The South Texas Winter Championship - Day 1

Scott R Chilcutt, New Ulm, TX (December 5, 2015)  The Houston and Hill Country Tours hosted the South Texas Winter Championship over the weekend in New Ulm, TX.  Outside of New Ulm, a small community between Houston and San Antonio, sits The Falls Resort and Golf Club.  

The Falls, and its locale is truly a destination Resort and Golf Club. Off the beaten path, the facility, while weathered over the years, keeps the course in tip top shape.  With course Superintendent, Jeremy Lewis, at the helm, the track is a pure gem in South Texas.  Over seeded greens just weeks prior to the event, were in excellent shape and only your imagination and higher scores would be a tribute to putts from above the hole.  

Mark Miller (Championship Flight), Will Whitley (Senior Hogan Flight) and Jimmy Clannin (Snead Flight) were "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning their prospective flights playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to them for the win. Steve Wade grabbed the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, with +1 - 72 Net Score.



RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Spring Branch, TX, player Mark Miller, starting on the 10th tee, took a comfortable four shot lead to the turn.  Birdie on the par 5 - 1st would spread the advantage, but a few tough holes would bring the field back to Miller, picking up his twenty second win on tour, that includes four Major Championships.  The defending champion of the event, Curt Howard of Sapulpa, OK, put together two consistent scores, but couldn't get into the lead.  Fannett, TX, member Damon Garcia, finished one stroke back of Howard, with a birdie on the par 5 - 5th to round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Playing in his second round on tour, Oscar Gonzalez from San Antonio, TX, was able to overcome some tough holes and ruling issues to take home the hardware.  One stroke back, the pair of Sugar Land, TX, resident Roger Masek and, Chris Wadle of Coupland, TX, shared the runner up honors.

Hogan Flight:  Coming off a lackluster year in 2015 after a promotion to the Palmer Flight in 2014, Brack Blackwood of Granbury, TX, is showing his form in the Hogan Flight.  After his tenth win his last time out at Sonterra in San Antonio, Brack followed up with his eleventh win with the help of a birdie right out of the gate on the first hole, the par 5 - 1st.  Two strokes back, San Antonio, TX, player John Heintz carded his best finish since the October 2014 season opener at Teravista Golf Club on the Hill Country Tour.  Two strokes back of Heintz, Kyle Young of Bellaire, TX, and Magnolia, TX, member, Tom Dyer, split the third place finish.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Cypress, TX, player Will Whitley, starting on the back nine, matched two other players in the field with a +4 - 40, but then brought on the pressure after making the turn.  Whitley, made two consecutive birdies at the par 4 - 2nd and par 3 - 3rd, that would be just enough for his fifth win on tour, including one Major Championship at the March 2015 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay.  One stroke back, Jimmie Chambers of Wharton, TX, carded a birdie on the par 4 - 2nd, and then followed with an eagle on the par 5 - 5th, to get into contention for his best finish on tour.  Also securing his best finish on tour, Steve Wade of Cordillera Ranch, TX, rounded out the top three, four strokes out of the win.

Sarazen Flight:  French Canadian born, Massimo Passini, of Houston, TX, made a double on his final hole of the day, but had just enough cushion to finish out his thirteenth championship on tour.  Les Costales, of Austin, TX, made a birdie on the par 3 - 16th to get him in contention, but fell one stroke shy of the win and two strokes ahead of a trio knotted in the third place finish.  Kristopher Bixby of nearby Katy, TX,  San Antonio, TX, player CD Dunem and JD Schott of Marion, TX, with a birdie on the par 3 - 3rd, split the show place finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Traveling member Rodney Wren of Dallas, TX, bounced back from a  nine on the par 4 - 17th to force a playoff with a par on his final hole of the day with Montgomery, TX, player Doyle Wofford.  Back to the tenth tee for the sudden death, Wofford would prevail for his sixth win on tour, including a Major Championship.  Three strokes back, Mark Kirby of Bridge City, TX, with a birdie on the par 4 - 2nd, and Richland Hills, TX resident, Tim Brown split the third place finish.

Jones Flight:  First year player, Joe Michetti of Montgomery, TX, followed up his rain shortened win at the Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit Major Championship with his second in four attempts.  Two strokes back, El Campo, TX, player Jeff Wadsworth, picked up his third runner up finish to go with a win in last summer's Cedar Park Challenge.  William Speck of Corpus Christi, TX, a promoted Snead Player after his Flight Championship awards in 2015, rounded out the top three.

