6 Hill Country Players Punch Tickets National Championships - Texas Open

Two Hill Country Winners, Six Others Get National Championship Qualifications

Scott R Chilcutt, Horseshoe Bay, TX (March 3, 2013) The 2013 Texas Open, in its third year at the scenic Horseshoe Bay Resort, on the shores of Lake LBJ in the Texas Hill Country welcomed players from 19 states, representing 22 Tours for the first Major of the year in the Central part of the country.

Excellent, over seeded course conditions, fast and smooth greens along with favorable yardages and a local rule for out of bounds didn't seem to help the scoring. In the over 368 rounds played, nearly a third (29%) of the scores met or exceeded the century mark with only TWO rounds recording sub 80 scores. None of the flights were exempt from the difficult scoring conditions, with the Championship Flight averaging +18 on first day at the par 71 - Ram Rock Golf Course and +14 on the par 72 Apple Rock layout to finish out the event.

Through the challenges, 35 players received 2013 National Championship invitations and the participants raised over $1,400 for the Feherty's Troops First Foundation.

Results:

Championshp Flight: With a pair of 83's and a T7 finish at last years Texas Open, Missouri City, TX member Lynn Cormier would have won the event this year. Cormier bettered that result, opening with a +7 - 78 to lead wire to wire for his second Major Championship and twelfth win on the Am Tour. Playing in the second to last grouping on the final day, Terry Rice of Midland, TX matched Cormier's final round and jumped up two spots to finish in the runner up position. Boerne, TX member Chris Daniluck jumped two spots himself in route to the final National Championship qualification of the flight.

Palmer Flight: Jake Morton finished with a seven stroke advantage en route to his second win in as many attempts and fourth on tour. Morton, carded four birdies on the day to seal his win over Lufkin, TX player and Houston Tour member Frank Wallace. Wallace, just one stroke back after the first round, started the day matching Morton's 10th hole (first of the day) birdie, but couldn't keep it going during the latter holes on both sides. Tino Flores, Houston, TX, edged out a couple of players in front of him on the final day to solidify a top three finish.

Senior Palmer Flight: Two Oklahoma Tour members, tied up in the second spot, four strokes back after the first round battled it out for the championship on Sunday. Beginning the day on the 10th hole, Clayton Badger of Drumright, OK started out his first two and ended his first two holes rocky, falling short of Sapulpa, OK member Curt Howard by a single stroke. Howard battled through a tweaked back in the latter holes to pick up his ninth win on tour and second Major Championship. Overcoming a first nine penalty stroke, Robert Lippert of Copperas Cove, TX went even par with three birdies on his back nine to jump two spots and finish with a National Championship invite. Randy Rollo of Waco, TX carded four birdies on the final round to record the only sub 80 round on the Apple Rock course, finishing in the fourth spot.

Hogan Flight: Bill Troutz of San Antonio, TX started the day two strokes back of the first round leader, Argyle, TX first year player Greg Hawkins. Beginning the round on the third hole of the Ram Rock shotgun, Troutz parred his first three to go up a stroke, ran into mid round troubles, but added a birdie at the par 5 - 14th to ultimately force a playoff. On the 39th hole of the weekend, Hawkins finished out the Championship for his first win on Tour. Aaron Brougher of Spring, TX finished out in the show position for his ticket to the Nationals.

Sarazen Flight: Overnight first round leaders, John Heintz of San Antonio, TX and Las Vegas, NV traveler George Yocum couldn't decide the finish on the second day. The pair started out the day on the 8th hole, where Heintz would take a three stroke lead, then give two back on the 9th. Yocum birdied the par 4 -18th, but let Heintz battle back over the closing holes to force the extended play. During the sudden death playoff Yocum would pick up his first Major Championship and second win on tour. Jon Wendt took eleven strokes off his first day total to edge out the fourth place finisher by a single stroke.

Senior Sarazen Flight: Austin, TX member Homer Turbeville completed the low round of the flight on the final day by five strokes to finish four strokes ahead of a pair tied up in the runner up position. Turbeville, picked up his third win on tour with two birdies on the day and five for the event over Waterville, ME native Lee Brunell now residing in Houston and Mansfield, TX member John Cox sharing the runner up honors and National Championship invites.

 

Next Up:  Hill Country gets back to the course for the Round Rock Open on March 24th. while the Dallas Tour resumes action at the Indian Creek Golf Course on March 9th for the Classic at the Creek. The Oklahoma Tour kicks off the year at the March 16th Kickingbird Challenge.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Tour Director

Dallas / Fort Worth Tour - Hill Country Tour - Oklahoma Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.302.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com