Pirates of the AM Tour at the Port Aransas Open

Scott R Chilcutt, Port Aransas, TX (January 24, 2015)  Port Aransas, the only town established on Mustang Island, one of the longest barrier islands on the Texas Coast has become a beach, resort and fishing town.  In the early 19th century, it was a haven for pirate ships searching for riches and local lore tells of treasures buried there.

Palmilla Beach Golf Club, a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, designed by Arnold Palmer, takes advantage of the rugged wind-swept coastline consistent with links golf.  That layout and the links effect, seemed to feel more like its Scotland predecessors when over 75% of the players took to a practice round on Friday.  Cold north winds along with cloudy, dreary skies would make up what could only assist in a view of the layout.   Tournament day welcomed some sunshine and different wind directions, which would only offer players that had been to track, insight into some of the blind and narrowing shot placements.

With no eagles on the day and just a mere 53 birdies, the course took its toll on players with over 77% of the scores at bogey or worse.  In the Tournament Champion Award, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, it took a scorecard playoff for Michael Kirk to beat out Damian Shipley for the trophy.  Steve Killion (Senior Hogan), Greg Faubion (Senior Sarazen), Michael Kirk (Jones Flight) and Bobby Ashcraft (Snead Flight) took advantage of the Srixon ball promotion and will get an extra dozen sent to them for winning their respective flights. 

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Granbury, TX player Eric Anderson took advantage of four birdies on the day to make the trip from the Dallas Tour worth while.  It was Eric's fourth win on tour and first on Texas soil after winning three on the New Mexico Tour in 2012.  Josh Stout of Houston, started the day on the rough side after overnight car troubles, but played the back nine in +1 with three birdies to finish in the runner up spot, three strokes back.  Marc Duncan, recently relocated to Texas from Sanford, NC, birdied his final hole to share the third place honors with Mike Terry of Round Rock, TX and Del Rio, TX member Rich Weatherby.

Palmer Flight:  Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX used three birdies on the day to fire one of only a few sub 80 rounds for his fifteenth win on tour.  Just behind Davlin found three promoted Hogan / Senior Hogan flight players.  Runner up, Iraan, TX resident Doug Collins the winner in the Senior Palmer Flight at the two day South Texas Winter Championship stayed on course, with a pair of birdies to finish five strokes back. Bruce Beakley of Houston, another GolfNow performance promotion player and Spring, TX, self promoted Hogan Flight player, Aaron Brougher shared the third place finish.

Hogan Flight:  San Antonio, TX member, Todd VanDerSchaegen, carded three birdies on the day, including his final hole, par 5 - 18th to pick up the hardware.  James Sheppeard of Tomball, TX, recorded his second runner up in as many attempts, just one stroke shy, with birdies on the par 5 - 5th and par 5 - 10th holes.  San Antonio, TX resident, John Heintz birdied the par 3 - 2nd, picking up a closest to the hole award and show position points.

Senior Hogan Flight:  In a tale of two nines, Sanger, TX member Steve Killion, a 2015 points year promoted player, took fifteen strokes off his first nine score and came to the clubhouse in +1 on the back to pick up his ninth win on tour and second of the season.  Chris Neelley of Spring, TX strung together five pars during the middle of his round to finish three strokes out of the win.  Boerne, TX member Steve Trickel and Tim VanLandingham from nearby Portland, TX split the third place points.

Sarazen Flight:  Damian Shipley of Corpus Christi, TX made the best of some home cooking to notch his fourth win on tour.  Shipley, with a birdie on the par 3 - 2nd finished his back nine in +2 for the nine stroke advantage.  Boerne, TX member, Rudy Cantu matched his best finish on tour a T2 at the November, Las Vegas, The Chase Championship.  Three strokes back the trio of  Kristopher Bixby of Katy, TX, The Woodlands, TX player Patrick Richardson and first time player Nacho Orozco of San Antonio, TX shared the third place finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Richmond, TX player Greg Faubion went even par over six holes in the middle of his round with the help of a birdie on the par 3 -2nd to win his third event on tour and second in as many attempts.  Eight strokes back, Dallas Tour member, Ray Blackshear of Hideaway, TX held off Jim Craig of San Felipe, TX for the runner up finish, by one stroke after Craig made par on his final two holes to round out the top three.

