Excellent scoring conditions make for close contests in several flights at the GCAmTour-Houston event at Cinco Ranch Golf Club, Katy, TX. “Sudden Death” playoff determines the winner of the Palmer Flight, with both Stephen Asp II and Frank Wallace carding rounds of 73 in regulation play.
The Course: Cinco Ranch Golf Club, Katy, TX. The course was in winter condition with a mix of dormant and winter grasses. The greens were also in winter condition with winter grass and running around 9-9.5.
The Weather: A beautiful December day for golf with sunshine, mixed clouds, and temperatures in the low-80’s. The winds were light from the SSW 5-6mph, perfect for scoring conditions.
The Tournament:
Championship Flight: Top 5: Travis Nichols (72), Adam Kuzinski (73), Mark Edmondson (77), Bernard Weber (78).
The close competition started with the Championship Flight as Travis Nichols captured his first victory of the season by one stroke over Adam Kuzinski. Nichols round of one-over par 72 was solid, carding thirteen pars and birdies at holes 4, 5, and 14. Kuzinski had a chance to force a playoff one the finishing hole; unfortunately he missed the 5’ birdie putt to force a “sudden death” playoff. Kuzinski carded twelve pars and birdies at holes 4 and 15. Mark Edmondson finished with third place honors and round of 77, four strokes back. Edmondson carded ten pars and birdies holes 15 and 16. Bernard Weber finished one stroke back with a round of 78, for fourth place honors. Weber carded six pars and birdies at holes 4, 5, 9, and 13.
Palmer Flight: Top 5: Stephen Asp II (73), Frank Wallace (73), Tino Flores (81), Keith Storey (89), Adam Anderson (90).
“Sudden Death” Playoff determines the winner of the Palmer Flight at Cinco Ranch Golf Club. For the second straight event, Stephen Asp II and Frank Wallace go to a playoff to determine the winner. Both golfers carded rounds of two-over 73 in regulation play. Asp carded ten pars and birdies at holes 6, 7, and 18. Wallace carded eight pars, birdies at holes 2, 3, and 13, and an EAGLE-3 at the par-5 4th hole. In the playoff it was three pars on the first three playoff holes, with Wallace missing a short birdie opportunity. On the fourth playoff hole it was Asp II carding a par to win. Tino Flores finished third place for the second consecutive event, this time with a round of 81. Flores carded eight pars and a birdie the 13th hole. Keith Storey finished with fourth place honors and round of 89, carding four pars on the round. Adam Anderson finished with fifth place honors and round of 90, an off day, including ten pars.
Senior Palmer Flight: Top 5: Tom Crea (76), Jan Peebles (77), Robert Corbello (78), Traylor Sells (79), Art Flores (79).
Tom Crea captured his first victory of the season by one stroke over the field and round of 76. Crea was steady and carded thirteen pars against five bogies. Jan Peebles finished runner up with a round of 77, one-stroke back. Peebles carded eleven pars and a birdie at the 3rd hole. Robert Corbello finished with third place honors and round of 78. Corbello carded thirteen pars and a birdie on the 4th hole, but found trouble on the 9th. Traylor Sells finished with T4 honors and round of 79. Sells carded nine pars and a birdie at the 10th hole in regulation play. Art Flores finished with T4 honors and round of 79 as well. Flores carded nine pars and birdies at holes 4 and 15.
Hogan Flight: Top 5: Andrew Lai (79), Jeff Stahlhut (81), Mike Rayburn (83), Leslie Henry (86), Jeff Green (86), Don York (86).
Andrew Lai goes “back to back” and captured his second victory of the season is as many starts. Lai’s two in a row accomplishment and round of 79, included nine pars and a birdie at the 2nd hole. Jeff Stahlhut finished with runner up honors and round of 81, including eleven pars. Mike Rayburn finished with third place honors and round of 83, two strokes back. Rayburn had nine pars and a birdie at the 6th hole. Leslie Henry finished with T4 honors and round of 86. Henry carded five pars and a birdie at the 4th hole. Jeff Green also finished with T4 honors and round of 86, including eight pars. Don York finished T4 as well, carding a round of 86. York had seven pars on the round.
Senior Hogan Flight: Top 5: Daryl Epperson (78), Rickey Felts (82), Bruce Beakley (82), Christopher Phillips (83), Vernon Wells (84).
It’s been a long time coming for Daryl Epperson as the “victory stand” has been eluding him for the past season or so. It was Epperson’s day as he captured the victory four-strokes clear and round of 78. Epperson carded eight pars and birdies at holes 8 and 15. Rickey Felts was a late entry for the tournament but made it worthwhile, finishing T2 and a round of 82. Felts carded seven pars and a birdie at the 5th hole. Bruce Beakley finished T2 with a round of 82 as well. Beakley carded three pars and birdies at holes 4, 6, and 9 on the day. Christopher Phillips finished with fourth place honors and round of 83, including nine pars. Vernon Wells finished with fifth place honors and round of 84, carding eight pars.
Sarazen Flight: Top 5: Phillip Sumang (83), Adam Bray (84), Richard Kelley (86), Gary Gum (92), Rick Smalley (99).
