Houston Tour Players take advantage of great scoring conditions at Cypress Lakes and go low.
The Course: Cypress Lakes Golf Club, Cypress Texas. The course was in good condition, playing firm and fast. The putting surfaces were smooth and fast, between 10-11.5.
The Weather: A beautiful day for golf with sunshine and blue sky. Temperatures were in the mid to high 80’s.The winds were light from the S throughout the day, 5-10mph.
The Tournament:
Palmer Flight: Top 5: Rich Vigil (72) Lynn Cormier (74), Jeff Whitzel (74), Art Flores (75), Tino Flores (77/36).
Rich Vigil captured his first victory of the 2012 season with an impressive round of even-par 72. Vigil’s card was clean, fourteen pars, only two bogies, and birdies at holes 3 and 11. Lynn Cormier finished second place with a round of 74/36. Cormier carded ten pars and birdies at holes 2, 10, and 15. Jeff Whitzel carded a round of 74/38 and finished with third place honors. Whitzel carded fourteen pars and a birdie at the 1st hole. Art Flores finished one stroke back for fourth place honors and round of 75. Flores carded eleven pars and birdies at holes 6 and 9. Five golfers carded rounds of 77, however it was Tino Flores winning the tiebreaker with a round of 77/36 to take fifth place honors. Flores carded twelve pars and an EAGLE-3 at the 14th hole.
Hogan Flight: Top 5: Bryan Wood (79), Wes Reed (80), Jeff Green (83), Jeff Stahlhut (83), Jacques Bessiere (84/41).
Bryan Wood made the trip over from the SAA-Tour worthwhile as he picked up where he left off at Nationals; another round in the 70’s. Wood’s round of 79 was good for the victory by one stroke. Wood carded eleven pars and a birdie at the 6th hole. Wes Reed finished just one stroke back with a round of 80, capturing second place honors. Reed carded seven pars and birdies at holes 1 and 7. Jeff Green returned to tour play with a round of 83/39 and finished third place. Green carded nine pars on his round. Jeff Stahlhut finished fourth place with a round of 83/41, carding eleven pars on the day. Jacques Bessiere finished fifth place with a round of 84/41, including nine pars.
Senior Hogan Flight: Top 5: Michael Walker (71), Vernon Wells (79), Christopher Phillips (79), Daryl Epperson (80), Rickey Felts (80).
Michael Walker kicked off the 2012 season with grand fashion, and I’m not talking about those pink pants he was wearing! Looking for redemption after Nationals, Walker recorded his lowest career round, lowest career tournament round, and low round of the event. Walker’s 1-Under Par 71 included seven pars, birdies at holes 2, 7, 9, 13, and 14, and an EAGLE-3 at the 8th hole! Congratulations to Mike! Vernon Wells finished runner up with a round of 79/39, including ten pars and a birdie at the 14th hole. Christopher Phillips finished with third place honors and round of 79/41. Phillips carded eleven pars on the day. Daryl Epperson finished with fourth place honors and round of 80/39. Epperson carded nine pars and a birdie at the difficult 18th hole. Rickey Felts finished with fifth place honors and round of 80/41. Felts carded eight pars and a birdie at the 8th hole.
Sarazen Flight: Top 5: Gus Aldana (80), Jeff Greenwood (81), Michael Esquivel (81), Jason Hollis (84), Robert Murphy (87).
Gus Aldana picked up where he left off last season and captured his first victory of the 2012 season. Aldana fired a round of 80 to claim the title, including eight pars and birdies at holes 1 and 13. Jeff Greenwood finished runner up with a round of 81/41/27, carding eight pars and a birdie at the 6th hole. Michael Esquivel finished with third place honors and round of 81/41/29. Esquivel carded nine pars and birdies at holes 2 and 14. Jason Hollis finished fourth place with a round of 84. Hollis carded eight pars and birdies at holes 7 and 18. Robert Murphy finished fifth place with a round of 87, including seven pars.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Top 5: Jim Craig (79), Mark Maddox (81), Bob Gonzales (81), Mark Kirby (82), Charles Tucker (83).
