Scott R Chilcutt, February 23, 2018) The Golf Club of Houston, home to the Houston Open on the PGA Tour, since 2003, will see that reign come to an end after the schedule moves the event to the fall of 2018 for the last time. As a result of the schedule change, the need for the overseeded complex was not necessary, so it brought some hope that we might be able to compete the event driving on the fairways.
The weather didn't listen to those hopes, as an extremely wet fall and winter, simply wouldn't allow such an option. While, the course, clearly had plenty of plugged balls, many very hard to find, native Bermuda, was very playable and growing.
When what was thought to be the biggest, obstacle, forecasted Thunderstrokes, didn't happen, players still had to deal with occasional showers, along with a near the end of the round, dry wind front that blew through to keep them on their toes.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Andrew Braun of Trophy Club, TX, put a string of holes together near the end of his round, that would place him on top of the podium. Braun with consecutive birdies on 13 and 14, added three pars to finish, one stroke clear of Diana, TX, member Keith Childress. Oklahoma traveler, Al Swanson of Edmond, OK finished three strokes back of Childress, to round out the top three.
Palmer Flight: Houston, TX, player Mike Karlin, stayed away from the big numbers, added a birdie on the par 5 - 8th, to pick up his first championship in five attempts on the points season, but it wasn't without some help. Starting the day on the par 4 - 3rd, Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX, played his first thirteen holes in even par, with three birdies in four holes starting the back nine but ran into a wall at 17. Matthews would go +6 on 16 and 17, to relegate himself to the runner-up spot, one stroke back. Spring, TX, member, Tony Eno, with a pair of birdies of his own on the round, took home his second third-place finish, in as many attempts after winning his first time out this season.
Senior Palmer: Austin, TX, a first-year member, Rob Ormand, started the round on the par 3 - 7th, carded a pair of birdies on the par 3's on the back nine, and made the turn near the clubhouse off the eighteenth green, at +1. Ormond would drop a couple of strokes on the 1st and 2nd holes, but add another birdie on the par 5 - 4th to solidify his fourth win. Robert Hayward, of Houston, TX, carded a pair of 40s to share the runner-up spot, with Fort Worth, TX, player Scott Harris, with a birdie on the par 5 - 15th.
Hogan Flight: Kyle Young, of Bellaire, TX, made the most of a birdie on the par 5 - 8th hole to pick up his first Hogan Flight Championship, since he was promoted in August 2015, by one stroke. Young edged out the pair of Hill Country members, Ronnie Davis of Converse, TX, with a birdie on the par 5 - 13th, and New Braunfels, TX, player Michael Campbell that shared the runner-up honors.
Senior Hogan Flight: The pair of Houston, TX, residents, Doug Sparkes, and Lane McKinney, on the sidelines from the tour since the spring of 2017, finished the day knotted in the top spot. Back to the par 4 - 10th it would take only one hole for McKinney to pick up the win. Two strokes back, Cypress, TX, member Will Whitley, put a string of nine holes together at -1, with a birdie on the par 3 - 7th, to round out the top three.
Sarazen Flight: Competing in his first season on tour, Matthew Rush of Iola, TX, picked up his second win in three attempts. Rush, with three birdies on the round, was able to stay one stroke clear Montgomery, TX, player Joe Michetti, and Gregory Wolfford, of Orange, TX. Michetti, with a pair of birdies on his round and Wolfford, with on at the par 4 - 3rd, split the second place finish.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Missouri City, TX, member Dale Fuhr, started the round on the par 5 - 13th, and put together a +2 after thirteen holes. Stumbling on a couple of holes, at the end of the front nine, Fuhr would card a birdie on the par 4 - 10th to pick up the championship. Burnie Rodgers of Fort Worth, TX, with a birdie on the par 4 - 1st and Richmond, TX, member Greg Faubion, with a birdie of his own on the par 5 - 13th shared the runner-up finish.
Jones Flight: Paul Tyus of Schertz, TX, finished the day with a par on the par 4 - 10th to shoot a +2 on the back nine, holding out a one-stroke edge on the back to finish, three-trokes clear of Allen Gumpenberger, of Conroe, TX, for his second win of the season. Gumpenberger, with a birdie on the par 5 - 13th, finished alone in second place, one stroke clear of Blake Barnes, of Houston, TX, with a pair of birdies on his round.
Snead Flight: Port Neches, TX, player Shane Trahan, picked up his second win on tour, after his first at The Woodlands Tournament Course, in June of 2018. Trahan, was five strokes clear of Jim Lamberth of Beaumont, TX, with a birdie on the par 4 - 12th and Cypress, TX, resident, Nick Silk, with a birdie on the par 4 - 6th, splitting the runner-up honors.
SKINS:
Giant Skins: ($260/each) Aaron Brougher (1) Birdie on 17. Rafael Rivero (1) Birdie on 18. Scott Harris (1) Birdie on 15.
Championship/Palmer: ($80/each) Andrew Braun (1) Birdie on 14. Jesse Schefdore (1) Birdie on 16. Aaron Brougher (1) Birdie on 17. Rafael Rivero (1) Birdie on 18. Jesse Lavine (1) Birdie on 5. Dave Davlin (1) Birdie on 7.
Senior Palmer: ($45/each) Rob Ormand (1) Birdie on 16. Scott Harris (1) Birdie on 15. Wayburn Henry (1) Birdie on 10. Walter Menuet (1) Birdie on 9.
Hogan: ($126/each) Ronnie Davis (1) Birdie on 13. John Heintz (1) Birdie on 7. Robert Murphy (1) Birdie on 9.
Senior Hogan: ($35/each) Steve Kirchhoff (2) Birdie on 3, Birdie on 11. George Smith (2) Birdie on 5, Birdie on 9. Rod McCasland (1) Par on 18. Will Whitley (1) Birdie on 7.
Sarazen: ($56/each) Matthew Rush (1) Birdie on 12. James Washburn (1) Par on 18. Gregory Wolfford (1) Birdie on 3. Ross Gonzales (1) Birdie on 5. Jerome Dizon (1) Birdie on 8.
Senior Sarazen: ($30/each) Greg Faubion (2) Par on 8, Birdie on 13. Dale Fuhr (1) Birdie on 10. Charles Ackerman (1) Par on 2. Zane Latham (1) Birdie on 3. Rick Halprin (1) Birdie on 5.
Jones/Snead: ($37/each) Blake Barnes (2) Birdie on 10, Birdie on 16. Allen Gumpenberger (1) Birdie on 13. Kevin Montague (1) Birdie on 17. Ramon Colen (1) Par on 3. Paul Tyus (1) Par on 6. Stephen Sater (1) Birdie on 7.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
$210/each: #7 - John Heintz - 8' 8". #9 - George Smith - 4'. #14 - Michael Nowotny - 3' 5". #16 - Burnie Rodgers - 7' 6".
NEXT UP:
SEE ENTIRE 2019 TEXAS SCHEDULE by clicking:
2019 Texas Tours Schedule
For More Information:
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
