Tune-Up for the Texas Classic - Championship @ Falconhead

Scott R Chilcutt, Austin, TX, (July 27, 2018)    The last single-day event of the points season on the Hill Country Tour was held at Falconhead Golf Club.  The special Friday event, booked as the Prelude to the Texas Classic at Barton Creek, allowed players to test and tune for the weekend Major Championship, with 80 of the 98 players in the event starting a three, in three day weekend. 

The heat was the beginning of what was to come along the Canyons and Foothills of Barton Creek over the weekend.  Great course conditions, with the ability to learn something about Hill Country greens and the subtleness of the breaks, proved to be a perfect way to tune for the Major Championship.
The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $700, with Texas Tour events total raised to $20,120 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight: First-year players dominate the top three at Falconhead. San Antonio, TX, player Ricky Agosto, went out at -1 with two birdies and made the turn coming to the clubhouse with another birdie, to finish + 1 - 73 for his second win on tour.  On stroke back, Sean Murray of Bandera, TX, with four birdies on his round, three on the back nine, charged up the leaderboard for his best finish, of the season, with Plano, TX, member Peter Hagen, two back of Murray, with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 9th.

Palmer Flight:  The pair of Rodney Baumgartner of Horseshoe Bay, TX, with three birdies and San Antonio, TX, member Ron Finnerty, with two of his own, both had very colorful scorecards.  The only thing that mattered was they finished the round at the top of their flight.  Back to the par 4 - 10th for the playoff it would only take one in the sudden death for Finerty to pick up his fifteenth win on tour and second of the season.  Two strokes back of the leaders, Stephen Labay of Austin, TX, and Round Rock, TX, resident Jorge Rodriguez, shared the third place honors.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Tour travelers take the top spots in the Senior Palmer Flight.  With two birdies on his round, Middletown, OH, resident Gary Cobb, grabbed his first win of the season and seventeenth on tour.  Four strokes back, Michael Foster of Catoosa, OK finished in the runner-up spot, with Baton Rouge, LA, member, Jerry Goss, with the help of a birdie on the par 3 -4th and Steve Case of Macon, GA, sharing the third place finish.

Hogan Flight:  Tampa, FL, traveler William Dawsey, with a birdie on the par 4 - 1st, commanded his first tour win of the season.  Dawsey, starting in the Snead Flight in 2011, has now progressed three flights to pick up the fifteenth win of his career.  Five strokes back, DFW Tour member, Michael Schmidt of Rowlett, TX, finished in the second place spot, all alone, with York, Ontario, player Jeff Lundy and Shawn Whitaker of Lewisville, TX, sharing the final showplace honors.

Senior Hogan Flight:  A third of the flight ends up in a sudden-death playoff with four players headed back to the par 4 - 10th.  Ken Johnson of Carrollton, TX, and Austin, TX, member Alan Collier were the first out at the tenth, then Paul Atkinson of Bryan, TX, was able to finalize the finish, over Duluth, GA, player Winston Robinson.  Atkinson, with two birdies in regulation, picked up his second win, in his first season on tour.

Sarazen Flight:  Outgoing Arkansas Tour Director, Steve Rutherford of Bentonville, AR, recently relocated to NE Missouri, with a birdie on the par 4 - 1st, picked up his first win of the season and fifth on tour, in limited play because of those Director duties. San Marco, TX, member Tommy Mobley, with a birdie on the par 3 - 11th, shared the third place finish, with Xavier Bardy of San Antonio, TX.

Senior Sarazen Flight:   Abilene, TX, member Mackie Crossan (not to be confused with Crosson), with a birdie on the par 5 - 14th,  snarred his fifth win of the season and seventh on tour.  With strong finishes of late, Bob Moreau of Rockwall, TX, with a birdie on the same par 5 - 14th, finished two strokes back, with Leawood, KS, traveler Michael Roane, and two birdies on his day, rounding out the top three.

Jones Flight:  2017 Hill Country Tour Player of the Year, Charles Watson of Llano, TX,  nearly ran away from the field, with a five-stroke advantage.  For Watson, it was his second win of the season and sixth on tour.  Sharing the runner-up honors it was, Ian Maggiacomo of Somerset, MA, with a birdie on the par 5 - 12th, and Conroe, TX, player Allen Gumpenberger. 

