River Crossing on Masters Sunday

Scott R Chilcutt, Spring Branch, TX (April 8, 2018)  Hill Country Tour players, took on The River Crossing Club located just south of the Guadalupe River crossing under State Highway 281 north of San Antonio.  Contested on the final round of the Masters, the event could be the final run at the Club for the AM Tour, as they plan to go completely private on June 1st, a plan that could ax us from the schedule.  

While some players had the DVR's set and were waiting to get home to see the action, others had no problem watching in the clubhouse after the round.   Cool temperatures started they event but as the sun came out, and winds stayed down, the day was beautiful.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $460, bringing the Texas Tour events total to $7,220 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Copperas Cove, TX, player Robert Lippert continued his stellar play on Sunday.  Lippert, with four birdies on his round, picked up his third win in four attempts on the season and twenty-first on tour.  Over the four tournament rounds on the 2018 season, Rusty, is a combined total +3, with twelve birdies.  Back only one stroke making the turn, second place finisher, Mark Miller, from nearby Spring Branch, TX, put a couple of birdies on the card over the final nine holes, but just couldn't keep pace for the win.  San Antonio, TX, member Nicholas Chenausky, rounded out the top three, with a birdie on the par 5 - 8th at his first event on tour.

Palmer Flight:  Jason Levelle of San Antonio, TX, had a two-stroke advantage making the turn, but ran into another San Antonio player, Rene Realme.  Realme played the final nine in -1, with three birdies, but that wasn't quite enough after Levelle, birdied the final two holes to force sudden death.  Back to the course, Realme would par the first playoff hole for the Championship.  For Realme, it was his third win at The River Crossing Club, all coming in different flights, his second in as many attempts on the season and fifteenth on tour.  Round Rock, TX, member Jorge Rodriguez rounded out the top three, with a birdie on the par 5 - 8th.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Second-time tour player David Skurow of Portland, TX, looked to have things locked up after nine holes but ran into some problems mid back nine.  Skurow, would right the ship with a birdie on the par 4 - 16th, falter again on the 17th but finish out with a four-stroke victory.  San Antonio, TX, member Gary Grizzle, had a tough time on the front but rebounded with a +2 on the back to finish in the runner-up spot.  Traveling Albuquerque, NM, resident, Dan Frampton, rounded out the top three two strokes back of Grizzle.

Hogan Flight:   In the second playoff of the day, San Angelo, TX, the first-time player, Cody Cauley, went -1 over his last three holes to force the sudden death with John Franklin of San Antonio, TX.  Back to the first tee, Franklin would take the championship on the first hole.  Cibolo, TX, member John Schott, finished on stroke back of the pair to finish in the third place position.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Larry Susen of Austin, TX, was tied up making the turn, after two birdies on the front, with San Antonio, TX, member Bob Starkman, a winner his last time out.  Starkman, with a birdie on the over water par 3 - 2nd, could keep pace with Susen on the back nine, settling for the runner-up spot.  For Susen, it was his sixth win on tour and first of the season.  First-time player, Jacinto Zambrano of Kerrville, TX, rounded out the top three.

Sarazen Flight:  Chris Bryant of Cedar Park, TX, finished early and it looked like he'd walk away with the win, with two birdies on the day and a +8 finish clear of the next in the clubhouse by four strokes.  Then comes the final pairing, when Driftwood, TX, member Jay Mills, adds two birdies on the back to one on the par 4 - 1st to shoot + one on the back to edge out Bryant for the win.  For Mills, it was his third win on tour and first of the season.  Casey Reynolds of Windhorst, TX, took home the third-place finish with a birdie on the par 4 - 1st.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Playoffs continue as a theme for the day, when the trio of Joe Abreo of Bulverde, TX, Abilene, TX, traveler Mackie Crossan and Steve Hamilton of Leander, TX, couldn't settle the score in regulation.  Two of the three would go back to the course for the sudden death after Abreo, left the facility and wouldn't be available for the extra holes.  Hamilton would end up the victor on the first hole of extra frames, picking up his ninth win on tour and second in as many attempts after winning at Delaware Springs.

