Lightning Strikes Again in Burnet

Scott R Chilcutt, Burnet, TX (March 18, 2018)  Delaware Springs, Golf Course, Northwest of Austin, along the edge of the Hill Country, once again hosted the Classic at the Springs.   Similar to the 2017 version, that location has a tendency to pop up storms coming across the Hill Country, with electricity.  This time around, we thought we had it beat, but low and behold, eight groups remained on the course, that needed to be evacuated for a short delay to the day.

Tight, tough conditions, with excellent green complexes, was another consistent challenge for the members looking to break into the winner's column.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $360, bringing the Texas Tour events total to $5,130 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Copperas Cove, TX, member Rusty Lippert, made it look easy.  With three birdies on his round, Lippert went -2, for his second win of the season and twentieth on tour.  Fourteen strokes back, first-year player Landon Leschber of Round Rock, TX,  with a birdie on the par 5 - 14th, grabbed the runner-up finish, four strokes clear of San Antonio, TX, resident Ron Finnerty.  Finnerty, with one of only a couple of birdies on the par 5 - 1st, added two more on his front nine at the par 4 - 3rd and par 5 - 6th.

Palmer Flight:  Recently relocated to just south of Burnet, in Marble Falls, Rodney Baumgartner, used some local knowledge and the help of three birdies on the round to pick up his second win of the season and third on tour.  First-year tour player from Killeen, TX, James Adams, picked up the runner-up finish, his best on tour, with Chuck Odom, of San Angelo, TX, rounding out the top three with four birdies on his day.

Hogan Flight:  Ryan Hill of San Antonio, TX, went -1 after his first three holes with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd, proving to be plenty to pick up his first win on tour.  Leander, TX, member Jim Puckett, with three birdies on his round, including the final hole, par 4 - 18th, grabbed the runner-up finish, with Leven Miller of Cibolo, TX, rounding out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Caught up in the lightning delay, the final group of the flight, had to wait to putt out on the last hole, with the pair of San Antonio, TX, residents Paul Juarez and Bob Starkman, joining already finished Bob Tuttle of Kingsland, TX, in a playoff.   Back to the par 5 - 1st, where only two birdies had been carded on the day, the trio all looked at birdie putts.  Tuttle would lip out his 18' attempt to be the first out, with the other two taking it another hole.  Starkman, would prevail in the playoff, for his eighth win on tour and first the 2016 season in Hawaii.

Sarazen Flight:  Killeen, TX, player Brian Cox, carded a sub-eighty round going +3 on the back nine to pick up his eighth win on tour and first since February 2016 at Comanche Trace.  Melissa Wood, of Leander, TX, with one of those few birdies on the par 5 - 1st, finished in the runner-up spot, with Chris Bryant of Cedar Park, TX, taking home the showplace finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Taking a break from the tour, since the 2017 Senior National Championship, Steve Hamilton of Leander, TX, came back with a new found game.  Hamilton struggled out of the gate but finished the back nine in +4 to pick up his eighth win on tour by two strokes.  Round Rock, TX, member Mike Brewer and Giddings, TX, player Michael Hirsch shared the runner-up finish.

Jones Flight:  Llano, TX, player Charles Watson, overcame a five-stroke deficit making the turn, with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 14th to force extra holes, with local tour player Michael Page of nearby Burnet, TX.  Page, with two birdies on the front nine, let Watson in with a double on the par 4 - 18th.  Back to the course, Watson would pick up his first win of the season and sixth on tour.  One stroke back of the pair, Terry Spencer of Georgetown, TX, would triple his final hole to stay out of the playoff, finishing third.

Snead Flight:  Annette Crossan, of Abilene, TX, picked up her first golf club, 2 1/2 years ago.  After following her husband around to events decided she needed to start competing in events.  Fast forward, nine events, Crossan took 43 strokes off her January finish in Florida to pick up her first win on tour.  Annette, with a birdie on the par 4 - 2nd hole, cleared, Copperas Cove, TX, player Dan O'Shea by four strokes.  O'Shea, with a birdie on the par 4 - 4th, stayed out in front of third-place finisher, Dwain Smith of Georgetown, TX, by two strokes.
  






