Brutal on the Bay - Northshore Country Club

Scott R Chilcutt, Portland, TX (January 19, 2019)  Situated on the North Shore of Corpus Christi Bay, Northshore Country Club hosted the Coastal Bend Championship for the second year.  The course design, with the bay and Gulf, all set up for a south wind, but unlike the 2018 south breezes and mean northerly blew in.  While sunny skies and moderate low to mid 60 temps, help keep it bearable, the 35mph sustained winds, gusting to 40+ played havoc on the fields games.

It only takes a quick look at the leaderboard to see the effect.  Many players, with the new 2019 USGA rules, took advantage of the flagstick for downhill and downwind putts, they didn't draw anything up for the balls spinning on the tee like a top.  Out of seven flights, only two broke the 90 barriers and most Champions did so with personal record highs.


RESULTS:

Palmer Flight:  On a hiatus from the tour since the 2017 Senior National Championship, Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX, made the first event back count, in a big way.  Starting out the day with a par, it would take Davlin, nine more holes before finding another, adding three more in a row on the back to finish, one stroke ahead of Bryan, TX, member John Harvell for the Championship.  Harvell, the 2018 Coastal Bend Champion, with a birdie on his card, one of only two in the flight, on the par 3 - 13th, stayed three strokes clear of Mike Karlin, of Houston, TX, rounding out the top three.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Playing in his second event on tour, Rob Ormand of Austin, TX, backed up his first time out with a win on his home course at the November, Prelude Austin Open - Onion Creek, with another Championship.  Ormand, one of only two players on the day to break a 90, held on for a four-stroke advantage over Round Rock, TX, member Maurice Mintkin.  Mintken, back to the Hill Country after spending several years in Las Vegas, birdied the tough downwind, par 3 - 2nd, to stay three strokes clear of third-place local club member, Kevin Grillo of Corpus Christi, TX. 

Hogan Flight:  Friendswood, TX, member Jeff Burke, with a birdie right out of the clubhouse on the par 5 - 1st, would make the turn with a four strokes advantage.  First-time player, Francisco Reyes of Laredo, TX, would make up the difference with the help of two birdies along the bay, to force extra holes.  Back to the downwind par 5 - 1st, it would be Burke, with good memories of the first time around, that would take the Championship, with a par. Rey Stroube, another first time player from Houston, TX, made birdie, the only one of the day, on the par 5 - 18th to finish just one stroke out of the playoff.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Evidently competent in the north wind, local Northshore Country Club member, Scott Harrelson of Portland, TX, picked up his second win on tour, in as many attempts.  The North Texas Winter Championship, over a cold northerly windswept, Squaw Valley, in Glen Rose, TX in November, was his first win on tour.  Harrelson, with a birdie on the par 5 - 10th, stayed two strokes clear of the 2019 Doral Amateur Major Championship, champion, Jim Penn of Houston, TX. Penn, who swept the local event and major, in early January in Miami, FL, birdied the par 4 - 5th, to stay wedged between another club member, Timothy VanLandingham of Portland, TX, rounding out the top three.

Sarazen Flight:  Known in the past for being hard on himself, Chris Cobb of Austin, TX, overcame a rough start.  With a ten on his starting hole, the par 5 - 10th, Cobb would follow with three pars on the back nine, and finish with a birdie on the par 3 - 7th to pick up his sixth win on tour and first since the 2015 season.  One stroke back, San Antonio, TX, member Bobby Ashcraft,  would finish second, with Detroit Tour traveler, Dayne Hoffman of Grand Rapids, MI, rounding out the top three.  The only two eagles of the day were made by Damian Shipley and Trevor Colen, both on the par 5 - 1st, canceling out the Giant and Flight Skins.

Jones Flight:  New Braunfels, TX, member, David Garcia, picked up his second win on tour, both coming this points season.  Garcia, a winner in Fort Worth, was the only other player of two on the day to break a 90 on the round, with six birdies.  Baltimore Tour traveler, Chris Fountain of Annapolis, MD, with birdies on the par 5 - 6th and par 4 - 12th, finished in the runner-up spot, with Paul Tyus of Schertz, TX, taking the final podium finish.