Senior Jones Flight:  A day full of playoffs, continue when Neil Macdonald of Huntsville, TX, and San Antonio, TX, player Phil Lewis couldn't settle the score in regulation after matching each other's scores on both nine holes.  Back to the course for the sudden death playoff, Lewis would prevail for his eighth win on tour and fifth of the points season.  Larry Harper, of San Antonio, TX, with the help of a birdie on the par 3 - 11th, finished just one stroke out of the playoff for the third-place finish.

Snead Flight:  Houston, TX, player Blake Barnes, picked up his National Championship qualifying third win on the season.  Barnes, along with runner-up finisher, Zane Latham of Valley View, TX, likely to get their additional qualifications through promotions at the beginning of August took the top two spots.  Two strokes back of Latham, Mike Murphy of Corrigan, TX, with a birdie on the par 5 - 14th, rounded out the top three.






SKINS:

Skins GIANT:  ($240/each)  1 -- Sean Murry, Bandera, TX; Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX; Garrett Dick, Houston, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($25/each)  3 -- Ricky Agosto, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Andrew Williams, College Station, TX; Sean Murray, Bandera, TX; Rodney Baumgartner, Horseshoe Bay, TX; Anthony Desouza, Cypress, TX; Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX; John Knight, McAllen, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($15/each)  2 -- Steve Case, Macon, GA; Gary Cobb, Middletown, OH; Michael Foster, Catoosa, OK. 1 -- Mark Collett, Ludlow, KY; Jerry Goss, Baton Rouge, LA.

Hogan/Senior:  ($80/each)  1 -- Darren Bufton, Bedford, TX; Paul Atkinson, Bryan, TX; Michael Schmidt, Rowlett, TX; Marshall Durrett, Austin, TX; William Dawsey, Tampa, FL.

Sarazen:  ($35/each)  2 -- Garrett Dick, Houston, TX. 1 -- Steve Rutherford, Bentonville, AR; Matt Larson, Spring, TX; Jay Mills, Driftwood, TX; Tommy Mobley, San Marcos, TX; Judy Harris, Abilene, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($80/each)  1 -- Ralph Justiz, Edmond, OK; Bob Koch, Shiprock, NM; Vance Lakey, Hamlin, TX.

Jones/Senior Jones:  ($45/each)  2 -- Evan Kirkpatrick, Georgetown, TX. 1 -- Charles Ackerman, New Caney, TX; Larry Harper, San Antonio, TX; Randy Adcock, Austin, TX; Kevin Crosson, Abilene, TX; Ian Maggiacomo, Somerset, MA; John Grossenbacher, Austin, TX.


Snead:  ($25/each)  2 -- Mike Murphy, Corrigan, TX. 1 -- Blake Barnes, Houston, TX; Zane Latham, Valley View, TX; Jack Iglesias, Killeen, TX; Jennifer Grothaus, Abilene, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$177/each:  #4 - Jerry Goss - 2' 8";  #8 - Ricky Agosto - 1';  #11 - Steve Rutherford - 5' 4 1/2";  #16 - Randy Helcel - 9' 1".




NEXT UP:

Texas Tour Season Closes With Tour Championship Month!


Hill Country Tour -  Ready for a true test of your game?  TPC San Antonio and the AT&T Oaks Course and AT&T Canyons Course will host the Hill Country Tour Championship, to be held on Saturday, August 11th and Sunday, August 12th.  REGISTRATION CLOSES THIS Friday, August 3rd. 

Houston Tour -  The Houston Tour Championship at Woodforest, with arguably the best greens in Texas,  on August 18th and 19th.  Entry closes on Friday, August 10th. 


Dallas Tour -   Back to Bridlewood in Flower Mound for the DFW Tour Championship, on Saturday, August 25th and Sunday, August 25th.  Close to a sell out already, registrations will close on Friday, August 17th.   

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

Storms Early Cause Delay to Prelude - Hill Country Classic

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (July 6, 2018)  The Hill Country Golf Club at the Hyatt Hill Country came back on the schedule for the Prelude - Hill Country Classic tune-up before the Major Championship at LaCantera.