SKINS:

Skins GIANT:  ($74/each)  1 -- Rodney Baumgartner, Horseshoe Bay, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Annette Crossan, Abilene, TX; Steve Wade, Boerne, TX; Randy Dorsey, Killeen, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($40/each)  1 -- Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX; Jon Huinker, Bloomington, MN; Chuck Odom, San Angelo, TX; Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX.

Hogan:  ($24/each)  2 -- Randy Dorsey, Killeen, TX; Jim Puckett, Leander, TX. 1 -- Leven Miller, Cibolo, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($45/each)  1 -- Kyle Lewie, Waco, TX; Jerry Smith, Georgetown, TX; Bob Tuttle, Kingsland, TX; Bob Starkman, San Antonio, TX.

Sarazen:  ($55/each)  1 -- Scott Fisher, Floresville, TX; Judy Harris, Abilene, TX; Tommy Mobley, San Marcos, TX; Melissa Wood, Leander, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($28/each)  2 -- Joe Abreo, Bulverde, TX; Joe Manders, Whitney, TX. 1 -- Michael Hirsch, Giddings, TX.

Jones / Snead:  ($70/each)  1 -- Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX; Dan O'Shea, Copperas Cove, TX; Charles Watson, Llano, TX; Michael Page, Burnet, TX.




CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$105/each:  #5 - Annette Crossan - 12' 7";  #7 - Bob Starkman - 7' 8 1/2";  
#13 - Gary Grizzle - 4' 8";  #16 - Steve Wade - 12' 2".




NEXT UP:

Hill Country Tour -  Sunday, April 8th, the Tour goes back to River Crossing Golf Club for the Spring Branch Classic.  Entries close on Friday, March 30th, 2018 at 11:59 PM CST.

Dallas Tour -  Sold out and closed for entries, we venture back to a special event at The Dye Classic @ Stonebridge Ranch on Monday, March 26th.   

April events start along I-35W in Burleson for the Battle Of Burleson, at Hidden Creek Golf Club on April 7th.  Registrations close on Friday, March 30th at 11:59 PM CST.   

Houston Tour -  Back to Cypress Lakes on March 24th for the Cypress Open, the event is closed and sold out.  

The schedule includes a special, two events in three days, beginning in Galveston on Saturday, April, 14th at Moody Gardens for the Galveston Island Championship.  This tournament is a consistent sell-out so don't wait for the deadline on Friday, April 6th.   The tour then moves a few miles north for the first visit to Sugar Creek Country Club, for the Sugar Land Championship, on Monday, April 16th.  The event registration also closes on Friday, April 6th.



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

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 22nd.  Spots available.

Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay - June 23-24th. SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

Hill Country Classic at La Cantera - July 7th and 8th.  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

Prelude to San Antonio Open - Silverhorn Golf Club of Texas

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (March 2, 2018)  The Prelude - San Antonio Open, kicked off a three day weekend for many of the fortunate ones able to play all three days.  While some traveling to the area opted to play practice rounds on Friday, a full host of players made the trip to Silverhorn Golf Club of Texas for the warm-up.

Beautiful morning clouds and sunrise greeted players from around the country for the Hill Country, local event, with a special morning for Livingston, TX, first-year member, Roland Coyle, Jr, and his first Hole-In-One on the par 3 - 13th with an 8 iron from 136 yards. 

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $530, bringing the Texas Tour events total to $3,090 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Thirty-time Golf Channel AM Tour winner, Mark Miller of Spring Branch, TX, looked to make it thrityone but ran into a roadblock with first-year player Ricky Agosto of nearby San Antonio, TX.  The pair equaled front nine and back nine scores with a host of birdies to force a sudden-death playoff, with Agosto, coming out on top for his first win on tour.  Rio Rancho, NM, resident Mike Taylor and Thomas Cruickshank of Richmond, TX, finished three strokes back, tied for third.

Palmer Flight:  Crystal River, FL, player Wendall Sheffield, a Texan for work, picked up his seventh win on tour and first since July 2017 in Oklahoma.  One stroke with three birdies on his round, Michael Foster of Catoosa, OK, finished in the runner-up spot, five strokes clear of a pair of players in third.  Matt Lovell, of San Antonio, TX, and Colorado Springs, CO, traveler Dave Mittan, shared the third place honors.

