Golf Channel AM Tour Staff, San Antonio, TX (June 29, 2014) Second of three Golf Channel AM Tour Majors in the Hill Country Region of Texas in 2014 landed at the LaCantera Resort for the San Antonio Open.
Great weather conditions greeted players vying for National and Senior National Championship invitations as well as trophies to go with the healthy prize fund where 180 players challenged the Resort and Palmer Courses at the resort.
Over $1,300 was raised by the players for Feherty's Troops First Foundation through the 50/50 raffle.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Just one stroke back after day one, Sean Fenton of Fort Worth, TX went out in even par and carded three birdies on the day. But the last birdie at the par 4 - 18th, a chip in off the green, would prove to be the deciding shot. Fenton, a Senior Championship player, picked up his second Major Championship of the points season and first in a combined flight with Open players. Wylie, TX member Dallas Webster, came from three back of the lead after the first round, matching his day one score to pickup the runner up finish. First year player, Corey Freeland of Houston, TX, made birdie at the par 5 - 5th, his first of the event to share the third place finish and National Championship qualification with first round leader Mark Miller from Spring Branch, TX, previously qualified with his major win at the Bayou Classic at Lake Charles.
Palmer Flight: Cedrick Smith of Houston, TX, playing only a few events on tour until the 2014 season, brought a one stroke lead from the Palmer course to his final round. Adding those competitive rounds on the season seemed to help curtail any overnight jitters. Starting on the tenth hole, Smith would make birdie on the par 4 - 15th to go out in +2, just enough to secure his first Major Championship and third tour win on the season. Two strokes back, fellow Houston Tour member, Tino Flores secured his National Championship qualification with his runner up finish. Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX shot the low round in the flight on Sunday with the help of a birdie on his first hole, the par 5 - 10th to add a third place finish to his runner up spot at the May Florida Masters Major.
Senior Palmer Flight: Copperas Cove, TX player, Robert Lippert shot a weekend low round +2 - 74 on the Resort Course during his first 18 holes and took with him a five stroke margin to the final day on a couple of birdies. Lippert added birdies on the par 5 -3rd and par 4 -11th on Sunday to widen the gap for an eight stroke victory, his third win on the season and first Major Championship. Tied for the third spot after the Saturday round, Vidor, TX lefty, Robert Corbello, birdied two holes on his final day to jump one spot into the runner up finish. Mark Taylor of Lewisville, TX birdied his first hole on Sunday, the par 4 - 1st, but couldn't keep the momentum and finished in third place for the final Senior National Championship invitation.
Hogan Flight: In the largest flight of the weekend, with 29 players playing the 36 hole event, Aaron Brougher of Spring, TX came from three strokes off the lead to pick up his third win on the season adding another Major Championship to his March 2014 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay victory. Sugar Land, TX player, Roger Masek made a huge move on Sunday, jumping from a T-7 Saturday finish to grab the runner up honors with the help of three birdies and the low flight round of the day. First round leader Cory Welch of Fort Worth, TX and Granbury, TX resident, Brack Blackwood completed the event just two strokes out of the win and split the third place honors and final National Championship qualifications.
Senior Hogan Flight: First year tour member, Ernie Dyer of Orange, TX overcame an eight stroke deficit on the Palmer Course to shoot a +6, with a birdie on the par 4 - 2nd to bring home his first Major Championship and second win on tour. Three time season winner and first round leader, John Hilgers of Wimberly, TX finished two strokes back for the runner up finish. Magnolia, TX player, George Smith, playing the final pairing and one stroke off the lead after the Saturday round, rounded out the top three to secure his Senior National Championship spot.
