Houston Tour Opens 2019 Points Season at Cypress Lakes

Scott R Chilcutt, Cypress, TX (October 27, 2018)  Cypress Lakes Golf Course, started out the 2019 points year once again.  Fast and smooth greens, just seem to always greet the players and this time around wasn't an exception.


RESULTS:

Palmer Flight:  Fresh off his Hogan Flight National Championship triumph at Mission Hills in September, John Harcrow of Houston, TX, stayed on his winning ways.  Harcrow, with birdies on the par 3 - 7th and par 3 - 17th, played the back nine in -1 - 35 to finish +1 for the day and the title.  Three strokes back, Sugar Land, TX, member Roger Masek, carded three consecutive birdies after making the turn to grab the runner-up awards, with a pair of Houston, TX, members Brian Jordan and George Yoshida, sharing the third place honors.

Hogan Flight:  A winner the previous weekend in Fort Worth, Rick Houchins, of Las Colinas, TX, outlasted Port Arthur, TX, player Tony Thibodeaux to make it two in a row.  Thibideaux, with birdies on the par 3 - 7th and par 5 - 8th, cleared Cypress, TX, third place finisher Kyle Standley, by two strokes.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Missouri City, TX, player Dale Fuhr, picked up the Championship, two strokes clear of local Cypress, TX, player David Anthony.  Anothony with a birdie on the par 3 - 7th, finished four strokes clear of Robert Hayter of Houston, TX, rounding out the top three.

Sarazen Flight:  Back on tour after taking a break, James Hebert of Pearland, TX, proved that he was tuning his game during that break.  Hebert, with two birdies on the day, finished two strokes clear of Montgomery, TX, member Joe Michetti.  Michetti, with a couple of birdies of his own, finished one stroke clear of the pair of Garrett Dick of Houston, TX, and Spring, TX, player Matt Larson, tied up in the third place finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Greg Faubion of Richmond, TX, carded three birdies on his round to pick up the win, with five strokes to spare.  Fellow Richmond, TX, resident Marty Hodges and Doug Bass of Houston, TX, shared the runner-up honors.

Jones Flight:  Magnolia, TX, player Carl Eaton and Ray Bednar of Kingwood, TX, finished regulation tied up requiring extra holes.  Back to the course, Eaton would pick up the championship in sudden death, with Bednar relegated to the runner-up prizes.  Dallas Tour traveler, Pete Partain of Bedford, TX, rounded out the top three, just one stroke back.

Snead Flight:  Coming off a Major Championship win in Orlando, Jim Lamberth of Beaumont, TX, picked up another win, with Sugar Land, TX, player Stephen Sater, two strokes back.  Maurice Taylor of Houston, TX, rounded out the top three.






SKINS:

Giant Skins:  ($112/each)  Nestor Alvarez, Houston, TX:  Eagle on 10;  Pete Partain, Bedford, TX: Birdie on 18.  Bob Hayward, Houston, TX:  Birdie on 3.  Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX: Birdie on 6.

Palmer:  ($48/each)  Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX: 2 Birdie on 11, Birdie on 12;  John Harcrow, Houston, TX: 1 Birdie on 17;  Bob Hayward, Houston, Texas: 1 Birdie on 3; Mike Karlin, Houston, TX: 1 Birdie on 9.

Hogan/Senior Hogan:  ($65/each)  Matt Brand, Houston, Tx: 2 Birdie on 2, Birdie on 17;  Nestor Alvarez, Houston, TX: 1 Eagle on 10;  Rick Houchins, Las Colinas, TX: 1 Par on 15.

Sarazen:  ($25/each)  Matt Larson, Spring, TEXAS: 3 Birdie on 12, Par on 6, Par on 9;  Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX: 2 Birdie on 1, Birdie on 5;  Kendall Hisey, Cedar Park, TX: 1 Birdie on 2.

Senior Sarazen:  ($20/each)  Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX: 4 Birdie on 2, Birdie on 6, Birdie on 13, Par on 18;  George Carlisle, Hockley, TX: 2 Birdie on 4, Birdie on 5;  Steve Killion, Sanger, TX: 2 Birdie on 9, Birdie on 14;  Doug Bass, Houston, TX: 1 Par on 17;  Jeffry Holmes, Houston, Texas: 1 Birdie on 11;  Charles Ackerman, New Caney, TX: 1 Par on 3.

