Palmilla Beach Golf Club, a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, designed by Arnold Palmer, takes advantage of the rugged wind-swept coastline consistent with links golf. That layout and the links effect, seemed to feel more like its Scotland predecessors when over 75% of the players took to a practice round on Friday. Cold north winds along with cloudy, dreary skies would make up what could only assist in a view of the layout. Tournament day welcomed some sunshine and different wind directions, which would only offer players that had been to track, insight into some of the blind and narrowing shot placements.
With no eagles on the day and just a mere 53 birdies, the course took its toll on players with over 77% of the scores at bogey or worse. In the Tournament Champion Award, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, it took a scorecard playoff for Michael Kirk to beat out Damian Shipley for the trophy. Steve Killion (Senior Hogan), Greg Faubion (Senior Sarazen), Michael Kirk (Jones Flight) and Bobby Ashcraft (Snead Flight) took advantage of the Srixon ball promotion and will get an extra dozen sent to them for winning their respective flights.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Granbury, TX player Eric Anderson took advantage of four birdies on the day to make the trip from the Dallas Tour worth while. It was Eric's fourth win on tour and first on Texas soil after winning three on the New Mexico Tour in 2012. Josh Stout of Houston, started the day on the rough side after overnight car troubles, but played the back nine in +1 with three birdies to finish in the runner up spot, three strokes back. Marc Duncan, recently relocated to Texas from Sanford, NC, birdied his final hole to share the third place honors with Mike Terry of Round Rock, TX and Del Rio, TX member Rich Weatherby.
Palmer Flight: Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX used three birdies on the day to fire one of only a few sub 80 rounds for his fifteenth win on tour. Just behind Davlin found three promoted Hogan / Senior Hogan flight players. Runner up, Iraan, TX resident Doug Collins the winner in the Senior Palmer Flight at the two day South Texas Winter Championship stayed on course, with a pair of birdies to finish five strokes back. Bruce Beakley of Houston, another GolfNow performance promotion player and Spring, TX, self promoted Hogan Flight player, Aaron Brougher shared the third place finish.
Hogan Flight: San Antonio, TX member, Todd VanDerSchaegen, carded three birdies on the day, including his final hole, par 5 - 18th to pick up the hardware. James Sheppeard of Tomball, TX, recorded his second runner up in as many attempts, just one stroke shy, with birdies on the par 5 - 5th and par 5 - 10th holes. San Antonio, TX resident, John Heintz birdied the par 3 - 2nd, picking up a closest to the hole award and show position points.
Senior Hogan Flight: In a tale of two nines, Sanger, TX member Steve Killion, a 2015 points year promoted player, took fifteen strokes off his first nine score and came to the clubhouse in +1 on the back to pick up his ninth win on tour and second of the season. Chris Neelley of Spring, TX strung together five pars during the middle of his round to finish three strokes out of the win. Boerne, TX member Steve Trickel and Tim VanLandingham from nearby Portland, TX split the third place points.
Sarazen Flight: Damian Shipley of Corpus Christi, TX made the best of some home cooking to notch his fourth win on tour. Shipley, with a birdie on the par 3 - 2nd finished his back nine in +2 for the nine stroke advantage. Boerne, TX member, Rudy Cantu matched his best finish on tour a T2 at the November, Las Vegas, The Chase Championship. Three strokes back the trio of Kristopher Bixby of Katy, TX, The Woodlands, TX player Patrick Richardson and first time player Nacho Orozco of San Antonio, TX shared the third place finish.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Richmond, TX player Greg Faubion went even par over six holes in the middle of his round with the help of a birdie on the par 3 -2nd to win his third event on tour and second in as many attempts. Eight strokes back, Dallas Tour member, Ray Blackshear of Hideaway, TX held off Jim Craig of San Felipe, TX for the runner up finish, by one stroke after Craig made par on his final two holes to round out the top three.
Jones Flight: Michael Kirk of Canyon Lake, TX made birdie on the par 4 - 15th to finish his front nine in +3. Kirk, would make a mess of his middle rounds but finished -2 over his last four holes to pick up his first win on tour. Huntsville, TX player Neil Macdonald played his normal steady round to finish in the runner up spot with Portland, TX member James Price finishing in the third place position.
Snead Flight: San Antonio, TX player Bobby Ashcraft turned his round about on the back nine, taking six strokes off for his fourth win on tour and second in as many attempts after winning the South Texas Winter Championship in December. A threesome of players carded runner up finishes, with Christopher Cobb of Austin, TX, Lake Leon, TX player Stan Harper and Mark Colwell of Selma, TX splitting the second place honors.
Senior Snead Flight: Seven pars on the day would be just enough for Alan Brumley of Atascocita, TX to return home with his sixth Championship on the AM Tour. Two strokes back, Victoria, TX resident, Art Henry would birdie the par 3 - 2nd to help make up a three stroke deficit on the first nine to finish in a tie for second with John Merritt of Kerrville.
SKINS:
Giant SKINS: ($130/each) 2 -- Michael Kirk, Canyon Lake, TX. 1 -- Eric Anderson, Granbury, TX; James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX.
Championship: ($25/each) 3 -- Eric Anderson, Granbury, TX. 2 -- Rich Weatherby, Del Rio, TX. 1 -- Mike Terry, Round Rock, TX; Josh Stout, Houston, TX.
Palmer: ($30/each) 2 -- Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX; Doug Collins, Iraan, TX. 1 -- James Becker, San Antonio, TX; Arthur Flores, Houston, TX; Harold Jackson, Baytown, TX.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: ($50/.each) 2 -- James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX. 1 -- Todd VanDerSchaegen, San Antonio, TX; Matt Wolfe, Groves, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; John Heintz, San Antonio, TX.
Sarazen / Senior Sarazen: ($60/each) 1 -- Ray Blackshear, Hideaway, TX; Craig Duncan, Kingwood, TX; Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX.
Jones / Snead / Senior Snead: ($34/each) 3 -- Michael Kirk, Canyon Lake, TX. 2 -- Daryl Nixon, Taylor, TX. 1 -- Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX; Mark Colwell, Selma, TX; Art Henry, Victoria, TX; Barry Stone, Del Valle, TX; Bryce Kocian, Wharton, TX.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
($130/each) #2 - John Heintz - 4'8"; #6 - James Becker - 9' 6 1/2"; #13 - Jorge Rodriquez - 3' 7 1/2"; #17 - James Becker - 4' 11 1/2"
($130/each) #2 - John Heintz - 4'8"; #6 - James Becker - 9' 6 1/2"; #13 - Jorge Rodriquez - 3' 7 1/2"; #17 - James Becker - 4' 11 1/2"
Upcoming
Texas Events:
Opening
the new year in the Houston area, the Golf Club of Houston Redstone Classic on February 14th is
sold out, but has a waiting list available. First registered, first off
the waiting list.
The Kerrville Championship gets under way on Saturday
February 21st at the beautiful Comanche Trace Golf Club, entry deadline is
February 13th.
Dallas
area players start the new year at the Iron Horse Open on Sunday, February 22nd.
For
More Information:
Scott
R Chilcutt
Director
- Texas Tours
Dallas Tour
- Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF
CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
