Hill Country Finishes the Points Season with a Bang!

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (August 14, 2016)  La Cantera Hill Country Resort set the stage for the Hill Country Tour Championship. Saturday we spent the day at The Palmer Course then on to the Sunday finale at the Resort Course.  Incredibly cool temperatures were accompanied by occasional light rains on Saturday, much the same on Sunday with only one down pour that brought into question the conclusion.  In the end, players enjoyed record "LOW" temperatures over the weekend, and everyone was able to complete the 36 hole event.

Nikolas Mabry picked up the Tournament Champion, presented by Carlisle's Engraving with a -4 - 139, edging out Preston Miller with a -3 - 140 for the weekend.  The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $310, bringing the year to date total from the Texas Tour local events to $12,420 contributed to the Foundation.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Coming from two strokes off the lead starting the Sunday round, Niko Mabry of San Antonio, TX, carded four birdies on his final round to pick up his second win on tour.  First round leader, San Antonio, TX, member Genaro Davila birdied four holes on his final round, but ended up just two strokes shy of the victory.  Ernesto Beyer, making a clean sweep of San Antonio players, picked up the year end Flight Champion award and third place honors.  Kermit, TX, member Dr. Daniel Desilets was the high finishing Senior Championship Flight player and Flight Champion for 2016, finishing in the fourth place spot.

Palmer Flight:  Iraan, TX, Senior Palmer Flight player, Doug Collins birdied three holes at The Palmer Course to set him up for the final round.  Collins, tied up with San Antonio, TX, player Ron Finnerty after the day, played the final round in similar fashion to finish out his second win on the season and  his seventh on tour.

Finnerty a mainstay on The Hill Country Tour, took the chance of being promoted to the Championship Flight, to win the low Palmer Flight Honors just two strokes back.  Derrick Mathews of Killeen, TX, jumped into a tie for third with his final round  + 9 - 81 bringing him into the share of third with Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX.

Hogan Flight:  Rene Realme of San Antonio, TX,  led wire to wire for his second win on the season and his tenth on tour.  Realme, with a single stroke advantage after the round at the Palmer Course, extended the lead on Sunday over a pair tied up in the runner up spot.  Cedar Park, TX, player Les Costales and Leander, TX, member Bryan Wood, split the second place finish five stokes back.

Senior Hogan Flight:  San Antonio, TX, resident, Paul Weurdeman a winner the last time the tour visited the two courses at the 2015 Srixon Championship, led the field after the Saturday round, with just enough cushion to pick up his fourth win on the year.  Steve Wade, of Boerne, TX, carding the only birdie of the flight on the par 5 - 14th on Sunday finished just two strokes back.  Portland,TX, player Timothy VanLandingham, made a charge on Sunday, with the flight low final round to share the third place honors with Bob Tuttle of Kingsland, TX.

Sarazen Flight:  Dallas Tour invaders hog all the podium spots in the flight.  Richardson, TX, player Sven Bock, in a heated points battle on the Dallas Tour, made the best of the 1/2 point affair for outsiders when he lead from wire to wire for his fourth win on the season.  Hard charging, Fort Worth, TX, player Preston Miller, with the flight low round on Sunday, finished in the runner up spot, with Michael Hill, a three time winner on the season, from Rockwall, TX, rounding out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Out of the winners circle since March, 2015, Larry Viktorin of Wharton, TX, finished his round in the heaviest rain of the weekend, and held out for a seven stroke victory.  First year Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, player Ben Maytubby, in the third spot after his Saturday round, took three strokes off on Sunday to jump into the runner up finish, his best on the season.  Eight strokes back from Maytubby, Austin, TX, member Joseph Tyson and Michael Bell of Pearland, TX, split the third place honors.

Jones Flight:  In the final pairing on Sunday, despite being seven strokes back, San Antonio, TX, player Bobby Ashcraft, promoted on August 1st, made the best of a birdie on the par 4 - 9th, his final hole  of the day to pick up his third win on the season.  With three birdies on the weekend, William Speck of Corpus Christi, TX, and San Antonio, TX, resident Carlos Gloria, with a pair of birdies on Sunday, shared the runner up finish, three strokes back.

