Scott R Chilcutt, Austin, TX (April 27, 2014) The Hill Country Tour made its first trip, under current management, to River Place Country Club, the second of six Dominion Golf Group properties the Dallas and Hill Country Tour will visit in 2014. The Tom Kite design, his first, in the early 1990's built along the edge of the Hill Country in Austin. Huge elevation changes throughout the site required literally cutting and blasting into the hill side benching the holes into the slopes. Those techniques can be found in many of the Tom Kite Design courses developed since his first at River Place.
Hot temperatures were a welcome change to the mostly cold events on the year so far. Champions were crowned in eight flights with the Tournament Champion trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving going to Joshua Douglas.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: After stringing together five top four finishes in eight events on tour, including three runner up spots, Texas Harper of San Antonio, TX broke through to the winners circle in a big way. Playing the back nine first, Harper birdied the par 5 - 17th and par 4 -18th, added another at the par 4 - 3rd for a seven stroke win. Fort Hood, TX player Jacob Morton took the runner up spot, with first time player Tanner Spani of Del Rio, TX rounding out the top three, one stroke back, with three birdies on the back nine.
Palmer Flight: Craig Hart of Killeen, TX made the best of a cancelled fishing trip to take the top honors, for his third win on tour. Hart stumbled on the par 3 - 12th, but finished his first nine holes in +2, went the front nine, arguably a harder side, and held on with a birdie on the par 4 - 9th for a seven stroke win. College Station, TX traveler, Scott Williams carded his third runner up finish of the year, in as many attempts, with second time tour player, Jeff Bankard of San Antonio, TX following up a T2 at The Dominion with the third place honors.
Hogan Flight: Struggling on his first nine (10-18) Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX navigated his back nine in even par with a birdie on the par 4 - 5th to force a playoff with Wimberly, TX member John Hilgers. Back to the tenth hole for the sudden death, Hilgers got the best of Matthews to pick up his fifth win on tour and third of the year, punching his card for the National Championship. Don Koether of La Grange, TX playing in his first event since the 2012 The Legends of Golf Classic, birdied the par 5 - 13th for the third place finish.
Sarazen Flight: Searcy, AR native, Joshua Douglas, now residing in Leander, TX, used birdies on the par 5 - 17th and par 4 - 3rd to pick up his second win on tour and first since the 2013 The Legends of Golf Classic. Nine strokes back and playing in his first event of the year, Tony Smith of Austin, TX got the best of a four stroke swing on the par 4 - 15th with a birdie to hold off third place finisher, Devin Brown of San Antonio, TX when he took a seven on the hole.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Bouncing back from a ninth place finish on Saturday on the Dallas Tour, Haslet, TX traveler, Burnie Rodgers, grabbed his first win of the points season on fifteen attempts and first since taking another Hill Country Tour championship at the 2013 Austin - Nicklaus Open. One stroke back, Michael Brewer of Austin, TX held a one stroke edge after the first nine holes, but Rodgers was able to make up the difference on the back. Jim Nedry of Lago Vista, TX birdied his tenth hole of the day to make up a first nine deficit and pull into the third place tie with San Antonio, TX player Charles Sagray. Sagray, with two birdies on the day, made one of those stick for a Giant Skin.
Jones Flight: Aaron Seafous of Austin, TX used some course knowledge to her advantage to record her fourth win on tour. Following up on his win at The Dominion Country Club, John Grossenbacher also from Austin, birdied the par 4 - 18th, to finish two strokes back in his second event on tour. Leander, TX member, Melissa Wood birdied the dog leg, over water, par 4 - 1st hole to round out the top three, matching her finish at the February, Kerrville Championship @ Comanche Trace.
Senior Jones Flight: Los Angeles Tour member, Donald Bebout now residing in Lakeway, TX birdied his final hole of the day, the par 4 - 9th for his first win of the year and ninth title on tour. Tom Stockton of Euless, TX, one of three members to make the trip from the Saturday Border War at Rock Creek Resort, made his second half of the double weekend work for a runner up finish. Houston Tour traveler, David Sipe, Atascocita, TX rounded out the top three.
Snead Flight: Mark Colwell of Selma, TX picked up his second win on the season. Colwell, a winner at the March, Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay, took a six stroke advantage to his final nine, and held on for a one stroke win over a charging, Lake Leon, TX member Stan Harper. Stan, another traveler from the Oklahoma / Texas border the previous day, matched his best finish on tour on Saturday, with the help of birdies on the par 4 - 1st and par 3 - 6th. Paul Harper of San Antonio, TX, a playoff winner at the San Antonio Masters his last out, finished in third.
