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Sunday, December 8, 2013

GCAmTour-Houston, Cinco Ranch Holiday Classic, Tournament Results, December 7, 2013


Jeff Zemencsik (Houston, TX) – GCAmTour-Houston officially changes the name of The Holiday Classic to the “Ice Cube Classic”.  An arctic cold front brought extremely low temperatures to the area, near freezing at tee off with wind chill in the low 20’s.  Players battled the difficult conditions and the tournament produced some very competitive scoring. 


The Course:  Cinco Ranch Golf Club, Katy, Texas.  Despite an arctic cold front that brought freezing temperatures to the area, the course received little to no precipitation.  Players had full access to the course with the golf carts on the semi-green turf.  The course was in good condition with semi-green tees, fairways, and putting surfaces.  The combination of the cold temperature and steady winds made the course play longer for the short set up.  The greens were smooth and running around 9+.   

The Weather:  COLD, COLD, and more COLD.  An Arctic cold front brought unseasonably cold temperatures to the Houston area.  At 8:00am tee off, temperatures were close to freezing; 32 degrees with a wind chill around 25 degrees.  The sky was overcast and gray throughout the day with no sunshine.  Winds were from the N at 10-15mph and gusting to 20+ at times, producing very difficult playing conditions.

The Tournament: 


Championship Flight:  James Harvey (80), Nathan Ashley (88).

With Rich Vigil stuck in Denver after a delayed flight back to Houston, the Championship Flight became a one-on-one match up with James Harvey vs. Nathan Ashley.  James Harvey won the match up and captured his first victory of the season with a matching low tournament round of 80 if the tough conditions.  Harvey went out in 41 and in with a 39 and should have shot in the mid 70’s but carded two double-bogey’s on 9 and 10 that prevented him from doing it.  Harvey had eleven pars on the day.  Nathan Ashley finished with a round of 88 and carded eight pars on the day but couldn’t keep the big numbers off the card.  Congratulations to Nathan Ashley for winning the Troops First 50/50 raffle, $200.00.


Palmer Flight:  Hampus Larsson (80), Tino Flores (81/38/25), Adam Anderson (81/38/26), Rusty Stark (81/40), Frank Wallace (84).

Hampus Larsson made his tour debut in grand fashion by winning the closely contested Palmer Flight with a matching tournament low round of 80.  Larsson’s round of 80 was one stroke clear of the field and included eight pars and a birdie at the par-3 16th hole.  The next three golfers all carded rounds of 81 so we had to go to the scorecards to determine the finish.  Tino Flores finished with runner up honors and round of 81/38/25, carding eight pars and a birdie at par-4 14th hole.  Adam Anderson finished with third place honors and round of 81/38/26, carding six pars and birdies at holes 9 and 15.  Rusty Stark finished with fourth place honors and round of 81/40, carding nine pars.  Frank Wallace finished with fifth place honors and round of 84.  Wallace carded nine pars but made back-to-back doubles on 10 and 11, coming in with 44.


Senior Palmer Flight:  Robert Corbello (81), Dennis Walsh (83), Mike Hafner (85), Walter Menuet (87/40), David Anthony (87/41).

Robert Corbello captured his first victory of the season two-strokes clear of the field and round of 81.  Corbello carded nine pars and a birdie at the par-4 8th hole, going out in 38 and in with a 43.  Dennis Walsh finished with runner up honors and round of 83, including four pars and birdies at holes 4, 7, and 15.  Walsh went out in 44 and in with a 39.  Mike Hafner finished with third place honors and round of 85.  Hafner carded six pars and a birdie at the par-3 12th hole.  Walter Menuet finished with fourth place honors and round of 87/40.  Menuet carded eight pars on the round.  David Anthony finished with fifth place honors and round of 87/41.  Anthony carded three pars and birdies at holes 5 and 15.


Hogan Flight:  Michael Campbell (82), Damian Smith (83), David Fok (84), Scott Nagai (86/41), Roger Masek (86/42). 

