The Cypress Open - Continues the 2016 Points Season

Scott R Chilcutt, Cypress, TX (November, 14, 2015)  The Houston Tour of the Golf Channel AM Tour continued the 2016 Points season with it's second of three events before the strike at midnight on New Years eve, bringing in the new calendar year.  Despite the nearby construction closures and traffic gridlock, Cypress Lakes Golf Club held true to its fast pace of play, with all 31 pairings finishing the round in under 4 hours 30 minutes.

Javier Quintero (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. Bobby Stokes grabbed the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, with a career low round on tour.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  It took two players from the final pairing of the flight to put up some scores that would need more holes to settle the score.  Derek Husband of Kingwood, TX, and Tomball, TX, member, Kyle Stewart, matched front nine back nine scores, both with three birdies on the round, and headed back out to the #1 hole for the sudden death playoff.  In the end, Stewart took home the hardware, his first on tour. For Husband, it was his best finish after winning his first time out at the June, 2015 Friendswood Challenge.  Finishing three strokes back of the pair, Josh Stout of Houston, TX, a two time winner on tour, rounded out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Playing the front nine in even par, with a birdie on the par 3 - 7th, Harrison Hastings of College Station, TX, controlled the flight and never looked back.  Adding another birdie on the par 5 - 10th, Hastings would give up four strokes to par on the final eight, but finished with a solid two stroke victory, his first on tour.  Runner up, Missouri City, TX, resident, Wayne Taylor, looked to make it close, but just couldn't overcome the three stroke disadvantage making the turn.  Two, Senior Palmer players in the combined flight, 2014 National Champion in the Senior Hogan Flight, Ernie Dyer of Orange, TX, and first time Cypress, TX, player, Brad Bailey shared the third place finish.

Hogan Flight:  Inching closer to a performance promotion, Tom Dyer of Magnolia, TX, made it two for two in the 2016 points season after winning the opener at Tour 18.  With two birdies on the day and a two stroke win, Dyer has now played his last five tournaments with three wins and two runner finishes. With the flight starting on the 10th hole, Groves, TX, player Matt Wolfe took two strokes off his first nine, to record his best finish since winning just over a year ago at Cinco Ranch with the second place honors. Three strokes back of Wolfe, first time player  Craig Zietsman of Cypress, TX, recorded a show place finish with a birdie on the par 5 - 8th.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Richmond, TX, member Christopher Phillips, remained steady with three birdies on the day and pars on his final two holes to edge out Dallas Tour traveler, Rick Swanson of Carrollton, TX by a stroke.  For Phillips it was his seventh win on tour, including one Major Championship at 2015 TRUE linkswear Amatuer at Pinehurst.  Swanson, starting on tour in June, collected his best finish with Richmond, TX, member Eddey Neeley, putting a string of birdies together at 13, 14 and 15 to collect the third place points.

Sarazen Flight:  Rick Smalley of College Station, TX, started the day out with a birdie on the par 5 - 10th to collect his third win on tour.  Smalley, tried to give it away on his final hole, but managed to card a double, just enough for the one stroke advantage over Jeff Chen of Pearland, TX after he birdied his last frame. One stroke back of Shen, the trio of Katy, TX, player Adam Bray, San Antonio, TX, member CD Dunem and John Schott of Marion, TX, split the third place honors.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Rosharon, TX, player, Bobby Stokes put together the round of his career on the AM Tour.  Stokes, now a four time winner on tour, carded only two bogey's on the day to go along with 16 pars to finish six strokes clear of second place finisher, Chris Neelley, of Spring, TX. Neelley, with a birdie on the par 4 - 2nd, just edged out a hard charging Show Low, AZ, traveler, Dave Godley, by one stroke.  Godley finished his round with a birdie on the par 4 - 6th, one under over his last four holes to snatch third place over a trio just behind him in fourth.

Jones Flight:  After a runner up finish at Tour 18, his last time out, it was only a matter of time before Heath Rood of Porter, TX, stood atop of the podium. Rood with a birdie on the par 4 - 6th, set out on a tear to finish off his first win, five strokes clear of second time tour, Spring, TX, tour player Richard Lagrone.  Rounding out the top three, Joe Michetti from Spring, TX, followed up his Major Championship win at the rain shortened Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit his last time out, one stroke out of second.

