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