Calm at Northshore for the 2018 Texas Tour Opener

Scott R Chilcutt, Portland, TX (January 20, 2018)  The Texas Tours, opened 2018 calendar competition at Northshore Country Club for the Coastal Bend Championship.  The date Previously reserved for Palmilla Beach Resort and Club in Port Aransas, the first event of the year had to be relocated just 20 miles Northwest, as the lingering effects of Hurricane Harvey still have that course closed.

Northshore, while spared the effects of flooding, is still diligently working on infrastructure repair from the winds.  The course, known for its difficult southerly winds, with four holes along the bay, played very calm tee to green, with gentle breezes.  The lack of wind also contributed to some overnight lingering fog that burned off with little delay.  Greens, quick and true, seemed to be a big part of the headaches for the players, especially to those that didn't get a plan on where to fit the approach shots, since Friday practice rounds, were a wet cold mess.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $540 starting the new year. Texas Tour events donated more than $21,000 to the Foundation in 2017.



RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  First-time tour player, Mike Mims of Dallas, TX, played his first eight holes in +7 and wasn't feeling very good about his chances until he made the turn.  Out of the lead, by three strokes, after nine holes, Mims, carded four birdies on the back nine, finishing -3 coming to the clubhouse to pick up the win by three strokes.  Plano, TX, member Randall Grimes, bettered his front nine scores by seven strokes to finish in the runner-up spot, with Landon Leschber of Round Rock, TX, and Santee, CA traveler Anthony Encinias, sharing the third place honors.

Palmer Flight:  Bryan, TX, native, John Harvell, now residing in Honolulu, HI, held on from four strokes back making the turn to pick up the Championship. For Harvell, with three birdies on the round, it was his fifth victory on tour, and first since November 2014.  One stroke back, a gaggle of players shared the runner-up finish, with nearby Portland, TX, player Kevin Burkett, Jason Reicks of Round Rock, TX, Rowlett, TX traveler Gregory Haddon, local Bob Smith of Corpus Christi, TX and San Antonio, TX, player Rene Realme knotted in a tie for second.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Cedar Park, TX, resident Mike Harkins played the par four's in -1, with two birdies on his day to pick up his ninth win on tour and second of the points season.  Wendall Sheffield, of Cyrstal River, FL, spending a lot of time in Texas for work, finished two strokes back, keeping him in the contest on the par five's, even on the card.  One stroke back of the second place spot, Chris Phillips of Richmond, TX, and Portland, TX, local Scott Harrelson, rounded out the top three.

Hogan Flight:   Houston Tour player, Ricky Cruz and Corpus Christi, TX, local Kevin Fontenot, matched front nine / back nine scores, both playing in their first events, to force extra hole sudden death playoff.   Back to the par 5 - 1st, the pair would only take one hole to settle the score with a par out of Fontenot, grabbing his first Championship on tour.  One stroke back, John Heintz of San Antonio, TX, made the turn with a two-stroke lead, and a birdie on the par 4 - 8th and local Corpus Christi, TX, player, the only one in the field disappointed with the lack of wind, finished tied in third place.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Jeff Green of Coldspring, TX, was back four strokes making the turn, started the back with a couple of hiccups, but finished strong to pick up his third win on tour and second in as many attempts, winning his last time out at the South Texas Winter Championship in December.  One stroke back, Servando Perez, of Cedar Park, TX, with two birdies on his round, notched the runner-up spot with San Angelo, TX member Danny Simmons taking home the third place honors.

Sarazen Flight:  Playing in his second event on Tour, San Marcos, TX, player Tommy Mobley, starting the day on the par 5 - 10th, was just one stroke back making the turn and grabbed the lead back on his last nine holes for his first win on tour.  Lewisville, TX, traveler Caleb Brown finished in the runner-up spot after a struggle on his final nine holes, with Bobby Ashcraft of San Antonio, TX, making the best of a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd to finish in third.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Tied up making the turn, after starting on the par 5 - 10th at +3, the pair of Gary Gum of Spring, TX, and Giddings, TX, player Michael Hirsch went different, but similar directions.  After a back nine neither would like to remember, Hirsch, picked up his second win in as many attempts, with Gum, six strokes back. Richmond, TX, player Greg Faubion, with similar back nine woes, rounded out the top three.

