Battle @ Blanco

Scott R Chilcutt, Blanco, TX (May 27, 2017)  Vaaler Creek Golf Club, located three miles south of Blanco, TX, in the Hill Country, played host to the fourth Battle @ Blanco on Memorial Day weekend.  The facility, situated in the Rockin' J Ranch housing addition, has played to from awful to catastrophic weather conditions, but this time around we saw nearly a repeat of 2016, with great weather and scoring conditions.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $360, bringing the Texas Tour local events total to $10,410 in contributions to the Foundation in 2017.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Copperas Cove, TX, resident Rusty Lippert, picked up his second win of the season, to go with two runner-up finishes.  Lippert, with just a two-stroke lead making the turn, kept a hard-charging, Ron Finnerty of San Antonio, TX, at bay with a +1 back nine.  Finnerty would settle for second, with another San Antonio, TX, resident, Stephen Goff, sidelined after making the turn with spasms.

Palmer Flight:  Wendall Sheffield of Crystal River, FL, looked to have things sewn up with four birdies of the round until a quad at the par 4 - 17th opened the door for Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, member Chad Maytubby, a first-time winner his last time out.  Back to the course, for the sudden death playoff, the pair teed it up on the par 5 - 10th, where Sheffield would prevail for the Championship, his first of the points season.  One stroke back, the trio of Johnny Liguez, of Helotes, TX, Chandler, AZ, traveler Jason Reicks and Paul Gorman of Schertz, TX would split the third place honors.

Hogan Flight:  With two birdies on his round, Kirk Boerner of Fort Worth, TX, carded his fourth sub-eighty round in his last six attempts.  With the finish, it will catapult Boerner into the Journey to Better promotion and Palmer Flight on his sixth win of the season.  Four strokes back, Leander, TX, player Jim Puckett, a two-time winner on the season, including a Major Championship at the Texas Open @ Horseshoe Bay, picked up the runner-up finish.  Rounding out the top three, Universal City, TX, player JD Schott and San Antonio, TX, resident John Heintz, shared the third place spot.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Cisco, TX, traveler, Manny Martinez, started the day out on the right foot with a birdie on the par 4 - 1st, added another at the par 4 - 14th which proved to be enough to snare a one-stroke victory.  Martinez, a six-time winner on tour with his first of the season, edged out Kyle Lewie of Waco, TX, and three-time 2017 winner Gary Grizzle of San Antonio, TX, where the pair shared the second place honors.

Sarazen Flight:  Steve Hamilton, of Leander, TX, became a six-time winner on tour, with his second Championship of the season.  Hamilton, with thirteen pars on the round, cleared the runner-up pair of Randy Helcel of Lott, TX, and Houston, TX, traveler, LP Jones, with a birdie on the par 5-4th, by seven strokes.  

Jones Flight:  Relocated to the Hill Country, at least part of the time, Randy Adcock of Austin, TX, the 2010 Senior Jones National Champion, picked up his twentieth win on Tour and second of the season.  Adcock with a birdie on the difficult over the water, par 4 - 18th hole, took a six-stroke advantage to the scoring table over San Antonio, TX, member Bobby Ashcraft.  Playing in her third event on tour, Jennifer Grothaus of Abilene, TX, rounded out the third place spot, for her best finish on tour.

Snead Flight:  Playing in his second event on Tour, Waco, TX, player James Castellano found his way to the winner's circle early in his career.  Castellano took a five-stroke advantage to the back nine, that proved to be enough to stay out front of Copperas Cove, TX, member Dan O'Shea one stroke back.  Jason Jenniges of Weatherford, TX, made birdies on his first and last holes of the day for the third place finish.


SKINS:  

Giant SKINS:  ($78/each)  2 -- Bob Starkman, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Wendall Sheffield, Crystal River, FL; Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX; Kirk Boerner, Fort Worth.

Championship / Palmer:  ($40/each)  2 -- Johnny Liguez, Helotes, TX. 1 -- Wendall Sheffield, Crystal River, FL; Rusty Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  ($37/each)  2 -- Manny Martinez, Cisco, TX; Bob Starkman, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Kirk Boerner, Fort Worth; Jd Schott, Universal City, TX; Gary Grizzle, San Antonio, TX.

Sarazen:  ($65/each)  1 -- Joe Abreo, Bulverde, TX; Gene Rampy, Bastrop, TX; L.P. Jones, Houston, TX; Ben Maytubby, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX; Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX.


Jones / Snead:  ($75/each)  1 -- Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX; Randy Adcock, Austin, TX; Jennifer Grothaus, Abilene, TX; Jason Jenniges, Weatherford, TX.


CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$110/each

#5 - Kevin Turner - 6' 7";  #9 - CD Dunem - 10' 3";  #12 - Allan Collier - 8' 11";  #15 - Bob Starkman - 6".


NEXT UP:

Hill Country Tour makes its first stop at the Tapatio Springs Hill Country Golf Club on Saturday, June 3rd for the Championship @ Boerne, while the Dallas Tour, hits up Tierra Verde on Sunday, May 26th.

Available for Registration:

The Dominion Country Club, will hold the next Hill Country Tour event for the San Antonio Masters on Monday, June 19, with a registration deadline of Friday, June 9th.

Dallas Tour players, follow the Sunday at Tierra Verde with a Saturday, June 10th event, at Waterchase Golf Club.  Sold out, the event still has some waiting list spots available.

The Woodlands Tournament Course, host of the Insperity Invitational on the Champions Tour, will host the tour players from around the state and country for The Woodlands Open on Monday, June 12th in The Woodlands.  Don't wait on entries, this one will sell out as registrations close on Friday, June 2, at 11:59 PM 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

Spring Branch Classic - River Crossing

Scott R Chilcutt, Spring Branch, TX  (May 13, 2017)   The Spring Branch Classic, contested Saturday with perfect conditions on the Hill Country Tour. River Crossing Club located just south of the Guadalupe River crossing under State Highway 281 north of San Antonio, once again proved to be a tough test for those having seen it for the first time.  

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $280, bringing the Texas Tour local events total to $9,200 in contributions to the Foundation in 2017.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Spring Branch, TX, local Mark Miller has more wins at River Crossing than one can count with multiple Club Championships, and multiple AM Tour victories.  Miller went out with three birdies, -2 on the front and looked to have things in control.  Pairing partner, Ron Finnerty of San Antonio, TX, three back at the turn, turned up the heat on the back, grabbing back two of those strokes, but fell one stroke short.  For Miller it's his fifth victory on the points season.  Corpus Christi, TX, first-time player Jerry Sanchez, rounded out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  With the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 10th, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, player Chad Maytubby found himself in the winners circle.  Playing in his second year on tour, Maytubby has played in eleven events, including seven this season to pick up his first victory.  Two strokes back, Round Rock, TX, member Rodney Baumgartner and Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX, shared the runner up finish.

Hogan Flight:  Traveling Dallas Tour player, Sven Bock of Richardson, TX, carded three birdies on his round to pick up his second win of the season and eleventh on tour.  One stroke back at the turn, Bock, played the back nine in even par to finish, seven strokes clear of runner-up player Ivan Alvarado, of San Antonio, TX.  Another Dallas traveler, Kirk Boerner of Forth Worth, TX, rounded out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:   Sporting a new set of clubs, San Antonio, TX, player Gary Grizzle, recorded his Senior National Championship qualifying third win of the season.  Grizzle, with two birdies on the back nine, finished two strokes ahead of Bryan LaBeff of Alpine, TX.  LaBeff, a winner his first time out on the New Mexico Tour, carded three birdies of his own of the day and outpaced San Antonio, TX, member Bob Starkman, with three birdies of his own, settling for the third place finish.

Sarazen Flight:  Down a stroke making the turn, Darren Bufton of Bedford, TX, made two birdies on the back to go with one on the front to force extra holes with first year Cedar Park, TX player Chris Bryant,  Back to the par 4 - 1st it would take two holes to settle the score, when Bryant birdied the par 3 - 2nd for his first win.  Three strokes back the pair of Joshua Tankersly of Fort Worth, TX, and Windhorst, TX first-time player Casey Reynolds, shared the show place finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Live Oak, TX, player Richard Huyck would finally record his second win on tour and first since his 2010 first season.  Huyck was knotted up with Leander, TX, player Steve Hamilton at the turn, but bested him on the back for the victory.  Joe Abreo, of San Antonio, TX, stayed steady on the day to share the runner-up finish with Hamilton.

Jones Flight:  Bobby Ashcraft of San Antonio, TX, became a twelve time winner, with his third on the season.  Ashcraft, with the help of birdie on the par 5 - 3rd was able to stay two strokes ahead of River Crossing Club member Steve DiPaolo, of San Antonio.  DiPaolo, with bridie on the same par 5 - 3rd, finished two strokes clear of Llano, TX, member Charles Watson, with a birdie of his own on the par 4 - 18th.

