Windy At The Spring Branch Classic

Scott R Chilcutt, Spring Branch, TX (November 10, 2012)  Located just 20 minutes north of San Antonio, the River Crossing Club was the site of the only rain out on the Hill Country Tour in 2012.  That postponed event just happened to be one of those lucky ones where we could believe the weather man 48 hours in advance.  After visiting the course only weeks before that initial rain out, it was obvious this time around that the rescheduled event made for much better course conditions.

Firm and very smooth greens, welcome on most days, tended to make things very difficult with the winds whipping to near 40 mph.  The par 4 - #6 hole lived up to it's #1 handicap playing 1.64 strokes over par with only 15 pars amongst the 75 rounds on the day.  The strong winds from the southeast blew in a strong contingent of 17 players from the Houston Tour where they combined for 3 of the eight flight wins. 


RESULTS:

Palmer Flight:  Todd VanDerSchaegen of San Antonio, TX commanded his seventh win on tour by three strokes over Ft. Hood, TX player Jacob Morton.  Todd went out with a strong one over par on the front with birdies at the third and eighth holes, had a few troubles on the back nine, but was able to hold off Morton's run on the back.  Newcomer Steven Wilson, back from a four year stint in Europe with the Air Force, finished one stroke back of the second spot to round out the top three.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Fair Oaks, TX resident Gary Grizzle finished in an early group and looked to have his first win locked up, but Frank Davis from San Antonio was still on the course with other thoughts. After a double on the par five - fourteenth, Davis bounced back to finish the final four holes in one over par with birdies on the last two to force the playoff.   On the first extra hole, Grizzle nearly drove the green, but couldn't get the putter to work to overtake Davis.  Grizzle, matching his best finish on tour finished second to the twelve time winner Davis. Self promoted from the Senior Hogan Flight, Steve Trickel of Boerne, TX grabbed the third place finish by a stroke.   

Hogan Flight:  Houston Tour traveler Gus Aldana recorded his eighth win on tour.  Brian Cox from Killeen, brought it to within one stroke after Aldana doubled the par four - thirteenth but couldn't make up any more ground when Gus followed up with a birdie on the par 3 - fifteenth.  Killeen, TX member James Matthews looked to have things in line for another win, but ended up with an "other" at the par five - fifteenth to come back to the group and finish in the third place position.

Senior Hogan Flight:   Terry Dennis from Shertz, TX playing in his first event on tour finished his round with two birdies adding to three earlier to force what would have been a playoff with Houston Tour standout Bill Mathews.  When Dennis was not available for the extra holes, the trophy was awarded to Matthews for his sixteenth win on tour and second in a row. George Smith from Magnolia, TX finished with five pars on his last six holes to round out the top three, two strokes back.

Sarazen Flight:  After his foursome was assessed a one stroke pace of play penalty, Rene Realme of San Antonio, TX had to go to extra holes.  Cedar Park, TX member Les Costales went one under par on the final four holes to force his second playoff with Realme after the pair dueled it out earlier for the July 2012 Challenge @ Twin Creeks title.  With a par on the first playoff hole Realme would repeat to pick his third win on tour with Helotes, TX resident Scott Thompson finishing in the show position one stroke back.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Gregg Smith notched his third win on tour with a par on the final hole to secure a one stroke advantage over Brownwood, TX player Raul Martinez after Martinez finished the last two frames with bogey's.  Gatesville, TX member Richard Beil playing in his second event on tour after a recent trip to Houston, carded birdies on the fifth and seventeenth for a third place finish two strokes clear of local Bulverde, TX player Joe Abreo.

Jones Flight:  Giddings, TX resident Thomas West made it two for two by four strokes over second place finisher Mark Rivera from San Antonio, TX.  West won his first event on tour his last time out at the August 
Tour Championship @ TPC San -Antonio in the heat and this time battled the wind to start his winning streak. Third place finisher, San Antonio player David Castillo took eight strokes off his back nine for a four stroke cushion.

Snead Flight:  When darkness fell on some of the Snead Flight players that hadn't finished, the contest was shortened to the front nine where Jeremy Fang from Houston, TX picked up the win in his first event on tour.  San Antonio, TX member Ramon Colen recorded the second place spot one stroke ahead of the pair of Larry Atchley from Kyle, TX and Houston Tour member Richard Schram knotted up with the third place finish.           

SKINS:

Palmer / Senior Palmer:  2 -- Jacob Morton, Ft. Hood, TX. 1 -- Steven Wilson, San Antonio, TX; Mark Greene, Austin, Tx; Gary Grizzle, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Randy Rollo, Waco, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  2 -- Gus Aldana, Houston, TX. 1 -- Joe Slade, Horseshoe Bay, TX; James Matthews, Killeen, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  2 -- John Heintz, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Lee Brunell, Houston, TX; Donna Brady, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX; Les Costales, Cedar Park, TX; Michael Esquivel, Austin, TX; Bill Troutz, San Antonio, TX.

Jones / Snead:  1 -- David Castillo, San Antonio, TX; Thomas Kerwin, Pflugerville, TX; Richard Schram, Bryan, TX.

Next Up:  The Hill Country Tour makes a stop before the Holidays at the Falconhead Golf Club for the Winter Classic - Hill Country on December 8th.

For More Information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467schilcutt@gcamtour.com