Sarazen Flight: Three birdies on his first day on the Resort Course, had many heads turning after Joshua Douglas of Leander, TX finished seven strokes ahead of the field. The overnight lead didn't seem to affect Douglas, heading to the Palmer Course layout as he matched the low round of the day on Sunday and widened the margin to ten strokes for his first Major Championship win. Local, Helotes, TX member Scott Thompson, playing out of La Cantera, matched his best Major finishes at the 2012 Western Open and 2012 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay with the runner up. Ross Gonzales of Cypress, TX rounded out the top three, jumping up one spot on the final round.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Cincinnati Tour traveler, Larry Fletcher of Alexandria, KY moved from one stroke back after his round at the Palmer Course to lead the field of twenty one players in the flight to pick up the win. Fletcher, carded his third victory on tour and first Major Championship by one stroke over a pair of Texas players knotted in the runner up spot. Greg Faubion of Richmond, TX took nine strokes off day one for his best finish at a Major Championship securing a share of the second place honors with fellow Houston Tour member, Mark Maddox Atascocita, TX. It was Maddox's second T-2 in as many attempts, placing in the runner up spot his last time out at the Bayou Classic at Lake Charles.
Jones Flight: Aaron Seafous of Austin, TX took it to her male counterparts to record her first win at a Major Championship in six years on the tour. Seafous carded the low flight rounds on both days, starting the Sunday round with a five stroke advantage widening the margin to seven strokes for her second win on the season and fifth on tour. In fifth place after his round at the Palmer Course on Saturday, Coy Dayton of Buda, TX vaulted his way into a tie for the second place finish with Deer Park, TX member Blake Barnes a previous Major Champion at the 2014 Sooner State Showdown.
Senior Jones Flight: First year Tour visitor, Louis Ralph of Olive Branch, MS became only the second player not from Texas to take home the Championship Trophy. Ralph, sleeping on a five stroke margin after his Saturday started the round at the Resort Course a little shaky, but managed to keep things going, with the help of two birdies on the par 3 -4th and par 4 - 13th. It was Ralph's fourth win on tour and second Major Championship. California transplant, Donald Bebout now residing in Lakeway, TX finished two strokes back for his Senior National Championship invitation. Two strokes back in third place, David Sipe of Atascocita, TX, a three time winner on the season with the Major Championship at the March Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay rounded out the top three.
Snead Flight: Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX continued his winning ways with his third Major Championship and eighth win on the season. Fleming, four strokes back after his round at the Palmer Course made up the difference to win by five strokes over Houston Tour member, Javier Quintero. Mark Colwell of Selma, TX, the winner at the 2014 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay split the third place honors with Arizona Tour member, Jim Collins of Las Cruces, NM.
Scott R Chilcutt, Austin, TX (June 8, 2014) It was fitting that the Hill Country Tour returned to the "Birthplace of the Senior PGA Tour", Onion Creek Club, on a weekend that the Champions Tour played the Big Cedar Lodge, Legends of Golf, presented by Bass Pro Shops.
While the Order of Merit points continue to shift standings around, the Summer Series hit its third event in the three weeks before a break for the San Antonio Open and finally the heat of the season brings out the ice towels.
Homer Turbeville, Sarazen and Charles Cox, Senior Jones, played a Srixon ball and made the best of the Srixon ball promotion. They will both receive a dozen of their choice, for winning their respective flights. Playing in Palmer Flight, Walter Manuet, takes home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, one stroke clear of playing partner Allan Collier.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Playing out of Castroville, TX, Reagan Rothe may have had some three putt woes, but in the end didn't stop him from picking up his second win on four attempts on the season. Rothe birdied the par 5 - 5th and played the back nine in +3 to finish two strokes clear of Tanner Spani of Del Rio, TX. Spani, possibly spending a little too much time on 6th Saturday night, finished three strokes clear of Austin, TX player Sean Skellenger, rounding out the top three.
Palmer Flight: In a combined Palmer / Senior Palmer flight, two Seniors fight it out for the title. Houston Tour member, Walter Menuet made an eagel on the par 5 - 12th hole that would ultimately be enough to force extra holes with Scott Williams of College Station, TX. Williams, in his third playoff of the year made his second in as many attempts count on the first sudden death hole for his second win of the season and fifth on tour. Austin, TX first year member, Ken Shapiro finished just two strokes back of the leaders finishing in the show position.
Hogan Flight: Bryan Wood of Leander, TX played the par three holes in -1, with birdies on two of them, picking up his first win on the season and fifteenth on tour. Two strokes back, Don Koether of LaGrange, TX and Killeen, TX resident, Derrick Matthews shared the runner up honors, but did it in different ways. With a lone birdie on the par 4 - 14th, Koether matched scores with Matthews that carded six birdies on the round, three on each side, with a very colorful scorecard.
