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