Golf Channel Am Tour Staff, Austin, TX (July 28, 2013) A sold out field of players from eight states representing thirteen different tours collided at the Barton Creek Resort and Spa for the Texas Masters, the 24th Major Championship of the year on the Golf Channel AM Tour.
Early Saturday morning thunderstorms moved out of the area but left unseasonably humid conditions. Late morning sprinkles and mist went along with northerly breezes for the best weather conditions in event history as players navigated two of the signature courses on the resort property.
The Crenshaw Cliffside and the Fazio Foothills, both with differing characteristics, played to virtually idental over par numbers, The Crenshaw course, a par 71, short layout with undulating greens played to a + 17.32, while the tighter and longer Fazio layout, came in at + 17.52. In all the rounds, only four eagles were carded on the weekend, with Lynn Cormier of Missouri City, TX recording a hole in one on the par 3 - 9th hole of the Foothills course.
Over $1,300 was raised through the 50/50 raffle adding to the tally for the Feherty's Troops First Foundation.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Runner up at the 2012 Texas Masters at Barton Creek, Terry Rice of Midland, TX started the final round tied in the top spot, would fall back on the first hole, regain the lead after the seventh and never look back. Rice, now a ten time winner on tour, picked up his first Major Championship after three previous top fives this year. With a second place finish at this years Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort first year member Sean Skellenger of Dallas, TX and Hideaway, TX player Scott Blackshear shared the runner up spot two strokes back. Skellenger, with two of four rounds under par, carded eight birdies and an eagle on the two rounds, while Blackshear punched his ticket to the National Championships matching his best Major finish at the 2012 Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort.
Senior Championship Flight: Rich Vigil of Katy, TX opened with a one under par - 70 and started his round on Sunday with a five stroke advantage. Vigil held on at the Fazio Foothills course and picked up his seventh win on tour, second of the year and first Major Championship leading in wire to wire fashion. Six strokes back, fellow Houston Tour member Gordon Wagner of Sugarland, TX recorded his best finish on tour with Odessa, TX resident Marshall Morgan solidifying his National Championship plans rounding out the top three.
Palmer Flight: In what will likely be his last round on tour as a Palmer Flight player, Jake Morton of Fort Hood, TX made the best of it. Sure to be promoted after the weekend, Morton shared the lead after the first day and held on to his seventh win on tour, third Major Championship and second of the year. One stroke back, San Antonio, TX player Ron Finnerty overcame a five stroke deficit after day one to jump into the runner up spot, his best finish at a Major on tour. Todd VanDerSchaegen of San Antonio, TX and Houston, TX member Tino Flores split the third place honors for the final National Championship invitations.
Senior Palmer Flight: January Peebles of Moss Bluff, LA came from one stroke back after the Saturday round to win his fifth event of the year and third Major Championship of his career. Copperas Cove, TX resident Robert Lippert started the Sunday round one stroke back of Peebles, matched his second round score and bested his two previous third place Major Championship finishes of the year in the runner up spot. Daniel Desilets of Kermit, TX a winner at the 2013 Western Invitational finished in the third place spot.
Hogan Flight: Beginning his tour membership on the Atlanta Tour, Cory Welch now from Fort Worth, TX lead from the beginning to win his first Major Championship in seven attempts. One stroke back, Orange, TX member Rick Keszeg finished out his best Major on tour in the runner up spot with Aaron Brougher of Spring, TX matching his third place finish at the 2013 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay just two strokes behind the runner up finish.
Senior Hogan Flight: Another certain promotion of the weekend is coming for four time 2013 winner and two time Major Champion Jim Sumner of Odessa, TX. Sumner, a winner at the January TPC Sawgrass Open, shot a four over par - 76 to finish out with an eight stroke lead over Orange, TX resident Keith Grissom. While Grissom couldn't make up any ground on Sumner he maintained his two stroke advantage over Swansea, Wales native, Christopher Phillips now residing in Richmond, TX. It was Phillips seventh top five finish in a Major Championship.
