Texas Brings Home 3 Titles - 2 from the Hill Country

Scott R Chilcutt, Texas Tours (February 7, 2017)  Paiute Golf Club Resort Las Vegas played host to the fourteenth 2017 Duel in the Desert, presented by the Golf Channel AM Tour.  

432 players from around the US and Canada made up 216 teams, across 14 flights for the 54 hole team championship.  Arguably the best temperatures in recent history, the desert winds picked up on the final day to test the skill of the teams during the scramble format.  In addition to daily prizes, the top three overall teams in each flight qualified for the 2017 National Championships in September.

2017 Texas Tour Member National Championship Qualifiers:

FLIGHT 1:  Team Desilets/Morgan: Daniel Desilets, Kermit, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Marshall Morgan, Odessa, TX, DFW Tour. After taking the 18 hole lead, the pair let the best ball and scramble format along with more importantly the wind get the best of them.  Stamping their ticket the 2017 Senior National Championship Team Desilets finished third 6 strokes out fo the win.

FLIGHT 2:  TEAM Finnerty/Miller: Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX, Hill Country Tour.  A tough round one, left them with plenty of work to do and work they did.  With a low round on day 2 during the best ball format the pair followed up with a strong finish to record their second win at the event and first since 2012 with a two-stroke advantage.  

FLIGHT 3:  TEAM Smith/Smith: Al Smith, San Angelo, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Jeffrey Smith, Boerne, TX, Hill Country Tour.  Al and Jeffrey's paths last crossed thirty years back, when Al took part in the partner Smith's wedding.  Both part of the college golf team, the two recently decided to make the Duel in the Desert a reunion of sorts.  

FLIGHT 8:  TEAM Johns/Purgahn:  Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX, Houston Tour, and Shane Johns, Orange, TX.  With an eight-stroke lead after day one, just about the only thing the pair didn't accomplish was the flight low round all three days, relinquishing that honour on day 3.  Don't count them out of a three-peat in 2018. 

FLIGHT 14:  TEAM Colen/Taylor: Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Noah Taylor, Evansville, IN, St Louis Tour.  Ramon Colen a Champion in 2014, picked up a new partner this round and they hit it off quickly.  Four strokes out of the lead after 36 holes, the pair carded a flight low round on the final day to come within one stroke settling for the runner-up finish.   

Upcoming Texas Events:

Houston and the Hill Country will continue the 2017 year with a doubleheader on the second weekend of February.  Houston with the Golf Club of Houston - Redstone Classic, on Saturday, February 11th (sold out but waiting list spots are available) with the Briggs Ranch Classic at the Golf Club of Texas in San Antonio on Sunday, February 12th.  Entry deadline for both events is Friday, February 3rd at midnight.

   

The DFW Tour will start the year at the DFW Winter Challenge on Sunday, February 26th at The Golf Club at Fossil Creek in Forth Worth.  Registration closes on Friday, February 17th. 

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