Scott R Chilcutt, Lakeway, TX (July 11, 2015) Flintrock Falls, one of three courses in The Hills of Lakeway Country Club complex in Northwest Austin hosted the annual Austin - Nicklaus Open on the Hill Country Tour. Near the shores of Lake Travis, the spring has been kind to the course conditions. To bring that into perspective, the lake level at Travis is an astounding +42' since our last outing. While it's still -9' from a full pool, it's been years since the lake had as much water.
Flintrock Falls, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II, has that "don't know where to hit it" layout. With the exception of the par threes on the course, very few holes can you clearly see the green from the TEE. For the visual deception off the tee's, comes just as much playing to the putting surface with green complexes that were very hard to read, making it a long day if you didn't strike the ball just right.
Bruce Beakley (Palmer 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. John Hilgers grabbed the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, by one stroke over Steve Trickle, both playing in the combined Hogan Flight.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Killeen, TX resident, Jordan Massey put together a solid front nine, even after six holes with a couple of birdies, stumbled on the par 5 - 8th, but rebounded with a birdie on the tight par 4 - 9th. Massey wouldn't get his normal momentum changing play going on the back, but finished out with the win, his fourth in a row on five attempts this season. One stroke back, Robert Lippert of Copperas Cove, TX, a recent graduate to the Senior Championship Flight, put a couple of birdies together on the round to grab the runner up finish. North Las Vegas, NV, player Matthew Rischar, in the area for training, dropped in to round out the top three, just two strokes out of the lead.
Palmer Flight: Houston Tour traveler, Bruce Beakley had the flight covered making the turn, made birdie on the par 4 - 10th and proved to be just enough. Beakley, promoted after his last win in November 2014, picked up his first win with the new flight, second on the points season and eighth on tour. One stroke back, first time tour player, Justin Claiborne of San Angelo, TX, kept it close and carded the second place spot with Randy McGinnis of San Antonio, TX, with the help of two birdies on the back nine, taking the show place finish.
Hogan Flight: Employing a local caddie for the first time, John Hilgers of Wimberly, TX, took the advise over the blind course to heart, picking up his second win on the season and tenth on tour. Five strokes back, Allan Collier of Dripping Springs, TX, a two time winner on the season birdied his final hole of the day, the par 5 - 18th to command a runner up finish after Steve Trickel of Boerne, TX, matched the feat on the eighteenth. It was Trickel's, third, third place finish on the season.
Sarazen Flight: First year member, John Schott of Marion, TX, made the best of birdies on the par 3 - 6th and par 5 - 13th to pick up his first win on tour. Another first year player from Crystal City, TX, followed up the win at the Hill Country Open in late July, with a birdie on the par 4 - 1st after seemingly losing the ball on his tee shot to the hazard. Local player, Homer Turbeville of Austin, TX and Temple, TX, member Steve Westphal, with closest to the hole and birdie on the par 3 -12th shared the third place finish.
Jones Flight: Coming out of the gate strong, local Lakeway, TX, player Donald Bebout was only +1 after six holes. Bebout, still with a flight lead making the turn ran into a disaster at the par 4 - 10th and could not rebound, finishing in the runner up spot. Steve DiPaola of San Antonio, TX, with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 8th, slid into the lead on the fifteenth hole and was able to keep the distance despite a coulple of tough holes on sixteen and seventeen to finish out the win. New Braunfels, TX, player Gregg Singhaus carded his best finish on tour rounding out the top three.
Snead Flight: Houston Tour invader, Ray Bednar, came to Austin with a purpose. Bednar, with ten events on the season and forty on tour, used the layout to command his first win on tour, with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 4th. Bobby Ashcraft of San Antonio,TX, with birdie on the par 3 - 15th and pairing partner, Austin, TX, resident, Christopher Cobb snarled back and forth with each other on the round, ultimately, finishing tied for the runner up finish.
SKINS:
Giant SKINS: ($50/each) 2 -- Jordan Massey, Killeen, TX. 1 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; John Schott, Marion, TX; Steve Westphal, Temple, TX; Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX.
Championship / Palmer: ($50/each) 2 -- Jordan Massey, Killeen, TX. 1 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Bruce Beakley, Houston, TX.
Hogan: ($75/each) 1 -- Will Whitley, Cypress, TX; Ronnie Davis, Converse, TX; Kenny Mire, Pflugerville, TX; John Heintz, San Antonio, TX.
Sarazen: ($20/each) 3 -- Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX. 2 -- John Schott, Marion, TX; Steve Westphal, Temple, TX; Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX. 1 -- Jay Mills, Austin, TX.
Jones / Snead: ($26/each) 3 -- Donald Bebout, Lakeway, TX. 2 -- Steve DiPaola, San Antonio, TX; Gregg Singhaus, New Braunfels, TX. 1 -- Matt Vernon, Manor, TX; Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
($85/each) #2 - Ronnie Davis - 12' 10"; #6 - John Schott - 5' 7"; #12 - Steve Westphal - 1' 7 1/2"; #15 - Bobby Ashcraft - 5' 6".
Upcoming Texas Events:
The Dallas Tour makes it three in three weekends at the flood rescheduled Fairview Classic @ Heritage Ranch on Sunday, July 26th. Registration closes, Friday, July 17th at 11:59PM EST.
On tap in The Hill Country, the tour welcomes players from around the country for the special Friday prelude to the Texas Open at Barton Creek for the Championship at Falconhead on Friday, July 31st. Waiting list spots still available.
Saturday, July 25th the Houston Tour will contest the final local event before the Tour Championships at the Challenge At The Lake at La Torretta Lake Resort and Spa. Registration closes, Friday, July 17th at 11:59PM EST.
For More Information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
