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Monday, August 18, 2014

GCAmTour-Houston, Tour Championship at Gleannloch Pines


Jeff Zemencsik (Houston, TX) – GCAmTour-Houston, August 16-17, 2014.  The GCAmTour-Houston Tour Championship at Gleannloch Pines produced Year End Flight Champions, Tournament Champions, “Sudden Death” Playoffs, Eagles, Birdies, and Pars, Oh My!  A nice August weekend for golf, HOT, WINDY, and COMPETITIVE.  


The Course:  Gleannloch Pines Golf Club, Spring, Texas.  The course was in good summer condition with green tees, fairways, and THICK rough.  The greens were in good condition as well, smooth and fast, running 9-10.     

The Weather:  A beautiful summer weekend along the Texas Gulf Coast, HOT and WINDY.  It was a great weekend to be outside with blue sky, a mix of clouds, and plenty of sunshine.  The temperatures were in the mid 90’s, hot and humid.  The winds were relatively calm early and grew stronger as the day went on, from the S 10-15mph for most of the day.   The last groups were blessed with a nice cool afternoon shower.

The Tournament: 

Championship Flight:  Martin Nealey (154), Jeff Whitzel (154), Nathan Ashley (159), Daniel Lokey (160), Aaron Pickering (161). 

“Sudden Death Playoff” determines the winner of the Championship Flight at GCAmTour-Houston event at Gleannloch Pines Golf Club.  Martin Nealey and Jeff Whitzel both carded matching low tournament two-day totals of 154.  The playoff hole was Gleannloch Pines 28th hole, the island green par-3.  On the first playoff hole it was Martin winning it with a par-3 as Whitzel found trouble off the tee.  Nealey had several milestones with this win.  This was Nealey’s third win of the season, a repeat winner at Gleannloch, and propelled him to finish as Runner-Up Year End Flight Champion.  In regulation play Nealey carded rounds of 76/78, including seventeen pars and birdies at holes 1 and 12, and 6, 7, 8.  Jeff Whitzel had a great season and finished with runner up honors and rounds of 74/80, including eighteen pars and birdies at holes 6, 7, 17 and 1.  Nathan Ashley open with the tournament lead and low round of 73 but couldn’t hold on and finished with third place honors.  Ashley carded rounds of 73/86 including eighteen pars and birdies at holes 4, 16, 17 and 6.  Ashley also carded a two-under back nine of 33 on day one.  Daniel Lokey finished with fourth place honors and two-day total of 160, including rounds of 80/80.  Lokey carded nineteen pars and a birdie at the par-4 11th on day two.  Aaron Pickering finished with fifth place honors and two-day total of 161, including rounds of 85/76.  Pickering carded nineteen pars, a birdie at 13 and an EAGLE-3 on the par-5 7th hole, a birdie at the 11th(R2). 


Palmer Flight:  Cedric Smith (154), Frank Wallace (157/37/22), John Hunt (157/37/24), Tino Flores (157/40), Bill Gomez (169).

Cedric Smith put an exclamation point on a great season by winning the Tour Championship, his fourth victory of the season, including a Major at the San Antonio Open at La Cantera.  Smith opened day one with the lead and round of 79 and closed it with a round of 75, two-day total of 154 and three strokes clear.  Smith carded twenty-one pars and birdies at holes 16 and 1 & 3.  The win propelled Smith to top honors and earned Year End Flight Champion-Palmer.  Frank Wallace finished with runner up honors and two-day total of 157/37/22, with rounds of 82/75.  Wallace carded twenty-one pars and birdies at holes 2 and 14(R2).  Wallace also captured three wins on the season and a runner up finish at the Horseshoe Bay Major.  John Hunt finished with third place honors and two-day total of 157/37/24 with rounds of 83/73.  Hunt carded twenty-three pars and birdies at holes 7 and 9(R2).  Tino Flores finished with fourth place honors and two-day total of 157/40, with rounds of 80/77.  Flores carded twenty pars, and EAGLE-3 at the par-5 7th, and birdie at the par-4 12th(R2).  Bill Gomez made the trip down from the Indiana Tour worthwhile and finished with fifth place honors and two day total of 169, with rounds of 84/85.  Gomez carded eleven pars and birdies at holes 5(R1) and 12(R2).


