Sugar Creek Country Club Doesn't Disappoint

Scott R Chilcutt, Sugar Land, TX (April 16, 2018)  The Houston Tour made its first visit to Sugar Creek Country Club on Monday for the Sugar Land Championship.  And what a treat the special Monday event played under beautiful weather conditions, turned out to be.

Sugar Creek, with three nines originally designed by Robert Trent Jones, has gone through extensive renovations over the past few years, with recently completed Billy Bunker systems, throughout.  While the players certainly enjoyed the layout of the Trent and Jones nines, the Champions Bermuda Greens were the talk of the day.  Smooth and extremely fast, they kept even the best players scores in check while on their minds keeping the number of putts on the round down to a minimum.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $390, bringing the Texas Tour events total to $8,160 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  With the flight tied up making the turn, the back nine would end up settling the score for the Championship.  Lumberton, TX, first-time player, Brian Mack, bettered his first nine scores by three strokes, proving to be plenty for a four-stroke advantage.  Back on tour after an absence since July of 2017, Aaron Pickering of Vidor, TX, held his own until troubles on the par 5 - 12th hole relegated him to the runner-up finish, with Austin, TX, first-time player Justin Morris, rounding out the top three, one stroke back.

Palmer Flight:   Richmond, TX, resident Chris Phillips had a hoe hum round going through his first six holes until a chip in birdie at the par 4 - 7th put a spark in his round.  Phillips added two more birdies and played the next nine holes in -1, and despite two blips finishing the round, ended up with a three-stroke advantage for his eleventh win on tour and first since February 2017.  Wayburn Henry, of Pearland, TX, carded his third runner-up finish of the season with Houston, TX, member Walter Menuet, with a birdie on the par 4 - 9th and Neill Osburn, of Lake Charles, LA, a winner on Saturday, in Galveston, shared the third place finish.   

Hogan Flight:  Rick Smalley of College Station, TX, made three birdies on his round that proved to be just enough of a cushion to pick up his ninth win on tour and second of the points season. Three strokes back, local Sugar Land, TX, club member, Steve Nagy made birdie on the par 3 - 8th, to edge out Rick Houchins, of Las Colinas, TX, by one stroke, after Houchins, carded a birdie on the par 5 - 16th.

Senior Hogan Flight:  After a runner-up finish on Friday in Virginia, Dale Fuhr of Missouri City, TX, made the trip back to Texas to pick up his second win on tour both coming this season.  Fuhr finished five strokes clear of Saturdays, winner in Galveston, Michael Clawson of Alvin, TX and Houston, TX, player Daryl Epperson, sharing the runner-up finish.

Sarazen Flight:  Just some 40 hours after contemplating a move to the Jones Flight, Donovan Ackerson, of Houston, TX, proved he can compete with the Sarazen Group.   Ackerson, with a birdie on the par 5 - 12th, picked up his first win, in his first season on tour, two strokes clear of Spring, TX, player Matt Larson, with a birdie on the par 3 - 15th, and Joe Michetti of Montgomery, TX, tied up in second. 

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Starting the day on the par 3 - 10th, Robert Hayter of Houston, TX, made the turn in the hole, back by six strokes.  Hayter, then played his next eight holes in +2, to force a playoff with Seattle, WA, traveler Steven James.  James, with two birdies on the round, went back to the par 5 - 1st, with Hayter for the sudden death playoff, where Hayter would prevail for his Senior National Championship qualifying third win of the season, and sixth on tour.  Jeffry Holmes of Houston, TX, and Richmond, TX, player Greg Faubion, shared the third place finish, two strokes out of the playoff.

Jones Flight:   One stroke back making the turn, Houston, TX, player Artis Stewart, fought back on the back nine, for his second win in three attempts on the season.  One stroke back, Hungerford, TX, player Gene Macha, with a birdie on the par 3 - 10th, grabbed the runner-up finish, with Gary House, of Cypress, TX, playing in his second event on tour, rounding out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Back to the par 5 - 5th, for the second playoff of the day, Mansfield, TX, traveler Daniel Lawrence and Ron McGinty of Humble, TX, would need more holes to settle the score.  McGinty would prevail for his second win in as many attempts after his first Championship in Galveston on Saturday.  Lawrence, playing in his first year, recorded his second runner-up finish in three attempts, with Katy, TX, resident Mike Lane, making the most of a birdie on the par 4 - 17th, rounding out the top three.

SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($94/each)  1 -- Chris Phillips, Richmond, TX; Rick Swanson, Carrollton, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Rick Smalley, College Station, TX; Matt Larson, Spring, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($40/each)  2 -- Aaron Pickering, Vidor, TX; Chris Phillips, Richmond, TX. 1 -- Brian Mack, Lumberton, TX.

Hogan/Sarazen:  ($25/each)  3 -- Rick Smalley, College Station, TX. 2 -- Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX. 1 -- John Harcrow, Houston, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Rick Houchins, Las Colinas, TX; Matt Larson, Spring, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($60/each)  1 -- Doug Sparkes, Houston, TX; Rick Swanson, Carrollton, TX; Allan Collier, Austin, TX; Doyle Wofford, Montgomery, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($20/each)  2 -- Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Andre Fitzpatrick, Weatherford, TX; Steven James, Seattle, WA.  1 -- Robert Hayter, Houston, TX.

Jones/Snead:  ($20/each)  2 -- Ron McGinty, Humble, TX; Mike Lane, Katy, TX; Gene Macha, Hungerford, TX; Artis Stewart, Houston, TX. 1 -- Bert Hood, League City, TX; Richard Schram, Bryan, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$125/each:  #4 - Rick Smalley - 3' 6";  #8 - Robert Hayter - 3' 6";  #10 - Andre Fitzpatrick - 2';  #15 - Michael Clawson.

NEXT UP:

Houston Tour - High Meadow Ranch hosts the Masters @ Magnolia on Saturday, May 5th.  Registrations close on Friday, April 27th.

Dallas Tour - Fort Worth Championship at Waterchase, on Sunday, April 29th, is sold out, waiting list spots are available before it closes on Friday, April 20th.  Fairview Classic at Heritage Ranch on Sunday, May 6th, still has some spots available and will sell out.  Don't wait for the registration deadline on Friday, April 27th.

Hill Country Tour -  The Golf Club of Texas, will host the Briggs Ranch Championship on Saturday, April 28th.  Entry deadline is Friday, April 20th.




Major Championships Open for Registration - (Majors that will be included in the 2018 Texas Tour Flight Champion year-end awards)

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 22nd.  EVENT CLOSED.

Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay - June 23-24th. SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

Hill Country Classic at La Cantera - July 7th and 8th.  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

Northerly Blows off the Bay for Galveston Island Championship

Scott R Chilcutt,  Galveston, TX (April 14, 2018)  And the calendar says it's April.  Sure didn't feel that way on Saturday, as 90+ members made the call for the Galveston Island Championship.  Friday practice rounds had to endure some crazy south winds, but the course is designed and known for the blow off the Gulf of Mexico.  Overnight, a front came in from Canada, with it, brought 35+ MPH gusts from the north, and it became gradually colder throughout the morning.  If that wasn't enough, rain clouds popped up, getting many wet, with some reports of small hail.

In case anyone questioned that the conditions, couldn't have been that hard on the game, how about 4.5 strokes?  From the south windblown, 2017 event where the field averaged, 93.8 to the 2018 version, where scores soared to 98.38.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $480, bringing the Texas Tour events total to $7,770 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.

RESULTS:

Palmer Flight:  Houston, TX, member Mike Karlin, started the day with a birdie on the downwind, par 5 - 1st, and the turn with a four-stroke advantage, which proved to be just enough to pick up his sixth win on tour and second of the season.  Al Campo of Deer Park, TX, battled with Karlin, but could only get back to within one stroke on the final hole of the day, with a par against Karlin's triple bogie.  Orange, TX, resident Rick Keszeg, carded the best back nine finish in the field and finished one-stroke back of Campo to round out the top three.

Senior Palmer Flight:   Despite a triple eight on the par 5 - 14th, Neill Osborne of Lake Charles, LA, used the help of a five-stroke advantage making the turn to pick up his first win of the season and third on tour.  Orange, TX, member Ernie Dyer, played the final three holes in even par, to jump into the runner-up spot, with Robert Corbello, of Vidor, TX, with a birdie on the par 5 - 1st, taking home the third-place finish one stroke back.

