Stiff Northerly Welcome Players to Teravista

Scott R Chilcutt, Round Rock, TX (March 24, 2013)  With a quick ascent up the hill from I-35 and the Round Rock Premium Outlets the Teravista Golf Club just north of Austin was the home of the 2013 Round Rock Open on the Hill Country Tour.  Beautiful Saturday afternoon practice rounds gave way to an overnight northerly front that wreaked havoc on the panhandle of Texas and previous points north with a major cool down while wind advisories were issued for the Hill Country.  Sustained winds around 30 mph with 40+ mph gusts, not only kept the opening tee tents in the trailer, it created chaos on the golf course. 

The sold out field hunkered down and made the best of the conditions to crown the flight champions in ten flights, along with the reintroduction of the Tournament Champion Trophy and Giant Skins.  Giant skins went to players from the Hogan, Sarazen and Snead flights while the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving went to Leonard Linkes of San Antonio.



RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  27 year old Matthew Brandt of San Antonio, TX made the most of his first time out on tour, going out in +4, he rebounded to come back to the clubhouse in +1.  With three birdies on the day, Brandt edged out another San Antonio player Richard Perez by a stroke.  Perez, even par on the back with a couple of birdies, built a four stroke advantage over Boerne, TX member Chris Daniluck.

Palmer Flight:  Craig Hart of Killeen, TX started his Am Tour career at the March 2012 The Teravista Open with a second place finish.  Three events later, got close in a five way playoff, but it took a return to Teravista to hoist a trophy for the first time.  Hart played the back nine in -1 with a final hole birdie to clinch a three stroke advantage over Tony Eno of Fort Worth.  Eno took the first hole to wake up with a double, went +5 for the remainder of the round to stay clear of third place San Antonio, TX member Dave Davlin by four strokes.

Senior Palmer Flight:  First year player, Randy Rollo of Waco, TX became a two time winner after winning in his second event at the December Winter Classic - Hill Country Tour.  Copperas Cove, TX resident Robert Lippert followed up a National Championship qualifying third place finish at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay with his best finish on tour, two strokes clear of a pair knotted in the show position.  Houston Tour traveler Allan Collier of Sugarland TX and San Antonio's Frank Davis shared the third place honors.

Hogan Flight:   Starting on the tenth hole, nearby Leander, TX  player Bryan Wood kept a relatively clean score card on his front nine, birdied the 1st, 3rd and 5th on his back nine to build a cushion before struggling over  his last four holes to win his eleventh event on tour and second of the year.  While work has dipped into his tour schedule, one stroke back,  Brian Cox of Killeen, TX recorded his second runner up finish of the year, in two attempts.   San Antonio, TX member Tim Haverly finished three strokes back of Cox to round out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:   Dallas Tour member Randy Sellers of Lewisville, TX picked up his fourth win on tour and second at a Hill Country event.   Sellers a winner at the 2012 Austin - Nicklaus Open birdied his first hole on the day into the blowing north wind for a three stroke advantage over 2012 Senior Sarazen Flight National Champion,  Bob Tuttle of Kingsland, TX.  Tuttle played his back nine in +4 to hold out a four stroke edge over third place finisher Terry Dennis of Shertz, TX.

Sarazen Flight:    Rene Realme had a two stroke lead going to the final hole, but a triple opened the playoff door for fellow San Antonio, TX member Devin Brown and Austin, TX player Tony Smith.  Starting on the tenth hole Brown, playing alongside Smith, trailed the entire round until his birdie on the par 3 - 7th.  The pair matched over the last two holes and teed it up with Realme for the sudden death, where Brown would par to snatch his fifth win on tour and second in as many attempts. Daniel Mcgrath holed out from the fairway for eagle 2 on the par 4 - 13th to collect one of the giant skins.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  New Braunfels, TX resident Mike Allman, clearly likes the Teravista layout, defending his 2012 Championship for his third win on tour.  Allman's only other Am Tour win came at the presigioius 2010 Texas Open MAJOR at Barton Creek. He commanded a five stroke victory over Nicky Baugh of Alto, TX.  Baugh, with a birdie on the dogleg right par 4 -2nd stayed clear by two strokes over a pair of Austin residents, Gregg Smith and Homer Turbeville sharing the third place honors.

