Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (July 9, 2016) After a couple of years in the dark with a closing in 2013, The Golf Club of Texas opened in August of 2015 with much fan fare. Resurfacing the entire complex with Zoysia grass, spring floods hampered the continuation of the process, losing cart paths, dams and the irrigation system, then followed by hot and dry weather the course wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing venue of the year, but certainly played fair. And fair it seemed, with each flight racking up some low scores and some records to go with the scores.
John Heintz (Hogan Flight) and Charles Mielak were "Up for the Srixon Challenge". Winning their respective flights playing a Srixon ball, they will get a dozen sent to them for the win. Charles Mielak picked up the Tournament Champion, presented by Carlisle's Engraving with a net -11. The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $200, bringing the year to date total from the Texas Tour local events to $9,580 contributed to the Foundation.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Copperas Cove, TX, player Rusty Lippert, made the best of an eagle on the par 5 - 8th, added a couple of birdies, and finished the day -1 for his thirteenth win on tour and second of the season. Mark Miller, of Spring Branch, TX, just off an eye procedure may not have seen all his shots, but didn't really have to look hard. Miller, with an eagle on the par 5 - 18th, finished just two strokes back, with Bulverde, TX, member Daniel Hansen rounding out the top three.
Palmer Flight: Ron Finnerty, of San Antonio, TX, made the turn with a two stroke advantage over Houston, TX, player Scott Williams. Finnerty, -1 through 16 holes, looked to have things tied up, doubled 17 and then Williams birdied the final hole of the day, they went back to the course. In short order, Finnerty, made the best of the sudden death playoff with Williams relegated to the runner up finish. Doug Collins of Iraan, TX, and San Antonio,TX, resident Gary Grizzle, shared the third place finish.
Hogan Flight: With a career low round, +2 - 74, John Heintz, a local of sorts from nearby San Antonio, TX, made the best of four birdies on the round, to go with his geographical location. For Heintz it was his sixteenth win on tour and second of the season. Second time, San Antonio, TX, player Jesse Guerra, bested his T3 his first time out, with the runner up spot, while German Zavala of Eagle Pass, TX, recorded the show place finish.
Senior Hogan Flight: Portland, TX, member Timothy VanLandingham, honoring Little John Hilgers, fighting health battles, carded one birdie on the day enroute to a two stroke win, his first of the season. Three time winner on the season, Paul Wuerdeman of San Antonio, TX, recorded three birdies on the day to go along with a colorful scorecard finishing in the runner up spot. Sound Beach, NY, traveler, Brian Jackson, visiting family, rounded out the top three.
Sarazen Flight: Close to the winners circle on a number of occasions, Jim Puckett of Leander, TX, finally broke through for his first win on tour. One stroke back, fellow Leander, TX, player Josh Douglas, found the runner up spot, with the help of a couple of birdies on the round, with second time player, Cody Prescott, of Floresville, TX, finishing in third.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Just one week separated from a Golf Now Performance Promotion to the Senior Sarazen Flight, Austin, TX, member Joseph Tyson, cleared the field by three strokes with consecutive birdies on the par 4 - 1st and 2nd holes. For Tyson, always near the top in the Jones Flight, it was his second win on the season. Leander, TX, member Steve Hamilton, coming off a win at the San Antonio Masters his last time out, grabbed the runner up spot, with Richard Huyck from Live Oak, TX, taking home the third place finish.
Jones Flight: Midland, TX, traveler, Mike Jones, picked up his third win on tour and first since August 2013 in Oklahoma. Jones took a one stroke advantage making the turn, just enough to finish one stroke ahead of Steve DiPaola of San Antonio, TX. Fellow San Antonio, member, Phil Lewis and first time player, Tim Miller of Shavano Park, TX shared the final podium spot.
Snead Flight: Charles Mielak, of San Antonio, TX, recorded another career low round on tour, besting his 2011, 84 at the Republic with a +11 - 84 and a two stroke advantage. Austin, TX, member Christopher Cobb, with a birdie on the par 5 - 18th jumped into the runner up finish with Bobby Ashcraft of San Antonio, TX, rounding out the top three.
SKINS:
Giant SKINS: ($43/each) 1 -- Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX; Rusty Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX; Louis Torres, San Antonio; David Day, McClendon-Chisholm, TX; Joseph Tyson, Austin, TX.
Championship / Palmer: ($55/each) 2 -- Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Rusty Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: ($20/each) 3 -- John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Brian Jackson, Sound Beach, NY.
Sarazen / Senior Saraze: ($44/each) 1 -- Cody Prescott, Floresville, TX; Louis Torres, San Antonio; C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX; David Day, McClendon-Chisholm, TX; Joseph Tyson, Austin, TX.
Jones / Snead: ($85/each) 1 -- Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX; Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX; Dan OShea, Copperas Cove, TX; John Thomas, Victoria, TX.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
($82/each) #3 - Rusty Lippert - 5' 10"; #6 - Bobby Ashcraft - 9' 10"; #12 - Larry Harper - 8' 2"; #15 - Ricky Napper - 5' 3".
Upcoming Texas Events:
Friday July 29th the Hill Country Tour grabs the day for the visit to Falconhead for the Prelude to the Texas Masters @ Barton Creek.. Registration ends at midnight, July 22nd.
Houston Tour members, take flight for the sold out Montgomery Championship at Woodforest on Saturday July 16th. Back in action after a break for the Texas Masters at Barton Creek, the final single day event of the points season will be contested at Timber Creek for the Friendswood Challenge on Saturday, August 6th. Entries close on Friday, July 29th.
For More Information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