Senior Palmer Flight:  Alan Collier (160), Robert Corbello (160), Traylor Sells (161), Kevin Turner (164/38), Bob Fuller (164/42).

“Sudden Death Playoff” determines the winner of the Senior Palmer Flight at GCAmTour-Houston event at Gleannloch Pines Golf Club.  Alan Collier and Robert Corbello both carded matching two-day totals of 160.  The playoff hole was Gleannloch Pines 28th hole, the island green par-3.  With a gallery of 20+ watching from inside and out, the epic playoff battle began.  Both players were a bit nervous on the first playoff hole and carded matching 5’s on the par-3.  On the second playoff hole Collier, backed up on the fringe near the bulkhead, switched clubs and proceeded to chip in for birdie.  Undaunted, Corbello lined up his birdie put from 8-10’ and covered Collier.  On the third playoff hole both players carded par-3 again.  On the fourth playoff hole Collier carded par-3 as Corbello couldn’t convert on the long par putt.  Congrats to Collier for saving his best for last and winning the Tour Championship!   In regulation play, Collier carded rounds of 76/84, including eighteen pars and birdies at holes 7 and 17(R1).  Corbello finished with runner up honors and end to his best season on tour, capturing the 2014 Senior Palmer Flight Championship.  Corbello had an amazing six-win season including two Major wins, Horseshoe Bay and The Texas Masters at Barton Creek.  In regulation play Corbello carded fifteen pars and birdies at holes 4(R1) and 3, 14(R2).  Traylor Sells finished with third place honors and two-day total of 161, with rounds of 80/81.  Sells carded sixteen pars and birdies at holes 4(R1) and 7,16(R2).  Sells also finished T2 at the Puerto Rico Major, his top of the year.  Kevin Turner finished with fourth place honors and two-day total of 164/38, carding rounds of 80/84.  Turner carded twenty pars and a birdie at the par-4 7th(R1).    Bob Fuller finished with fifth place honors and two-day total of 164/42, including rounds of 79/85.  Fuller carded thirteen pars and birdies at holes 5 and 11(R1). 


Hogan Flight:  James Sheppeard (166), Tom Dyer (166), Roger Masek (167), Jeff Stahlhut (169/39), Gus Aldana (169/42).

“Sudden Death Playoff” determines the winner of the Hogan Flight at GCAmTour-Houston event at Gleannloch Pines Golf Club.  James Sheppeard and Tom Dyer both carded matching two-day totals of 166.  The playoff hole was Gleannloch Pines 28th hole, the island green par-3.  On the first playoff hole it was Sheppeard making birdie-2 for the victory, his second win of the season.  In regulation play Sheppeard carded rounds of 82/84 with nineteen pars and a birdie at the par-4 12th(R1).  Dyer carded rounds of 83/83 with eleven pars and birdies at holes 10(R1) and 11, 13(R2).  Roger Masek finished with third place honors and two-day total of 167, rounds of 82/85.  Masek carded eighteen pars and a birdie at the par-3 15th hole (R1).  Masek had a good season and finished with two wins including a victory at Hill Country Tour Championship and finished with Runner-Up honors for the Year End Flight Champion.  Jeff Stahlhut finished with fourth place honors and two-day total of 169/39, including rounds of 89/80.  Stahlhut carded sixteen pars and a birdie at the par-5 14th hole (R2).  Stahlhut recorded one victory on the season at the Redstone Spring Classic.  Gus Aldana finished with fifth place honors and two-day total of 169/42, including rounds of 81/88.  Aldana was the first round leader but couldn’t hole on for the victory.  Aldana carded fifteen pars.


Senior Hogan Flight:  Daryl Epperson (159), Tim VanLandingham (160), Michael Walker (166), Bobby Stokes (169/42/26/12/4), Chris Neeley (169/42/26/12/5).

