Houston Tour Retains Cup - South Texas Winter Championship

Scott R Chilcutt, New Ulm, TX (December 6, 2015)  Concluding the second of two one day events, The Hill Country Tour hosted the Sunday South Texas Winter Championship finals at The Falls Resort and Golf Club in New Ulm, TX.  

With very similar conditions, you might think that course familiarity would reduce scores on Sunday.  The course actually played almost a 1/2 stroke harder on average.   While course handicaps on the holes held pretty true to form, with the hardest hole, the short par 4 - #7 remaining tough it took some hole positions to change things around.  The Par 3 - #12 played the easiest hole on Saturday and jumped to the eighth hardest on Sunday, with #14 swapping spots. 

Team Championship bragging rights were still in play, with players from each tour pitted against each other based upon Saturday finishes to determine The South Texas Team Championship.   In similar form to the 2014 version, the Houston Tour came out on top for another plate on the traveling trophy.

Mark Miller (Championship Flight), Will Whitley (Senior Hogan Flight) and Kristopher Bixby (Sarazen Flight) were "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning their prospective flights playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to them for the win. Carl Eaton won a scorecard playoff over Art Henry for the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.  

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  The first of three follow up winners on the weekend, this flight had virtually the same finishes as Saturday.  With a notable birdie on the top three finishers scores cards, they all came on different holes.  Mark Miller of Spring Branch, TX, took one stroke off his Saturday finish to pick up his 23rd win on tour, while Sapulpa, OK traveler, Curt Howard took two off his first round to finish one stroke back.  Rounding out the top three, Damon Garcia of Fannett, TX, dropped a couple of strokes, but still finished in the same spot.

Palmer Flight:  The biggest shake up of the weekend came in the Palmer Flight where the winning score on Saturday would have been a T5 on Sunday.  James Sheppeard, of Tomball, TX, bettered his Sunday round by ten strokes to take home his 22nd win on tour.  Three strokes back, Killeen, TX, member Derrick Matthews, lowered his score by seven to take the runner up finish, while Chris Wadle of Coupland, TX grabbed the third place spot.

Hogan Flight:  Granbury, TX, member Brack Blackwood made the turn both days with a birdie on the first hole of the back, to capture the weekend flight trophies. Brack lost three strokes to the field on Sunday, but it was still plenty to win by two strokes over a pair of players tied in the runner up finish.  Bobby Duty of Midland, TX, with his best finish on tour jumped from the 14th place finish on Saturday and Orange, TX player Matt Purgahn, with a birdie on the par 3 - 8th, came from T6 to T2.

Senior Hogan Flight:  While, Will Whitley of Cypress, TX, took a four stroke hit on his final round, he was still able to muster the sixth win on tour.  With a birdie on the par 5 - 15th, Whitley, finished two strokes clear of a pair of Houston Tour members knotted in the second place finish.  Wharton, TX, first year member Jimmie Chambers started the day with a birdie on the par 5 - 1st and finished as he had on Saturday with a runner up spot, this time sharing the honors with George Smith of Magnolia.

Sarazen Flight:  Kristopher Bixby of Katy, TX, was able to stay with the field on his front nine, got into some trouble on the back, but was able to force a playoff with Kevin Montague of Spring, TX.  With Montague, not available for an on course playoff, Bixby notched his eleventh win on tour.  Houston, TX, player Massimo Passini, the winner on Saturday, carded a birdie, only the second of the weekend on the par 4 - 7th to round out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Taking nine strokes off his Saturday score, Spring, TX, player Chris Neelley, jumped into the winners circle for the fourth time of his career and first on the points season.  Meanwhile, Rodney Wren of Dallas, TX, and Bridge City, TX, resident, Mark Kirby held true to the Saturday finishes, with a second and third place showing respectively.

Jones Flight:  Traveling Hill Country partners, from the Corpus Christi, TX area, William Speck and James Price couldn't finalize the deal in regulation.  Back to the tough hole position on #10, Price would pick up his sixth win on tour and second of the points season.  For Speck it was his best finish since a promotion from the Snead Flight.  First year player, Richard Lagrone of Spring, TX and Montgomery, TX, member Jeff Gregory, shared the third place finish.