Jones Flight:  Houston Tour member Artis Stewart became a three time winner with all three coming this points season.  Stewart a winner at the Las Vegas Vintage Golf Classic along with the HOU - Cinco Ranch Holiday Classic was able to hold on to a three stroke win over New Jersey native Joshua Barron now residing in nearby Cedar Park, TX.  Barron's first hole birdie edged out Xavier Bardy of San Antonio, TX and Austin tour member Aaron Seafous tied for third.

Senior Jones Flight:  With four third place finishes on the year, including the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay,  Tom Stockton of Euless, TX grabbed his first win on tour.  Stockton handled the wind to stave off two players,  Thomas West of Giddings, TX and Victoria, TX first year member  John Thomas  sharing the runner up finish.

Snead Flight:  Myron Brown of Somerville, TX would birdie the par 4 - 9th and par 3 -15th to take home some flight and giant skins cash, but wasn't able to overtake a consistent Christopher Johnson of Duncanville, TX.  Johnson carded his third win in as many attempts with Kyle, TX member Larry Atchley rounding out the top three.




SKINS:
Giant Skins: 2 -- Bryan Wood, Leander, TX. 1 -- Myron Brown, Somerville, TX; Daniel Mcgrath, Austin, TX.

Championship / Palmer / SR Palmer:  2 -- Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Matthew Brandt, San Antonio, TX; Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX; Jake Morton, Ft. Hood, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  3 -- Bryan Wood, Leander, TX. 1 -- Joe Benzing, Midland, TX; Mike Ozga, Liberty Hill, TX; Gene Rampy, Bastrop, TX; Russ Cornell, Cibolo, TX; Randy Sellers, Lewisville, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  1 -- Gregg Smith, Austin, TX; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX; John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Daniel Mcgrath, Austin, TX; Kirby Rogers, Muldrow, OK.

Jones / Senior Jones:  2 -- Joshua Barron, Cedar Park, TX.  1 -- David Castillo, San Antonio, TX; Thomas West, Giddings, TX; John Thomas, Victoria, TX; Robert Glittenberg, Rowlett, TX.

Snead / Senior Snead:  2 -- Myron Brown, Somerville, TX. 1 -- Thomas Kerwin, Pflugerville, TX; Mark Colwell, San Antonio, TX.

Next Up:  Hill Country Tour visits Vaaler Creek Golf Club for the first time at the Battle at Blanco on April 20th.   The Dallas Tour resumes action at the Frisco Lakes Challenge on March 30th at The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes and the Oklahoma Tour backs up the opener with the Forest Ridge Classic in Broken Arrow, OK on March 30th.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth Tour - Hill Country Tour - Oklahoma Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.302.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com

Play Ready Golf

Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (March 11, 2013) During a recent event on the Dallas tour, we had four groups (16 players) penalized for violating the Golf Channel Am Tour pace of play policy. Penalties may clearly change the outcome of the event, take you or members of your group out of a skin and cost points and awards.

Tour Players that have competed in a Dallas, Hill Country or Oklahoma tour event that I’ve directed may have noticed “Play Ready Golf” printed rather large on the bottom of the “Notice to Contestants”.

The rules of golf define the proper Order of Play with USGA Rule 10-2 during stroke play. That rule however, offers no penalties unless playing out of turn creates an advantage. On the tee, honors; everywhere else, the player within a group who is away (farthest from the hole) hits first.

“Ready golf allows the golfers within a group to take their shots when each member of the group is ready to play. If you reach your ball and are ready to hit, while other members of your group are not yet prepared, then go ahead and hit - even if you are not away.

Here are just a few tips to help speed up play to make your day more enjoyable and keep you off the clock. Be sure to understand that none of the tips have anything to do with rushing your play, but rather help keep you out of a “rush”situation when you get behind.

TEE BOX

• On the tee, pay attention to your partners' drives. If they lose sight of their ball, you can help direct them to it and avoid any searching.

• If you are unsure about the club you’ll play off the tee, bring three, one on each side of your expected play so you’ll have other options readily available.

• Carry an extra golf ball, tees and ball markers in your pocket so you never have to return to your golf bag to find one when needed.

