Freddie Janneck comes 'out of nowhere' to win Texas Mid-Amateur

Freddie Janneck won the 38th Texas Mid-Amateur early Sunday afternoon after fending off a host of competitors at The Clubs at Houstons Oaks. The Fort Worth native captures the victory with a 54-hole total of 6-under 207.

Janneck’s final round was especially impressive when most of the field played over-par on Sunday. The former Southern Mississippi University golfer started with a pair of bogeys and three birdies on his opening nine. However, his closing nine holes included some of his best golf of the week. Janneck rolled in three birdies including two on holes 16 and 17.

Janneck sat eight shots back of the lead after round one but consecutive rounds of four-under 67 pushed him to a three-shot victory. He wasn’t expecting to win coming into this week, but his game said otherwise.

“Well, the first round I just didn’t score very well. I hit it fairly well from tee to green but just didn’t get many putts to fall,” Janneck said when asked what turned after his first round. “The second round I started getting some putts to fall and that was the difference.”

The win marks both Janneck’s first Texas Mid-Amateur and TGA Championship overall. He hopes to visit Houston Oaks again.

“It’s one of the best courses I’ve played in Texas,” said Janneck. “It’s my first time here and I hope it’s not my last.”

The Southern Miss product noted that he hadn’t won anything in years but showed no signs of inexperience or nerves in Sunday’s final round.

“It (the win) means everything to me,” said Janneck. “It’s been a long time since I’ve won something so it kind of came out of nowhere. I haven’t been playing that great as of late, but you know that’s golf. Sometimes you find one thing and then things click and here we are. So, it means a lot.”

Frederick Janneck of Fort Worth cards a final round 67 to win the 38th #TXMidAm by 3 shots. 🏆🏆🏆

🗣 Hear from the champion: pic.twitter.com/FJKjaOFIUq

— Texas Golf Association (@TexasGolfAssoc) September 12, 2021

Aaron Hickman of Tyler and Clay Fullick of Conroe tied as runner up after finishing at three-under 210 total for the week. The duo also earned the Low Mid-Master honors as the top finishers over the age of 40 years old.

Hickman adds the runner-up finish to his already decorated mid-amateur career including winning the 2020 Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship. The top five and ties will earn an exemption into the 113th Texas Amateur Championship at Willow Brook Country Club, Hickman’s home course.

Finishing solo fourth was last year’s champion Ryan O’Rear of Leander. The 2020 champion carded a closing 3-over 74 to post 2-under-par 211 overall. John Yerger of Dallas, William Aycock of The Woodlands, and Eric Lodge of Houston shared fifth place at 1-under 212.