Senior Jones Flight:  The Sunday shake up of finishers continued with the Senior Jones Flight with only one player making the top three both days.  Houston, TX, member Rick Halprin, reduced his score from Saturday by five strokes, just enough for his ninth win on tour.  David Sipe, also from Houston, took four strokes off, with the help of a birdie on the par 3 -16th for the runner up finish with a pair of players two strokes back.  Saturdays winner, Larry Tolson of Fariview, TX, and Huntsville, TX, resident Neil Macdonald, shared the show position finish.

Snead Flight:   Carl Eaton of Conroe, TX, had one of the biggest turn arounds after his Saturday finish.  Taking eleven strokes off his first round, Eaton grabbed his sixth win on tour and second of the season by four strokes.  Victoria, TX, player Art Henry, took ten strokes off his Saturday round to command a four stroke advantage over first year player Michael Pierce of Montgomery, TX, who bettered his round by seven strokes to round out the top three.


TEAM RESULTS:

Houston Tour 13 1/2 - Hill Country - 8 1/2


Roger Masek, HOU v. Oscar Gonzalez, HC - R. Masek Won 1 up

James Sheppeard, HOU v. Chris Wadle, HC - J. Sheppeard Won 2 and 1

Derrick Matthews, HC v. Todd McLane, HOU - D. Matthews Won 3 and 1

Kyle Young, HOU v. John Heintz, HC - K. Young Won 2 and 1

Charlie Dial, HC v. HOU - C. Dial Won 10 and 8

Matt Purgahn, HOU v. Brian Cox, HC - M. Purgahn Won 7 and 5

Will Whitley, HOU v. Steve Wade, HC - W. Whitley Won 2 and 1

Massimo Passini, HOU v. Les Costales, HC - M. Passini Won 5 and 4

Kristopher Bixby, HOU v. C.D. Dunem, HC - K. Bixby Won 5 and 4

John Schott, HC v. Patrick Richardson, HOU - J. Schott Won 2 up

Kendall Hisey, HOU v. Carlos Cruz, HC - K. Hisey Won 5 and 4

Devin Brown, HC v. Judson Severson, HOU - D. Brown Won 3 and 1

Mark Kirby, HOU v. Richard Huyck, HC - M. Kirby Won 2 and 1

William Speck, HC v. Joe Michetti, HOU - W. Speck Won 4 and 2

James Price, HC v. Jeff Wadsworth, HOU - J. Price Won 2 up

Jeff Gregory, HOU v. Daryl Nixon, HC - Match halved

Richard Lagrone, HOU v. Christopher Cobb, HC - R. Lagrone Won 3 and 1

Marcy Glidden, HOU v. HC - M. Glidden Won 2 and 1

Jimmy Clanin, HC v. Mike Murphy, HOU - Match halved

Mark Miller, HC v. Damon Garcia, HOU - M. Miller Won 5 and 3

Robert Jackens, HC v. Travis Nichols, HOU - Match halved

Carl Eaton, HOU v. Gene Hanley, HC - C. Eaton Won 8 and 7



SKINS:

Giant Skins:  ($110/each)  1 -- Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX; Chris Wadle, Coupland , TX; David Sipe, Houston, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Massimo Passini, Houston, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($65/each)  1 -- Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK; Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Damon Garcia, Fannett, TX; Chris Wadle, Coupland , TX.

Hogan:  ($65/each)  2 -- Rick Houchins, Houston, TX. 1 -- Gus Aldana, Spring, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($36/each)  1 -- Stephen Lamb, Garland, TX; Manny Martinez, Cisco, TX; Scott Harris, Fort Worth, TX; George Smith, Magnolia, TX; Will Whitley, Cypress, TX; Jimmie Chambers, Wharton, TX.

Sarazen:  ($25/each)  2 -- Kristopher Bixby, Katy, TX. 1 -- Wayne Waldrep, Spring, TX; Judson Severson, College Station, TX; Kendall Hisey, Humble, TX; Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX; Massimo Passini, Houston, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($40/each)  2 -- Tim Brown, Richland Hills, TX. 1 -- Michael Bell, Pearland, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX; Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($60/each)  2 -- Rick Halprin, Houston, TX; Jeff Wadsworth, El Campo, TX. 1 -- Terry Collins, Spring, TX; David Sipe, Houston, TX.

