Scott R Chilcutt, Kingsland, TX (March 25, 2017) The Hill Country Tour made its way back to the LBJ Lake, Marble Falls area just two weeks after the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay for the Kingsland Championship.
First-time on the schedule, Lighthouse Country Club, formerly Packsaddle Golf Course, was purchased by Rick and Mercy Howe in 2011. With new owners, and a commitment in place, along with the addition of Superintendant Jarrett Eledge they set out to get the most important aspects of a course in order, the fairways, greens, and tees. And have they succeeded.
Excellent course conditions over the rolling Hill Country layout, made for some solid but not low scoring, testing every aspect of the tour players game. The Golf Channel AM Tour will be back to this gem in Kingsland!
The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $340, bringing the Texas Tour local events total to $4,470 in contributions to the Foundation.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: With the last minute cancellation, the contest became a two-man shootout for the hardware. Making the trip from the DFW Tour, Preston Standley of Plano, TX went out just one stroke back at the turn, but slid into the runner-up finish, when San Angelo, TX, member Al Smith kicked it into gear with a back nine +1. For Smith, the 2015 Senior National Champion it was his sixteenth win on tour and the first event of the points season.
Palmer Flight: Round Rock, TX, member Jorge Rodriguez carded a birdie on the par 4 - 2nd, to stay within one of the front nine leader, Rod Baumgartner, also from Round Rock, Making the turn, Baumgartner, would stumble over his first three holes, to fall into the third place finish. Rodriquez, starting his ninth season on tour picked up his thirteenth win and first of the points season. With two birdies on his first nine holes, Johnny Liguez of Helotes, TX, would settle into the runner-up spot just one stroke out of the lead
Hogan Flight: One of a couple of players recommending the Lighthouse Country Club for a tour event, Bob Tuttle of nearby Kingsland, TX, used local knowledge to grab the Championship by one stroke. For Tuttle, it was his thirteenth win on tour and only second since his 2012 Senior National Championship at TPC Sawgrass. San Antonio, TX, member Gary Grizzle, a two-time winner of the season made two birdies on the front nine, for the runner-up spot, with Ricky Napper of Bryan, TX, rounding out the top three.
Sarazen Flight: Coming off a Major Championship victory at the Texas Open - Horseshoe Bay, Jim Puckett, of Leander, TX, backed up the victory for his third win on tour. Puckett, with two birdies on the round, was able to stay just one stroke clear of San Antonio, TX, player Xavier Bardy. Bardy, carded three birdies on the round to stay two strokes ahead of third place finisher, AJ Englerth of Killeen, TX.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Part-time Lakeway, TX, resident Donald Bebout, became a two-time winner of the season with fourteenth career victory. Starting the day on the tenth tee, Bebout, was able to hold on to a three-stroke victory over a hard charging Burnie Rodgers, of Haslet, TX. Rodgers shaved seven strokes off his front nine finish, with the help of two birdies on the back. Leander, TX, player Steve Hamilton a winner at Comanche Trace in February, rounded out the top three.
Jones Flight: Larry Atchley, of Kyle, TX, stumbled out of the gate with a double on the par 5 - 10th, but rebounded to finish +3 on his front nine, plenty of strokes clear of Haslet, TX, second place finisher Doyle Fleming. For Atchley, it was his third victory of the season and sixth on tour. Christopher Cobb jumped from a T6 position making the turn to one stroke back of Fleming, with a back nine +3 - 36 for the third place spot.
Snead Flight: Local Llano, TX, member Charles Watson, made the best of some home cooking for his third win of the season and fifth on tour. Watson, with a two-stroke advantage at the turn, widened the gap to four strokes over Houston Tour member, Robert Vespa of Pasadena, TX. Copperas Cove, TX, player Dan OShea, carded his eighth top-five finish in nine attempts on the season rounding out the top three.
SKINS:
Giant SKINS: ($40/each) 2 -- Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Al Smith, San Angelo, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; Danny Simmons, Bentwood CC, San Angelo, Tx; Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX; Bob Smith, Corpus Christi, TX; Gary Grizzle, San Antonio, TX; Jim Puckett, Leander, TX; Aaron Seafous, Austin, TX.
Championship / Palmer: ($37/each) 2 -- Danny Simmons, Bentwood CC, San Angelo, Tx. 1 -- Al Smith, San Angelo, TX; Justin Gorby, Pflugerville, TX; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; Bob Smith, Corpus Christi, TX.
Hogan: ($40/each) 2 -- Gary Grizzle, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Ivan Alvarado, San Antonio, TX; Sven Bock, Richardson, TX; Kyle Lewie, Waco, TX.
Sarazen / Senior Sarazen: ($48/each) 2 -- Jim Puckett, Leander, TX; Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Aaron Seafous, Austin, TX.
Jones / Snead: ($40/each) 2 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX. 1 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; Doyle Fleming, Haslet, TX.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
$110/each
#7 - Bob Tuttle - 6' 7"; #12 - John Kaminski - 8' 3"; #16 - Aaron Seafous - 4' 7 1/2"; #18 - Joseph Calaway - 18 1/2".
Upcoming Texas Events:
Registration is closed at this weekend's destination for the Houston Tours, Galveston Island Championship on Sunday, April, 2nd.
Next up open for registration:
Back to San Antonio for the Spring Challenge at Silverhorn on Sunday, April, 9th. Entries close on Friday, March 31st.
Dallas Tour resumes playing in April at the Frisco Lakes Challenge on Saturday, April 8th. The event is sold out with waiting list spots available. Registration deadline is Friday, March 31st.
Houston Tour gets back to action on Saturday, April 22nd at High Meadow Ranch for the Masters @ Magnolia. Registrations close on Friday, April 14th.
Houston Tour gets back to action on Saturday, April 22nd at High Meadow Ranch for the Masters @ Magnolia. Registrations close on Friday, April 14th.
For More Information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
