Scott R Chilcutt, Portland, TX (January 19, 2019) Situated on the North Shore of Corpus Christi Bay, Northshore Country Club hosted the Coastal Bend Championship for the second year. The course design, with the bay and Gulf, all set up for a south wind, but unlike the 2018 south breezes and mean northerly blew in. While sunny skies and moderate low to mid 60 temps, help keep it bearable, the 35mph sustained winds, gusting to 40+ played havoc on the fields games.
It only takes a quick look at the leaderboard to see the effect. Many players, with the new 2019 USGA rules, took advantage of the flagstick for downhill and downwind putts, they didn't draw anything up for the balls spinning on the tee like a top. Out of seven flights, only two broke the 90 barriers and most Champions did so with personal record highs.
RESULTS:
Palmer Flight: On a hiatus from the tour since the 2017 Senior National Championship, Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX, made the first event back count, in a big way. Starting out the day with a par, it would take Davlin, nine more holes before finding another, adding three more in a row on the back to finish, one stroke ahead of Bryan, TX, member John Harvell for the Championship. Harvell, the 2018 Coastal Bend Champion, with a birdie on his card, one of only two in the flight, on the par 3 - 13th, stayed three strokes clear of Mike Karlin, of Houston, TX, rounding out the top three.
Senior Palmer Flight: Playing in his second event on tour, Rob Ormand of Austin, TX, backed up his first time out with a win on his home course at the November, Prelude Austin Open - Onion Creek, with another Championship. Ormand, one of only two players on the day to break a 90, held on for a four-stroke advantage over Round Rock, TX, member Maurice Mintkin. Mintken, back to the Hill Country after spending several years in Las Vegas, birdied the tough downwind, par 3 - 2nd, to stay three strokes clear of third-place local club member, Kevin Grillo of Corpus Christi, TX.
Hogan Flight: Friendswood, TX, member Jeff Burke, with a birdie right out of the clubhouse on the par 5 - 1st, would make the turn with a four strokes advantage. First-time player, Francisco Reyes of Laredo, TX, would make up the difference with the help of two birdies along the bay, to force extra holes. Back to the downwind par 5 - 1st, it would be Burke, with good memories of the first time around, that would take the Championship, with a par. Rey Stroube, another first time player from Houston, TX, made birdie, the only one of the day, on the par 5 - 18th to finish just one stroke out of the playoff.
Senior Hogan Flight: Evidently competent in the north wind, local Northshore Country Club member, Scott Harrelson of Portland, TX, picked up his second win on tour, in as many attempts. The North Texas Winter Championship, over a cold northerly windswept, Squaw Valley, in Glen Rose, TX in November, was his first win on tour. Harrelson, with a birdie on the par 5 - 10th, stayed two strokes clear of the 2019 Doral Amateur Major Championship, champion, Jim Penn of Houston, TX. Penn, who swept the local event and major, in early January in Miami, FL, birdied the par 4 - 5th, to stay wedged between another club member, Timothy VanLandingham of Portland, TX, rounding out the top three.
Sarazen Flight: Known in the past for being hard on himself, Chris Cobb of Austin, TX, overcame a rough start. With a ten on his starting hole, the par 5 - 10th, Cobb would follow with three pars on the back nine, and finish with a birdie on the par 3 - 7th to pick up his sixth win on tour and first since the 2015 season. One stroke back, San Antonio, TX, member Bobby Ashcraft, would finish second, with Detroit Tour traveler, Dayne Hoffman of Grand Rapids, MI, rounding out the top three. The only two eagles of the day were made by Damian Shipley and Trevor Colen, both on the par 5 - 1st, canceling out the Giant and Flight Skins.
Jones Flight: New Braunfels, TX, member, David Garcia, picked up his second win on tour, both coming this points season. Garcia, a winner in Fort Worth, was the only other player of two on the day to break a 90 on the round, with six birdies. Baltimore Tour traveler, Chris Fountain of Annapolis, MD, with birdies on the par 5 - 6th and par 4 - 12th, finished in the runner-up spot, with Paul Tyus of Schertz, TX, taking the final podium finish.
Snead Flight: Jack Iglesias of Killeen, TX, picked up his third win on tour, with the help of a birdie on the par 3 - 7th. Now a two-time winner on the points season, Iglesias, finished five strokes clear of Mark Colwell of Selma, TX. Rounding out the top three, Seguin, TX, player Michael Allen, carded a birdie on the par 3 - 13th.
SKINS:
GIANT SKINS: ($85/each) Francisco Reyes Jr -2- Birdie on 12, Birdie on 16. Rey Stroube -1- Birdie on 18. Scott Harrelson -1- Birdie on 10. Maurice Mintken -1- Birdie on 2. Jim Penn -1- Birdie on 5.
Palmer/Senior Palmer Skins: ($40/each) Maurice Mintken -2- Birdie on 2, Par on 9. Kevin Burkett -1- Par on 15. John Harvell -1- Birdie on 13. John Knight -1- Birdie on 1. Mike Harkins -1- Birdie on 6. Eric McDonald -1- Par on 8.
Hogan/Senior Hogan Skins: ($37/each) Francisco Reyes Jr -2- Birdie on 12, Birdie on 16. Scott Harrelson -2- Par on 4, Birdie on 10. Jim Penn -2- Birdie on 5, Par on 14. Rey Stroube -1- Birdie on 18. Servando Perez -1- Par on 3. Randy Dorsey -1- Par on 9.
Sarazen: ($22/each) Chris Cobb -3- Par on 12, Par on 16, Birdie on 7. Bobby Ashcraft -3- Par on 13, Par on 15, Par on 18. Trevor Colen -1- Par on 2. Damian Shipley -1- Birdie on 6.
Jones/Snead: ($37/each) Jack Iglesias -3- Par on 18, Par on 4, Birdie on 7. David Garcia -2- Par on 12, Par on 17. Michael Allen -1- Birdie on 13. Charles Mielak -1- Par on 15. Terry Collins -1- Par on 3.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
$120/each - #2 - Jason Jenniges - 19'4". #7 - Jack Iglesias - 2'2.5". #11 - Timothy Van Landingham - 7'9". #13 - John Harvell - 4'6".
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For More Information:
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com
