The Woodlands Open - Tournament Course Continues the History

Scott R Chilcutt, The Woodlands, TX (July 6, 2015)  The Tournament Course at The Woodlands is rich with history at the highest level of golf.  PGA Tour wins from the likes of David Duval ('98), Hal Sutton ('01) and Vijay Singh ('02) go with more recent Insperity Invitational, presented by United Healthcare, wins on the Champions Tour from Bernard Langer ('08,'14), John Cook ('09) and Fred Couples ('10).

In the seventh consecutive edition of the event on the Golf Channel AM Tour, the facilities proved to be one of the best on tour.  Excellent green complexes, nearly perfect fairways matched with brutal rough to keep scoring at bay.  With a sellout crowd nearly three weeks prior to the event, organizers were able to set up another wave of split tee times, making for the 135+ field.  

Richard Schram (Snead Flight) was "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning his flight playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to him for the win. Schram was the only player on the day to make it multiple wins at the Tournament Course.  Nearly matching his personal best low round, Tom Dyer grabbed the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, by three strokes.



RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Five strokes out of the lead with the front nine scores posted, Josh Stout of Houston, TX, was ready to leave the facility.  After waiting on players coming in from later tee times, kept Stout on the property to learn he picked up his first win, in eleven attempts on tour. One stroke back, Houston, TX, player Jordan Wagner started out on a roll with a birdie on the par 5 - 1st, added another on the par 5 - 7th and was sitting at -1 after 8.  Then came the par 4 - 9th, where Wagner just couldn't traverse the OB and rough, slipping back to what would eventually become a runner up finish. Logan Edwards of College Station, TX, carded his best finish on tour, rounding out the top three.

Senior Championship Flight:  David Ortego of nearby Spring, TX made birdie on the par 4 - 17th, while Sugar Land, TX, standout, Gordon Wagner made bogey on his final hole of the day to knot up the front runners.  Back to the tenth hole for the playoff, Wagner had what looked to be an in the middle putt from 36' for par, that came up a little short, opening the door for a 3' par putt by Ortego for his second win on tour, both coming at The Woodlands properties. One stroke back of the pair a trio of players, Fred Rich of Tomball, Bernard Weber of  Missouri City, TX, , both with three birdies on day shared the third place honors with Midland, TX, player Terry Rice, with five birdies on his round.

Palmer Flight:  Tomball, TX, player James Sheppeard, another two time winner at The Woodlands courses this season, made a birdie at the turn on the par 5 - 1st that proved to be just enough for his seventh win on the season and fourth since his promotion to the Palmer Flight. Playing in his second event on tour, Matthew Shaunty of Spring, TX, made birdies on the par 5 - 1st and par 3 - 16th to stay one stroke ahead of a pair just behind him. Sugar Land, TX, player Ralph Haun snared his third, third place finish on his first year on tour with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 12th and Michael Van Swol with birdie on the par 5 - 16th shared the third place honors.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Bouncing back from heat related issues in Hot Springs at the Arkansas Championship Major in early June, J.D. Price of Whitney, TX, made birdies on the par 4 - 9th and par 4 - 11th to seal his fifth win on his first year on tour. Vidor, TX, member Robert Corbello, with a pair of birdies of his own on the day, finished two strokes clear of a pair sharing the third place honors.  Bruce Beakley of Houston, TX, and second time player from Lake Jackson, TX, Clemente Saenz, both carded a couple birdies to split the show place finish.

Hogan Flight:   Sixty three year old, Tom Dyer of Magnolia, TX, preferring to play with the young guys, carded one of the lowest rounds of his career to pick up his first win of the season and fourth on tour.  In his second event back after major medical issues, Al Campo of Deer Park, TX, put together a couple of birdies on the par 4 - 11th and par 3 - 16th for the runner up finish, with Dallas Tour player Jeff Workman of Fort Worth, TX rounding out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Starting the day on the tenth hole, Arthur Flores of Houston, TX, was mid pack after nine.  Birdies on the par 5 - 1st, and par 4 - 7th got the wheels rolling for Flores to pick up his first win on the season and fifth on tour. Sugar Land, TX, member Frank O'Neill, with birdies on the par  4 - 2nd, and par 4 - 12th finished a distant four strokes back of the winners circle, one in front of  David Anthony of Cypress, TX, with birdies on three of his first five holes for the third place finish.