Senior Jones Flight:   Starting his third year on tour, Nederland, TX, member, Wayne Glover, grabbed his first win in a big way.  With the help of a birdie on the par 3 - 7th, Glover put together a pair of 43's enroute to a four stroke win over, second place finisher, Neil Macdonald from Huntsville, TX.  Macdonald, the 2015 Senior Jones Flight points champion and Club Glove Staff bag recipient cleared third place Houston, TX, honoree, David Sipe by three strokes.

Snead Flight:  Javier Quintero from Houston, TX, continues his dominance at Cypress Lakes.  Now an eighteen time winner on tour, with at least one win in each of his eight years on tour.  During those eight years on tour, Javier has competed in six events at Cypress Lakes, with five wins and one T3 finish.  Starting on the 10th tee, Quintero, went out on his first five holes in even par with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 13th to finish four strokes ahead of The Woodlands, TX, player,  Jim Lamberth, taking the second place honors. This was Lamberth's second in as many attempts after a runner up at the October Grand Cypress Challenge Major Championship in Florida.  Ray Bednar, of Houston, TX got it within one of Lamberth with a par on his final hole to round out the top three.

 
SKINS:

Giant Skins:  ($130/each)  1 -- Eddey Neeley, Richmond, TX; Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX; Harrison Hastings, College Station, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($40/each)  2 -- Kyle Stewart, Tomball, TX. 1 -- Marc Duncan, Cypress, TX; Damon Garcia, Fannett, TX; Harrison Hastings, College Station, Tx; Wayne Taylor, Missouri City, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  ($35/each)  2 -- Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX. 1 -- Arthur Flores, Houston, TX; Eddey Neeley, Richmond, TX; David Anthony, Cypress, TX; Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX; Mike Rayburn, Montgomery, TX.

Sarazen:  ($17/each)   3 -- John Schott, Marion, TX; Rick Smalley, College Station, TX. 1 -- Douglas Key, Daphne, AL; C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($73/each)   1 -- William Criss, Houston, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($30/each)  3 -- Wayne Glover, Nederland, TX. 2 -- David Sipe, Houston, TX. 1 -- Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX.

Snead:  ($25/each)  2 -- Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX; Javier Quintero, Houston, TX. 1 -- Art Henry, Victoria, TX; Perry Dragon, Houston, TX; Bryce Kocian, Wharton, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($130/each)  #4 - Damon Garcia - 5' 5";  #7 - Dave Godley - 3' 0";  #11 - Matt Wolfe  - 8' 2";  #15 - Rick Swanson - 6'.

Upcoming Texas Events:

Players from around the state take on a sold out field at Sonterra Golf Club on Saturday, November 21st for the Fall Challenge at Sonterra on the Hill Country Tour.

After a Thanksgiving weekend break, more will flock to The Falls in New Ulm, TX, for the two tournaments in two days at the South Texas Winter Championship on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday December 6th.  Tournament spots and accommodations at the destination resort are sure to sell out, so register today to secure your place at the final event of the 2015 calendar year.  

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

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Houston Tour Takes the Journey Through Tour 18

Scott R Chilcutt, Humble, TX (October 11, 2015)  Tour 18 Houston, situated in Humble, TX, replicates a collection of some of the greatest golf holes in the country.  For most of us, the chance to play holes at Augusta, Colonial, and Pebble Beach are merely a dream, so opening the Golf Channel AM Tour Houston 2016 points season seemed appropriate to start the dreaming.

Players welcomed cool morning temperatures for the Fall Challenge in Humble, especially those that endured the sweltering heat in LaQuinta, and a beautiful south Texas day followed to open the new points year.  It was a tale of two nines for many of the players in the sold out event.  Nine hole scores, many of which were low, only seemed to retreat back to the field when the day was done, when some kicked into gear coming back to the clubhouse.