• If you are unsure whether your ball has come to rest out of bounds, or may be lost outside of a hazard, notify your playing partners that you intend to hit a provisional ball and tee it up again so that you won't have to return to the spot to replay the shot.

FAIRWAY

• When two players are riding in a cart, drive the cart to the first ball and drop off the first player with his choice of clubs. The second player should proceed in the cart to his ball. After the first player hits his stroke, he should begin walking toward the cart as the second golfer is playing.

• All players should GO TO THEIR BALLS as soon as possible. The only time players should wait for other players is if the first player's ball is in front of the other players' in such a way that the other players could be hit by the first player's shot.

• Help other players locate lost balls, but do it AFTER playing your shot not before.

GREEN

• Never park the cart in front of the green. Park it only to the side or behind the green. And don't mark your scorecard while sitting in the cart next to the green (do it at the next tee). These practices open up the green for the group behind.

• When chipping around the green, carry both the club you'll be chipping with plus your putter so you don't have to return to the bag.

• Begin reading the green and lining up putts as soon as you reach the green. Don't wait until it's your turn to putt to start the process of reading the green. Do it as soon as you reach the green so that when it's your turn you can step right up and putt.

• Finish out short putts if you won’t be in another players line or through line. Notify the group that “I’ll finish” and make your putts consecutively.

Navigating around the golf course in an efficient manner will help speed the game, won’t cause you any rushing problems when Marshall's put you on the clock and will help keep you out of penalty situations.


For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth Tour - Hill Country Tour - Oklahoma Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.302.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com

6 Hill Country Players Punch Tickets National Championships - Texas Open

Two Hill Country Winners, Six Others Get National Championship Qualifications

Scott R Chilcutt, Horseshoe Bay, TX (March 3, 2013) The 2013 Texas Open, in its third year at the scenic Horseshoe Bay Resort, on the shores of Lake LBJ in the Texas Hill Country welcomed players from 19 states, representing 22 Tours for the first Major of the year in the Central part of the country.

Excellent, over seeded course conditions, fast and smooth greens along with favorable yardages and a local rule for out of bounds didn't seem to help the scoring. In the over 368 rounds played, nearly a third (29%) of the scores met or exceeded the century mark with only TWO rounds recording sub 80 scores. None of the flights were exempt from the difficult scoring conditions, with the Championship Flight averaging +18 on first day at the par 71 - Ram Rock Golf Course and +14 on the par 72 Apple Rock layout to finish out the event.

Through the challenges, 35 players received 2013 National Championship invitations and the participants raised over $1,400 for the Feherty's Troops First Foundation.

Results:

Championshp Flight: With a pair of 83's and a T7 finish at last years Texas Open, Missouri City, TX member Lynn Cormier would have won the event this year. Cormier bettered that result, opening with a +7 - 78 to lead wire to wire for his second Major Championship and twelfth win on the Am Tour. Playing in the second to last grouping on the final day, Terry Rice of Midland, TX matched Cormier's final round and jumped up two spots to finish in the runner up position. Boerne, TX member Chris Daniluck jumped two spots himself in route to the final National Championship qualification of the flight.

Palmer Flight: Jake Morton finished with a seven stroke advantage en route to his second win in as many attempts and fourth on tour. Morton, carded four birdies on the day to seal his win over Lufkin, TX player and Houston Tour member Frank Wallace. Wallace, just one stroke back after the first round, started the day matching Morton's 10th hole (first of the day) birdie, but couldn't keep it going during the latter holes on both sides. Tino Flores, Houston, TX, edged out a couple of players in front of him on the final day to solidify a top three finish.

Senior Palmer Flight: Two Oklahoma Tour members, tied up in the second spot, four strokes back after the first round battled it out for the championship on Sunday. Beginning the day on the 10th hole, Clayton Badger of Drumright, OK started out his first two and ended his first two holes rocky, falling short of Sapulpa, OK member Curt Howard by a single stroke. Howard battled through a tweaked back in the latter holes to pick up his ninth win on tour and second Major Championship. Overcoming a first nine penalty stroke, Robert Lippert of Copperas Cove, TX went even par with three birdies on his back nine to jump two spots and finish with a National Championship invite. Randy Rollo of Waco, TX carded four birdies on the final round to record the only sub 80 round on the Apple Rock course, finishing in the fourth spot.