Jones/Snead:  ($17/each)  Stephen Sater, Sugar Land, TX: 2 Par on 13, Par on 16;  Pete Partain, Bedford, TX: 2 Par on 2, Birdie on 18;  David Liggett Jr, LaPorte, TX: 2 Bogey on 3, Par on 12;  Carl Eaton, Magnolia, TX: 2 Bogey on 5, Par on 10; Javier Quintero, Houston, TX: 1 Birdie on 17.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$110/each - #4 -  George Carlisle - 5' 4";  #7 - Tony Thibodeaux - 1' 7";  #11 - David Liggett - 5' 7' 1/2";  #17 - Garrett Dick - 7'. 

NEXT UP:

FALL TEXAS TOURS SCHEDULE - click on the title to register


11/2/2018 - Prelude Austin Open - Onion Creek - Closed.

11/11/2018 - Veterans Day Championship - Hawks Creek - Closes Friday, November 2nd.

11/17/2018 - Fall Open - Canyon Springs - Closes Friday, November 9th.
11/18/2018 - Fall Challenge - Humble - Tour 18 - Closes Friday, November 9th.
11/24/2018 - Lakes Open - Squaw Valley - Closes Friday, November 16th.
11/25/2018 - North Texas Winter Championship - Apache Links - Closes Friday, November 16th.


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

Woodforest Hosts Houston Tour Championship - 2018

Scott R Chilcutt, Montgomery, TX (August 19,2018)  Woodforest Golf Club, showed once again why it's claimed to have one of the best course conditions on the tour rotation.  The full field of players from the Houston Tour, along with some points travelers from the DFW area, competed for the final awards of the 2018 season in South Texas.

While we've looked at potential rains in the past at the course, this year the theme was simply hot, humid and calm.  With thick and constantly growing rough, added to the super fast greens, it was a true test leading up to the National Championships, at Mission Hills, later in September.



RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  With an eagle and a birdie on Saturday, Thomas Cruickshank, of Richmond, TX, found himself three strokes back of League City, TX, member Blake Wilson.  Wilson, with four birdies on his first day, and a -1 - 71, just couldn't keep the pace on Sunday after Cruickshank, went -2 - 70 with three birdies to pick up his third win of the season, all two-day events relegating Wilson to the runner-up spot.  College Station, TX, member Andrew Willams, took seven strokes off his Saturday total, to round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  With a lack of Senior Palmer Flight players to split the field, the Tour Championship and the points came down to the final day to crown two Flight Champions.  Traveling DFW Tour member, Gabriel Brisco of Mesquite, TX, led the first round and looked to be a spoiler in those year-end awards, but faded on Sunday and was out of the picture.  One-stroke back after Saturdays, round the pair of Rick Keszeg of Orange, TX, and Deer Park, TX, member Al Campo, would finish 36 holes knotted in the top spot, requiring more holes.  After the sudden death, Keszeg would prevail for the Championship, for his sixth win of the season. Michael Van Swol of Sugar Land, TX, would take nine strokes off his first round to round out the top three.

Hogan Flight:  The Woodlands, TX, player Rafa Rivero, would lead the field wire to wire, with two birdies on the weekend to pick up his third win of the season.  Eight strokes back, Steve Nagy of Sugar Land, TX, with three birdies on Sunday, would jump into the runner-up spot, equaling Houston, TX, resident John Harcrow to share second place.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Playing in his first year on tour, Bob Goodside of Montgomery, TX, took a big lead to the Sunday round and was able to hold off the field for his second win of the season.  Two strokes back, Cypress, TX, member Will Whitley carded the low Sunday round in the flight, with the help of three birdies to finish in the second place spot, with Daryl Epperson of Houston, TX, rounding out the top three.

Sarazen Flight:  Bringing a big lead to the final eighteen holes, Joe Michetti of Montgomery, TX, thought he had blown the chance for a victory making the turn, but held on for his third win of the season and eleventh on tour.  Three strokes back, Garrett Dick of Houston, TX, took home the runner-up spot, with Dallas, TX, resident Donovan Ackerson carding the final podium spot.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Taking a six-stroke lead to the final round, Richmond, TX, player Greg Faubion, all but gave it back on his front nine on Sunday.  After making the turn, Faubion righted the ship, with a final nine +1 - 38 to pick up his first win of the season, and ninth on tour.  With the help of three birdies on the weekend, Mike Young of The Woodlands, TX, grabbed the runner-up spot, with Beaumont, TX, member John Reynolds rounding out the top three.