Mark Donohue (Senior Sarazen 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. Kristopher Bixby grabbed the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving, breaking into the 70's for the first time of his GC AM Tour career.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Katy, TX, player Jefred Villalobos has now played four tournaments on the Golf Channel AM Tour and in each he has taken home the hardware.  Villalobos, started the day with a double on the par 4 - 1st, followed with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd and then added three more birdies coming to the club house including his final two holes for the victory.  First time tour player, Jacob Hiett of Houston, TX started a little shaky,  but finished his final eleven holes with three birdies and a back nine even par 36 to finish two strokes out of the lead.  Lake Charles, LA, Senior Championship player, Randy Tadlock, matched front nine, back nine scores with two birdies on the day to round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Looking out of contention after going +10 on his first eight holes, Roger Masek of Sugar Land, TX, finished the final ten holes in three under par, with four birdies to pick up his ninth win on tour, and second since his promotion to the Palmer Flight.  Orange, TX, player Todd McLane started the day strong with a birdie on the par 4 - 3rd, but got on a bogey train that ended with consecutive pars on his final two holes to finish just one stroke back.  Playing the front nine in -2, Robert Corbello of Vidor, TX flipped his two sides with Masek to complete his round two strokes out of the lead with the final podium finish.

Hogan Flight:  Mike Karlin of Houston, TX, Sugar Land, TX member, Derek Matta and Tom Dyer from Magnolia, TX all finished regulation knotted in the top spot.  Starting the day on the #10 tee,  Karlin came out swinging early with a birdie on the par 3 - 11th going -1 after three, but got into some trouble before finishing his last five holes with par.  Matta shot consistent scores on both nines, birdieing his second to last hole the par 4 - 8th to get a spot in the playoff, while  Dyer took six strokes off his front nine card to go +2 on the back forcing his way into a playoff spot.  Back to the tenth hole for the playoff, it would be Dyer, riding the momentum of a strong final nine to cap off the win with a par for his fifth win on tour.

Senior Hogan Flight:  George West, TX, player, Terry Jackson, on hiatus from the tour for three years, came back with a vengeance.  Terry made consecutive birdies on the par 4 - 12th and par 5 - 13th to pick up the win by four strokes over Harold Jackson of Baytown, TX, with a birdie of his own on the par 4 - 8th.  One stroke back of Jackson, Mike Innes of The Woodlands, TX with one birdie on the day and Richmond, TX member, Christopher Phillips, carding three birdies, shared the third place honors.

Sarazen Flight:  Four of the top five players ride the wave of National Championship bids just weeks earlier.  Rick Houchins of Houston, TX and Katy, TX resident, Kristopher Bixby, matched scores on the front at one over par, but Houchins was able to outlast Bixby coming to the club house by a single stroke.  It was Houchins thirteenth win on tour and could likely be his last event as a Sarazen Flight player, with a Tournament Index that is looking towards a Hogan Flight promotion.  For Bixby, with two birdies on the day, it was a career low score, his first in the 70's on tour.  Massimo Passini of Houston, TX, tied in the fifth spot at the National Championship after the first round, rounded out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  2015 Senior Sarazen Flight Champion from the Dallas Tour, Mark Donohue of Lewisville, TX continues his strong play into the 2016 season.  Donohue, starting the day on the tenth hole, took three strokes off on the back, and with par on the final hole, the par 3 - 9th (Sawgrass 17th) picked up his sixth win on tour by a stroke.  Just out of the top spot, the trio of Burnie Rodgers of Haslet, TX another Dallas Tour player, Bridge City, TX player Mark Kirby and Bruce LeGrand of Houston, TX shared the runner up honors.

Jones Flight:  With the flight starting on the day on the tenth, James Price of Portland, TX, overcame a 10 on the first hole, added a couple of birdies at the par 4 - 16th and par 4 - 18th to stay in the game.  Porter, TX, member Heath Rood, got the best of the flight on his back nine to force a playoff with Price.  Back to the sudden death affair, Price was able to make par picking up his fifth win on tour.  Rood, with his best finish on tour took home the runner up honors with a pair of players tied up in the show position finish.  First time players, Joe Michetti of Montgomery, TX and Spring, TX, member Richard Lagrone, shared the third place honors.

Senior Jones Flight:  Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX, took five strokes off her front nine score to force extra holes with David Sipe of Houston, TX.  Back to their starting hole the par 5 -10th for the playoff, Sipe would make par for the second time on the day for his seventh win on tour, three of them coming at Major Championships.  For Glidden, the runner up finish, matched her last time out at a local event, second place honors at the 2015 Tour Championship at Blackhorse.  Sharing the third pace finish, two strokes back were John Pickens of Montgomery, TX and Vidor, TX player Randy Adcock.

