Srixon Championship at La Cantera

Golf Channel AM Tour Staff, San Antonio, TX  (June 28, 2015) – Once the again the Golf Channel Am Tour descended on Texas Hill Country for another major championship, this time at the venerable LaCantera Resort in San Antonio for the Srixon Championship.   180 die hard Am Tour players, 156 from the Lone Star State alone, battled on two championship golf courses, not to mention the early Summer Texas heat in a spirited competition to crown 11 new flight champions.  

The LaCantera Resort Course, which played host to the Valero Texas Open in past years’ along with the Palmer Course provided a terrific backdrop for the weekend’s festivities.  Below are the highlights from another hard fought Srixon Championship at LaCantera:

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Spring Branch, TX, player, Mark Miller lapped a very dignified Championship Flight in posting a two day total of +1.  Coming in a distant second was Austin area member Mike Harkins of Cedar Park, TX.  The win was Miller’s third in a row and first major win of the 2015 season. 

Palmer Flight:  2014 3-time Major winner in the Hogan Flight, Houston area player Aaron Brougher stepped up to the plate in a big way with his first ever Palmer Flight win.  Brougher held on to his co-lead from the opening round to best another Houston area player, James Sheppeard, by one stroke to get the W.

Hogan Flight:  Rene Realme, a local product from San Antonio, TX, enjoyed some home cookin with a smooth four shot win over Leander, Texas’ Bryan Wood.  Overnight leader, Zoey DaneshFar from the Dallas area, couldn’t couple her stellar opening round of 76 with a strong 2^nd day, and faded with a final round 92.  Ms. DaneshFar however proved she’s more than a worthy competitor in the Hogan flight and has vowed to bring home a major victory next time out.

Sarazen Flight:  Rudy Cantu, from Boerne, TX, overcame a 3 shot deficit to win the Sarazen flight by 2 shots over overnight leader Ross Gonzalez from Hockley, TX.  Mr. Cantu’s final round score of 87 was enough to get the win on only his second major played in his Am Tour career. 

Jones Flight:  James Price, from the sleepy Texas coastal town of Portland was anything but tired as he won the Jones flight by 2 strokes over Spring, Texas’ Wayne Waldrep.  Price backed up his 2^nd place showing at the Red River Shootout at WinStar in May with his first major win on Tour.

Snead Flight:  Corpus Christi resident, William Speck, made the biggest move of the day in any flight when he came from a whopping 14 shots behind to post a two day total of 186 in besting Mico, TX, Charles Mielak by one shot.  Mr. Speck’s sterling final round score of 85 was the low round of the weekend in flight and just enough to get the job done.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Kansan Thomas Kass held an impressive 5 shot lead after Saturday’s first round.  Little did Mr. Kass realize the laying in the weeds, five shots back was Copperas Cove, TX, very own Robert Lippert.  To say Mr. Lippert ‘went low’ is a gross understatement.  In what has to be one of rounds the weekend in any flight, Mr. Lippert threw a little 75 at em to squeak out a one shot victory over the aforementioned Mr. Kass.  

Senior Hogan Flight:  Alan Collier of Dripping Springs, TX, and San Antonio, TX, player Paul Wuerdeman found themselves going extra holes to settle the Senior Hogan flight.  Deadlocked after 36 holes, Mr. Wuerdeman finally outlasted Mr. Collier with a par on the 2^nd playoff hole.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Olive Branch, MS,  Louis Ralph by no means extended an olive branch to his fellow Senior Sarazen flight combatants.   Mr. Ralph finished with a salty 77 on Sunday to overcome a stacked field, which included Jon Neff of Frisco, TX,  and Richmond, TX, player, Greg Faubion, by two strokes. 

Senior Jones Flight:  The feel good story of the Srixon Championship had to be one Randy Helcel of Lott, TX.  Mr. Helcel had the Championship’s only hole in one on Saturday, when he dunked 138 yard 7-iron on the 7^th hole of the Palmer Course.  Mr. Helcel rode his Saturday ace all the way to the finish line on Sunday, besting Houston’s David Sipe by two.

Senior Snead Flight:  The smallest flight of the weekend belonged to the Senior Snead flight.  The golf played however was by no means small, especially for Conroe, TX, resident Carl Eaton.  Mr. Eaton came up rather large with a comprehensive 16 shot win.  His sterling final round of 86 was more than enough to do the trick.