Sarazen Flight: Brownsville, TX native Gilbert Sandoval, Jr., playing in only his second event on tour this year started Sunday five strokes off the lead. Sandoval, took five strokes off his day one total with a par on his final hole to win his second event and first since the 2009 ASA - River Crossing Golf Club. Rick Smalley of College Station, TX shared the overnight lead but took a birdie on his final hole, the par 4 -9th to knot up the runner up finish with Pearland, TX player Robert Murphy. All three players carded their best finishes at Major Championships.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Starting the final round two strokes off the lead, Paul Bradley Rich of Katy, TX finished his final six holes in two under par on three birdies to win his second Major Championship on tour. Runner up, Richmond, TX member Marty Hodges had his best finish in a Major six strokes off the lead. Tied in the eighth spot after Saturdays round at the Foothills Course, Lane McKinney of League City, TX jumped over six players round out the top three and punched his ticket to the National Championships.
Jones Flight: Traveling, Las Vegas, NV member Jacob Rivera won wire to wire, picking up his fourth Major Championship on tour and first since the 2011 Western Classic. Rivera, out in front by seven strokes after his Saturday round, came back to the field but used a birdie on his seventeenth hole of the day, the par 3 - 8th to win by two strokes. Low round of the flight on Sunday, Mark Rivera of San Antonio, TX split the second place honors with Cypress, TX player Randy Pegg.
Senior Jones Flight: Michael Bell of Pearland, TX started his Sunday round with a three stroke lead over a pair in second, including Vidor, TX resident Randy Adcock. Going out, Adcock had made up two of those strokes with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 8th and then Bell stepped on the gas. Coming to the club house, Bell shot a +4 on the back to win his third event of the year and first Major Championship by five strokes. Missouri City, TX member Lu Cormier jumped into a tie for second with Adcock with the help of birdies on both the par three's on the back to solidify her Senior National Championship trip.
Snead Flight: Playing in a directionally challenged group on Saturday, San Antonio, TX resident Carlos Cruz overcame a late to the tee penalty to become the only defending champion of the event. Cruz the 2012 Champion started the day four strokes out of the lead, made up three on the front and finished out one stroke clear of first round leader Jeremy Fang of Houston, TX. Coming back from eight strokes off the first round lead, Mark Colwell of San Antonio, TX carded his second National Championship invitation after a runner up finish at the 2013 Western Open rounding out the top three.
Senior Snead Flight: Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX became a three time Major Champion by edging out a pair of players tied in the runner up spot by one stroke. Glidden, the winner at the 2013 Myrtle Beach Classic made it two in her last three majors after a runner up finish at the 2013 Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort. Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX the runner up at the 2013 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay shared the second place honors with fellow Dallas Tour member, Luis Dayer of North Richland Hills, TX.
Scott R Chilcutt, New Braunfels, TX (July 13, 2013) The Bandit Golf Club, off the schedule for a year, hosted the 2013 New Braunfels Clash on the Hill Country Tour. Light northerly breezes didn't confine clearly the most oppressive weather of the year with a high of 102 degrees and 87% humidity. Design features over the first five holes, along with an aggressive tee sheet practice contributed to a long day where players either felt like they were taken by a bandit or kept their cool to make out like a bandit.
The husband and wife combo of Bryan and Melissa Wood of Leander, TX took home three of nine trophies on the day after taking flight championships and Bryan added to the total when he was awarded the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Richard Perez of San Antonio, TX carded a +5 - 75 to outlast Order of Merit Points leader Chris Daniluck of Boerne, TX for the win. Daniluck, with five birdies on the day trailed Perez from the second hole and couldn't make up the deficit despite birdies on the final two holes. North Dakota native Morgan Splichal , now residing in San Antonio, TX making his debut on the Hill Country Tour finished third.