Early morning waves of rain, created roadblocks on the starting holes, with creeks over the banks and alternative plans became necessary.  With an already, one hour delay scheduled, we had to swap starting holes, just to keep that close.  Sloppy, cart paths only, added to an already difficult, tree-lined course, then add two more storms, guaranteed a long day for the competitors from around the country.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $550, with Texas Tour events total raised to $17,170 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Playing in his second event on tour, San Antonio, TX, and Southwestern Univerity Senior, Sutherland Stith, picked up the Championship.  With three birdies on the day, Stith outlasted Keith McKelvy of Granbury, TX, and Castroville, TX, player Reagan Rothe tied up in the runner-up spot.  Starting the day on the par 4 - 10th, McKelvey, looked to be out of it, running into trouble on the par 4 -16th but charged back with three birdies after making the turn to bring it back to a share of the second-place finish, with Rothe, carding a birdie on the par 5 - 15th.   

Palmer Flight:  Al Campo of Deer Park, TX, and San Antonio, TX, player Matt Lovell, matched the first nine-hole scores, both with birdies on the par 5 - 15th.  Lovell then added another birdie on the par 4 - 5th, which proved to be just enough to pick up his first win of the season and second on tour.  One stroke back, Campo, took the runner-up spot, five strokes clear of third-place finisher, Jeff Bankard of Dallas, TX.

Hogan Flight:  In the first combined Open/Senior Flight, that wasn't covered by an Open Player, Houston Senior Hogan Flight player Dale Fuhr, of Missouri City, TX, covered the young guys with the help of two birdies on the round.  Fuhr, with a win at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay, his last time out, picked up his fourth win on tour all coming this season.  Two strokes back, Houston, TX, player John Harcrow, finished in the runner-up spot, with Corpus Christi, TX, player Kevin Fontenot and Allan Collier, of Austin, TX, sharing the third-place honors.

Sarazen Flight:  Montgomery, TX, player Joe Michetti, made the most of two birdies on his round to edge out, Joe Luman of Odessa, TX, with two birdies of his own, by one stroke.  For Michetti, it was his second win of the season and eleventh on tour.  One stroke back of second, San Marcos, TX, member Tommy Mobley, with a birdie on the par 3 - 3rd, rounded out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Mackie Crossan, of Abilene, TX, picked up his sixth win on tour and fourth of the points season.  Crossan, with four birdies on his day, cleared second place finisher, Robert Hayter of  Houston, TX, by three strokes.  Hayter, with a birdie on the par 5 - 18th, secured his runner-up finish by four strokes over Leewood, WA, traveler, Mike Lee taking home the showplace finish.

Jones Flight:  Abilene, TX, member Kevin Crosson, became a five-time winner on tour, with four of them coming this season.  Six strokes back, Garrett Tidman of Little Elm, TX, secured his second runner-up finish on the season to go with a win, last fall by three strokes over Houston, TX, member Artis Stewart.

Senior Jones Flight:  Playing in his second event on tour, Charles Ackerman of New Caney, TX, carded a birdie on the par 4 - 13th to pick up his first win.  Seven strokes back, San Antonio, TX, resident Phil Lewis, with a birdie of his own on the par 3 - 8th, grabbed the second place spot, two strokes clear of fellow San Antonio, TX, member Steve DiPaolo.  DiPaolo matched the birdie by Lewis on the par 3 - 8th and added another at the par 5 - 4th.

Snead Flight:  Houston, TX, member Blake Barnes, a winner at his home course at Bay Oaks, in May, picked up his second win on the season.  Four strokes back, Zane Latham of Valley View, TX, took home the second place honors, with Midland, TX, traveler Paul Ray using a birdie on the par 4 - 10th to round out the top three. 





SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($155/each)  1 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Anthony Encinias, Santee, CA; Blake Barnes, Houston, TX; Richard Schram, Bryan, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($56/each)  1 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Keith McKelvy, Granbury, TX; Kevin Williams, Odessa, TX; Anthony Encinias, Santee, CA; Brian Frazier, Kingwood, TX.

