Mother Nature Wins at the Battle at Blanco

Scott R Chilcutt, Blanco, TX (May 23, 2015)  Vaaler Creek Golf Club sits just north of the small, eclectic town of Blanco along the normally docile and meandering Blanco River and was home to the Battle at Blanco on the Hill Country Tour.

Play got under way with partly cloudy skies, with players actually able to drive to the ball on the fairways, rare in Texas this Spring.  As the first players out were heading to the scoring table, and only a few groups to get off the tee, the lighting came bringing players off the course.  While the tournament committee looked at hopeful signs on the radar, torrential rains followed. Historic rains at that. On a small rain gauge just over the bridge from the clubhouse heading to the practice range and the #1 tee, 8" fell in just three hours.

Little did we know at the time, the downpours would create such havoc downstream.  In a matter of minutes, the Blanco River shot above the banks, destroying homes and bridges on the way to Wimberly, TX where that destruction took not only properties but lives.

Brevity in this recap,  seems only appropriate as a tribute to the lost souls and countless affected families on this Saturday in the Hill Country. Keep all of them in your thoughts and prayers!

Championship Flight:  Mark Miller of nearby Spring Branch, TX, carded four birdies on the day to pick up his eighteenth win on tour and first of the season.  

Palmer Flight:  Shortened to a nine hole event, San Antonio, TX, member Dave Davlin won in a score card playoff over Scott Harper of Ranger, TX for his third win on the season and seventeenth on tour.

Hogan Flight: Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX likely played his last event as a Hogan Flight player, destined for the Palmer flight with his tournament index.  It was Matthews  ninth win on tour and fourth of the season.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Houston Tour traveler, Kevin Turner of Beaumont,TX grabbed his first win on tour since the 2012 The Competition at Kayak Point, in the state of Washington.

Upcoming Texas Events:

The Houston Tour, contests the Missouri City Championship on May 30th and Dallas hits the Fairview Classic on May 31st before a South Central Region break for the Arkansas Championship at Hot Springs, 

Texas Tours get back into regular Summer play with a three day weekend, starting with the Houston Tour at the Friendswood Challenge at Timber Creek Golf Club on Saturday June, 13th.   Dallas gets back to action on Sunday, June 14th for the Flower Mound Open @ Bridlewood and on tap for The Hill Country, a special Monday event for the Cedar Park Challenge, at Twin Creeks on June 15th. Entry deadline for all three events is Friday, June 5th. 

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

River in the Banks at The Spring Branch Classic

Scott R Chilcutt, Spring Branch, TX (May 9, 2015)  River Crossing Club located just south of the Guadalupe River crossing under State Highway 281 north of San Antonio, played host to the 2015 Spring Branch Classic on the Hill Country Tour.

The Guadalupe, a popular destination for rafting was flowing fast and cold with the recent rains in and around the Hill Country.  Those rains only contributed to the lush conditions of the course, able to handle the precipitation, the players were surprisingly able to drive to the golf balls after a bunch of cart path only events on the tour this spring.

Burnie Rodgers, of Haslet, TX, recorded a HOLE-IN-ONE on the par 3 - 15th, while Mike Adcock (Jones Flight) was "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning his flight playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to him for the win.  Adcock, also went on to win by a single stroke over Joe Abreo, the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Saltillo, Mexico, native Genaro Davila, now residing in San Antonio, TX, made it two for two on the AM Tour.  Davila, a winner his first time out at the San Antonio Masters, followed a +2 at The Dominion with a -2 on Saturday. With the help of four birdies on the day, with three coming to the clubhouse, Genero is now even par on tour.  Reining River Crossing Club Champion, Mark Miller of Spring Branch, TX, put together three birdies on his round to finish in the runner up spot, with another local Spring Branch player Jackson Wolfe rounding out the top three,

Palmer Flight:  San Antonio, TX, member, Dave Davlin used a birdie on the par 5 - 14th, one of only five on the day to pick up his fifteenth win on tour and second of the season. Of the fifteen wins, Davlin is a three time Major Champion on tour, most recently the 2014 Texas Masters at Barton Creek. Two strokes back,  Ron Finnerty, of San Antonio, TX, on the short end of a playoff at last weeks Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino, secured the runner up spot.  Two back of Finnerty, four players knotted up the third place finish.  First time player, Brannon Smith of Midland, TX,  Fernando Davila and Randy McGinnis both of San Antonio, TX, and Austin, TX, player Larry Susen shared the third place finish.