Snead Flight:  Jack Iglesias of Killeen, TX, picked up his third win on tour, with the help of a birdie on the par 3 - 7th.  Now a two-time winner on the points season, Iglesias, finished five strokes clear of Mark Colwell of Selma, TX.  Rounding out the top three, Seguin, TX, player Michael Allen, carded a birdie on the par 3 - 13th.

SKINS:

GIANT SKINS:  ($85/each)   Francisco Reyes Jr -2- Birdie on 12, Birdie on 16.  Rey Stroube -1- Birdie on 18.  Scott Harrelson -1- Birdie on 10.  Maurice Mintken -1- Birdie on 2.  Jim Penn -1- Birdie on 5.

Palmer/Senior Palmer Skins:  ($40/each)  Maurice Mintken -2- Birdie on 2, Par on 9.  Kevin Burkett -1- Par on 15.  John Harvell -1- Birdie on 13.  John Knight -1- Birdie on 1.  Mike Harkins -1- Birdie on 6.  Eric McDonald -1- Par on 8.

Hogan/Senior Hogan Skins:  ($37/each)  Francisco Reyes Jr -2- Birdie on 12, Birdie on 16.  Scott Harrelson -2- Par on 4, Birdie on 10.  Jim Penn -2- Birdie on 5, Par on 14.  Rey Stroube -1- Birdie on 18.  Servando Perez -1- Par on 3.  Randy Dorsey -1- Par on 9.  

Sarazen:  ($22/each)   Chris Cobb -3- Par on 12, Par on 16, Birdie on 7.  Bobby Ashcraft -3- Par on 13, Par on 15, Par on 18.  Trevor Colen -1- Par on 2.  Damian Shipley -1- Birdie on 6.


Jones/Snead:  ($37/each)  Jack Iglesias -3- Par on 18, Par on 4, Birdie on 7.  David Garcia -2- Par on 12, Par on 17.  Michael Allen -1- Birdie on 13.  Charles Mielak -1- Par on 15.  Terry Collins -1- Par on 3.  



CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$120/each - #2 - Jason Jenniges - 19'4".  #7 - Jack Iglesias - 2'2.5".  #11 - Timothy Van Landingham - 7'9".  #13 - John Harvell - 4'6".

NEXT UP:

9-Feb	Kerrville Winter Championship
Hill Country	Comanche Trace Golf Club	Kerrville, TX
10-Feb	Katy Classic
Houston	Cinco Ranch Golf Club	Katy, TX
16-Feb	North Richland Hills Open
DFW	Iron Horse Golf Club	North Richland Hills, TX
17-Feb	San Antonio Winter Championship
Hill Country	The Quarry Golf Club	San Antonio, TX

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

Canyon Springs On The Hill Country Tour

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (November 17, 2018)  Named by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine as "America's Best New Public Golf Course" when it debuted in 1998, Canyon Springs Golf Club hosted the Fall Open on the Hill Country Tour.

Chilly early morning temperatures gave way to a beautiful day, and without precipitation from the sky, started a new tradition at Cayon Springs for the Golf Channel AM Tour, no rain, one we hope to repeat in the future.


RESULTS:

Palmer Flight:  Billy Smith of Fair Oaks Ranch, TX, went -1 through the first six holes to make the turn with a slim one-stroke advantage over San Antonio, TX, member Ron Finnerty.  Hitting the par 5 - 10th, Smith, would add another birdie but that's where the lead would evaporate when Finnerty played the first four in even par, gave back a coupld in the mid rounds, but ended with a par on the final hole of the day to pick up the Championship.  Smith, finished one stroke back, with John Franklin of San Antonio, TX, rounding out the top three, two strokes out of the lead.

Hogan Flight:  San Antonio, TX, member Fernando Davila, carded four birdies on his round to pick up the win with two strokes to spare.  Traveling Houston Tour member, Nestor Alvarez, playing alongside Davila, recorded three birdies of his own, to finish in the runner-up spot, with Randy Dorsey, of Killeen, TX, taking home the final podium finish.