Jones Flight:  Michael Kirk of Canyon Lake, TX made birdie on the par 4 - 15th to finish his front nine in +3.  Kirk, would make a mess of his middle rounds but finished -2 over his last four holes to pick up his first win on tour.  Huntsville, TX player Neil Macdonald played his normal steady round to finish in the runner up spot with Portland, TX member James Price finishing in the third place position.

Snead Flight:   San Antonio, TX player Bobby Ashcraft turned his round about on the back nine, taking six strokes off for his fourth win on tour and second in as many attempts after winning the South Texas Winter Championship in December.  A threesome of players carded runner up finishes, with Christopher Cobb of Austin, TX, Lake Leon, TX player Stan Harper and  Mark Colwell of Selma, TX splitting the second place honors.

Senior Snead Flight:   Seven pars on the day would be just enough for Alan Brumley of Atascocita, TX to return home with his sixth Championship on the AM Tour.  Two strokes back, Victoria, TX resident, Art Henry would birdie the par 3 - 2nd to help make up a three stroke deficit on the first nine to finish in a tie for second with John Merritt of Kerrville.  

       

SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($130/each)  2 -- Michael Kirk, Canyon Lake, TX. 1 -- Eric Anderson, Granbury, TX; James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX.

Championship: ($25/each) 3 -- Eric Anderson, Granbury, TX. 2 -- Rich Weatherby, Del Rio, TX. 1 -- Mike Terry, Round Rock, TX; Josh Stout, Houston, TX.

Palmer: ($30/each)  2 -- Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX; Doug Collins, Iraan, TX. 1 -- James Becker, San Antonio, TX; Arthur Flores, Houston, TX; Harold Jackson, Baytown, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  ($50/.each)  2 -- James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX. 1 -- Todd VanDerSchaegen, San Antonio, TX; Matt Wolfe, Groves, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; John Heintz, San Antonio, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  ($60/each) 1 -- Ray Blackshear, Hideaway, TX; Craig Duncan, Kingwood, TX; Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX.

Jones / Snead / Senior Snead:  ($34/each) 3 -- Michael Kirk, Canyon Lake, TX. 2 -- Daryl Nixon, Taylor, TX. 1 -- Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX; Mark Colwell, Selma, TX; Art Henry, Victoria, TX; Barry Stone, Del Valle, TX; Bryce Kocian, Wharton, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($130/each)  #2 - John Heintz - 4'8";  #6 - James Becker - 9' 6 1/2";  #13 - Jorge Rodriquez  - 3' 7 1/2"; #17 - James Becker - 4' 11 1/2"

Upcoming Texas Events:

Opening the new year in the Houston area, the Golf Club of Houston Redstone Classic on February 14th is sold out, but has a waiting list available.  First registered, first off the waiting list.

The Kerrville Championship gets under way on Saturday February 21st at the beautiful Comanche Trace Golf Club, entry deadline is February 13th.

Dallas area players start the new year at the Iron Horse Open on Sunday, February 22nd. 

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

www.gcamtour.com

Soaked at the Springs

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (November 22, 2014)  Canyon Springs Golf Club the home to the only rescheduled rain out under the current tour directors 3+ year tenure, moving from May 25, 2013 to July 6, 2013 looked to become two for two.  Unlike the last time out, where record rainfall left the tunnels unusable, the course was open for play and players had to endure the wet.  

Early morning weather forecasters spoke about lightning starting after noon, and left the organizers to push through the bands of mist, sprinkles and down pours to get the event contested and awarded. Then the sun came out, of course as everyone was loading up, when most of the thunderstorms and electric weather meandered north and east across the Hill Country towards Austin.

In all, 55 (of 66) hearty souls started the day worked through the moisture for the points and prize fund.  Stan Harper of Lake Leon, TX took advantage of the Srixon Ball Challenge, winning his flight playing a Srixon Golf Ball, while San Antonio, TX member, Paul Harper took home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:   Indianapolis Tour member, Brian Green of Lafayette, IN, looked for refuge from the recent cold and snow in the Midwest and took advantage of the trip for his fifth win on tour and first of the points season.  Green started out with a birdie on his first hole, the par 5 - 10th and added two more on the par 3 -17th and par 3 - 7th for a three stroke advantage.  Fort Worth, TX player Sean Fenton, a winner his last time out visiting the Hill Country, made two birdies on his front nine and held a three stroke lead after nine holes, but couldn't keep pace with Green on the back nine slipping into the runner up finish.