Senior Jones Flight:  The second first time winner of the day after a recent promotion, Montgomery, TX, traveler, Michael Pierce, stayed on a roll, picking up his seventh win on tour by only a single stroke over Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX. Fleming, with birdie on the par 3 - 17th, got it to within one heading to his final hole, but could only match Pierce, settling for the runner up spot.  Playing in only his second event on the season, Carrollton, TX, player Scott Sears, had a rough go of it on Sunday after sharing the overnight lead to finish third.

Snead Flight:  Locked in a three way tie after the Palmer Course round on Saturday, Jimmy Clanin of Pflugerville, TX, put together the only sub 100 round of the weekend in the flight on Sunday to pick up his fourth win on the season, securing his Flight Champion status.  Six strokes back, Charles Watson of Llano, TX, captured the second place spot, with Selma, TX, player Mark Colwell with two birdies on the weekend, rounding out the top three.

Senior Snead Flight:  Georgetown, TX, member Dwain Smith, held on to an overnight two stroke advantage to win his second event of the season and first Tour Championship.  Dan OShea of Copperas Cove, TX, could only make up one stroke of the deficit on Sunday to finish second, with Harker Heights, TX, player Felix Galvez and Pasadena, TX, resident Robert Vespa, sharing the third place honors.




SKINS:

DAY 1 (Palmer Course):

Giant SKINS:  ($165/each)  1 -- Mike Fee, Mansfield, TX; Timothy VanLandingham, Portland, TX; Jimmie Chambers, Wharton, TX; Scott Sears, Carrollton, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($160/each)  1 -- Mike Fee, Mansfield, TX; Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX.

Hogan:  ($0/each)  NO SKIN WON - $300 carry over to second round:  

Senior Hogan:  ($45/each)  1 -- Timothy VanLandingham, Portland, TX; Jimmie Chambers, Wharton, TX; Steve Wade, Boerne, TX; Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX.

Sarazen:  ($56/each)  2 -- Sven Bock, Richardson, TX. 1 -- Joe Luman, Odessa, TX; Preston Miller, Fort Worth, TX; C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($22/each)  2 -- Michael Bell, Pearland, TX; Ben Maytubby, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX; Larry Viktorin, Wharton, TX. 1 -- Joseph Tyson, Austin, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($52/each)  1 -- Artis Stewart, Houston, TX; Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX; Doyle Fleming, Haslet, TX; Michael Pierce, Montgomery, TX; Scott Sears, Carrollton, TX.

Snead / Senior Snead:  ($34/each)  2 -- Charles Watson, Llano, TX; Jimmy Clanin, Pflugerville, TX. 1 -- Dwain Smith, Georgetown, TX; Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX; Mark Colwell, Selma, TX.


DAY 2 - (Resort Course):

Giant SKINS:  ($106/each)  1 -- Larry Viktorin, Wharton, TX; Mark Tylenda, Dallas, TX; Douglas Galloway, Austin, TX; Preston Miller, Fort Worth, TX; Jose Hernandez, Helotes, TX; Bryan Wood, Leander, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($53/each)  3 -- Genaro Davila, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Ernesto Beyer, San Antonio, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX; Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX.

Hogan:  ($100/each)  1 -- John Schott, Marion, TX; Jose Hernandez, Helotes, TX; Oscar Gonzalez, San Antonio, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Bryan Wood, Leander, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($32/each)  3 -- Steve Killion, Sanger, TX. 2 -- Steve Wade, Boerne, TX.

Sarazen:  ($37/each)  2 -- Preston Miller, Fort Worth, TX. 1 -- Mark Tylenda, Dallas, TX; Douglas Galloway, Austin, TX; Jim Puckett, Leander, TX; Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX; Sven Bock, Richardson, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($26/each)  2 -- David Phillippi, TX; Larry Viktorin, Wharton, TX. 1 -- Michael Bell, Pearland, TX; Ben Maytubby, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($26/each)  2 -- William Speck, Corpus Christi, TX; Scott Sears, Carrollton, TX; Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- James Price, Portland, TX; Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX; Doyle Fleming, Haslet, TX; Carlos Gloria, San Antonio, TX.

