Scott R Chilcutt, Horseshoe Bay, TX (March 8, 2015) The Texas Open, known for some crazy spring weather in the Hill Country, once again held true to form. While, mild temperatures and little to no wind was a nice change, the rain threats on Sunday kept the tensions high. Those rains would ultimately hold off, for the most part, until the players made their way home, trending the event to one of the best in early March.
While entirely hosted at the CapRock facility over the past four years, Apple Rock stayed on the rotation, but the Ram Rock course (and required shotgun) was moved down the hill and across the street to the Robert Trent Jones, SR, Slick Rock Course. With the changes, scores over the two day Major, the first of the year in the South Central Region, showed for more play-ability.
$1,460 was raised for David Feherty's Troops First Foundation by participants in the 50/50 raffle.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Despite three triples on Sunday, Andrew Braun of Trophy Club, TX, built enough cushion with a four birdie, +1 - 73 on Saturday to pick up his seventh win on tour and second Major Championship. One stroke back, Corey Freeland of Houston, TX made three birdies on the weekend for the runner up spot, with Dallas, TX resident, Cameron Kirkpatrick just another stroke back for the final National Championship qualification finish.
Senior Championship Flight: 2013 Senior National Champion, Bob Brooks of Bella Vista, AR, played his final eight holes of the weekend in minus 2 with the help of four birdies to force a playoff with Kermit, TX player, Daniel Desilets. On the first extra hole of the sudden death, Brooks would keep the birdie train rolling for his first win on the season and eighth on tour. Edmond, OK traveler, Al Swanson carded five birdies on the weekend to round out the top three.
Palmer Flight: Keith Childress of Diana, TX took eight strokes off his first day finish with the help of two birdies on the Slick Rock layout to pick up his first win on tour over a trio of players two strokes back. Chris Morea of Marietta, GA, with a string of two birdies on the par 4 -4th and par 5 - 5th on Sunday, Fort Hood, TX member Jacob Morton, with eagle on the par 5 - 5th and Brack Blackwood of Granbury, TX, with a couple of birdies on the weekend would all share the runner up honors and final National Championship invitations.
Senior Palmer Flight: Battling back problems, Al Smith of Midland, TX recorded four birdies for a flight low round on Sunday at Slick Rock to pick up his eleventh win on tour and third Major Championship. Three strokes back, Iraan, TX member Doug Collins, already a winner on the points season made eagle 2 on the par 4 18th on Saturday to take home the second place prize, with Herb Reynolds of Montgomery, TX and Copperas Cove, TX player Robert Lippert with three birdies on the front nine Sunday, splitting the third place honors.
Hogan Flight: Scott Harper of Ranger, TX led from wire to wire to pick up his eleventh win on tour, second of the season and first Major Championship. Harper made four birdies on the weekend to finish three strokes ahead of first year player, Derek Matta of Sugarland, TX. Tomball, TX member James Sheppeard finished one stroke back of Matta for the final National Championship qualification.
Senior Hogan Flight: In only his second time out since a flight promotion, Will Whitley of Cypress, TX became a three time winner on tour and his first Major Championship. Whitley, started the final round tied for the lead and steady play vaulted him to a six stroke victory over fellow Houston Tour member, Christopher Phillips of Richmond, TX. George Smith of Magnolia, TX and Boerne, TX resident, Steve Trickel shared the show place finish and final Senior National Championship invitations.
Sarazen Flight: Coming off his first win in over a year, just two weeks prior, Scott Thompson of Helotes, TX let his confidence shine through for his first Major Championship. Thompson shot a flight low round on Sunday to win by ten strokes over Rick Smalley of College Station, TX and Live Oak, TX player Michael Hill.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Wharton, TX member, Larry Viktorin made the weekend a lucky # thirteenth win and first Major Championship. Viktorin, coming off a win his last time out at the Golf Club of Houston Redstone Classic played just outside the lead group after the Saturday round, did just enough on the Apple Rock course to grab the one stroke victory. Nicky Baugh from Alto, TX shot the flight low round on Sunday to vault his way into a share of the runner up spot with Ballwin, MO player Les Edwards.
Jones Flight: Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX came off his first win as a Jones Flight player two weekends ago and shot a flight low round on Sunday to overcome a three stroke deficit. Fleming defended his 2014 Texas Open Championship now winning the event two times in two different flights. One stroke back, John Grossenbacher of Austin, TX now has three events on tour, two seconds to go with a win. Bakersfield, CA traveler, Don Risner, playing in his fourteenth event on the points year, rounded out the top three.
Senior Jones Flight: Atascocita, TX player David Sipe defended his 2014 Texas Open Championship that helped him win the Houston Tour Flight Championship picking up his fifth win on tour. Three strokes back, Mike Murphy of Corrigan, TX vaulted his way into the runner up spot with the Sunday low Flight round. California Sacramento / Central Tour member Richard Bernard of Rocklin, CA took home that last Senior National Championship invitation.
Snead Flight: Bobby Ashcraft of San Antonio, TX picked up his third win in as many attempts and first Major Championship. Ashcraft, with the help of seven birdies on the weekend built a seven stroke advantage over Corpus Christi, TX member William Speck, with two birdies of his own. William Hughes of Tulsa, OK rounded out the top three.
Senior Snead Flight: Alan Brumley of Atascocita, TX built a big lead after his Saturday round on Slick Rock and held off a hard charging Kerrville, TX player John Merritt for the win. It was Brumley's eighth win on tour, fourth consecutive and first Major Championship. Art Henry of Victoria, TX finished in third for his best finish at a Major Championship.
Upcoming Texas Events:
Dallas Tour gets back into the swing of things at the Classic at the Creek, Indian Creek Golf Club on Saturday March 21st with a registration deadline of Friday March 13th.
The Hill Country takes on Delaware Springs Golf Course for the first time in Burnet, TX. The Classic at the Springs is Sunday, March 22nd, entries close on Friday March 13th.
Houston Tour members follow up with the Masters at the Ridge, River Ridge Golf Club on March 14th, entry is closed and sold out. Next on tap is the Galveston Island Championship @ Moody Gardens on Sunday, March 29th. Registrations closes on Friday, March 20th at 11:59 PM EDT.
For More Information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
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