Jones Flight:  Allen Gumpenberger of Conroe, TX, commanded a fifteen stroke win for his fourth on tour and first of the season.  Bryan, TX, member Robert Haddon, held the runner-up spot, from wire to wire, with Kevin Montague of Spring, TX, taking home the third-place finish.

Senior Jones Flight:  Steady as she goes, Magnolia, TX player Carl Eaton, took one stroke off his Saturday finish, just enough to edge out the first-round leader, Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX, by a single stroke.  For Eaton, it was his tenth win on tour and first of the season.  Four strokes back of Glidden, Neil Macdonald of Huntsville, TX, rounded out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Benjamin Gaddy of Princeton, TX, took seven strokes off his first round on Sunday, with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 11th, to pick up his first win on tour. Three strokes back, Javier Quintero, of Houston, TX, with a birdie of his own on the par 4 - 1st, took home the second place prize, with Corrigan, TX, member Mike Murphy, grabbing third place.






SKINS:

Round 1:

Giant SKINS:  ($120/each)  1 -- Kevin Hobbs, Spring, TX; Ronnie White, College Station, TX; Bryan Caillier, Orange, TX; Thomas Cruickshank, Richmond, TX; Gabriel Brisco, Mesquite, TX; Andrew Williams, College Station, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($42/each)  2 -- Aaron Pickering, Vidor, TX. 1 -- Walter Menuet, Houston, TX; Scott Mayes, Beaumont, TX; Thomas Cruickshank, Richmond, TX; Blake Wilson, League City, TX; Gabriel Brisco, Mesquite, TX; Andrew Williams, College Station, TX.

Hogan:  ($31/each)  2 -- Ronnie White, College Station, TX. 1 -- John Harcrow, Houston, TX; Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX; Tony Thibodeaux, Port Arthur, TX; Rafa Rivero, The Woodlands, TX; Jeff Burke, Houston, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($50/each)  2 -- Jeff Green, Coldspring, TX; Steve Kirchhoff, Houston, TX. 1 -- Scott Striegel, Southlake, TX; Tim Kozlowski, Conroe, TX; Jeff Shaffer, Spring, TX.

Sarazen:  ($28/each)  2 -- Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX. 1 -- Matt Larson, Spring, TX; Kendall Hisey, Cedar Park, TX; Bryan Caillier, Orange, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($80/each)  1 -- Kevin Hobbs, Spring, TX; Charles Ackerman, New Caney, TX; George Carlisle, Houston, TX.

Jones/Senior Jones:  ($22/each)  2 -- Carl Eaton, Magnolia, TX; Allen Gumpenberger, Conroe, TX. 1 -- Neil Macdonald, Huntsville, TX; Kevin Montague, Spring, TX; David Liggett Jr, LaPorte, TX.


Snead:  ($30/eqach)  2 -- Stephen Sater, Sugar Land, TX; Ron McGinty, Humble, TX. 1 -- John Epstein, Bryan, TX; Orval Miller, Timpson, TX.



Round 2:

Giant SKINS:  ($90/each)  1 -- Thomas Cruickshank, Richmond, TX; Andrew Williams, College Station, TX; Robert Corbello, Vidor, TX; Mike Karlin, Houston, TX; Kendall Hisey, Cedar Park, TX; Will Whitley, Cypress, TX; Tim Kozlowski, Conroe, TX; George Carlisle, Houston, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($40/each)  2 -- Thomas Cruickshank, Richmond, TX. 1 -- Kyle Haddox, Houston, TX; Andrew Williams, College Station, TX; Michael Van Swol, Sugar Land, TX; Robert Corbello, Vidor, TX; Mike Karlin, Houston, TX; Scott Mayes, Beaumont, TX.

Hogan:  ($70/each)  2 -- Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX. 1 -- Rafa Rivero, The Woodlands, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($72/each)  2 -- Robert Hayter, Houston, TX. 1 -- Will Whitley, Cypress, TX; Tim Kozlowski, Conroe, TX; Paul Cornwell, Dickinson, TX.

Sarazen:  ($14/each)  3 -- Michael Betzale, Live Oak, TX; Kendall Hisey, Cedar Park, TX. 2 -- Adam Bray, Katy, TX. 1 -- Matt Larson, Spring, TX; Garrett Dick, Houston, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($30/each)  2 -- George Carlisle, Houston, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX. 1 -- Marty Hodges, Richmond, TX; Mike Young, The Woodlands, TX; Kevin Hobbs, Spring, TX.