Snead:  ($30/each)  2 -- Jimmy Clanin, Pflugerville, TX. 1 -- Art Henry, Victoria, TX; Michael Pierce, Montgomery, TX; Javier Quintero, Houston, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($167/each)  #3 - Chris Wadle - 9' 2 1/2";  #8 - Jimmy Chambers - 13' 1 3/4"";  #12 - Dave Hanson  - 4';  #14 - Michael Pierce - 15' 8"".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Back to action after the New Year:

Hill Country - Houston Tours will travel back to Palmilla Beach Resort for the Port Aransas Open on January 30th, 2016.  Registration closes on Friday, January 22nd.

The Dallas Tour opens the 2016 year in North Richland Hills, TX at the Iron Horse Open on Sunday February 28th, 2016 with an entry deadline of Friday, February 19th.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Director - Texas Tours

Dallas  Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Houston Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

www.gcamtour.com

Windy for the Fall Challenge at Sonterra

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX ( November 21, 2015)  The Club at Sonterra an exclusive members only facility in North Central San Antonio, played host for the first time to a Golf Channel AM Tour event.  The tricky Robert von Hagge/ Bruce Devlin layout, uses the natural terrain of the area, along with man made waterfalls and plenty of rocks and trees to make for a tough test of patience.  Then add the 40+ MPH northerly gusts that brought with it a cold front and the test didn't get any easier.

Scott Thompson bested the field for the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.


RESULTS:

Championship:   Genero Davila, of San Antonio, TX, picked up where he left off after an injury sidelined him for the Tour Championship in August.  With nothing special going on during the round, Davila, went -1 on his last three holes, with a birdie on the par 4 - 16th to pick up his fourth win in six attempts on tour.  First time San Antonio, TX, player Ernesto Byer birdied the first and last hole of the day to slide into a runner up tie with Mark Miller of Spring Branch, TX.

Palmer Flight:  Dallas, TX, resident, Jeff Blackwood took five strokes off his first nine scores on the back and forced a playoff with Dave Davlin  of San Antonio, TX.   Back to the course for the sudden death, Blackwood would prevail, notching his first win on tour, since the mandatory promotion after his 2014 National Championship in the Hogan Flight. One stroke out of the playoff, Chris Wadle of Coupland, TX, landed the third place honors.

Hogan Flight:  Taking a two stroke lead to the back nine, Brack Blackwood of Granbury, TX, ran into troubles on the back, but the flight followed him, replicating those troubles.  For Blackwood, it was his eleventh win on tour and first since the 2014 season.  One stroke back, Helotes, TX, player, Scott Thompson used a birdie on the par 4 - 12th to finish with a two stroke advantage over a trio tied up in the third place finish.  Rene Realme of San Antonio, TX, New Braunfels, TX, player Michael Campbell with a birdie the par 5 - 1st and Terry Jackson of George West, TX shared the show place finish.

Sarazen Flight:  Starting his second points season on tour, Carlos Benevides of Crystal City, TX, was able to pick up his second win on tour with the help of eight pars on the day.  Five strokes back,  George Peddy of San Antonio, TX, recently self moved from the Senior Sarazen group, tied up the runner up finish with first time Dripping Springs, TX, player Gary Hatter.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Round Rock, TX, resident Michael Brewer, grabbed his fifth win on tour.  Two strokes back, Charles Sagray took the runner up honors with Spring, TX, traveler, Gary Gum finishing out the top three.

Jones Flight:  After a self promotion to the Jones Flight, Austin, TX, member Christopher Cobb, used his confidence, with the help of a birdie on the par five fifth to card his fifth win on tour.  Three strokes back, Larry Atchley, of Kyle, TX, with a birdie on the par 3 - 14th took home the second place honors, with Corpus Christi, TX, player William Speck rounding out the top three.

Snead Flight:  After the second to last group of the day, left the course because of darkness, the flight was awarded, according to USGA and Tour guidelines on the first nine holes of play.  Taking the championship hardware, his second in as many attempts, by a single stroke was Jimmy Clanin, of Pflugerville, TX.  Llano, TX, member, Charles Watson, carded his best finish in five attempts on tour for the second place prizes, with John Thomas of Victoria, TX, rounding out the top three.


SKINS:

Giant Skins:  ($84/each)  2 -- Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Ernesto Beyer, San Antonio, TX; Joe Wade, Austin, TX; Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; Joseph Tyson, Austin, TX; Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($48/each)  2 -- Ernesto Beyer, San Antonio, TX; Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Jeff Blackwood, Dallas, TX.