Senior Jones Flight:   Dallas Tour player, Larry Tolson of Fairview, TX, birdied the par 4 - 6th to take a commanding four stroke victory, his eighth win on tour, including two Major Championships. Four strokes back, the trio of Joseph Tyson of Austin, TX, Brookshire, TX, player Marcy Glidden and Neil Macdonald of Huntsville, TX split the runner up honors.

Snead Flight:  Jimmy Clanin, of Pflugerville, TX made it three in his last three attempts.  Clanin a winner his last outing of the 2015 points season at Falconhead in Austin, picked up a win in the November Fall Challenge at Sonterra to keep the streak alive.  One stroke back, Arlington, TX member Don Freitag, captured the runner up finish.  Corrigan, TX, player Mike Murphy with a birdie on the par 4 - 6th rounded out the top three.




SKINS:

Giant Skins:  ($70/each)  1 -- Jimmie Chambers, Wharton, TX; Stephen Lamb, Garland, TX; Bryce Kocian, Wharton, TX; Will Whitley, Cypress, TX; Darren Bufton, Bedford, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK.

Championship / Palmer:  ($86/each)  1 -- Todd McLane, Orange, TX; Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX; Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK.

Hogan:  ($70/each)  2 -- Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX. 1 -- Brack Blackwood, Granbury, TX; Darren Bufton, Bedford, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($55/each)  1 -- Jimmie Chambers, Wharton, TX; Larry Murphy, Cypress, TX; Will Whitley, Cypress, TX; George Smith, Magnolia, TX.

Sarazen:  ($60/each)  1 -- Kristopher Bixby, Katy, TX; Massimo Passini, Houston, TX; John Schott, Marion, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($22/each)  2 -- Michael Bell, Pearland, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Rodney Wren, Dallas, TX. 1 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Olan Benge, Wharton, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($95/each)  2 -- Zane Latham, Valley View, TX. 1 -- John Pickens, Montgomery, TX; Jeff Gregory, Montgomery, TX.

Snead:  ($20/each)  3 -- Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX. 2 -- Jimmy Clanin, Pflugerville, TX; Mike Murphy, Corrigan, TX. 1 -- Bryce Kocian, Wharton, TX; Don Freitag, Arlington, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($167/each)  #3 - Will Whitley - 1' 3 1/2";  #8 - Travis Nichols - 14' 8";  #12 - Larry Murphy  - 5' 8";  #14 - Greg Faubion - 4' 2 1/2"".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Back to action after the New Year:

Hill Country - Houston Tours will travel back to Palmilla Beach Resort for the Port Aransas Open on January 30th, 2016.  Registration closes on Friday, January 22nd.

The Dallas Tour opens the 2016 year in North Richland Hills, TX at the Iron Horse Open on Sunday February 28th, 2016 with an entry deadline of Friday, February 19th.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Director - Texas Tours

Dallas  Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Houston Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

www.gcamtour.com

The Cypress Open - Continues the 2016 Points Season

Scott R Chilcutt, Cypress, TX (November, 14, 2015)  The Houston Tour of the Golf Channel AM Tour continued the 2016 Points season with it's second of three events before the strike at midnight on New Years eve, bringing in the new calendar year.  Despite the nearby construction closures and traffic gridlock, Cypress Lakes Golf Club held true to its fast pace of play, with all 31 pairings finishing the round in under 4 hours 30 minutes.

Javier Quintero (Snead Flight) was "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning his flight playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to him for the win. Bobby Stokes grabbed the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, with a career low round on tour.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  It took two players from the final pairing of the flight to put up some scores that would need more holes to settle the score.  Derek Husband of Kingwood, TX, and Tomball, TX, member, Kyle Stewart, matched front nine back nine scores, both with three birdies on the round, and headed back out to the #1 hole for the sudden death playoff.  In the end, Stewart took home the hardware, his first on tour. For Husband, it was his best finish after winning his first time out at the June, 2015 Friendswood Challenge.  Finishing three strokes back of the pair, Josh Stout of Houston, TX, a two time winner on tour, rounded out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Playing the front nine in even par, with a birdie on the par 3 - 7th, Harrison Hastings of College Station, TX, controlled the flight and never looked back.  Adding another birdie on the par 5 - 10th, Hastings would give up four strokes to par on the final eight, but finished with a solid two stroke victory, his first on tour.  Runner up, Missouri City, TX, resident, Wayne Taylor, looked to make it close, but just couldn't overcome the three stroke disadvantage making the turn.  Two, Senior Palmer players in the combined flight, 2014 National Champion in the Senior Hogan Flight, Ernie Dyer of Orange, TX, and first time Cypress, TX, player, Brad Bailey shared the third place finish.

