about his favorite shot of the day, the answer came quickly. “One hundred percent my tee shot on the par-4 12th,” Philip said with a smile. “After talking with Slayte, I decided to tee off with my 7-wood. I hit it square and right on my line at the green. It ended up on the back fringe. Best 7-wood of my life.”

Away from tournament competition, Philip sharpens his game at Coushatta Country Club, where he encourages other young golfers to spend time developing their skills. The club welcomes junior golfers of all abilities. For tee times or membership information, contact the pro shop at (318) 932-5924.

At just 11 years old, Philip Guidry is quickly establishing himself as one of the nation’s rising junior golfers. With victories continuing to pile up and his confidence growing each week, the young champion from Coushatta is proving that his name is one golf fans may be hearing for years to come.

By: Jennifer Partain

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