Houston Tour Takes the Team Contest
Scott R Chilcutt, New Ulm, TX (December 7, 2014) The Falls Resort and Golf Club in New Ulm, TX came highly recommended as a location for a Houston Tour event while speaking with two gentleman from the Houston Tour during the 2014 - Texas Masters at Barton Creek. Then came a number of members that added the venue to the list with a Start / Stop / Keep correspondence that would require further investigation. After a visit to the facility it became clear, that not only should we contest an event at the site, we should schedule it with the Hill Country Tour in a special two day South Texas Winter Championship.
Mild and mostly dry weather greeted the sold out field to a great test of golf. Challenging greens, with a course set up that attempted to use all the clubs in a player's bag held true to the challenge. Dion Casto (Jones Flight), Mark Boles (Senior Jones Flight) and Bobby Ashcraft (Snead Flight) took advantage of the Srixon Ball Challenge by winning their respective flights and will get a dozen sent to them. The Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving went to Bobby Stokes, by four strokes over Burnie Rodgers.
STROKE PLAY RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Sapulpa, OK traveler, Curt Howard, made par on his first eight holes on Saturday, followed up with a couple of birdies on his back to finish the half way point with a six stroke advantage. Sunday's round would prove to be a little more tumultuous, when Spring Branch, TX player, Mark Miller cut the deficit in half going out, then took the lead after stringing together pars on his first five holes on the back. Swapping the lead for a couple of holes, Miller would then birdie on the par 4 - 17th to look like the Championship was his, only to have a rough final hole and end in the runner up spot. It was Curt's sixteenth win on tour, including four Major Championships. Daniel Desilets of Kermit, TX finished two strokes back of Miller on consistent scoring to finish out the top three.
Palmer Flight: Ron Finnerty of San Antonio, TX took an overnight two stroke lead into the final round on Sunday. Finnerty then took one stroke off his first round total to capture his ninth win on tour. Starting Sunday with a four stroke deficit, Lufkin, TX player, Frank Wallace dropped a stroke on his first nine holes, but played his final nine in +2 jumping over three players for the second place finish. Stringing two birdies together on the par 4 - 18th and par 5 - 1st, Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX advanced a couple of spots to share the show place honors with Orange, TX resident Rick Keszeg, with a birdie of his own on the par 5 - 15th on Sunday.
Senior Palmer Flight: Promoted just before the 2014 Senior National Championship, Iraan, TX player Doug Collins bettered his Saturday start by eight strokes to advance five spots to pick up his fifth win on tour and first since his promotion. In his debut as a Senior Palmer, promoted after his win at the November Katy Classic @ The Golf Club of Cinco Ranch, Bruce Beakley of Houston, TX continued his steady play holding on to his overnight runner up lineup spot. Cypress, TX member, Traylor Sells matched his Saturday scores on the final round and rounded out the top three.
Hogan Flight: Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX used birdies on the par 5 - 1st and par 3 - 8th to drop eight strokes on his second round to take over the lead from Tomball, TX overnight leader James Sheppeard. It was the seventh win on tour for Matthews and first of the season. Matt Purgahn of Orange, TX eliminated five strokes on his final round to advance three spots to share the third place honors with Dallas Tour traveler, Cody Wright.
Senior Hogan Flight: Taking a share of the first round lead into Sunday, Rosharon, TX player Bobby Stokes birdied his tenth hole of the round, the par 5 - 1st to solidify his second win on tour. Kevin Cruthirds of Richmond, TX put it into overdrive on Sunday to card the weekend's low round with four birdies on his back nine to catapult himself from seventh to a share of the runner up finish with Houston, TX resident Robert Hayward.