SKINS:
Giant Skins: 1 -- Tanner Spani, Del Rio, TX; Charles Sagray, San Antonio, TX.
Championship / Palmer: 2 -- Texas Harper, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Tanner Spani, Del Rio, TX.
Hogan: 2 -- John Heintz, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Don Koether, La Grange, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX.
Sarazen / Senior Sarazen: 3 -- Joshua Douglas, Leander, TX. 2 -- Dwayne London, League City, TX; Charles Sagray, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Ronnie Davis, Converse, TX.
Jones / Senior Jones: 1 -- Melissa Wood, Leander, TX; James Price, Portland, TX; John Grossenbacher, Austin, TX; Mike Rogers, Lewisville, TX; Donald Bebout, Lakeway, TX; Tom Stockton, Euless, TX.
Snead: 2 -- Stan Harper, Lake Leon, TX; John Thomas, Victoria, TX. 1 -- Mark Colwell, Selma, TX; D Nair, Austin Tx; Paul Harper, San Antonio, TX.
NEXT
UP:
The Tour moves to the River Crossing Club for the Spring Branch Classic on Saturday May 10th. The registration deadline is Friday, May 2nd at 11:59 PM and the field is limited.
Sunday May 18th the Dallas Tour visits Tierra Verde Golf Club for the Arlington Championship. Entry deadline is Friday May 9th.
The Oklahoma Tour is back in action on
May 17th as players move to Lincoln Park Golf Course in Oklahoma City for the
Oklahoma City
Championship,
registration deadline is Friday, May 9th at 11:59 PM, EST.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill
Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (April 14, 2014) The Hill Country Tour made its first stop at The Dominion Golf Groups flagship property, The Dominion Country Club. Host to the Senior PGA Tour for 17 years, the course, facilities and staff made the best of what would become a crazy weather day.
Extremely warm and humid early morning conditions gave way to a northerly that blew in winds in excess of 40 MPH that would ultimately carry along a thunderstorm, bringing everyone back to the clubhouse for a 1 1/2 hour delay. While the winds only slightly subsided after the break, the course generally held up for what would challenge all the players, especially eight members that had to go back out for playoffs in four of the eight flights.
Local San Antonio, TX player, Robi Jalnos would take home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, one stroke ahead of Bobby Ashcraft.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Daniel Desilets of Kermit, TX didn't get to start his round before the rain delay. Desilets snatched his first tee shot into a tree left to make a double on his first hole, but warmed up and followed with two birdies on the par 4 - 2nd and par 4 - 3rd en route to his third win on tour. One stroke back, Castroville, TX member Reagan Rothe picked up his second runner up in as many attempts with two birdies on the back. 19 year old, Texas Harper, a local to the course, rounded out the top three.
Palmer Flight: Longtime San Antonio, TX member Dave Davlin, starting on the tenth hole, made back to back birdies, mid round at the par 5 - 18th and par 4 - 1st for his eleventh win on tour, with a trio of players tied up in the runner up spot. Sharing the runner up honors playing in his first event, Jeff Bankard along with Ron Finnerty and Todd VanDerSchaegen all from San Antonio, TX.
Senior Palmer Flight: Off to his day job, Morgan Splichal of San Antonio, TX checked the results before getting to far from the course to find himself in a playoff. College Station, TX player Scott Williams struggled on the back nine, but had just enough advantage going to ten to force the sudden death, where Splichal would take his second win on tour, both coming in 2014. First time player, Lonnie Carter of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX found himself just outside the playoff one stroke back for the third place finish.
Hogan Flight: Starting the day into the wind on the back nine Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX had a two stroke edge on the field coming to the turn. That edge quickly evaporated when San Antonio, TX resident Rene Realme played his first five holes on the back in even par with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd. Matthews righted the ship over his last four holes to force the sudden death playoff, where on the first extra hole picked up his sixth win on tour and second of the season. Steven Turner of San Antonio, TX finished just one stroke back of the playoff securing the third place finish.
Sarazen Flight: Houston Tour member, Gary Gum of Spring, TX went out with the first group of the morning and was able to finish nine holes before the rain delay, and may have helped him secure his ninth win on tour. Two strokes back, four players shared the runner up honors, Stuart McWilliams of Austin, TX, Les Costales of Cedar Park, TX, San Antonio, TX C.D. Dunem and Scott Thompson of Helotes, TX split the second through fifth place points.