Snead Flight:  First-time player Michael Page of Burnet, TX, looked to know his way around the course, grabbing the victory by one stroke.  Lewisville, TX, traveler Ron Hardy and Mark Colwell, of Selma, TX, with three birdies on his round, shared the runner-up finish.

SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($80/each)  1 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Troy McMaster, Montesano, WA; Brandon Casella, Winter Springs, FL; Mark Colwell, Selma, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($14/each)  4 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX. 3 -- Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX. 2 -- Troy McMaster, Montesano, WA. 1 -- Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  ($60/each)  2 -- Sven Bock, Richardson, TX; Bryan LaBeff, Alpine, TX. 1 -- Gary Grizzle, San Antonio, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  ($40/each)  2 -- Darren Bufton, Bedford, TX; Donald Bebout, Lakeway, TX. 1 -- Brandon Casella, Winter Springs, FL; Chris Bryant, Cedar Park, TX; Tres Paxton, Boerne, TX.


Jones / Snead:  ($70/each)  2 -- Mark Colwell, Selma, TX. 1 -- Steve DiPaola, San Antonio, TX; Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$110/each

#2 - Sven Bock - 11";  #7 - Brandon Casella - 11' 5";  #12 - Juan Pardo - 3' 1";  #16 - Sven Bock- 19' 1".


NEXT UP:

Houston Tour players three weekends in a row when we go back to The Wilderness Golf Club, in Lake Jackson for the first time in years on Sunday, May 21st. 

Available for Registration:

Back to Vaaler Creek Golf Club of the Battle at Blanco on the Hill Country Tour for the Memorial Day weekend tournament on Saturday, May, 27th.  Registrations close on Friday, May 19th.

The Dallas Tour takes a break until the June 4th event at Tierra Verde, for the Arlington Championship.  Don't wait until the deadline of May, 26th, this one will sell out early.

The Woodlands Tournament Course, host of the Insperity Invitational on the Champions Tour, will host the tour players from around the state and country for The Woodlands Open on Monday, June 12th in The Woodlands.  Don't wait on entries, this one will sell out as registrations close on Friday, June 2, at 11:59 PM 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

Friday Before the San Antonio Open - Canyon Springs

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (April 28, 2017)  Hampered with weather issues in the past,  Canyon Springs Golf Club made its way back on the Hill Country Tour schedule for the special Friday event before the San Antonio Open at Sonterra.  The weather wasn't the issue this time around, great conditions, simply hard.  Native areas up and around the tee boxes, extend to places you don't want to find your ball, made for a challenge, up for the Prelude to the weekend event.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $600, bringing the Texas Tour local events total to $7,880 in contributions to the Foundation in 2017.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Spring Branch, TX, player Mark Miller carded nearly a flawless round of golf, with two birdies, only taking a bogey on his last hole of the day for his fourth win of the season.  Odessa, TX, member Marshall Morgan, with two birdies of his own on the round, finished in the runner-up spot three back with a trio of players just one stroke back.  Sharing the third place honors, Geoff Rodgers of Vancouver, WA, Al Smith of San Angelo, TX, and Sapulpa, OK, player Curt Howard split the show place honors.     

Palmer Flight:  Spanning over three flights since first joining the tour in 2010, Rene Realme of San Antonio, TX, continued his winning ways towards the Journey to Better, picking up his thirteenth win on tour and second of the season.  One stroke back, Edmond, OK, member Eric Dubbell, with three birdies on the day grabbed the runner-up spot with Johhny Liguez of Helotes, TX, rounding out the top three.

Senior Palmer Flight:  McKinney, TX, member Michael Fyfe, carded three birdies on the front nine, added another on the back to record his second win of the season, including the Doral Amateur Championship Major in January.  One stroke back, Robert Corbello of Vidor, TX, with a couple of birdies of his own finished second with Terry Jackson, and three birdies, taking home the third place finish. 

Hogan Flight:  First-time player, Matt Lovell of San Antonio, TX, made players in the flight take notice with three birdies and an eagle on his round to pick up the championship by three strokes.  Fernando Davila, of San Antonio, TX,  playing -1 on the front nine, held on to the second-place finish, with Helotes, TX, player Scott Thompson rounding out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Jones, OK, traveler Stan Wilson, bettered his back nine bay four strokes, to force a three-way playoff with Ken Johnson of Carrollton, TX, and San Antonio, TX member Paul Wuerdeman.   Back out to the course for the sudden death playoff, Wilson picks up the win for his nineteenth on tour and first of the season.