Jones/Senior Jones:  ($22/each)  2 -- Bert Hood, League City, TX. 1 -- Nicholas Bailey, The Woodlands, TX; Allen Gumpenberger, Conroe, TX; Kevin Montague, Spring, TX; Terry Collins, Spring, TX; Neil Macdonald, Huntsville, TX.


Snead:  ($25/each)  3 -- Javier Quintero, Houston, TX. 1 -- Ron McGinty, Humble, TX; Mike Lane, Katy, TX; Benjamin Gaddy, Princeton, TX; John Epstein, Bryan, TX.



CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

Round 1 - $160/each:  #3 - Charles Ackerman - 4' 7 5/8".  #7 - Kendall Hisey - 2' 3 7/8".  #12 - Greg Faubion - 9' 4".  #16 - Joe Michetti - 8' 1".

Round 2 - $160/each:  #3 - George Carlisle - 2 1/2".  #7 - Robert Hayter - 3' 7".  #12 - John Harvell - 4' 9".  #16 - Darren Bufton - 4'.



NEXT UP:

Texas Tour Season Closes With Tour Championship Month!


Dallas Tour -   Back to Bridlewood in Flower Mound for the DFW Tour Championship, on Saturday, August 25th and Sunday, August 25th.  SOLD OUT with waiting list spots available.  

National and Senior National Championships coming up in September in California.

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

Katy Open Championship - Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club

Scott R Chilcutt, Katy, TX (July 22, 2018)  After River Ridge Golf Club in Sealy, TX, a mainstay on the Houston Tour schedule, was closed for persistent flooding along the Brazos River, a few of the staff members, headed east to Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club.   As a result of those moves, calls start coming in to schedule an event at the Katy club and that addition proved to be a pleasant addition.

Great conditions and hot temperatures greeted the players during mid-day rounds of golf on Sunday.  While. the heat dome over the DFW area didn't bring record highs like many endured on Saturday, it was still clearly hot, even for July in Houston.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $570, with Texas Tour events total raised to $19,420 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship:  With four birdies on the round and only a single blip of a bogie, League City, TX, member Blake Wilson, made it two in a row after winning at The Woodlands Tournament Course, in June.  For Wilson, it was his ninth win on tour and second of the season.  Second place finisher, Andrew Williams of College Station, TX, with a birdie on the 4 - 15th seems to be stuck on the 77 mark, in two events on tour with Katy, TX, player Noah Purvis, and his birdie on the par 4 - 10th one stroke back to round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Struggling on the front nine, Mike Karlin of Houston, TX, started his recovery on the par 4 - 10th, added another on the par 4 - 15th to shoot -1 - 35 coming to the clubhouse for his National Championship qualifying third win of the season. Friendswood, TX, resident Jon Colvard, with a birdie on the par 4 - 5th, finished two strokes back in the runner-up spot, with Michael Van Swol of Sugar Land, TX, and Brian Frazier of Kingwood, TX, sharing the third place finish.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Houston, TX, member Walter Menuet was cruising along on his front nine until near disaster hit in the weeds on his approach to the par 4 -10th to tie the front nine with Fred Rich of Tomball, TX.  Menuet would make birdie on the par 4 - 12th, but only could hold on to that tie position over a hard-charging Rich.  The two would need to go back to the par 4 - 1st, to settle the score, where Menuet picked up his fourth win on tour and first of the season. For Rich, it was his best finish since two wins during the fall of 2017, with Houston, TX, player Bob Hayward, and two birdies on his round, taking home the final podium spot.

Hogan Flight:  Rick Smalley, of College Station, TX, made a mess of three of his first four holes but bounced back with birdies on the par 3 - 6th and the par 3 - 8th to keep himself in the round.  Coming to the clubhouse, Smalley, would go even par on the back nine, with another birdie on the par 4 - 15th, to pick up his fifth win of the season.  Four strokes back, San Antonio, TX, traveler John Heintz, with three birdies on his day, and Mike Rayburn of Montgomery, TX, shared the runner-up honors.

Senior Hogan Flight:  With birdies on his first and last hole of the day, Daryl Epperson of Houston, TX, snuck away with his third win of the season.  Three strokes back, San Antonio, TX, resident Alan Collier,  with two birdies of his own on the round, cleared four players tied in third by four strokes.  Porter, TX, player Bill Schultz, with a birdie on the par 3 - 6th, Chris Neeley of Spring, TX, Southlake, TX, resident, Scott Striegel, with the birdies on his card and Robert Sullivan of Houston, TX, split the third-place finish.

