River in the Banks at The Spring Branch Classic

Scott R Chilcutt, Spring Branch, TX (May 9, 2015)  River Crossing Club located just south of the Guadalupe River crossing under State Highway 281 north of San Antonio, played host to the 2015 Spring Branch Classic on the Hill Country Tour.

The Guadalupe, a popular destination for rafting was flowing fast and cold with the recent rains in and around the Hill Country.  Those rains only contributed to the lush conditions of the course, able to handle the precipitation, the players were surprisingly able to drive to the golf balls after a bunch of cart path only events on the tour this spring.

Burnie Rodgers, of Haslet, TX, recorded a HOLE-IN-ONE on the par 3 - 15th, while Mike Adcock (Jones Flight) was "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning his flight playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to him for the win.  Adcock, also went on to win by a single stroke over Joe Abreo, the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Saltillo, Mexico, native Genaro Davila, now residing in San Antonio, TX, made it two for two on the AM Tour.  Davila, a winner his first time out at the San Antonio Masters, followed a +2 at The Dominion with a -2 on Saturday. With the help of four birdies on the day, with three coming to the clubhouse, Genero is now even par on tour.  Reining River Crossing Club Champion, Mark Miller of Spring Branch, TX, put together three birdies on his round to finish in the runner up spot, with another local Spring Branch player Jackson Wolfe rounding out the top three,

Palmer Flight:  San Antonio, TX, member, Dave Davlin used a birdie on the par 5 - 14th, one of only five on the day to pick up his fifteenth win on tour and second of the season. Of the fifteen wins, Davlin is a three time Major Champion on tour, most recently the 2014 Texas Masters at Barton Creek. Two strokes back,  Ron Finnerty, of San Antonio, TX, on the short end of a playoff at last weeks Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino, secured the runner up spot.  Two back of Finnerty, four players knotted up the third place finish.  First time player, Brannon Smith of Midland, TX,  Fernando Davila and Randy McGinnis both of San Antonio, TX, and Austin, TX, player Larry Susen shared the third place finish.

Hogan Flight:  Allan Collier, now residing in Dripping Springs, TX, came out of the gate swinging.  Collier with a birdie on his opening hole, the par 4 - 1st, muddied the waters at the par 3 - 2nd, but got back on track to pick up his third win on tour and first since moving to the Senior Hogan Flight.  San Antonio, TX, player Rene Realme a two time winner at River Crossing looked to have things wrapped up for a three - peat but carded a 9 at the par 5 - 17th, relegating himself to the runner up finish.  Michael Kirk of nearby, Canyon Lake, TX, proved to be a good fit in the Hogan Flight after a recent promotion, rounding out the top three. 

Sarazen Flight:  In just another example of "success breeding success",  Boerne, TX, player Rudy Cantu backed up his first win his last time out at the tough scoring The Challenge @ River Place with his second in two years on tour. One stroke back, Devin Brown of San Antonio, TX, was back three strokes after the front nine, made par on the final four holes and got it close.  Second time Austin, TX, player, Douglas Galloway carded the only birdie of the day on the #1 handicap, par 4 - 6th to finish tied in the third place spot with Rick Houchins of Houston, TX, with two birdies of his own on the day.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Recently relocated to San Antonio, TX, from the DFW area, George Peddy, 
made a birdie three on the par 4 - 18th to force extra holes with David Michel, a local course member from Spring Branch, TX.  Out for the sudden death playoff, Peddy would prevail with a par on the par 4 - 1st for his seventh win on tour and first since 2012.  Michel, made the only birdie on the tough par 5 - 17th, grabbed the runner up finish with local Bulverde, TX, player Joe Abreo and his birdie on the 1st hole of the day rounding out the top three.

Jones Flight:  With limited playing time on tour, Dallas Tour assistant Mike Adcock of  Fort Worth, TX secured his first win since being promoted to the Jones Flight with a birdie on the par 4 - 18th. Two stokes back after the front nine, four time tour winner, with two on the season, Joe Tyson of Austin, TX, birdied the par 3 - 15th, but just couldn't keep pace, settling for the runner up finish. Just a day removed from his birthday, Xavier Bardy and local club member Phil Lewis both from San Antonio, TX, shared the third place honors.

Snead Flight: Christopher Cobb of Austin, TX, carded his best round on tour, in his first season for his National Championship qualifying third win. Cobb, even after the front, stitched together just enough coming to the clubhouse to finish two strokes clear of Wylie, TX, traveler Ethan Blase.  Blase, with his second runner up finish of the season, edged out Charles Mielak of San Antonio, TX, with birdie on his final hole, the par 4 - 18th by a single stroke.  

SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($65/each)  1 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Chuck Odom, San Angelo, TX; Doug Collins, Iraan, TX; Randy McGinnis, San Antonio, TX; David Day, McClendon-Chisholm; Douglas Galloway, Austin, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX.

Championship / Palmer: ($43/each)  2 -- Chuck Odom, San Angelo, TX. 1 -- Genaro Davila, San Antonio, TX; Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Doug Collins, Iraan, TX; Randy McGinnis, San Antonio, TX.

Hogan:  ($36/each)  1 -- Steve Hamilton, Leander, TX; Allan Collier, Dripping Springs, TX; David Day, McClendon-Chisholm; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX; Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  ($110/each)  1 -- Douglas Galloway, Austin, TX; George Peddy, Bedford, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX.

Jones:  ($36/each)  2 -- Mike Adcock, Fort Worth, Texas. 1 -- Joe Tyson, Austin, TX; Matt Vernon, Manor, TX; Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX.

Snead:  ($22/each)  2 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; Charles Mielak, San Antonio, TX; Ethan Blase, Wylie, TX. 1 -- Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX.


CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($110/each)  #2 - Chuck Odom - 5' 10";  #7 - Xavier Bardy - 8';  #12 - Douglas Galloway  - 4' 0"; #15 - Burnie Rodgers - HOLE IN ONE.

Upcoming Texas Events:

The Hill Country Tour makes its Memorial Day Weekend visit to Vaaler Creek Golf Club for the Battle at Blanco on Saturday, May 22nd.  Entry deadline is Friday, May 15th at 11:59 PM EST. 

Dallas Tour members return to action at the Fort Worth Championship at Waterchase Golf Club on May 17th and go back to the popular Fairview Classic @ Heritage Ranch on May 31st.  Registration deadline is Friday May 22nd.

Houston Tour players tee it up for the special Player Championship @ The Woodlands on Tuesday, May 19th and then head south for the Missouri City Championship at Quail Valley Golf Club on May 30th, entry deadline is Friday, May 22nd.

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