Hogan Flight:  Frequent Windy City traveler to Texas in the Spring, John Mauck of Chicago, IL, commanded the Championship by three strokes.  Mauck, down two strokes making the turn, built a steady lead that proved to be enough, to overcome a rough stretch on the par 3 - 16th and par 4 - 17th.   Kevin Fontenot, out of the weekend festivities, carded his second runner-up in as many attempts, with new San Antonio, TX, resident Les Costales, rounding out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Starting the day on the par 4 - 10th, Dale Fuhr of Missouri City, TX, looked to be out of the mix making the turn, five strokes out of the lead, but turned it on coming to the clubhouse.  Carding a +1 - 36 on his final nine holes, Fuhr, picked up his first win in two seasons on tour, six strokes clear of a trio knotted up in second.  Palmer, MA, traveler, Robert Simpkiss,  Steve Wade of Boerne, TX, and Southlake, TX, member Scott Striegel, all with birdies on the day, shared the runner-up finish.

Sarazen Flight:  Live Oak, TX, first-year player Michael Betzale, with birdie on the par 4 - 4th, picked up his first win on tour.  Four strokes back, Abilene, TX, traveler, Judy Harris, secured the runner-up finish, with C.D. Dunem of San Antonio, TX, rounding out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Prolific Golf Channel AM Tour winner, Mike Lee of Lakewood, WA, made it a first in Texas.  Lee, an astounding twenty-eight-time winner on tour, with five of the points season, has won all over the country, but got his first win in Texas, with the help of three birdies on the day.  Another big-time AM Tour winner, Bill Braun of Red Bud, IL, with two birdies on his round, finished in the runner-up spot, with Arlington Heights, IL, John Carrato and Houston, TX, player Robert Hayter sharing the show-place honors.

Jones Flight:  Abilene, TX, traveler Kevin Crosson, picked up his second win on tour and first since his promotion to the Jones Flight.  Crosson, starting the day on the par 5 - 10th with a par, took a scant one-stroke lead to the back nine, where he finished one stroke ahead of Andrea Neill of Littleton, CO.  For Neill it was her sixth runner-up finish to go with three wins on tour.  Llano, TX, member Charles Watson the 2017 Hill Country Tour player of the year, finished in the final podium spot.

Senior Jones Flight:   With birdie on the par 5 - 6th hole, Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX, became a fourteen-time winner on tour, picking up her Senior National Championship qualifying third win on the points season.  One stroke back, San Antonio, TX, member Phil Lewis, with a birdie on his round and Mark Boles of Sealy, TX, shared the runner-up finish.

Snead Flight:  Jennifer Grothaus of Abilene, TX, grabbed her first win on tour, with the help of two birdies on the round.  Grothaus, starting the day on the par 5 - 10th made birdie on her first hole of the day but then turned to the back nine five strokes back.  Coming to the clubhouse, Jennifer played in +3 for the five-stroke victory.  Des Peres, IL member Russel Hollenback and Bill Russell of San Antonio, TX, shared the runner-up finish.



SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($155/each)  1 -- Adam Kuzinski, Castle Rock, CO; Tim Kozlowski, Conroe, TX; Brack Blackwood, San Marcos, TX; Robert Hayter, Houston, TX.

Championship:  ($50/each)  1 -- Ricky Agosto, San Antonio, TX; Kory Calhoun, Montgomery, TX; Adam Kuzinski, Castle Rock, CO; Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX.

Palmer:  ($22/each)  4 -- Michael Foster, Catoosa, OK. 1 -- Bruce Ahlquist, Castle Rock, CO; Wendall Sheffield, Crystal River, FL; Dave Mittan, Colorado Springs, CO; Brannon Smith, Midland, TX.

Hogan Media:  ($60/each)  2 -- Brack Blackwood, San Marcos, TX. 1 -- Jack Minze, Abilene, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($45/each)  1 -- Steve Wade, Boerne, TX; Stan Wilson, Jones, OK; Tim Kozlowski, Conroe, TX; Bill Wirtz, Maryland Heights, MO.