Michael Campbell made the trip over from the Hill Country Tour worthwhile and goes “back-to-back” after his recent win at the Championship at Falconhead.  Campbell’s winning round of 82 was one stroke clear of the field in the tightly contested Hogan Flight, including eight pars, out in 39 and in with a 43.  Damian Smith returned to tour play and finished with runner up honors and round of 83, one-stroke back.  Smith carded eight pars and a birdie at the par-5 4th hole, out in 39 and in with a 44.  David Fok finished with third place honors and round of 84.  Fok carded eight pars and a birdie at the par-3 3rd hole.  Scott Nagai captured fourth place honors with a tiebreaker over Roger Masek, 86/41.  Nagai carded six pars on the day.  Roger Masek finished with fifth place honors and round of 86/42.  Masek carded three pars and birdies at holes 12 and 15.  


Senior Hogan Flight:  Kevin Thibodeaux (82), Will Whitley (87/42), Betty Ghio (87/44), Robert Nicks (89), L.P. Jones (98).

Kevin Thibodeaux captured his first victory of the season five strokes clear of the field and round of 82.  Thibodeaux carded nine pars and a birdie at the par-3 3rd hole, also closest to the pin winner and near ace.  Will Whitley captured runner up honors with a scorecard tiebreaker over Betty Ghio, 87/42.  Whitley carded four pars and a birdie at the par-3 16th hole.  Betty Ghio finished with third place honors and round of 87/44.  Ghio carded five pars and a birdie at the par-3 3rd hole.  Robert Nicks finished with fourth place honors and round of 89.  Nicks carded four pars and a birdie at the par-5 6th hole.  L.P. Jones made this Sr. Hogan Flight debut after a recent flight promotion and finished with fifth place honors.  Jones round of 98 included five pars.


Sarazen Flight:  Rick Houchins (89), Gary Gum (90), Rick Smalley (95), Kristopher Bixby (96), Kyle Young (97/50).

Rick Houchins, the DC Tour transplant, captured his first victory of the season by one stroke over the field in the tightly contested Sarazen Flight.  Houchins round of 89 included seven pars.  Houchins will be with us through November 2014 and we welcome him to the Houston Tour.  Gary Gum finished with runner up honors and round of 90, one-stroke back.  Gum barley made his tee time after giving late nigh dance lessons, but managed to put together a runner up finish.  Gum carded five pars on the round.  Rick Smalley finished with third place honors and round of 95.  Smalley carded six pars on the day, out in 50 and in with a 45.  Kristopher Bixby finished with fourth place honors and round of 96.  Bixby carded three pars on the day and was out and in with matching 48’s.  Kyle Young captured fifth place honors with a tiebreaker over Blake Barnes, 97/50.  Young carded four pars and a birdie at the par-5 6th hole.  Barnes had four pars and a birdie at the par-3 3rd hole.


Senior Sarazen Flight:  Olan Benge (82), Glynn Aldredge (86), John Scott (91), Mark Kirby (94), Michael Nowotny (104).

Olan Benge, Houston Tour veteran, is no stranger to difficult conditions as he has played in many GCAmTour events over the years.  Benge was able to focus on his round and finished four strokes clear of the field and round of 82 for the victory.  Benge carded six pars and a birdie at the par-4 8th hole.  Glynn Aldredge continues to play well and finished with runner up honors and round of 86.  Aldredge carded seven pars on the day.  John Scott, reining Sr. Jones Flight National Champion, finished with third place honors and round of 91.  Scott carded four pars on the round.  Mark Kirby finished with fourth place honors and round of 94.  Kirby carded two pars and a birdie at the par-4 2nd hole, out in 42, but faded on the back nine. Michael Nowotny finished with fifth place honors and round of 104.  Nowotny carded two pars on the day.



Jones Flight:  David Sipe (87), Wayne Glover (91), Artis Stewart (94/50/35), Rick Halprin (94/50/37), Anthony Parrish (95).