Snead Flight:  Conroe, TX player Carl Eaton made par on his final hole of the day to edge out Javier Quintero for his fifth win on tour, one of them coming at 2015 Major Championship, the Srixon Championship at La Cantera.  Perry Dragon of Houston, TX, made birdies at the par 4 - 5th and par 5 - 13th to take home the third place awards.






SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($150/each)  1 -- Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX; Michael Castaneda, League City, TX; Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX; James Price, Portland, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($40/each)  2 -- Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX. 1 -- Marc Duncan, Cypress, TX; Robert Corbello, Vidor, TX; Wayne Taylor, Missouri City, TX.

Hogan:  ($22/each)  1 -- Mike Karlin, Houston, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX; Tom Dyer, Magnolia, TX; Derek Matta, Sugar Land, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX; Bryan Wood, Leander, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($35/each)  2 -- Christopher Phillips, Richmond, TX; Kevin Cruthirds, Richmond, TX. 1 -- Michael Castaneda, League City, TX; Harold Jackson, Baytown, TX; Terry Jackson, George West, TX; John Reynolds, Beaumont, TX; Kevin Thibodeaux, Port Arthur, TX.

Sarazen:  ($40/each)  3 -- Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX. 1 -- Judson Severson, College Station, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($52/each)  2 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX. 1 -- L.P. Jones, Houston, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX; Michael Bell, Pearland, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($43/each)  2 -- James Price, Portland, TX. 1 -- Tommy Templin, Hurst, TX; Lee Isham, Cypress, TX; David Sipe, Houston, TX; Jeff Wadsworth, El Campo, TX.

Snead:  ($40/each)  4 -- Perry Dragon, Houston, TX. 2 -- Rick Hagel, Beaumont, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX.



CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($155/each)  #6 - Kevin Cruthirds - 4' 1 1/2";  #9 - Jorge Rodriguez - 3' 0";  #11 - Mike Karlin  - 4' 7";  #15 - L.P. Jones - 4' 11".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Fresh off the 2015 National and Senior National Championships, where three of six Senior National Championship honors came home to the State of Texas, the 2016 points season is underway.

The Dallas Tour opens the 2016 points campaign in Frisco for the Frisco Lakes Challenge on Saturday, October 24th.  ENTRY DEADLINE is Friday, October 16th at 11:59 PM - EST.

New to the Hill Country Tour, the private club in Georgetown, opens the season for The Georgetown Fall Open at Berry Creek Country Club.  REGISTRATION CLOSES on Friday, October 16th at 11:59 PM - EST. 

FALL MAJOR - Don't miss the double points Major at The Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit on Saturday, November 7th and Sunday November 8th.  In addition, to two outstanding golf courses in Philadelphia, MS, great casino action on the grounds will keep you busy when not on the course.

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

Houston Flight Champions Grab the Awards on Sunday

Scott R Chilcutt, Cypress, TX (August 16, 2015)  Bringing a close to the year, setting up for National and Senior National Championship bids in September, marks another historic chapter with the Golf Channel AM Tour on the Houston Tour.

The 2015 Points Campaign in Houston came to a close on Sunday at Blackhorse Golf Club in Cypress, TX.  Beginning the points year in October 2014 nearby at Cypress Lakes, 15 events made up the local schedule with a couple of excursions to New Ulm and Port Aransas and nearly 2,500 competitive rounds were played from players around the country.

Competing for year end awards, this year included a customized and personalized staff bag from Club Glove. This season in addition to the Flight Champion awards, a special Player of the Year bag was also given.



FLIGHT CHAMPIONS (ORDER OF MERIT POINTS The Journey to Better), awards presented by Clipper Wealth Management, Compressor Designs, Inc. and Universal Pressure Pumping.  

Championship Flight Champion:    Josh Stout of  Houston, TX made a run at the points Championship at Blackhorse, but wasn't able to catch the points leader.  Vidor, TX player, Aaron Pickering, ended the season with a 120 points advantage. Pickering, not able to join us for the Tour Championship, had his best season on tour,  picking up three wins early on the season to make it seven on tour.  Aaron, added a third place finish at the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera in June for his best Major finish on tour to take Flight Champion honors.

Senior Championship Flight Champion:  Seemingly locked into the points Championship when the top two were not looking to play the last event, Gordon Wagner of Sugar Land, TX got snuffed out with a change of plans and late arrival of Spring, TX, player David Ortego.  Ortego made an early exit from a weekend event out of town to play the Tour Championship and secure his eligibility for the Senior National Championship.  In six events, during his first year on tour, David, won two, had a third place finish at Battle for Homstead IV Major Championship and finished ten points ahead of Wagner for the Club Glove Staff Bag.