Hogan:  ($60/each)  1 -- Kenny Mire, Pflugerville, TX; Joe Wade, Austin, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Mike Karlin, Houston, TX.

Sarazen:  ($75/each)  1 -- Scott Chilcutt, Midlothian, TX; Carlos Benavides, Crystal City, TX; Eric Chavers, Walker, LA; Louis Torres, San Antonio.

Senior Sarazen:  (20/each)  3 -- Joe Abreo, Bulverde, TX. 2 -- John Scott, Houston, TX. 1 -- Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX; Mervyn Jobe, San Antonio, TX.

Jones / Snead:  ($35/each)  2 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; William Speck, Corpus Christi, TX; Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; Joseph Tyson, Austin, TX; Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX. 1 -- James Price, Portland, TX; Jimmy Gutierrez IV, Helotes, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($125/each)  #3 - Scott Thompson - 5' 6";  #6 - Rich Huyck - 6' 5 1/2";  #10 - Garrett Tidman  - 7 1/2";  #14 - Larry Atchley - 6".

Upcoming Texas Events:After a Thanksgiving weekend break, more will flock to The Falls in New Ulm, TX, for the two SOLD OUT tournaments in two days at the South Texas Winter Championship on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday December 6th. 

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Director - Texas Tours

Dallas  Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Houston Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

www.gcamtour.com

2015 Hill Country Tour - Order of Merit - The Journey to Better - Champions Awarded

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (August 9, 2015)  Bringing a close to the year, setting up for National and Senior National Championship bids in September, marks another historic chapter with the Golf Channel AM Tour in south central Texas.

The 2015 Points Campaign on the Texas Hill Country Tour came to a close on Sunday at TPC San Antonio. Beginning the points year in October 2014 in Round Rock, TX, 15 events made up the local schedule and the area hosted another 3 Major Championships. From Round Rock, to Kerrville, to San Antonio, along with a couple of excursions to New Ulm and Port Aransas nearly 2,000 competitive rounds were played from players around the country.

Competing for year end awards, this year included a customized and personalized staff bag from Club Glove. This season in addition to the Flight Champion awards, a special Player of the Year bag was also given.

FLIGHT CHAMPIONS (ORDER OF MERIT POINTS The Journey to Better), awards presented by Scott Thompson and Clipper Wealth Management with additional support from Compressor Designs, Inc. and Universal Pressure Pumping.  

Championship Flight Champion:  An active member of the Army and stationed at Fort Hood, in Killeen, TX, Jordan Massey jumped right into the fray in his first year on tour.  Playing in nine events on the season, Massey was never out of the top three and only three times out of the winners circle, including wins at the Major Championship at the Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino.  Jordan intends on making a start at the National Championship in September and we look forward to continued success from the 25 year old Panama City, FL native before he moves on to bigger challenges.

Senior Championship Flight Champion:  Cedar Park, TX, traveler, Mike Harkins playing in his second season on tour made the rounds this season with fourteen events, including seven Major Championships.  Searching for events with Senior Championship Flights, Harkins was still only able to compete in two with the separate flight, with his best finish a runner up spot at the Srixon Championship at La Cantera.  Amassing 950 points on the points year, Mike ended up with a 75 point cushion over Daniel Desilets of Kermit, TX.

Palmer Flight Champion:  The last points season that Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX, didn't win the Points Championship was 2010, when in his first two years on tour, he finished in the runner up spot both times.  Since then Davlin has dominated the Hill Country Tour, this year on top of the podium in five of thirteen events and only out of the top three finishers twice. A Champion at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek his last time out before the Tour Championship, the motivational speaker, added two top three finishes in his other two majors on the season. 

Senior Palmer Flight Champion:  Playing in a limited schedule on the year, San Angelo, TX, member, Al Smith made all of them count. In his six events on the season, Smith picked  up two Major Championships at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay and the  Arkansas Championship at Hot Springs Village, while adding a runner up at the Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino.  Only out of the top four once, Smith cruised to the points championship by 405 points over Doug Collins of Iraan, TX.

