Golf Channel AM Tour Staff, Austin, TX (July 27, 2014) The Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, once again played host to the Texas Masters at Barton Creek, the last Major in the Central US before local Tour Championships and the Senior National Championship and National Championship in September.
Unseasonably mild temperatures with light winds welcomed the competitors. The event courses used all the players shot-making skills, over the two distinctive layouts. The Crenshaw Cliffside Course, while short, gives way to tough greens and hole positions which is generally its only defense against low scores. Fazio Foothills, on the other hand, spreads out the groups with long carry's and tight fairways over the Hill Country layout.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: First year tour member, Corey Freeland of Houston, TX made up a seven stroke deficit for his second win on tour and first Major Championship. Freeland, played his front nine on the final day in -1 with four birdies on his round to finish one stroke ahead of Terry Rice of Midland, TX. It was Rice's third Major Championship runner up finish on the season. First round leader, Tony Peppler of Dallas, TX started the final day with a four stroke lead, but couldn't keep the momentum after moving to the Fazio Foothills course, finishing in the third place spot.
Senior Championship Flight: Mike Harkins of nearby, Cedar Park, TX birdied his tenth hole on both days to pick up the wire to wire win, his first Major Championship and third win on the season. Starting the day seven strokes back, Ken Dyke of Keller, TX shot the low round on Sunday with the help of six birdies to jump into a three way tie for second and Senior National Championship qualification. Fort Worth, TX player, Sean Fenton already qualified with two Major Championships on the season and Michael Fyfe of McKinney, TX with a runner up at the The Sooner State Showdown shared the runner up spot with Dyke.
Palmer Flight: First round leader, San Antonio, TX player, Dave Davlin took advantage of four birdies on the weekend to grab his third Major Championship on tour and third win of the season. Jacob Morton of Fort Hood, TX added a runner up finish to his third place National Championship qualification at the March Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay two strokes back. In a Hill Country Tour sweep of the top three in the flight, Ron Finnerty of San Antonio, TX shot the low round on Sunday to jump his way into the show position finish.
Senior Palmer Flight: Houston Tour member, Robert Corbello of Vidor, TX, came out swinging. The lefty, used three birdies and an eagle on his first round at the Crenshaw Cliffside course to shoot an even par on Saturday and never looked back. Corbello, a first time Major Champion at the March 2014 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay, added another Major to his six wins on tour. Thirteen strokes back, Bryce Pool of Colleyville, TX carded his best Major finish with a trio of players on his heals, one stroke back. Michael Fee of Mansfield, TX recorded his second third place Major finish on the season with Jimmy Westfall of Oklahoma City, OK and Odessa, TX member Thomas Pipes punching their tickets to the Senior National Championship.
Hogan Flight: Steve Nagy of Sugar Land, TX started his final round, four strokes out of the lead, shot the low round of the day on Sunday with the help of a couple of birdies to tie it up with Spring, TX player Aaron Brougher. Back to the #1 hole at the Crenshaw Cliffside course, Brougher would par the first sudden death hole for his third Major Championship of the season and fifth win on the year. Chad Schuchmann of Springfield, MO, a winner at the South East Amateur at Chateau Elan Major in May, rounded out the top three.
Senior Hogan Flight: Freeport, NY native, Bill Schuster, now residing in Jersey Village, TX became a first time winner on tour. Schuster, birdied two holes on Saturday to card the low flight round and took with him a two stroke advantage to the Crenshaw course on Sunday to end the weekend with a five stroke lead. Bud Surber of Edmond, OK birdied two holes on Sunday for the runner up spot, his best finish at a Major this season. Richmond, TX member, Christopher Phillips rounded out the top three with the help of two birdies on the weekend in the 26 player flight.
Sarazen Flight: Playing with the Open Flight, 59 year old, Michael Roane of Leawood, KS equaled the final day low round to add his first Major Championship to ten local wins on tour. Four strokes back of Roane after the Saturday round, Forth Worth, TX member Preston Miller made a couple of birdies on Sunday to equal the low round for his best finish at a Major. Ronnie Davis of Converse, TX made two birdies on Sunday to round out the top three spots and complete a one, two, three, 50+ finish in the Sarazen Flight.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Olan Benge of Wharton, TX became a three time Major Champion and two time winner on the season. Benge, sitting on a four stroke lead after the opening round, made a birdie on the par 5 - 8th on Sunday to command a seven stroke victory. South Pasadena, CA traveler, Yuri Pikover, a two time Major Champion on the season, finished out one stroke clear of three players knotted in the third place finish. Terry Lunsford of Winter Springs, FL equaled the low final round to jump into a tie with Crowley, TX player Dale McFarland and Honolulu, HI player Melvin Hill for the final Senior National Championship invitations.