Phillip Sumang captured his first victory of the season just one stroke clear of the field with a round of 83. Sumang was nursing a sore side but managed to around with seven pars and a birdie at the 2nd hole. Adam Bray finished just one stroke back for runner up honors and round of 84. Bray carded eight pars on the day. Richard Kelley finished with third place honors and round of 86. The reining Jones National Champion continues to adjust to Sarazen play and carded five pars and birdies at holes 4 and 15. Gary Gum came in playing well but just had an off day for fourth place honors and round of 92. Gum carded three pars on the day. Rick Smalley finished with fifth place honors and round of 99, including two pars.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Top 5: Lee Brunell (80), Jeff Burwinkel (81), Chuck Tucker (83), Mark Maddox (84), Roman Umali (86).
Lee Brunell captured his first victory of the season just one stroke clear of the field in the tightly contested Sr. Sarazen Flight. Brunell took advantage of some “home cooking” and carded a round of 80 on his home course, including nine pars and a birdie at the 4th hole. Jeff Burwinkel also had some “home cooking” and finished with runner up honors and round of 81. Burwinkel carded nine pars and a birdie at the 4th hole. Chuck Tucker returned to tour play and finished with third place honors and round of 83. Tucker carded eight pars on the round. Mark Maddox finished with fourth place honors and round of 84, including nine pars. Roman Umali finished with fifth place honors and round of 86. Umali carded six pars on the day.
Jones Flight: Top 5: Artis Stewart (84), Patrick Richardson (87), Rick Halprin (87), Kristopher Bixby (90), Mike Murphy (90).
Artis Stewart goes “back to back” by capturing his second consecutive victory in as many starts. Stewart was a winner at the Las Vegas Vintage Golf Classic in November and finished with top honors at Cinco Ranch. Stewart’s winning round of 84 was three strokes clear of the field and included five pars and birdies at holes 7 and 15. Patrick Richardson is adjusting to Jones Flight play and finished with T2 honors and round of 87. Richardson carded six pars on the day. Rick Halprin finished with T2 honors and round of 87 as well. Halprin carded an amazing eleven pars but found trouble on the 12th and 13th hole. Kristopher Bixby finished with T4 honors and round of 90. Bixby carded four pars on the day. Mike Murphy finished with T4 honors and round of 90 as well, including five pars.
Snead Flight: Jeremy Fang (86), Marcy Glidden (92), Stephen Sater (95), Robert Viator (97), Carl Eaton (97).
Jeremy Fang captured his first victory on GCAmTour-Houston by carding a career low round of 86; six strokes clear of the field. Fang carded an amazing nine pars on his round en route to victory. Marcy Glidden continues to play well and finished with runner up honors and round of 92. Glidden carded five pars on the round. Stephen Sater finished with third place honors and round of 95, three strokes back. Sater carded four pars on the day. Robert Viator finished with T4 honors and round of 97. Viator carded five pars on the round. Carl Eaton also finished T4 with his round of 97. Eaton also carded five pars on the day. Congratulations to Carl Eaton for winning the Troops First 50/50.
In addition to the flight winners, the following players won the skills challenges:
Closest to the pin $160.00 each
#3, Travis Nichols
#5, Phillip Sumang
#12, Mark Kirby
#16, Jeff Stahlhut
Skins Winners Champ/Palmer/Hogan: $80.00 each
#8, Daryl Epperson
#10, Traylor Sells
#14, Travis Nichols
#16, Mark Edmondson
Skins Winners Sarazen/Jones/Snead: $120.00 each
#2, Phillip Sumang
#14, Michael Nowotny
50/50 Raffle:
Carl Eaton, $200.00
Prizes:
$50.00 Golf Galaxy Card, Michael Nowotny
$50.00 Golf Galaxy Card, Paul Bradley Rich
Bridgestone Balls, Mike Murphy
Bridgestone Balls, Rickey Felts
Flight Payoffs:
Winners
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Awards
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Winners
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Awards
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Championship (4)
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1st - Gift Certificate
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$125.00
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2nd - Gift Certificate
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$75.00
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Palmer (7)
|
Senior Palmer (10)
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1st - Gift Certificate
|
$125.00
|
1st - Gift Certificate
|
$125.00
| |
2nd - Gift Certificate
|
$75.00
|
2nd - Gift Certificate
|
$75.00
| |
3rd - Gift Certificate
|
$50.00
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Hogan (10)
|
Senior Hogan (8)
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1st - Gift Certificate
|
$125.00
|
1st - Gift Certificate
|
$125.00
| |
2nd - Gift Certificate
|
$75.00
|
2nd - Gift Certificate
|
$75.00
| |
3rd - Gift Certificate
|
$50.00
|
3rd - Gift Certificate
|
$50.00
| |
Sarazen (6)
|
Senior Sarazen (9)
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1st - Gift Certificate
|
$125.00
|
1st - Gift Certificate
|
$125.00
| |
2nd - Gift Certificate
|
$75.00
|
2nd - Gift Certificate
|
$75.00
| |
3rd - Gift Certificate
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$50.00
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Jones (13)
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1st - Gift Certificate
|
$150.00
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2nd - Gift Certificate
|
$100.00
| |||
3rd - Gift Certificate
|
$75.00
| |||
Snead (8)
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1st - Gift Certificate
|
$125.00
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2nd - Gift Certificate
|
$75.00
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Prizes
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Trophies
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$300.00
| |||
Golf Galaxy Gift Cards
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$2,225.00
| |||
Golf Galaxy
|
$50.00
| |||
Golf Galaxy
|
$50.00
| |||
Bridgestone Balls
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$40.00
| |||
Bridgestone Balls
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$40.00
| |||
Skins
|
$560.00
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Closest to Pins
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$640.00
| |||
$3,905.00
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