Golf Channel AM Tour Houston: May 2015

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Dodging the Storms - Player Championship

Scott R Chilcutt, The Woodlands, TX (May 19, 2015) The Player Course at The Woodlands Country Club played host to the Player Championship on the Houston Tour. The Gary Player design puts a premium on shot making, with narrow fairways, water hazards and tricky sight lines.

With the abundance of rain and storms over the entire state of Texas, the weather forecasts would have made this event a wash out. Monday morning storms in the area, gave way to help dry out some of the venue for the Tuesday morning start times, well at least they were able to pick balls for the range, allowing players to warm up.

Gary Gum made it two in a row, taking home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, by a single stroke over Alan Brumley and Scott Thompson.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight: Senior Championship Flight members, take one / two and T-3 in the combined flight. David Ortego, Spring, TX, playing in his first year, picked up his first win on Tour. Ortego, was only able to card three pars on the front, with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd, but made the turn and got onto a hot streak of pars, playing the back in even par. In his sixth event on the season, including four Major Championships, Mike Harkins of Cedar Park, TX finished two strokes back for his best finish on the points season. After taking an eight on the par 4 - 13th, Travis Nichols of Houston, followed with birdies on the par 3 - 14th and par 5 - 16th to finish in a tie for third. Father / son Sugar Land, TX, pair Jordan Wagner, playing in his first event, and Gordon Wagner, with five birdies on his round shared the third place honors.

Palmer Flight: James Sheppeard of Tomball, TX, continues to put an exclamation point on his recent promotion. Moved from the Hogan Flight before the May 1st event, Sheppeard now has two wins in three attempts, with the help of two birdies on the back nine, including one to follow up a triple 8 on the par 5 - 16th. In his first event of the calendar year, Orange, TX resident, Rick Keszeg played the back nine in one over par to finish just one stroke out of the lead. Aaron Brougher of Spring, TX, split the third place honors with Houston, TX, member, Keith Storey, who had three birdies on the round.

Senior Palmer Flight: First year member, Leslie Clifton of Houston, TX played the back nine in +2 with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 15th to pick up his first win. Four strokes back, Baytown, TX member Harold Jackson, came out of the gate hot, with birdies on the par 5 -2nd and par 3 - 5th, then added one on the par 4 - 10th, but ran into trouble late in the round to share the runner up honors with Ernie Dyer of Orange, TX.

Hogan Flight: Robbie Roberson of Conroe, TX opened the door for Hill Country Tour member, Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX with a double on the final hole of the day. Matthews, in a playoff on Sunday in Fort Worth, wound up with another runner up finish after Robberson made birdie on the second hole of the playoff. Sugar Land, TX resident, Steve Nagy rounded out the top three, three strokes back.

Senior Hogan Flight: Playoff's were the name of the game for the two Hogan Flights, when traveling Leander, TX, player Steve Hamilton and Glynn Aldredge of Orange, TX, swapped scores on the two nines to finish locked in a tie. Back to the par 4 - 1st, for the second time of the day, Hamilton would make par to pick up his second win, in his first year on tour. Three strokes back, former Houston Tour member, Allan Collier now from Dripping Springs, TX, picked up the third place honors.

Sarazen Flight: Starting on the tenth hole, Scott Thompson of Helotes, TX came out of the gate a little shaky, but righted the ship with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd, to finish his back nine +2, for a six stroke victory. It was the eighth win of his career and third of the season including the March Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay Major Championship. Houston, TX member, Massimo Passini, with birdie on the par 5 - 16th, recorded the second place finish, with Kyle Young of Bellaire, TX, a winner at the two day, South Texas Winter Championship last December, rounding out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight: The winner of the 2010 - The Woodlands - Gary Player Course event, Gary Gum of Spring, TX became the only repeat winner of the day. Gum, with birdies on the par 3 - 11th and par 4 - 17th, picked up his eleventh win on tour and first of the year. Bridge City, TX, player Mark Kirby, most recently a winner at The Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit, used birdies on the par 4 - 4th and the par 3 - 14th, to finish in the second spot four strokes back. William Criss of Houston, TX, carded his best finish on his just less that a year on tour, just one stroke back of Kirby.

Jones Flight: Recently promoted, Atascocita, TX, player Alan Brumley made birdie on the par 5 - 7th coming to the clubhouse with a back nine low score of the flight and forced a three way playoff. Mike Murphy of Corrigan, TX, and Montgomery, TX, first year player John Pickens, went back to the course where, Pickens, with three birdies on the day, was able to get back to the course and take care of the three on the first playoff hole, for his first win on tour.

Snead Flight: Jeff Gregory of Montgomery, TX became a repeat winner in his first year on tour by a narrow two stroke margin. Magnolia, TX member, Hal Wychopen took the runner up honors, his fourth second place finish of the season with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 6th. Rick Hagel made the trip in from Beaumont, TX, rounding out the top three.

