Scott R Chilcutt, Katy, TX (November 8, 2014) The Golf Club at Cinco Ranch, conveniently located to the west side of Houston in Katy, TX played host to the second Houston Tour Event of the 2015 points season on the Golf Channel AM Tour. Beautiful weather with only a scattering of clouds and an occasional sprinkle welcomed tour players to reasonably paced rounds, well under 4 1/2 hours for all groups, and absent any pace of play penalties for the second time on the 2015 points season.
Christopher Phillips came up short in a playoff for his Flight Championship, but went on to win the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving. Bruce Beakley, took advantage of the Srixon Ball Challenge, winning his flight and putting another dozen balls in his bag.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Vidor, TX member Robert Corbello came into the weekend, self promoted to the Championship flight wanting to compete and did he. Corbello, birdied the par 4 - 8th to get himself into contention playing the back nine in +3 to force a playoff with fellow Vidor, TX player, Aaron Pickering. Pickering, with two birdies on the front side, went to the extra holes and finished out his fifth win on tour, three holes into the sudden death with a birdie to cap off the win. Senior Championship player, Fred Rich from Tomaball, TX and Damon Garcia of Fannell, TX shared the third pace honors.
Palmer Flight: Frank Wallace of Lufkin, TX, playing the par 4 - 13th longer than the rest of the field with an errant shot, carded two birdies on the par 3 - 5th (2'2") and the par 5 - 15th for his first win on the year and twenty second on tour. First year player, Cameron Null playing out of the Hill Country Tour finished three strokes back for the runner up finish with Kyle Heinrich of Houston, TX, in his second event on tour, rounding out the top three.
Senior Palmer Flight: Playing in his second event, Whitney, TX resident, John Price started the round on the rough side, but finished his back nine in +2 for his first win on tour. Three strokes back, Arthur Flores of Houston,TX with a birdie on the par 4 - 13th edged out a pair in the third place finish. Harold Jackson of Baytown, TX and his birdie on the par 3 - 12th and Cypress, TX member Traylor Sells, with a birdie on the par 4 - 2nd split the third place finish.
Hogan Flight: Starting his day on the tenth hole, Matt Wolfe of Groves, TX made par on seven of his first eight holes, stumbled making the turn, but righted the ship with a birdie on the par 4 - 8th to pick up his first win on tour. Two strokes back, visiting Washington DC Tour player, Kevin Green of Gainesville, VA birdied his ninth hole, the par 4 - 10th to secure the runner up finish with James Sheppeard of Tomball, TX and Hill Country Tour player Ronnie Davis of Converse, TX splitting the third place honors.
Senior Hogan Flight: Bruce Beakley of Houston and Richmond, TX player Christopher Phillips came to the end of regulation, all square. Going back out for a sudden death playoff it would take the pair four more holes to settle the score, when Beakley made a birdie on the par 4 - 13th. It was Beakley's seventh win on tour after picking up three straight runner up finishes on the 2015 points season and most likely his last event as a Senior Hogan with a promotion looming in his future. Mike Hafner from nearby Katy, TX grabbed the show position finish with his sub 80 round.
Sarazen Flight: Bryan Young of Houston, TX cruised along the front nine +3, made seven pars in a row during his mid round, and then came to the par 4 - 13th where he carded a +5 - 9. Young would bounce back two holes later with a birdie on the par 5 - 15th for a three stroke win, his third win on tour and first since the 2013 The Woodlands Player "Challenge". Rick Smalley of College Station, TX, with two birdies on the day secured the runner up finish, one stroke ahead of Houston, TX, player Rick Houchins rounding out the top three.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Houston resident, John Scott carded birdies on the par 3 - 5th, par 4 - 7th and par 5 - 15th for his fifth win on tour, one of the five coming at the 2013 Senior National Championships. Marty Hodges of Richmond, TX fell just one stroke short for the runner up finish with Cypress, TX resident Will Whitley staking claim to the third place finish.
Jones Flight: With a T2 and T3 finish already on the books for the points season, Woody Casasent of Barker, TX broke through for his first win on tour edging out Rick Halprin of Houston by one stroke on the front nine. Mark Dion of Spring, TX and Brookshire, TX player Marcy Glidden split the third place honors two strokes back of Halprin.
Snead Flight: Perry Dragon of Houston, carded two birdies on the day to become another first time winner on tour. Four strokes back, playing in his first event on tour since the 2011 season opener, Rick Blount also of Houston, secured the runner up spot with Stephen Sater of Sugar Land, TX and Bryan, TX first year member Robert Haddon knotted up to round out the top three.
SKINS:
Giant SKINS: ($90/each) 2 -- Aaron Pickering, Vidor, TX. 1 -- Matthew Elwell, Houston, TX; Arthur Flores, Houston, TX; Kevin Green, Gainesville, VA; Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX.
Championship: ($30/each) 2 -- Aaron Pickering, Vidor, TX. 1 -- Hayden Adair, College Station, TX; Josh Stout, Houston, TX; Robert Corbello, Vidor, TX; Damon Garcia, Fannett, TX.
Palmer / Senior Palmer: ($55/each) 2 -- Wayne Taylor, Missouri City, TX. 1 -- Kyle Heinrich, Houston, TX; Frank Wallace, Lufkin, TX; Arthur Flores, Houston, TX; Harold Jackson, Baytown, TX.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: ( $45/each) 2 -- Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX. 1 -- Matthew Elwell, Houston, TX; Kevin Green, Gainesville, VA; James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX; Matt Wolfe, Groves, TX; Bill Schuster, Jersey Village, TX; George Smith, Magnolia, TX.
Sarazen: ($22/each) 3 -- Bryan Young, Houston, TX. 2 -- Rick Smalley, College Station, TX. 1 -- Rick Houchins, Houston, TX; Michael Hill, Live Oak, TX.
Senior Sarazen: ($30/each) 2 -- John Scott, Houston, TX. 1 -- Robert Hayter, Houston, TX; Marty Hodges, Richmond, TX; Will Whitley, Cypress, TX.
Jones / Snead: ($20/each) 3 -- Perry Dragon, Houston, TX. 2 -- Thomas Dubrock, Friendswood, TX; Rick Blount, Houston, TX. 1 -- Woody Casasent, Barker, TX; Mike Murphy, Corrigan, TX; Rick Halprin, Houston, TX.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
($145/each) #3 - Kyle Heinrich - 3'11"; #5 - Frank Wallace - 2'2"; #12 - Marty Hodges - 8'0"; #16 - Larry Viktorin 1' 4 3/4"
NEXT UP:
The Hill Country Tour resumes action at the Winter Championship @ Canyon Springs on Saturday November 22nd.
Next on the Houston Tour schedule players from around the state will take on The Falls Golf Resort and Club in New Ulm, TX for the two day South Texas Winter Championship on December 6th and 7th. While single rooms are still available for this event most of the Villa's are sold out. If you plan on playing, book your accommodations early.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
