Texas Open Tune Up - Lighthouse Country Club

Scott R Chilcutt, Kingsland, TX (June 22, 2018)  The Hill Country Tour made its way back to Lighthouse Country Club, formerly Packsaddle Golf Course, for a Tune Up to the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay weekend.  Hot temperatures, with plenty of breezes, got the players used to the weekend weather, but more importantly were able to work on the game for the upcoming Major Championship.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $570, with Texas Tour events total raised to $16,005 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Starting the day, with four straight par's, Keith McKelvey of Granbury, TX, added a birdie at the par 4 - 8th to take a one-stroke advantage to the back, which proved to be just enough.  McKelvey, picked up his second win, in the last three attempts, and fourth of the season, three strokes clear of Cedar Hill, TX, member Chris Ransbottom, with a birdie of his own on the par 5 - 17th.  One stroke out of second, first-time player, Zach Winkler of Midland, TX, started his round, -2 after four holes, with two birdies, to round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Midland, TX, player Brannon Smith, carded two birdies on his round, in route to a four-stroke victory.  Smith, with two wins in as many attempts, including the Major Championship at Sonterra in March, has three wins on tour.  Ron Finnerty of San Antonio, TX, +1 - 37 on the back nine, finished in the runner-up spot, with Fort Worth, TX, player Kirk Boerner, claiming the third-place finish.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Nursing what was self-described as a broken elbow, Dan Frampton of Albuquerque, NM, didn't show signs of it affecting his play.  Frampton, carded his low round of the season, with the help of two birdies to pick up his third, Senior National Championship qualifying spot.  Two strokes back, Tolar, TX, member John Williamson, with a couple of birdies of his own, cleared a pair of players, just behind him by seven strokes.  Oklahoma Tour Traveler, Michael Foster of Catoosa, OK, and Portland, TX, resident Scott Harrelson, shared the third-place honors.

Hogan Flight:  Trailing by three strokes, making the turn, Houston, TX player John Harcrow, made the most of two birdies coming to the clubhouse to force extra holes, with Killeen, TX, player Randy Dorsey, with three birdies of his own on the day.  Back to the par 5 - 10th, it would only take one more frame for Dorsey to pick up his National Championship qualifying third win of the season and second in as many attempts.  Two strokes out of the playoff, Jim Puckett, of Leander, TX, with a birdie on the par 4 - 11th, rounded out the top three. 

Senior Hogan Flight:  Pacific Northwest Tour member, Jerry Browning of Everett, WA, made the trip down to the heat, using a sudden death playoff to his advantage for his second win in as many weekends.  Kingsland, TX, local Bob Tuttle, with a three-stroke lead going to the back nine, ran into trouble on the par 5 - 10th, where luck would have it they would start the playoff.  Browning with a par his first time around would take home the championship on the first hole, with a birdie.  One stroke back, Dale Fuhr of Missouri City, TX, fought his way back with three birdies on the final nine to take the showplace finish.

Sarazen Flight:  Cedar Park, TX, resident Chris Bryant, with a birdie on the par 3 - 7th, pick up his third win on tour and first of the season.  Four strokes back, Michael Hill, of Greenville, TX, shared the lead on his first nine after starting the day, on the par 5 - 10th, but slipped back to even the runner-up finish with San Antonio, TX, member CD Dunem.  

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Kirk Trussell, of Houma, LA, held on to a three strokes lead making the turn, with a pair of birdies,  after starting the day on the 10th hole. Hard-charging, Leander, TX, member Steve Hamilton.  took four strokes off his back nine to get within one of Trussell, who picked up his second win of the season, both coming in consecutive events.  One stroke back of Hamilton, Abilene, TX, player Mackie Crossan, and Llyod Reid, JR of Dallas, TX, shared the third place finish.

Jones Flight:  Abilene, TX, traveler, Kevin Crosson, grabbed his fourth win on tour, and third of the season, with four strokes to spare.  Charles Watson of nearby Llano, TX, with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd, took home the runner-up honors, with San Antonio, TX, player Larry Harper, rounding out the top three.

Senior Snead Flight:  Dan O'Shea of Copperas Cove, TX, followed a twelve on the par 4 - 4th with a birdie on the par 4 - 5th, to get back on track to record his fifteenth win on tour and first of the season.  Stwo strokes back, Killeen, TX, member Jack Iglesias, took home the runner-up honors, with Jennifer Grothaus, of Abilene, TX, taking home the final podium spot.




SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($155/each)  1 -- Keith McKelvy, Granbury, TX; Stephen Labay, Austin, TX; Randy Dorsey, Killeen, TX; John Kaminski, Corpus Christi, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($44/each)  2 -- Stephen Labay, Austin, TX. 1 -- Zack Winkler, Midland, TX; Keith McKelvy, Granbury, TX; Brannon Smith, Midland, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($40/each)  3 -- Dan Frampton, Albuquerque, NM. 2 -- John Williamson, Tolar, TX.

Hogan:  ($20/each)  3 -- Les Costales, San Antonio, TX. 2 -- Randy Dorsey, Killeen, TX. 1 -- Jim Puckett, Leander, TX; Kevin Fontenot, Corpus Christi, TX; John Harcrow, Houston, TX; Tony Thibodeaux, Port Arthur, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($64/each)  1 -- Bob Tuttle, Kingsland, TX; Allan Collier, Austin, TX; George Smith, Magnolia, TX; Dale Fuhr, Missouri City, TX; John Kaminski, Corpus Christi, TX.

Sarazen:  ($11/each)  3 -- C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX; Judy Harris, Abilene, TX. 2 -- Mike Adcock, River Oaks, TX; Kendall Hisey, Cedar Park, TX. 1 -- Michael Betzale, Live Oak, TX; Tommy Mobley, San Marcos, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($30/each)  2 -- Tom Stockton, Grand Prairie, TX; Kirk Trussell, Houma, LA. 1 -- Melvin Hill, Boerne, TX; Rodney Wren, Dallas, TX; David Day, Rockwall, TX; Steve Hamilton, Leander, TX.


Jones/Snead:  ($68/each)  2 -- Jack Iglesias, Killeen, TX. 1 -- Dan O'Shea, Copperas Cove, TX; Steve DiPaola, San Antonio, TX; Charles Watson, Llano, TX.


CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$160/each:  #7 - Randy Dorsey - 9' 4 1/";  #12 - Dan O'Shea - 7' 2";  #16 - Ron Finnerty - 8' 5";  #18 - Brian Wimer - 5' 9".


NEXT UP:

Dallas Tour -   Don't miss the registration for the Championship @ TPC Craig Ranch on Monday, July 16th entries close on Friday, July 6th, with only a few spots remaining.

Hill Country Tour -  Waiting list spots still available with registration closing on June 29th for the Prelude - Hill Country Classic at Hyatt Hill Country Resort to be contested on Friday, July 6th.

Houston Tour -  After a break for two majors in two weeks, the Houston Tour will tee it up at Pecan Grove Golf Club for the Richmond Championship on July 14th.  Entries close on Friday, July 6th. 

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

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

Hill Country Classic at La Cantera - July 7th and 8th.  SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

Texas Classic at Barton Creek - July 28th - 29th.  SOLD OUT, waiting list 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