Sarazen Flight:  George Horton and Rick Houchins of Houston, TX, along with Port Arthur, TX, member, Kyle Young came to the finish line in a dead heat.  All three carded two birdies on the round to make it close. Back to number 10 for the playoff, all three would look to make it close, but in the end, Horton made par for his first win in only two attempts on tour.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Spring, TX, standout, Gary Gum became three of The Woodlands Course Champions after winning the May Player Championship @ The Woodlands.  Gum, historically a winner early in the season notched his twelfth win on tour and only second victory after June 1st.  Three strokes back, Marty Hodges of Richmond, TX, carded his second runner up finish to go with two wins on the year with Bridge City, TX, player Mark Kirby taking home the third place spot with a birdie on the par 3 - 3rd.

Jones Flight:   Hill Country Tour member, Donald Bebout of Lakeway, TX, made the trip count with his tenth win on tour and first of the points season. Bebout carded a birdie on his first hole of the day, the par 4 - 10th to finish two strokes ahead of a pair knotted in the runner up spot,  Houston, TX, player Lee Isham, with a birdie on the par 3 - 16th and Corrigan, TX, resident Mike Murphy shared the runner up honors.

Snead Flight: Richard Schram of Bryan, TX, is a record holder.  Not one most would appreciate but, Schram, playing the par 5 - 15th in 2013 hit just one ball short of two dozen in the water.  After much debate and with the help of a putter over the bridge, Schram would card a 67 on one hole, just 30 strokes shy of his winning eighteen hole score this year.  It was Schram's first win on the season and fifth on tour as well as the only player to win two events at the Tournament Course. Two strokes back, Carl Eaton of Conroe, TX, took home the runner up honors with Javier Quintero of Houston, TX and  Sugar Land, TX, member Stephen Sater splitting the third place finish.    


SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($500/each)  1 -- Mark Echols, Diana, TX; David Brassard, Spring, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($43/each)  2 -- Aaron Pickering, Vidor, TX; Charles J. Kirk, Nacogdoches, TX.  1 -- Rick Keszeg, Orange, TX; Jeff Zemencsik, Magnolia, TX.

Senior Championship / Senior Palmer:  ($146/each)  1 -- Mark Echols, Diana, TX; David Ortego, Spring, TX; Mark Magnuson, Bridge City, TX.

Hogan:  ($36/each)  1 -- Derek Matta, Sugar Land, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; David Brassard, Spring, TX; Darren Bufton, Bedford, TX; Jeff Workman, Fort Worth, TX; Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($95/each)  2 -- David Anthony, Cypress, TX. 1 -- Robert Hayward, Houston, TX; Arthur Flores, Houston, TX.

Sarazen:  ($22/each)  4 -- Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX. 2 -- Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX; Rick Houchins, Houston, TX. 1 -- Mike Karlin, Houston, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($70/each)  1 -- Arjun Sen, Centennial, CO; Louis Jones, Spring, TX; Olan Benge, Wharton, TX; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX; Keith Gannon, Houston, TX.

Jones / Snead:  ($76/each)  1 -- Lee Isham, Houston, TX; J T Collins, Spring, TX; Gene Macha, Hungerford, TX; Marshall Sweed, Sugar Land, TX; Bryce Kocian, Wharton, TX.




CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($250/each)  #3 - Clemente Saenz - 3' 0";  #8 - Mike Harkins - 7' 0";  #14 - Alan Joseph  - 3' 0";  #16 - Rick Keszeg - 2' 3".

Upcoming Texas Events:

After the special Monday event at TPC Craig Ranch, weekend play resumes on the Dallas Tour at the Saturday, July 18th Open Championship in Frisco.  Registration closes, Friday, July 10th at 11:59PM EST.

On tap in The Hill Country, the Austin - Nicklaus Open at the Hill Country Club, Flintrock Falls layout on July 11th.  Then the tour, welcomes players from around the country for the special Friday prelude to the Texas Open at Barton Creek for the Championship at Falconhead on Friday, July 31st.  Waiting list spots still available. 

Sunday, July 19th the Houston Tour players make a start at The Open Championship at Wildcat.  Registration closes, Friday, July 10th at 11:59PM EST.

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

www.gcamtour.com

Skies Turn Friendly at the Friendswood Challenge

Scott R Chilcutt, Friendswood, TX (June 13, 2015)  Timber Creek Golf Club, located just minutes west of the Johnson Space Center, Clear Lake and the Bay of Galveston, played host to the Friendswood Challenge on the Houston Tour Schedule.