Palmer Flight: San Antonio, TX member Frank Davis picked up his second win of the season with birdies on the par 5 - 7th and par 4 -10th. Two strokes back, Matthew Alvers of Pflugerville, TX finished in the runner up spot with Levelland, TX member Robert Sykes rounding out the top three. Sykes, eagled the par 5 - 15th.
Hogan Flight: Second time player, Nash Armstrong of Killeen, TX finished early with a +2 - 72 and thought he had things wrapped up, until Bryan Wood of Leander, TX came to the clubhouse, matched him and took the pair to a sudden death playoff. Wood, one under par through the fifteenth hole, bogeyed the final three, but put that out of his mind and won the first hole of the playoff for his thirteenth on tour and fourth of the season. Playing his way into the Palmer Flight, Armstrong carded two eagles including a two on the par 4 -10th holing out from 160 yards. Tim Haverly of San Antonio, TX finished in the show position, seven strokes back.
Senior Hogan Flight: Steven Turner of San Antonio, TX came to the clubhouse in one over par on the final nine to snatch his first win on tour. Starting out the back with birdies on the par 4 -10th and par 3 -11th, Turner finished one stroke ahead of a pair in the clubhouse with 79's. Johnson City, TX member John Hilgers birdied the par 4 -18th to share runner up honors with Darrell Wilson of Georgetown, TX who went out in two under over the first four.
Sarazen Flight: Converse, TX resident Ronnie Davis, with five birdies on the day, knotted up the lead with John Heintz of San Antonio, TX going to the final hole, but carded a bogey and opened the door when Heintz parred the final frame. Heintz with a dozen wins on tour and third of the season had a birdie of his own on the par 4 -1st hole. Dallas Tour member Joe Luman of Odessa, TX finished in the show position for the second time in as many attempts.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Visiting Houston Tour member Jim Craig of San Felipe, TX recorded his tenth win on tour and first of the season. One stroke back Richard Huyck of San Antonio, TX shot a career low round +10 - 80 for his second runner up finish on the season. First year player Peter Walker of Corpus Christi, TX rounded out the top three with his best finish on tour.
Jones Flight: Lu Cormier of Missouri City, TX came one stroke closer to her National Championship qualification campaign picking up her second win on the season. Cormier, a Houston Tour member, played the back nine in +4 to stay out front of Corpus Christi, TX member James Price by four strokes. Price, with a birdie on the long par 3 - 2nd stayed three clear of four players that shared the thrid place honors. John Merritt of Kerrville, TX, David Castillo and Mark Rivera of San Antonio, TX and The Woodlands, TX Patrick Richardson finished knotted up in the third place finish. Originally announced as one of those in that group Mike Jones of Midland, TX notified the committee that he signed an incorrect score card and was disqualified.
Snead Flight: First year player, Melissa Wood of Leander, became a first time winner after knocking on the door her last two times out. With previous runner up and third place finishes, Wood played consistent nine over on each nine to stay four clear of another first year player Larry Atchley of Kyle, TX. One stroke back of Atchley, Dwain Smith of Cedar Park, TX and San Antonio, TX member Leonard Linkes, with two birdies on the day split the third place finish.
SKINS:
Giant Skins: 1 -- Morgan Splichal, San Antonio, TX; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX; Homer Turbeville, Austin, TX; Joe Luman, Odessa, TX; Jack Dillard, Midland, TX; James Price, Corpus Christi Tx.
Championship / Palmer: 4 -- Chris Daniluck, Boerne, TX. 3 -- Robert Sykes, Levelland, TX. 2 -- Morgan Splichal, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Matthew Alvers, Pflugerville, TX.
Hogan: 3 -- Nash Armstrong, Killeen, TX; Bryan Wood, Leander, TX. 1 -- Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Mark Rainwater, Flower Mound, TX; Demetrio Young, Killeen, TX.