Daryl Epperson finished off a great season and captured the Tour Championship with a two-day total of 159, one stroke clear of the field.  Epperson opened with a leading round of 76 and followed it up with an 83.  Epperson’s victory also catapulted him to top honors for season, earning the Senior Hogan Flight Year End Champion, Order of Merit.  Epperson’s rounds of 76/83 included nineteen pars and birdies at holes 4, 11, 18 (R1) with an impressive 1-under par back nine of 35 (R1).  Tim VanLandingham made the trip over from the Hill Country Tour worthwhile.  VanLandingham made a charge and finished one-stroke back with a two-day total of 160, rounds of 82/78.  VanLandingham was charging but fell just short, missing a tap in putt along the way.  VanLandingham carded nineteen pars and birdies at holes 18 (R1) and 14 (R2).  Michael Walker finished with third place honors and two-day total of 166, rounds of 80/86.  Walker carded fifteen pars and a birdie at the par-4 5th hole.  Walker carded one victory on the season and a T2 at the Sooner State Showdown Major.  Bobby Stokes finished with fourth place honors and round two-day total of 169/42/26/12/4, with rounds of 85/84.  Stokes carded eleven pars and birdies at holes 6 and 17 (R1) and 7 and 9 (R2).  Stokes had one win on the season at the Wilderness Shootout.  Chris Neeley finished with fifth place honors and round two-day total of 169/42/25/12/5, with rounds of 87/82.  Neeley carded fourteen pars and birdie at the par-3 5th hole (R1).  Neeley had one victory on the season at the Woodlands Tournament Course and a T3 at the Bayou Classic Major.



Sarazen Flight:  Massimo Passini (171), Gary Gum (172/45), Rick Smalley (172/47), Greg Smith (173/40/22), Hubert Buffalo (173/40/26).

Massimo Passini had a few milestones at the Houston Tour Championship at Gleannloch Pines.  Passini captured his third victory of the season, was a repeat winner at Gleannloch, and won the Tour Championship.  Passini carded a two-day total of 171, with rounds of 83/88 for the wire-to-wire victory.  Passini carded seventeen pars along the way.  Gary Gum finished with runner up honors and two-day total of 172/45, with rounds of 84/88.  Gum carded thirteen pars for the event.  Gum captured two tournament wins over the season, Cypress Lakes and The San Antonio Masters.  Rick Smalley finished with third place honors and round of 172/47, with rounds of 86/86.  Smalley carded eleven pars and birdies at holes 2, 6, and 13 (R2).  Smalley had a good season and finished up with runner up honors for Year End Flight Champion, Order of Merit capturing a win at the Redstone Spring Classic.  Greg Smith finished with fourth place honors and two-day total of 173/40/22, with rounds of 88/85.  Smith carded ten pars, a birdie at the par-5 14 (R2) and THE SHOT OF THE TOURNAMENT.  During round 2 on the par-4 13th, Smith purred a 4-iron from 185yds and made EAGLE-2!  Smith also had a T2 finish at the Sooner State Showdown Major this season.  Hubert Buffalo finished with fifth place honors and two-day total of 173/40/26, with rounds of 89/84.  Buffalo carded sixteen pars during the event.


Senior Sarazen Flight:  Keith Gannon (157), Mark Kirby (158), Craig Duncan (161/39), L.P. Jones (161/41), Olan Benge (161/44).

Keith Gannon finished strong and fired a closing round of 77 to win by one stroke over the field in the tightly contested Senior Sarazen Flight.  Gannon carded a two-day total of 157, with rounds of 80/77.  Gannon carded fifteen pars and birdies at holes 3 and 15 (R1) and 8 and 16 (R2).  Gannon’s win also propelled him to finish the Year End Flight Order of Merit with runner up honors.  Mark Kirby was the leader after day one with an opening round of 77.  Kirby played well on day two and followed up with a round of 81, but fell one stroke short, two-day total of 158.  Kirby carded seventeen pars and birdies at holes 5, 11, and 16 (R1).  Kirby had one victory on the season at the High Meadow Ranch Memorial.  Craig Duncan finished with third place honors and two-day total of 161/39, with rounds of 81/80.  Duncan carded seventeen pars and birdies at holes 3 (R1) and 4, 17 (R2).  Duncan had three top-3 finishes on the season.  L.P. Jones finished with fourth place honors and two-day total of 161/41, with rounds of 81/80.  Jones carded seventeen pars and birdies at holes 16 (R1) and 8 (R2).  Jones had three top-3 finishes on the season.  Olan Benge finished with fifth place honors and two-day total of 161/44, with rounds of 79/82.  Benge carded twenty pars and a birdie at the par-3 17th hole (R2).  With the strong finish, Benge also secured the Year End Flight Champion Order of Merit for Senior Sarazen.  Benge had three victories on the season including a recent win at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek Major.