Palmer Flight:  Coming off a low career round - 1 -71  and a win his last time out at the October Fall Challenge in Round Rock,  Copperas Cove, TX player Robert Lippert made birdie on his closest to the hole shot at the par 3 - 13th, which proved to be just enough for his seventh win on tour.  One stroke back, Todd VanDerSchaegen of San Antonio, TX back on tour after taking the summer off, looked to have the win, but struggled, on his last hole of the day, the #1 handicap, par 4 - 8th to finish in the runner up spot.  Fort Hood, TX player Jacob Morton rounded out the top three, two strokes out of the lead.

Hogan Flight:  Houston Tour player,  Steve Allison is having some good things happen to him when traveling to the Hill Country this fall.  The Spring, TX member finished tied in the runner up spot with a Hole in One his last time out at the Fall Challenge in Round Rock and took the Houston points lead with his first win on Tour.  Two strokes back,  Dallas Tour traveler, Scott Harper of Ranger, TX birdied the par 5 - 2nd hole for his second runner up finish of the points season with San Antonio, TX resident Paul Wuerdeman taking show position honors.

Sarazen Flight:   Consistently climbing the leader board in his first year on tour, Michael Hill of Live Oak, TX made the jump to the top spot for his first Championship on Tour.  Hill birdied the par 4 - 10th and then parred his final two holes of the day to edge out Spring, TX player Gary Gum by a single stroke.   Gum, with a birdie of his own with a 4" putt and closest the hole cash on the par 3 - 17th survived a late round charge by Devin Brown of San Antonio, TX finishing the round in the third spot.

Senior Sarazen Flight:   Dallas Tour traveler, Burnie Rodgers of Haslet, TX took advantage of the rain gloves for his thirteenth tour Championship.  Rodgers birdied his first hole of the day, the par 5 - 5th and added another at the difficult par 4 - 8th for his fourth win since his self promotion to the Senior Sarazen Flight, three of those coming on the Hill Country Tour.  Four strokes back, the trio of Charles Sagray of San Antonio, TX, La Vernia, TX member  David Phillippi, with a birdie on the par 4 - 11th and Dallas, TX player Rick Allaire split the runner up finish.

Jones Flight:  Perennial Tour winner, Xavier Bardy of San Antonio, TX parred the first six of eight holes to card his tenth win on tour.  2014 Senior Snead National Champion, Larry Harper of San Antonio, TX playing in his first event since the automatic promotion, birdied the par 5 - 10th to finish in the runner up spot all alone with three players, knotted in the third place finish, eight strokes back.  Austin, TX player Freddys Espinoza,  Daryl Nixon, from Taylor, TX playing in his first event and Eastland, TX member Terry Everts playing in his first year on tour, shared the third place honors.

Snead Flight:   Stan Harper of Lake Leon, TX parred his first hole out of the gate and finished his last two in + 1 for his fifth win on tour.  One stroke back, runner up finisher,  Bobby Ashcraft, residing just minutes away from the course, had the championship locked up until his final hole, the par 4 - 18th where he found trouble.  The 2013 Snead Flight points Champion one the Hill Country Tour, Mark Rivera of San Antonio, TX rounded out the top three.





SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($55/each)  1 -- Rudy Cantu, Boerne, TX; Alfredo Garcia, San Antonio, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Steve Allison, Spring, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Sean Fenton, Fort Worth, TX; Brian Green, Lafayette, IN.

Championship / Palmer:  ($24/each) 3 -- Brian Green, Lafayette, IN. 2 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Sean Fenton, Fort Worth, TX. 1 -- Lincoln Talbert, Boerne, TX; James Becker, San Antonio, TX; Mark Ritter, Canyon Lake, TX.

Hogan:  ($35/each)  2 -- Micah Carroll, San Antonio, TX; Scott Harper, Ranger, TX. 1 -- Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Steve Allison, Spring, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  ($35/each)  2 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX. 1 -- Rudy Cantu, Boerne, TX; Josue Duprey, Killeen, TX; Michael Hill, Live Oak, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Alfredo Garcia, San Antonio, TX; David Phillippi, La Vernia, TX; Ron Derrick, Boerne, TX.

