The two-time 4A state champion Bridgeport Bulls will play in the 2025 Professional Golf Association (PGA) National High School Invitational July 20-22 at the historic Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina. The Bulls placed ninth with a three-round total 855 in their first PGA national tournament last year at the Omni PGA Resort in Frisco. FILE | WCMESSENGER
Before putting their clubs away for the summer, the two-time defending 4A state champion Bridgeport Bulls will tee-off at one of golf’s most hallowed venues.
The Bulls will compete against a field of the best young golfers in the country at the 2025 Professional Golf Association (PGA) National High School Invitational Tournament, to be held July 20-22 at Pinehurst.
“Pinehurst is known as ‘the cradle of American golf,’ so just knowing we’ve been invited to play this game we love and chase a ball down one of the prestigious courses in the country is really exciting,” Bridgeport coach Alan Green said. “Last year, we were excited because it was a new experience. But with a lot of the guys being seniors this year, it’s just one more chance for us to represent Bridgeport and play golf together. We’re still on cloud nine about being invited, but we’re really excited for the opportunity.”
According to the PGA National High School Invitational Tournament’s website, the tournament field will be made up of the top high school golfers playing in a 3-day, 54-hole stroke play event that includes both team and individual competitions on Pinehurst’s No. 5, 6 and 8 courses.
“There’s actually 10 courses there,” Coach Green said. “If you’re not playing the No. 2 championship course, then pretty much the next one that people go to play is No. 8. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play golf at that venue. I’m so excited that we get this chance — it’s the first thing I think about when I wake up and the last think I think about before I go to sleep.”
Coach Green expects the Bulls will be one of the top experienced squads hunting for a national title.
“I hope we’ll be right there at the end,” he said. “Last year, we didn’t play that well down the stretch, but that’s OK because we still have a top 10 finish. Some of the guys from other schools go to their particular schools just to play golf. So it’s a lot of fun for us being the teams from Bridgeport that plays on a 9-hole golf course to go and compete against really good competition, and see where we stack up.”
At the 2024 PGA national tournament, held at the Omni PGA Resort in Frisco, the Bulls shot a three-round 855 for ninth place.
Bridgeport was led by Collin Moody (216). After sitting tied for sixth with an opening-round 68, Moody carded two straight rounds of 74, and finished in a 10-way tie for 31st.
Zach Kehoe and Brady Mann also secured top 100 placements. Kehoe was tied for 68th with 222 (71-75-76), while Mann (223) was one stroke behind Kehoe and tied for 76th.
Colten Paradise (73-75-79 — 227) and Aiden Green (74-72-88 — 234) tied for 119th and 161st, respectively.
“When we left the tournament last year, all of us said that was the most fun that we had playing golf,” Coach Green said. “Our guys got to experience a lot of golf and do a lot of different things. When you get there and you see all of the other flags of state champions, we’re all connected to this game — there’s a lot of mutual respect there, but then there’s also a sense of pride for your town and team. It was really a neat event, and I can’t wait for us to do it again.”
The Bulls secured their second straight 4A state title May 6 at Legends Golf Course in Kingsland with a two-round 590 (295-295) — beating runner-up Andrews (617) and third-place Mabank (624) by 27 and 43, respectively.
Aiden Green — the coach’s sophomore son — won the individual state title at 2-under (73-69—142).
An Abilene Christian University signee, Mann (71-74—145) closed his career by taking the individual bronze medal after losing a one-hole playoff to Kyle Doolittle of Davenport.
Moody — a Midwestern State University signee — capped off his run with the Bulls with a top 10 finish, placing ninth with 150 (76-74).
The champion of the District 7-4A tournament, sophomore Paradise took 15th (75-78—153).
Kehoe, the 2024 4A state silver medalist, shot a two-day 162 (78-84) finished 37th in his final state appearance.
The team will host a BBQ dinner and silent auction event June 14 at Bridgeport Country Club to help the Bulls raise funds for travel expenses for the trip to Pinehurst.
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