Sarazen Flight:  Starting the day on the par 4 - 4th, Andre Fitzpatrick of Weatherford, TX, played his first eight holes, in even par, with the help of an eagle on the par 5 - 2nd, then followed up with a birdie on the par 3 - 3rd, before hitting a wall.  That wall, allowed, CD Dunem of San Antonio, TX, creep up to a tie, forcing extra holes.  Back to the par 4 - 18th for the sudden death, it would take two attempts on the hole, for Dunem to make a par and pick up the Championship.  For CD, it was his third win on tour, but first in his Hill Country home Tour, and first since March of 2014 in Dallas.  First-time player, Trevor Colen of San Antonio, TX, rounded out the top three, two strokes back of the pair in the lead.  

Jones Flight:  Charles Watson of Llano, TX, stayed on his winning course, with a three-stroke advantage, making the most of a birdie on the par 5 - 2nd.  Fort Worth, TX, traveler, Keith Huddleston, with a birdie of his own on the par 4 - 1st, grabbed the runner-up finish with Paul Tyus of Schertz, TX taking home third.

Snead Flight:  San Antonio, TX, player Jim Price, with a birdie on the par 3 - 13th, edged out Dan O'Shea of Copperas Cove, TX, by a stroke for the victory.  O'Shea with seven par's on the day, finished three strokes clear of Georgetown, TX, member Lee Hicks.  The long-hitting Hicks birdied the par 5 - 2nd and followed up at the par 3 - 3rd.






SKINS:

GIANT SKINS:  ($75/each)   Grizzle, Gary, San Antonio, TX 1 Birdie on 12.  Simmons, Marty, Flower Mound, TX 1 Birdie on 15.  Fitzpatrick, Andre, Weatherford, TX 1 Eagle on 2.  Smith, Billy, Fair Oaks, TX 1 Birdie on 5.  Finnerty, Ron, San Antonio, TX 1 Birdie on 8.

Palmer:  ($25/each)  Davlin, Dave, San Antonio, TX 2 Birdie on 6, Par on 17.  Grizzle, Gary, San Antonio, TX 1 Birdie on 12.  Arnold, Todd, Carrollton, TX 1 Birdie on 3.  Smith, Billy, Fair Oaks, TX 1 Birdie on 5.  Boerner, Kirk, Fort Worth, TX 1 Par on 7.  Finnerty, Ron, San Antonio, TX 1 Birdie on 8.

Hogan:  ($37/each)  Whitley, Will, Cypress, TX 2 Birdie on 10, Par on 12.  Alvarez, Nestor, Houston, TX 2 Birdie on 2, Birdie on 13.  Costales, Les, San Antonio, TX 2 Par on 5, Birdie on 6.  Tatum, Jason, Branson, MO 1 Par on 7.

Sarazen:  ($30/each)  Fitzpatrick, Andre, Weatherford, TX 2 Eagle on 2, Birdie on 3.  Morales Jacquez, Angel, San Antonio, TX 2 Par on 4, Birdie on 5.  Colen, Trevor, San Antonio, TX 1 Birdie on 1.  Dunem, C.D., San Antonio, TX 1 Birdie on 13.  Betzale, Michael, Live Oak, TX 1 Par on 18.

Jones/Snead:  ($50/each)  Iglesias, Jack, Northern Mariana Islands 2 Par on 5, Par on 16.  Price, Jim, San Antonio, TX 1 Birdie on 13.  Garcia, David, New Braunfels, TX 1 Par on 12.  Huddleston, Keith, Fort Worth, TX 1 Birdie on 1.  Simmons, Marty, Flower Mound, TX 1 Birdie on 15.



CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$100/each - #3 Jack Iglesias - 1' 5".  #7 Chris Cobb - 32' 2".  #13 - Jason Tatum - 6' 3".  #17 Andre Fitzpatrick - 15' 11". 




NEXT UP:


TEXAS TOURS SCHEDULE - click on the title to register

REMAINING IN 2018:

11/24/2018 - Lakes Open - Squaw Valley - Closed
11/25/2018 - North Texas Winter Championship - Apache Links - Closed.

2019:

1/19/2019 - Coastal Bend Championship - Northshore Country Club.
2/09/2019 - Kerrville Winter Championship - The Golf Club at Comanche Trace.
2/10/2019 - Katy Classic @ The Golf Club at Cinco Ranch.
2/16/2019 - North Richland Hills Open - Iron Horse Golf Club.
2/23/2019 - Winter Championship - Golf Club of Houston.