Hogan Flight:  Inching closer to a performance promotion, Tom Dyer of Magnolia, TX, made it two for two in the 2016 points season after winning the opener at Tour 18.  With two birdies on the day and a two stroke win, Dyer has now played his last five tournaments with three wins and two runner finishes. With the flight starting on the 10th hole, Groves, TX, player Matt Wolfe took two strokes off his first nine, to record his best finish since winning just over a year ago at Cinco Ranch with the second place honors. Three strokes back of Wolfe, first time player  Craig Zietsman of Cypress, TX, recorded a show place finish with a birdie on the par 5 - 8th.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Richmond, TX, member Christopher Phillips, remained steady with three birdies on the day and pars on his final two holes to edge out Dallas Tour traveler, Rick Swanson of Carrollton, TX by a stroke.  For Phillips it was his seventh win on tour, including one Major Championship at 2015 TRUE linkswear Amatuer at Pinehurst.  Swanson, starting on tour in June, collected his best finish with Richmond, TX, member Eddey Neeley, putting a string of birdies together at 13, 14 and 15 to collect the third place points.

Sarazen Flight:  Rick Smalley of College Station, TX, started the day out with a birdie on the par 5 - 10th to collect his third win on tour.  Smalley, tried to give it away on his final hole, but managed to card a double, just enough for the one stroke advantage over Jeff Chen of Pearland, TX after he birdied his last frame. One stroke back of Shen, the trio of Katy, TX, player Adam Bray, San Antonio, TX, member CD Dunem and John Schott of Marion, TX, split the third place honors.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Rosharon, TX, player, Bobby Stokes put together the round of his career on the AM Tour.  Stokes, now a four time winner on tour, carded only two bogey's on the day to go along with 16 pars to finish six strokes clear of second place finisher, Chris Neelley, of Spring, TX. Neelley, with a birdie on the par 4 - 2nd, just edged out a hard charging Show Low, AZ, traveler, Dave Godley, by one stroke.  Godley finished his round with a birdie on the par 4 - 6th, one under over his last four holes to snatch third place over a trio just behind him in fourth.

Jones Flight:  After a runner up finish at Tour 18, his last time out, it was only a matter of time before Heath Rood of Porter, TX, stood atop of the podium. Rood with a birdie on the par 4 - 6th, set out on a tear to finish off his first win, five strokes clear of second time tour, Spring, TX, tour player Richard Lagrone.  Rounding out the top three, Joe Michetti from Spring, TX, followed up his Major Championship win at the rain shortened Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit his last time out, one stroke out of second.

Senior Jones Flight:   Starting his third year on tour, Nederland, TX, member, Wayne Glover, grabbed his first win in a big way.  With the help of a birdie on the par 3 - 7th, Glover put together a pair of 43's enroute to a four stroke win over, second place finisher, Neil Macdonald from Huntsville, TX.  Macdonald, the 2015 Senior Jones Flight points champion and Club Glove Staff bag recipient cleared third place Houston, TX, honoree, David Sipe by three strokes.

Snead Flight:  Javier Quintero from Houston, TX, continues his dominance at Cypress Lakes.  Now an eighteen time winner on tour, with at least one win in each of his eight years on tour.  During those eight years on tour, Javier has competed in six events at Cypress Lakes, with five wins and one T3 finish.  Starting on the 10th tee, Quintero, went out on his first five holes in even par with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 13th to finish four strokes ahead of The Woodlands, TX, player,  Jim Lamberth, taking the second place honors. This was Lamberth's second in as many attempts after a runner up at the October Grand Cypress Challenge Major Championship in Florida.  Ray Bednar, of Houston, TX got it within one of Lamberth with a par on his final hole to round out the top three.

 
SKINS:

Giant Skins:  ($130/each)  1 -- Eddey Neeley, Richmond, TX; Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX; Harrison Hastings, College Station, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($40/each)  2 -- Kyle Stewart, Tomball, TX. 1 -- Marc Duncan, Cypress, TX; Damon Garcia, Fannett, TX; Harrison Hastings, College Station, Tx; Wayne Taylor, Missouri City, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  ($35/each)  2 -- Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX. 1 -- Arthur Flores, Houston, TX; Eddey Neeley, Richmond, TX; David Anthony, Cypress, TX; Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX; Mike Rayburn, Montgomery, TX.