Senior Sarazen: Local resident, Charles Sagray birdied the final hole, the par 5 - 18th, to force a playoff with Lago Vista, TX member Jim Nedry but neither would find out until they were comfortable in the club house. On the first hole of the playoff, Nedry finalized business for his fourth win on tour, his first since the 2010 - The Wilds Golf Club in Minnesota. Rick Allaire of Dallas, TX finished just one stroke back, with the help of a birdie on the par 3 - 5th.
Jones Flight: First year player, John Grossenbacher of Austin, TX took home the championship in his first attempt. One stroke back, traveling Houston Tour player,Mark Boles of Sealy, TX, coming off his Major Championship win the previous weekend at the Bayou Classic at Lake Charles, took home the runner up honors with Joe Tyson of Austin rounding out the top three, one stroke back.
Snead Flight: Pflugerville, TX member, Thomas Kerwin, playing in his last event on the Hill Country Tour before a family relocation to Northeast Oklahoma. Kerwin looked to have the championship tied up, but sputtered on his last hole, the par 5 - 9th to open the door for a playoff with local club member, Paul Harper of San Antonio, TX. Back to #10 for the playoff, Harper outlasted Kerwin for his first win on tour. Mark Colwell of Selma, TX and Round Rock, TX resident, Dwain Smith split the third place finish, three strokes back.
SKINS:
Giant SKINS: 2 -- Jacob Morton, Ft. Hood, TX. 1 -- Mike Jones, Midland, TX; Rick Allaire, Dallas, TX; Jose Sifuentes, San Antonio, TX.
Championship: 3 -- Jacob Morton, Ft. Hood, TX. 1 -- Daniel Desilets, Kermit, TX; Reagan Rothe, Castroville, TX.
Palmer / Senior Palmer: 1 -- Scott Williams, College Station, TX; Todd VanDerSchaegen, San Antonio, TX; Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX; Jose Sifuentes, San Antonio, TX.
Hogan: 2 -- Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX. 1 -- Jeremy Jessop, San Antonio, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; Tim VanLandingham, Portland, Tx; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX.
Sarazen: 2 -- Les Costales, Cedar Park, TX. 1 -- Arnaldo Gomez, D'Hanis, Texas.
Senior Sarazen: 3 -- John Hamilton, Hot Springs Village, AR. 2 -- Jim Nedry, Lago Vista, TX; Rick Allaire, Dallas, TX. 1 -- Alfredo Garcia, San Antonio, TX; Charles Sagray, San Antonio, TX.
Jones: 2 -- Mike Jones, Midland, TX. 1 -- Mark Boles, Sealy, TX; John Merritt, Kerrville, TX; Joe Tyson, Austin, TX; Aaron Seafous, Austin, TX.
Snead: 2 -- Thomas Kerwin, Pflugerville, TX. 1 -- Myron Brown, Somerville, TX; Charles Mielak, San Antonio, TX; Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX; Paul Harper, San Antonio, TX; Dwain Smith, Round Rock, TX.
NEXT UP:
The Hill Country Tour schedule has another Dominion Golf Group stop at Austin's, River Place Country Club for The Challenge @ River Place on Sunday, April 27th. Registration closes Friday, April 18th.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
Golf Channel Am Tour Staff, Lake Charles, LA (April 6, 2014) The Golf Channel Am Tour, hosted its first Major Championship in Louisiana, just a few hours east of the Houston area.
The player's battle with the weather forecast may have been the tougher than the courses. 60%-80% chance of rain on Saturday, with 100% chance of rain and thunderstorms on Sunday gave way to no rain for the event where 12 Champions were crowned and 37 National Championship invitations were extended.
Players attending the event raised $1,200 for David Feherty's Troops First Foundation through the 50/50 raffle.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Spring Branch, TX resident, Mark Miller, put up a pair of 73's with the help of five birdies and one eagle on the weekend. It was Miller's third win on the points season, third Major Championship and seventh victory on tour. First year player Greg Polledri of Southlake, TX jumped from a first round, third place position for the runner up finish. Final National Championship qualification went to first time tour player Randy Bailey of West Monroe, LA, three strokes back of Polledri to round out the top three.
Senior Championship Flight: Louisiana native, Lynn Cormier now residing in Missouri City, TX took the championship in wire to wire fashion, starting the final round with a one stroke advantage and expanding on that lead with a +1 final round. Cormier's win, marked his third Major Championship and fifteenth win on tour. Lake Charles, LA local Neill Osborne finished three strokes back for the second place honors with Sapulpa, OK member Curt Howard stamping his ticket to the Nationals for the fifth consecutive year on tour in the third spot.