Prelude to the Srixon Championship - Hill Country Open

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (June 26, 2015)  The Hill Country Tour, made a Friday stop at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort leading up to the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera over the weekend.  Friday events prior to Majors, have been a big hit across the country for players traveling to the big events wanting some tune up time.

While, the Hill Country Golf Club may not look like the La Cantera layouts, tight fairways and lush rough got players looking for the fairways, just as they would over the weekend.  Mark Miller (Championship Flight), Steve Nagy (Hogan Flight) and Bobby Ashcraft  (Snead Flight)  were "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning their flights playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to them for the win.  Oklahoma's Stan Wilson (Senior Sarazen Flight), on a roll of late, collected the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.   


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Starting on the 10th hole on the day, Mark Miller of Spring Branch, TX, held only a slight one stroke advantage making the turn, then turned on the after burners.  Miller birdied the first three holes turning to the tight Oaks course, to pick up his twentieth win on tour, including three Major Championships.  Marion, TX, first year player Louis Brown, with birdies on the par 4 - 7th and par 3 - 17th took the runner up honors three strokes back, with Mike Harkins of Cedar Park, TX, rounding out the top three.

Senior Palmer Flight:   Leslie Clifton of Houston, TX, matched the other two players in the flight with birdie on the par 3 - 8th, the 17th hole of the day to maintain the lead, for his second win on tour in as many attempts.  Cypress, TX, member Traylor Sells, a two time winner on the season, maintained the three stroke deficit after nine to finish in the runner up spot, with Doug Collins of Iraan, TX taking the show position finish.

Hogan Flight:  Sugar Land, TX, traveler Steve Nagy, one of a few not taking part in the weekend activities due to family commitments, grabbed his second win on tour, both coming in the 2015 points season. One stroke back with a double on the final hole the par 5 - 9th,  Rene Realme of San Antonio, TX, added another runner up finish on the season to his win at the April San Antonio Masters.  Littleton, CO, visitor, Bob Koch made birdie on the par 5 - 4th, which ended up just enough to finish with the third place honors.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Allan Collier  AKA, Jason Collier Day of Dripping Springs, TX, looked to rid himself of the Vertigo for the weekend festivities.  While the "spinning" may have seemed to be a challenge, Collier held steady to pick up his second win on the season and fourth on tour.  Wimberly, TX, standout, John Hilgers, not in the event at La Cantera due to a waiting list situation, birdied the par 3 - 8th, to finish in the runner up spot with Dallas Tour player, Steve Lamb of Garland,TX, rounding out the top three.

Sarazen Flight:  Competing in his second event on tour, Carlos Benavides of Crystal City, TX, took three strokes off his back nine to edge out San Antonio, TX, player Nacho Orozco for his first win.  Orozco, and his back nine 45, were just enough to edge out, Dallas Tour player, Preston Miller of Fort Worth, TX for the runner up finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  The ever shifty, Oklahoma Tour Player, Stan Wilson of Jones, OK,  once again brought his "A" game to Texas.  Wilson, with fourteen wins on tour, eight have come outside of his home state with four coming in the state of Texas.  Wilson with a birdie on the par 3 - 17th, capped the win, with a five stroke advantage over Spring, TX, player Gary Gum.  Gum with a birdie of his own on the par 3 - 8th, maintained a two stroke cushion over four players knotted in the third place finish.  Mark Kirby of Bridge City, TX,  Wharton, TX, player Larry Viktorin, Greg Faubion of Richmond, TX and Olive Branch, MS player Louis Ralph split the third place honors.

Jones Flight:  Lloyd C Reid Jr of Dallas, TX came out of a slow injury riddled winter to pick up his third win of the season and sixth on tour.   Birdie on the par 3 - 8th kept Reid just ahead of Lott, TX, first year player, Randy Helcel. Larry Harper of San Antonio, TX, Houston, TX, first year player Benjamin Lipson and the traveling Linda Cole of Flanders, NJ, split the third through fifth place points, just three strokes out of the win.

Snead Flight:  Bobby Ashcraft of San Antonio, TX, carded a birdie on the par 3 - 3rd for his sixth win on tour and fourth of the points season.  Ashcraft, led the field by three strokes with Dallas Tour player, Ethan Blase of Wylie, TX breaking into the runner up finish for his fourth on the season, with  Mark Colwell of Selma, TX rounding out the top three.