SKINS:

Giant SKINS: ($275/each) 1 -- Bruce Beakley, Houston, TX; Leslie Clifton, Houston, TX.

Championship / Palmer: ($68/each) 1 -- David Ortego, Spring, TX; Gordon Wagner, Sugar Land, TX; Keith Storey, Houston, TX; James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX; Michael Van Swol, Sugar Land, TX.

Senior Palmer: ($16/each) 3 -- Harold Jackson, Baytown, TX. 2 -- Bruce Beakley, Houston, TX; Dave Paukner Jr, Angleton, TX. 1 -- Leslie Clifton, Houston, TX; Todd McLane, Orange, TX; Randy Hodges, Montgomery, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan: ($64/each) 1 -- Gus Aldana, Houston, TX; Robbie Roberson, Conore, TX; Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX; Ali Gazi, Flower Mound, TX; Danny Doss, Houston, TX; Colin Knight, Richmond, TX.

Sarazen: ($10/each) 7 -- Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX. 3 -- Massimo Passini, Houston, TX. 1 -- Kevin Montague, Spring, TX; Eddie Thomas, Richards, TX.

Senior Sarazen: ($25/each) 2 -- Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX; Gary Gum, Spring, TX. 1 -- Olan Benge, Wharton, TX; L.P. Jones, Houston, TX; Louis Jones, Spring, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX.

Jones: ($30/each) 3 -- John Pickens, Montgomery, TX. 1 -- Thomas Dubrock, Friendswood, TX; Rick Halprin, Houston, TX; Doyle Fleming, Haslet, TX; Alan Brumley, Atascocita, TX; Wayne Glover, Nederland, TX; Wayne Waldrep, Spring, TX.

Snead: ($10/each) 5 -- Jeff Gregory, Montgomery, TX. 4 -- Hal Wychopen, Magnolia, TX. 2 -- Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX. 1 -- Rick Hagel, Beaumont, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($140/each) #5 - Gordon Wagner - 3' 7"; #8 - Kevin Montague - 3'; #11 - Gary Gum - 2' 3/4"; #14 - Travis Nichols - 2' 6".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Houston Tour heads south for the Missouri City Championship at Quail Valley Golf Club on May 30th, entry deadline is Friday, May 22nd.

The Hill Country Tour makes its Memorial Day Weekend visit to Vaaler Creek Golf Club for the Battle at Blanco on Saturday, May 22nd. Then on to a special Monday event for the Cedar Park Challenge, at Twin Creeks on June 15th. Entry deadline is Friday, June 5th.

Back to the popular Heritage Ranch, the Dallas Tour competes at the Fairview Classic on May 31st. Registration closes on Friday May 22nd.

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

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Vespa Wins at Red River Shootout

Scott R Chilcutt, Thackerville, OK (May 3, 2015) The Golf Channel AM Tour returned for the third Red River Shootout and first since 2013 along the Red River. Just a little over an hour north of the Dallas / Ft Worth metroplex on the Oklahoma side of the border sits, WinStar Golf Club, part of the WinStar World Casino complex that played host to the event.

Moderate winds, along with what some players noted, "diabolical greens", kept low scores at bay, with no sub par rounds on the weekend. The field recorded 5 eagles, and 241 birdies and the course played to just over 15 over. 36 National Championship and Senior National Championship invitations were given to the top three and ties, with eight of eleven flights seeing first time Major Champions.

It was no coincidence that the field was made up of a majority of Dallas Tour players, but the surprise came from Hill Country Tour, the smallest in the state, and it's five victories, including the top three flights that went home to members working at Fort Hood. Dallas Tour members took four Championships, one went to the Houston area and a single trophy traveled back to Missouri.

Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX, padded his pockets and the Golf Channel AM Tour will send another $500 to the Troops First Foundation with his first career hole in one on the par 3 - 5th on Saturday with a 7 iron from 148 yards. Additionally, over $1,300 was raised for David Feherty's Troops First Foundation.through the 50/50 raffle.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight: First round leader, Marco Palacios of Austin, TX, ran into trouble on his Sunday round opening the door for Killeen, TX, resident, Jordan Massey. Massey, with eight birdies on the weekend, including the final hole, par 5 - 18th picked up his second win in three attempts on tour and first Major Championship. Plano, TX, first year player Gant Bills, playing to a combined total +3 in four rounds on tour, finished two strokes back for the runner up spot. Second year tour player, Jared Taylor of Edmond, OK, a six time winner on tour during two seasons, rounded out the top three grabbing the final National Championship Qualification of the flight.