Senior Hogan: 2 -- Steve Trickel, Boerne, TX. 1 -- Darrell Wilson, Georgetown, TX; Homer Turbeville, Austin, TX; John Hilgers, Johnson City, Texas; Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX.
Sarazen: 4 -- Ronnie Davis, Converse, TX. 2 -- William Dunem, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Robert Walker, Corpus Christi, TX; Joe Luman, Odessa, TX.
Senior Sarazen: 2 -- Jack Dillard, Midland, TX; Richard Huyck, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX; Tommy Chancellor, Decatur, TX; Tom West, Giddings, TX.
Jones: 2 -- James Price, Corpus Christi Tx; Mark Rivera, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Michael Hirsch, Giddings, TX; William Speck, Corpus Christi, TX; David Castillo, San Antonio, TX.
Snead: 3 -- Leonard Linkes, San Antonio, TX. 2 -- Melissa Wood, Leander, TX; Mark Colwell, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; Dwain Smith, Cedar Park, TX; Javier Quintero, Houston, TX.
Next
Up:
After a break for the Texas Masters at Barton Creek on July 27th and 28th, The Hill Country play will resume at the Cedar Park Challenge at Twin Creeks on Monday August 5th.
The Dallas Tour is back in action for
the SOLD OUT Tarrant County Open at Sky Creek Ranch on July 20th.
Oklahoma Open at Oak
Tree Country Club is on for Monday July 22, 2013 in
Edmond, OK.
Scott R
ChilcuttTour
Director
Dallas
/ Fort Worth Tour - Hill Country Tour -
Oklahoma Tour
GOLF
CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
- 972.302.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (July 6, 2013) After the washout, The Memorial Championship @ Canyon Springs, originally scheduled for May 25th, was rescheduled to a dryer and hotter time of the summer. Summer Series Points, shuffling flights and Player of the Year awards in the mix brought a smaller field, but with plenty of competition.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Birdie on the par 4 -18th was just enough for Arkansas Tour member Al Smith, recently relocated to Midland, TX ,to pick up his sixth win on tour. One stroke back, Richard Perez of San Antonio, TX started the round rough on the front, played the back in even par, but the final hole bogey opened the door for Smith.
Palmer Flight: Houston Tour member, Jeff Whitzel of Sealy, TX played nearly flawless golf, an even par 72 with birdies on the par 4 - 9th and par 4 - 16th for his fourth win on tour and second in as many attempts. Dave Kirby of Edmond, OK carded four birdies on the day just two strokes back, with Patricio Gonzalez of San Antonio, TX just one stroke back of Kirby, with four birdies of his own.
Hogan Flight: Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX took advantage of having fellow tour member, Dave Davlin on the bag to pick up his first win on tour, five strokes clear of the second place finisher. Newcomer Stephen Armstrong of Killeen, TX edged out Leander, TX member Bryan Wood for the runner up spot.
Senior Hogan Flight: Johnson City, TX resident, John Hilgers used two birdies on the back nine to card his first win on tour. Two strokes back, Houston Tour traveler Bill Mathews, coming off a win at the Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort set up a runner up finish over Larry Susen of Austin, TX rounding out the top three.
Sarazen Flight: Hill Country Tour member Damian Shipley of Corpus Christi, TX playing his first event in the area this year bettered his runner up finish at the 2012 Challenge @ The Springs edging out Austin, TX member Michael Esquivel by a single stroke. With two birdies on the par 5 - 2nd and par 3 - 3rd, Esquivel held off third place finisher William Dunem by two strokes.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Shooting his way to the Senior Hogan Flight, Charles Sagray of San Antonio, TX shot an even par on the front to record his second win in as many attempts six strokes clear of another San Antonio, TX player Alfredo Garcia. Garcia a winner at the Battle @ Blanco earlier in the year finished three strokes ahead of Dallas Tour member, Rick Allaire finishing in the show position.