Hogan Flight: Bill Troutz of San Antonio, TX started the day two strokes back of the first round leader, Argyle, TX first year player Greg Hawkins. Beginning the round on the third hole of the Ram Rock shotgun, Troutz parred his first three to go up a stroke, ran into mid round troubles, but added a birdie at the par 5 - 14th to ultimately force a playoff. On the 39th hole of the weekend, Hawkins finished out the Championship for his first win on Tour. Aaron Brougher of Spring, TX finished out in the show position for his ticket to the Nationals.

Sarazen Flight: Overnight first round leaders, John Heintz of San Antonio, TX and Las Vegas, NV traveler George Yocum couldn't decide the finish on the second day. The pair started out the day on the 8th hole, where Heintz would take a three stroke lead, then give two back on the 9th. Yocum birdied the par 4 -18th, but let Heintz battle back over the closing holes to force the extended play. During the sudden death playoff Yocum would pick up his first Major Championship and second win on tour. Jon Wendt took eleven strokes off his first day total to edge out the fourth place finisher by a single stroke.

Senior Sarazen Flight: Austin, TX member Homer Turbeville completed the low round of the flight on the final day by five strokes to finish four strokes ahead of a pair tied up in the runner up position. Turbeville, picked up his third win on tour with two birdies on the day and five for the event over Waterville, ME native Lee Brunell now residing in Houston and Mansfield, TX member John Cox sharing the runner up honors and National Championship invites.

 

Next Up:  Hill Country gets back to the course for the Round Rock Open on March 24th. while the Dallas Tour resumes action at the Indian Creek Golf Course on March 9th for the Classic at the Creek. The Oklahoma Tour kicks off the year at the March 16th Kickingbird Challenge.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Tour Director

Dallas / Fort Worth Tour - Hill Country Tour - Oklahoma Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.302.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com

    

Kerrville Championship - Comanche Trace

Scott R Chilcutt, Kerrville, TX (February 16, 2013)  Comanche Trace Golf Community sits just southwest of the Kerrville Lake Dam on the Guadalupe River and is home of the Kerrville Championship.  Scheduled as the early Feburary opener for the Hill Country Tour, the event was contested on the Rye grass over seeded Comanche Trace Golf Club on the Tom Kite designed Hills/Valley courses.

Friday practice rounds found cold winds and cloudy skies that may have tempted some players to pack up, but were greeted to light winds, sunny and warm skies for the best weather in the events history.  Overnight frost moisture may have left some of the greens soft early in the morning, but they quickly dried out and made for perfect, but challenging greens to go with some tough pin placements.      


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  35 year old Chris Daniluck of Boerne, TX commanded a six stroke advantage over San Antonio newcomer Richard Perez finishing in the runner up spot.  Daniluck birdied the 5th and added another at the tough pin position par 4-10th for his twelfth win on tour.  Visiting Sapulpa, OK player Curt Howard finished three strokes back of Perez for the third place finish.   

Palmer Flight:  Austin, TX player Mark Greene won his first event on tour, the May 2012 Dallas / Hill Country Clash @ Twin Rivers, but has been on the outside looking in until today.  Greene cruised around the front side +3, birdied the par 5-13th to finish the back at +1 for a three stroke advantage over Ron Finnerty of San Antonio.  Finnerty was only one back of Greene on the front, added birdies at 13 and 15, got into a mess at 16, but still stayed a stroke clear of hard charging Todd VanDerSchaegen.  VanderSchaegen of San Antonio played the final 6 holes -2 on two birdies.

Hogan Flight:  New tour member Ronnie Draper of Oklahoma City, OK birdied his first hole in his first event.  Draper, starting on the 10th hole, finished the back nine at even par.  Then he made the turn, went triple, double, bogey on the first three holes, thought to be in trouble he bounced back with another two birdies for his first win.  One stroke back Steven Turner of San Antonio, TX finished with a bogey on his final hole to claim the runner up spot for his best finish on tour.  Dallas Tour member Paul Burleson of Argyle, TX and Shertz, TX player Terry Dennis knotted up the third place finish.