Palmer Flight Champion:  Heading into the Tour Championship, James Shepeard of  Tomball, TX and Spring, TX, player Aaron Brougher were tied at the top. Sheppeard with eighteen events on the year has a distinct disadvantage with a flight change adjustment and Brougher's eleven events.  At the end of the day, the net points, swung towards Aaron for the Flight Championship award.  Both players, self promoted at different times of the year were looking to get better, and play has proven that. Brougher the 2015 Flight Champion winner, won the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera in late June to go with previous wins, including Major Championships.

Senior Palmer Flight Champion:  Local tour player, Traylor Sells of Cypress, TX had a slim, 100 point lead heading into the Tour Championship at Blackhorse.  Self promoted during the season to the Senior Championship Flight, Robert Corbello of Vidor, TX, found the number of Senior Championship Flight contests were going to be tough to find and with an eligible Palmer Tournament Index, Corbello moved back to the flight.  On Tour Championship weekend, Robert, did just enough plus more, shooting the low round of the flight on Saturday and solidifying the Flight Champion award by winning the Tour Championship.
   

Hogan Flight Champion:  Sugar Land, TX, resident, Derke Matta, started the Tour Championship with a 150 points lead, but had to hold off a surging Gus Aldana, from Houston, TX, to collect the Flight Champion award.  Aldana jumped into the runner up finish over Steve Nagy of Sugar Land, TX with his weekend performance and finished just 60 points behind the top spot.  Playing in his first year on tour, Matta, didn't get to the winners circle, but gained points on the field with a runner up at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay in March and fourth place finish at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek in August.

Senior Hogan Flight Champion:  Never far out of the top spot, George Smith of Magnolia, TX showed perseverance would win a Championship.  Fourth place at The Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit, a T3 at the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay, a runner up at the Red River Shootout at Winstar, and a third at the Srixon Championship at La Cantera.  Smith, led wire to wire at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek the first of August to propel him into the top points spot for the Club Glove staff bag, customized with his name on top of a Flight Champion moniker.

Sarazen Flight Champion:  Entering the final event, Blake Barnes of Deer Park, TX, held a slight lead over Houston, TX, player Rick Houchins, but that lead faded at the Tour Championship.  Houchins, with a fifth place finish was just enough to grab the flight champion award by twenty points. Playing in 18 events on the points season, Rick was in the top five on thirteen occasions and had two wins, including the Hill Country Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio bringing his total wins on tour to twelve.

Senior Sarazen Flight Champion:  Playing in nineteen events on the season, Jim Craig of San Felipe, TX, started out his his winning ways in March in Hawaii.  Added a top three at the Western Masters weeks later to solidify his Senior National Championship qualification.  With eleven top fives on the season, Craig snatched another win at the tough, AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antionio for the Hill Country Tour Championship before finishing the Houston Tour Championship at Blackhorse with a T3 to bring home the Flight Championship.

Jones Flight Champion:  Wayne Waldrep of Spring, TX, wasn't able to compete at the Tour Championship with a scheduled trip to Florida at the end of the weekend, but it didn't matter.  Waldrep, in his first year on tour was able to put together three wins on the local level, a top three at the Arkansas Championship in Hot Springs and a runner up finish at Srixon Championship @ La Cantera.  Over his eleven event campaign on the season, Wayne carded finishes, more that half (6), in the top five to win the points championship by 115 points.

Senior Jones Flight Champion:  Traveling, Huntsville, TX, player Neil Macdonald made his rounds this year.  Competing in 37 events on the points year, Macdonald made the starting times at 10 Major Championships.  With a T3 at the Battle for Homestead IV, then followed up for third place finish at the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera, Neil set up his National Championship qualification on a few fronts and he added a win at the March event in Galveston for a 75 points lead over Mike Murphy of Corrigan, TX.   

Snead Flight Champion:  Javier Quintero from Houston, TX, playing on tour since 2009, grabbed his National Championship qualification with a third place showing at the Red River Shootout at Winstar in May, followed up with a win at the Friendswood Challenge his next time out at Timber Creek in June and finished the season never out of the top four.  It was Quintero's third points championship and second in as many years.