Sarazen Flight: Kyle Young of Bellaire, TX, led the flight wire to wire to pick up his seventh win on tour, including five during the 2014 points season. Young used a birdie on the par 5 - 15th to stay out in front of first round runner up, Hockley, TX player Ross Gonzales. Gonzales, made birdies on the par 5 - 1st and par 3 - 16th to reduce his Saturday deficit, but fell one stroke shy of the win. Hill Country Tour player, Scott Thompson of Helotes, TX used a pair of birdies on Sunday to get to the third place finish.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Houston Tour member, Greg Faubion of Richmond, TX looked at the leader board on Saturday night and found himself one stroke out of the top three and six strokes out of the lead. As the only player in the top five from his local tour, it must have been just enough motivation on Sunday when Faubion birdied his first hole out of the gate, struggled the rest of the way out, but rebounded for a +4 on the back nine to take off eight strokes from his first day finish to pick up his second win on tour. Charles Sagray of San Antonio, TX held out for the second place honors with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 11th after two birdies on the first round. Haslet, TX player, Burnie Rodgers, with birdies on the par 4 - 4th and par 5 - 5th during the weekend rounded out the top three.
Jones Flight: Dallas Tour player, Dion Casto of Parker, TX led wire to wire to pick up his fourth win on tour and first since the March 2013 - Frisco Lakes Challenge. Casto, shedding a great deal of weight with a vigorous work out schedule, had one birdie on the weekend to finish three strokes ahead of San Angelo, TX first time player Douglas Taylor. Taylor finished two consistent rounds to outpace third place finisher, James Price of Portland, TX.
Senior Jones Flight: One stroke out of the lead on Saturday, Mark Boles from nearby Sealy, TX, with a health scare after the 2014 National Championship, didn't let that slow him down. Boles took three strokes off his first day total to win his fifth Championship on tour with a four stroke advantage over Huntsville, TX resident Neil Macdonald in the second place finish. Scott Sammons of Katy, TX took seven off his first round score to vault into a tie for the third place finish with first year, Eastland, TX member Terry Everts.
Snead Flight: Bobby Ashcraft became a three time winner on tour and first since his relocation to San Antonio, TX from Dallas at the 2011- Grand Prairie Classic @ Tangle Ridge. Ashcraft, the first round leader tried to give it away early in his Sunday round, but righted the ship for his final four holes to win by three. Carl Eaton of Conroe, TX eliminated five strokes on Sunday from his first round score to pick up his third runner up finish in a row. Bryce Kocian of Wharton, TX rounded out the top three with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 18th hole on Sunday.
TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS:
Saturday stroke play results were utilized to pair players for a Sunday (scorecard only) match play championship pitting the Hill Country and Houston Tour players for a special traveling trophy. Early rounds looked as though the Hill Country might make it out of New Ulm with a win, but five of the last seven went to the team from the east for the 12 1/2 - 8 1/2 win. Things are already in the works to set up the rematch in 2015.
Mark Miller v. Patrick Cannon - (HC) M. Miller Won 7 and 6
Ron Finnerty v. Rick Keszeg - (HC) R. Finnerty Won 1 up
Frank Wallace v. Todd VanDerSchaegen - (HOU) F. Wallace Won 5 and 4
Roger Masek v. Chris Wadle - Match halved
Doug Collins v. Bob Fuller - (HC) D. Collins Won 6 and 4
Bruce Beakley v. Larry Susen - (HOU) B. Beakley Won 2 and 1
Derrick Matthews v. James Sheppeard - (HC) D. Matthews Won 7 and 6
Matt Wolfe v. Ronnie Davis - (HOU) M. Wolfe Won 2 and 1
Bobby Stokes v. Darrell Wilson - (HOU) B. Stokes Won 4 and 3
Robert Hayward v. Robert Jalnos - (HOU) R. Hayward Won 2 up
Greg Faubion v. Charles Sagray - (HOU) G. Faubion Won 5 and 3
James McKee v. Jim Craig - (HC) J. McKee Won 3 and 1
Mark Kirby v. Michael Brewer - (HOU) M. Kirby Won 2 and 1
Bobby Ashcraft v. Bryce Kocian - (HC) B. Ashcraft Won 2 and 1
Carl Eaton v. Christopher Cobb - (HOU) C. Eaton Won 4 and 2
Robert Haddon v. Jimmy Clanin - (HOU) R. Haddon Won 6 and 5
John Merritt v. Marshall Sweed - (HC) J. Merritt Won 1 up
Kyle Young v. Scott Thompson - (HOU) K. Young Won 1 up
Ross Gonzales v. C.D. Dunem - (HOU) R. Gonzales Won 4 and 3
Kristopher Bixby v. Michael Hill - (HOU) K. Bixby Won 1 up
Carlos Cruz v. Patrick Richardson - (HC) C. Cruz Won 2 up
SKINS:
Saturday - DAY 1
Giant SKINS: ($110/each) 1 -- Daniel Desilets, Kermit, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Bob Fuller, Magnolia, TX; Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX.