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

Onion Creek Hosts the Prelude - Austin Open

Scott R Chilcutt, Austin, TX (November 2, 2018)  Onion Creek Golf Club, just south of Downtown Austin, played host to the Prelude of the Austin Open Major Championship to be played over the weekend at WolfDancer Golf Club in Bastrop, TX.  Slated to play the Original Course, the rain in the weeks leading up to the event had the greens maintenance inconsistent with the holes along the Onion Creek, so the play was moved to the North Course.  The North Course, using holes, 1-4 and 14-18 of the Original, add a more recent 9 holes that Ben Crenshaw lent a hand in designing. 

Tiny greens and thick rough put the players through a test that over half the field would use as a warm-up session for the weekend. 


RESULTS:

Championship:  West Lafayette, IN, player Tanner Skiles, made the most of birdies on the par 3 - 7th and par 4 - 10th to pick up the championship with four strokes to spare.  With two birdies of his own on the day, Jack Carlile of Lewisville, TX, took six strokes off his front nine scores on the back to jump into the runner-up spot.  Four strokes back, Aaron Means of Belton, TX, carded three birdies on the day to round out the top three.

Palmer:  In this combined, Open/Senior flight, it would be a local Senior that would take the top spot.  Playing in his first event on tour, Rob Ormand of Austin, TX, fired the low flight round for the win.  Crawford, TX, member Keven Vansau, finished six strokes back, with two birdies on the back nine, with Stephen Labay, of Austin, TX, taking the final podium spot with the help of a birdie on the par 3 - 11th.

Hogan:  Oklahoma Tour traveler, Paul Stanton of Broken Arrow, OK, carded low flight scores on the front and back to win the championship wire to wire.  Stanton, with a pair of birdies on par 3's, finished three strokes clear of Carrollton, TX, member Ken Johnson.  Six back of Johnson, was another DFW Tour member, Craig Vanderlaan, of Dallas, TX, with a birdie on the par 3 - 11th.

Senior Hogan:  David Anthony of Cypress, TX, made the turn with a one-stroke advantage over Sugar Grove, IL, member Tom Joy.  The pair would flop scores on the 10th - 12th, when Joy would bring it to even, then match each other over the final six to force extra holes.  Back to the course, starting on the par 4 - 1st, it would take two, for Anthony to prevail with a par on the overwater par 3 - 2nd.  Five strokes back, Colorado Tour traveler Tony Solano, of Denver and Missouri City, TX, player Dale Fuhr, would share the third place honors.

Sarazen:  In the largest flight of the day, in another combined group of Open/Senior players, Indiana Tour member, John Wendt of Indianapolis, IN, with a birdie on the par 5 - 5th, would take home the championship.  Three strokes back, Mackie Crossan of Abilene, TX, and Midland, TX, resident Joe Luman, would split the runner-up honors, both with birdies of there own.

Jones:  Blake Barnes of Houston, TX, led wire to wire, to pick up the win, three strokes clear of New Braunfels, TX, player David Garcia.  Garcia, with two birdies on the round, finished five strokes ahead of a trio of players knotted up in third.  Charles Watson of Llano, TX, Lloyd C Reid, JR of Dallas, TX, and Prescott, AZ, player Andrew Foutz, would split the third-place finish.

Snead:  A First-time winner a few weeks prior at Teravista on the north side of Austin, Gene Hanley, of San Antonio, TX, clearly has found a secret to success.  Hanely, one stroke back at the turn, birdied the par 4 - 10th and breezed to a three-stroke victory.  San Antonio, TX, member Bill Russell, with a birdie on the par 3 - 2nd, has had to settle for the runner-up spot for both of Hanley's victories but is finding his way around the top.  Two strokes back of Russell, Dan O'Shea of Copperas Cove, TX, rounded out the top three.






SKINS:


Giant Skins:  ($160/each)  Stanton, Paul. Broken Arrow, OK - 1 - Birdie on 17.  Hanley, Gene, Saint Kitts and Nevis - 1 - Birdie on 10.  Garcia, David, New Braunfels, TX - 1 - Birdie on 9.


Championship/Palmer:  ($40/each)  Harkins, Mike, Cedar Park, TX - 2 - Birdie on 1, Birdie on 5.  Labay, Stephen, Austin, TX - 1 - Birdie on 11. Carlile, Jack, Lewisville, TX - 1 - Birdie on 6.  Ormand, Rob, Austin, TX - 1 Par on 8.

