South Houston Championship - Bay Oaks

Scott R Chilcutt, Houston, TX (May 21, 2018)  Bay Oaks Country Club, home of the NCAA DII Women's College Championship, had a one day break on Sunday to retool for Golf Channel Houston Tour, South Houston Championship.

Arguably the best course conditions of the year, Bay Oaks fairways and greens were in immaculate condition for the event.  While thunder boomed to the east over Clear Lake and to the west over Alvin, the excellent weather day, was only hampered by a few short showers for later groups.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $440, bringing the Texas Tour events total to $11,970 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:   One stroke back making the turn,  Aaron Pickering of Vidor, TX, made the best of four birdies on his day, to grab the lead for his second win in as many attempts.   League City, TX, player Blake Wilson, got himself into a head slamming incident on the par 4 - 10th, that would take him out of the Championship, but still finished in the runner-up spot, two strokes back.  Kory Calhoun of Montgomery, TX, with a birdie on the par 5 - 7th rounded out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  After playing the front nine holes, in so-so fashion,  Rick Keszeg of Orange, TX, kicked it into gear coming to the clubhouse.  Keszeg with three birdies on the back nine carding a -1, picked up his fifth win of the season.   Houston, TX, member Ara Simonian, with three birdies on his round, recorded his best finish, in his first year on tour, with a trio of players just one stroke back.  Michael Van Swol of Sugar Land, TX, and Mike Karlin of Houston, TX, both with a pair of birdies on the card, shared the third place honors with Deer Park, TX, resident Al Campo.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Vidor, TX, player Robert Corbello, commanded up his fourteenth win on tour and second of the season.  Corbello, with three birdies on the round, finished the day with an even-par 72 to clear second place finisher, Robert Hayward of  Houston, TX, by five strokes.  Hayward, with three birdies of his own on the round, cleared Bryan, TX, resident Leslie Clifton, by four strokes.

Hogan Flight:  John Harcrow, of Houston, TX, a winner his last time out and The Woodlands, TX, member Rafa Rivero, needed extra holes to settle the score.  The pair, both with birdies on the round, went back to course for the sudden death playoff,  with Rivero, picking up his second win on tour.  The pair of Houston, TX, residents, Jeff Burke with two birdies on his front nine, Nestor Alvarez, with an eagle and birdie on his card, shared the third place finish.

Senior Hogan Flight: Second-year tour player, David Evans of Lumberton, TX, was called out to work that night just before the round on Monday and perhaps, that was just enough of a distraction for him to pick up his first win on tour.  Evans, with a birdie on the par 5 - 11th, cleared the field by five strokes for the victory, with a pair of players sharing the second place finish.  Playing in his fourth event in four days after traveling to Kohler, WI for the Major Championship weekend, Missouri City, TX, player Dale Fuhr, and traveling Woodworth, LA player Don Thompson, split the runner-up finish.

Sarazen Flight:  Taking a break from the tour since, 2015, Corpus Christi, TX player Damian Shipley made it back with a bang.  After starting the day on the par 4 - 10th, Shipley made the turn one stroke back but finished his final nine five strokes ahead of the field for his fifth win on tour. Relocating to the Sea Brooke, area, Brnadon Cassella had moving trucks waiting on him but was able to pick up the runner-up finish, with the pair Spring, TX, player Matt Larson and Joe Michetti of Montgomery, TX, just one stroke back.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Jeffry Holmes of Houston, TX, became another first-time winner on tour in his third year. Holmes made the best of a pair of birdies on his card to edge out Sealey, TX, resident Michael Nowotney, by a stroke.  Two strokes back of the second place finish, the pair of Houston, TX, player Clay Parmer and  Robert Hayter, shared the final podium finish with John Reynolds of Beaumont, TX.

Jones Flight:  Spring, TX, player Kevin Montague, stayed on his winning ways, carding his fourth win of the season and fifth on tour.  David Liggett, JR of nearby LaPorte, TX finished in the runner-up spot, with Huntsville, TX, member Neil MacDonald, back on tour after a layoff with knee issues, rounding out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Blake Barnes of Houston, TX, a social member at the Bay Oaks Golf Club, picked up his fourteenth win on tour and first since the fall of 2016.  Playing alongside Barnes, Port Neches, TX resident, Shane Trahan, carded the runner-up finish, with John Epstein of Bryan, TX, and Mike Lane, of Katy, TX, sharing the third place spot.







SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($70/each)  2 -- Michael Van Swol, Sugar Land, TX; Nestor Alvarez, Houston, TX. 1 -- Rick Keszeg, Orange, TX; Shane Trahan, Port Neches, TX; Jeff Burke, Houston, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($20/each)  2 -- Rick Keszeg, Orange, TX; Michael Van Swol, Sugar Land, TX. 1 -- Damian Smith, Houston, TX; Kory Calhoun, Montgomery, TX; Aaron Pickering, Vidor, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($45/each)  2 -- Brad Bailey, Cypress, TX.  1 -- Ernie Dyer, Orange, TX; Robert Corbello, Vidor, TX.

Hogan/Senior:  ($42/each)  1 -- Jeff Burke, Houston, TX; John Harcrow, Houston, TX; David Evans, Lumberton, TX; Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX; Jeff Green, Coldspring, TX; Tony Thibodeaux, Port Arthur, TX; Rafa Rivero, The Woodlands, TX.

Sarazen/Senior Sarazen:  ($65/each)  1 -- John Pickens, Montgomery, TX; Jeffry Holmes, Houston, TX; Rick Halprin, Houston, TX; Robert Hayter, Houston, TX.


Jones/Snead:  ($36/each)  2 -- David Liggett Jr, LaPorte, TX. 1 -- Mike Murphy, Corrigan, TX; Blake Barnes, Houston, TX; Shane Trahan, Port Neches, TX; Kevin Montague, Spring, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$140/each:  #3 - Rick Halprin - 4' 9";  #8 - Michael Nowotny - 7' 6 1/2";  #12 - Don Thompson - 11' 9 3/4";  #14 - John Reynolds - 3' 7".





NEXT UP:

Dallas Tour -  The DFW Tour visits Riverchase Golf Club on Saturday, June 2nd for the Coppell Open.  Spots available with an entry deadline of May 25, 2018.  June 1st is the registration deadline for the first time Granbury Classic at Harbor Lakes Golf Clu on Saturday, June 9th.

Hill Country Tour -    Avery Ranch, hosts the summer Classic - Round Rock on Sunday, June 3rd.  Entry deadline is Friday, March 25th.


Houston Tour - Next up, The Woodlands Open, the home of the Insperity Invitational on the Champions Tour, on Monday, June, 11th. This one always sells out, to be sure to get in before the June 1st deadline.


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.  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