Sarazen:  ($100/each)  1 -- Michael Betzale, Live Oak, TX; Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($42/each)  2 -- John Carrato, Arlington Heights, IL; Mike Lee, Lakewood, WA; Robert Hayter, Houston, TX. 1 -- Ronald Polillo, O'Fallon, IL; Tom Stockton, Grand Prairie, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($40/each)  3 -- Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- John Stahlschmidt, San Antonio TX; Paul Cink, Sioux Falls, SD; Mark Boles, Sealy, TX.


Snead:  ($30/each)  2 -- Jason Jenniges, Weatherford, TX; Jennifer Grothaus, Abilene, TX. 1 -- Charles Burger, Mentor, OH; Jeff Olichwier, Chicago, IL.



CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$155/each:  #5 - Dale Fuhr - 3' 0 3/4";  #7 - Tommy Mobley - 6' 6";  #13 - Brack Blackwood - 5' 6 1/4";  #16 - Scott Striegel - 6' 11".



NEXT UP:

Dallas Tour - March 10th Frisco Lakes Challenge is SOLD OUT and closed.    

March 17th event at Winstar, the St. Paddy's Day Championship, is available for registration and is a TEXAS TOUR EVENT, and points available for year-end awards.  Entries close on Friday, March 9th.

Hill Country Tour -  March 18th, the tour goes back to Delaware Springs Golf Course for the Classic at the Springs, in Burnett, TX.  March 9th is the registration deadline.

Houston Tour -  March 11th, the tour travels back to Cinco Ranch for the Katy Classic, that event is closed for registration.  

Back to Cypress Lakes on March 24th for the Cypress Open, with registration closing on Friday, March 16th at 11:59 PM CST.  

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

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 22nd.  Spots available.

Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay - June 23-24th. Spots available.

Texas Classic at Barton Creek - July 28th - 29th.  Spots available for entry.

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 Players Get Down in The Quarry

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (February 18, 2018)   The Hill Country Winter Championship found it's way to The Quarry Golf Club.  The club, nearest to downtown San Antonio, features a unique setting, with the back nine built in a 100-year-old quarry pit. Drizzle, filled the morning, with fog like conditions that hampered laser depth finders, but the course, played in little winds with good quick greens.

The eight Champions finished the day with a collective 80 Golf Channel AM Tour wins, with Mark Miller of Spring Branch picking up his 30th on tour.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $460, bringing the Texas Tour events total to $2,160 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  After making the turn, one stroke back, Spring Branch, TX, resident, Mark Miller, went +1 on the back with the help of two birdies to pick up the Championship by two strokes.  For Miller, it was an unprecedented, thirtieth win on tour and first of the season.  Kentucky traveler, Josh Coffman from Mount Sterling, KY, made the most of two birdies on the back nine for the runner-up finish, with Copperas Cove, TX, player Rusty Lippert rounding out the top three, with a birdie on the par 5 - 18th.

Palmer Flight:  San Antonio, TX, player Rene Realme, went -2 with the help of two birdies on the front nine, which proved to be plenty for the win.  Realme, a winner in three different flights, has won fourteen events on tour and was his first of the season.   First-time tour player John Huinke, traveling from Bloomington, MN, finished four strokes out of the win, and two strokes clear of third place Round Rock, TX, finisher, Jason Reicks.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Tied making the turn, Mike Harkins of Cedar Park, TX, did plenty coming to the clubhouse, to win by four strokes.  Harkins, with two birdies on his round, picked up his third win of the season and tenth on tour.  Corpus Christi, TX, first-year player, Kevin Grillo, took the lead after the par 4 - 10th but gave it away with a disastrous, #11.  Grill, with three birdies on the day, shared the runner-up finish with Chuck Odom or San Angelo, TX.