Early morning heavy rains, along with an over abundance of lightning coming off the Gulf Coast looked like it would put the event in a wash out state.  Patience from the membership and players that made the trip through some flooded roads, gave way to a delay that would prove to be worthy of the time.  While carts were restricted to the paths, which has been more than regular this spring, play got underway and scores were low.  The layout, short under normal conditions still lead to some record scoring and a number of personal bests on tour.  

Wayne Waldrep (Jones Flight) was "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning his flight playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to him for the win.  With a personal best low round, Marshall Sweed grabbed the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, by three strokes.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  First time player from Kingwood, TX, Derek Husband carded one of the many personal bests on the day.  The 20 year old, made birdie on the par 5 - 9th to go out in +1, added birdies on the par 3 - 15th and par 5 - 18th to clear the flight by four strokes for the Championship.  Travis Nichols of Houston, TX, would make birdie on the par 3 - 17th to knot it up with Vidor, TX, player Aaron Pickering, with a birdie of his own on the par 4 - 10th, to share the runner up honors.

Palmer Flight:  Despite a couple of stumbles on the day, Ernie Dyer of Orange, TX, became a two time winner on the season and five time winner on tour, including the 2014 Senior National Championship (Hogan Flight),   Just one stroke back, Bruce Beakley of Houston, TX, and Tomball, TX player James Sheppeard, a six time winner on the season, shared the runner up finish.

Hogan Flight:   Visiting Hill Country Tour player, Brian Cox from Killeen, TX, picked up his sixth win on tour and first since the 2012 - Challenge @ The Springs.  Cox made the turn with a one stroke lead, just enough to maintain a one stroke advantage at the end of the day over The Woodlands, TX, player Tom Dyer and New Braunfels, TX, resident,Michael Campbell, both splitting the second place finish.

Senior Hogan Flight:   Mike Hafner of Katy, TX, broke out of a bundle of runner up finishes on the season, including the Major Championships at the Decemeber Hawaii Amateur Championship  and the May - Hall of Fame Championship in Florida to shoot a career low round on tour.  The +3 finish was plenty for Hafner to pick up his four win on tour.  Four strokes back, another flight with a pair sharing the runner up honors, Arthur Flores of Houston, TX, and Humble, TX, player Tim Kozlowski with birdies on the par 5 - 9th and par 2 - 15th split the second and third place points.

Sarazen Flight:  Continuing on a theme of personal best low rounds, Massimo Passini of Houston, TX, carded three birdies on the day to notch his twelfth win on tour.  Making birdie on the par 5 - 18th, Bellaire, TX, player Kyle Young, a winner his last time out, grabbed sole position of the second place honors with a trio tied in the third place spot.  The pair of Katy, TX, members, Kristopher Bixby,  with a birdie on the par 4 - 6th and Adam Bray shared the show place finish with Houston, TX member Rick Houchins.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  The Woodlands, TX, resident, Mike Innes would use a birdie on his final hole of the day, the par 5 - 9th to pick up his thirteenth win on tour and third of the season.  One stroke back, Gary Gum of Spring, TX, birdied the last two holes on each nine for his fourth runner up finish on the season to go with a win at Player Championship @ The Woodlands.   Following a runner up finish at the Arkansas Championship at Hot Springs Village Major his last time out, Spring, TX, member,  Chris Neelley rounded out the top three.

Jones Flight:  First year tour player, Wayne Waldrep riding a wave of confidence from his National Championship qualifying, third place finish at the Arkansas Championship at Hot Springs Village, picked up his first win on tour.  In his first event on tour, El Campo, TX, player Jeff Wadsworth with two birdies on the day, took the second place honors with Cypress, TX player Anthony Parrish grabbing the final spot on the podium.

Senior Jones Flight:  Marshall Sweed of Sugar Land, TX, birdied his first hole out of the gate, the par 4 - 10th and finished with a career low round for his second win on tour and first of the season. Three strokes back, Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX and Spring, TX player Terry Collins, with a birdie on the par 4 - 5th would share the second place finish.

Snead Flight:  Javier Quintero of Houston, TX, picked up his eighteenth win on tour and first of the season.  Quintero, would make birdie on the par 3 - 15th to finish ten strokes ahead of second place finisher, Mark Colwell, a two time winner on the season, from Selma, TX.  Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino Major Champion, Robert Vespa of nearby Pasadena, TX rounded out the top three. 


SKINS:

Giant Skins:  ($96/each)  1 -- James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX; Travis Nichols, Houston, TX; Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX; Don Martino, League City, TX; David Anthony, Cypress, TX.