Sarazen Flight:  Angel Morales, of San Antonio, TX, took at ten on the par 5 - 5th and might have thought he was out of the event.  Starting the nine, with a birdie, Morales played the final ten holes in +1 to force the second playoff of the day with Southlake, TX, resident Scott Striegel where Angel would prevail with a par on the first sudden death hole.  CD Dunem of San Antonio, TX, took home the third place honors for his best finish on the season.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Wharton, TX, player Olan Benge picked up his third win of the season and first since his promotion to the Senior Sarazen Flight. Benge with three birdies finished two strokes ahead of the foursome of Louis Ralph of Olive Branch, MS, Houston, TX, member John Scott, both with three birdies on their rounds along with, Lott, TX, player Randy Helcel and Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, player Ben Maytubby.

Jones Flight:  With playoffs, a theme of the day, Steve Rutherford of Bentonville, AR, and two birdies on his round, along with Judy Harris of Abilene, TX, needed to go back to the course to settle the score.   Harris with a birdie of her own on the par 4 - 11th, would take home the championship in extra holes, her first win on tour.  Houston, TX, player Jose Rivera and San Antonio, TX, member Carlos Cruz would share the third place finish.

Senior Jones Flight:  Chicago Tour traveler, Scott Bieller of Batavia, IL snared his first win on tour in South Texas.  Bieller, with a 41 - 40, edged out Houston, TX, member Rick Halprin, with a birdie on the par 4 - 6th by two strokes.  Abilene, TX, player Mackie Crossan, playing in his first event on tour, rounded out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Lowville, TX, player, made the best of his travels to South Texas, picking up his seventh win on tour and second of the season.  Gene Hanley, of San Antonio, TX, one stroke back carded his best finish of the year, with  George West, TX, player Greg Blevins, and two birdies on the round finishing in the third place spot.





SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($115/each)  1 -- Marshall Morgan, Odessa, TX; Michael Fyfe, Mckinney, TX; Matt Lovell, San Antonio, TX; Timothy VanLandingham, Portland, TX; Joe Luman, Odessa, TX; Bob Moreau, Rockwall, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($60/each)  2 -- Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Marshall Morgan, Odessa, TX; Al Smith, San Angelo, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($55/each)  1 -- Price Youngs, Nederland, TX; Terry Jackson, George West, TX; Michael Fyfe, Mckinney, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX.

Hogan:  ($48/each)  2 -- Matt Lovell, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Fernando Davila, San Antonio, TX; Bob Duty, Midland, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($40/each)  1 -- Timothy VanLandingham, Portland, TX; Chris Neelley, Spring, TX; Jimmie Chambers, Wharton, TX; Jack Juron, Fairlawn, OH; Ken Johnson, Carrollton, TX; John Kaminski, Corpus Christi, TX.

Sarazen:  ($20/each)  2 -- Angel Morales Jacquez, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Preston Miller, Fort Worth, TX; Scott Striegel, Southlake, TX; C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX; Joe Luman, Odessa, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($30/each)  2 -- Bob Moreau, Rockwall, TX. 1 -- Randy Helcel, Lott, TX; Olan Benge, Wharton, TX; Larry Viktorin, Wharton, TX; John Scott, Houston, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($35/each)  3 -- Steve Rutherford, Bentonville, AR. 2 -- Rick Halprin, Houston, TX. 1 -- Jose Rivera, Houston, TX; Judy Harris, Abilene, TX; Mackie Crossan, Abilene, TX.


Snead:  ($15/each)  2 -- Greg Blevins, George West, TX; Jeff Powell, Santa Fe, TX; James Jones, Lowville, NY. 1 -- Gene Hanley, San Antonio, TX; Jason Jenniges, Weatherford, TX; Dan OShea, Copperas Cove, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$175/each

#3 -  Eric Dubell - 9' 5";  #7 -  Billy Hinojos - 8' 5";  #13 - Jeff Powell - 6' 8";  #17 - Randy Helcel - 5' 10 1/2".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Sold out events at River Ridge for the Sealy Open on Saturday, May 6th, and the Sunday, May 7th contest in Fairview on the Dallas Tour for the Fairview Classic at Heritage Ranch.  

Available for Registration:

Houston Tour members travel back to Bay Oaks for the South Houston Championship on Monday, May 15th, entries close on Friday, May 5th.

Back to the Hill Country for the Spring Branch Classic at River Crossing on Saturday, May 13th, registration closes Friday, May 5th.

The Dallas Tour takes a break until the June 4th event at Tierra Verde, for the Arlington Championship.  Don't wait until the deadline of May, 26th, this one will sell out early.

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