Senior Hogan Flight: Georgetown, TX player, Darrell Wilson, matched the low front nine score in the flight with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 9th and was able to squeak in for a one stroke advantage. It was Wilson's seventh win on tour and first since the 2012 The Legends of Golf Classic, played on the Original Course. Bob Tuttle of Kingsland, TX had his best finish of the season in the runner up spot with Houston Tour member and resident, Bruce Beakley rounding out the top three,
Sarazen Flight: Senior members prevail in another combined flight, when Homer Turbeville of Lakeway, TX shot a +4 on the back nine to edge out, Leander,TX player Joshua Douglas by a stroke. The win was Turbeville's second on the season and fifth on tour. Douglas, with birdies on the par 3 - 2nd and par 4 - 12th made it his second runner up finish on the year to go with his win at The Challenge @ River Place in April. Playing in his first event of the season, Jack Holt of Boerne, TX captured the third place spot.
Jones Flight: Nearly matching outfits, playing out of the same cart in a twosome seemed a little more than coincidental when Houston Tour Member, Patrick Richardson playing out of The Woodlands, TX and San Antonio, TX member Xavier Bardy finished with the same scores. That finish, three strokes clear of the third place spot, sent them back out in a Committee supervised playoff, where Bardy finished on top for his fifth win of the season. Artis Stewart of Houston, TX rounded out the top three.
Senior Jones Flight: In what became the third playoff of the day, Donald Bebout of Lakeway, TX had to make a quick turnaround from his departure to play an extra hole with Austin, TX member Charles Cox. Cox, already qualified for the National Championship with a T2 at the November Fall Classic at Tunica and playing in his first local event on the season, finished out with the sudden death win on the first playoff hole. Houston Tour member, Mark Boles of Sealy, TX making his third appearance on the Hill Country Tour in as many weeks took home the third place points.
Snead Flight: Art Henry of Victoria, TX, one of many playing out of the Houston Tour to join us on the day, took six strokes off the front nine on the back, to finish one stroke clear of Fischer, TX player Rickie Franklin for his first win on tour. One stroke back of Franklin, D Nair of Austin, TX shot his best score on tour and matched his best finish, a T3 at the Round Rock Open - Forest Creek.
SKINS:
Giant Skins: 1 -- Walter Menuet, Houston, TX; Demetrio Young, Killeen, TX; Rick Houchins, Houston, TX; Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX; Mark Boles, Sealy, TX.
Championship / Palmer: 1 -- Nash Armstrong, Killeen, TX; Allan Collier, Sugar Land, TX; Walter Menuet, Houston, TX; Ken Shapiro, Austin, TX; Kody Cundy, San Antonio, TX.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: 5 -- Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX. 1 -- Don Koether, La Grange, TX; Jerry Smith, Salado, TX; Darrell Wilson, Georgetown, TX; Bob Tuttle, Kingsland, TX.
Jones / Senior Jones: 3 -- Aaron Seafous, Austin, TX. 1 -- Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX; Artis Stewart, Houston, TX; Mark Boles, Sealy, TX.
Sarazen: 3 -- Joshua Douglas, Leander, TX. 1 -- Kristopher Bixby, Katy, TX; Rick Houchins, Houston, TX; Homer Turbeville, Austin, TX.
Snead: 3 -- Art Henry, Victoria, TX. 2 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; D Nair, Austin Tx. 1 -- Dwain Smith, Round Rock, TX; Larry Harper, San Antonio, TX; Javier Quintero, Houston, TX.
NEXT UP:
Scott R Chilcutt, Lakeway, TX (May 31, 2014) In the middle of a three event in three week swing on the Hill Country Tour, The Austin - Nicklaus Open was played outside of Austin. Lakeway, TX a resort area on the south shore of Lake Travis, 25 miles west of downtown Austin began as a retirement and second-home community. Flintrock Falls Golf Club is one of four courses at The Hills at Lakeway complex, designed by Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II.