Jones Flight:  Patrick Richardson (164), Marcy Glidden (169), Rick Halprin (173), Ray Bednar (175), Mike Murphy (176).

Patrick Richardson had a breakout event and captured his third victory of the season.  Richardson fired a career low tournament round of 80 on day one and backed it up with a round two total of 84.  Richard won the Tour Championship and secured runner up honors for the Year End Flight Champion Order of Merit.  Richardson also captured three wins this season and Top-3 at the Bayou Classic at Lake Charles.  Richardson’s two-day total of 164 included seventeen pars and birdies at holes 4 (R1) and 4 (R2), including a front nine of one-over par 37 on day two.  Marcy Glidden finished with runner up honors and two-day total of 169, with rounds of 88/81.  Glidden carded ten pars and birdies at holes 1 and 4 (R2), including an amazing front nine total of one-over par 37 on day two.  Glidden also captured Year End Flight Champion Order of Merit Runner-Up honors, finishing runner up at Horseshoe Bay Major and runner up at the Bayou Classic at Lake Charles Major.  Rick Halprin finished with third place honors and round of 173, with rounds of 85/88.  Halprin carded twelve pars and birdies at holes 16 and 17 (R1) and 9 (R2).  Halprin had one win on the season, Walden on Lake Conroe, a runner up finish at the Horseshoe Bay Major and a Top-3 at the Bayou Classic at Lake Charles Major.  Ray Bednar finished with fourth place honors and two-day total of 175, with rounds of 89/86.  Bednar carded eight pars and a birdie at the par-3 1st hole (R2).  Bednar had four top-3 finishes or better on the season.  Mike Murphy finished with fifth place honors and two-day total of 176, with rounds of 84/92.  Murphy carded sixteen pars and a birdie at the par-3 15th hole (R1).  Murphy had two top-3 finished on the season.


Snead Flight:  Javier Quintero (176), Carl Eaton (185), Robert Viator (188), Art Henry (192/47/28), Rick Hagel (192/47/31). 

Javier Quintero goes wire to wire and captured his fourth victory of the season; nine strokes clear of the field and two-day total of 176.  Quintero opened with a great round of 87 and closed it with a nice finish and 89.  Quintero carded eleven pars at the event.  The win also secured the Year End Flight Championship Order of Merit for Quintero.  Other victories this season were High Meadow Ranch, Wilderness, and The Bayou Classic at Lake Charles Major.  Carl Eaton finished with runner up honors and two-day total of 185, with rounds of 92/93.  Eaton carded nine pars and a birdie at the par-3 10th hole (R1).  Eaton also captured the Year End Flight Championship Order of Merit for Senior Snead.  Eaton had two wins on the season, Gleannloch Pines in the fall and The Woodlands Player Signature.  Robert Viator finished with third place honors and two-day total of 188, with rounds of 90/98.  Viator carded seven pars at the event.  Viator had one win on the season at Quail Valley.  Art Henry finished with fourth place honors and two-day total of 192/47/28, with rounds of 101/91.  Henry carded ten pars and a birdie at the par-4 16th hole (R2).  Henry had one victory on the season at the Legends of Golf Classic at Onion Creek.  Rick Hagel finished with fifth place honors and two-day total of 192/47/31, with rounds of 96/96.  Hagel carded six pars and a birdie at the par-5 11th hole (R2).  Hagel had a top-3 finish at the Texas Master at Barton Creek Major this season.