Hogan Flight:   Houston, TX, player Nestor Alvarez, made birdie on the first two holes of the day, added another on his final hole, the par 4 - 18th, to pick up his second win in as many attempts five strokes clear of Jeff Burke of Houston, TX.  Burke, a member since 2011, has been off the tour since, 2015, with new additions to the family, carded back to back birdies on the par 5 - 11th and par 4 - 12th, to finish four strokes clear of Orange, TX, resident Matt Purgahn, with a lone birdie on the par 4 - 15th.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Michael Clawson of Alvin, TX, clearly didn't let the conditions get to him.  Clawson, playing in his second event on tour, picked up the win, after a runner-up his first time out, by a whopping ten strokes.  David Evans, of Lumberton, TX, with a birdie on the par 3 - 17th, finished in the second place spot, two strokes clear of David Green of Coldspring, TX, with two birdies on his round.

Sarazen Flight:  Somerset, MA, traveler Ian Maggiacomo, taking advantage of travels throughout the country, picked up his second win on tour and first since 2015.  Maggiacomo, with two birdies on his round, edged out, James Washburn, of Spring, TX, by one stroke. Washburn, with a birdie of his own on the tough par 4 - 10th, cleared four players one stroke back for the runner-up finish.  Garrett Dick of Houston, TX, Cypress, TX, member William Bowen, Adam Bray of Katy, TX, and Montgomery, TX, resident, Joe Michetti, split the third place honors.

Senior Sarazen Flight:   Starting the day on the par 4 - 10th, Mike Young of The Woodlands, TX, made the turn three strokes out of the lead, but made up the difference coming to the clubhouse, for his second win, in his first year on tour.  Seattle, WA, visitor, Steven James, with a birdie on the par 4 - 12th, split the runner-up honors, with Gregory Wolfford, of Orange, TX, with a birdie of his own on the par 5 - 1st.

Jones Flight:  With the flight starting the round on the par 4 - 10th, Michael Pago of Burnet, TX, and Conroe, TX, Allan Gumpenberger, were knotted up making the turn.  Coming to the clubhouse, Page, kicked it into gear, with his second birdie of the day on the 5 - 5th, for his second win in as many attempts, his Senior National Championship qualifying, third win of the season and fifth on tour.  Gumpenberger, took home the runner-up honors, four strokes clear of third-place finisher, Kevin Montague of Spring, TX.

Snead Flight:  Humble, TX, player, Ron McGinty, in his second year on tour picked up his first Championship after finishing in the runner-up spot at the Golf Club of Houston Major Championship.  Six strokes back, with a birdie on the par 5 - 11th Javier Quintero, of Houston, TX, took home the second place finish, two strokes clear of third-place finisher, Joey Butts of League City, TX.  




SKINS:

SKINS GIANT:  ($150/each)  1 -- Max Hill, Houston, TX; Nestor Alvarez, Houston, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; James Washburn, Spring, TX.

Championship/Palmer:  ($40/each)  2 -- Scott Waltrip, Montgomery, TX. 1 -- Rick Keszeg, Orange, TX; Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($30/each)  3 -- Neill Osborne, Lake Charles, LA. 1 -- Brian Ford, Kingwood, TX; Robert Corbello, Vidor, TX.

Hogan:  ($25/each)  3 -- Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX. 2 -- Jeff Burke, Houston, TX. 1 -- Nestor Alvarez, Houston, TX; Scott Thompson, Helotes, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Mark Tylenda, Lewisville, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($25/each)  2 -- David Evans, Lumberton, TX; Jeff Green, Coldspring, TX. 1 -- Michael Clawson, Alvin, TX; Max Hill, Houston, TX; Jeff Shaffer, Spring, TX.

Sarazen:  ($20/each)  4 -- James Washburn, Spring, TX. 3 -- Ian Maggiacomo, Somerset, MA. 2 -- Logan Landry, Westlake, LA; Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($32/each)  2 -- Steven James, Seattle, WA. 1 -- Johnny Vayon, Houston, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Gregory Wolfford, Orange; Marty Hodges, Richmond, TX; David Jackson, Houston, TX; Mike Young, The Woodlands, TX.