Playing the course as it was marked, instead of our occasional, native area, lateral hazard rules, didn't effect the pace of play but certainly had some effects on the scoring. Two players, Mark Boles and Gene Rampy, made the best of the Srixon ball promotion and will receive a dozen of their choice, for winning their respective flights. Gene Rampy, went on to win the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Cedar Park, TX member, Mike Harkins started out with a double and rebounded with two birdies on the front nine, playing the next fourteen holes in +1 to pick up his first win on tour. Harkins, a Senior National Championship qualifier with a third place finish at the Kingsmill Classic Major in April, finished one stroke clear of Chris Daniluck of Boerne, TX. Six strokes back of Daniluck, San Antonio, TX resident, Texas Harper carded a couple of birdies to finish out the top three.
Palmer Flight: First year San Antonio, TX player , Jeff Bankard went to extra holes for the second time in two weeks. Leading the field after the front nine, Patricio Gonzalez struggled with a couple of early holes on the back, regained the lead after Bankard bogied the par 4 - 14th, but gave it right back with a bogey on the par 3 - 17th and finished tied after regulation. On the first hole of the playoff Bankard prevailed for his second win on tour and the runner up was Gonzalez best finish since the 2013 Las Vegas event, The Bump & Run To Angel Park. Jacob Morton of Fort Hood, TX finished in third for the second time in as many attempts.
Senior Palmer: In the second playoff of the day, Scott Williams of College Station, TX and Copperas Cove, TX resident, Robert Lippert matched front and back nine scores to require a sudden death. After early issues on the tenth hole by Lippert, Williams finished out the first playoff hole for his first win of the season and third on tour. Dallas Tour member, Myles Gallemore of Irving, TX with a birdie on the par 4 - 5th had him in the mix on the front nine, backed up two tough holes on the back with birdies at 12 and 16 to finish two strokes out of the lead.
Hogan Flight: While Doug Collins of Iraan, TX played the par three's in +4, he made a move early, playing the front nine in +3 - 39 to set the pace for his first win on tour. Three strokes back, Killeen, TX player Brian Cox matched Collins on the back, but took with him the three stroke deficit to the tenth hole. Darrell Wilson of Georgetown, TX backed up his T2 at the early May Spring Branch Classic @ River Crossing with a third place finish just one stroke back of Cox.
Sarazen Flight: Back to the local tour after a fourth place finish at the Florida Masters, Ronnie Davis of Converse, TX extended his Order of Merit points lead with his first win on the year and thirteenth championship on tour. Two strokes back, Austin, TX member Daniel Mcgrath birdied the par 5 - 8th for a runner up finish, his best on the year. Eight strokes back of Mcgrath, the trio of Les Costales of Cedar Park, TX, split the third place honors with San Anonio, TX residents, C.D. Dunem and Carlos Cruz.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Gene Rampy of Bastrop, TX birdied his first hole of the day and never looked back. The win, his second on tour, with his other championship coming at the November, 2011 - SilverHorn Season Opener put him in the top spot on the Tournament Champion Trophy, his first. Six strokes back, Charles Sagray of San Antonio, TX and local Lakeway, TX player Homer Turbeville shared the second place honors.
Jones Flight: Playing alongside Aaron Seafous of Austin, TX, Houston Tour member, Mark Boles of Sealy, TX took a two stroke deficit with him to the back nine, but was able to make up the difference coming to the club house. It was Boles, second win on the season, with his Major Championship at the Bayou Classic at Lake Charles and fourth on tour. Birdie on the par 3 - 15th for Seafous was her one stroke advantage over third place finisher, Ray Bednar of Houston.
Snead Flight: Mark Colwell of Selma, TX recorded his second local tour win in as many attempts to go along with his Championship at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay Major earlier in the season. In what would have been the winning score, Dwain Smith of Round Rock, TX got caught up in a group two stroke penalty on #9 that left him one stroke back in the runner up spot. Larry Harper of San Antonio rounded out the top three.
SKINS:
Giant Skins: 2 -- Myles Gallemore, Irving, TX. 1 -- Texas Harper, San Antonio, TX; Sean Skellenger, Austin, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Aaron Seafous, Austin, TX.
Championship / Palmer/ Senior Palmer: 2 -- Sean Skellenger, Austin, TX; Myles Gallemore, Irving, TX. 1 -- Texas Harper, San Antonio, TX; Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX; Ken Shapiro, Austin, TX.