Hogan Flight:  Allan Collier, now residing in Dripping Springs, TX, came out of the gate swinging.  Collier with a birdie on his opening hole, the par 4 - 1st, muddied the waters at the par 3 - 2nd, but got back on track to pick up his third win on tour and first since moving to the Senior Hogan Flight.  San Antonio, TX, player Rene Realme a two time winner at River Crossing looked to have things wrapped up for a three - peat but carded a 9 at the par 5 - 17th, relegating himself to the runner up finish.  Michael Kirk of nearby, Canyon Lake, TX, proved to be a good fit in the Hogan Flight after a recent promotion, rounding out the top three. 

Sarazen Flight:  In just another example of "success breeding success",  Boerne, TX, player Rudy Cantu backed up his first win his last time out at the tough scoring The Challenge @ River Place with his second in two years on tour. One stroke back, Devin Brown of San Antonio, TX, was back three strokes after the front nine, made par on the final four holes and got it close.  Second time Austin, TX, player, Douglas Galloway carded the only birdie of the day on the #1 handicap, par 4 - 6th to finish tied in the third place spot with Rick Houchins of Houston, TX, with two birdies of his own on the day.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Recently relocated to San Antonio, TX, from the DFW area, George Peddy, 
made a birdie three on the par 4 - 18th to force extra holes with David Michel, a local course member from Spring Branch, TX.  Out for the sudden death playoff, Peddy would prevail with a par on the par 4 - 1st for his seventh win on tour and first since 2012.  Michel, made the only birdie on the tough par 5 - 17th, grabbed the runner up finish with local Bulverde, TX, player Joe Abreo and his birdie on the 1st hole of the day rounding out the top three.

Jones Flight:  With limited playing time on tour, Dallas Tour assistant Mike Adcock of  Fort Worth, TX secured his first win since being promoted to the Jones Flight with a birdie on the par 4 - 18th. Two stokes back after the front nine, four time tour winner, with two on the season, Joe Tyson of Austin, TX, birdied the par 3 - 15th, but just couldn't keep pace, settling for the runner up finish. Just a day removed from his birthday, Xavier Bardy and local club member Phil Lewis both from San Antonio, TX, shared the third place honors.

Snead Flight: Christopher Cobb of Austin, TX, carded his best round on tour, in his first season for his National Championship qualifying third win. Cobb, even after the front, stitched together just enough coming to the clubhouse to finish two strokes clear of Wylie, TX, traveler Ethan Blase.  Blase, with his second runner up finish of the season, edged out Charles Mielak of San Antonio, TX, with birdie on his final hole, the par 4 - 18th by a single stroke.  

SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($65/each)  1 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Chuck Odom, San Angelo, TX; Doug Collins, Iraan, TX; Randy McGinnis, San Antonio, TX; David Day, McClendon-Chisholm; Douglas Galloway, Austin, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX.

Championship / Palmer: ($43/each)  2 -- Chuck Odom, San Angelo, TX. 1 -- Genaro Davila, San Antonio, TX; Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Doug Collins, Iraan, TX; Randy McGinnis, San Antonio, TX.

Hogan:  ($36/each)  1 -- Steve Hamilton, Leander, TX; Allan Collier, Dripping Springs, TX; David Day, McClendon-Chisholm; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX; Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  ($110/each)  1 -- Douglas Galloway, Austin, TX; George Peddy, Bedford, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX.

Jones:  ($36/each)  2 -- Mike Adcock, Fort Worth, Texas. 1 -- Joe Tyson, Austin, TX; Matt Vernon, Manor, TX; Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX.

Snead:  ($22/each)  2 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; Charles Mielak, San Antonio, TX; Ethan Blase, Wylie, TX. 1 -- Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX.


CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($110/each)  #2 - Chuck Odom - 5' 10";  #7 - Xavier Bardy - 8';  #12 - Douglas Galloway  - 4' 0"; #15 - Burnie Rodgers - HOLE IN ONE.