Jones / Snead:  ($60/each)  1 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; Larry Harper, San Antonio, TX; Freddys Espinoza, Austin, TX; Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX; Terry Everts, Eastland, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($100/each)  #3 - Rick Allaire - 7'3";  #7 - Lincoln Talbert - 14'4";  #13 - Robert Lippert - 5'1 1/4"; #17 - Gary Gum - 4 1/4"



NEXT UP:

Next on tap in Texas, players from around the state will take on The Falls Golf Resort and Club in New Ulm, TX for the two day South Texas Winter Championship on December 6th and 7th.   While single rooms are still available for this event most of the Villa's are sold out.  If you plan on playing, book your accommodations early.  REGISTRATION CLOSES on Friday, November Friday, November 28th at 11:59PM EST


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

Hill Country Opens the 2015 Points Season in Round Rock

Scott R Chilcutt, Round Rock, TX (October 19, 2014)  Teravista Golf Club, on top of the hill over looking 30 miles of the Hill Country to the west, has been the home to events on the Golf Channel AM Tour - Hill Country Tour for years, but this year was a little different.  The date normally set in the spring, when we were lucky if the winds whipped from the south, typically saw north winds that not only made it cold, but really made the course play very difficult.

We opted for the fall and did we get lucky.  Beautiful, low 80's with light winds and variable clouds brought out the best of the golf course and best of the players and scores.  While the greens played a little on the slow side, and was tough to get it to the hole from below the hole, Steve Allison from Spring, TX took that variable out of the equation with a Hole in One on the par 3 - 3rd, his second lifetime ACE.  Tony Smith landed the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.    


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Local Round Rock, TX player Mike Terry made the start in his first event on tour, went out with a one stroke advantage over Sean Fenton of Fort Worth, TX, but couldn't keep the advantage after Fenton birdied three holes coming to the clubhouse to win his eleventh Championship on tour, including two Majors.

Palmer Flight:  Robert Lippert of Copperas Cove, TX started the day with a birdie on the par 4 - 1st, and par 5 - 4th, but ended up making the turn one stroke out of the lead behind fellow traveling partner,  Fort Hood, TX member Jacob Morton.  Morton played ten holes in the middle of his round at one under par, but ran into trouble at the par 5 - 16th to give back the advantage.  Lippert would birdie three more holes on the back nine to finish one under par, his best card on tour to pick up his sixth win.  Larry Susen of Austin, TX, promoted during the 2014 points season from the Senior Hogan Flight, carded two birdies on the back nine to round out the top three.

Hogan Flight:   San Antonio, TX player, John Heintz started the day with a birdie his first hole out of the gate, added a couple of pars and was leading early.  Then came Houston Tour member, Steve Allison of Spring, TX, even after one, but tripled the second to drop back.  Allison followed with an ACE at the par 3 - 3rd,  then added two birdies to finish the front nine +2.  All through the drama,  Joshua Douglas of Leander, TX quietly traversed the layout with two birdies on the front and two on the back to slide by the pair for his fourth win on tour, including the 2014 San Antonio Open at LaCantera.  Allison and Heintz would end up sharing the runner up finish and splitting the points.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Darrell Wilson from Georgetown, TX, with three birdies on the day, shot a career low round +2 - 74 to record his eighth win on tour. Wimberly, TX player John Hilgers, with three birdies of his own, finished in the runner up spot, three strokes back. Jerry Smith of Salado, TX carded the third place finish, two strokes back of Hilgers, with fourteen pars on the day.

Sarazen Flight:  Starting on the tenth hole, Melissa Wood of Leander, TX, recently promoted to the Sarazen Flight, birdied the par 4 - 18th to lead the field by two strokes.  Austin, TX player Tony Smith made up ground on his back nine with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 4th to even the score after regulation.  On the first sudden death playoff hole, Wood would par to take her first Championship as a Sarazen Flight player and third win on tour.  Josue Duprey of Killeen, TX, off the tour for some time,  Cedar Park, TX player Les Costales and Aaron Seafous from Austin, TX shared the third place honors.

Senior Sarazen Flight:   Michael Brewer of Austin, TX,  went out with two birdies on the par 4 - 12th and par 5 - 16th, and then came to the club house with one on the back at the par 4 -5th leading to his fourth win on tour.  Lago Vista, TX resident, Jim Nedry, a five time winner on tour and Alfredo Garcia of San Antonio, TX shared the runner up honors four strokes back.

Jones Flight: San Antonio, TX member, Phil Lewis playing out of River Crossing, birdied the par 5 - 16th en route to his second win on tour.  James Price of Portland, TX birdied three holes on the day to pick up the runner up finish, two strokes clear of a pair tied in the third place finish.  Xavier Bardy of San Antonio, TX the 2014 Flight Champion and Barker, TX player Woody Casasent, with two birdies on the round shared the third place finish.