Hogan: 2 -- Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX. 1 -- Doug Collins, Iraan, TX; Chris Sellers, Austin, TX; Bob Tuttle, Kingsland, TX; Brian Cox, Killeen, TX; Darrell Wilson, Georgetown, TX; John Hilgers, Wimberley, TX.
Sarazen: 2 -- Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Devin Brown, San Antonio, TX; Daniel Mcgrath, Austin, TX; C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX.
Senior Sarazen: 2 -- Gene Rampy, Bastrop, TX. 1 -- Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Homer Turbeville, Austin, TX.
Jones / Snead: 3 -- Aaron Seafous, Austin, TX. 2 -- Richard Schram, Bryan, TX. 1 -- Dwain Smith, Round Rock, TX.
Scott R Chilcutt, Blanco, TX (May 24, 2014) Just south of Blanco, TX inside the Rockin' J Ranch development, lies Vaaler Creek Golf Club, home to the 2014 kickoff of the Summer Series and this year's Battle at Blanco on the Golf Channel Am Tour Texas Hill Country Tour. The Summer Series, designed for late bloomers on the point season, is another opportunity for members to qualify for the September National Championship / Senior National Championship, in Scottsdale, AZ.
Morning clouds, mist alternating with drizzle kept the temperatures down over the previous years inaugural event at the track, helped softening and slowing the greens. What didn't change over the previous year was some devilish hole positions, challenging the field to get the approach shots to the correct level. Late tee times in the event, got some drenching rain during some of the holes, but blew through without any dangerous electricity and only minimal delays.
Coming off his best finish on tour, at the Spring Branch Classic, Gene Hanley of San Antonio, followed up with his second Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving in as many outings.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Boerne, TX player Chris Daniluck took a slim lead to the back nine over a pair of players, and was able to birdie three on the back nine to play one under par picking up his thirteenth win on tour and first since the February 2013 - Kerrville Championship @ Comanche Trace. One stroke back, Texas Harper of San Antonio, TX a first time winner at The Challenge @ River Place matched Daniluck's birdie count of four on the day, but just couldn't make up the two stroke deficit on the front. Spring Branch, TX resident, Mark Miller, a four time winner on the points season, played the sixth through twelfth holes in four under par to round out the top three.
Palmer Flight: First year player, Jeff Bankard and tour veteran, Dave Davlin, both of San Antonio, TX matched a single birdie on the front nine, Davlin on the par 4 - 6th and Bankard on the par 5 - 8th to take it to extra holes. After twenty one holes on the day, Bankard, knocking on the winners door since coming on tour with a runner up and two third place finishes picked up his first win. Davlin, added another runner up, his third of the year, to his win at the April San Antonio Masters. Another San Antonio, TX player Todd VanDerSchaegen righted the ship after a tough front nine to finish in the show position.
Hogan Flight: Coming off his first event on tour, in T8, Austin, TX newcomer, Ken Shapiro finished the back nine at +2 for his first win on tour. John Hilgers of Wimberly, TX, birdied the par 5 - 4th to finish three strokes back. Hilger's, only out of the top five with one sixth place finish at a Major, in fifteen events on the points season including three wins, four runner up spots and a trio of thirds, finished in the second place position. Michael Mathis, carded four birdies on the day for a T3 finish with fellow San Antonio resident, Steven Turner and Bob Tuttle of Kingsland, TX.
Sarazen Flight: Cedar Park, TX player Les Costales made the best of his birthday trip to Blanco with his first win on the season. Two strokes back after the front nine, Costales birdied the par 4 - 13th and cleared the field on par fours at just +3, finishing four strokes clear of a pair of players in the runner up finish. Scott Thompson of Helotes, TX had the lead going to the back with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 8th, but was relegated to his third T-2 on the year to go with his January win at the HOU - Moody Gardens Kickoff Classic. Visiting, St. James, NY member, playing out of the Long Island Tour, Michael Dwyer shared the second place spot, his best finish since the October 2013 win at Willow Creek in Sinai, NY.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Charles Sagray of San Antonio, TX played the par three's in even par, including the top shelf hole position on the ninth that would make the difference for his second win on the season and fourth on tour. Four strokes back the trio of Live Oak, TX member Richard Huyck, with a birdie on the par 5 - 16th, Michael Brewer of Austin, TX and Oklahoma Tour member, Kirby Rogers of Muldrow, OK shared the runner up finish. Huyck, through the score card playoff took home the second place gift card, with Brewer collecting third, after going deep into the playoff priorities.