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

Closest to the pin $150.00
Larry Viktorin, #3         Jeff Whitzel, #1
Chris Neeley, #5          Kendall Hisey, #6
Tom Dyer, #10             Harry Johnson, #8
Roger Masek, #15       Art Henry, #15
Rick Halprin, #17        Craig Duncan, #17
 
Skins Championship/Palmer:  $27.00 & $65.00
Martin Nealey, #1 & #12            Frank Wallace, #2
Jeff Whitzel, #6                           Martin Nealey, #8
Damian Smith, #8                        John Hunt, #9
Bob Fuller, #11
Aaron Pickering, #13
Art Flores, #18

Skins Winners Hogan/Sarazen:  $165.00 & 125.00
Michael Castenada, #4             Rick Smalley, #2
Jeff Burke, #7                           Tom Dyer, #11
Tom Dyer, #10                         Greg Smith, #13 (EAGLE-2)
                                                 Craig Duncan, #17

Skins Winners Jones/Snead:  $22.00 & $20.00
Bilal Jordan, #5                         Mike Murphy, #5
Mark Boles, #7                        Scott Sammons, #7
Carl Eaton, #10                        Harry Johnson, #8
Mike Murphy, #14 & #15         Rick Hagel, #11
Rick Halprin, #16 & #17           Javier Quintero, #13
                                                 Art Henry, #16
                                                 Anthony Parrish, #18

Troops First 50/50 Raffle:
Terry Collins, $350.00
Bill Schuster, $350.00

Prizes:
La Torretta-2, Mike Murphy                           G25 Driver, Martin Nealey
La Torretta-2, Harry Johnson                          Cobra Driver, Daniel Lokey
Quail Valley-2, Gary Gum                                Callaway Driver, Cedric Smith
Quail Valley-2, Scott Nagai                              Odyssey Pro Putter, Larry Viktorin
River Ridge-4, Ray Bednar                              Nike Method Putter, Scott Sammons
Eagle Pointe-4, Marcy Glidden                        Nike Method Putter, Dwayne London
Cinco Ranch-4, Rickey Felts                            Nike Method Putter, Art Henry
Golf Club of Houston-4, Aaron Pickering         Nike Method Putter, Rick Halprin
Woodlands-2, George Smith                            Titleist Bag, Robert Corbello
Woodlands-2, Tim VanLandingham
Woodlands Player-2, Chris Neeley
Woodlands Player-2, L.P. Jones
High Meadow Ranch-4, Terry Collins
Walden on Lake Conroe-4, Damian Smith
Wilderness-2, Del Hocker
Wilderness-2, Art Flores


Flight Winners:
Winners
Awards

Winners
Awards
Championship (5)




1st - Gift Certificate
$300.00



2nd - Gift Certificate
$100.00








Palmer (7)


Senior Palmer (9)

1st - Gift Certificate
$300.00

1st - Gift Certificate
$300.00
2nd - Gift Certificate
$150.00

2nd - Gift Certificate
$200.00





Hogan (10)


Senior Hogan (17)

1st - Gift Certificate
$300.00

1st - Gift Certificate
$400.00
2nd - Gift Certificate
$200.00

2nd - Gift Certificate
$300.00
3rd - Gift Certificate
$100.00

3rd - Gift Certificate
$200.00



4th - Gift Certificate
$100.00





Sarazen (14)


Senior Sarazen (12)

1st - Gift Certificate
$350.00

1st - Gift Certificate
$350.00
2nd - Gift Certificate
$250.00

2nd - Gift Certificate
$250.00
3rd - Gift Certificate
$150.00

3rd - Gift Certificate
$150.00
4th - Gift Certificate
$100.00








Jones (14)


Snead (9)

1st - Gift Certificate
$350.00

1st - Gift Certificate
$300.00
2nd - Gift Certificate
$250.00

2nd - Gift Certificate
$200.00
3rd - Gift Certificate
$150.00



4th - Gift Certificate
$100.00








Prizes




Trophies
$1,000.00



Golf Galaxy Gift Cards
$5,900.00
-
Tournament

Golf Galaxy Gift Cards
$3,600.00
-
Flight Champions

Prizes (Golf & Gear)
$7,000.00



Skins
$1,680.00



Closest to Pins
$1,500.00




$20,680.00




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