Jones/Snead:  ($85/each)  1 -- Allen Gumpenberger, Conroe, TX; Michael Page, Burnet, TX; Mike Lane, Katy, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$150/each:  #4 - Robert Corbello - 26' 10";  #6 - Scott Thompson - 13' 7";  #13 - Bill Criss - 15' 0";  #17 - Kyle Young - 1' 7".




NEXT UP:

Houston Tour - High Meadow Ranch hosts the Masters @ Magnolia on Saturday, May 5th.  Registrations close on Friday, April 27th.

Dallas Tour - Fort Worth Championship at Waterchase, on Sunday, April 29th, is sold out, waiting list spots are available before it closes on Friday, April 20th.  Fairview Classic at Heritage Ranch on Sunday, May 6th, still has some spots available and will sell out.  Don't wait for the registration deadline on Friday, April 27th.

Hill Country Tour -  The Golf Club of Texas, will host the Briggs Ranch Championship on Saturday, April 28th.  Entry deadline is Friday, April 20th.




Major Championships Open for Registration - (Majors that will be included in the 2018 Texas Tour Flight Champion year-end awards)

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 22nd.  EVENT CLOSED.

Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay - June 23-24th. SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

Hill Country Classic at La Cantera - July 7th and 8th.  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

Road Construction and Wind Headlines Cypress Open

Scott R Chilcutt, Cypress, TX (March 24, 2018)  Cypress Lakes Golf Club, played host to the Cypress Open once again on the Houston Tour.  The course, northwest of Houston off 290, also once again, became a trouble to get to from the southeast with what seems to be endless construction and wrecks as a result of the construction.   While some of the players were scrambling to make the tee time, all were greeted with great green complexes, and wind!  Wind, along with firm and fast conditions, the course instituted after the wet late winter, challenged the players and scores, more than usual events at the venue.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $540, bringing the Texas Tour events total to $5,670 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Down by three strokes making the turn, Beaumont, TX, member Scott Mays, carded an eagle on the par 5 - 10th to jumpstart his way back into the event with Blake Wilson of League City, TX.   Wilson, with two birdies on the front, would add one on #10, and would par the last two holes of the round to force a playoff with Mays.  Back to the course, Mays would win the first sudden-death hole, for his second win in three attempts.  Conroe, TX, member Brandon Whitaker, with two birdies on the day, would round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Orange, TX, member Rick Keszeg, took a relative break during the 2017 season but has come back with a flurry of wins and top finishes (only once out of the top two).  With his last win in August of 2016, Keszeg has racked up four wins on the points season, including two at Cypress Lakes, to make it nine on tour.  With three birdies on the round, the leader, cleared the trio of Al Campo of Deer Park, TX, Houston, TX, player Damian Smith and Brian Frazier of Kingwood, TX, sharing the runner-up spot by eight strokes.  Smith, had two birdies on his round, with Campo carding one on the par 5 - 10th.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Starting his third season on tour, Cypress, TX, local Brad Bailey picked up his first Championship.  Bailey, with two birdies on his round, cleared second place finisher, Bob Hayward of Houston, TX by fives strokes.  Hayward, with a birdie on the tough into the wind, par 4 - 18th, edged out Pasadena, TX, member Bo Kirkwood, with two birdies on his day, by a single stroke.

Hogan Flight:  Playing in his second event on tour, Nestor Alvarez, of Houston, TX, grabbed his first win.  Alvarez, with birdies on the par 4 - 5th and par 4 - 16th, edged out Chicago, IL, traveler Jeremy Rose, with a birdie of his own on the par 5 - 10th by two strokes.  Rose, cleared, Las Colinas, TX, member Rick Houchins, with a birdie of his own on the par 5 - 2nd, by two strokes.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Seventy-year-old, Montgomery, TX, first-year member Rod McCasland, became a winner on tour.  One stroke ahead making the turn, McCasland, added a birdie on the par 5 - 14th, to fend off hard-charging,  David Anthony of Cypress, TX.  Anthony, with two birdies on his round, both coming to the clubhouse, took over the lead on the 14th but dropped one back over the final four to finish in the runner-up spot, his second, in as many attempts.  Spring, TX, player Chris Neeley, rounded out the top three.