Senior Snead Flight:  With a Major Championship under his belt on the points season, Conroe, TX, resident, Carl Eaton made the call at fifteen events. A win at the Masters @ Magnolia on the local schedule, Eaton sat on the top of the podium at the Srixon Champion @ La Cantera.   A runner up in the next two events, Carl then grabbed a third place finish at the Texas Masters @ Barton Creek to finish 195 points ahead of a surging Robert Haddon.    

Hill Country Tour, PLAYER OF THE YEAR, presented by HIGGINBOTHAM: The special award was set up and presented by Higgenbotham, a Business Insurance and Financial Services Company that services the state of Texas with home offices in Fort Worth.  The player from each tour in the state selected by the committee, with feedback from the membership that met a series of criteria, including having been promoted and continued The Journey to Better by excelling in the new flight.

Facing a certain promotion from the Hogan Flight, James Sheppeard of Tomball, TX, opted for the self promotion route before the three day Major swing in Oklahoma.  Coming off a win at The Masters @ Magnolia, his third of the new year, Sheppeard won his first event as a Palmer on the special Friday tournament at Dornick Hills in Ardmore, OK.  Since that swing, James went on to win four more local tour events, while placing second at the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera.  Just short of the Flight Championship points lead, Sheppeard was clearly the Player of the Year on the Houston Tour.

Upcoming Texas Events:

Dallas crowns the year end champions at the Tour Championship.  The Tribute Golf Links, closed since the floods in late May, should be in excellent conditions for the Dallas Tour Championship on August 22nd and 23rd.

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

Houston Tour Championship

Scott R Chilcutt, Cypress, TX (August 16, 2015)  Bringing a close to the year, setting up for National and Senior National Championship bids in September, marks another historic chapter with the Golf Channel AM Tour in south Texas.

The 2015 Points Campaign on the Houston Tour came to a close on Sunday at Blackhorse Golf Club in Cypress, TX.  Beginning the points year in October 2014 at Cypress Lakes, TX, 15 events made up the local schedule along with a couple of excursions to New Ulm and Port Aransas nearly 2,500 competitive rounds were played from players around the country.

Competing for year end awards, this year included a customized and personalized staff bag from Club Glove. This season in addition to the Flight Champion awards, a special Player of the Year bag was also awarded.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Second time tour player, Christopher McKay of Dallas, TX, led the field into Sunday morning with a first round 71 (-1) with the help of four birdies and an eagle on the par 5 - 18th.  Sunday was a different day when Katy, TX, player Jefred Villalobos, followed his three birdies on Saturday with another three on Sunday to jump into the lead on the par 5 - 11th and never looked back.  It was the third win in three attempts for Jefred.  McKay, wound up in the runner up spot for his best finish in two events.  One stroke back of second, Zachary Bell of Richmond, TX, a winner his first time out at the Missouri City Challenge in May, put together a run of three birdies on five holes, mid round to share the third place finish with Cypress, TX, member Marc Duncan.  Duncan carded four birdies on Saturday and added another on Sunday.

Palmer Flight:  Ralph Haun from Sugar Land, TX had sniffed the winner circle with three third place finishes during his first year on tour, but hadn't been able to get off the low level of the podium until this weekend.  Haun, tied going out on Saturday with one player, came to the club house even on the back to take a two stroke advantage to the Sunday round.  The overnight lead could have affected the final round score card, but Ralph put together a final round with three birdies, clearing the field by eight strokes for his first win on tour.  Harrison Hastings, playing in his second event on tour after a third place finish at the Srixon Championship @ La Cantera, his first time out, carded eagle on the par 5 - 11th on Sunday which proved to be just enough for the runner up finish.  Michael Van Swol, recorded three birdies on the back nine on Sunday to take home the third place finish.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Vidor, TX, resident, Robert Corbello, shook up the field with an even par 72 and a three stroke advantage on Saturday.  Back out on Sunday, Corbello birdied the first hole out of the gate to make it look like the Championship script was already written.  Catching a little trouble on five and six, Robert would double the par 4 - 9th to make things interesting, but then follow with a birdie on the par 5 - 11th to seal the deal.  It was his first win on the season and tenth win on tour.   Dallas Tour player, JD Price of Lake Whitney, TX, carded seven birdies on the weekend, including five on Sunday to record the runner up finish with 2014 Senior Hogan Flight National Champion, Ernie Dyer, Orange, TX, rounding out the top three.