Hogan/Senior Hogan:  (60/each)  Paquette, Shaun, Pflugerville, TX - 1 - Birdie on 11.  Stanton, Paul, Broken Arrow, OK - 1 - Birdie on 17.  Aldredge, Glynn, Fairview, TX - 1 - Birdie on 16. Fuhr, Dale, Missouri City, TX - 1 - Birdie on 6.

Sarazen:  ($106/each)  Luman, Joe, Midland, TX - 2 - Par on 3, Birdie on 16.  Latham, Zane, Valley View, TX - 1 Birdie on 1.

Jones:  ($50/each)  Don, Dennis. Houston, TX - 1 - Birdie on 11,  Barnes, Blake, Houston, TX - 1 - Par on 13.  Watson, Charles, Llano, TX - 1 - Par on 8.  Garcia, David, New Braunfels, TX - 1 - Birdie on 9.


Snead:  ($16/each)  Price, Jim, San Antonio, TX - 3 - Par on 12, Par on 16, Bogey on 18. Hanley, Gene, Saint Kitts and Nevis - 3 - Bogey on 3, Birdie on 10, Par on 11.  O'Shea, Dan, Copperas Cove, TX - 2 - Par on 4, Bogey on 15.  Sater, Stephen, Sugar Land, TX - 1 - Par on 14.  Schram, Richard, Bryan, TX - 1 Par on 1.  Ray, Paul, Midland, TX - 1 - Birdie on 7.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$125/each:

#2 - David Garcia - 2' 11".  #7 - Kendall Hisey - 9' 11".  #11 - Dennis Don - 3'.  #13 - Tom Joy - 7'.  





NEXT UP:

FALL TEXAS TOURS SCHEDULE - click on the title to register


11/11/2018 - Veterans Day Championship - Hawks Creek - Closed and sold out.

11/17/2018 - Fall Open - Canyon Springs - Closes Friday, November 9th.
11/18/2018 - Fall Challenge - Humble - Tour 18 - Closes Friday, November 9th.
11/24/2018 - Lakes Open - Squaw Valley - Closes Friday, November 16th.
11/25/2018 - North Texas Winter Championship - Apache Links - Closes Friday, November 16th.


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

Hill Country Tour Opens Season in Round Rock

Scott R Chilcutt, Round Rock, TX (October 21, 2018)  The Fall Challenge - Teravista ended a week, that saw torrential rains causing bridge and damn breaking floods in the Hill Country.  The Hill Country Tour, started the 2019 Points season, high above the low lying areas, at Teravista Golf Club in Round Rock.

While the course, itself, hadn't seen a great deal of rain since the prior Monday, where over 4" was doled out, cloud cover didn't do a lot to dry up the facility during the ensuing days.  The maintenance staff did a wonderful job, getting the course in shape to play, with smooth and fast greens, where really the only exception was the bunkers, too much water simply took them out of play.


RESULTS:

Palmer Flight:  When his club championship was rescheduled, Mike Harkins of Cedar Park, TX, jumped into the field and made the most of it.  With three birdies on the round, Harkins picked up his twelfth win on tour, with only a single stroke to spare.  One back, Carrollton, TX, player Todd Arnold, with consecutive birdies on the par 3 - 15th and par 5 - 16th, picked up the runner-up spot.  John Franklin, of San Antonio, TX, rounded out the top three, with a pair of birdies on the day.

Hogan Flight:  San Antonio, TX, member Les Costales, had the field by four strokes making the turn with the help of three birdies, but couldn't hold up the pace, dropping back to finish third.   Servando Perez, of Cedar Park, TX, five back coming to the clubhouse, would better his front nine performance to tie up the total with San Antonio, TX, member Allan Collier.  Collier with two birdies on the back would use the momentum to win the sudden death playoff over Perez on the first extra hole, the par 4 - 18th.  For Collier, it was his eight Championship on tour and first since the October 2017 Opener at Teravista.