Sarazen Flight:  Coming off a runner-up at the Western Amateur Championship at PGA West, Joe Michetti of Montgomery, TX, picked up his tenth win on tour.  Two strokes back, San Marcos, TX, traveler Tommy Mobley, commanded the runner-up finish, with Josh Vasquez, of Houston, TX, taking home the showplace finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:   Marty Hodges of Richmond, TX, made the most of two birdies on his round to pick up his first win since August of 2016.  For Hodges, it was his seventh win on tour, four strokes clear of Houston, TX, player Rick Halprin. Halprin, also with two birdies on the day, cleared a trio of players by three strokes.  Sharing the third place honors, were John Pickens of Montgomery, TX, Houston, TX, player Robert Hayter and Mike Young, of The Woodlands, TX, all carding birdies on the round.

Jones Flight:  Bert Hood of League City, TX, starting the day on the par 5 - 10th, made the turn one stroke back of Spring, TX, member Kevin Montague, but made up the difference coming to the clubhouse to force extra holes.  Back to the course, Montague would pick up his fourth win on tour, and National Championship qualifying third win of the season.  One stroke back, Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX, also a three-time winner of the season rounded out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Bryan, TX, member Robert Haddon, became a four-time winner on tour.  Haddon, with his first Major Championship, win, his last time out at the Houston Open,  cleared second place finisher Stephen Sater of Sugar Land, TX, by four strokes.  Sater, with a birdie on the par 5 - 10th, a winner on the 2018 season, cleared Princeton, TX, member Benjamin Gaddy, with two birdies of his own on the day, by two strokes. 







SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($320/each)  1 -- Scott Mayes, Beaumont, TX; David Anthony, Cypress, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($60/each)  2 -- Scott Mayes, Beaumont, TX; Rick Keszeg, Orange, TX; Kyle Standley, Cypress, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($17/each)  2 -- Brad Bailey, Cypress, TX; Bo Kirkwood, Pasadena, TX. 1 -- Bob Hayward, Houston, TX; Brian Ford, Kingwood, TX; Michael Weber, Tomball, TX.

Hogan:  ($44/each)  1 -- Rick Houchins, Las Colinas, TX; Nestor Alvarez, Houston, TX; Ferdinand Andres, Houston, TX; Ronnie White, College Station, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($66/each)  2 -- Jeff Green, Coldspring, TX. 1 -- David Anthony, Cypress, TX; Tim Pohl, Erie, Pa.; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX; Jamie Sansom, Allen, TX.

Sarazen:  ($13/each)  2 -- Tommy Mobley, San Marcos, TX; Josh Vasquez, Houston, TX; Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX; Jeff Gregory, Montgomery, TX. 1 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($35/each)  3 -- David Jackson, Houston, TX. 2 -- Rick Halprin, Houston, TX. 1 -- David Cox, Orange, TX; Robert Hayter, Houston, TX; Marty Hodges, Richmond, TX.

Jones / Snead:  ($66/each)  1 -- Bert Hood, League City, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX; Charles Watson, Llano, TX; Joey Butts, League City, Texas; Benjamin Gaddy, Princeton, TX; Ron McGinty, Humble, TX.







CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$160/each:  #4 - Brad Bailey - 8' 5";  #7 - Roger Masek - 4' 3";  #11 - Rick Swanson - 6';  #17 - Marty Hodges - 10".


NEXT UP:

Houston Tour -  The schedule includes a special, two events in three days, beginning in Galveston on Saturday, April, 14th at Moody Gardens for the Galveston Island Championship.  This tournament is a consistent sell-out so don't wait for the deadline on Friday, April 6th.   The tour then moves a few miles north for the first visit to Sugar Creek Country Club, for the Sugar Land Championship, on Monday, April 16th.  The event registration also closes on Friday, April 6th.

Hill Country Tour -  Sunday, April 8th, the Tour goes back to River Crossing Golf Club for the Spring Branch Classic.  Entries close on Friday, March 30th, 2018 at 11:59 PM CST.