Hogan:  ($60/each)  1 -- Steve Holland, Bastrop, TX; Cody Cauley, San Angelo, TX; Jeff Green, Coldspring, TX; Kirby Rogers, Muldrow, OK.

Sarazen:  ($26/each)  2 -- Steve Rutherford, Bentonville, AR; Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX; Joe Luman, Odessa, TX. 1 -- Tommy Mobley, San Marcos, TX; Matt Larson, Spring, TX; Michael Betzale, Live Oak, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($35/each)  2 -- Michael Hardegree, Wichita Falls TX; Mackie Crossan, Abilene, TX. 1 -- Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Andre Fitzpatrick, Weatherford, TX; Robert Hayter, Houston, TX; Bob Moreau, Rockwall, TX.

Jones/Senior Jones:  ($31/each)  3 -- Rodolfo Pichardo, Bonao, DR. 1 -- Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX; Charles Ackerman, New Caney, TX; Michael Grant, Huntsville, AL; Steve DiPaola, San Antonio, TX.

Snead:  ($27/each)  2 -- Jack Iglesias, Killeen, TX. 1 -- Ron McGinty, Humble, TX; Annette Crossan, Abilene, TX; Zane Latham, Valley View, TX; Blake Barnes, Houston, TX; Paul Ray, Midland, TX; Richard Schram, Bryan, TX.





CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$152/each:  #3 - Joe Michetti - 7' 3";  #8 - Matt Larson - 3' 5";  #14 - Chris Bryant - 5' 5";  #17 - Mark Kirby - 11' 7".




NEXT UP:

Dallas Tour -   Don't miss the registration deadline to get on the waiting list for the DFW Open Championship @ The Tribute on Saturday, July 21st, SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

Hill Country Tour -   Back in action at Falconhead Golf Club for the Championship at Falconhead leading up to the Texas Classic at Barton Creek, to be held on Friday, July 27th.  Only a few spots remaining and will certainly sell out prior to the July 20th registration deadline.

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 CLOSED, but a few spots still available.   Making our way to Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club on Sunday, July 22nd for the Katy Open Championship.  Entries close on Friday, July 13th. 

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

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

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

A Few Firsts at Avery Ranch - Hill Country Tour

Scott R Chilcutt, Coppell, TX (June 3, 2018)  Avery Ranch Golf Club, officially in Austin proper, on the outskirts of Round Rock, hosted the Summer Classic - Round Rock on Sunday.  First time at the facility for this crew, it's a beautiful Hill Country, like course, and while play is allowed to the public, it has a private club atmosphere.  Favorable yardages, and great rolling greens allowed for some firsts in personal best low rounds.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home what would have been $390, but gave back 1/2 the pot to the Troops, bringing the daily total to $585, with Texas Tour events total rising to $13,625 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Coming off a third-place finish at the Battle of Blanco, in his first event on tour, Jacob Davis of Cibolo, TX, made this round count.  Davis, with five birdies on his round, including three in as many holes on the back, finished the round, -2 for his first Championship.  One stroke back, first time San Antonio, TX, player Sutherland Stith, carded an eagle on the par 5 - 14th, added three more birdies to the round to finish -1 in the runner-up spot. John Kellum of San Antonio, TX, a four-time winner in 2017, and playing in his first event of the season rounded out the top three, with a pair of birdies.

Palmer Flight:  Playing alongside Stith in the pairing, San Antonio, TX, player Rene Realme, was obviously inspired with his partners under par round, enough so, that he beat the field by seven strokes.  Realme, with with a birdie on the par 5 - 4th finished the back nine even par, for his National Championship qualifying third win of the season.  Jorge Rodriguez of nearby Round Rock, TX, finished in the runner-up spot, all alone, two strokes clear of San Antonio, TX, member Gary Grizzle and Z-man Lovato of Austin, TX sharing the third-place finish.