Sarazen Flight:  Hill Country Tour traveler, Mike Betzale of Live Oak, TX, made his most of the trip, with the help of two birdies during his round to pick up his second win, in his first year on tour. Another first-year player, Richmond, TX, member Jerome Dizon, finished three strokes out of the lead, three strokes ahead of a pair tied up in third.  Joe Michetti, of Montgomery, TX, with a birdie on the final hole, the par 5 - 18th,  and Adam Bray of Katy, TX, shared the showplace finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Taking a one-stroke lead to the back nine, Jeffry Holmes of Houston, TX, was able to double the advantage coming to the clubhouse to pick up his second win in his last three attempts.  Mike Young, a two-time winner on the season from The Woodlands, TX, finished two strokes back, and one stroke clear of Houston, TX, member David Jackson, rounding out the top three.

Jones Flight:  Spring, TX, member Terry Collins, played his back nine in +3, with the help of two birdies to pick up the second win on tour and first since the 2016 season.  Two strokes back, Kevin Montague, also of Spring, TX, with a birdie on the par 4 - 11th, grabbed the second place finish, seven strokes clear of Huntsville, TX, member Neil Macdonald a two-time winner his previous two outings.

Snead Flight:  Stephen Sater of Sugar Land, TX, was able to par his final two holes of the day, proving to be just enough to pick up his third win on tour and second of the season over a hard-charging, Blake Barnes of Houston, TX, and Humble, TX, member Ron McGinty, splitting the runner-up spot.








SKINS:

Skins GIANT:  ($315/each)  1 -- Ross Gonzales, Hockley, TX; Scott Striegel, Southlake, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($56/each)  3 -- Blake Wilson, League City, TX. 1 -- Michael Van Swol, Sugar Land, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($20/each)  2 -- Michael Weber, Tomball, TX. 1 -- Bob Hayward, Houston, TX; Walter Menuet, Houston, TX; Kevin Turner, La Porte, TX; Wayburn Henry, Pearland, TX.

Hogan:  ($20/each)  3 -- John Heintz, San Antonio, TX. 2 -- Rick Smalley, College Station, TX; Jeff Burke, Houston, TX. 1 -- Steve Allison, Spring, TX; Ross Gonzales, Hockley, TX; Mike Rayburn, Montgomery, TX; John Harcrow, Houston, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($42/each)  2 -- Daryl Epperson, Houston, TX. 1 -- Paul Atkinson, Bryan, TX; Bill Schultz, Porter, TX; Allan Collier, Austin, TX; Scott Striegel, Southlake, TX; Tim Pohl, Erie, Pa..

Sarazen:  ($90/each)  1 -- Michael Betzale, Live Oak, TX; Garrett Dick, Houston, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($36/each)  2 -- Kevin Hobbs, Spring, TX. 1 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Marty Hodges, Richmond, TX; Mike Young, The Woodlands, TX.

Jones/Snead:  ($46/each)  2 -- Terry Collins, Spring, TX; Blake Barnes, Houston, TX. 1 -- Kevin Montague, Spring, TX; Terry Spencer, Georgetown, TX.





CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$160/each:  #6 - Michael Weber - 2' 9";  #8 - Bob Hayward - 1' 5";  #14 - Ross Gonzales - 3' 1";  #17 - Michael Van Swol - 2' 8".


NEXT UP:



Houston Tour -  The Houston Tour Championship at Woodforest on August 18th and 19th.  Entry closes on Friday, August 10th. 


Dallas Tour -   Back in action after the Texas Classic at Barton Creek, the DFW Tour will head back to Tierra Verde for the Arlington Championship on Sunday, August 5th.  Registration closes on Friday, July 27th, with only a few spots available.

Hill Country Tour -   Back in action at Falconhead Golf Club for the Championship at Falconhead leading up to the Texas Classic at Barton Creek, to be held on Friday, July 27th.  Currently SOLD OUT and CLOSED. 


Major Championships Open for Registration - (Majors that will be included in the 2018 Texas Tour Flight Champion year-end awards)

Texas Classic at Barton Creek - July 28th - 29th.  SOLD OUT and CLOSED.