Jim Craig started off the 2012 season with a two-stroke victory over the field in the competitive Senior Sarazen Flight. Craig was steady, carding nine pars and birdies at holes 2 and 18. Mark Maddox finished runner up with a round of 81/39. Maddox carded eight pars and a birdie at the 17th hole. Bob Gonzales finished with third place honors and round of 81/40. Gonzales carded nine pars and a birdie at the 6th hole. Mark Kirby finished just one stroke back with a round of 82. Kirby carded eleven pars on the day. Charles Tucker made his tour debut with the top-5 finish and round of 83, one-stroke back. Tucker carded six pars and a birdie at the 10th hole.
Jones Flight: Top 5: James Sheppeard (80), Michael Bell (82), Scott Bradley (85), George Ramirez (89), Phillip Sumang (90).
James Sheppeard has been dedicating a lot of time to his game and working hard for a flight promotion. Sheppeard recorded his lowest tournament round since he began on tour and moved one step closer to that promotion with a round of 80. Sheppeard’s round included eight pars and birdies at holes 2 and 7. Michael Bell shot a round of 82 and finished runner up with what is usually a winning score in the Jones Flight, 82. Bell carded nine pars and a birdie at the 9th hole. Scott Bradley finished third place with a round of 85, including four pars and a birdie at the 9th hole. George Ramirez finished fourth place with a round of 89, carding seven pars on the day. Phillip Sumang made his tour debut with a fifth place finish and round of 90/43. Sumang carded five pars and a birdie at the 10th hole.
Snead Flight: Rick Hagel (88), Marcy Glidden (88), Jim Lamberth (91), Patrick Richardson (93), Ronnie Sexton (94).
“Sudden Death” Playoff determines winner in the Snead Flight at Cypress Lakes Golf Club, Cypress Texas. Eighteen holes were not enough to determine the winner so the players, Rick Hagel and Marcy Glidden, went to the first hole to determine the victor. The first playoff hole was tied with par. The second playoff hole was tied with par. The third playoff hole was tied with par, with Glidden missing about a 5-footer for birdie. On the fourth playoff hole both players found trouble in the trees and it was Hagel making bogey for the win, WOW! In regulation play, Hagel carded seven pars and a birdie at the 14th hole. Glidden carded six pars. Jim Lamberth finished third place with a round of 91, including five pars and a birdie at the 8th hole. Patrick Richardson finished fourth place with a round of 93, including five pars. Ronnie Sexton finished fifth place with a round of 94, including six pars.
In addition to the flight winners, the following players won the optional side games:
Closest to the pin ($160.00 each)
#4, Jason Hollis
#7, Randy Adcock
#11, Rich Kelley
#17, Lee Isham
Skins (A) Winners Champ/Palmer/Hogan: $40.00 each
#1, Jeff Whitzel
#3, Rich Vigil
#8, Michael Walker, EAGLE-3
#11, Rich Vigil
#12 Randy Kiziah
#14, Tino Flores, EAGLE-3
#15, Lynn Cormier
#18, Daryl Epperson
Skins (B) Winners Sarazen/Jones/Snead: $115.00 each
#12, John Scott
#13, Gus Aldana
#16, John Scott
Prize Winners:
Golf Galaxy $50, Jim Lamberth
Golf Galaxy $50, Wes Reed
Callaway Balls, Marcy Glidden
Callaway Balls, Bob Miller
Winners | Awards | Winners | Awards | |
Palmer (14) | ||||
1st - Gift Certificate | $150.00 | |||
2nd - Gift Certificate | $100.00 | |||
3rd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |||
4th - Gift Certificate | $50.00 | |||
Hogan (10) | Senior Hogan (8) | |||
1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | 1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | |
2nd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | 2nd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |
3rd - Gift Certificate | $50.00 | |||
Sarazen (6) | Senior Sarazen (13) | |||
1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | 1st - Gift Certificate | $150.00 | |
2nd - Gift Certificate | $50.00 | 2nd - Gift Certificate | $100.00 | |
3rd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |||
Jones (14) | ||||
1st - Gift Certificate | $150.00 | |||
2nd - Gift Certificate | $100.00 | |||
3rd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |||
4th - Gift Certificate | $50.00 | |||
Snead (9) | ||||
1st - Gift Certificate | $125.00 | |||
2nd - Gift Certificate | $75.00 | |||
3rd - Gift Certificate | $50.00 | |||
Prizes | ||||
Trophies | $250.00 | |||
Gift Cards | $1,950.00 | |||
Callaway Balls | $80.00 | |||
Door Prizes | $100.00 | |||
$2,380.00 |