Upcoming Texas Events:

The Hill Country Tour makes its Memorial Day Weekend visit to Vaaler Creek Golf Club for the Battle at Blanco on Saturday, May 22nd.  Entry deadline is Friday, May 15th at 11:59 PM EST. 

Dallas Tour members return to action at the Fort Worth Championship at Waterchase Golf Club on May 17th and go back to the popular Fairview Classic @ Heritage Ranch on May 31st.  Registration deadline is Friday May 22nd.

Houston Tour players tee it up for the special Player Championship @ The Woodlands on Tuesday, May 19th and then head south for the Missouri City Championship at Quail Valley Golf Club on May 30th, entry deadline is Friday, May 22nd.

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

Hill Country Tour Players Shine at the Red River Shootout

Scott R Chilcutt, Thackerville, OK (May 3, 2015)  The Golf Channel AM Tour returned for the third Red River Shootout and first since 2013 along the Red River. Just a little over an hour north of the Dallas / Ft Worth metroplex on the Oklahoma side of the border sits, WinStar Golf Club, part of the WinStar World Casino complex that played host to the event.  

Moderate winds, along with what some players noted, "diabolical greens", kept low scores at bay, with no sub par rounds on the weekend. The field recorded 5 eagles, and 241 birdies and the course played to just over 15 over.  36 National Championship and Senior National Championship invitations were given to the top three and ties, with eight of eleven flights seeing first time Major Champions.

It was no coincidence that the field was made up of a majority of Dallas Tour players, but the surprise came from Hill Country Tour, the smallest in the state, and it's five victories, including the top three flights that went home to members working at Fort Hood.  Dallas Tour members took four Championships, one went to the Houston area and a single trophy traveled back to Missouri. 

Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX, padded his pockets and the Golf Channel AM Tour will send another $500 to the Troops First Foundation with his first career hole in one on the par 3 - 5th on Saturday with a 7 iron from 148 yards.  Additionally, over $1,300 was raised for David Feherty's Troops First Foundation.through the 50/50 raffle.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  First round leader, Marco Palacios of Austin, TX, ran into trouble on his Sunday round opening the door for Killeen, TX, resident, Jordan Massey.  Massey, with eight birdies on the weekend, including the final hole, par 5 - 18th picked up his second win in three attempts on tour and first Major Championship.  Plano, TX, first year player Gant Bills, playing to a combined total +3 in four rounds on tour, finished two strokes back for the runner up spot.  Second year tour player, Jared Taylor of Edmond, OK, a six time winner on tour during two seasons, rounded out the top three grabbing the final National Championship Qualification of the flight.

Palmer Flight:  In his final hurrah as a Fort Hood, TX, resident, Jacob Morton, would pick up his second Red River Shootout victory, his tenth win on tour and fourth Major Championship.  But, it wouldn't come without extra work.  Morton, on his way to the Beltway with his new position at the Pentagon, birdied his 36th hole of the weekend to draw a tie with Ron Finnerty of San Antonio, TX.  Finnerty, with three birdies on the weekend, got even with Morton after 27 holes, but could only match him on the final nine.  Both back out to the par 4 - 1st hole for the sudden death playoff, Morton would get up and down for the Championship.  Two strokes back of the pair,  David Wright of Flower Mound, TX, made eagle three on the par 5 - 18th, his final hole of the weekend, to snatch a share of the third place honors with San Antonio, TX member Dave Davlin for the National Championship invites.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Robert Lippert of Copperas Cove, TX, made it a trio of Fort Hood members to take home the crystal.  Lippert, with three birdies on his opening round, built a seven stroke advantage on Saturday and was able to cruise on Sunday for his ninth win on tour, second major and fourth win of the season.  Playing along side of Lippert in the final pairing, Traylor Sells of Cypress, TX, the 2013 Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort Champion and Midland, TX, player Al Smith matched scores on both rounds to share the runner up finish.

