Bridgeport sophomore Aiden Green gets congratulated after clinching the 2025 UIL Class 4A individual state title Tuesday at Legends Golf Course in Kingsland. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
The storm rolled in. The pressure of the tournament and the moment followed. Aiden Green didn’t flinch.
By day’s end, the Bridgeport sophomore walked off Legends Golf Course as the best Class 4A golfer in the state of Texas.
Aiden Green carded a final-round 69 to finish 2-under (73-69—142) at Legends Golf Course in Kingsland, charging past the field to win by three strokes and lead Bridgeport to a commanding 27-shot team victory at the UIL Class 4A state golf tournament. The state title is Bridgeport’s second in as many years, and the Bulls left no doubt. All five players posted rounds in the 70s, and four finished in the top 15.
The tournament’s defining moment belonged to Aiden Green. He walked off his final hole of the day and was immediately embraced by his coach and father, Alan Green, who lovingly squished the sophomore’s face between his hands before a long and teary hug.
Your 2025 4A state champion, Aiden Green. pic.twitter.com/vNnE4in6Vy
— Austin Jackson (@a_jack17) May 6, 2025
“It was special,” Aiden Green said. “It meant everything.”
He acted like he’d been there before — but he actually hadn’t.
Bridgeport sophomore Aiden Green unleashes a drive at Legends Golf Course, showcasing the swing changes that helped power his run to the 2025 UIL Class 4A individual state title. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
The first win of Green’s high school career came Tuesday at the state tournament.
“Last year, he led us after the first day in a couple of tournaments. I think it was just part of the maturation process — for him to find a way to do it two days in a row,” Coach Green said. “He picked a heck of a time to do it.”
Becoming a state champion at Legends G.C. is never easy. The back nine is a buzzsaw of elevated greens, sloping and tight fairways, and punishing hazards — a stretch of holes that has left many great high school golfers staring at their scorecards after the tournament, wondering what could have been if they’d hit just one shot differently.
One year ago, Green shot 71-83 at state, fading from contention with an 11-over final round.
Tuesday’s final round was a different story.
The magic began early. On the par-5 second hole, Green rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt to move to even par for the tournament. A hole later, facing a daunting 60-foot uphill breaker on a two-tiered green, he calmly stroked the ball several feet right of the pin, watching it snake uphill, then break back left, then right again before finding the bottom of the cup.
What should have been a bogey became a highlight-reel birdie — and a turning point.
“The putt on the par 5 got the juices flowing,” Aiden Green said. “Where I really started to think it could be special was after I made a putt on nine to get to five under. I knew that maybe I could make a run at it on the back.”
He was 5-under on the day and 4-under for the tournament, taking a two-stroke lead into the teeth of the course.
From there, he never flinched.
On the short but dangerous par-4 15th — a 340-yard hole where many laid up with irons — the sophomore pulled driver without hesitation. He was just a few weeks removed from a swing change to try to take his game to the next level. But his trust in his technique was evident. He wound back and ripped a 300-yard bomb down the center of the narrow fairway. He watched the ball in the air for a second as he twirled his club to his hip before snatching up his tee.
Piped drive. Little club twirl. Vibes are high. pic.twitter.com/UGPoJcpr7C
— Austin Jackson (@a_jack17) May 6, 2025
Aiden Green said he was already focusing on the next shot.
“I was just thinking: one shot at a time,” he said of his closing approach. “I just wanted to do my best on this shot and not think about anything else until my next shot.”
On his final hole, No. 1, he hit a similar drive — but it found sand.
The course had one final bar to clear before allowing Aiden Green to become a champion. His recovery from the bunker was pulled slightly, leaving him in a dangerous position, 30 yards from the pin on the short side of the green with a bunker to cover.
But, after talking over the shot with his coach, Aiden Green went through his normal shot routine, addressed the ball and calmly clipped his pitch to set up a two-putt to seal the win.
That confidence under pressure oozed from the entire Bridgeport team.
For Aiden Green, Tuesday was proof of growth, grit — and maybe even a glimpse of what’s to come. He’s a state tournament winner and a two-time state champion who can barely drive a car, with he and teammate Colten Paradise reminding the 4A Texas golf world Tuesday that the Bulls aren’t done, yet.
Aiden Green, 16, hugs his mom, Kristy Tackel Green, after winning the 2025 UIL Class 4A individual state title at Legends Golf Course. AUSTIN JACKSON | WCMESSENGER
For the coach and proud father who watched his son dodge all the laser beams in a state championship heist, and saw him smile after it seemed like he came back down to earth and realized what he had just done — it was everything.
“I really don’t get to see every shot, because of what we’re doing [and my role on the course as coach]. But getting to watch him the last couple of holes, and watching him finish it out — that was really emotional,” Coach Green said. “I’m really proud of him, and I’m proud for him.”
Loading Comments