Hogan Flight:  Starting the round on the par 4 - 10th, Orange, TX, member, Matt Purgahn, made the turn tied with Kevin Fontenot, of Corpus Christi, TX.  Switching leads back and forth, coming to the clubhouse, Purgahn would birdie his 17th hole of the day the par 3 - 8th, which proved to be just enough for this ninth win on tour and first of the season.  Fontenot, playing in his second event on tour, carded three birdies on the round and finished just one stroke clear of Helotes, TX, player Scott Thompson, rounding out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Playing in his first season on tour, Houston, TX, member Robert Sullivan, made two birdies on the round and was just enough to stay ahead of Servando Perez of Cedar Park, TX, with a birdie on the par 5 - 18th.  Perez cleared a pair of third-place finishers, but two strokes, with Paul Wuerdeman of San Antonio, TX, and Boerne, TX, player Steve Wade, sharing those honors.

Sarazen Flight:  Kyle, TX, player Larry Atchely, became a six-time winner on tour with his first this season.  Atchley, starting on the par 4 - 10th finished his final nine in +3, even par over his last five holes to clear second place finisher, Michael Betzale, of Live Oak, TX, by three strokes.  Betzale, with a birdie on the par 4 - 1st, edged out Killeen, TX, player Brian Cox, with a birdie of his own on the day, by a stroke.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Starting his second season on tour, John Maywald of Boerne, TX, picked up his first Championship.  Tied making the turn, Maywald grabbed three strokes coming to the clubhouse to second place Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, finisher Ben Maytubby.   Clive, IA, traveler, wintering in South Texas, rounded out the top three, one stroke back of Maytubby.

Jones Flight:  San Antonio, TX, resident Phil Lewis, birdied the par 5 - 5th to grab his fourth win on tour and first since the 2016 Memorial Weekend Championship. One stroke back, Michael Page from Burnett, TX, took the lead after the par 3 - 16th only to give it back to Lewis on the next hole.  Rounding out the top three, traveling, Alabama member Michael Grant, of Huntsville, AL, finished one stroke back of Grant.

Snead Flight:  Ramon Colen of San Antonio, TX, carded a birdie on the par 4 - 6th hole for his sixth win on tour and first since a Houston event in 2013 at The Wilderness.  Colen outlasted, second-time player, Pete Acosta of Alamo, TX, with a birdie of his own, by two strokes. San Antonio, TX, player Barron Gates, rounded out the top three, for his best finish on tour.





SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($142/each)  1 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX; Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX; Steve Pond, Tulia, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($90/each)  1 -- Josh Coffman, Mount Sterling, KY; Brian Holley, Mount Sterling; Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($30/each)  2 -- Gary Grizzle, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Kevin Grillo, Corpus Christi, TX; Jerry Henry, Corpus Christi, TX; Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX; Larry Anderson, Horseshoe Bay, TX.

Hogan:  ($26/each)  2 -- Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Kevin Fontenot, Corpus Christi, TX; Steve Pond, Tulia, Texas. 1 -- John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Joshua Rocha, San Antonio, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($15/each)  4 -- Paul Wuerdeman, San Antonio, TX. 2 -- Robert Sullivan, Houston, TX; Servando Perez, Cedar Park, TX; Steve Wade, Boerne, TX. 1 -- Larry Susen, Austin, TX; Bob Tuttle, Kingsland, TX.

Sarazen:  ($46/each)  3 -- Michael Betzale, Live Oak, TX. 1 -- Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX; Damian Shipley, Corpus Christi, TX; Jay Mills, Driftwood, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($22/each)  3 -- Mackie Crossan, Abilene, TX; John Maywald, Boerne, TX. 2 -- Ben Maytubby, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX. 1 -- Michael Hirsch, Giddings, TX.


Jones / Snead:  ($44/each)  1 -- Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX; Steve Snyder, South Bend, IN; Annette Crossan, Abilene, TX; Dickie Clement, Runaway Bay, TX; Phil Lewis, San Antonio, TX.


CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$150/each:  #3 - Steve Synder - 8' 10";  #8 -  Jay Mills - 2' 9";  #12 - Mike Harkins - 2";  #16 - Chuck Odom - 9'.



NEXT UP:

Dallas Tour -  Classic at the Indian Creek Golf Club, on Sunday, February 25th, SOLD OUT.   March 10th Frisco Lakes Challenge is SOLD OUT, waiting list spots are available.   

March 17th event at Winstar, the St. Paddy's Day Championship, is available for registration and is a TEXAS TOUR EVENT, and points available for year-end awards.