Hogan Flight:   Dallas Tour member, Cory Welch of Fort Worth, TX, used birdies on the par 3 - 5th and par 3 - 14th on Sunday to take seven strokes off his opening round to win it by one.  Welch, a winner his last time out at the Myrtle Beach Classic Major, picked up his eighth win on tour and third Major Championship.  Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX, added five birdies on the weekend to his hole in one on Saturday to jump into the second place finish with first round leader, Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX and Sapulpa, OK player Tams Howard. Howard added four birdies on Sunday to one carded on Saturday for his first National Championship Qualification.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Bob Hunter of Lees Summit, MO, led wire to wire to become the only out of Texas winner on the weekend.  Hunter, a six time winner on tour, three time winner on the season, picked up his first Major Championship in thirty two Major starts on his AM Tour career.  One stroke back, Magnolia, TX resident, George Smith, a four time winner on tour, carded his eighth runner up finish taking three strokes off his first round total.  Two strokes back, Dallas Tour member, Jalil Daneshfar of Trophy Club, TX, and Wentzville, MO, player Michael Quesenberry, with two birdies on his final round split the final Senior National Championship qualification spots.

Sarazen Flight:  Fort Worth, TX, player Preston Miller used two birdies on Saturday to stay within one stroke of the lead.  Sunday, Miller would play the front nine in +3, but ran into trouble on the back, starting with a triple on the 10th hole, but did just what he needed to do to pick up his fourth win on tour and first Major Championship by a single stroke.  Oklahoma City, OK native, Kevin Stevens,  now residing in Wesley Chapel, FL, and son Mitch Stevens of Valrico, FL, finished National Championship qualifications, in second and third respectively.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  With caddie in tow,  Mark Donohue of Lewisville, TX made a walk along the Red River work to his first Major Championship and fourth win on tour. Donohue matched +9 - 81's on both days for a two stroke lead over, 2013 Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort playoff Champion, Stan Wilson of Jones, OK and St Charles, MO, member, Thomas Pryor splitting the runner up finish.  It was Pryor's best finish at a Major Championship in six attempts.

Jones Flight:  Stuck in a three way tie for second after the Saturday round, Larry Atchley of Kyle, TX, shot a flight low round on Sunday to become a Major Champion and four time winner on tour. First round leader, Portland, TX, resident, James Price finished four strokes back, for the runner up spot, his best finish in a Major.  Two strokes back of Price, Brandon Walters of Springdale, AR matched his best finish at a Major with a third place finish at the 2014 The Sooner State Showdown.

Senior Jones Flight: In a hotly contested 24 player flight, where the top seven players were only separated by four strokes, first round leader, Randy Helcel of Lott, TX, was surprised to learn he was tied in the top spot after a mediocre Sunday Round.  When Lakeway, TX member Donald Bebout, was not available for the extra holes playoff, Helcel would pick up his first win on tour.  Bebout will take home the runner up finish, with Terry Collins of Spring, TX, carding birdie on the eighteenth hole on Sunday for the final Senior National Championship qualification.

Snead Flight:   Tulsa, OK, resident, William Hughes became a first time winner in three years on tour at the April,  Dallas Tour, Castle Hills Masters and hasn't stopped yet.  With his final round 93 it was just enough to pick up his first Major Championship and third win in as many attempts. Corpus Christi, TX, resident William Speck, took seven strokes off his Saturday round on Sunday to finish two shots back, with Houston Tour player Javier Quintero rounding out the top three.

Senior Snead Flight:  Long Island, NY, native, Robert Vespa now living in Pasadena, TX, kept on his winning track.  After his first victory on tour his last time out, Vespa overcame a three stroke deficit starting the day Sunday to finish with a one stroke advantage. First round leaders, Hal Wychopen of  Magnolia, TX, and Lombard, IL, member, John Pacheco finished second and third respectively, punching their ticket to the Senior National Championships in September.

Upcoming Texas Events:

Hill Country Members are back to River Crossing Club on May 9th for the Spring Branch Classic.

Dallas Tour members get back into action at the Fort Worth Championship at Waterchase Golf Club, entry deadline is Friday, May 8th.

Houston Tour players tee it up for the special Player Championship @ The Woodlands on Tuesday, May 19th. Registration closes on Friday, May 8th.  The event is sold out but waiting list spots are available.

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