Palmer Flight: In his final hurrah as a Fort Hood, TX, resident, Jacob Morton, would pick up his second Red River Shootout victory, his tenth win on tour and fourth Major Championship. But, it wouldn't come without extra work. Morton, on his way to the Beltway with his new position at the Pentagon, birdied his 36th hole of the weekend to draw a tie with Ron Finnerty of San Antonio, TX. Finnerty, with three birdies on the weekend, got even with Morton after 27 holes, but could only match him on the final nine. Both back out to the par 4 - 1st hole for the sudden death playoff, Morton would get up and down for the Championship. Two strokes back of the pair, David Wright of Flower Mound, TX, made eagle three on the par 5 - 18th, his final hole of the weekend, to snatch a share of the third place honors with San Antonio, TX member Dave Davlin for the National Championship invites.

Senior Palmer Flight: Robert Lippert of Copperas Cove, TX, made it a trio of Fort Hood members to take home the crystal. Lippert, with three birdies on his opening round, built a seven stroke advantage on Saturday and was able to cruise on Sunday for his ninth win on tour, second major and fourth win of the season. Playing along side of Lippert in the final pairing, Traylor Sells of Cypress, TX, the 2013 Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort Champion and Midland, TX, player Al Smith matched scores on both rounds to share the runner up finish.

Hogan Flight: Dallas Tour member, Cory Welch of Fort Worth, TX, used birdies on the par 3 - 5th and par 3 - 14th on Sunday to take seven strokes off his opening round to win it by one. Welch, a winner his last time out at the Myrtle Beach Classic Major, picked up his eighth win on tour and third Major Championship. Michael Campbell of New Braunfels, TX, added five birdies on the weekend to his hole in one on Saturday to jump into the second place finish with first round leader, Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX and Sapulpa, OK player Tams Howard. Howard added four birdies on Sunday to one carded on Saturday for his first National Championship Qualification.

Senior Hogan Flight: Bob Hunter of Lees Summit, MO, led wire to wire to become the only out of Texas winner on the weekend. Hunter, a six time winner on tour, three time winner on the season, picked up his first Major Championship in thirty two Major starts on his AM Tour career. One stroke back, Magnolia, TX resident, George Smith, a four time winner on tour, carded his eighth runner up finish taking three strokes off his first round total. Two strokes back, Dallas Tour member, Jalil Daneshfar of Trophy Club, TX, and Wentzville, MO, player Michael Quesenberry, with two birdies on his final round split the final Senior National Championship qualification spots.

Sarazen Flight: Fort Worth, TX, player Preston Miller used two birdies on Saturday to stay within one stroke of the lead. Sunday, Miller would play the front nine in +3, but ran into trouble on the back, starting with a triple on the 10th hole, but did just what he needed to do to pick up his fourth win on tour and first Major Championship by a single stroke. Oklahoma City, OK native, Kevin Stevens, now residing in Wesley Chapel, FL, and son Mitch Stevens of Valrico, FL, finished National Championship qualifications, in second and third respectively.

Senior Sarazen Flight: With caddie in tow, Mark Donohue of Lewisville, TX made a walk along the Red River work to his first Major Championship and fourth win on tour. Donohue matched +9 - 81's on both days for a two stroke lead over, 2013 Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort playoff Champion, Stan Wilson of Jones, OK and St Charles, MO, member, Thomas Pryor splitting the runner up finish. It was Pryor's best finish at a Major Championship in six attempts.

Jones Flight: Stuck in a three way tie for second after the Saturday round, Larry Atchley of Kyle, TX, shot a flight low round on Sunday to become a Major Champion and four time winner on tour. First round leader, Portland, TX, resident, James Price finished four strokes back, for the runner up spot, his best finish in a Major. Two strokes back of Price, Brandon Walters of Springdale, AR matched his best finish at a Major with a third place finish at the 2014 The Sooner State Showdown.

Senior Jones Flight: In a hotly contested 24 player flight, where the top seven players were only separated by four strokes, first round leader, Randy Helcel of Lott, TX, was surprised to learn he was tied in the top spot after a mediocre Sunday Round. When Lakeway, TX member Donald Bebout, was not available for the extra holes playoff, Helcel would pick up his first win on tour. Bebout will take home the runner up finish, with Terry Collins of Spring, TX, carding birdie on the eighteenth hole on Sunday for the final Senior National Championship qualification.

Snead Flight: Tulsa, OK, resident, William Hughes became a first time winner in three years on tour at the April, Dallas Tour, Castle Hills Masters and hasn't stopped yet. With his final round 93 it was just enough to pick up his first Major Championship and third win in as many attempts. Corpus Christi, TX, resident William Speck, took seven strokes off his Saturday round on Sunday to finish two shots back, with Houston Tour player Javier Quintero rounding out the top three.

Senior Snead Flight: Long Island, NY, native, Robert Vespa now living in Pasadena, TX, kept on his winning track. After his first victory on tour his last time out, Vespa overcame a three stroke deficit starting the day Sunday to finish with a one stroke advantage. First round leaders, Hal Wychopen of Magnolia, TX, and Lombard, IL, member, John Pacheco finished second and third respectively, punching their ticket to the Senior National Championships in September.