Hill Country Tour -  Only waiting list spots remain for the Prelude - San Antonio Open on Friday, March 2nd, with a registration deadline of Friday, February 23rd at 11:59 PM CST.

Houston Tour -  Southwyck Golf Club for the Pearland Classic on Saturday, February 24th, registration closed.  March 11th, the tour travels back to Cinco Ranch for the Katy Classic, entries close on Friday, March 2nd.


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

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 22nd.  Spots available.

Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay - June 23-24th. 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

Calm for the 2018 Texas Tour Opener - Northshore Country Club

Scott R Chilcutt, Portland, TX (January 20, 2018)  The Texas Tours, opened 2018 calendar competition at Northshore Country Club for the Coastal Bend Championship.  The date Previously reserved for Palmilla Beach Resort and Club in Port Aransas, the first event of the year had to be relocated just 20 miles Northwest, as the lingering effects of Hurricane Harvey still have that course closed.

Northshore, while spared the effects of flooding, is still diligently working on infrastructure repair from the winds.  The course, known for its difficult southerly winds, with four holes along the bay, played very calm tee to green, with gentle breezes.  The lack of wind also contributed to some overnight lingering fog that burned off with little delay.  Greens, quick and true, seemed to be a big part of the headaches for the players, especially to those that didn't get a plan on where to fit the approach shots, since Friday practice rounds, were a wet cold mess.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $540 starting the new year. Texas Tour events donated more than $21,000 to the Foundation in 2017.



RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  First-time tour player, Mike Mims of Dallas, TX, played his first eight holes in +7 and wasn't feeling very good about his chances until he made the turn.  Out of the lead, by three strokes, after nine holes, Mims, carded four birdies on the back nine, finishing -3 coming to the clubhouse to pick up the win by three strokes.  Plano, TX, member Randall Grimes, bettered his front nine scores by seven strokes to finish in the runner-up spot, with Landon Leschber of Round Rock, TX, and Santee, CA traveler Anthony Encinias, sharing the third place honors.

Palmer Flight:  Bryan, TX, native, John Harvell, now residing in Honolulu, HI, held on from four strokes back making the turn to pick up the Championship. For Harvell, with three birdies on the round, it was his fifth victory on tour, and first since November 2014.  One stroke back, a gaggle of players shared the runner-up finish, with nearby Portland, TX, player Kevin Burkett, Jason Reicks of Round Rock, TX, Rowlett, TX traveler Gregory Haddon, local Bob Smith of Corpus Christi, TX and San Antonio, TX, player Rene Realme knotted in a tie for second.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Cedar Park, TX, resident Mike Harkins played the par four's in -1, with two birdies on his day to pick up his ninth win on tour and second of the points season.  Wendall Sheffield, of Cyrstal River, FL, spending a lot of time in Texas for work, finished two strokes back, keeping him in the contest on the par five's, even on the card.  One stroke back of the second place spot, Chris Phillips of Richmond, TX, and Portland, TX, local Scott Harrelson, rounded out the top three.

Hogan Flight:   Houston Tour player, Ricky Cruz and Corpus Christi, TX, local Kevin Fontenot, matched front nine / back nine scores, both playing in their first events, to force extra hole sudden death playoff.   Back to the par 5 - 1st, the pair would only take one hole to settle the score with a par out of Fontenot, grabbing his first Championship on tour.  One stroke back, John Heintz of San Antonio, TX, made the turn with a two-stroke lead, and a birdie on the par 4 - 8th and local Corpus Christi, TX, player, the only one in the field disappointed with the lack of wind, finished tied in third place.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Jeff Green of Coldspring, TX, was back four strokes making the turn, started the back with a couple of hiccups, but finished strong to pick up his third win on tour and second in as many attempts, winning his last time out at the South Texas Winter Championship in December.  One stroke back, Servando Perez, of Cedar Park, TX, with two birdies on his round, notched the runner-up spot with San Angelo, TX member Danny Simmons taking home the third place honors.

