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Sunday, January 26, 2014

GCAmTour-Houston, Moody Gardens Kickoff Classic Tournament, January 25, 2014


Jeff Zemencsik (Houston, TX) – GCAmTour-Houston players “Kickoff” the 2014 season at Moody Gardens Golf Club in Galveston, TX.  Just a day before, the area received an arctic cold front that brought ice and extremely low temperatures.  The weather turned and brought clear blue skies, lighter than normal winds, and warming temperatures to 50+ degrees during the tournament.  Players tackled the difficult conditions early in the morning and took advantage of the improved conditions throughout the day, producing some very competitive scoring. 


The Course:  Moody Gardens Golf Club, Galveston, TX.  The course was in great condition with semi-green tees, fairways, and putting surfaces.  The Paspalum turf provided for very nice playing conditions in the winter.  The greens were in excellent condition, smooth and fast, running 10+.   

The Weather:  Just a day or two before the event, an Arctic cold front brought unseasonably cold temperatures to the Houston area.  At 9:00am tee off, temperatures were close to freezing with a wind chill in the upper 20’s.  As predicted, the weather made a turn for the better as sunshine and blue skies warmed the area to 50+ by the afternoon.  Winds were unusually light for Galveston, from the N early and turning toward the NW, W, and SW later at 10-15mph. 

The Tournament: 

Championship Flight:  Travis Nichols (80), Randy Tadlock (81), Babak Mobasheri (82), Corey Freeland (83), Jan Peebles (87).

Travis Nichols made his 2014 season debut with a victory at Moody Gardens in the closely contest Championship Flight played from 6,850+ yds.  Nichols one stroke victory round of 80 included eleven pars and a 2-over back nine of 38.  Randy Tadlock had his opportunity to capture the victory but came up one stroke short in the end with a round of 81.  Tadlock carded nine pars and a birdie at the par-5 1st hole, out in 39 and in with 42.  Babak Mobasheri finished with third place honors and round of 82, just one-stroke back.  Mobasheri carded seven pars and birdies at holes 5 and 15.  Corey Freeland made his tour debut and finished with fourth place honors and round of 83, one-stroke back.  Freeland carded eight pars and a birdie at the par-5 1st hole.  Jan Peebles finished with fifth place honors and round of 87.  Peebles carded seven pars and a birdie at the par-5 1st hole.


Palmer Flight:  Adam Anderson (80), Frank Wallace (81), Hampus Larsson (83), Cedric Smith (86), Bryan Wood (90/47). 

Adam Anderson captured his first victory of the 2014 season in the tightly contested Palmer Flight and round of 80.  Anderson’s one stroke victory round included five pars and birdies at holes 1, 7, 10, and 17.  Anderson also defended his 2012 season victory at Moody Gardens, now a two-time winner.  Frank Wallace finished with runner up honors and round of 81.  Wallace carded nine pars and a birdie at the par-4 10th hole.  Hampus Larsson finished with third place honors after his victory at Cinco Ranch last month.  Larsson carded a round of 83, including eight pars and birdies at holes 2 and 14.  Cedric Smith finished with fourth place honors and round of 86.  Smith carded eight pars on the round.  Bryan Wood finished with fifth place honors and round of 90/47.  Wood carded eight pars on the day but found trouble at the 14th hole. 


Senior Palmer Flight:  Robert Corbello (72), Art Flores (84/41/26), Kevin Turner (84/41/27), Todd McLane (87/42), Ernie Dyer (87/43).

Robert Corbello is off to a fast start in 2014, capturing his second consecutive victory after his win a Cinco Ranch last month.  Corbello fired the tournament low round of even-par 72, including nine pars, birdies at holes 6, 8, and 17, and an EAGLE-3 at the par-5 1st hole!  Art Flores finished with runner up honors and round of 84/41/26, his third top-3 of the season.  Flores carded nine pars on the round.  Kevin Turner finished with third place honors and round of 84/41/27, losing the second tiebreaker.  Turner carded nine pars on the round.  Todd McLane finished with fourth place honors and round of 87/42.  McLane carded seven pars and a birdie at the par-5 11th hole.  Ernie Dyer finished with fifth place honors and round of 87/43.  Dyer carded eight pars and a birdie at the par-4 10th hole.

Hogan Flight:  Scott Nagai (83), Michael Campbell (84), Mike Rayburn (85), Aaron Brougher (86), Peter Brohn (89).