Sarazen:  ($17/each)   3 -- John Schott, Marion, TX; Rick Smalley, College Station, TX. 1 -- Douglas Key, Daphne, AL; C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($73/each)   1 -- William Criss, Houston, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($30/each)  3 -- Wayne Glover, Nederland, TX. 2 -- David Sipe, Houston, TX. 1 -- Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX.

Snead:  ($25/each)  2 -- Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX; Javier Quintero, Houston, TX. 1 -- Art Henry, Victoria, TX; Perry Dragon, Houston, TX; Bryce Kocian, Wharton, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($130/each)  #4 - Damon Garcia - 5' 5";  #7 - Dave Godley - 3' 0";  #11 - Matt Wolfe  - 8' 2";  #15 - Rick Swanson - 6'.

Upcoming Texas Events:

Players from around the state take on a sold out field at Sonterra Golf Club on Saturday, November 21st for the Fall Challenge at Sonterra on the Hill Country Tour.

After a Thanksgiving weekend break, more will flock to The Falls in New Ulm, TX, for the two tournaments in two days at the South Texas Winter Championship on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday December 6th.  Tournament spots and accommodations at the destination resort are sure to sell out, so register today to secure your place at the final event of the 2015 calendar year.  

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Director - Texas Tours

Dallas  Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Houston Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

www.gcamtour.com

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Houston Tour Takes the Journey Through Tour 18

Scott R Chilcutt, Humble, TX (October 11, 2015)  Tour 18 Houston, situated in Humble, TX, replicates a collection of some of the greatest golf holes in the country.  For most of us, the chance to play holes at Augusta, Colonial, and Pebble Beach are merely a dream, so opening the Golf Channel AM Tour Houston 2016 points season seemed appropriate to start the dreaming.

Players welcomed cool morning temperatures for the Fall Challenge in Humble, especially those that endured the sweltering heat in LaQuinta, and a beautiful south Texas day followed to open the new points year.  It was a tale of two nines for many of the players in the sold out event.  Nine hole scores, many of which were low, only seemed to retreat back to the field when the day was done, when some kicked into gear coming back to the clubhouse.

Mark Donohue (Senior Sarazen Flight) was "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning his flight playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to him for the win. Kristopher Bixby grabbed the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, breaking into the 70's for the first time of his GC AM Tour career.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Katy, TX, player Jefred Villalobos has now played four tournaments on the Golf Channel AM Tour and in each he has taken home the hardware.  Villalobos, started the day with a double on the par 4 - 1st, followed with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd and then added three more birdies coming to the club house including his final two holes for the victory.  First time tour player, Jacob Hiett of Houston, TX started a little shaky,  but finished his final eleven holes with three birdies and a back nine even par 36 to finish two strokes out of the lead.  Lake Charles, LA, Senior Championship player, Randy Tadlock, matched front nine, back nine scores with two birdies on the day to round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Looking out of contention after going +10 on his first eight holes, Roger Masek of Sugar Land, TX, finished the final ten holes in three under par, with four birdies to pick up his ninth win on tour, and second since his promotion to the Palmer Flight.  Orange, TX, player Todd McLane started the day strong with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd, but got on a bogey train that ended with consecutive pars on his final two holes to finish just one stroke back.  Playing the front nine in -2, Robert Corbello of Vidor, TX flipped his two sides with Masek to complete his round two strokes out of the lead with the final podium finish.

Hogan Flight:  Mike Karlin of Houston, TX, Sugar Land, TX member, Derek Matta and Tom Dyer from Magnolia, TX all finished regulation knotted in the top spot.  Starting the day on the #10 tee,  Karlin came out swinging early with a birdie on the par 3 - 11th going -1 after three, but got into some trouble before finishing his last five holes with par.  Matta shot consistent scores on both nines, birdieing his second to last hole the par 4 - 8th to get a spot in the playoff, while  Dyer took six strokes off his front nine card to go +2 on the back forcing his way into a playoff spot.  Back to the tenth hole for the playoff, it would be Dyer, riding the momentum of a strong final nine to cap off the win with a par for his fifth win on tour.