Sarazen Flight:  Traveling Houston Tour member, Kevin Hobbs of Spring, TX, made it look easy. Starting the day with a birdie and then finishing his last three holes at -1, Hobbs picked up his second win on tour.  Six strokes back, Leander, TX, player Chris Byrant, with a birdie of his own on the par 5 - 16th, shared the runner-up finish, with Tommy Mobley of San Marcos, TX.  Mobley, started his day strong with birdies on the first and third holes but fell back to Bryant on the back nine.

Jones Flight:  Charles Watson of Llano, TX, where much of the flooding was wrecking havoc the past week, made the trek east to pick up his eighth win on tour. Watson, with two birdies on his day, holed out from the fairway on the par 4 - 17th for eagle to command a five-stroke advantage. Burnet, TX, player Michael Page, with a birdie on the par 5 - 16th, finished in the runner-up spot, with Terry Spencer of nearby Georgetown, TX, rounding out the top three, with consecutive birdies on 15 and 16.

Snead Flight:   Competing on tour since 2009, Gene Hanley of San Antonio, TX, finally broke through to the winner circle.  Hanley, with always a great attitude, made it one for 119, with clearly one of his best scores to date.  Two strokes back, with a birdie on the par 4 9th, Bill Russel of San Antonio, TX, just missed out on the win, five strokes clear of Byran, TX, third place finisher, Richard Schram.




SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($110/each)  Grizzle, Gary - San Antonio, TX - 2 - Birdie on 4, Birdie on 18.  Harkins, Mike - Cedar Park, TX - 1 - Birdie on 12.

Championship/Palmer:  ($15/each) Grizzle, Gary - San Antonio, TX - 3 - Birdie on 4, Birdie on 7, Birdie on 18.  Harkins, Mike - Cedar Park, TX - 2 - Birdie on 2, Birdie on 12.  Arnold, Todd - Carrollton, TX - 1 - Birdie on 15.  Means, Aaron - Belton, TX - 1 - Par on 3.  Labay, Stephen - Austin, TX - 1 - Par on 8.

Hogan:  ($35/each)  Costales, Les - San Antonio, TX - 2 - Birdie on 1, Birdie on 2.  Collier, Allan - San Antonio, TX - 1 - Birdie on 15. Zambrano, Jacinto - Kerrville, TX - 1 - Birdie on 7.  Umstead, Edward - Boca Raton, FL - 1 - Par on 8.

Sarazen:  ($80/each)  Cobb, Chris - Austin, TX - 1 Par on 12.  Mobley, Tommy - San Marcos, TX - 1 - Birdie on 3.  Helcel, Randy - Lott, TX - 1 - Birdie on 9

Jones/Snead:  ($50/each)  Watson, Charles - Llano, TX - 2 - Birdie on 4, Eagle on 17.  Spencer, Terry - Georgetown, TX - 1 - Birdie on 15.  Huddleston, Keith - Fort Worth, TX - 1 - Birdie on 5.  Quintero, Javier - Houston, TX - 1 - Birdie on 7.  Russell, Bill - San Antonio, TX - 1 - Birdie on 9.


CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$100/each:  #3 - Gene Hanley - 8' 11";  #7 - Sandy Perez - 12' 8 1/2";  #11 - Chris Cobb - 6' 8";  #15 - Todd Arnold - 4' 10".

NEXT UP:

FALL TEXAS TOURS SCHEDULE - click on the title to register

10/27/2018 - Fall Championship - Cypress Lakes - Closed. 

10/28/2018 - Dallas Fall Championship - Golf Club of Dallas - Closed. 

11/2/2018 - Prelude Austin Open - Onion Creek - Closes Friday, October 26th.

11/11/2018 - Veterans Day Championship - Hawks Creek - Closes Friday, November 2nd.

11/17/2018 - Fall Open - Canyon Springs - Closes Friday, November 9th.
11/18/2018 - Fall Challenge - Humble - Tour 18 - Closes Friday, November 9th.
11/24/2018 - Lakes Open - Squaw Valley - Closes Friday, November 16th.
11/25/2018 - North Texas Winter Championship - Apache Links - Closes Friday, November 16th.


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

Hill Country Tour Crowns Tour Championships - 2018

Scott R Chilcutt, San Antonio, TX (August 12, 2018)  The AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio, home to the Valero Texas Open on the PGA Tour, played host to the first round of the 2018 Hill Country Tour Championship.  Unlike most other TPC layouts, this track uses the natural landscape and ultimate trouble that comes along with the trees and native areas.  Add to that the extremely tough green complexes and it makes for a long, hard day in the Summer heat of the Hill Country.

