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Reece Williams and Julian Mathews
Two exceptionally talented young golfers hailing from Southeast Texas, Reece Williams, a freshman, and Julian Mathews, a junior, both who attend Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School, have been honored with a prestigious and exclusive invitation to compete in the highly esteemed Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial Junior Invitational. This exclusive event will showcase the talents of 84 top-ranked junior golfers from across the globe and will take place on Dec. 27-28 at the TPC Louisiana, the esteemed home of the PGA TOUR's Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Only 84 boys and girls were selected out of 240 plus applications.
Participants hailing from 17 states and two countries will face challenging conditions, including windy weather and a demanding course. The Allstate Sugar Bowl proudly serves as the presenting sponsor for this 36-hole competition, adding to its legacy of supporting and honoring student-athletes in various sports. The organization has been a cornerstone of the local sports scene since its inception in 1934, contributing over $2.7 billion to the local economy in the last decade.
Notably, the 90th Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic is scheduled to be played on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, featuring a thrilling matchup between the No. 3 University of Texas and the No. 2 University of Washington at the iconic Caesars Superdome. While the Sugar Bowl is renowned as one of the premier college football bowl games, it has also been a driving force in the local sports community, hosting and sponsoring events across a wide range of sports disciplines.
Through these efforts, the organization demonstrates its commitment to supporting and honoring thousands of student-athletes each year, enriching the local sports scene, and making a significant economic impact on the region.
The Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial pays tribute to Tommy Moore, an iconic figure in the world of junior golf, who emerged as the most accomplished junior golfer from the New Orleans area. In 1980, he achieved the #1 ranking in the Golf Digest Junior World Rankings and later enjoyed a distinguished collegiate career at Oklahoma State University, earning accolades as an All-American, National Champion, and Academic All-American. Tragically, Tommy Moore's life was cut short at the age of 35 due to a rare blood disease. In his memory, the Kelly Gibson Foundation is proud to partner with the Allstate Sugar Bowl to host this national event, recognizing Tommy's profound impact on junior golf and the New Orleans community. This year marks the 12th anniversary of the Allstate Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial, organized by the Kelly Gibson Foundation.