Sarazen Flight:  Devin Brown from San Antonio, TX had a score card with peaks and valleys similar to the surrounding Hill Country landscape.  Two birdies and only one par through eleven holes, Brown found some consistent golf over the final seven holes to record his fourth win on tour, three strokes clear of Converse, TX member Ronnie Davis.  The runner up spot gave Davis his best finish since the 2011 season by two strokes over John Cox of Austin.  Cox struggled on the front side, but came into the club house +6 to round out the top three.  Rene Realme made a three at the par 5 - 13th for one of the skins in the group.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  With over a century and a half of collective wisdom, it took the pair of 75 year old players, Gerald Cato of Bastrop, TX and Clive, IA traveler Mike Murray a playoff to settle the championship.  Cato, birdied his first hole of the day, but had to finish out with pars on his final two holes to get to the overtime.  On the first hole of the playoff, Murray dropped a birdie chip from the fringe to win his twelfth event on tour. A Bogey on his final hole of the day left Austin, TX player Gregg Smith just outside of the playoff one stroke back to finish in the third spot.  

Jones Flight:  Locked out of the Houston event this weekend due to a sellout, James Price of Corpus Christi, TX became the first of three Houston player wins on the day. Price went to the final hole with a six stroke lead on nine pars over Katy, TX member Kris Bixby.  Trying to give the win away, Price took an almost disastrous 11, but hung on for a one stroke win.  Bixby stayed seven strokes clear of the trio of Gary Chrisman of Yukon, OK, Dripping Springs, TX member Eric King and Aaron Seafous of Austin. Todd Burns of Austin eageled the par 5 - 13th for one of the skins. 

Senior Jones Flight:  Another Houston refuge, Michael Bell of Pearland, TX became a five time winner on tour.  Bell made the turn with three straight pars to win by two strokes over a pair in the second spot. Local Kerrville, TX member John Merritt and Mark Boles from Sealy, TX shared the runner up spot six strokes clear of the fourth spot. 

Snead Flight:   Robert Viator of Vidor, TX made it two in a row after winning the late January HOU - Moody Gardens Kickoff Classic.  Viator's four pars on the day were enough to keep the four stroke advantage over San Antonio member Carlos Cruz.  Cruz made a string of pars late in his round to edge out Ramon Colen of San Antonio to round out the top three.

Senior Snead Flight:  Cedar Park, TX resident Dwain Smith outpaced the field for a seven stroke advantage and his third win on tour.  In his first time back to the tour since 2011, Myron Brown of Somerville, TX birdied the par 3 -12th and finished five strokes clear of a pair in the third place spot. Leonard Linkes  of San Antonio and Pflugerville, TX member Thomas Kerwin shared the final podium spot.    

SKINS:

Championship /Palmer:  1 -- Chris Daniluck, Boerne, TX; Richard Perez, San Antonio, TX; Steve Trickel, Boerne, TX.

Hogan:  3 -- Ronnie Draper, Oklahoma City, OK. 2 -- Gene Rampy, Bastrop, TX. 1 -- Aaron Brougher, Spring, TX; Jerry Smith, Salado, TX; Darrell Wilson, Georgetown, TX.

Sarazen:  2 -- Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX. 1 -- Devin Brown, San Antonio, TX; Kirby Rogers, Muldrow, OK; John Cox, Austin, TX; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX; Ronnie Davis, Converse, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  2 -- Gerald Cato, Bastrop, TX; Richard Huyck, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Joe Abreo, Bulverde, TX; Kevin Cox, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX; Homer Turbeville, Austin, TX; Alfredo Garcia, San Antonio, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  1 -- Mark Boles, Sealy, TX; Mike Jones, Midland, TX; Todd Burns, Austin, TX.

Snead / Senior Snead:  1 -- Myron Brown, Somerville, TX; Leonard Linkes, San Antonio, TX; Charles Mielak, San Antonio, TX; Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX.

Next Up: The Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay, sold out after less than two weeks on the schedule, will be held on March 2nd/3rd in the heart of the Hill Country. The Hill Country Tour is back for the Round Rock Open @ Teravista on March 24th. The Dallas Tour resumes action at the Grand Prairie Classic on February 23rd and the Oklahoma Tour will await warmer conditions for the March 16th Kickingbird Challenge.


For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Tour Director

Dallas / Fort Worth Tour - Hill Country Tour - Oklahoma Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.302.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com