Scott Nagai captured his first victory of the 2014 in the tightly contested Hogan Flight with a one stroke win and round of 83.  Nagai cared six pars and birdies at holes 1 and 3, going out in 1-over par 37 and in with 46.  Michael Campbell made his trip over from the Hill Country Tour worthwhile and finished with runner up honors and round of 84.  Campbell followed up his victories at Falconhead and Cinco Ranch with a runner-up at Moody Gardens.  Campbell carded seven pars and a birdie at the par-4 12th hole.  Mike Rayburn finished with third place honors and round of 85.  Rayburn carded ten pars but found some trouble at the 16th hole.  Aaron Brougher finished with fourth place honors and round of 86.  Brougher carded six pars and birdies at holes 10 and 17.  Peter Brohn finished with fifth place honors and round of 89.  Brohn carded five pars and a birdie at the par-4 12th hole.


Senior Hogan Flight:  Daryl Epperson (81), Kevin Thibodeaux (84/40), Christopher Phillips (84/44), L.P. Jones (85), Keith Grissom (86).

Daryl Epperson is off to a fast start in 2014, capturing his second victory of the season in as many starts.  Epperson followed his victory at Gleannloch Pines with a victory at Moody Gardens.  Epperson’s round of 81 included eight pars and back-to-back birdies at holes 16 and 17, winning three strokes clear.  Kevin Thibodeaux finished with runner up honors and round of 84/40, following up his win at Cinco Ranch.  Thibodeaux carded six pars and birdies at holes 14 and 17.  Thibodeaux also won the Troops First 50/50 raffle, a $350.00 grab!  Christopher Phillips finished with third place honors and round of 84/44.  Phillips carded nine pars and a birdie at the par-3 4th hole.  Phillips now has three top-2 finishes or better on the season!  L.P. Jones finished with fourth place honors and round 85.  Jones carded nine pars on the day.  Keith Grissom finished with fifth place honors and round of 86.  Grissom carded seven pars and birdies at holes 5 and 17. 


Sarazen Flight:  Scott Thompson (86), Kyle Young (90), Rick Smalley (92), Kristopher Bixby (97), Jeff Greenwood (98).

Scott Thompson made his trip over from the Hill Country Tour worthwhile and captured his first victory of the 2014.  Thompson’s round of 86 was four strokes clear of the field and included eight pars and a birdie at the par-5 5th hole.  Kyle Young finished with runner up honors and round of 90.  Young carded eight pars on the day and went out in 42, but found trouble coming in at the 10th and 11th holes.  Rick Smalley finished with third place honors and round of 92.  Smalley carded seven pars on the round, out and in with matching 46.  Kristopher Bixby finished with fourth place honors and round of 97, just one-stroke back.  Bixby managed two pars on the round.  Jeff Greenwood returned to tour play and finished with fifth place honors and round of 98.  Greenwood carded two pars on his round.



Senior Sarazen Flight:  Larry Viktorin (85), Greg Faubion (87), Glynn Aldredge (89), Olan Benge (91), Walter White (92/46).

Larry Viktorin captured his first victory of the 2014 season, following his top-3 finish at The Links at Cottonwoods Major at Tunica.  Viktorin also defended his Moody Gardens victory in 2011, now a two-time winner.  Viktorin’s winning round of 85 was two strokes clear of the field and included nine pars and a birdie at the par-4 10th hole.  Greg Faubion finished with runner up honors and round of 87.  Faubion carded five pars and birdie at the par-4 15th hole.  Glynn Aldredge finished with third place honors and round of 89.  Aldredge how has three top-3 finishes in as many starts.  Aldredge carded five pars on the round.  Olan Benge followed up his victory at Cinco Ranch with a fourth place finish at Moody Gardens.  Benge carded eight pars en route to finishing score of 91, finding trouble at 13-16.  Walter White finished with fifth place honors and round of 92/46.  White carded two pars on the day along with a nice birdie at the par-3 17th.



Jones Flight:  Blake Barnes (89), Patrick Richardson (90/43), Woody Casasent (90/47), Melissa Wood (98), William Speck (101).

Blake Barnes captured his first victory of the 2014 season by just one stroke over Patrick Richardson and Woody Casasent.  Barnes winning round of 89 included six pars and a birdie at the par-3 9th hole, also closest to pin winner.  Patrick Richardson finished with second place honors and round of 90/43.  Richardson carded four pars and a birdie at the par-3 4th hole.  Woody Casasent finished with third place honors and round of 90/47.  Casasent carded an amazing nine pars but found trouble on 14-16.  Melissa Wood finished with fourth place honors and round of 98.  Wood carded four pars on the round but found trouble at 15 and 18.  William Speck finished with fifth place honors and round of 101.  Speck carded five pars on the round but couldn’t keep the big numbers off the card. 