Snead Flight: Larry Atchley of Kyle, TX became a two time winner on tour, the first since the 2011 The Legends of Golf Classic by six strokes.  Selma, TX member, Mark Colwell battled through the round to finish one stroke clear of a pair of players knotted in the third place finish.  Bobby Ashcraft and Charles Mielak, both from San Antonio, TX shared the third place honors.



SKINS:

Giant Skins: ($82/each)  1 -- Jacob Morton, Ft. Hood, TX; Chris Wadle, Coupland , TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Steve Allison, Spring, TX; Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX.

Championship / Palmer: ($34/each)  3 -- Jacob Morton, Ft. Hood, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX. 1 -- Chris Wadle, Coupland , TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan: ($45/each) 2 -- Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX. 1 -- John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Steve Allison, Spring, TX; Joshua Douglas, Leander, TX; Tim VanLandingham, Portland, TX; Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX; Darrell Wilson, Georgetown, TX.

Sarazen - Senior Sarazen: ($150/each)  1 -- Kendall Hisey, Humble, TX; Josue Duprey, Killeen, TX.

Jones / Snead: ($35/each)  3 -- Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX. 2 -- James Price, Portland, TX; Woody Casasent, Barker, TX. 1 -- Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($150/each) # 3:   Steve Allison - ACE.   #11:  Don Koether - 5'7 1/2".  #15:  Tim VanLandingham - 6'4".


NEXT UP:

North Texas 2015 actions gets under way at the Frisco Lakes Challenge on Saturday, November 1st.

Houston gets back to play at the November 8th Katy Classic / Cinco Ranch.

The Hill Country Tour resumes action at the Winter Championship @ Canyon Springs on Saturday November 22nd.




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

Three National Champions Return Home to Texas!

Scott R Chilcutt, Scottsdale, AZ (September 19, 2014)  Talking Stick Golf Club with its North and South Course along with the Raptor and Talon Courses at Grayhawk Golf Club hosted the over 1200 players to 4800+ rounds of competitive golf with thousands more practice rounds during the 2014 National and Senior National Championship on the Golf Channel AM Tour.

Extreme weather in the Valley of the Sun,  dust storms preceded torrential rains, remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly coming in off the Gulf Coast shortened practice rounds for the Open Group, but diligent golf course maintenance crews worked through the night to make sure play started without a hitch. 

The Senior Championship practice rounds and opening went off as scheduled, with Hurricane Odile slamming the Mexican Baja.  Odile would generally spare the event of any havoc, although skirting the Talking Stick Courses for a wet afternoon of play.  

As the curtains closed on the year end finale, three Texas members, one from each tour in the state returned home as a Champions.  Home Cookin' may have assisted the Arizona Tour members to equal the Lone Star State total with three, with the other six championships spread across the country from Florida to Washington.

2014 National Championship:

Dallas Tour Member Jeff Blackwood of Dallas, TX finished four rounds with a  two stoke victory over 150+ players in the Hogan Flight .  Blackwood progressed each day, with his best two rounds coming at arguably the two hardest tracks of the event at the Grayhawk facility.   Firing a +4 - 76, the low round of the day on the final round, Blackwood came from nine strokes back for the victory.

Two other Texas Members, solidified a 2015 National Championship run with top five finishes.  Hill Country Tour member, Mark Miller of Spring Branch, TX jumped up the leader board on his final day to finish T3 with the help of three birdies in the Championship Flight.  Tomball, TX resident,  James Sheppeard from the Houston Tour, finished T2 for his qualification after finishing near the top of the leader board each round.

2014 Senior National Championship:

Senior Hogan Flight player Ernie Dyer from Orange, TX representing the Houston Tour, peaked at the right time.  Dyer, a winner at the 2014 San Antonio Open at LaCantera at the end of June, carded three rounds in the 70's to finish two strokes clear of the field for the Senior National Championship honors and lifetime qualification to the premier event.

Hill Country Tour member, Larry Harper, qualifying for the event with three wins on the season, shared the low round in the Senior Snead Flight in two of his four rounds to run away from the field, eight strokes clear of second place.





Al Smith, Senior Palmer Flight player from Midland, TX playing out of the Hill Country Tour, secured his 2015 National Championship spot, rebounding from a tough third round with a final round +5 - 76 to finish in the runner up spot.