SKINS:  


Giant SKINS:  ($170/each)  1 -- Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX; James Price, Portland, TX; David Sipe, Houston, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($25/each)  2 -- Traylor Sells, Cypress, TX. 1 -- Doug Collins, Iraan, TX; Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX.

Hogan:  ($22/each)  2 -- Gus Aldana, Houston, TX; Bob Koch, Littleton, CO; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($40/each)  1 -- Allan Collier, Dripping Springs, TX; Bobby Stokes, Rosharon, TX; Tim VanLandingham, Portland, TX; John Hilgers, Wimberley, TX.

Sarazen:  ($15/each)  3 -- Rudy Cantu, Boerne, TX. 2 -- Preston Miller, Fort Worth, TX. 1 -- Kevin Montague, Spring, TX; Carlos Benavides, Crystal City, TX; Louis Torres, San Antonio; Devin Brown, San Antonio, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($44/each)  1 -- George Peddy, Bedford, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX; Larry Viktorin, Wharton, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Gary Gum, Spring, TX.

Jones:  ($45/each)  3 -- Benjamin Lipson, Houston. TX  2 -- James Price, Portland, TX. 1 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; David Sipe, Houston, TX.

Snead:  ($26/each)  2 -- Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX. 1 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; Charles Mielak, San Antonio, TX; Ethan Blase, Wylie, TX; John Thomas, Victoria, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($110/each)  #3 - Steve Lamb - 9' 2";  #8 - Gary Gum - 3' 4";  #14 -Bobby Stokes  -3' 11"; #17 - Tim VanLandingham - 0' 7".

Upcoming Texas Events:

The Dallas tour makes it's first stop at Southern Oaks Golf Club for the Battle at Burleson on Sunday, July 5th and then heads to the ever popular TPC Craig Ranch for The Championship @ Craig Ranch.  The event, Monday, July 13, 2015 is sure to sell out, entry deadline is Friday, July 3rd at 11:59PM EST.

On tap in The Hill Country, the Austin - Nicklaus Open at the Hill Country Club, Flintrock Falls layout on July 11th.  Entry deadline is Friday, July 3 at 11:59PM EST. 

Houston area players make a return visit to The Woodlands Tournament Course on Monday, July 6th (closed for entries), and then make a stop at WildCat Golf Club for The Open Championship @ WildcCat. The event date is Sunday July, 19, 2015 with the registration deadline on Friday, July 10th 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

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

www.gcamtour.com

Cedar Park Challenge - 2015

Scott R Chilcutt, Cedar Park, TX (June 15, 2015) Pulling into the clubhouse at Twin Creeks Country Club in Cedar Park, TX, you wouldn't really think anything was abnormal.   Until you traverse down the cliff to the practice area and first tee box that is.  The course, winding its way through the low lying areas of the twin creeks, then back up and down, challenges the senses like no others in the Hill Country.  Switch backs on the cart paths, blind shots that require stop light signals to help the flow, all make for a dramatic round of golf.

Crazy weather, in Texas wouldn't stop for the Monday special event.  Early morning rains, gave way to pop up showers, but the looming tropical storm Bill wouldn't get to the players until the last few made their way to the club house.

Joe Abreo dominated on the net award by five strokes for the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Having never stepped foot on the course, Jordan Massey of Killeen, TX, got off to a fast start with birdie on the par 4 - 1st, then, followed with nine straight pars.  Massey would find a little trouble with bogies at 11 and 12, but took advantage of the par fours on the way in, with birdiies on the 13th, 14th and 17th to finish two under on the round for his third win in as many attempts on tour. Local, Cedar Park, TX, member, Adam English went out in even par, but fell back to the field on the back nine allowing Jeremy Frenzel of Fort Worth, TX, to jump into a tie, sharing the runner up honors.

Palmer Flight:  Local club member and first year player, Bob Griffith of Cedar Park, TX, took advantage of some home cooking.  With the help of a birdie on the par 3 - 6th, Griffith came to within one stroke of Copperas Cove, TX, member Robert Lippert at the turn.  Lippert would extend the lead to two with a birdie on the par 5 - 12th, but run into trouble making his way to the clubhouse.  Griffith picked up his first win on two attempts on tour, Lippert would finish three strokes back, with Houston Tour traveler, Harold Jackson of Baytown, TX, rounding out the top three.

