Prelude To Crazy Weather Weekend - Houston Tour

Scott R Chilcutt, Humble, TX (February 9, 2018)  The Prelude to the Houston Open, at Walden Country Club, Lake Houston, was the beginning of a Major Championship weekend in Houston, that proved to be the best day for a round of golf of the three.  

The course, winding through the surrounding housing development, played pretty much up to expectations, despite the previous rains that fell on the area.  Cart path only, with the ball in hand, generated a little more time on the course, than most would have liked, but in the end, the event went off with little to no glitches for those that went to the correct course.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $310, with the winner donating his share back to the Foundation, bringing the Texas Tour events total of $1,160 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:   Plano, TX, first-year player Randall Grimes, made the turn one stroke back, with four bogey's, but then put together three birdies on the back nine to pick up his first win.  Oklahoma traveler, Al Swanson from Edmond, OK, in Houston for the weekend Major, finished in the runner-up spot, with The Woodlands, TX, member Matthew Winters rounding out the top three.

Palmer Flight:   Michael Fyfe of McKinney, TX, went out with two birdies in his first three holes to pick up his first win of the season and fifth on tour.  One stroke back, Houston, TX, local Mike Karlin, made birdie on three holes during the round, including the par 5 - 17th that got him to within one.  Four strokes back of Karlin, Williamstown, WV, traveler Charles Boyce, made the turn with a birdie on the par 4 - 10th to grab the third-place finish.

Hogan Flight:  San Antonio, TX, player John Heintz decided to get out away for his birthday, that turned into another check in the win column for his seventeenth victory on tour.  Heintz, four strokes back of Ricky Cruz of Houston, TX, after the par 4 - 13th, made four pars in five holes to edge out Cruz by a stroke.  For Cruz, it was his second runner-up finish in as many attempts on tour.  Port Arthur, TX, first-time player Tony Thibodeaux took home the showplace finish, two back of Cruz.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Steve Wade of Boerne, TX, started his day on the par 4 - 10th, was one shot back making the turn. With the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 4th, Wade took five shots off on his back nine to win his second on tour, and first on Texas soil by two strokes.   Livonia, NY, traveler, Doug Ricketts, playing out of the Buffalo Tour, finished in the runner-up spot, with Cypress, TX, member Will Whitley and Mark Kirby of Bridge City, TX, sharing the third place honors.

Sarazen Flight:  After winning his first event on tour last Fall, Matt Larson of Spring, TX, picked up his second victory in three attempts.  Larson, tied up making the turn after starting on the tenth hole, with Odessa, TX, player Joe Luman, was able to outlast, Luman for the two-stroke victory.  Five-strokes back, Tommy Mobley of San Marcos, TX, and Montgomery, TX, member Joe Michetti, split the final podium spots.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  First season Tour Player, Mike Young of The Woodlands, TX, made the best of two birdies on his round to pick up his first win.  Seven strokes back, Richmond, TX, member Greg Faubion, with a birdie on the par 3 - 15th, took the runner-up honors, with David Jackson of Houston, TX, one stroke back rounding out the top three.

Jones Flight:  Spring, TX, resident Kevin Montague was able to be the only player of the flight to break the century mark for his second win in as many attempts.  Playing in his first event on tour, Roland Coyle, JR, of Livingston, TX, finished in second, one stroke back and four strokes clear, of Conroe, TX, player Gump Gumpenberger. 

Senior Snead Flight:  Stephen Sater of Sugar Land, TX, nearly ran away with the flight, finishing the day with a nine-stroke advantage.  For Sater it was his second win on tour, but first since the 2013 season. Local Humble, TX, player Ron McGinty, finished in the runner-up spot, with  Jennifer Grothaus, of Abilene, TX, rounding out the top three.








SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($75/each)  1 -- Charles Boyce, Williamstown, WV; Mike Karlin, Houston, TX; Andrew Kurzon, Weston, MA; Tommy Mobley, San Marcos, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Dennis Don, Houston, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($20/each)  2 -- Michael Fyfe, Mckinney, TX; Randall Grimes, Plano, TX. 1 -- Charles Boyce, Williamstown, WV; Mike Karlin, Houston, TX; Andrew Kurzon, Weston, MA.

Hogan / Senior Hogan: ($120/each)  1 -- Bill Schultz, Porter, TX; Steve Wade, Boerne, TX; Will Whitley, Cypress, TX.

Sarazen:  ($12/each)  3 -- Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX. 2 -- Matt Larson, Spring, TX; Tommy Mobley, San Marcos, TX; Joe Luman, Odessa, TX; Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($80/each)  2 -- Mike Young, The Woodlands, TX. 1 -- Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Dennis Don, Houston, TX.


Jones / Snead:  ($26/each)  2 -- Michael Page, Burnet, TX; Stephen Sater, Sugar Land, TX. 1 -- Gump Gumpenberger, Conroe, TX; Bill Russell, San Antonio, TX.




CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$105/each - #4 - Steve Wade - 4' 6";  #6 - Tommy Mobley - 3' 11";  #12 - Bob Moreau - 7' 3/4";  #15 - Greg Faubion - 10' 1".



NEXT UP:

Houston Tour - Tour makes it's first trip to Southwyck Golf Club for the Pearland Classic on Saturday, February 24th.  Registration closes Friday, February, 16th, and is a limited field event.

Dallas Tour -  We open with two sellouts first, the IronHorse open on Saturday, February 17th, then on to the Classic at the Indian Creek Golf Club, on Sunday, February 25th.

Hill Country Tour -  The Quarry Golf Club in San Antonio, (SOLD OUT) will be the site of the Hill Country Winer Championship on Sunday, February, 18th.  Only a few spots remain for the Prelude - San Antonio Open on Friday, March 2nd, with a registration deadline of Friday, February 23rd at 11:59 PM CST.


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

San Antonio Open at Sonterra - March 3rd and 4th. SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 22nd.  Spots available.

Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay - June 23-24th. 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