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