Jones Flight: James Price of Corpus Christi, TX birdied his last hole of the day, the par 4 - 9th to grab his third win on tour all coming in 2013. Two Houston Tour members, Artis Stewart of Houston and The Woodlands, TX player Patrick Richardson shared the runner up finish. Richardson holed out from the fairway on the par 5 - 2nd for a three under par Albatross.
Senior Jones Flight: San Antonio, TX first time player Robert Jalnos took advantage of the short tee's, carded four birdies on the day to stay ahead of the second place finisher by three strokes. Joe Tyson of Austin, TX picked up his best finish on tour in his first year with a four stroke lead over third place player Michael Hirsch of Giddings, TX.
Snead Flight: In the only playoff of the day, Carlos Cruz was able to hold off another San Antonio, TX player Mark Colwell for his second win on tour. Starting on the 13th hole, Cruz was able to force the playoff with birdies on the par 5 - 10th and his final hole the par 4 - 12th. Colwell finished in the runner up spot for the third time on the year and second in as many outings. Melissa Wood of Leander, TX finished just outside the playoff by a single stroke to pick up another podium finish.
Senior Snead Flight: Cedar Park, TX player Dwain Smith notched his ticket to the Senior National Championships with his third win on the tour. Brett Niles of San Antonio, TX a winner his last time out shared the runner up finish with Houston, TX player Cathay McGee.
SKINS:
Giant Skin: 1 -- Mike Hafner, Katy, TX; Bill Mathews, Houston, TX; Devin Brown, San Antonio, TX; Tom West, Giddings, TX; Robert Jalnos, San Antonio, TX; Joe Tyson, Austin, TX.
Championship /Palmer: 2 -- Dave Kirby, Edmond, OK; Patricio Gonzalez, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Bill Freeland, Houston, TX; Mike Hafner, Katy, TX; Jeff Whitzel, Sealy, TX.
Hogan: 1 -- Brian Cox, Killeen, TX; Bryan Wood, Leander, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Stephen Armstrong, Killeen, TX.
Senior Hogan: 2 -- Bill Mathews, Houston, TX. 1 -- Bill Clark, Helotes, TX; John Hilgers, Johnson City, Texas; Larry Susen, Austin, TX; Steven Turner, San Antonio, TX.
Sarazen: 1 -- Massimo Passini, Houston, TX; Robert Walker, Corpus Christi, TX; Devin Brown, San Antonio, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Michael Esquivel, Austin, TX.
Senior Sarazen: 2 -- Rick Allaire, Dallas, TX; Tom West, Giddings, TX; Peter Walker, Corpus Christi, TX. 1 -- Joe Abreo, Bulverde, TX; Donna Brady, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX.
Jones / Senior Jones: 3 -- Robert Jalnos, San Antonio, TX. 2 -- Joe Tyson, Austin, TX. 1 -- Keith Bruce, Gordonville, TX; David Castillo, San Antonio, TX; Michael Hirsch, Giddings, TX.
Snead / Senior Snead: 2 -- Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX; Dwain Smith, Cedar Park, TX; Myron Brown, Somerville, TX; Thomas Kerwin, Pflugerville, TX; Melissa Wood, Leander, TX.
Next Up:
The Hill Country Tour returns
to The Bandit for the New Braunfels Clash on Saturday July 13th. After a break for the Texas Masters at Barton Creek on July 27th and 28th the tour will resume play at the Cedar Park Challenge at Twin Creeks on Monday August 5th.
The Dallas Tour is back in action for the Tarrant County Open at Sky Creek Ranch on July 20th, registration deadline is Friday July 12th.
Oklahoma Open at Oak Tree Country Club is on for Monday July 22, 2013 in Edmond, OK. Entry deadline is Friday July 12th at 11:59 pm EST.
For More Information:
Scott R ChilcuttTour
Director
Dallas
/ Fort Worth Tour - Hill Country Tour -
Oklahoma Tour
GOLF
CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
- 972.302.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