It’s been a long time coming and David Sipe captured his first ever tour victory with an impressive four-stroke clear of the field effort.  Sipe was steady on the round going out in 43 and in with a 44, carding three pars and a birdie at the par-4 1st hole.  Wayne Glover made his tour debut with a nice runner up finish and round of 91.  Glover carded four pars and a birdie at the par-4 9th hole.  Artis Stewart finished with third place honors and tiebreaker over Rick Halprin, 94/50/35.  Stewart carded four pars on the round, out in 44 and with 50.  Rick Halprin captured fourth place honors and round of 94/50/37.  Halprin carded two pars and birdies at holes 2 and 12.  Anthony Parrish finished with fifth place honors and round of 95, one-stroke back.  Parrish carded four pars on the round, out in 47 and in with 48.



Snead Flight:  Elgin Amboree (86), Al Dyar (93), Carl Eaton (106), Tom Eysenbach (113).

Elgin Amboree was a late addition to the field and made it worthwhile, capturing his first victory of the season.   Amboree had an impressive round of 86; seven strokes clear of the field and included six pars, out in 45 and in with 41.  Amboree may have earned the Jones Flight promotion in the process.  It was good to see long time tour player Al Dyar return to play and finish with runner up honors and round of 93.  Dyar’s round of 93 included four pars, out in 45 and in with 48.  Carl Eaton finished with third place honors, following up his victory at Gleannloch Pines, and round of 106.  Eaton carded four pars and went in 48 but faded on the back nine.  Tom Eysenbach returned to tour play and finished with fourth place honors and round of 113.  Eysenbach carded two pars on the round.


In addition to the flight winners, the following players won optional side games:

Closest to the pin $140.00
#3, Kevin Thibodeaux
#5, Art Flores
#12, Rick Halprin
#16, Mike Rayburn

Skins Championship/Palmer:  $30.00
Dennis Walsh, #4 & #7
David Anthony, #5
Robert Corbello, #8
Adam Anderson, #9
Tino Flores, #14

Skins Winners Hogan/Sarazen:  $45.00
Mark Kirby, #2
Damian Smith, #4
Matthew Madden, #7
Olan Benge, #8
Roger Masek, #12 & #15
Will Whitley, #16

Skins Winners Jones/Snead:  $15.00
David Sipe, #1
Rick Halprin, #2 & #12
Wayne Glover, #9
Anthony Parrish, #10
Teryl Houghton, #16 & #17
Woody Casasent, #18

50/50 Raffle:
Nathan Ashley, $200.00

Prizes:
Golf Galaxy $50 gift card, Rusty Stark
Golf Galaxy $50 gift card, Artis Stewart
Bridgestone Balls, Glynn Aldredge
Bridgestone Balls, Mike Murphy

Flight Winners:

Winners
Awards

Winners
Awards
Championship (3)




1st - Gift Certificate
$150.00








Palmer (8)


Senior Palmer (12)

1st - Gift Certificate
$150.00

1st - Gift Certificate
$200.00
2nd - Gift Certificate
$100.00

2nd - Gift Certificate
$100.00



3rd - Gift Certificate
$75.00





Hogan (16)


Senior Hogan (8)

1st - Gift Certificate
$250.00

1st - Gift Certificate
$150.00
2nd - Gift Certificate
$125.00

2nd - Gift Certificate
$100.00
3rd - Gift Certificate
$75.00



4th - Gift Certificate
$50.00








Sarazen (8)


Senior Sarazen (7)

1st - Gift Certificate
$150.00

1st - Gift Certificate
$150.00
2nd - Gift Certificate
$100.00

2nd - Gift Certificate
$75.00





Jones (13)


Snead (4)

1st - Gift Certificate
$200.00

1st - Gift Certificate
$150.00
2nd - Gift Certificate
$125.00



3rd - Gift Certificate
$75.00








Prizes




Trophies
$400.00



Golf Galaxy Gift Cards
$2,550.00



Golf Galaxy
$50.00



Golf Galaxy
$50.00



Bridgestone Balls
$40.00



Bridgestone Balls
$40.00



Skins
$615.00



Closest to Pins
$560.00



Total Prize Pool
$4,305.00



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