GCAmTour-Houston golfers go low at The Wilderness Golf Club on May 28, 2011. Lynn Cormier fired the lowest round in Houston Tour history with a 4-under, 68. Cormier’s record round included two EAGLES and four BIRDIES!
The Course: The Wilderness Golf Club, Lake Jackson, TX. The course was in great condition, nice fairways, rough, and native areas. The putting surfaces were smooth and medium-fast, between 9.5-10.5.
The Weather: A beautiful day for golf with a lot of sunshine, mix clouds, and blue sky. Temperatures were in the high 70’s early in the morning and warmed up rapidly to near 96. The winds were from the S throughout the day, 15-20mph. The strong winds swirling between the trees made for some challenging shots.
The Tournament:
Palmer Flight: Top 5: Frank Wallace (78), Martin Nealey (82), Jim Lam (84), Patrick Simons (84), Sean Streckfus (85).
Frank Wallace won his forth event of the season and goes back-to-back at the Wilderness. Wallace was steady on round of 78, eleven pars and a birdie at the 14th hole. Martin Nealey finished with second place honors and round of 82. Nealey was solid on the front nine but found trouble on the back nine. Nealey had nine pars on the round. Jim Lam carded a round of 84/44/28 for third place honors, including nine pars and a birdie at the 6th hole. Patrick Simons finished forth place with a round of 84/44/29, carding ten pars and birdie at the 7th hole. Sean Streckfus finished fifth place with a round of 85, carding nine pars and birdies on holes 3, 5, and 10.
Senior Palmer Flight: Top 5: Lynn Cormier (68), Art Flores (73), Allan Collier (75), Rickie Brown (77), Jan Peebles (77).
Lynn Cormier captured his forth victory of the season and followed up his win at Cowen Creek last week. Lynn Cormier fired the lowest round in Houston Tour history with a 4-under, 68. Cormier’s record round included two EAGLES (2, 11) and four BIRDIES (3, 12, 17, and 18)! Art Flores finished runner up with what usually would have been a winning score, 1-over 73. Flores carded twelve pars and birdies at holes 2, 7, and 14. Allan Collier finished third place, matching his lowest round of the year, 75. Collier carded fourteen pars and a birdie at the 6th hole. Rickie Brown finished forth place with a round of 77/36. Brown carded ten pars and birdies at holes 2 and 10. Jan Peebles finished fifth place with a round of 77/37, carding twelve pars and a birdie at the 13th hole.
Hogan Flight: Top 5: Kevin Gray (82), Shawn Didear (84), Abdiel Torres (85), Chris Stavinoha (86), Jeff Stahlhut (87).
Kevin Gray captured his second victory of the season with a round of 82, two strokes clear. Gray carded seven pars and birdies at holes 6 and 15. Shawn Didear finished runner up for the third time the season with a round of 84. Didear carded seven pars and a birdie at the 9th hole. Abdiel Torres finished one stroke back for third place honors and round of 85. Torres carded fives pars and birdies at holes 3 and 17. Chris Stavinoha finished one stroke back with a round of 86, for forth place honors. Stavinoha carded five pars and birdies at holes 5 and 8. Jeff Stahlhut finished fifth place with a round of 87/41. Stahlhut carded eight pars on the round.
Senior Hogan Flight: Top 5: George Carlisle (81), Christopher Phillips (81), Vernon Wells (82), Robert Nicks (85), Rickie Felts (86).
“Sudden Death Playoff” determines the winner of the Senior Hogan Flight at the Wilderness GC. George Carlisle and Christopher Phillips went back to the first tee for the playoff after both carded rounds of 81. Both players made par at the first hole. On the second playoff hole it was Carlisle making an 8-foot birdie put to win the tournament. In regulation play, Carlisle carded seven pars and birdies at holes 9 and 11. Phillips carded twelve pars in regulation play. Vernon Wells finished one stroke back and just missed the playoff with a round of 82. Wells carded six pars and birdies at holes 2 and 8. Robert Nicks finished forth place with a round of 85, including seven pars and birdies at holes 2 and 17. Rickie Felts finished fifth place with a round of 86, carding eight pars on the day. Felts struck the ball well but struggled with the putter.
Sarazen Flight: Top 5: Frank Paras (80), Gus Aldana (80), Robert Murphy (88), Mark Dion (88), Rick Smalley (89).
“Sudden Death Playoff” determines the winner of the Sarazen Flight at the Wilderness GC. Frank Paras and Gus Aldana went back to the first hole for the playoff after both golfers carded rounds of 80. Both players made par at the first hole. On the second playoff hole Paras stuck his third shot close on the par-5 and made the 3-4’ birdie put to win the tournament. Paras carded eight pars and a birdie at the 17th hole in regulation. Aldana carded seven pars and birdies at holes 6 and 10. Robert Murphy finished third place with a round of 88/40, including five pars and birdies on holes 13 and 14. Mark Dion finished forth place with a round of 88/43, including eight pars and a birdie at the 13th hole. Rick Smalley finished fifth place with a round of 89/44, including nine pars.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Top 5: Marty Hodges (75), Billy Gilmore (81), Larry Viktorin (82), Mike Murphy (83), Jay Crawford (85).