Snead / Senior Snead:  ($44/each)  1 -- Gene Hanley, San Antonio, TX; Robert Vespa, Pasadena, TX; Charles Mielak, San Antonio, TX; Mark Colwell, Selma, TX; Jimmy Clanin, Pflugerville, TX.


CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

DAY 1 - Palmer Course

($160/each)  #4 - Jimmy Chambers - 14" ;  #7 - Sven Bock - 8' 9";  #13 - Richard Huyck - 4' 8";  #17 - Scott Williams - 6' 3".

DAY 2 - Resort Course

($160/each)  #3 - Oscar Gonazlez - 1' 6 1/2" ;  #6 - John Schott - 6' 11";  #13 - William Speck - 4' 7";  #17 - Mark Colwell - 4' 6 1/2".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Off to the National Championship from September 13th - 16th and Senior National Championship, contested September 19th - 22nd, many players from around the tour will compete for the top prize of the season.

Fall events and 2017 points schedule will be posted soon, look out for the opportunity to get a jump start on the next season. 

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

Prelude to the Texas Masters at Falconhead

Scott R Chilcutt, Austin, TX (July 29,2016)  The last single day event of the points season on the Hill Country Tour was held at Falconhead Golf Club.  The special Friday event, booked as the Prelude to the Texas Masters at Barton Creek, allowed players to test and tune for the weekend Major Championship, with 67 of the 95 players in the event starting a three, in three day weekend.  

Rick Halprin (Senior Jones Flight) was "Up for the Srixon Challenge".   Winning his respective flight playing a Srixon ball, Rick will get a dozen sent to him for the win. Marshall Brackin picked up the Tournament Champion, presented by Carlisle's Engraving with a -10 - 62.  The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $400, bringing the year to date total from the Texas Tour local events to $11,360 contributed to the Foundation.

RESULTS:

Championship:  Copperas Cove, TX, Senior Championship Flight player, Rusty Lippert, made the best of three birdies on the round to pick up his second win in as many attempts.  One stroke back, another Senior, Mike Harkins of Cedar Park, TX, with two birdies and San Antonio, TX, member Genaro Davila, with a pair of his own, shared the runner up finish.

Palmer Flight:  Sitting out the Barton Creek event with travel plans to the Streamsong Amateur the following weekend, Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX, picked up his second win on the season and first since January.  With two birdies on the day, Matthews edged out Ron Finnerty of San Antonio, TX, by one stroke.  Houston, TX, player Scott Williams, started out rough on the day, but got things going with a birdie on the par 4 - 7th to round out the top three, just two strokes out of the win.

Hogan Flight:  Playing a limited schedule in 2016 after winning three events last fall, Brack Blackwood of Granbury, TX, made it four, in six tries.  Starting the day on the tenth hole, San Antonio, TX, resident Fernando Davila, went -2 over his last 4 holes to get within one stroke of the lead, while Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX, with four birdies on the day settled for the third place finish.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Kingsland, TX, player Bob Tuttle, evidently paired up with a good luck charm, grabbed his first win on the season.  Tuttle, with a birdie on the par 4 - 7th, recorded his first win on the season, with Christopher Phillps, of Richmond, TX, coming off a T2 finish at The Pinehurst Amateur, one stroke back.  Cypress, TX, player David Anthony, took six strokes off his back nine and came to the club house with a show place finish.

Sarazen Flight:  Oklahoma Tour member, Marshall Brackin of Norman, OK, made the best of the tour type yardage book sold at the course, to pick up his second win on the season.  Both wins for Brackin have come on Friday events before majors, the first just the week before at the Atunote Classic before the Turning Stone Classic Major in New York.  Six strokes back, Bob Koch of Farmington, NM, and Austin, TX, player Les Costales, shared the runner up honors.