Championship / Palmer: ($55/each) 1 -- James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX; Ralph Haun, Sugar Land; Travis Nichols, Houston, TX; Aaron Pickering, Vidor, TX.

Hogan:  ($24/each)  2 -- Brian Cox, Killeen, TX. 1 -- Gus Aldana, Houston, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Mike Rayburn, Montgomery, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($48/each)  2 -- Larry Murphy, Cypress, TX. 1 -- David Anthony, Cypress, TX; Mike Hafner, Katy, TX; Tim Kozlowski, Humble, TX.

Sarazen:  ($10/each)  4 -- Massimo Passini, Houston, TX. 3 -- Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX. 1 -- Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($60/each)  2 -- Gary Gum, Spring, TX. 1 -- Larry Viktorin, Wharton, TX; Colin Knight, Richmond, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($55/each)  1 -- Randy Adcock, Vidor, TX; Terry Collins, Spring, TX; Marshall Sweed, Sugar Land, TX; Jeff Wadsworth, El Campo, TX.

Snead:  ($10/each)  6 -- Javier Quintero, Houston, TX. 2 -- Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX. 1 -- Mark Colwell, Selma, TX; Robert Vespa, Pasadena, TX; Tracey Valencia, Houston, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($120/each)  #4 - Rick Halprin - 2' 8";  #7 - Frank O'Neill - 3' 11";  #15 - Vernon Wells  - 8' 0"; #17 - Travis Nichols - 3' 3".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Players from around the country head to San Antonio for the sold out Srixon Championship at La Cantera on June 27th and June 28th.

Dallas members take on the Tarrant County Open at Sky Creek Ranch on June 20th before a South Central Region Major Championship the following weekend.  Then the tour makes it's first stop at Southern Oaks Golf Club for the Battle at Burleson on Sunday, July 5th.  Registration closes, Friday, June 26th at 11:59PM EST.

On tap in The Hill Country, the Austin - Nicklaus Open at the Hill Country Club, Flintrock Falls layout on July 11th.  Entry deadline is Friday, July 3 at 11:59PM EST. 

Houston area players make a return visit to The Woodlands, this round at the Tournament Course for The Woodlands Open on Monday, July 6th.  While the event is currently on a waiting list we may be able to expand the field for an afternoon wave.  Be sure to put yourself on the list if you'd like to play.  Registration closes, Friday, June 26th at 11:59PM EST.

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

www.gcamtour.com

So Long Month of May - Missouri City Championship

Scott R Chilcutt, Missouri City, TX (May 30, 2015)  Weather crazy month of May in Texas ends with a downpour at Quail Valley Golf Course for the Missouri City Championship on the Houston Tour. 

Historic rains and flooding across the state, held the May 31st event in Dallas hostage and ended play for half the field the preceding weekend in Blanco.  Partly cloudy and muggy, mother nature teased the players with what looked to be a lucky Saturday.  Quail Valley, without the ability to set up split tee times, had a little over 4 hours of straight tee times that would effect the tail end of the field.  The course, with Monday night flooding, wrecked the bunkers and the slowly but surely rising Brazos River shortened the par 4 - 17th hole, but great drainage on most fairways allowed carts off the path.

In the end, 28 of the 79 players, had shortened rounds, first because of lightning and once off the course the skies opened up.  With at least nine holes played, all flights were awarded the prize fund and points.  William Speck (Snead Flight) was "Up for the Srixon Challenge", winning his flight playing a Srixon ball and will get a dozen sent to him for the win.  Danny Doss of Houston, TX, carded a hole in one on the par 3 - 14th hole and Kyle Young picked up the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, by two strokes over David Anthony.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Playing in his first event on tour, Zachary Bell of Richmond, TX,  with three birdies on the day, played the back nine in even par which proved to be just enough for the win.  One stroke back, Houston, TX, resident, Travis Nichols made the turn tied up with Bell, added two birdies on the back, but fell into a tie for second with Scott Waltrip of Montgomery, TX.  Waltrip, made a charge on the back nine, coming to the club house with a 35, but just couldn't make up the front nine deficit settling for a share of the runner up spot.

Palmer Flight:  Extended yardages, after his promotion from the Hogan Flight,  seem to be suiting James Sheppeard of Tomball, TX, well.  Since the move, Sheppeard has played in four events with three wins and looks to be destined for another flight adjustment in the near future.  Back for his second event after a short layoff, Houston, TX, player Bruce Beakley played the back nine under par to pick up the runner up spot, matching his best finish since being promoted to the Senior Palmer Flight at the December South Texas Winter Championship.  One stroke back of Beakley,  Walter Menuet of Houston, TX, carded four birdies on the day to round out the top three.