Championship / Palmer/ Senior Palmer: ($105/each) 1 -- Mark Echols, Diana, TX; Daniel Desilets, Kermit, TX; David Anthony, Cypress, TX; Bob Fuller, Magnolia, TX.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: ($76/each) 1 -- Ronnie Davis, Converse, TX; Gus Aldana, Houston, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Darrell Wilson, Georgetown, TX; Robert Hayward, Houston, TX.
Sarazen: ($65/each) 2 -- Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX. 1 -- Devin Brown, San Antonio, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX.
Senior Sarazen: ($40/each) 2 -- Charles Sagray, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- James McKee, Abilene, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX.
Jones / Senior Jones / Snead: ($72/each) 2 -- Mark Boles, Sealy, TX. 1 -- Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX; Terry Everts, Eastland, TX; Marshall Sweed, Sugar Land, TX.
Sunday - DAY 2
Giant SKINS: ($70/each) 2 -- Kevin Cruthirds, Richmond, TX. 1 -- Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Chris Wadle, Coupland , TX; David Anthony, Cypress, TX; Bruce Beakley, Houston, TX; Charles Sagray, San Antonio, TX; Matt Wolfe, Groves, TX; John Merritt, Kerrville, TX.
Championship / Palmer / Senior Palmer: ($50/each) 1 -- Mark Echols, Diana, TX; Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK; Chris Wadle, Coupland , TX; Dave Davlin, San Antonio, TX; Rick Keszeg, Orange, TX; David Anthony, Cypress, TX; Bruce Beakley, Houston, TX.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: ($48/each) 3 -- Kevin Cruthirds, Richmond, TX. 2 -- Matt Wolfe, Groves, TX. 1 -- Randy Tate, Sugarland, TX; Manny Martinez, Cisco, TX.
Sarazen: ($40/each) 2 -- Devin Brown, San Antonio, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX. 1 -- Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX; Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX.
Senior Sarazen: ($34/each) 2 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX. 1 -- Charles Sagray, San Antonio, TX; James McKee, Abilene, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX.
Jones / Senior Jones / Snead: ($50/each) 1 -- Douglas Taylor, San Angelo, TX; Daryl Nixon, Taylor, TX; John Merritt, Kerrville, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX; Bryce Kocian, Wharton, TX; Terry Everts, Eastland, TX; Scott Sammons, Katy, TX.
DAY 1 - CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
($150/each) #3 - Ed Neeley - 11'0"; #8 - Curt Howard - 20"; #12 - Carl Eaton - 2'11"; #14 - Matt Purgahn - 6' 8"
DAY 2 - CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
($150/each) #3 - Kevin Cruthirds - 13'4"; #8 - Scott Thompson - 4'6"; #12 - Ed Neeley - 6'3"; #14 - John Merritt - 9' 4"
NEXT UP:
The 2015 Calendar Season takes off on Saturday, January 24th, 2015 at The Port Aransas Open to be contested at Palmilla Beach Resort. REGISTRATION CLOSES on Friday, January 16th, 2015 at 11:59PM EST
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