Sarazen Flight:  Playing in his second event on Tour, San Marcos, TX, player Tommy Mobley, starting the day on the par 5 - 10th, was just one stroke back making the turn and grabbed the lead back on his last nine holes for his first win on tour.  Lewisville, TX, traveler Caleb Brown finished in the runner-up spot after a struggle on his final nine holes, with Bobby Ashcraft of San Antonio, TX, making the best of a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd to finish in third.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Tied up making the turn, after starting on the par 5 - 10th at +3, the pair of Gary Gum of Spring, TX, and Giddings, TX, player Michael Hirsch went different, but similar directions.  After a back nine neither would like to remember, Hirsch, picked up his second win in as many attempts, with Gum, six strokes back. Richmond, TX, player Greg Faubion, with similar back nine woes, rounded out the top three.

Jones Flight:   John Franklin, of San Antonio, TX, picked up his second win on tour, with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd to record a career-low round.  Hill Country Tour Player of the year in 2017, Charles Watson of Llano, TX, carded an money making eagle on the par 5 - 6th to finish in second with local Corpus Christi, TX, player Bill Speck taking the third place honors.

Snead Flight:  Alamo, TX first-time player Pete Acosta, came from one stroke back making the turn to edge out Charles Mielak, of Mico, TX, for the win.  Two strokes back of Mielak, Copperas Cove, TX, member Dan O'Shea rounded out the top three.









SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($100/each)  1 -- Randall Grimes, Plano, TX; Mike Mims, Dallas, TX; Charles Watson, Llano, TX; Jerry Henry, Corpus Christi; Randy Dorsey, Killeen, TX; Shawn Whitaker, Lewisville, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($28/each)  3 -- Mike Mims, Dallas, TX. 2 -- Bob Smith, Corpus Christi, TX. 1 -- Randall Grimes, Plano, TX; Anthony Encinias, Santee, CA; Jason Reicks, Round Rock, TX; John Harvell, Honolulu, HI.

Senior Palmer:  ($22/each)  3 -- Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX. 1 -- David Skurow, Portland, TX; Jerry Henry, Corpus Christi; Wendall Sheffield, Crystal River, FL; Eric McDonald, Lubbock, TX; Scott Harrelson, Portland, TX.

Hogan:  ($26/each)  1 -- Tim Edwards, Amarillo, TX; John Schott, Cibolo, Texas; James Price, Portland, TX; Randy Dorsey, Killeen, TX; Shawn Whitaker, Lewisville, TX; Kevin Fontenot, Corpus Christi, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($31/each)  2 -- Servando Perez, Cedar Park, TX; Timothy VanLandingham, Portland, TX. 1 -- John Kaminski, Corpus Christi, TX; Marty Rauchwerger, Bonham, TX; Larry Susen, Austin, TX.

Sarazen:  ($25/each)  3 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX; Chris Bryant, Cedar Park, TX; Caleb Brown, Lewisville, TX; Brian Johnson, Southfield, MI.

Senior Sarazen:  ($46/each)  1 -- Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Gary Gum, Spring, TX; Michael Hirsch, Giddings, TX.

Jones / Snead:  ($56/each)  2 -- Gene Macha, Hungerford, TX. 1 -- Pete Acosta, Alamo, Texas; Dan O'Shea, Copperas Cove, TX; Bill Speck, Corpus Christi, TX; Charles Watson, Llano, TX.


CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$150/each:

#2 - Kevin Grillo - 6'6";  #7 - Gary Gum - 3'6";  #11 - Keith Huddleston - 10'1";  #13 - Jeff Green - 12' 8"


NEXT UP:

Houston Tour - Friday, February 9th, Walden on Lake Houston, will host the Prelude to the Houston Open.  Registration closes Friday, February, 2nd, and is a limited field event.

Dallas Tour -  We open in North Texas on Saturday, February 17th, at IronHorse Golf Club in North Richland Hills, TX.  Unlike previous year openers, the field will be limited to the first 90 players, get in before it sells out.

Hill Country Tour -  The Quarry Golf Club in San Antonio, will be the site of the Hill Country Winer Championship on Sunday, February, 18th, entry deadline, Friday, February 9th.


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

Golf Club of Houston Open - February 10th / 11th - Sold Out with only occasional openings on the waiting list.

San Antonio Open at Sonterra - March 3rd and 4th.

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 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