Senior Hogan Flight:  George West, TX, player, Terry Jackson, on hiatus from the tour for three years, came back with a vengeance.  Terry made consecutive birdies on the par 4 - 12th and par 5 - 13th to pick up the win by four strokes over Harold Jackson of Baytown, TX, with a birdie of his own on the par 4 - 8th.  One stroke back of Jackson, Mike Innes of The Woodlands, TX with one birdie on the day and Richmond, TX member, Christopher Phillips, carding three birdies, shared the third place honors.

Sarazen Flight:  Four of the top five players ride the wave of National Championship bids just weeks earlier.  Rick Houchins of Houston, TX and Katy, TX resident, Kristopher Bixby, matched scores on the front at one over par, but Houchins was able to outlast Bixby coming to the club house by a single stroke.  It was Houchins thirteenth win on tour and could likely be his last event as a Sarazen Flight player, with a Tournament Index that is looking towards a Hogan Flight promotion.  For Bixby, with two birdies on the day, it was a career low score, his first in the 70's on tour.  Massimo Passini of Houston, TX, tied in the fifth spot at the National Championship after the first round, rounded out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  2015 Senior Sarazen Flight Champion from the Dallas Tour, Mark Donohue of Lewisville, TX continues his strong play into the 2016 season.  Donohue, starting the day on the tenth hole, took three strokes off on the back, and with par on the final hole, the par 3 - 9th (Sawgrass 17th) picked up his sixth win on tour by a stroke.  Just out of the top spot, the trio of Burnie Rodgers of Haslet, TX another Dallas Tour player, Bridge City, TX player Mark Kirby and Bruce LeGrand of Houston, TX shared the runner up honors.

Jones Flight:  With the flight starting on the day on the tenth, James Price of Portland, TX, overcame a 10 on the first hole, added a couple of birdies at the par 4 - 16th and par 4 - 18th to stay in the game.  Porter, TX, member Heath Rood, got the best of the flight on his back nine to force a playoff with Price.  Back to the sudden death affair, Price was able to make par picking up his fifth win on tour.  Rood, with his best finish on tour took home the runner up honors with a pair of players tied up in the show position finish.  First time players, Joe Michetti of Montgomery, TX and Spring, TX, member Richard Lagrone, shared the third place honors.

Senior Jones Flight:  Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX, took five strokes off her front nine score to force extra holes with David Sipe of Houston, TX.  Back to their starting hole the par 5 -10th for the playoff, Sipe would make par for the second time on the day for his seventh win on tour, three of them coming at Major Championships.  For Glidden, the runner up finish, matched her last time out at a local event, second place honors at the 2015 Tour Championship at Blackhorse.  Sharing the third pace finish, two strokes back were John Pickens of Montgomery, TX and Vidor, TX player Randy Adcock.

Snead Flight:  Conroe, TX player Carl Eaton made par on his final hole of the day to edge out Javier Quintero for his fifth win on tour, one of them coming at 2015 Major Championship, the Srixon Championship at La Cantera.  Perry Dragon of Houston, TX, made birdies at the par 4 - 5th and par 5 - 13th to take home the third place awards.






SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($150/each)  1 -- Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX; Michael Castaneda, League City, TX; Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX; James Price, Portland, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($40/each)  2 -- Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX. 1 -- Marc Duncan, Cypress, TX; Robert Corbello, Vidor, TX; Wayne Taylor, Missouri City, TX.

Hogan:  ($22/each)  1 -- Mike Karlin, Houston, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; Tom Dyer, Magnolia, TX; Derek Matta, Sugar Land, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX; Bryan Wood, Leander, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($35/each)  2 -- Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX; Kevin Cruthirds, Richmond, TX. 1 -- Michael Castaneda, League City, TX; Harold Jackson, Baytown, TX; Terry Jackson, George West, TX; John Reynolds, Beaumont, TX; Kevin Thibodeaux, Port Arthur, TX.

Sarazen:  ($40/each)  3 -- Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX. 1 -- Judson Severson, College Station, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($52/each)  2 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX. 1 -- L.P. Jones, Houston, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX; Michael Bell, Pearland, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($43/each)  2 -- James Price, Portland, TX. 1 -- Tommy Templin, Hurst, TX; Lee Isham, Cypress, TX; David Sipe, Houston, TX; Jeff Wadsworth, El Campo, TX.

Snead:  ($40/each)  4 -- Perry Dragon, Houston, TX. 2 -- Rick Hagel, Beaumont, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX.



CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($155/each)  #6 - Kevin Cruthirds - 4' 1 1/2";  #9 - Jorge Rodriguez - 3' 0";  #11 - Mike Karlin  - 4' 7";  #15 - L.P. Jones - 4' 11".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Fresh off the 2015 National and Senior National Championships, where three of six Senior National Championship honors came home to the State of Texas, the 2016 points season is underway.

The Dallas Tour opens the 2016 points campaign in Frisco for the Frisco Lakes Challenge on Saturday, October 24th.  ENTRY DEADLINE is Friday, October 16th at 11:59 PM - EST.

New to the Hill Country Tour, the private club in Georgetown, opens the season for The Georgetown Fall Open at Berry Creek Country Club.  REGISTRATION CLOSES on Friday, October 16th at 11:59 PM - EST. 

FALL MAJOR - Don't miss the double points Major at The Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit on Saturday, November 7th and Sunday November 8th.  In addition, to two outstanding golf courses in Philadelphia, MS, great casino action on the grounds will keep you busy when not on the course.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Director - Texas Tours

Dallas  Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Houston Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

www.gcamtour.com

Houston Flight Champions Grab the Awards on Sunday

Scott R Chilcutt, Cypress, TX (August 16, 2015)  Bringing a close to the year, setting up for National and Senior National Championship bids in September, marks another historic chapter with the Golf Channel AM Tour on the Houston Tour.

The 2015 Points Campaign in Houston came to a close on Sunday at Blackhorse Golf Club in Cypress, TX.  Beginning the points year in October 2014 nearby at Cypress Lakes, 15 events made up the local schedule with a couple of excursions to New Ulm and Port Aransas and nearly 2,500 competitive rounds were played from players around the country.

Competing for year end awards, this year included a customized and personalized staff bag from Club Glove. This season in addition to the Flight Champion awards, a special Player of the Year bag was also given.



FLIGHT CHAMPIONS (ORDER OF MERIT POINTS The Journey to Better), awards presented by Clipper Wealth Management, Compressor Designs, Inc. and Universal Pressure Pumping.  

Championship Flight Champion:    Josh Stout of  Houston, TX made a run at the points Championship at Blackhorse, but wasn't able to catch the points leader.  Vidor, TX player, Aaron Pickering, ended the season with a 120 points advantage. Pickering, not able to join us for the Tour Championship, had his best season on tour,  picking up three wins early on the season to make it seven on tour.  Aaron, added a third place finish at the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera in June for his best Major finish on tour to take Flight Champion honors.

Senior Championship Flight Champion:  Seemingly locked into the points Championship when the top two were not looking to play the last event, Gordon Wagner of Sugar Land, TX got snuffed out with a change of plans and late arrival of Spring, TX, player David Ortego.  Ortego made an early exit from a weekend event out of town to play the Tour Championship and secure his eligibility for the Senior National Championship.  In six events, during his first year on tour, David, won two, had a third place finish at Battle for Homstead IV Major Championship and finished ten points ahead of Wagner for the Club Glove Staff Bag.

Palmer Flight Champion:  Heading into the Tour Championship, James Shepeard of  Tomball, TX and Spring, TX, player Aaron Brougher were tied at the top. Sheppeard with eighteen events on the year has a distinct disadvantage with a flight change adjustment and Brougher's eleven events.  At the end of the day, the net points, swung towards Aaron for the Flight Championship award.  Both players, self promoted at different times of the year were looking to get better, and play has proven that. Brougher the 2015 Flight Champion winner, won the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera in late June to go with previous wins, including Major Championships.

Senior Palmer Flight Champion:  Local tour player, Traylor Sells of Cypress, TX had a slim, 100 point lead heading into the Tour Championship at Blackhorse.  Self promoted during the season to the Senior Championship Flight, Robert Corbello of Vidor, TX, found the number of Senior Championship Flight contests were going to be tough to find and with an eligible Palmer Tournament Index, Corbello moved back to the flight.  On Tour Championship weekend, Robert, did just enough plus more, shooting the low round of the flight on Saturday and solidifying the Flight Champion award by winning the Tour Championship.
   

Hogan Flight Champion:  Sugar Land, TX, resident, Derke Matta, started the Tour Championship with a 150 points lead, but had to hold off a surging Gus Aldana, from Houston, TX, to collect the Flight Champion award.  Aldana jumped into the runner up finish over Steve Nagy of Sugar Land, TX with his weekend performance and finished just 60 points behind the top spot.  Playing in his first year on tour, Matta, didn't get to the winners circle, but gained points on the field with a runner up at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay in March and fourth place finish at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek in August.

