Vying for year end awards, this year concluded with a customized and personalized staff bag from Club Glove to the Champions, and we continued the special 2016 of the Player of the Year Award, presented by Higginbotham.
Championship Flight: Blake Wilson of League City, TX, jumped onto the Houston scene in a big way. Playing in his first year on tour, Wilson, dominated his second event on the season with a - 4 / 68 at at the Panther Classic for his first win. Wilson would then go on to three more wins on the year, including a third place finish at the Tour Championship at Blackhorse. Blake, making his first National Championship start, looks to better his Southern Amateur finish at the facility.
Senior Championship Flight: With wins at Sea Island, and Kiawah Island, along with runner a up spot at Pinehurst adding a top three at the Houston Tour Championship, no one would get close to David Ortego of Spring, TX. Ortego a Championship Flight Champion at the 2016 Senior National Championship, made it seven wins on his sixteen attempts on tour. David, the 2015 Senior National Champion at PGA West, looks forward to Innisbrook to make it two in a row.
Palmer Flight: Tomball, TX, player Jame Sheppeard continued his Journey to Better during 2016. Sheppeard, promoted in May of 2015, lost out on the points championship, but with five subsequent wins in the Palmer Flight, took home the Player of the Year award, presented by Higginbotham. 2016, may have been a little leaner on the win total, but non the less, he held the points lead virtually all year long. With three wins on the season, to go with a T3 at the Tour Championship, James takes home the Flight Champion award for the first time in his career. James a runner up at the 2014 National Championship, will head to Innisbrook with a Championship in his sights.
Senior Palmer Flight: Robert Corbello, of VIdor, TX, followed up his 2014 and 2015 campaigns with three championships in three years. Corbello, playing a limited local schedule, traveled to three Major Championships, won 2 events on tour, including the Tour Championship at Blackhorse to solidify the Championship. Innisbrook will be Roberts, fifth run at the Senior National Championship and he looks to better his fifth place finish in 2011.
Hogan Flight: Orange, TX, member Matt Purgahn, maximized his point total on the season with two runner up finishes at Major Championships, The Red River Shootout at Winstar and the Streamsong Amateur in Florida. Add to that, a couple of local Championships and Purgahn took care of the hotly contested Hogan Flight by hundreds of points. Matt won't make the trip to the National Championship, but the Houston Tour will be well represented in the flight.
Senior Hogan Flight: With three wins before April 1st, David Anthony of Cypress, TX, didn't let up. With six Majors under his belt on the season, including runner up finishes at the TPC Sawgrass Open, The Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay and the Streamsong Amateur, Anthony cleared the competition by over 500 points. Heading to Innisbrook for the Senior National Championship, David will be stepping into big footprints with the last two Senior Hogan National Champions coming from the Houston Tour.
Sarazen Flight: Unable to join us for the Tour Championship, Deer Park, TX, member Blake Barnes didn't need the extra boost of points. Barnes with four wins on the season to go with six majors, finishing second at the Winter Championship at Innisbrook, last fall, led him to a 500+ point victory. Blake will be making his third run at the National Championship next week.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Bruce LeGrand of Houston, TX, traveled everywhere. Not a solid points contender until his win at the Streamsong Major Championship in Florida. LeGrand competed in fourteen Major Championships on the season including a win another win at the Pinehurst Amateur, he finished just 60 points clear of Chris Neeley of Spring, TX. Bruce, a member since 2010 will be making his fifth run at the Senior National Championship.
Jones Flight: Unable to join us at the Tour Championship, Jeff Gregory of Montgomery, TX, won two events on the season, including two top five finishes at Major Championships to pick up his first Flight Championship Award in two seasons on tour.
Senior Jones Flight: Marcy Glidden a three time winner on the season was close to the points in 2014, she made a big jump this season. Winning the Southwestern Classic at GrayHawk Major Championship in Scottsdale, AZ, Glidden fought off promoted players, as well as local mainstays for her first Championship. T6 in the 2013 Senior National Championship, Marcy will head to Innisbrook to better that finish.
Snead Flight: Houston, TX, member Javier Quintero made it three in a row. Winning the Flight Championship award his last three years, Quintero, won two events on the season, including a runner up at the Tour Championship at Blackhorse. Javier will make his first National Championship at Innisbrook, in his eighth year on tour.
Senior Snead Flight: Jim Lamberth of The Woodlands, TX, played in twelve events on the season, including five Major Championships. With one win on the year, three podium finishes at Majors, including two runner up spots, Lamberth picked up his first Flight Championship award.
Hill Country Tour, PLAYER OF THE YEAR, presented by HIGGINBOTHAM: The special award was set up and presented by Higginbotham, 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, playing in the Tour Championship and attending the National / Senior National Championship in the new flight.
Upcoming Texas Events:
Off to the National Championship from September 13th - 16th and Senior National Championship, contested September 19th - 22nd, many players from around the tour will compete for the top prize of the season.
Fall events and 2017 points schedule are being added now, look out for the opportunity to get a jump start on the next season.
For More Information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