Jones Flight: Crystal Springs, TX member, Melissa Wood had the luxury of sleeping on a nine stroke advantage after her first round +8 - 80 on the Fazio Foothills track. Wood, played a solid front nine on Sunday, struggled through the final nine holes, but used the Saturday lead for a three stroke win, only her second win on tour and first Major Championship. Aaron Seafous of Austin, TX, the 2014 San Antonio Open at LaCantera Champion, took five strokes off her first day finish and a low flight round on Sunday for the runner up spot. Oklahoma City, OK member Scott Brown carded five birdies on the weekend for hist best Major Championship finish.
Senior Jones Flight: One stroke behind a couple of Houston Tour members after the opening round, Tom Stockton of Euless, TX birdied three holes on Sunday to win his first Major Championship and second event on the season. Three strokes back, Dallas, TX resident, Lloyd C Reid Jr, a two time winner on the season settled for the runner up finish. Olive Branch, MS member, Louis Ralph, a champion at the June, San Antonio Open at LaCantera and May The Sooner State Showdown, eagled the par 5 - 8th on Sunday to solidify his third place finish.
Snead Flight: Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX became a four time Major Champion in 2014 with the flight low round on Sunday. Fleming, one stroke back after the Saturday opener, finished four strokes ahead of Round Rock, TX member Dwain Smith tying up the second place honors. Rick Hagel of Hackberry, LA rounded out the top three and final National Championship qualification spot.
Scott R Chilcutt, Cedar Park, TX (July 14, 2014) The Cedar Park Challenge @ Twin Creeks wraps up the Hill Country and Dallas players tour of The Dominion Golf Group properties for the 2014 points season.
Twin Creeks Country Club, a unique Fred Couples design, cut into the ravines, sets up for a challenge with blind shots and altitude changes. The greens, this year, were as good as the course has offered in previous years and awarded players that could get to the putting surface.
Dave Davlin, Palmer Flight and Homer Turbeville, Senior Sarazen Flight, took advantage of the Srixon Ball program and will get a dozen of their choice of Srixon balls delivered to their doorstep. Larry Harper, Snead Flight, took home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Home course advantage may have helped, Cedar Park, TX resident, Mike Harkins to win, but it took seven holes to take effect. Going out in +5 with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 7th, Harkins was down two strokes heading to the back nine, but played his final twelve holes in one under par to pick up his second win on tour. Fort Worth, TX traveler, Jeremy Frenzel birdied the par 5 - 2nd, but dropped to the runner up spot on the back nine, with Sean Skellenger of Austin, TX rounding out the top three.
Palmer Flight: Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX picked up his second win on the season and second at a Dominion Golf Property after winning the weather stricken San Antonio Masters in April. Davlin, stayed in the hunt just one stroke out of the lead on the front nine, birdied the par 5 - 12th and outlasted the field for a two stroke victory. Fellow San Antonio resident Ron Finnerty finished out with a couple of pars to record his fourth runner up or share of a runner up finish on the season. Brack Blackwood of Granbury, TX birdied the par 3 - 9th, along with a couple on the back to share the third place honors with College Station, TX player Scott Williams.
Hogan Flight: Playing in his first season on tour and fourteenth event, Bedford, TX traveler Darren Bufton grabbed his first win on tour. Bufton, birdied the par 5 -15th en route to a one stroke victory over, Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX. With a pair of wins on the season and another runner up finish, Campbell drew closer to the points lead in the Hogan Flight with his finish. Round Rock, TX member, Jorge Rodriguez took home the third place points.
Senior Hogan Flight: Doug Collins of Iraan, TX punched his ticket to the Senior National Championship with his third win on the season. Collins, a first time winner at the May 31st - Austin - Nicklaus Open birdied a couple of holes on the back nine to win by seven strokes over John Hilgers of Wimberly, TX. Hilgers, a three time winner on the season himself, birdied the par 4 - 7th and par 4 - 13th to lead third place finisher, Kenny Mire of Pflugerville, TX in his first outing on the tour.