Dallas Tour - April events start along I-35W in Burleson for the Battle Of Burleson, at Hidden Creek Golf Club on April 7th.  Registrations close on Friday, March 30th at 11:59 PM CST.   



Major Championships Open for Registration - (Majors that will be included in the 2018 Texas Tour Flight Champion year-end awards)

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 22nd.  Spots available.

Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay - June 23-24th. SOLD OUT, waiting list spots available.

Hill Country Classic at La Cantera - July 7th and 8th.  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

Cinco Ranch Hosts the Katy Classic

Scott R Chilcutt, Katy, TX (March 11,2018)  The Golf Club of Cinco Ranch, sits among Cinco Ranch, an 8,100-acre-Master -Planned community, on the west side of Houston.

The Club, host to the Katy Classic on the Houston Tour, always seems to have nice conditions in early spring, and this round was no different.  Humid morning conditions cooled a bit with cloud cover by starting time, some of the clouds looked like impending rain.  In the end, after all the players were off the course, only a sprinkle on our way drive north, with the event playing to geat weather.

The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $540, bringing the Texas Tour events total to $4,210 contributed to the Foundation in 2018.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Crowley, LA, first-time player Robbie Trahan, made the turn at +1, with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 8th, and despite a rough back nine, held on to a two-stroke lead for the Championship.  Winner his last time out, Scott Mayes of Beaumont, TX, overcame an early four-stroke deficit to finish in the runner-up spot, with Conroe, TX, player Brandon Whitaker rounding out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Roger Masek of Sugar Land, TX, overcame a three-stroke deficit making the turn with a birdie on the par 4-14th, to go +1 coming to the clubhouse for a three-stroke victory.  For Masek, it was his eleventh win on tour and first since October 2016.  Three-time, 2018 points season winner, Rick Keszeg of Orange, TX, took home the second place finish, one stroke clear of Houston, TX, member Mike Karlin, a winner his last time out.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Perennial Champion, Orange, TX, member Ernie Dyer, picked up his fifth win as a Senior Palmer, and eighth on tour, after taking home the Senior National Championship in the Hogan Flight, his first year on tour in 2014. Dyer, two strokes back making the turn played the back nine in +2, with a birdie on the par 5 - 15th for a six-stroke advantage over Wayburn Henry of Pearland, TX.  Henry, with a birdie on the par 3 - 16th, cleared the pair of Chris Phillips of Richmond, TX, and Houston, TX, player Walter Menuet, by a stroke. Menuet, carded three birdies on the round, with Phillips grabbing one at the par 4 - 7th.

Hogan Flight:  Manvel, TX, player Bruse Beaudreaux, bettered his last score out at Pearland, by fifteen strokes, to set up the Championship.  Beaudreaux, with two birdies on his round, cleared the field by five strokes.  Playing in his first event on tour, Michael Clawson, of Alvin, TX, took home the runner-up spot, three strokes clear of the trio of Orange, TX, member Matt Purgahn and Kyle Young of Bellaire, TX, both win birdies on the round along with Corpus Christi, TX, first-year member, Kevin Fontenot.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Birdie on the par 4 - 9th, got Bob Goodside, of Montgomery, TX, within one stroke of the lead making the turn, that proved to be enough of a push to grab his first victory.  One stroke back, Bridge City, TX, resident, Mark Kirby, with a birdie on the par 5 - 6th, cleared the pair of David Evans, of Lumberton, TX, and Southlake, TX, traveler, Scott Striegle by three strokes.  Evans carded two birdies on his round.

Sarazen Flight:  Hill Country Tour traveler, Larry Atchley, of Kyle, TX, overcame a four-stroke deficit making the turn to pick up the Championship, one stroke clear.  For Atchley, it was his ninth win on tour and second of the points season.  One stroke back, Spring, TX, player Matt Larson also a two-time winner on the season, took home the runner-up honors with another Hill Country player, Tommy Mobley of San Marcus, TX, rounding out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Signing a scorecard for a higher score on a hole, left Spring, TX, player, Kevin Hobbs, locked in a tie and headed back to the course for a sudden-death playoff with Gregory Wolfford, of Orange, TX.  Sneaking into the par 4 - 18th, the pair would take a couple of tries before Hobbs, would finally prevail, for his first win on tour.  Wolfford, grabbed the runner-up prizes, with David Jackson of Houston, TX, rounding out the top three, one stroke back with a pair of birdies on his back nine.