Jones Flight:  Burnet, TX, player Michael Page, made the turn even with San Angelo, TX player Marvin Hill.  Hill, would make an eagle on the par 4 - 2nd, to take a big lead, but ultimately, relegate himself to the runner-up finish.  Page would become a two-time winner of the season and four-time Champion on tour.  Local, San Antonio, TX, player Phil Lewis would round out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Charles Mielak, of Mico, TX, would become a two-time winner of the season and five-time winner on tour.  Mielak cleared runner-up finisher, Austin, TX, player Delynn Reid by five strokes.  Back of Reid, Ramon Colen of San Antonio, TX, finished in the third place spot.

Senior Snead Flight:  Competing in his nineteenth tournament on tour, Bill Russell of San Antonio, TX, grabbed his first win on tour, one stroke clear of Copperas Cove, TX, member Dan O'Shea.  Three strokes back of the pair, Paul Ray, of Midland, TX, making his second event of the weekend after a cold Saturday on the DFW Tour and Killeen, TX, member Jack Iglesias, shared the third place finish.






SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($116/each)  1 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX; Marvin Hill, San Angelo, TX; Jim Price, San Antonio, TX.

Championship/Palmer/Senior Palmer:  ($45/each)  2 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Rodney Baumgartner, Horseshoe Bay, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX.

Hogan/Senior Hogan:  ($85/each)  1 -- Cody Cauley, San Angelo, TX; James Price, Portland, TX; Bob Starkman, San Antonio, TX; Larry Susen, Austin, TX.

Sarazen/Senior Sarazen:  ($45/each)  2 -- Chris Bryant, Cedar Park, TX; Jay Mills, Driftwood, TX. 1 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; Joe Abreo, Bulverde, TX; Tres Paxton, Boerne, TX; Mackie Crossan, Abilene, TX.

Jones:  ($45/each)  1 -- John Stahlschmidt, San Antonio TX; Marvin Hill, San Angelo, TX; Tony Davila, San Antonio, TX; Jim Price, San Antonio, TX.


Snead/Senior Snead:  ($25/each)  2 -- Delynn Reed, Austin, TX; Jack Iglesias, Killeen, TX. 1 -- Joey Butts, League City, Texas; Mark Colwell, Selma, TX; Dan O'Shea, Copperas Cove, TX; Annette Crossan, Abilene, TX.





CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$140/each:  #2 -  Marvin Hill - 3' 8 1/2";  #7 -  Chris Bryant - 4' 7";  #12 - Jeff Bankard - 6' 2";  #15 - Michael Hirsch.



NEXT UP:

Dallas Tour - Fort Worth Championship at Waterchase, on Sunday, April 29th, is sold out, waiting list spots are available before it closes on Friday, April 20th.  Fairview Classic at Heritage Ranch on Sunday, May 6th, still has some spots available and will sell out.  Don't wait for the registration deadline on Friday, April 27th.

Hill Country Tour -  The Golf Club of Texas, will host the Briggs Ranch Championship on Saturday, April 28th.  Entry deadline is Friday, April 20th.

Houston Tour - After a two-event long weekend in Houston starting on Saturday, April 14th in Galveston, ending on Monday, April 16th in Sugar Land, the Houston tour takes a Major Championship break.  Next event available is the Masters @ Magnolia on Saturday, May 5th.  Registrations close on Friday, April 27th.



Major Championships Open for Registration - (Majors that will be included in the 2018 Texas Tour Flight Champion year-end awards)

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 22nd.  Spots available, entries close, April 13th.

Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay - June 23-24th. SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

Hill Country Classic at La Cantera - July 7th and 8th.  Spots available.

Texas Classic at Barton Creek - July 28th - 29th.  Spots available.

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