Jones Flight: Austin, TX player, Aaron Seafous took a six stroke lead to the back with birdies on three front nine holes, but ran into trouble on the back to finish out in the runner up spot. Xavier Bardy of San Antonio, TX, patient through some of the heaviest rains, picked up his eighth win on tour and fourth win of the season, including the March Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay. Austin, TX resident, Joe Tyson, a two time winner on the year and champion his last time out at the Spring Branch Classic at River Crossing rounded out the top three.
Snead Flight: Larry Harper of San Antonio, TX and Lake Leon, TX player Stan Harper both parred the long over the water par 4 -18th to force a four way playoff with Rickie Franklin of Fischer, TX and San Antonio, TX resident, Gene Hanley. Back to the par 5 - 10th, Larry Harper, birdied the first sudden death playoff hole for his second win on tour.
SKINS:
Giant Skins: 1 -- Chris Daniluck, Boerne, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Donald Bebout, Lakeway, TX.
Championship / Palmer: 1 -- Chris Daniluck, Boerne, TX; Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX; Allan Collier, Sugar Land, TX.
Hogan: 2 -- Michael Mathis, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- John Hilgers, Wimberley, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Kenny Mire, Pflugerville, TX.
Sarazen: 2 -- Rudy Cantu, Boerne, TX. 1 -- Les Costales, Cedar Park, TX; Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX.
Senior Sarazen: 3 -- Tim Sexton, Austin, TX. 2 -- Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX. 1 -- Charles Sagray, San Antonio, TX; Joe Abreo, Bulverde, TX; Homer Turbeville, Austin, TX.
Jones: 4 -- Aaron Seafous, Austin, TX. 1 -- Bill Speck, Corpus Christi, TX; Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX; Donald Bebout, Lakeway, TX.
Snead: 1 -- Larry Harper, San Antonio, TX; Stan Harper, Lake Leon, TX.
NEXT UP:
The Hill Country Tour makes it three in three weeks at The Legends of Golf Classic - Onion Creek on Sunday June, 8th. Entry deadline is this Friday, May 30th at 11:59 PM and the field is limited.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
Scott R Chilcutt, Spring Branch, TX (May 10, 2014) Located 20 minutes north of San Antonio, the River Crossing Club, site of the 2014 Spring Branch Classic, held up to conditions we've been looking for our last few outings.
During the spring of 2012, Thunderstorms washed us out, rescheduled for a fall date, the winds reeked havoc on the play. This go round, great course conditions coupled with light to moderate winds and warm temperatures left those recent memories of the event on the banks of the nearby Guadalupe River.
What didn't change was the course layout and difficulties. The #1 handicap hole, the par 4 - 6th played as it has in the past, the most difficult, +1.31, while the #18 handicap hole, the par 3 - 12th, played once again the easiest, at+0.39.
Gene Hanley, shot his best round on tour since the 2010 event at River Crossing to take home his first, Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Nearby Spring Branch, TX resident Mark Miller may not be a current member at River Crossing, but his records just keep mounting at the club. Recording four birdies on the day, Miller played to one under par for his fourth win of the year and kept his consecutive record alive, winning every Golf Channel AM Tour event he has played on the course. Daniel Desilets of Kermit, TX played the back nine in two under par on two birdies to finish three strokes back, with San Antonio, TX member Texas Harper rounding out the top three.
Palmer Flight: Playing out of the Dallas Tour, Michael King of Fort Worth, TX got off high center on the back nine with three birdies to pick up his second win in as many attempts. Once again religated to the Palmer Flight without the minimum Senior Palmer players, Gary Grizzle of Boerne, TX recorded his lowest round on tour, with the help of four birdies to pick up the runner up finish, two strokes back. Fort Hood, TX member, Jacob Morton, back to the Palmer Flight after a stint in the Championship Flight, finished the day in the show position.