NEXT UP:

2015 points season underway in the coming weeks.


The Houston Tour opens the season on Sunday, October 12th at the Cypress Open at Cypress Lakes Golf Club, registration closes on Friday, October 3rd.

Hill Country Tour action resumes at the Fall Challenge / Round Rock at the Teravista Golf Club on Sunday, October 19th with entries closing on Friday October 10th.

The Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit in Mississippi is the first Major of the season in the South Central Region on October 25th and 26th.

November 1st marks the season start on the Dallas Tour at The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes for the Frisco Lakes Challenge, entry deadline is October 24th.. 


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

Hill Country Tour Championship

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (August 10, 2014)   TPC San Antonio, the site of the Hill Country Tour Championship on the Golf Channel AM Tour proved to be a challenging and special occasion.

The two course layout,  one hosting the Valero Texas Open in the Spring and the other, the Pete Dye Canyons Course and the AT&T Championship on the Champions Tour in Fall seemed only fitting for an event of this magnitude.  This year we ventured into the Canyons to get a feeling of what the elderly PGA Touring pro's would get a glimpse of.

Deer Park, TX member, Al Campo had the feeling of a Hole-In-One in his earlier years, but this one had to be even better.  Nine iron, 148 yards on the par three, eighth hole eliminated the need for any putts with his second ace.   Rik Wall (Championship Flight) and John Hilgers (Senior Hogan Flight) took advantage of the Srixon Golf Ball challenge by winning their respective flights, they'll both get a dozen Srixon's in addition to the other prizes.  Charles Sagray, picked up the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Coming off his first Tour win, just more than 24 hours earlier in Oklahoma,  Rik Wall of Plano, TX birdied three holes to shoot a one under par 71 to keep the ball rolling.  Part of the  scoring chances, Spring Branch, TX player Mark Miller, left on the par 3's (+4), he got back on the par 5/2 (-3), but still wasn't quite enough to get to the top, finishing two strokes behind Wall.  Four strokes back of Miller, first year player Stanton Roberts of Midlothian, TX birdied three holes on the day to round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Playing out of TPC San Antonio, Dave Davlin played his first twelve holes in +2, ran into some problems on the last few holes of the back nine, but rebounded with a par on his last hole to win by four strokes.  It was Davlin's fourth win on the season including the Major Championship at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek, and his fourteenth win on tour. Senior Palmer member, Morgan Splichal of San Antonio, TX,  playing in the combined flight, took the runner up finish with two birdies on the day.  One stroke back of Splichal,  Coupland, TX player, Chris Wadle off the tour since May 2013 due to a busy schedule jumped right back into the fray with the third place honors.

Hogan Flight:  Travelers invade another flight for the top three spots.  Houston Tour member, Roger Masek of Sugar Land, TX, starting on the fourth hole, played his first nine holes in three under par with consecutive birdies from 7-9, added another at the par 5 - 12th and held on for a two stroke victory, his seventh on tour and second of the season. Two strokes back, fellow Houston member, Al Campo of Deer Park, TX took advantage of his no putt hole in one on the par 3 - 8th for the runner up finish with Dallas Tour player, Scott Harper of Ranger, TX rounding out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:   Wimberly, TX resident, John Hilgers capped off his Hill Country campaign with a bang, his fifth win on the season. Birdie on the par 5 - 2nd led to an eventual two stroke advantage over 2012 Senior Sarazen Flight National Champion, Bob Tuttle of Kingsland, TX.   Tuttle carded a birdie on the par 4 - 14th that would have been both a Flight Skin and Giant Skin had he participated, but finished in the runner up spot, two strokes ahead of a pair knotted in the third place finish.  Houston Tour member, Bruce Beakley and Iraan, TX member, Doug Collins both recorded birdies on the day to share the show place finish.

Sarazen Flight:   Ronnie Davis of Converse, TX finished out his season with two wins and four top five finishes at Majors on the 2014 points season adding to his total fourteen wins on tour.  Davis, with two birdies on the day, led a pair of players by two strokes tied up in the runner up finish. Devin Brown, of San Antonio, TX and soon to be relocated from the Washington DC area,  Rick Houchins both shared a couple of birdies on the day to shore up the second place honors.  