Hogan Flight:  Daryl Epperson of Houston, TX would par his final hole of the day, the par 4 - 18th to force extra holes with Wimberly, TX resident, John Hilgers.  Back to the par 4 - 10th for the sudden death playoff, Hilgers would pick up the win after Epperson had some putting surface woes.  It was the ninth win on tour for Hilgers and first of the season.  Senior Hogan Flight, points leader on the Hill Country Tour, Allan Collier of Dripping Springs, TX, took home the final podium spot.

Sarazen Flight:  With consecutive birdies on the par 5 - 5th and par 3 - 6th, Douglas Galloway of Austin, TX, added another on the par 5 - 12th which proved to be plenty for his first win on tour.  Now playing primarily out of Twin Creeks, when not competing at a tour stop, Leander, TX player Melissa Wood bounced back from a rough start on the back nine, to go +4 on the front, jumping into sole position of the runner up finish, with Devin Brown of San Antonio, TX, taking the third place honors.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Joe Abreo of Bulverde, TX, strung together six wins over the 2009-2011 seasons on tour.  Then a dry spell hit, Abreo, competing in 42 events since his last win put together a record low round +8 to clear the field by twelve strokes.  David Phillippi of LaVernia, TX, matched his best finish on tour at the November 2014, Winter Championship @ Canyon Springs with a runner up finish, while Live Oak, TX, member Richard Huyck, with two birdies on the day rounded out the top three.

Jones Flight:  Second time tour player, Jeff Wadsworth made the trip from El Campo, TX, and followed up his second place finish on Saturday in Houston with the win.  Birdie on the par 4 - 13th would prove to be just enough to pick up the victory, one stroke clear of Austin, TX standout, Joseph Tyson.  Artis Stewart, another Houston Tour traveler, took home the third place finish.

Snead Flight:  Taking a break from the tour since October of 2014, Dwain Smith of Round Rock, TX, birdied his ninth hole of the day, the par 4 - 18th to pick up his seventh win on tour. Wylie, TX, member, Ethan Blase and Dan OShea of Copperas Cove, TX, matched scores to share the runner up finish.




SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($82/each)   1 -- Adam English, Cedar Park, TX; Dwain Smith, Round Rock, TX; Jordan Massey, Killeen, TX; Douglas Galloway, Austin, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($55/each)  1 -- Cole Evans, Greenwood Village, Colorado; Jordan Massey, Killeen, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Bob Griffith, Cedar Park, TX.

Hogan:  ($60/each)  1 -- Allan Collier, Dripping Springs, TX; Daryl Epperson, Houston, TX.

Sarazen:  ($20/each) 4 -- Douglas Galloway, Austin, TX. 1 -- Devin Brown, San Antonio, TX; John Schott, Marion, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($15/each)  3 -- Joe Abreo, Bulverde, TX. 2 -- Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX. 1 -- Alfredo Garcia, San Antonio, TX.

Jones / Snead:  ($17/each)  3 -- Artis Stewart, Houston, TX; Joseph Tyson, Austin, TX.  1 -- Dwain Smith, Round Rock, TX; Jeff Wadsworth, El Campo, TX; John Grossenbacher, Austin, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($60/each)  #6 - John Grossenbacher - 5 5";  #9 - John Hilgers - 6' 0";  #11 - Joe Tyson  - 7' 5"; #17 - Jeremy Frenzel - 7' 6".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Players from around the country head to San Antonio for the sold out Srixon Championship at La Cantera on June 27th and June 28th.

Dallas members take on the Tarrant County Open at Sky Creek Ranch on June 20th before a South Central Region Major Championship the following weekend.  Then the tour makes it's first stop at Southern Oaks Golf Club for the Battle at Burleson on Sunday, July 5th.  Registration closes, Friday, June 26th at 11:59PM EST.

On tap in The Hill Country, the Austin - Nicklaus Open at the Hill Country Club, Flintrock Falls layout on July 11th.  Entry deadline is Friday, July 3 at 11:59PM EST. 

Houston area players make a return visit to The Woodlands, this round at the Tournament Course for The Woodlands Open on Monday, July 6th.  The event field has been expanded and will include two waves.  Be sure to join us, registration closes, Friday, June 26th 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

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

www.gcamtour.com