Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (November 22, 2014) Canyon Springs Golf Club the home to the only rescheduled rain out under the current tour directors 3+ year tenure, moving from May 25, 2013 to July 6, 2013 looked to become two for two. Unlike the last time out, where record rainfall left the tunnels unusable, the course was open for play and players had to endure the wet.
Early morning weather forecasters spoke about lightning starting after noon, and left the organizers to push through the bands of mist, sprinkles and down pours to get the event contested and awarded. Then the sun came out, of course as everyone was loading up, when most of the thunderstorms and electric weather meandered north and east across the Hill Country towards Austin.
In all, 55 (of 66) hearty souls started the day worked through the moisture for the points and prize fund. Stan Harper of Lake Leon, TX took advantage of the Srixon Ball Challenge, winning his flight playing a Srixon Golf Ball, while San Antonio, TX member, Paul Harper took home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Indianapolis Tour member, Brian Green of Lafayette, IN, looked for refuge from the recent cold and snow in the Midwest and took advantage of the trip for his fifth win on tour and first of the points season. Green started out with a birdie on his first hole, the par 5 - 10th and added two more on the par 3 -17th and par 3 - 7th for a three stroke advantage. Fort Worth, TX player Sean Fenton, a winner his last time out visiting the Hill Country, made two birdies on his front nine and held a three stroke lead after nine holes, but couldn't keep pace with Green on the back nine slipping into the runner up finish.
Palmer Flight: Coming off a low career round - 1 -71 and a win his last time out at the October Fall Challenge in Round Rock, Copperas Cove, TX player Robert Lippert made birdie on his closest to the hole shot at the par 3 - 13th, which proved to be just enough for his seventh win on tour. One stroke back, Todd VanDerSchaegen of San Antonio, TX back on tour after taking the summer off, looked to have the win, but struggled, on his last hole of the day, the #1 handicap, par 4 - 8th to finish in the runner up spot. Fort Hood, TX player Jacob Morton rounded out the top three, two strokes out of the lead.
Hogan Flight: Houston Tour player, Steve Allison is having some good things happen to him when traveling to the Hill Country this fall. The Spring, TX member finished tied in the runner up spot with a Hole in One his last time out at the Fall Challenge in Round Rock and took the Houston points lead with his first win on Tour. Two strokes back, Dallas Tour traveler, Scott Harper of Ranger, TX birdied the par 5 - 2nd hole for his second runner up finish of the points season with San Antonio, TX resident Paul Wuerdeman taking show position honors.
Sarazen Flight: Consistently climbing the leader board in his first year on tour, Michael Hill of Live Oak, TX made the jump to the top spot for his first Championship on Tour. Hill birdied the par 4 - 10th and then parred his final two holes of the day to edge out Spring, TX player Gary Gum by a single stroke. Gum, with a birdie of his own with a 4" putt and closest the hole cash on the par 3 - 17th survived a late round charge by Devin Brown of San Antonio, TX finishing the round in the third spot.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Dallas Tour traveler, Burnie Rodgers of Haslet, TX took advantage of the rain gloves for his thirteenth tour Championship. Rodgers birdied his first hole of the day, the par 5 - 5th and added another at the difficult par 4 - 8th for his fourth win since his self promotion to the Senior Sarazen Flight, three of those coming on the Hill Country Tour. Four strokes back, the trio of Charles Sagray of San Antonio, TX, La Vernia, TX member David Phillippi, with a birdie on the par 4 - 11th and Dallas, TX player Rick Allaire split the runner up finish.
Jones Flight: Perennial Tour winner, Xavier Bardy of San Antonio, TX parred the first six of eight holes to card his tenth win on tour. 2014 Senior Snead National Champion, Larry Harper of San Antonio, TX playing in his first event since the automatic promotion, birdied the par 5 - 10th to finish in the runner up spot all alone with three players, knotted in the third place finish, eight strokes back. Austin, TX player Freddys Espinoza, Daryl Nixon, from Taylor, TX playing in his first event and Eastland, TX member Terry Everts playing in his first year on tour, shared the third place honors.
Snead Flight: Stan Harper of Lake Leon, TX parred his first hole out of the gate and finished his last two in + 1 for his fifth win on tour. One stroke back, runner up finisher, Bobby Ashcraft, residing just minutes away from the course, had the championship locked up until his final hole, the par 4 - 18th where he found trouble. The 2013 Snead Flight points Champion one the Hill Country Tour, Mark Rivera of San Antonio, TX rounded out the top three.
SKINS:
Giant SKINS: ($55/each) 1 -- Rudy Cantu, Boerne, TX; Alfredo Garcia, San Antonio, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Steve Allison, Spring, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Sean Fenton, Fort Worth, TX; Brian Green, Lafayette, IN.
Championship / Palmer: ($24/each) 3 -- Brian Green, Lafayette, IN. 2 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Sean Fenton, Fort Worth, TX. 1 -- Lincoln Talbert, Boerne, TX; James Becker, San Antonio, TX; Mark Ritter, Canyon Lake, TX.
Hogan: ($35/each) 2 -- Micah Carroll, San Antonio, TX; Scott Harper, Ranger, TX. 1 -- Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Steve Allison, Spring, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX.
Sarazen / Senior Sarazen: ($35/each) 2 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX. 1 -- Rudy Cantu, Boerne, TX; Josue Duprey, Killeen, TX; Michael Hill, Live Oak, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Alfredo Garcia, San Antonio, TX; David Phillippi, La Vernia, TX; Ron Derrick, Boerne, TX.
Jones / Snead: ($60/each) 1 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; Larry Harper, San Antonio, TX; Freddys Espinoza, Austin, TX; Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX; Terry Everts, Eastland, TX.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
($100/each) #3 - Rick Allaire - 7'3"; #7 - Lincoln Talbert - 14'4"; #13 - Robert Lippert - 5'1 1/4"; #17 - Gary Gum - 4 1/4"
NEXT UP:
Next on tap in Texas, players from around the state will take on The Falls Golf Resort and Club in New Ulm, TX for the two day South Texas Winter Championship on December 6th and 7th. While single rooms are still available for this event most of the Villa's are sold out. If you plan on playing, book your accommodations early. REGISTRATION CLOSES on Friday, November Friday, November 28th at 11:59PM EST
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