Then the 2018 Hill Country Tour season ended with a brief downpour and nearly hour-long lightning delay for those not lucky enough to be finished with there round on Sunday at the AT & T Canyon course.  Add to a tough golf challenge, the nerves of National and Senior National Championship qualifications, along with Tour Championship awards, it seemed only fitting that players would need to have the patience to prevail this weekend. 

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  After finishing T7, his first time out at Barton Creek, just two weeks before Pat DiCosimo of San Antonio, TX, made the most of this go round.  DiCosimo, with four birdies on the weekend, finished his final round at -1, for the start to finish win.  Two strokes back after the Saturday round, Copperas Cove, TX, member Rusty Lippert, took five strokes off of his Saturday round on Sunday, with the help of three birdies, but couldn't keep pace with the Champion, finishing four strokes back.  Zach Winkler of Midland, TX, rounded out the top three with four birdies over the 36 hole event.

Palmer Flight:  San Antonio, TX, member Ron Finnerty, came back from a two-stroke deficit after the first day, with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 9th to pick up his third win of the season and fifteenth on tour.  Four strokes back after eighteen, Rene Realme of San Antonio, TX, matched his first-day results on the final round with three birdies, to share the runner-up finish with Midland, TX, player Brannon Smith after Smith, who started hot on Saturday with four birdies, came back to the field on Sunday.

Hogan Flight:  Fernando Davila, of San Antonio, TX, off the tour since April 2017, came back with a vengeance to lead from wire to wire for his fourth win on tour.  Davila, with three birdies on the weekend, finished just one stroke clear of The Woodlands, TX, Houston Tour traveler, Rafa Rivera by one stroke.  Rivera, with three birdies of his own on the Championship, cleared third-place finisher, Les Costales of San Antonio, TX, by eight strokes. 

Senior Hogan Flight:  Five strokes out of the lead following his round at the Oaks Course, Steve Wade of Boerne, TX, kicked it into gear on Sunday.  Wade, finished his final round, at +5 for the low flight round of the weekend, with three birdies to win his fourth Championship on tour and fifth on tour.  First-round leader, Rockwall, TX, member Joesph Roy, with a pair of birdies on the weekend, slid into the runner-up finish, while Scott Striegel of Southlake, TX, took twelve strokes off his first-round finish to jump up the leaderboard to round out the top three.

Sarazen Flight:  Knotted up after the first round at the Oaks Course, Larry Atchley of Kyle, TX, and San Marcos, TX, member Tommy Mobley finished in the one-two spots, with Mobley coming out on top for his second win on his first season on tour.  Three strokes out of second place, Houston Tour traveler, Joe Michetti, another player to take twelve strokes off his first round total, jumped into sole position of the last podium spot.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Houston Tour player, Jim Craig of San Felipe, TX, took a big lead into the final round and never looked back.  Craig, with four birdies during the event, finished four strokes clear for his fourth win of the season and second in as many attempts after taking the Championship at The Texas Classic at Barton Creek.  In the second place spot after the first round at The Oaks, fellow Houston Tour traveler, Bruce LeGrand fought back for a few strokes but could make up the difference finishing in the runner-up spot.  Rounding out the top three, Abilene, TX, member Mackie Crossan, was low found on Sunday to jump up the leaderboard.

Jones Flight:  Georgetown, TX, player Evan Kirkpatrick, took a comfortable three-stroke advantage into the final round on Sunday, with a birdie on the round.  Kirkpatrick would add another birdie on an eagle three at the par 5 - 12th to pick up his second win on tour and first of the season.  DFW Tour traveler, Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX, with two birdies on Sunday, finished, in the runner-up spot, with San Antonio, TX, member Larry Harper rounding out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Pete Acosta of Alamo, TX, extended his one-stroke lead after eighteen holes, to seven-strokes and a certain, Flight Promotion, on Sunday.  For Acosta, it was his fourth win in his first year on tour.  Selma, TX, player Mark Colwell, with a birdie on the par 4 - 11th on Saturday, took home the runner-up finish, with Dan O'Shea of Copperas Cove, TX, taking the third and final podium spot.