Senior Hogan Flight Champion:  Never far out of the top spot, George Smith of Magnolia, TX showed perseverance would win a Championship.  Fourth place at The Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit, a T3 at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay, a runner up at the Red River Shootout at Winstar, and a third at the Srixon Championship at La Cantera.  Smith, led wire to wire at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek the first of August to propel him into the top points spot for the Club Glove staff bag, customized with his name on top of a Flight Champion moniker.

Sarazen Flight Champion:  Entering the final event, Blake Barnes of Deer Park, TX, held a slight lead over Houston, TX, player Rick Houchins, but that lead faded at the Tour Championship.  Houchins, with a fifth place finish was just enough to grab the flight champion award by twenty points. Playing in 18 events on the points season, Rick was in the top five on thirteen occasions and had two wins, including the Hill Country Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio bringing his total wins on tour to twelve.

Senior Sarazen Flight Champion:  Playing in nineteen events on the season, Jim Craig of San Felipe, TX, started out his his winning ways in March in Hawaii.  Added a top three at the Western Masters weeks later to solidify his Senior National Championship qualification.  With eleven top fives on the season, Craig snatched another win at the tough, AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antionio for the Hill Country Tour Championship before finishing the Houston Tour Championship at Blackhorse with a T3 to bring home the Flight Championship.

Jones Flight Champion:  Wayne Waldrep of Spring, TX, wasn't able to compete at the Tour Championship with a scheduled trip to Florida at the end of the weekend, but it didn't matter.  Waldrep, in his first year on tour was able to put together three wins on the local level, a top three at the Arkansas Championship in Hot Springs and a runner up finish at Srixon Championship @ La Cantera.  Over his eleven event campaign on the season, Wayne carded finishes, more that half (6), in the top five to win the points championship by 115 points.

Senior Jones Flight Champion:  Traveling, Huntsville, TX, player Neil Macdonald made his rounds this year.  Competing in 37 events on the points year, Macdonald made the starting times at 10 Major Championships.  With a T3 at the Battle for Homestead IV, then followed up for third place finish at the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera, Neil set up his National Championship qualification on a few fronts and he added a win at the March event in Galveston for a 75 points lead over Mike Murphy of Corrigan, TX.   

Snead Flight Champion:  Javier Quintero from Houston, TX, playing on tour since 2009, grabbed his National Championship qualification with a third place showing at the Red River Shootout at Winstar in May, followed up with a win at the Friendswood Challenge his next time out at Timber Creek in June and finished the season never out of the top four.  It was Quintero's third points championship and second in as many years.

Senior Snead Flight:  With a Major Championship under his belt on the points season, Conroe, TX, resident, Carl Eaton made the call at fifteen events. A win at the Masters @ Magnolia on the local schedule, Eaton sat on the top of the podium at the Srixon Champion @ La Cantera.   A runner up in the next two events, Carl then grabbed a third place finish at the Texas Masters @ Barton Creek to finish 195 points ahead of a surging Robert Haddon.    

Hill Country Tour, PLAYER OF THE YEAR, presented by HIGGINBOTHAM: The special award was set up and presented by Higgenbotham, a Business Insurance and Financial Services Company that services the state of Texas with home offices in Fort Worth.  The player from each tour in the state selected by the committee, with feedback from the membership that met a series of criteria, including having been promoted and continued The Journey to Better by excelling in the new flight.

Facing a certain promotion from the Hogan Flight, James Sheppeard of Tomball, TX, opted for the self promotion route before the three day Major swing in Oklahoma.  Coming off a win at The Masters @ Magnolia, his third of the new year, Sheppeard won his first event as a Palmer on the special Friday tournament at Dornick Hills in Ardmore, OK.  Since that swing, James went on to win four more local tour events, while placing second at the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera.  Just short of the Flight Championship points lead, Sheppeard was clearly the Player of the Year on the Houston Tour.

Upcoming Texas Events:

Dallas crowns the year end champions at the Tour Championship.  The Tribute Golf Links, closed since the floods in late May, should be in excellent conditions for the Dallas Tour Championship on August 22nd and 23rd.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Director - Texas Tours

Dallas  Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Houston Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467

schilcutt@gcamtour.com