Hogan Flight:  Playing in his fourth event on tour, Tyler Logeman of Montgomery, TX came out of the shoots with a fury.  Starting out his day on Saturday on the #10 hole, Logeman made birdie on the par 5 - 11th, added another on the par 4 - 17th and finished his initial nine holes at even par.  Catching some of the nerves, Tyler settled in, but finished the Sunday round with another two birdies to win the flight wire to wire, by one stroke.  Magnolia, TX, player Tom Dyer, carded four birdies on his Sunday round to finish out in the runner up spot with Gus Aldana of Houston, TX, shooting the flight low round and sharing the runner up honors with Round Rock, TX, player Jorge Rodirquez.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Promoted from the Senior Sarazen Flight just after the first of January, Will Whitley, close to Blackhorse from Cypress, TX, jumped on a late year bandwagon.  Whitley, the winner of the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay in March went 0 - 8 the next events, but made the final of the points year count.  With lone birdies on both days, Will led the field by three strokes going into the final round and held on to a two stroke advantage over Robert Hayward of Houston, TX.  Sharing the third place finish, Keith Grissom of Orange, TX and ultimate Order of Merit Points Champion, Magnolia, TX, player George Smith finished two strokes out of second.

Sarazen Flight:  Bellaire, TX, player Kyle Young made a statement to the end of his Sarazen Flight times, and led wire to wire for his third win on the season, two of three at two day events.  Young with a flight low round 78 for the weekend on Saturday, took the overnight lead and matched the other players in the flight for a seven stroke advantage which will surely earn a promotion to the Hogan Flight.  Rick Smalley of College Station, TX, birided the par 4 - 4th on his opening round to hold off George Horton of Houston, TX, for the runner up finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Keith Gannon of Houston, TX, started the weekend with a bang and a four stroke lead.  Sitting on the lead overnight, Gannon would not look back, shooting another low flight round 80 to take home the Championship by nine strokes.  Houston, TX, member LP Jones, took six strokes off his first round finish to jump into the runner up spot, with Jim Craig of San Felipe, TX and Houston, TX, member Bruce LeGrand sharing the third place honors.

Jones Flight:  Haslet, TX, player Doyle Fleming, played well enough to pick up his second Tour Championship of the year after winning on the Hill Country.  Fleming, tied after the first round with Jeff Wadsworth of El Campo, TX, looked to be out of the Championship after the first nine holes on Sunday, but Wadsworth ran into troubles on his final nine leaving the win to Fleming. Local Cypress, TX, player Anthony Parrish maintained his top three finishes, only being out of the top three once in six events on the season rounding out the top three.

Senior Jones Flight:  Following up on her T-3 at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek, followed by at fourth place finish at the Hill Country Tour Championship at TPC San Antonio, Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX, looked to be in the thick of things. Starting the round on Sunday behind by four strokes, Cypress, TX, member Lee Isham didn't give up.  Isham, carded a second to low round on Sunday to pick up his first win on the season.  Glidden settled for the runner up honors with Houston, TX, player Rick Halprin rounding out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Robert Haddon of Bryan, TX seems to have it worked out.  Haddon took a seven stroke lead into the final round on Sunday, that was plenty to win the Tour Championship in the flight by seven strokes.  Robert Vespa, a two time winner on the year including the Red River Shootout Major Championship finished in the runner up spot tied with Ray Bednar of Houston, TX.




CLOSEST TO THE HOLE (Day 1):

($220/each)  #2 - Daniel Desilets - 5' 9";  #6 - Robert Corbello - 5' 1 1/2";  #14 - John Pickens  - 13' 4 1/2";  #16 - John Reynolds - 4' 3".

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE (Day 2):

($220/each)  #2 - Rick Smalley - 9' 5 1/2";  #6 - Jeff Wadsworth - 5' 7";  #14 - Allan Collier  - 9' 1";  #16 - Herb Reynolds - 1' 2".


SKINS - DAY 1:

Giant SKINS:  ($450/each)  1 -- Bill Schuster, Jersey Village, TX; Steve Allison, Spring, TX.