Sarazen Flight: San Antonio, TX player, Devin Brown, birdied his first hole of the day and held on the rest of the round for his fourth win on the season. Tony Smith of Austin, TX fell just one stroke short of the win for his second runner up finish on the season. Nearby Cedar Park, TX resident, Les Costales, the winner at the 2013 Cedar Park Challenge @ Twin Creeks rounded out the top three.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Homer Turbeville of Austin, TX birdied the downhill par 3 - 9th hole to edge out Bastrop, TX runner up Gene Rampy by one stroke. Rampy, a winner his last time out at the Austin - Nicklaus Open in May added another runner up finish to two earlier in the year. Richard Huyck of Live Oak, TX birdied the par 4 - 3rd to finish in the show position.
Jones Flight: Houston, TX player Cathay McGee picked up her fourth win on the season and first since being promoted from the Senior Snead Flight in early April. One stroke back, Charles Cox of Austin, TX added a runner up finish on the points season to his win in a playoff at the June 8th The Legends of Golf Classic. Second time player, Freddys Espinoza of Austin, took the third place honors.
Snead Flight: Larry Harper of San Antonio, TX makes his plans for the Senior National Championship with his third win on the season. Traveling Dallas Tour player, Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX finished in second, four strokes back, with Houston Tour member, Richard Schram of Bryan, TX carding the third place finish a week after his win at the HOU - Woodlands Tournament Course.
SKINS:
Giant Skins: 2 -- Doug Collins, Iraan, TX. 1 -- Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX; Sean Skellenger, Austin, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; Brack Blackwood, Granbury, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX.
Championship / Palmer: 3 -- Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX. 2 -- Brack Blackwood, Granbury, TX. 1 -- Sean Skellenger, Austin, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: 2 -- Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Doug Collins, Iraan, TX; John Hilgers, Wimberley, TX. 1 -- Darren Bufton, Bedford, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; Steve Trickel, Boerne, TX.
Sarazen / Senior Sarazen: 2 -- Tony Smith, Austin, TX. 1 -- Rick Houchins, Houston, TX; Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX; Jim Nedry, Lago Vista, TX; Homer Turbeville, Austin, TX.
Jones / Snead: 2 -- Freddys Espinoza, Austin, TX; Paul Harper, San Antonio, TX; Doyle Fleming, Haslet, TX. 1 -- Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX.
NEXT UP:
The Hill Country Tour takes on players from around the country at the Major at Barton Creek for the Texas Masters on July 26th and 27th.
August 10th, Flight Champions will be crowned at the Hill Country Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio. The field will be limited and looks to sell out soon so don't wait!
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
Golf Channel AM Tour Staff, San Antonio, TX (June 29, 2014) Second of three Golf Channel AM Tour Majors in the Hill Country Region of Texas in 2014 landed at the LaCantera Resort for the San Antonio Open.
Great weather conditions greeted players vying for National and Senior National Championship invitations as well as trophies to go with the healthy prize fund where 180 players challenged the Resort and Palmer Courses at the resort.
Over $1,300 was raised by the players for Feherty's Troops First Foundation through the 50/50 raffle.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Just one stroke back after day one, Sean Fenton of Fort Worth, TX went out in even par and carded three birdies on the day. But the last birdie at the par 4 - 18th, a chip in off the green, would prove to be the deciding shot. Fenton, a Senior Championship player, picked up his second Major Championship of the points season and first in a combined flight with Open players. Wylie, TX member Dallas Webster, came from three back of the lead after the first round, matching his day one score to pickup the runner up finish. First year player, Corey Freeland of Houston, TX, made birdie at the par 5 - 5th, his first of the event to share the third place finish and National Championship qualification with first round leader Mark Miller from Spring Branch, TX, previously qualified with his major win at the Bayou Classic at Lake Charles.
Palmer Flight: Cedrick Smith of Houston, TX, playing only a few events on tour until the 2014 season, brought a one stroke lead from the Palmer course to his final round. Adding those competitive rounds on the season seemed to help curtail any overnight jitters. Starting on the tenth hole, Smith would make birdie on the par 4 - 15th to go out in +2, just enough to secure his first Major Championship and third tour win on the season. Two strokes back, fellow Houston Tour member, Tino Flores secured his National Championship qualification with his runner up finish. Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX shot the low round in the flight on Sunday with the help of a birdie on his first hole, the par 5 - 10th to add a third place finish to his runner up spot at the May Florida Masters Major.