Jones Flight:   John Franklin, of San Antonio, TX, picked up his second win on tour, with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd to record a career-low round.  Hill Country Tour Player of the year in 2017, Charles Watson of Llano, TX, carded an money making eagle on the par 5 - 6th to finish in second with local Corpus Christi, TX, player Bill Speck taking the third place honors.

Snead Flight:  Alamo, TX first-time player Pete Acosta, came from one stroke back making the turn to edge out Charles Mielak, of Mico, TX, for the win.  Two strokes back of Mielak, Copperas Cove, TX, member Dan O'Shea rounded out the top three.









SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($100/each)  1 -- Randall Grimes, Plano, TX; Mike Mims, Dallas, TX; Charles Watson, Llano, TX; Jerry Henry, Corpus Christi; Randy Dorsey, Killeen, TX; Shawn Whitaker, Lewisville, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($28/each)  3 -- Mike Mims, Dallas, TX. 2 -- Bob Smith, Corpus Christi, TX. 1 -- Randall Grimes, Plano, TX; Anthony Encinias, Santee, CA; Jason Reicks, Round Rock, TX; John Harvell, Honolulu, HI.

Senior Palmer:  ($22/each)  3 -- Mike Harkins, Cedar Park, TX. 1 -- David Skurow, Portland, TX; Jerry Henry, Corpus Christi; Wendall Sheffield, Crystal River, FL; Eric McDonald, Lubbock, TX; Scott Harrelson, Portland, TX.

Hogan:  ($26/each)  1 -- Tim Edwards, Amarillo, TX; John Schott, Cibolo, Texas; James Price, Portland, TX; Randy Dorsey, Killeen, TX; Shawn Whitaker, Lewisville, TX; Kevin Fontenot, Corpus Christi, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($31/each)  2 -- Servando Perez, Cedar Park, TX; Timothy VanLandingham, Portland, TX. 1 -- John Kaminski, Corpus Christi, TX; Marty Rauchwerger, Bonham, TX; Larry Susen, Austin, TX.

Sarazen:  ($25/each)  3 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX; C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX; Chris Bryant, Cedar Park, TX; Caleb Brown, Lewisville, TX; Brian Johnson, Southfield, MI.

Senior Sarazen:  ($46/each)  1 -- Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Gary Gum, Spring, TX; Michael Hirsch, Giddings, TX.

Jones / Snead:  ($56/each)  2 -- Gene Macha, Hungerford, TX. 1 -- Pete Acosta, Alamo, Texas; Dan O'Shea, Copperas Cove, TX; Bill Speck, Corpus Christi, TX; Charles Watson, Llano, TX.


CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$150/each:

#2 - Kevin Grillo - 6'6";  #7 - Gary Gum - 3'6";  #11 - Keith Huddleston - 10'1";  #13 - Jeff Green - 12' 8"


NEXT UP:

Houston Tour - Friday, February 9th, Walden on Lake Houston, will host the Prelude to the Houston Open.  Registration closes Friday, February, 2nd, and is a limited field event.

Dallas Tour -  We open in North Texas on Saturday, February 17th, at IronHorse Golf Club in North Richland Hills, TX.  Unlike previous year openers, the field will be limited to the first 90 players, get in before it sells out.

Hill Country Tour -  The Quarry Golf Club in San Antonio, will be the site of the Hill Country Winer Championship on Sunday, February, 18th, entry deadline, Friday, February 9th.


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

Golf Club of Houston Open - February 10th / 11th - Sold Out with only occasional openings on the waiting list.

San Antonio Open at Sonterra - March 3rd and 4th.

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 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