Palmer Flight: After a long hard winter between Chicago and Milwaukee, Ken Lang of McHenry, IL shook off the first round rust to shoot a +1 on the final day for his first Major Championship and third win on tour. Lang, won his last time out in October, before the cold set in, and finished three strokes clear of second place, Hill Country Tour player, Ron Finnerty of San Antonio, TX. Finnerty, led going into the final round, struggled on the front nine, but played to +2 on the back to secure the runner up finish. Three strokes back Keith Childress of Diana, TX rounded out the top three in his best finish at six Major Championship events.
Senior Palmer Flight: Al Smith of Midland, TX took eight strokes off his first day round for his first Major Championship and seventh win on tour. Three strokes back in second, Dallas Tour player, Mark Taylor of Lewisville, TX carded his best finish on tour at a Major, with a trio of Houston Tour members knotted up in the third place finish. Walter Menuet of Houston, TX, Vidor, TX player Robert Corbello and Todd McLane of Orange, TX finished four strokes off second place sharing the third place honors and final National Championship invitations.
Hogan Flight: Orange, TX resident Rick Keszeg birdied his first hole of the event to take a lead and never looked back. Keszeg carded the low round of the flight on Saturday, combined that with the final round low score to record his fourth win on tour and second of the points season. Dallas Tour member, Brack Blackwood of Granbury, TX played the Sunday round one stroke back to finish in the runner up spot. Hill Country player, Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX carded his best Major Championship finish since the 2012 Emerald Coast Amateur at Sandestin event, rounding out the top three.
Senior Hogan Flight: Orange, TX players continue to make their mark, with three of the four players accepting National Championship invitations from that town just to the west of Lake Charles. New Orleans native, Ron Redkey now living in Orange played his first eleven holes in +1 with the help of an eagle on the par 5 - 1st hole at Gray Plantation, and took control to win his first event on tour. Glynn Aldredge of Orange, TX finished by himself in second with fellow Orange, TX member Ernie Dyer and Spring, TX player Chris Neelley sharing the third place honors.
Sarazen Flight: Competing in his twelfth event and second Major Championship of the points season, William Dawsey of Tampa, FL picked up his seventh win on tour and third of the year. Eagle on the final day at the par 5 - 15th at Gray Plantation was plenty for Dawsey to hold out a four stroke advantage over second place finisher Jeremy Fox of Midland, TX. Fox, a first year player on tour marked his best finish with a three stroke lead over Joe Baugh of New Orleans, LA.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Houston Tour players, Mark Maddox of Atascocita, TX , Jim Craig of Felipe, TX and Dallas Tour member Rick Allaire of Dallas started the final round all square. After contingencies were made for a playoff in the event of a rain shortened event, Oklahoma Tour member, Stan Wilson slipped ahead of the trio for a one stroke victory. In the end, the three first round leaders were not able to change the order of finish and all shared the second place spot. It was Wilson's eighth and third Major Championship on tour.
Jones Flight: Carlos Cruz of San Antonio, TX is on a roll. In 2013, his third year on tour, Cruz was promoted to the Jones Flight after winning the July 2013 Texas Masters at Barton Creek. Since then he has won four of his last six events, backing up his win at the Pinehurst Amateur Championship for his third major. Cruz carded four birdies on the weekend to finish six strokes ahead of runner up, Woody Casasent of Katy, TX. Casasent, in his second year on tour, was just outside the top podium spot at the March Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay for his sixth runner up finish on the year. Rounding out the final National Championship qualification spot, Patrick Richardson of The Woodlands, TX finished third.
Senior Jones Flight: Sealy, TX player, Mark Boles won his first event on tour at the 2012 Texas Masters at Barton Creek Major Championship, since that time, he has won a local event and held the runner up spot at three majors until his third win this weekend. Boles, was a single stroke out of the lead after Saturday's first round, tied the low final round on Sunday and took home the championship, his third win on tour. Danny Souheaver of Beverly Hills, FL, the leader after the first round, fell one shot short of the win, with Houston, TX resident, Rick Halprin claiming the third place honors.
Snead Flight: Javier Quintero of Houston, TX came from three strokes off the pace for his first Major Championship. Quintero took home his seventh win on tour seven strokes clear of Baton Rouge, LA player James Moak. Hill Country Tour member Mark Colwell of Selma, TX, the winner his last time out at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay, rounded out the top three.
Senior Snead Flight: Somerville, TX resident Myron Brown and Minnesota traveler, Pete Rojas of Champlain, MN went to the final round all square. Brown would overcome an ugly hole on the par 4 - 9th, his second of the day to finish with a one stroke lead for his third win on tour and his second of the points season. Rojas would finish tied in the runner up spot with Brookshire, TX player Marcy Glidden, Glidden's fourth runner up finish and second in a major this season.