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

Richmond Championship - Pecan Grove

Scott R Chilcutt, Richmond, TX (July 14, 2018)  After a less than enjoyable experience the last time we tried Pecan Grove Plantation Country Club in Richmond, the staff vowed for a better outcome and they held true to there word.  Without member interference, the course set up for a true test of skill for the players taking on the track.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $420, with Texas Tour events total raised to $17,590 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Home course, local Thomas Cruickshank of Richmond, TX, with three birdies and three bogies made the turn at even par, tied for the lead with San Antonio, TX, traveler Sutherland Stith using two of each.  Coming to the clubhouse, Cruickshank could only find another even-par nine with another birdie, while Stith went -2 on the back for his second win in as many attempts. Aaron Pickering of Vidor, TX, made the most of two birdies on his round to round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  In a combined flight of Open and Seniors, the group played from distance more suited for the Open, with a majority of a group coming from those players.  But in the end, it was Mesquite, TX, Senior member, Gabriel Brisco with the victory.  For Brisco, with a birdie on the par 5 - 15th, it was his second win of the season to go along with eleven top-five finishes of the points season.  Kyle Standley, of Cypress, TX, with three birdies on the front nine holes, grabbed the second place honors, for his best finish of the points season, since a win in October.  On stroke back, Pasadena, TX, member Bo Kirkwood, with two birdies going out and Ara Simonian of Houston, TX, with a birdie of his own on the front, shared the third place finish.

Hogan Flight:   In another installment of an Open/Senior combined flight the open player takes this one but not without extra holes.  John Harcrow, of Houston, TX, and Montgomery, TX, resident Bob Goodside, needed sudden death to settle the score.  Harcrow, with two birdies in regulation, made a bomb putt on the first hole of the playoff for birdie to take the championship, his fourth of the year over Goodside.  Seven strokes back,  Doug Sparkes of Houston, TX, rounded out the top three, with a pair of birdies of his own.

Sarazen Flight:  Garrett Dick of Houston, TX, with a birdie on the par 4 - 5th hole, pickup up his third win on tour.  Three strokes back, Katy, TX, player Adam Bray, grabbed the runner-up finish, with San Antonio traveler, Michael Betzale, of Live Oak, TX, taking home the showplace finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Houston, TX, resident Robert Hayter, kept up his knack for knowing just what to shoot to get the win.  With eight wins on the season, Hayter has won fifty percent of those by one stroke or less, with two playoff victories.  After starting the day on the par 4 - 10th, Hayter, would birdie the par 5 - 18th to take a four-stroke advantage to the back nine.  One stroke back, Richmond, TX, local Marty Hodges, with a birdie on the par 4 - 7th and Gregory Wolfford, of Orange, TX, with two birdies on his round, would share the runner-up finish.

Jones Flight:  Huntsville, TX, player Neil Macdonald, made it two in a row, both coming with scores in the 80's. this one with consecutive birdies on six and seven.  For Macdonald, off the tour since August of 2017, it's his second win in four events since the end of May and eighth victory on tour.  Four strokes back, Gene Macha of Hungerford, TX, grabbed the second place finish, with Houston, TX, member Artis Stewart rounding out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Robert Haddon, of Bryan, TX, picked up his fourth win in as many attempts.  Haddon, with a birdie on the par 3 - 12th, cleared, Humble, TX, runner-up finisher, Ron McGinty by nine strokes.  McGinty, finished one stroke clear of the pair of Javier Quintero, of Houston, TX, and Katy, TX, player Mike Lane, sharing the third place honors.




SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($90/each)  1 -- Kyle Standley, Cypress, TX; Gabriel Brisco, Mesquite, TX; Jeffry Holmes, Houston, TX; Bo Kirkwood, Pasadena, TX; Doug Sparkes, Houston, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($36/each)  2 -- Kyle Standley, Cypress, TX. 1 -- Thomas Cruickshank, Richmond, TX; Chase Farmer, League City, TX; Gabriel Brisco, Mesquite, TX; Bo Kirkwood, Pasadena, TX.

Hogan/Sarazen:  ($37/each)  2 -- John Harcrow, Houston, TX; Doug Sparkes, Houston, TX. 1 -- Paul Atkinson, Bryan, TX; Bob Goodside, Montgomery,  TX; Jerome Dizon, Richmond, TX; Garrett Dick, Houston.

Senior Sarazen:  ($37/each)  2 -- Rick Halprin, Houston, TX; Jeffry Holmes, Houston, TX. 1 -- John Reynolds, Beaumont, TX; Johnny Vayon, Houston, TX; Larry Viktorin, Wharton, TX; Gregory Wolfford, Orange.


Jones/Snead:  ($50/each)  1 -- Carl Eaton, Magnolia, TX; Antone Sanchez, Sealy, TX; John Epstein, Bryan, TX; Javier Quintero, Houston, TX; Richard Schram, Bryan, TX; Mike Murphy, Corrigan, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$120/each:  #6 - Doug Sparkes - 2' 8";  #12 - Bill Criss - 4' 8 1/2";  #17 - Bob Goodside - 10' 9".