Senior Palmer Flight: Copperas Cove, TX player, Robert Lippert shot a weekend low round +2 - 74 on the Resort Course during his first 18 holes and took with him a five stroke margin to the final day on a couple of birdies. Lippert added birdies on the par 5 -3rd and par 4 -11th on Sunday to widen the gap for an eight stroke victory, his third win on the season and first Major Championship. Tied for the third spot after the Saturday round, Vidor, TX lefty, Robert Corbello, birdied two holes on his final day to jump one spot into the runner up finish. Mark Taylor of Lewisville, TX birdied his first hole on Sunday, the par 4 - 1st, but couldn't keep the momentum and finished in third place for the final Senior National Championship invitation.
Hogan Flight: In the largest flight of the weekend, with 29 players playing the 36 hole event, Aaron Brougher of Spring, TX came from three strokes off the lead to pick up his third win on the season adding another Major Championship to his March 2014 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay victory. Sugar Land, TX player, Roger Masek made a huge move on Sunday, jumping from a T-7 Saturday finish to grab the runner up honors with the help of three birdies and the low flight round of the day. First round leader Cory Welch of Fort Worth, TX and Granbury, TX resident, Brack Blackwood completed the event just two strokes out of the win and split the third place honors and final National Championship qualifications.
Senior Hogan Flight: First year tour member, Ernie Dyer of Orange, TX overcame an eight stroke deficit on the Palmer Course to shoot a +6, with a birdie on the par 4 - 2nd to bring home his first Major Championship and second win on tour. Three time season winner and first round leader, John Hilgers of Wimberly, TX finished two strokes back for the runner up finish. Magnolia, TX player, George Smith, playing the final pairing and one stroke off the lead after the Saturday round, rounded out the top three to secure his Senior National Championship spot.
Sarazen Flight: Three birdies on his first day on the Resort Course, had many heads turning after Joshua Douglas of Leander, TX finished seven strokes ahead of the field. The overnight lead didn't seem to affect Douglas, heading to the Palmer Course layout as he matched the low round of the day on Sunday and widened the margin to ten strokes for his first Major Championship win. Local, Helotes, TX member Scott Thompson, playing out of La Cantera, matched his best Major finishes at the 2012 Western Open and 2012 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay with the runner up. Ross Gonzales of Cypress, TX rounded out the top three, jumping up one spot on the final round.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Cincinnati Tour traveler, Larry Fletcher of Alexandria, KY moved from one stroke back after his round at the Palmer Course to lead the field of twenty one players in the flight to pick up the win. Fletcher, carded his third victory on tour and first Major Championship by one stroke over a pair of Texas players knotted in the runner up spot. Greg Faubion of Richmond, TX took nine strokes off day one for his best finish at a Major Championship securing a share of the second place honors with fellow Houston Tour member, Mark Maddox Atascocita, TX. It was Maddox's second T-2 in as many attempts, placing in the runner up spot his last time out at the Bayou Classic at Lake Charles.
Jones Flight: Aaron Seafous of Austin, TX took it to her male counterparts to record her first win at a Major Championship in six years on the tour. Seafous carded the low flight rounds on both days, starting the Sunday round with a five stroke advantage widening the margin to seven strokes for her second win on the season and fifth on tour. In fifth place after his round at the Palmer Course on Saturday, Coy Dayton of Buda, TX vaulted his way into a tie for the second place finish with Deer Park, TX member Blake Barnes a previous Major Champion at the 2014 Sooner State Showdown.
Senior Jones Flight: First year Tour visitor, Louis Ralph of Olive Branch, MS became only the second player not from Texas to take home the Championship Trophy. Ralph, sleeping on a five stroke margin after his Saturday started the round at the Resort Course a little shaky, but managed to keep things going, with the help of two birdies on the par 3 -4th and par 4 - 13th. It was Ralph's fourth win on tour and second Major Championship. California transplant, Donald Bebout now residing in Lakeway, TX finished two strokes back for his Senior National Championship invitation. Two strokes back in third place, David Sipe of Atascocita, TX, a three time winner on the season with the Major Championship at the March Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay rounded out the top three.
Snead Flight: Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX continued his winning ways with his third Major Championship and eighth win on the season. Fleming, four strokes back after his round at the Palmer Course made up the difference to win by five strokes over Houston Tour member, Javier Quintero. Mark Colwell of Selma, TX, the winner at the 2014 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay split the third place honors with Arizona Tour member, Jim Collins of Las Cruces, NM.