Senior Sarazen Flight:   Charles Sagray of San Antonio, TX, on a mission to get to the Senior National Championship had his sights set on a top finisher not already qualified, but far exceeded those goals.  Starting out on the par 4 - 11th, Sagray played his first five holes in minus two with birdies on the par 5 - 12th and par 5 - 15th to lead the field by four strokes.  Not only was it Sagray's third win on the season, but he was able to jump the points lead for the Player of the Year honors in the Senior Sarazen Flight.  Michael Brewer of Austin, TX a two time winner on the season is looking to other priorities, proclaiming his last event on tour shared the runner up finish with Live Oak, TX resident Richard Huyck.

Jones Flight:   Austin, TX first year player, Freddys Espinoza bettered his best finish on tour by a couple of strokes for his first win on Tour.  Espinoza, with a birdie on the par 5 - 6th hole led the field throughout the day and finished with a 6 stroke advantage over Houston Tour member, Blake Barnes of Deer Park, TX.  Barnes with a birdie of his own on the par 5 - 10th, his third hole of the day, finished one stroke clear of Corpus Christi, TX player Bill Speck.

Senior Jones Flight:   Out of the country, with limited internet access before the registration deadline, Chicago Tour member, Rich Stoker of Stockbridge, WI made the most of his effort for entry picking up his second win, on his first year on tour.  Stoker ended his day, four strokes ahead of a pair of players tied up in the second place finish.  Phil Lewis of San Antonio, TX, with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd and Houston Tour member,  Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX shared the runner up finish.

Snead Flight:  28 year old, Joshua Tankersley of San Antonio, TX took fifteen strokes off his previous best finish on his first year on tour to take home the Tour Championship win by five strokes.  Another San Antonio, TX resident,  Bobby Ashcraft coming off his third place National Championship qualification at the  Western Classic Major in Las Vegas ended up in the second place position with Larry Atchley of Kyle, TX a previous qualifier at the March Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay finishing in third.

Senior Snead Flight:  John Thomas of Victoria, TX has been in the top four his last two times out, but hasn't sniffed of a win.  On the last event of the points season, Thomas, shot his best round on tour to pick up his first win, three strokes clear of a pair knotted in the second place spot.  Gene Hanley from San Antonio, TX, with his best season on tour, split the runner up finish with Fischer, TX member Rickie Franklin.




2014 POINTS CHAMPIONS:


Mark Miller - 2014 Championship Flight Points Champion

Mike Harkins - 2014 Senior Championship Flight Points Champion

Dave Davlin - 2014 Palmer Flight Points Champion

Derrick Matthews - 2014 Hogan Flight Points Champion

John Hilgers - 2014 Senior Hogan Flight Points Champion

Ronnie Davis - 2014 Sarazen Flight Points Champion

Charles Sagray - 2014 Senior Sarazen Flight Points Champion

Charles Cox - 2014 Senior Jones Flight Points Champion

Mark Colwell - 2014 Snead Flight Points Champion

SKINS:

Giant SKINS:   1 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Rik Wall, Plano, TX; Morgan Splichal, San Antonio, TX; Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX; Steve Trickel, Boerne, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  3 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX. 1 -- Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX; Rik Wall, Plano, TX; Jeff Bankard, San Antonio, TX; Morgan Splichal, San Antonio, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:   2 -- Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX. 1 -- Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX; John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Doug Collins, Iraan, TX; Steve Trickel, Boerne, TX.

Sarazen:   1 -- Ronnie Davis, Converse, TX; Devin Brown, San Antonio, TX; Daniel Mcgrath, Austin, TX; Douglas Galloway, Austin, TX.

Senior Sarazen:   3 -- Charles Sagray, San Antonio, TX. 2 -- Richard Huyck, Live Oak, TX. 1 -- Alfredo Garcia, San Antonio, TX; Cliff Rhoden, Sunnyvale, Tx.

Jones / Senior Jones:   2 -- Freddys Espinoza, Austin, TX. 1 -- Joe Tyson, Austin, TX; Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX; Doyle Fleming, Haslet, TX.

Snead / Senior Snead:   2 -- Javier Quintero, Houston, TX. 1 -- Mark Colwell, Selma, TX; Stan Harper, Lake Leon, TX; Fred Priest, Orlando, Fl..





NEXT UP:

Tour players that are qualified and eligible take a much needed break to tighten up the swing and make all the travel arrangements for the 2014 National Championship, September 9th - 12th and the 2014 Senior National Championship September 15th-18th in Scottsdale, AZ.  Look for upcoming 2015 Points schedule to be released in the fall.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com