Marty Hodges had a career tournament round to win his first GCAmTour-Houston event, 75! Prior to the victory Hodges last seven tournament round scores averaged 90.85 with a best round of 87. Hodges breakout round included nine pars and birdies at holes 1, 7, 12, and 17! Billy Gilmore made the trip over from the SAA-Tour worthwhile with a second place finish. Gilmore’s round of 81, usually a winning score, included six pars and birdies at holes 3, 9, and 13. Larry Viktorin continued his solid play with a round of 82, for third place. Viktorin carded seven pars, a birdie on the 2nd hole, and an EAGLE-2 on the par-4 3rd hole. Mike Murphy finished one stroke back with a round of 83, for forth place honors. Murphy carded six pars and birdies on holes 13 and 15. Jay Crawford finished fifth place with a round of 85/44/28, including seven pars and a birdie at the 6th hole.
Jones Flight: Top 5: Jason Hollis (83), Lee Isham (85), William Senne (89), Gary Gum (92), Rich Kelley (92).
Jason Hollis captured his second victory in his last three events and moved closer to a Sarazen Flight promotion. Hollis carded a round of 83, including eight pars and a birdie at the 4th hole. Lee Isham finished runner up for the fifth time this season, this time with a round of 85. Isham carded seven pars and a birdie at the 12th hole. William Senne finished third place with a round of 89, including six pars and a birdie at the 11th hole. Gary Gum finished forth place with a round of 92/46, carding four pars and a birdie at the 13th hole. Rich Kelley finished fifth place with a round of 92/48, including six pars.
Snead Flight: Patrick Richardson (87), Lale Esquivel (89), Kristopher Bixby (89), Ramon Colen (90), Aaron Green (95).
Patrick Richardson captured his second victory of the season and defended his title at the Wilderness GC. Richardson carded five pars and birdies at holes 11 and 15. Lale Esquivel made the trip down from the DFW-Tour worthwhile and finished runner up. Esquivel’s round of 89/44 included eight pars. Kristopher Bixby finished third place with a round of 89/46, carding five pars on the day. Ramon Colen made the trip over from the SAA-Tour and finished forth place. Colen carded eight pars on his round. Aaron Green made his tour debut with a fifth place finish and round of 95. Green carded six pars on his round.
Senior Snead Flight: Lu Cormier (89), Tim Thayer (95), Tom Eysenbach (99), Steve Wyatt (101), Bryce Kocian (102).
Lu Cormier captured her forth victory of the 2011 season with another round in the high eighties, 89. Cormier may have played her way into the Jones Flight and we’ll see on the 6/2-handicap revision. Cormier carded five pars and birdies holes 4 and 13. Tim Thayer finished runner up with a round of 95, his sixth runner up finish of the season. Thayer carded three pars and birdies on holes 3 and 16. Tom Eysenbach finished third place with a round of 99, including four pars. Steve Wyatt finished forth place with a round of 101. Wyatt carded four pars on the day. Bryce Kocian finished fifth place with a round of 102, including two pars and birdies on holes 12 and 16.
In addition to the flight winners, the following players won the optional side games:
Closest to the pin ($200.00 each)
#4, Mike Murphy
#8, Vernon Wells
#13, Bob Murphy
#16, Tim Thayer
Skins (A) Winners Champ/Palmer/Hogan: $140.00 each
Walter Menuet, #1
Lynn Cormier, #2
Lynn Cormier, #18
Skins (B) Winners Sarazen/Jones/Snead: $50.00 each
#1, Marty Hodges
#2, Larry Viktorin
#3, Larry Viktorin
#7, Marty Hodges
#9, Billy Gilmore
#14, Robert Murphy
#15, Mike Murphy
Prize Winners
$100.00 Golf Galaxy Gift Card, Traylor Sells
Callaway Golf Balls, Tom Crea
Callaway Golf Balls, Randy Adcock
Flight Payoffs:
Winners | Awards | Winners | Awards | |
Palmer (8) | Senior Palmer (14) | |||
1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | 1st - Gift Certificate | $150.00 | |
2nd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | 2nd - Gift Certificate | $100.00 | |
3rd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |||
4th - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |||
Hogan (11) | Senior Hogan (11) | |||
1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | 1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | |
2nd - Gift Certificate | $100.00 | 2nd - Gift Certificate | $100.00 | |
3rd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | 3rd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |
Sarazen (10) | Senior Sarazen (12) | |||
1st - Gift Certificate | $150.00 | 1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | |
2nd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | 2nd - Gift Certificate | $100.00 | |
3rd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | 3rd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |
Jones (11) | ||||
1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | |||
2nd - Gift Certificate | $100.00 | |||
3rd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |||
Snead (7) | Snead (8) | |||
1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | 1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | |
2nd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | 2nd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |
Prizes | ||||
Golf Galaxy Gift Card | $100.00 | |||
Golf Balls | $45.00 | |||
Golf Balls | $45.00 | |||
Trophies | $360.00 | |||
Gift Certificates | $2,500.00 | |||
$3,050.00 |