SKINS:
Round 1:

Giant SKINS:  ($70/each)  1 -- Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX; Marshall Durrett, Austin, TX; Rich Fox, Peoria, AZ; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX; Keith McKelvy, Granbury, TX; Brannon Smith, Midland, TX; Scott Striegel, Southlake, TX; Steve Wade, Boerne, TX; Zack Winkler, Midland, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($68/each)  2 -- Keith McKelvy, Granbury, TX; Zack Winkler, Midland, TX. 1 -- Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX.

Hogan:  ($52/each)  3 -- Rafa Rivero, The Woodlands, TX. 1 -- Marshall Durrett, Austin, TX; Brian Gow, Mansfield, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($28/each)  2 -- Steve Wade, Boerne, TX. 1 -- L C Alexander, Fort Worth, TX; Dale Fuhr, Missouri City, TX; Manny Martinez, Ranger, TX; Joseph Roy, Rockwall, TX; Scott Striegel, Southlake, TX.

Sarazen:  ($44/each)  1 -- Xavier Bardy, San Antonio, TX; Michael Betzale, Live Oak, TX; Tim Davis, Yukon, OK; Tommy Mobley, San Marcos, TX; Bill Speck, Corpus Christi, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($22/each)  4 -- Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX. 2 -- Rich Fox, Peoria, AZ. 1 -- Bruce LeGrand, Houston, TX; Tres Paxton, Boerne, TX.

Jones:  ($31/each)  2 -- Marvin Hill, Abilene, TX. 1 -- Tony Davila, San Antonio, TX; Larry Harper, San Antonio, TX; Evan Kirkpatrick, Georgetown, TX; Gregg Singhaus, New Braunfels, TX; John Stahlschmidt, San Antonio TX.

Snead:  ($40/each)  2 -- Mark Colwell, Selma, TX. 1 -- Pete Acosta, Alamo, TX; Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX; Charles Mielak, Mico, TX; Bill Russell, San Antonio, TX.



Round 2:

Giant SKINS:  ($150/each)  2 -- Steve Wade, Boerne, TX. 1 -- Gabriel Brisco, Mesquite, TX; Robert Lippert, Copperas Cove, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($55/each)  2 -- Pat DiCosimo, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Gabriel Brisco, Mesquite, TX; Kevin Burkett, Portland, TX; Rene Realme, San Antonio, TX; John Williamson, Tolar, TX.

Hogan:  ($48/each)  3 -- Rafa Rivero, The Woodlands, TX. 1 -- Marshall Durrett, Austin, TX; James Price, Portland, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($25/each)  3 -- Steve Wade, Boerne, TX. 1 -- L C Alexander, Fort Worth, TX; Allan Collier, Austin, TX; Scott Striegel, Southlake, TX; Timothy VanLandingham, Portland, TX.

Sarazen:  ($25/each)  1 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; Michael Betzale, Live Oak, TX; Tim Davis, Yukon, OK; C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX; Kendall Hisey, Cedar Park, TX; Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX; Bill Speck, Corpus Christi, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($35/each)  3 -- Mackie Crossan, Abilene, TX. 1 -- Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX; Tres Paxton, Boerne, TX.

Jones:  ($110/each)  1 -- Doyle Fleming, Haslet, TX; Evan Kirkpatrick, Georgetown, TX.

Snead:  ($34/each)  1 -- Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX; Annette Crossan, Abilene, TX; Gene Hanley, San Antonio, TX; Jack Iglesias, Killeen, TX; Charles Mielak, Mico, TX; Jim Price, San Antonio, TX; Bill Russell, San Antonio, TX.





CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

Round 1:

$170/each:  #3 - Rich Fox - HOLE IN ONE;  #7 - Jason Leavelle - 5' 6";  #13 - Scott Striegel - 6' 8 1/2";  #16 - Bill Russell - 2' 8".

Round 2:

$170/each:  #4 - Rusty Lippert - 8' 8";  #8 - Keith McKelvy - 2' 10";  #13 - Gabe Brisco - 6' 1";  #16 - Bill Speck - 2' 5".





NEXT UP:

Texas Tour Season Closes With Tour Championship Month!


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.  SOLD OUT with waiting list spots available.  

National and Senior National Championships coming up in September in California.

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