Hogan Flight:  It was a long time coming for Cypress, TX, member David Anthony.  Anthony, on tour since 2010,  made the turn +1, birdied the par 5 - 10th and made it home with a two stroke victory, his first on tour.  Kevin Turner of Beaumont, TX, a winner his last time out at the rain shortened, Battle at Blanco, looked to be leaking oil his last few holes, but had just enough of a cushion from his front nine score to tie up the runner up finish with Richmond, TX member Eddey Neeley.  Neeley, with three birdies on the day, followed up his first win of the season at the March Galveston Island Championship.

Sarazen Flight:   Kyle Young of Bellaire, TX, made birdie on the first hole out of the gate, the par 5 - 1st, added another at the par 4 - 5th and had the flight covered by five strokes making the turn.  Young would add a three on the shortened #17 to pick up his eighth win on tour and second of the points season.  Three strokes back, Deer Park, TX, member Blake Barnes played the back nine in +3 to jump into the runner up finish.  First time, Houston, TX, player Mike Karlin put twelve pars together to offset some big number holes, taking the show place finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  In one of the four rain shortened flights, Mike Innes of The Woodlands, TX, picked up his second win of the season and twelfth event on tour.  Pearland, TX, resident, Michael Bell started the day in a tough position, but rebounded with a birdie on the par  3 - 6th that proved to be just enough to lock up a share of the runner up spot with Chris Neelley of Spring, TX, with a birdie of his own on the par 3 - 2nd.

Jones Flight:  Tied at the top making the turn, Houston,TX, member Artis Stewart, would play his final three holes of the shortened event in +1 to pick up his firth win on tour and first of the season.  Two strokes back the trio of Neil Macdonald of Huntsville, TX, Corrigan, TX, player Mike Murphy and Scott Sammons of Katy, TX collectively played the final three holes of the day +1 to share the runner up finish.

Snead Flight:  William Speck of Corpus Christi, TX, became a three time winner on tour, with two on the season.  Speck birdied his second hole of the day, the par 3 - 2nd to finish four strokes clear of Victoria, TX, player Art Henry a winner his last time out at the San Antonio Masters.  Major Champion at the Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort & Casino,  Robert Vespa of Pasadena, TX, rounded out the top three.

SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($83/each)  1 -- Aaron Pickering, Vidor, TX; Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX; Eddey Neeley, Richmond, TX; Danny Doss, Houston, TX; Keith Grissom, Orange, TX; Rick Halprin, Houston, TX.

Championship:  ($28/each)  2 -- Aaron Pickering, Vidor, TX. 1 -- Jordan Wagner, Sugar Land, TX; Fred Rich, Tomball, TX; Scott Waltrip, Montgomery, TX.

Palmer:  ($55/each)  2 -- Walter Menuet, Houston, TX. 1 -- Michael Van Swol, Sugar Land, TX; James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX.

Hogan:  ($64/each)  1 -- Eddey Neeley, Richmond, TX; Danny Doss, Houston, TX; Kevin Turner, Beaumont, TX; Keith Grissom, Orange, TX; Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX.

Sarazen:  ($28/each)  2 -- Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX. 1 -- Jay Bell, Shreveport, LA; Mike Karlin, Houston, TX; Rick Houchins, Houston, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($40/each)  2 -- Chris Neelley, Spring, TX. 1 -- Michael Bell, Pearland, TX.

Jones:  ($90/each)  2 -- Rick Halprin, Houston, TX.

Snead:  ($35/each)  2 -- William Speck, Corpus Christi, TX. 1 -- Bobby Ashcraft, San Antonio, TX; Ramon Parada, Sugar Land, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($120/each)  #2 - Art Henry - 4' 6";  #8 - Eddey Neeley - 6' 2";  #11 - Fred Rich  - 3' 3"; #15 - James Sheppeard - 5' 5".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Over 80 Texas Tour players, with 19 from Houston, will head northeast for the Arkansas Championship at Hot Springs, on June 6th and 7th.

With a quick turnaround, the Houston Tour is back in action for the Friendswood Challenge at Timber Creek Golf Club on Saturday June, 13th.   

Dallas Tour members will host the Flower Mound Open @ Bridlewood on Sunday, June 14th.

On tap for The Hill Country, a special Monday event for the Cedar Park Challenge, at Twin Creeks on June 15th. 

Entry deadline for all three Texas events is Friday, June 5th at 11:59 PM EST. 

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

www.gcamtour.com