Jones Flight:  Continuing with the playoff them, Mark Boles of Sealy, TX, and Houston, TX, player Artis Stewart finished knotted up for the championship.  The pair, swapping front nine / back nine scores, went back to the par 4 - 1st, where Boles would take the championship, for his first win of the season and thirteenth on tour.  Stewart, a winner his last time out, took home second place points, with the pair of Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX, and Conroe, TX, resident Carl Eaton, splitting the third place honors.

Snead Flight:  Garrett Dick of Houston, TX, picked up his first championship on tour, playing his way right out of the Snead Flight,  with San Antonio, TX, traveler Bill Russell solidly in the second place finish.  Two strokes back of Russell, the trio of Blake Barnes, of Houston, TX, Corrigan, TX, player Mike Murphy and Stephen Sater of Sugar Land, TX, shared the third place finish.
    




SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($70/each)  1 -- Aaron Brougher, Spring, TX; Brian Frazier, Kingwood, TX; Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX; Walter Menuet, Houston, TX; Michael Weber, Tomball, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Bruse Boudreaux, Manvel, Tx; Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($22/each)  2 -- Scott Mayes, Beaumont, TX. 1 -- Robbie Trahan, Crowley, LA; Aaron Brougher, Spring, TX; Brian Frazier, Kingwood, TX; Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX.

Senior Palmer:  ($15/each)  3 -- Wayburn Henry, Pearland, TX. 2 -- Walter Menuet, Houston, TX; Michael Weber, Tomball, TX. 1 -- Chris Phillips, Richmond, TX; Ernie Dyer, Orange, TX.

Hogan:  ($44/each)  2 -- Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX. 1 -- Bruse Boudreaux, Manvel, Tx; Kyle Young, Bellaire, TX; Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($36/each)  2 -- David Evans, Lumberton, TX; Dale Fuhr, Missouri City, TX. 1 -- John Kaminski, Corpus Christi, TX; Bill Schultz, Porter, TX; Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX.

Sarazen:  ($20/each)  3 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX. 2 -- Matt Larson, Spring, TX.

Senior Sarazen:  ($33/each)  2 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX. 1 -- Michael Nowotny, Sealy, TX; Robert Hayter, Houston, TX; David Jackson, Houston, TX; Gregory Wolfford, Orange.

Jones:  ($65/each)  1 -- Kevin Montague, Spring, TX; David Liggett Jr, LaPorte, TX; Scott Sammons, Katy, TX; Gene Macha, Hungerford, TX.


Snead:  ($35/each)  3 -- Mike Lane, Katy, TX. 1 -- Ron McGinty, Humble, TX.




CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

$140/each:  #3 - Bill Schultz - 6' 8 3/4";  #5 - Steve Nagy - 6' 1";  #12 - Jeffery Holmes - 7' 6 1/4";  #16 - Kyle Young - 3' 10 3/4". 



NEXT UP:

Houston Tour -  Back to Cypress Lakes on March 24th for the Cypress Open, with registration closing on Friday, March 16th at 11:59 PM CST.  

Dallas Tour - March 17th event at Winstar, the St. Paddy's Day Championship, is closed and sold out.  

Monday, March 26th we venture back to a special event at The Dye Classic @ Stonebridge Ranch.   Entries will go fast as this event has always sold out. Registrations close on Friday, March 16th.   

Hill Country Tour -  March 18th, event at Delaware Springs Golf Course for the Classic at the Springs, in Burnett, TX, is closed for Registration.  

Sunday, April 8th, the Tour goes back to River Crossing Golf Club for the Spring Branch Classic.  Entries close on Friday, March 30th, 2018 at 11:59 PM CST.




Major Championships Open for Registration - (Majors that will be included in the 2018 Texas Tour Flight Champion year-end awards)

NW Arkansas Open at Bellavista - April 21st and 22nd.  Spots available.

Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay - June 23-24th. Spots available.

Hill Country Classic at La Cantera - July 7th and 8th.  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