Looks Deceiving at River Place - Hill Country Tour

Scott R Chilcutt, Austin, TX (April 26, 2015)  There is nothing more trying to a golfers patience than striking a ball down the middle of the fairway or to the middle of a green, only to find it in the hazard or worse yet, lost.  Oh boy, there was plenty of those sentiments on Sunday at The Challenge at River Place on the Hill Country Tour.  Adding to the frustrations, a quick lightning storm passed over in front of our scheduled times, bringing club members off the course, only to find them going back out causing close to an hour delay starting.

River Place Country Club, the Tom Kite design, his first, in the early 1990's built along the edge of the Hill Country in Austin. Huge elevation changes throughout the site required literally cutting and blasting into the hill side benching the holes into the slopes.  Blind shots, undulations in the fairways and greens, added to a fast rolling hard surface that would contribute to an event that would record an average score of 94.87 or nearly 24 strokes over the par 71 layout, almost five strokes over the average at the last event at The Dominion Country Club.

Joe Urquidez (Championship Flight), and Patricio Gonzalez (Palmer Flight) were "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning their flights playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to them for the win.  Michael Kirk edged out Joe Tyson by a stroke for the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Joe Urquidez of Cedar Park, TX a runner up finisher in the Duel in the Desert 2015, exclusive two man event in Las Vegas, NV in late January was able to struggle through the layout for his first win on tour in three individual stroke play events.  Euless, TX member, Rusty Ramsey, a winner at the February rain shortened Iron Horse Open on the Dallas Tour, made birdie on the par 4 - 3rd to finish in the runner up spot.

Palmer Flight:  Starting on the tenth tee box, Patricio Gonzalez, of San Antonio, TX, struggled on his first nine holes.  Gonzalez, three strokes back of the leader at the time, made the turn with only two bogies, added seven par's to finish two strokes clear of a pair tied in the runner up spot for his second win on tour and first of the season.   Another San Antonio, TX, player, Fernando Davila shared the lead after nine holes, but ran into trouble at the par 5 - 4th and par 3 - 6th to settle for a tie in the runner up spot.  Little John Hilgers of Wimberly, TX carded his normal consistent round with a string of pars on his back nine to share the runner up finish.

Hogan Flight:   Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX, scooted along on his first nine holes, with the help of a birdie on the par 3 - 16th to set up his third National Championship Qualify win of the season and his ninth on tour.  One stroke back,  Round Rock, TX, player Jorge Rodriguez, with a birdie on the par 3 - 16th did just enough to finish one stroke back with Leander, TX member Joshua Douglas carding three birdies on the day for the third place honors.

Senior Hogan Flight:   Georgetown, TX, resident, Darrell Wilson notched his third win of the season and Senior National Championship invitation with his tenth win on tour.  One stoke back, Daryl Epperson of Houston TX, the Houston Tour Assistant Director, carded his best finish of the season with a pair just behind in third.  Bobby Stokes, from Richardson, TX, with two wins on the season and Spring Branch, TX, player David Michel split the third place honors.

Sarazen Flight:  Rudy Cantu of Boerne, TX started out with a double, but held it together with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd to hold out for the win, his first on tour.   Cedar Lake, TX, player Michael Kirk proved why he was moving to the Hogan Flight with three birdies on his first nine holes, making the turn in +2 in the runner up spot.  Les Costales of Cedar Park, TX bettered his front nine score by three strokes to round out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Temple, TX first year player, Steve Westphal, seemed out of it after his round, but ended up clearing the field by a single stroke for his first win on tour.  Long time, Round Rock, TX, player Michael Brewer carded birdies on the par 4 -9th and par 4 -15th to take the runner up spot. Joe Abreo of Bulvuerde, TX hung tough to finish out with the third place honors just  three strokes out of a win.

Jones Flight:   Questioning where were the clowns and windmills after last years event, Joe Tyson of Austin, TX, wondered the same this year.  The biggest difference for the Brooklyn, NY, native was the outcome. Tyson stepped into a five stoke advantage after his first nine of play and held on for his fourth win on tour and second of the season.  John Grossenbacher, of San Antonio, TX and Lakeway, TX player Donald Bebout split the runner up honors.

Snead Flight:  Christopher Cobb of Austin, TX, proved the work to be worthy, picking up his second win on the season in his first year on tour.  One stroke back,  three time winner on the season, Bobby Ashcraft finished with runner up honors with John Thomas of Victoria, TX, rounding out the top three.




SKINS:

Giant SKINS: ($75/each)  2 -- Joshua Douglas, Leander, TX; Michael Kirk, Canyon Lake, TX. 1 -- Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX; Jimmy Clanin, Pflugerville, TX.

Championship / Palmer: ($73/each)  1 -- John Price, Whitney, TX; Larry Susen, Austin, TX; Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan: ($56/each)  2 -- Joshua Douglas, Leander, TX. 1 -- Gus Aldana, Houston, TX; Jim Puckett, Leander, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX.

Sarazen: ($52/each)  2 -- Michael Kirk, Canyon Lake, TX. 1 -- Douglas Galloway, Austin, TX; Angel Morales Jacquez, San Antonio, TX; Rudy Cantu, Boerne, TX.

Senior Sarazen: ($40/each)  1 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX; Joe Abreo, Bulverde, TX; Raul Martinez, Brownwood, TX.

Jones / Snead: ($56/each)  1 -- Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX; David Sipe, Atascocita, TX; Andy Eldridge, Fort Worth, TX; Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; Jimmy Clanin, Pflugerville, TX.




CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($110/each)  #2 - Wayne Taylor - 3' 8";  #6 - Paul Wuerdeman - 9' 9";  #12 - John Price - 7' 10"; #13 - Jorge Rodriquez  - 7' 9"

Upcoming Texas Events:

Members in the State of Texas take a break for the Major Championship at the Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino on May 2nd and 3rd.

Hill Country Members are back to River Crossing Club on May 9th for the Spring Branch Classic, registration closes on Friday, May 1st.

Dallas Tour members get back into action at the Fort Worth Championship at Waterchase Golf Club, entry deadline is Friday, May 8th.

Houston Tour players tee it up for the special Player Championship @ The Woodlands on Tuesday, May 19th. Registration closes on Friday, May 8th.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Director - Texas Tours

Dallas  Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Houston Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

www.gcamtour.com