Devil's Backbone - Battle @ Blanco

Scott R Chilcutt, Blanco, TX  (April 20, 2013)   The scenic drive looping through the Texas Hill Country's Edwards Plateau known as the Devil's Backbone begins and ends just south of Blanco, TX near the Rockin' J Ranch development, home to this year's Battle at Blanco on the Golf Channel Am Tour Texas Hill Country Tour. 

"Vaaler Creek boasts variety and playability between San Antonio and Austin" as seen last year on Golfchannel.com, is far from easy or for that matter easy to find.  One player stated, "do you search for these courses by helicopter?", while a few locals proclaimed, "this is the areas best kept secret".  In reality, no aerial searches or payoffs to locals, but it came to our attention after a round last fall at nearby River Crossing when two of our members highly recommended the layout. 

Beautifully conditioned undulating greens, tight pin placements and breezy conditions proved devilish for the full field of 96 players. Late entry, Tim Haverly of San Antonio, took home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.  

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Richard Perez of San Antonio doubled the par 4 - 14th, but backed it up with four straight pars to force extra holes with fellow San Antonio first year player Matthew Brandt.   On the first hole approach to the green, Brandt injured his hand by an apparent rock lodged under the ball, opening the door to the first win on tour for Perez.  First time tour player Andre van der Post of Buda, TX rounded out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  San Antonio, TX member Dave Davlin  played his final thirteen holes in +1 with a birdie on the par 5 - 8th to get into a playoff with Brack Blackwood of Grandbury, TX.  On the second extra hole, Blackwood finished off the win to pick up his seventh win on tour and first of the year with three players two strokes back.  Craig Hart of Killeen, TX, Randy McGinnis of San Antonio, TX and Coupland, TX resident Chris Wadle shared the third place finish.

Senior Palmer Flight:   Creeping up the leader board with a runner up finish his last time out and a previous third place at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay, Robert Lippert of Copperas Cove, TX took home his first trophy on the AM Tour.  Lippert played the back nine in +2 and carded the only birdie of the day on the difficult par 4 - 18th for a four stroke advantage over Frank Davis of San Antonio. Also from San Antonio, Paul Wuerdeman finished in the show position two strokes back of Davis.

Hogan Flight:   Tim Haverly of San Antonio, TX picked up his tenth win on tour and first since the 2011 Fall Season - Event 2 by four strokes in front of a trio tied in the runner up spot.  A flight best +3 on the back nine put San Antonio member Bill Troutz in the three way tie with Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX and Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Liberty Hill, TX first year player Mike Ozga grabbed his first win in two attempts on tour.  Ozga went +1 over the last seven holes to best Houston Tour member Daryl Epperson by one stroke. Runner up Epperson held a two stroke advantage over fellow Houston Tour member Bill Mathews who carded the only birdie on the tough green at #9 and Terry Dennis of Schertz, TX.

Sarazen Flight:  Rene Realme of San Antonio, TX made it two for three in playoffs with a sudden death playoff win with Ronnie Davis of Converse, TX.  Davis made par on the eighteenth hole to help force the tie when Realme tripled the tricky over water par 4.  John Heintz of San Antonio, birdied the par 4 - 7th and followed with an eagle three on the par 5 - 8th to finish three strokes back in the third place position.

Senior Sarazen:  San Antonio resident, Alfredo Garcia took advantage of a birdie on the par 5 - 8th hole to claim his first win on tour.  Two strokes back, traveling Dallas Tour member Rick Allaire held on to tie up the second place finish with Gene Rampy of Bastrop, TX after Rampy parred the final three holes to go with three birdies on the day.

Jones Flight:   Mark Rivera became the third, first time time winner living in San Antonio on the day.  Rivera held on for a two stroke win over Houston Tour traveler Alan Brumley of Atascocita, TX with Austin resident, Charles Cox rounding out the top three.

Snead Flight:  San Antonio player Carlos Cruz became a two time winner on tour.  Cruz the winner at the 2012 Texas Masters at Barton Creek carded eight pars on the day for a seven stroke advantage over Rickie Franklin of Fischer, TX.  One stroke back of Franklin, Mark Colwell of San Antonio and Somerville, TX member Myron Brown shared the third place honors.  
 





SKINS:

Giant Skins:  2 -- Mark Greene, Austin, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Brack Blackwood, Granbury, TX. 1 -- Chris Wadle, Coupland , TX; Joe Benzing, Midland, TX; Bill Mathews, Houston, TX.

Championship / Palmer / Senior Palmer:  3 -- Chris Wadle, Coupland , TX. 2 -- Mark Greene, Austin, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Brack Blackwood, Granbury, TX. 1 -- Randy McGinnis, San Antonio, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  2 -- Joe Benzing, Midland, TX. 1 -- Christopher Timmerman, Georgetown Texas; Darrell Wilson, Georgetown, TX; Bill Mathews, Houston, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  1 -- John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Kirby Rogers, Muldrow, OK.

Jones:  1 -- Jerry Thompson, San Antonio, TX; William Speck, Corpus Christi, TX; David Castillo, San Antonio, TX; James Price, Corpus Christi Tx.

Snead:  2 -- Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Mark Colwell, San Antonio, TX; Thomas Kerwin, Pflugerville, TX; Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX.   

Next Up: After a break for the Missouri Valley Championship, The scheduled Dallas / Hill Country Clash has been canceled due to course conditions. The Hill Country Tour will be back in Kerrville for the Mr. Nelson Open at Riverhill on May 11th.   Dallas Tour members will tee it up next for the Bobcat Open at Texas Star on May 19th.  The Oklahoma Tour will resume play on May 11th at the Valley View Invitational in Farmington, AR.

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