Summer Series Underway - Hill Country - Battle at Blanco

Scott R Chilcutt, Blanco, TX (May 24, 2014) Just south of Blanco, TX inside the Rockin' J Ranch development, lies Vaaler Creek Golf Club, home to the 2014 kickoff of the Summer Series and this year's Battle at Blanco on the Golf Channel Am Tour Texas Hill Country Tour.  The Summer Series, designed for late bloomers on the point season, is another opportunity for members to qualify for the September National Championship / Senior National Championship, in Scottsdale, AZ.

Morning clouds, mist alternating with drizzle kept the temperatures down over the previous years inaugural event at the track, helped softening and slowing the greens.  What didn't change over the previous year was some devilish hole positions, challenging the field to get the approach shots to the correct level.  Late tee times in the event, got some drenching rain during some of the holes, but blew through without any dangerous electricity and only minimal delays.

Coming off his best finish on tour, at the Spring Branch Classic, Gene Hanley of San Antonio, followed up with his second Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving in as many outings.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Boerne, TX player Chris Daniluck took a slim lead to the back nine over a pair of players, and was able to birdie three on the back nine to play one under par picking up his thirteenth win on tour and first since the February 2013 -  Kerrville Championship @ Comanche Trace.  One stroke back, Texas Harper of San Antonio, TX a first time winner at The Challenge @ River Place matched Daniluck's birdie count of four on the day, but just couldn't make up the two stroke deficit on the front. Spring Branch, TX resident, Mark Miller,  a four time winner on the points season, played the sixth through twelfth holes in four under par to round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  First year player, Jeff Bankard and tour veteran, Dave Davlin, both of San Antonio, TX matched a single birdie on the front nine, Davlin on the par 4 - 6th and Bankard on the par 5 - 8th to take it to extra holes.  After twenty one holes on the day, Bankard, knocking on the winners door since coming on tour with a runner up and two third place finishes picked up his first win.  Davlin, added another runner up, his third of the year, to his win at the April San Antonio Masters. Another San Antonio, TX player Todd VanDerSchaegen righted the ship after a tough front nine to finish in the show position.

Hogan Flight:     Coming off his first event on tour, in T8, Austin, TX newcomer, Ken Shapiro finished the back nine at +2 for his first win on tour. John Hilgers of  Wimberly, TX, birdied the par 5 - 4th to finish three strokes back.  Hilger's, only out of the top five with one sixth place finish at a Major, in fifteen events on the points season including three wins, four runner up spots and a trio of thirds, finished in the second place position.  Michael Mathis, carded four birdies on the day for a T3 finish with fellow San Antonio resident, Steven Turner and Bob Tuttle of Kingsland, TX.

Sarazen Flight:  Cedar Park, TX player Les Costales made the best of his birthday trip to Blanco with his first win on the season.  Two strokes back after the front nine, Costales birdied the par 4 - 13th and cleared the field on par fours at just +3, finishing four strokes clear of a pair of players in the runner up finish.  Scott Thompson of Helotes, TX had the lead going to the back with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 8th, but was relegated to his third T-2 on the year to go with his January win at the HOU - Moody Gardens Kickoff Classic.  Visiting, St. James, NY member, playing out of the Long Island Tour,  Michael Dwyer shared the second place spot, his best finish since the October 2013 win at Willow Creek in Sinai, NY.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Charles Sagray of San Antonio, TX played the par three's in even par, including the top shelf hole position on the ninth that would make the difference for his second win on the season and fourth on tour.  Four strokes back the trio of Live Oak, TX member Richard Huyck, with a birdie  on the  par 5 - 16th,  Michael Brewer of Austin, TX and Oklahoma Tour member, Kirby Rogers of Muldrow, OK shared the runner up finish.  Huyck, through the score card playoff took home the second place gift card, with Brewer collecting third, after going deep into the playoff priorities. 

Jones Flight:  Austin, TX player, Aaron Seafous took a six stroke lead to the back with birdies on three front nine holes, but ran into trouble on the back to finish out in the runner up spot. Xavier Bardy of  San Antonio, TX, patient through some of the heaviest rains, picked up his eighth win on tour and fourth win of the season, including the March Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay. Austin, TX resident, Joe Tyson, a two time winner on the year and champion his last time out at the Spring Branch Classic at River Crossing rounded out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Larry Harper of San Antonio, TX and Lake Leon, TX player Stan Harper both parred the long over the water par 4 -18th to force a four way playoff with Rickie Franklin of Fischer, TX and San Antonio, TX resident, Gene Hanley.  Back to the par 5 - 10th, Larry Harper, birdied the first sudden death playoff hole for his second win on tour.   




   




SKINS:

Giant Skins:   1 -- Chris Daniluck, Boerne, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Donald Bebout, Lakeway, TX.

Championship / Palmer:   1 -- Chris Daniluck, Boerne, TX; Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX; Allan Collier, Sugar Land, TX.

Hogan:   2 -- Michael Mathis, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- John Hilgers, Wimberley, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Kenny Mire, Pflugerville, TX.

Sarazen:   2 -- Rudy Cantu, Boerne, TX. 1 -- Les Costales, Cedar Park, TX; Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX.

Senior Sarazen:   3 -- Tim Sexton, Austin, TX. 2 -- Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX. 1 -- Charles Sagray, San Antonio, TX; Joe Abreo, Bulverde, TX; Homer Turbeville, Austin, TX.

Jones:   4 -- Aaron Seafous, Austin, TX. 1 -- Bill Speck, Corpus Christi, TX; Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX; Donald Bebout, Lakeway, TX.

Snead:   1 -- Larry Harper, San Antonio, TX; Stan Harper, Lake Leon, TX.


NEXT UP:

The Hill Country Tour makes it three in three weeks at The Legends of Golf Classic - Onion Creek on Sunday June, 8th.   Entry deadline is this Friday, May 30th at 11:59 PM and the field is limited.





FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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