NEXT UP:

Houston Tour -  Making our way to Meadowbrook Farms Golf Club on Sunday, July 22nd for the Katy Open Championship, CLOSED.  Next up, the Houston Tour Championship at Woodforest on August 18th and 19th.  Entry closes on Friday, August 10th. 
Dallas Tour -   DFW Open Championship @ The Tribute on Saturday, July 21st, CLOSED and SOLD OUT.  Back in action after the Texas Classic at Barton Creek, the DFW Tour will head back to Tierra Verde for the Arlington Championship on Sunday, August 5th.  Registration closes on Friday, July 27th, with only a few spots available.

Hill Country Tour -   Back in action at Falconhead Golf Club for the Championship at Falconhead leading up to the Texas Classic at Barton Creek, to be held on Friday, July 27th.  Currently SOLD OUT, with waiting list spots available.  



Major Championships Open for Registration - (Majors that will be included in the 2018 Texas Tour Flight Champion year-end awards)

Texas Classic at Barton Creek - July 28th - 29th.  SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

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

The Woodlands Open - Tournament Course

Scott R Chilcutt, The Woodlands, TX (June 11, 2018)  The Woodlands Open, on the Houston Tour, made it's way back to The Tournament Course at The Woodlands Country Club.  The Course, rich with history at the highest level of golf, with PGA events and most recently a yearly stop on the Champions Tour for the Insperity Classic, was again a special event for the Amateurs.

Pin placements, once again from the Saturday round of the Insperity, kept players on their toes, with quick, smooth greens, and fluffy rough that made it tough to get close to the hole, from off the short grass.   This go round, the big challenge, seemed to be th swirling winds.  While a player may have had a handle on that wind, when choosing the club, it could change in the seconds leading to the shot.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $660, with Texas Tour events total raised to $14,825 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:    League City, TX, player Blake Wilson, birdied his first and the last hole of the day, added another at the par 4 - 5th to run away with a four-stroke advantage.  For Wilson, it was his eighth win on tour, first of the season and second at The Tournament Course. Playing in only his second event of the season, Gordan Wagner, of Sugar Land, TX,  down four strokes making the turn, stayed steady with two birdies on his round to finish tied up in the runner-up spot, with first time College Station, TX, player Andrew Williams.  Williams, with four birdies on the first six holes on the front nine, couldn't keep things going his way on the final twelve to finish in a share of second.

Palmer Flight:  Michael Van Swol of Sugar Land, TX, birdied his final hole, the par 4 - 18th which proved to be just enough for the Championship and his third win on tour and first of the season.  One stroke back, the pair of Al Campo of Deer Park, TX, and San Antonio, TX, traveler Rene Realme, each with one birdie of their own on the day, shared the runner-up finish.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Houston, TX, member, Bob Hayward, carded birdie right out of the gate on the par 5 - 1st, that gave him plenty of edge on the final seventeen to win by three strokes for his first win of the season and ninth on tour.  Chris Phillips of Richmond, TX, finished in the second place spot, after Vidor, TX, player Robert Corbello, took a +7 on the par 3 - 14th to take him out of the Championship.  Corbello, to his credit, followed up with a birdie on the par, 5 - 15th.

Hogan Flight:  Tony Thibodeaux of Port Arthur, TX, made two birdies in his final three holes, to force extra holes with Houston, TX, player John Harcrow.  Harcrow, with three birdies on his day, including the first and last, looked to turn the tables on the playoff situation, making his third sudden death in as many attempts.  Back to the par 5 -1st, Harcrow would pick up his second win in his first year on tour.  For Thibodeaux, it was his best finish, also in his first year on tour.  Orange, TX player Matt  Purgahn, jumped into the third-place finish with the help of a birdie on the last hole, to go with two others on his round.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Starting the day on the par 4 - 10th, Daryl Epperson of Houston, TX, and Montogomery, TX, first-year member, Bob Goodside made the turn event.  Epperson, would then be able to shave three strokes off of the Goodside finish to pick up his second win of the season and nineteenth on tour.  Goodside, settling for the runner-up spot after winning his first time out, cleared Missouri City, TX, member Dale Fuhr, with a birdie on the par 5  15th by three strokes, rounding out the top three.