Hogan Flight: When Rene Realme of San Antonio, TX, last played River Crossing, it took him 19 holes for a playoff win in the Sarazen Flight. Now Realme is two for two at the club, picking up his seventh win on tour and second since the promotion to the Hogan Flight. Five strokes back, San Antonio, TX player John Heintz secured the sole second place finish with four players just one stroke back. Bedford, TX traveler, Darren Bufton, Brian Cox of Killeen, TX along with Tim Haverly and Jeremy Jessop of San Antonio, TX sharing the third place honors.
Senior Hogan Flight: With trouble on the par 5 - 3rd, Larry Susen of Austin, TX bounced back with a birdie on the par 5 - 8th to finish one stroke back on the front nine. Playing his final three holes in -1 with the help of two birdies, Susen became a two time winner on tour solidifying a single stroke advantage. Steve Trickel of Boerne, TX took four strokes off on the back nine and Georgetown, TX resident, Darrell Wilson took two off his front nine score to split the second place honors.
Sarazen Flight: C.D. Dunem took a three stroke lead to the 17th tee but struggled on his final two holes to open the door for fellow San Antonio, TX member Devin Brown. Brown birdied the par 4 - 18th for his third win of the year and eighth on tour. Dunem's runner up finish made it his third second place finish of the year to go with two wins on the points season. Tied up in the third place finish, Carlos Cruz recently promoted to the Sarazen Flight, made a charge on the back nine with three birdies and a +1 to share the honors with Helotes, TX player Scott Thompson.
Senior Sarazen Flight: After shooting a 99 and placing sixth at the last River Crossing event, John Scott of Houston, TX has gone on to win the 2013 Senior Jones National Championship, received his automatic promotion and then went on to win the 2014 - Puerto Rico Amateur in the Senior Sarazen Flight. On Saturday, Scott took off twenty two strokes from his first try at the course, with an eagle on the par 5 - 17th for his lowest round on tour and second Hill Country win. Five strokes back, Jerry Gallemore of Fort Stockton, TX birdied his final hole to tie up the second place finish with the The Sooner State Showdown Major Champion, Jim Nedry of Lago Vista, TX.
Jones Flight: Joe Tyson of Austin, TX became a two time winner on tour with his second of the points season. Tyson, birdied the par 4 - 9th to help with a three stroke advantage over Xavier Bardy of San Antonio, TX after Bardy took a nine on the par 5 - 14th hole. Corpus Christi, TX member Bill Speck finished in the third place position, his best finish since his win at the 2013 Hill Country Tour Championship @ La Cantera.
Snead Flight: Round Rock, TX resident, Dwain Smith became a six time winner on tour with his first Am Tour outing at River Crossing. Three strokes back, Gene Hanley of San Antonio, TX birdied the par 5 - 4th hole for his best finish on tour and the Tournament Champion Trophy. Rounding out the top three, Houston Tour member, Rickie Franklin of Fischer, TX finished with a birdie on the par 5 - 17th.
SKINS:
Giant Skins: 1 -- Texas Harper, San Antonio, TX; Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX; Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX; Rick Van Dalen, The Hills, TX.
Championship / Palmer: 2 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX. 1 -- Daniel Desilets, Kermit, TX; Texas Harper, San Antonio, TX; Jacob Morton, Ft. Hood, TX; Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX; Gary Grizzle, Boerne, TX; Todd VanDerSchaegen, San Antonio, TX.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: 2 -- Larry Susen, Austin, TX. 1 -- Micah Carroll, San Antonio, TX; Steve Trickel, Boerne, TX.
Sarazen / Senior Sarazen: 3 -- Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; John Scott, Houston, TX; Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX; Rick Van Dalen, The Hills, TX.
Jones / Snead: 2 -- Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- William Walker, Seguin, TX; Mark Rivera, San Antonio, TX; Joe Tyson, Austin, TX; Gene Hanley, San Antonio, TX; Rickie Franklin, Fischer, TX.
NEXT UP:
The Hill Country Tour gets the Summer Series Points underway when they visit Vaaler Creek Golf Club for the Battle at Blanco on Saturday May, 24th. The registration deadline is this Friday, May 16th at 11:59 PM and the field is limited.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