Hogan Flight:  Starting the day on the par 5 - 10th, College Station, TX, player Rick Smalley, held a two-stroke advantage over the field making the turn.  Small, +1 coming to the clubhouse, gave back that advantage plus more, on his final two holes, to let John Brannan of New Braunfels, snead into a playoff.  Back to the par 5 - 10th, it would be Brannan, picking up the Championship on the first sudden-death hole, at his first event on tour.  Three strokes back, Cody Cauley of San Angelo, TX, with a birdie on the par 4 - 16th rounded out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Competing in his second event of the weekend, after winning on Saturday in Coppell, TX, Houston Tour Player, Jeff Green of Coldspring, TX, made it two in a row.  Green, making the most out of three birdies on his round, recorded his sixth win of the season, four strokes clear of Boerne, TX, member Steve Wade.  Wade, with a birdie on the par 4 - 4th, stayed one stroke clear of third-place finisher, George Smith of Houston, TX, with three birdies on his round.

Sarazen Flight:  Odessa, TX, player Norm Gosselin, in a dead heat with Christopher Cobb, making the turn, matched his front nine scores coming to the clubhouse, for his fourth win on tour and first since 2016. Chris Bryant of Cedar Park, TX, snuck into the runner-up finish with the help of a birdie on the par 3 - 11th, two strokes clear of Cobb, with a birdie of his own on the par 3 - 6th.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Another of the double weekend players to make the field at Avery Ranch, DFW Tour player Rodney Wren, of Dallas, TX, followed a great back nine on Saturday, to pick up his second win on tour, both coming this points season.  Wren, with two consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes, finished with a personal best score, two strokes clear of Giddings, TX, player Michael Hirsch.  Hirsch, made the most of two birdies on the day, to edge out Steve Hamilton, of Leander, TX, by a stroke.

Jones Flight:   It took every bit of a personal best on tour, +7 - 79 for Abilene, TX, member Kevin Crosson to pick up his third win on tour and second of the points season.  Crosson with two birdies on his front nine after starting on the par 5 - 10th, edged out DFW Tour player, Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX, by one stroke.  Four strokes back, San Antonio, TX, player Phil Lewis, a winner his last time out, rounded out the top three.



Snead Flight:  Playing in his first year on tour, Pete Acosta of Alamo, TX, picked up his second win, with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 12th hole.  Three strokes back, San Antonio, TX, member Bill Russell, secured the second place finish by two strokes over Dan O'Shea of Copperas Cove, TX, taking the final podium spot.

SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($220/each)  1 -- Marshall Durrett, Austin, TX; Terry Spencer, Georgetown, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($35/each)  3 -- Jacob Davis, Cibolo, TX. 1 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX.

Hogan/Senior Hogan:  ($76/each)  1 -- Randy Dorsey, Killeen, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Marshall Durrett, Austin, TX; George Smith, Magnolia, TX; Jacinto Zambrano, Kerrville, TX.

Sarazen:  ($40/each)  1 -- C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX; Michael Betzale, Live Oak, TX; Tommy Mobley, San Marcos, TX; Chris Bryant, Cedar Park, TX; Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($50/each)  1 -- Thomas Wellman, Lago Vista, TX; Michael Hirsch, Giddings, TX; Mackie Crossan, Abilene, TX; Joseph Tyson, Austin, TX.

Jones/Snead:  ($48/each)  3 -- Kevin Crosson, Abilene, TX.  1 -- Evan Kirkpatrick, Georgetown, TX; Terry Spencer, Georgetown, TX; Jennifer Grothaus, Abilene, TX; Annette Crossan, Abilene, TX; Dan O'Shea, Copperas Cove, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$120/each:  #6 -  Chris Cobb - 23";  #8 - N/A;  #11 - Michael Hirsch - 4' 11";  #13 - Mike Betzale - 4' 6 1/4".



NEXT UP:

Dallas Tour -  June 16th the DFW Tour makes a stop at Bear Creek for the DFW International Open, waiting list spots are available.   Don't miss the registration for the Desoto Championship on July 1st at Thorntree Golf Club, entries close on Friday, June 22nd, but will surely sell out prior to that time.

Hill Country Tour -   Lighthouse Country Club, in Kingsland, TX, will open up the Texas Open weekend at Horseshoe Bay on Friday, June 22nd.  Spots still available with registration closing on Friday, June 15th.  


Houston Tour - Next up, The Woodlands Open, the home of the Insperity Invitational on the Champions Tour, on Monday, June, 11th. SOLD OUT and CLOSED. 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.  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