Hogan Flight Champion:  Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX, started the Tour Championship 87.5 points down to Converse, TX, member Ronnie Davis and knew it would require a win.  Playing in the final points group, Campbell was able to keep it in play and bring home the Flight Champion bag, by 47.5 points. It was Campbell's first win on the season and fourth win on tour.

Senior Hogan Flight Champion:  Dripping Springs, TX, player, Allan Collier took a slim 2.5 points lead into the Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio.  Collier added a Tour Championship win while taking the Flight Championship.  His third win on the season and fifth on tour while playing 22 events on the season. Allan also locked into an early Senior National Championship bid with a runner up at the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera to go along with two other top five finishes at Major Championships.

Sarazen Flight Champion:  Playing in only his second year on tour, Boerne, TX, member Rudy Cantu put together an incredible number of points with the help of wins.  Cantu, a two time Major Champion on the season with wins at the Srixon Championship at La Cantera, added to it the Texas Masters at Barton Creek, with two local event wins.  With 14 events on the points year, Cantu ended his season with 1,723 points, 523 ahead of his nearest competitor.

Senior Sarazen Flight Champion:  Michael Brewer of Round Rock, TX started the day at the Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio with a slim 40 point lead over San Antonio, TX, resident Charles Sagray.  While Brewer needed to stay in front of Sagray for the Championship, it would take more than just one spot, since Charles, only playing his eighth event would bring home his entire points finish.  At the end of the day, Brewer did just enough, leading the points by 30 to take home the customized staff bag, on thirteen events on the season.

Jones Flight Champion:  Picking up his first Major Championship win on tour at the Srixon Championship at the end of June, James Price of Portland, TX, added a runner up finish at the Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino and third place honors at the  Texas Masters at Barton Creek Resort.  Price was only out of the top five in three events on the season to take home the Flight Champion award by a slim 5 points over San Antonio, TX, player Xavier Bardy, the 2014 winner.






Senior Jones Flight Champion:  Unable to join us at the Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio, Randy Helcel of Lott, TX, previously collected plenty of points for the Flight Champion award.  Helcel collected the Major Championship hardware from the Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino and the Srixon Championship to go along with one local event win on the Dallas Tour at the Fort Worth Championship for the points advantage.

Snead Flight Champion:  William Speck of Corpus Christi, TX played in ten events on the season.  Picking up four wins, with two consecutive Major Championships at the Srixon Championship and the Texas Masters at Barton Creek Resort.  In addition, Speck picked up runner up honors at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay and Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino Major Championship to go along with two local wins to snag the Flight Championship Bag and it's honors by only 5 points over Christopher Cobb of Austin, TX.

Senior Snead Flight Champion:  Victoria, TX, resident, John Thomas, played in ten events on the year which proved to be just enough to pick up the Flight Honors with a win his last time out at The Hill Country Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio to go along with a fourth place finish at the Western Masters  at PGA West in March. 

Hill Country Tour, PLAYER OF THE YEAR, presented by HIGGINBOTHAM: The special award was set up and presented by Higgenbotham, a Business Insurance and Financial Services Company that services the state of Texas with home offices in Fort Worth.  The player from each tour in the state selected by the committee, with feedback from the membership that met a series of criteria, including having been promoted and continued The Journey to Better by excelling in the new flight.

Rusty Lippert of Copperas Cove, TX, was chosen for the inaugural Player of the Year honors on the Hill Country Tour. Lippert in his third year on tour, cruised through the first two years with five wins including a Major Championship at the 2014 San Antonio Open at LaCantera.  2015 showed his game was in order, winning his first three local events, added a T3 at the 2015 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay  and then another Major Championship at the 2015 Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino leading the way to apparent Flight Championship.  Then came the promotion, with adjusted points to the Senior Championship flight, Lippert wouldn't sit on his laurels.  A runner up in a combined Championship / Senior Championship flight at the Austin - Nicklaus Open opened the door to another Major Championship, this time in his newly found Senior Championship Flight at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek Resort.   Rusty competed in 11 events on tour, including all the majors in the South Central Region and will receive the special, Black and Sliver customized Staff Bag, designed by Club Glove and presented by Higginbotham.

Upcoming Texas Events:

The Houston Tour finishes out it's double points and double prize fund event at the Tour Championship on Saturday, August 15th and Sunday August 16th, for the Houston Tour Championship @ Blackhorse.  