Sarazen Flight:  Katy, TX, resident Adam Bray, was able to overcome a couple of ugly holes, to pick up his seventh win on tour and first of the season.  Two strokes back, Joe Michetti of Montgomery, TX, with a birdie on the par 5 - 1st took home the runner-up honors, with Abilene, TX, traveler Judy Harris, with a birdie of her own on the par 5 - 13th one stroke back in third.

Senior Sarazen Fligth:  Birdie on the first hole after making the turn at the par 5 - 1st, Robert Hayter of Houston, TX, stayed on his winning ways.  Hayter a winner three of his last four attempts picked up his fifth win of the season and eighth on tour.  Three strokes back, Marty Hodges, Richmond, TX, with only one of two eagles on the day, holed out from the fairway on the par 4 - 11th for the runner-up finish, four strokes clear of a pair of Houston, TX, player Doug Bass and Bruce LeGrand, sharing the third-place finish.  One stroke out of third, LP Jones, also of Houston, playing in the same group as Hodges also carded an eagle on the tough par 5 - 15th, holing out from the fairway.

Jones Flight:  Charles Ackerman of New Caney, TX, with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 1st, came away with his first tour win.  Huntsville, TX, player Neil Macdonald, with a birdie on the same hole, finished in the second place spot, with Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX, rounding out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Port Neches, TX player, Shane Trhan, swaps his runner-up finish with Blake Bares of Houston, TX, at Bay Oaks to pick up his first win on tour.  Barnes the winner at that event, finished six strokes back for the second place honors, with Stephen Satar of Sugar Land, TX, taking home the final showplace finish.







SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($233/each)   1 -- Kyle Standley, Cypress, TX; L.P. Jones, Houston, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($60/each)  1 -- Justin Laird, Houston, TX; Andrew Williams, College Station, TX; Aaron Pickering, Vidor, TX; Blake Wilson, League City, TX; Terry Rice, Midland, TX; Kyle Standley, Cypress, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($24/each)  2 -- Michael Weber, Tomball, TX. 1 -- Bob Hayward, Houston, TX; Robert Corbello, Vidor, TX; Price Youngs, Nederland, TX.

Hogan:  ($24/each)  2 -- Nestor Alvarez, Houston, TX; Ferdinand Andres, Houston, TX; John Harcrow, Houston, TX. 1 -- Rafa Rivero, The Woodlands, TX; Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($60/each)  1 -- Bob Goodside, Montgomery,  TX; Jeff Green, Coldspring, TX; Doug Sparkes, Houston, TX; Jimmie Chambers, Wharton, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX; Dale Fuhr, Missouri City, TX.

Sarazen/Senior Sarazen:  ($42/each)  2 -- L.P. Jones, Houston, TX; Matt Larson, Spring, TX. 1 -- Marty Hodges, Richmond, TX; John Pickens, Montgomery, TX; Dan Maytubby, Cushing, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX.


Jones/Snead:  ($53/each)  2 -- Blake Barnes, Houston, TX. 1 -- Shane Trahan, Port Neches,TX; Stephen Sater, Sugar Land, TX; Richard Schram, Bryan, TX; Neil Macdonald, Huntsville, TX.



CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$165/each:  #3 - Andrew Williams - 6' 4";  #8 - Kyle Young - 3' 1";  #14 - Gordan Wagner - 3' 10";  #16 - Bruce LeGrand - 7' 9".



NEXT UP:

Dallas Tour -  June 16th the DFW Tour makes a stop at Bear Creek for the DFW International Open, event SOLD OUT and CLOSED.   Don't miss the registration for the Desoto Championship on July 1st at Thorntree Golf Club, entries close on Friday, June 22nd, but will surely sell out prior to that time.

Hill Country Tour -   Lighthouse Country Club, in Kingsland, TX, will open up the Texas Open weekend at Horseshoe Bay on Friday, June 22nd.  Spots still available with registration closing on Friday, June 15th.  


Houston Tour -  After a break for two majors in two weeks, the Houston Tour will tee it up at Pecan Grove Golf Club for the Richmond Championship on July 14th.  Entries close on Friday, July 6th. 

Major Championships Open for Registration - (Majors that will be included in the 2018 Texas Tour Flight Champion year-end awards)

Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay - June 23-24th. SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

Hill Country Classic at La Cantera - July 7th and 8th.  SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

Texas Classic at Barton Creek - July 28th - 29th.  SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt

Director - Texas Tours

Dallas  Tour - Hill Country Tour  - Houston Tour

GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour

405.513.1467