Senior Sarazen Flight:  In a hurry to get to the pool at the Barton Creek Resort and unaware the scoreboard displays nine hole scores, David Sipe of Houston, TX, finished his last three holes in -1 to pick up his second win on the points season, but was no where to be found when the awards rolled out. Highlands Ranch, CO, player Charles Lambert equaled his best finish on the season in the runner up spot, with a pair of players just one stroke back.  Jones, OK, traveler, Stan Wilson and Jamie Sansom of Plano, TX, split the third place finish.

Jones Flight:  On a roll after winning two majors in as many attempts, including traveling to the Historic Pinehurst for The Pinehurst Amateur, Joe Armstrong of Spring, TX, put together his first sub 80 round on tour, to win by three strokes, his fourth win on tour and the season. Fellow Houston Tour member, Jeff Gregory of Montgomery, TX, tied up the runner up finish with consecutive birdies on 2 and 3, with Arkansas Tour Director, Steve Rutherford of Bentonville, AR, rounding out the top three.

Senior Jones Flight:   Houston, TX, resident, Rick Halprin, picked up his third win on the season.  Montgomery, TX, traveler, John Pickens, finished just one stroke back, with Dallas, TX, resident Lloyd Reid, JR carding birdie on his final hole of the day to secure the runner up finish.

Snead Flight:  Kingwood, TX, member Ray Bednar, a previous Major Champion at the Red River Shootout at Winstar, made it two for the season.  Two strokes back, Michael Pierce of Montgomery, TX, a six time winner on the season recorded the runner up finish, with The Woodlands, TX, player Jim Lamberth, rounding out the top three, for an all Houston Tour sweep.






SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($216/each)  1 -- Jeff Gregory, Montgomery, TX; Paul Gomez, Rogers, AR; Jerrod Hoyle, Brenham TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($160/each)  1 -- Rusty Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX.

Hogan:  ($36/each)  2 -- Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX. 1 -- Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Ronnie Davis, Converse, TX; Eric Dubbell, Edmond, OK.

Senior Hogan:  ($45/each)  2 -- Paul Gomez, Rogers, AR. 1 -- Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX; Jerrod Hoyle, Brenham TX.

Sarazen:  ($75/each)  1 -- Joe Luman, Odessa, TX; Marshall Brackin, Norman, OK; Preston Miller, Fort Worth, TX; Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($20/each)  3 -- David Sipe, Houston, TX. 2 -- Charles Lambert, Highlands Ranch, CO; Steve Hamilton, Leander, TX. 1 -- David McCasland, Red Oak, TX; David Day, McClendon-Chisholm, TX; Stan Wilson, Jones, OK.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($60/each)  1 -- Lloyd C Reid Jr, Dallas, TX; Joe Armstrong, Spring, TX; Steve Rutherford, Bentonville, AR; Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX; Jeff Gregory, Montgomery, TX.

Snead:  ($27/each)  2 -- Charles Watson, Llano, TX; Gene Hanley, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Andrew Wright, Westminster, CO; Dan OShea, Copperas Cove, TX; Michael Pierce, Montgomery, TX; Robert Vespa, Pasadena, TX.



CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($152/each)  #4 - Marshall Brackin - 5' 8" ;  #8 - Mike Jones - 8' 4";  #11 - Jeff Sheppeard - 3' 6";  #16 - Brack Blackwood - 5' 9".

Upcoming Texas Events:

The Hill Country finishes out its 2016 points season on August 13th and 14th at La Cantera Golf Club for the Hill Country Tour Championship.  Entries close on Friday, August 5th at 11:59PM EST. 

The Houston tour final single day event of the points season will be contested at Timber Creek for the Friendswood Challenge on Saturday, August 6th.  Flight Champions and more will be awarded at the Houston Tour Championship on August 20th and 21st at Black Horse Golf Club in Cypress, TX.   Registrations close on Friday, August 12th.

Dallas Tour players get the opportunity for another Monday special event at Las Colinas Country Club for the Las Colinas Championship on August 8th.  Then on to the Tour Championship at Bridlewood on Saturday, August 27th and Sunday, August 28th.  Spots are already limited with a entry deadline of Friday, August 19th at midnight.  

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