Dallas crowns the year end champions at the Tour Championship.  The Tribute Golf Links, closed since the floods in late May, should be in excellent conditions for the Dallas Tour Championship on August 22nd and 23rd.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Director - Texas Tours

Dallas  Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Houston Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

      

Flight Champions Shine at the Hill Country Tour Championship

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (August 9, 2015)  The AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, home to the Valero Texas Open on the PGA Tour, played host to the Hill Country Tour Championship on Sunday.  Unlike most other TPC layouts, this track uses the natural landscape and ultimately trouble that comes along with the trees and native areas.  Add to that the extremely tough green complexes and it makes for a long, hard day in the Summer heat of the Hill Country.

Add to a tough golf challenge, the nerves of National and Senior National Championship qualifications, Tour Championship awards and last, but not least year end Flight Champion awards the event was just as special as it was promoted as being. 

This year the Hill Country Tour, presented the twelve Flight Champions (Order of Merit Points Leaders) with special staff bags from Club Glove, presented by Clipper Wealth Management with additional support from Compressor Designs and Universal Pressure Pumping.  Of the ten flights contested at the Championship, five of the players taking home the trophies, also grabbed a bag.  In all, of the 12 Flight Champion bags, 10 went to players starting the day with the lead in points, while two couldn't hold on to the special prize with Sunday finishes.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Currently residing in Killeen, TX, Jordan Massey has made a habit of winning at courses he's never laid eyes on.  It wouldn't be until the par 3 - 7th that Massey would card a par, but with the help of birdies on the par 5 - 2nd and par 4 - 5th, he would make the turn still in the contest.  Playing the back with a little more luck, he would add two more birdies and finish out the Championship, six strokes ahead of Daniel Desilets from Kermit, TX.  Desilets, only out of the top three in two of seven events on the season, maneuvered the round with little trouble picking up the runner up spot, with Dallas Tour member, Andrew Braun of Trophy Club, TX rounding out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Playing out of TPC San Antonio, Dave Davlin knew the course, but still had to make the shots.  Starting the round a little slow, Davlin would make birdie on the par 4 - 5th, but was still two strokes back making the turn and then got back into the round going -1 over the first four holes coming to the club house, that would prove to be the difference in the Championship.  Al Smith of San Angelo, TX made the turn in the lead, lost it after twelve, made birdie on the par 5 -14th to get back to the top, but would be relegated to the runner up finish by a single stroke with a double on the par 5 - 18th. Michael Wagner of Houston,TX, playing in his second event on tour and San Antonio, TX, player Patricio Gonzalez would share the third place finish three strokes back of Smith.

Hogan Flight:  Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX, headed into the weekend needing a win. Playing the front nine with relatively little trouble, Campbell would finish his last five holes +4 to make it a nail biter, but in the end grabbed his first win on the season and fourth on tour.  Two strokes back, Rene Realme of San Antonio, TX, a winner at the Srixon Championship at La Cantera made birdie on the par 4 - 9th, but just could  not keep the momentum.  Helotes, TX, player Scott Thompson rounded out the top three, his best finish since a promotion at the beginning of June.

Senior Hogan Flight:   Dripping Springs, TX, resident, Allan Collier got off to a rough start when he made triple on the par 5 - 2nd, but then seemed to compose himself to stay in the game making the turn.  Just one stroke back,  Stringing together a + 3 after seven holes on the back, Collier would wind up taking the championship by two strokes.  John Hilgers of Wimberly, TX, with three wins on the season, would finish in the runner up spot, with San Antonio, TX, player  Paul Wuerdeman taking the final podium finish, the top three all the started and ended the day in the top three in points.

Sarazen Flight:  Despite making a double par ten on the par 5 - 18th to finish the day, Houston Tour invader,  Houchins, finishing his front nine with a birdie on the par 4 - 9th proved to be just enough room to be one of only three out of Hill Country players to take home the hardware on Sunday. Putting together his second runner up finish in as many attempts to go with a win at the Hill Country Open in his first year on tour, Carlos Benavides of Crystal City, TX, also made birdie on the final hole of the front nine.  San Antonio, TX, player Nacho Orozco, also in his first year on tour took home the show position finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Jim Craig of San Felipe, TX, led an all Houston Tour contingent to the top four places in the flight.  Craig, with a narrow one stroke advantage making the turn, added to the lead going +4 on the back for his second win on tour and just enough points to take the Flight Championship lead going into next weekends, Houston Tour Championship.  Houston, TX resident, Bruce LeGrand finished runner up, with Mark Kirby of Bridge City, TX, taking home the third place honors.