Championship:  ($36/each)  2 -- Logan Edwards, College Station, TX. 1 -- Jordan Wagner, Houston, TX; Marc Duncan, Cypress, TX; Christopher McKay, Dallas, TX; Terry Rice, Midland, TX.

Palmer:  ($80/each)  1 -- Ralph Haun, Sugar Land, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($35/each)  3 -- Robert Corbello, Vidor, TX. 1 -- Doug Collins, Iraan, TX; Bruce Beakley, Houston, TX; Michael Fee, Mansfield, TX; Walter Menuet, Houston, TX; J.D. Price, Whitney, TX.

Hogan:  ($30/each)  2 -- Tyler Logeman, Montgomery, TX. 1 -- Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX; Steve Allison, Spring, TX; Derek Matta, Sugar Land, TX; Gus Aldana, Houston, TX; Mike Rayburn, Montgomery, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($75/each)  2 -- George Carlisle, Houston, TX. 1 -- David Anthony, Cypress, TX; Bill Schuster, Jersey Village, TX; Allan Collier, Dripping Springs, TX; Will Whitley, Cypress, TX.

Sarazen:  ($16/each)  4 -- Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX. 1 -- Ross Gonzales, Hockley, TX; Rick Houchins, Houston, TX; Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX; Judson Severson, College Station, TX; Rick Smalley, College Station, TX; George Horton, Houston, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($40/each)  2 -- Larry Viktorin, Wharton, TX. 1 -- Robert Hayter, Houston, TX; Jim Craig, San Felipe, TX; Keith Gannon, Houston, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($45/each)  2 -- Doyle Fleming, Haslet, TX; Jeff Wadsworth, El Campo, TX. 1 -- Paul Conrad, Houston, TX; Anthony Parrish, Cypress, TX; Artis Stewart, Houston, TX.

Snead / Senior Snead:  ($20/each)  3 -- Bryce Kocian, Wharton, TX. 2 -- Hal Wychopen, Magnolia, TX. 1 -- Stephen Sater, Sugar Land, TX; Art Henry, Victoria, TX; Ray Bednar, Houston, TX.


SKINS - DAY 2:

Giant SKINS:  ($220/each)  1 -- Harold Jackson, Baytown, TX; Herb Reynolds, Montgomery, TX; Aaron Brougher, Spring, TX; Harrison Hastings, College Station, Tx.

Championship:  ($44/each)  2 -- Daniel Desilets, Kermit, TX; David Ortego, Spring, TX. 1 -- Christopher McKay, Dallas, TX.

Palmer:  ($32/each)  2 -- Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX. 1 -- Michael Van Swol, Sugar Land, TX; Aaron Brougher, Spring, TX; Harrison Hastings, College Station, Tx.

Senior Palmer:  ($40/each)  1 -- Roger Crooks, Austin, TX; Harold Jackson, Baytown, TX; Leslie Henry, Houston, TX; Walter Menuet, Houston, TX; Herb Reynolds, Montgomery, TX; J.D. Price, Whitney, TX.

Hogan:  ($55/each)  1 -- Ronnie Davis, Converse, TX; Derek Matta, Sugar Land, TX; Gus Aldana, Houston, TX; Tom Dyer, Magnolia, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($150/each)  1 -- Jimmie Chambers, Wharton, TX; George Carlisle, Houston, TX; Allan Collier, Dripping Springs, TX.

Sarazen:  ($53/each)  1 -- Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX; Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX; Rick Smalley, College Station, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($40/each)  1 -- Larry Viktorin, Wharton, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX; Robert Hayter, Houston, TX; Marty Hodges, Richmond, TX; Keith Gannon, Houston, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones:  ($80/each)  1 -- David Sipe, Houston, TX; John Pickens, Montgomery, TX; Anthony Parrish, Cypress, TX; Jeff Wadsworth, El Campo, TX.

Snead / Senior Snead:  ($20/each)  2 -- Bryce Kocian, Wharton, TX. 1 -- Javier Quintero, Houston, TX; Art Henry, Victoria, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX; Hal Wychopen, Magnolia, TX; Robert Vespa, Pasadena, TX; Ray Bednar, Houston, TX.

Upcoming Texas Events:

Dallas crowns the year end champions at the Tour Championship.  The Tribute Golf Links, closed since the floods in late May, should be in excellent conditions for the Dallas Tour Championship on August 22nd and 23rd.

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