Senior Jones Flight:  George Torres (88), Ray Bednar (96), Mark Dion (97), David Sipe (98/49), Mike Murphy (98/50).

George Torres captured his first victory of the 2014 season with an impressive eight strokes clear round of 88.  Torres carded five pars on the round, going out and in with matching 44’s; managing to keep the big numbers low.  Ray Bednar finished with runner up honors and round of 96.  Bednar carded three pars on the round, out with 49 and in with 47.  Mark Dion finished with third place honors and round of 97.  Dion carded four pars on the round but found trouble at holes 1 and 13.  David Sipe followed up his victory at Cinco Ranch with a fourth place finish at Moody Gardens.  Sipe managed six pars on the round but found trouble at 8 and 18.  Mike Murphy finished with fifth place honors and round of 98/50.  Murphy carded four pars on the round but also found trouble at holes 14 and 18. 


Snead Flight:  Bryce Kocian (94), Carl Eaton (99), Myron Brown (101/48), Tim Thayer (101/50), Art Henry (102).

Bryce Kocian captured his first victory of the 2014 season with an impressive five stroke clear round of 94.  Kocian managed four pars on the round, going out with 48 and in with 46.  Carl Eaton finished with runner up honors and round of 99.  Eaton carded one par on the round, out with 51 and in with 48.  Myron Brown finished with third place honors and round of 101/48.  Brown carded four pars on the day, out with 53 and in with 48.  Tim Thayer finished with fourth place honors and round of 101/50.  Thayer carded two pars on the round, out with 51 and in with 50.  Art Henry made his tour debut with a fifth place finish and round of 102.  Henry carded five pars on the round but found trouble at holes 8 and 18.  Henry also won closest to pin at the par-3 6th hole. 


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

Closest to the pin $180.00
#4, Dennis Walsh
#6, Art Henry
#9, Blake Barnes
#13, David Arnold
#17, John Ray

Skins Championship/Palmer:  $20.00
Robert Corbello, #1(EAGLE-3), #6, #8
Dennis Walsh, #4
Babak Mobasheri, #5 & #15
Adam Anderson, #7
Todd McLane, #11
David Arnold, #13
Tino Flores, #14


Skins Winners Hogan/Sarazen:  $160.00
Doug Watson, #9
Chris Neeley, #13
Daryl Epperson, #16

Skins Winners Jones/Snead:  $115.00
Blake Barnes, #9
Wayne Glover, #17

50/50 Raffle:
Kevin Thibodeaux, $350.00

Prizes:
Golf Galaxy $50 gift card, Myron Brown
Golf Galaxy $50 gift card, Will Whitley
Bridgestone Balls, Randy Tadlock
Bridgestone Balls, Denis Villere

Flight Winners:

Winners
Awards

Winners
Awards
Championship (5)




1st - Gift Certificate
$150.00



2nd - Gift Certificate
$50.00








Palmer (8)


Senior Palmer (10)

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 (15)


Senior Hogan (18)

1st - Gift Certificate
$250.00

1st - Gift Certificate
$250.00
2nd - Gift Certificate
$125.00

2nd - Gift Certificate
$125.00
3rd - Gift Certificate
$75.00

3rd - Gift Certificate
$100.00
4th - Gift Certificate
$50.00

4th - Gift Certificate
$75.00



5th - Gift Certificate
$50.00





Sarazen (12)


Senior Sarazen (13)

1st - Gift Certificate
$200.00

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

2nd - Gift Certificate
$125.00
3rd - Gift Certificate
$75.00

3rd - Gift Certificate
$75.00





Jones (6)


Senior Jones (12)

1st - Gift Certificate
$150.00

1st - Gift Certificate
$200.00
2nd - Gift Certificate
$50.00

2nd - Gift Certificate
$100.00



3rd - Gift Certificate
$75.00





Snead (12)




1st - Gift Certificate
$200.00



2nd - Gift Certificate
$100.00



3rd - Gift Certificate
$75.00








Prizes




Trophies
$450.00



Golf Galaxy Gift Cards
$3,650.00



Golf Galaxy
$50.00



Golf Galaxy
$50.00



Bridgestone Balls
$40.00



Bridgestone Balls
$40.00



Skins
$910.00



Closest to Pins
$900.00



Total Prize Pool
$6,090.00