Jones Flight:  Haslet, TX, player Doyle Fleming proved to be a Flight Championship spoiler by taking home the hardware with a two stroke advantage for his fifth win on tour and third in as many attempts. Xavier Bardy of San Antonio, TX, out of the country for some of the season limiting his play, was looking for a repeat of his 2014 Flight Championship award, but needed that winner spot to make it happen. Rounding out the top three, the eventual Jones Flight Champion, Portland, TX member, James Price was just close enough for the staff bag.

Senior Jones Flight:  Joe Tyson of Austin, TX, made a statement with his fourth win on the season and sixth on tour.  Tyson, picked up the Championship by an eight stroke margin and did it with a nine on the par 5 - 2nd and a triple on the par 4 - 10th.  Houston Tour players, Rick Halprin of Houston and Corrigan, TX, member Mike Murphy took the second and third place honors by a single stroke separating them.

Snead Flight:  Selma, TX, player, Mark Colwell fresh off his win at the TRUE linkswear Championship at Chambers Bay can now boast that he won two events in 2015 on courses the PGA played during the same year. For Colwell, it was his fourth win on the season and twelfth on tour.  Dallas Tour member, Ethan Blase of Wylie, TX grabbed the second place finish by a stroke over, first year player Christopher Cobb of Austin, TX.

Senior Snead Flight:  John Thomas of Victoria, TX, is now a two time winner on tour.  Both coming at the TPC San Antonio facility, the Tour Championship in 2014 on the AT&T Canyons Course and now on the AT&T Oaks Course.  Nine strokes back, Georgetown, TX, member Dwain Smith completed his Senior National Championship qualification and eligibility with the runner up finish and Gene Hanley of San Antonio, TX had a lucrative day with a birdie on the par 3 - 13th the only one of the day.



SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($80/each)  2 -- Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Rodolfo Gonzalez, San Pedro Garza, TX; Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX; Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX; George Peddy, Bedford, TX; Rick Halprin, Houston, TX; Gene Hanley, San Antonio, TX.

Championship / Palmer: ($85/each)  1 -- Jordan Massey, Killeen, TX; Terry Rice, Midland, TX; Rodolfo Gonzalez, San Pedro Garza, TX; Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX.

Hogan:  ($25/each)  2 -- John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Ronnie Davis, Converse, TX. 1 -- Micah Carroll, Anchorage, AK; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($22/each)  4 -- Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX. 2 -- Chris Neelley, Spring, TX. 1 -- Darrell Wilson, Georgetown, TX; Steve Trickel, Boerne, TX; Tim Kozlowski, Humble, TX.

Sarazen:  ($80/each)  1 -- Rick Houchins, Houston, TX; George Horton, Houston, TX; Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($36/each)  1 -- Dale McFarland, Crowley, TX; George Peddy, Bedford, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX; Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX; Alfredo Garcia, San Antonio, TX; Charles Sagray, San Antonio, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($56/each)  2 -- Rick Halprin, Houston, TX. 1 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX; Joe Tyson, Austin, TX.

Snead / Senior Snead:  ($20/each)  3 -- Mark Colwell, Selma, TX. 2 -- Charles Watson, Llano, TX. 1 -- Ramon Colen, San Antonio; Charles Mielak, San Antonio, TX; William Speck, Corpus Christi, TX; Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX; John Thomas, Victoria, TX; Gene Hanley, San Antonio, TX.


CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($180/each)  #3 - George Horton - 6' 3";  #7 - John Hilgers - 15' 3";  #13 - Ron Finnerty  - 6"4 1/2";  #16 - Charles Sagray - 6' 8".

Upcoming Texas Events:

The double points and double prize fund event at the Tour Championship where spots are filling up quickly for the Saturday, August 15th and Sunday August 16th, Houston Tour Championship @ Blackhorse.  

Dallas crowns the year end champions at the Tour Championship.  The Tribute Golf Links, closed since the floods in late May, should be in excellent conditions for the Dallas Tour Championship on August 22nd and 23rd.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Director - Texas Tours

Dallas  Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Houston Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

www.gcamtour.com