Scott R Chilcutt, Kerrville, TX (February 21, 2015) Nestled in the Texas Hill Country, Kerrville, just northwest of San Antonio along the Guadalupe River, brings players from around the state and country for the Golf Channel AM Tour Kerrville Championship. Playing host to the event, The Club @ Comanche Trace, started off another calender year on tour in fine fashion. Unlike February's past, where the wind chilled your bones to the core, this Saturday had little to no winds to go with mid 70 temperatures. A three year break in the over seeded fairways made things play hard and fast but like each year the fast and smooth bent grass greens were where the event was won.
With the speed of the greens running just under 12 on the stimpmeter, players had to either get to the right side of the hole, or make some phenomenal putts. Mark Colwell took home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving and Michael Kirk took advantage of the Srixon Ball challenge by winning his flight with a Srixon.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Formerly playing out of the San Diego Tour, Redmond Lyons, now residing in San Antonio while attending Trinity University made little to no mistakes on the day. Lyons, with only one bogie, carded six birdies, three on each side to win his first event on tour with a -5 / 67. Ten strokes back, first time tour player, Jordan Massey of Killeen, TX made three birdies on his round for a solid runner up finish. 19 year old, Cole Evans of Greenwood Village, CO, finished just one stroke back of the second place spot with the help of five birdies on his round.
Palmer Flight: With the flight starting the day on the tenth hole, five of the eleven players were tied with +2 - 38's, with another only one back. Making the turn to the Valley Course, Fernando Davila of San Antonio, TX was able to just hold off two of the group, for his first win in his first event on tour. Another pair of San Antonio residents locked up the runner up honors, Patrick Weathersby, with an eagle on the par 5 - 18th (his ninth hole), would add birdies on the par 4 - 5th and par 4 - 15th, but barely held on to a hard charging Dave Davlin who played his back nine in +1 with two birdies.
Senior Palmer Flight: Robert Lippert of Copperas Cove, TX kept up his winning ways, making it three in a row on the points season. Lippert carded an eagle on the par 5 - 4th allowing him a one stroke cushion going to the back nine over San Antonio, TX member Morgan Splichal and held on to a two stroke advantage. Splichal, made three birdies on his front nine, but just couldn't keep the momentum of an under par run over seven holes, settling for second place. Little John Hilgers of Wimberly, TX finished in the third spot, his best finish since being promoted to the Senior Palmer Flight.
Hogan Flight: In his fifth year on tour, Dallas Tour member, Scott Harper of Ranger, TX shot a career low round, + 3 - 75 for his tenth win on tour. Harper with three birdies, finished the day four strokes ahead of San Antonio, TX player Micah Carroll. It was Carroll's best finish on tour. Joshua Douglas of Leander, TX rounded out the top three, three strokes out of the runner up spot.
Senior Hogan Flight: Manuel Martinez of Cisco, TX made the turn two strokes back, birdied the par 4 - 10th and par 4 - 11th to take the lead and never look back for his second win on tour in his first season. Tim VanLandingham of Portland, TX, with two birdies on the day and Champion of the Hawaii Amateur Championship, along with Paul Wuerdeman of San Antonio, TX finished the day sharing runner up honors, three strokes back.
Sarazen Flight: It took a playoff in the largest flight of the day to settle the score. With both Melissa Wood of Leander, TX and Helotes, TX member Scott Thompson all square after the front nine, Wood carded birdies on the par 4 -11th, par 3 -12th and par 4 - 16th to take the lead. On his final hole of the afternoon, Thompson made birdie on the par 5 - 18th to square things up again. Back to the course for the sudden death, Thompson would pick up his sixth win on tour and first since January 2014. Katy, TX, Houston Tour member, Kristopher Bixby would round out the top three, five strokes back.
Senior Sarazen: James McKee of Abilene, TX birdied his ninth hole of the day the par 5 - 18th, played his back nine in +2 and led the field by three strokes. It was the third win on the season in four attempts for McKee, punching his ticket to the Senior National Championships. First time player Steve Hamilton of Leander, TX and Euless, TX resident, Tom Stockton split the runner up honors.
Jones Flight: Canyon Lake, TX member, Michael Kirk birdied his second hole of the day, the par 4 -11th, and finished up with a birdie on the par 4 - 5th and par 4 - 9th to pick up his second win in an many attempts. Seven strokes back the trio of Daryl Nixon of Taylor, TX, with two birdies on the round, Houston, TX player Artis Stewart, with one birdie on his back nine and Larry Atchley of Kyle, TX split the second place honors.
Snead Flight: Mark Colwell of Selma, TX birdied the par 4 - 11th and finished his round with another birdie at the par 4 - 9th for his ninth win on tour and first of the season. Two strokes back, Austin, TX first year member, Christopher Cobb matched his T2 finish at the Port Aransas Open with a couple of birdies on his round. Stan Harper of Lake Leon, TX rounded out the top three in his sixth event of the points season.
SKINS:
Giant SKINS: ($260/each) 1 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Melissa Wood, Leander, TX.
Championship / Palmer/ Senior Palmer: ($90/each) 2 -- Patrick Weathersby, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Morgan Splichal, San Antonio, TX.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: ($80/each) 2 -- Manuel Martinez, Cisco, TX. 1 -- Christopher Timmerman, Georgetown, TX; Tim VanLandingham, Portland, TX.
Sarazen: ($48/each) 2 -- Melissa Wood, Leander, TX. 1 -- Kristopher Bixby, Katy, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Aaron Seafous, Austin, TX.
Senior Sarazen: ($80/each) 2 -- Steve Westphal, Temple, TX. 1 -- Jorge Lozano, New Braunfels, TX.
Jones / Snead: ($50/each) 1 -- Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX; Daryl Nixon, Taylor, TX; Terry Everts, Eastland, TX; Joe Tyson, Austin, TX; Barry Stone, Del Valle, TX; Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
($130/each) #3 - Barry Stone - 4'1"; #8 - Chris Timmerman - 2' 9 1/2"; #12 - Micah Carroll - 6' 2"; #17 - Fernando Davila - 1' 8"
Upcoming Texas Events:
Dallas Tour gets back into the swing of things at the Classic at the Creek, Indian Creek Golf Club on Saturday March 21st with a registration deadline of Friday March 13th.
Houston Tour members follow up with the Masters at the Ridge, River Ridge Golf Club on March 14th, entry deadline is Friday, March 6th.
For More Information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
