Scott R Chilcutt, Sealy, TX (March 14, 2015) River Ridge Golf Club, along the banks of the Brazos River played host to 100 Golf Channel Am Tour members for the Masters at the Ridge.
Rain pounded the previous six days leaving a little over 7" for the course to absorb and in most cases held up well. Sunny skies on Saturday would start the morning with fog rolling off the river postponing scheduled tee times, but once play got under way it turned into a beautiful day.
Traylor Sells and Jeff Zemencsik took advantage of the Srixon Ball Challenge, winning there prospective flights and will receive an extra dozen for the accomplishment. Mark Colwell took home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving by a single stroke advantage over Tim Kozlowski.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Vidor, TX player Aaron Pickering claimed his third title in as many attempts. Although the previous two required extra hole sudden death playoffs. Pickering birdied the par 4 - 11th and par 5 - 17th on the way to the clubhouse to lead the group by three strokes for his seventh win on tour. Local Sealy, TX player, Jeff Whitzel, finished in the runner up spot for the second straight year on the River / Parkland layouts after winning his first two times out at the course. Josh Stout of Houston rounded out the top three.
Palmer Flight: Traylor Sells of Cypress, TX carded his ninth win on tour with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 7th. Sells took a one stroke advantage to the back nine, just ahead of Whitney, TX member, John Price and matched on the back for the victory. Price a three time winner in his first year on tour, made four birdies on the day to stay out front of a pair of players knotted in the show position. Leslie Clifton of Houston, TX birdied the par 3 - 15th, where he stuck it to within 2' 1" to share the third place honors with Sugar Land, TX resident Ralph Haun.
Hogan Flight: Longtime Houston Tour head, Jeff Zemencsik of Magnolia, TX answered the first tee hecklers with a birdie on his opening hole, and then followed up with two more on the back nine for his third win on tour, in limited play. Three strokes back, Robbie Roberson of Conroe, TX and New Braunfels, TX player Michael Campbell, with a birdie on the par 4 - 9th split the runner up points.
Senior Hogan Flight: Taking advantage of birdies on the par 3 - 8th and par 5 - 10th, Steve Meyers of Houston, TX won in his first time out. One stroke back, Magnolia, TX player George Smith squeezed in for sole second place with a trio on his tail. One stroke back of Smith, Robert Hayward of Houston, Pearland, TX player, Bob Murphy and recent transplant from Louisiana, Tim Kozlowski shared the third place honors.
Sarazen Flight: Houston, TX member Rick Houchins, went out with four consecutive pars, got into trouble, but then rebounded with a birdie on the par 3 -8th to help pave the way for his eleventh win on tour and first of the season. One stroke back, with birdies on the par 4 - 5th, par 5 -10th and par 3 - 15th, Ross Gonzales of Hockley, TX, already a winner on the 2015 season carded his third runner up finish. C.D. Dunem of San Antonio, TX, with a birdie of his own on the par 5 - 3rd and Spring, TX player Joe Armstrong split the third and fourth place points.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Birdie on the par 3 - 12th, along with a par on his final hole, proved to be just enough for Mike Innes of The Woodlands, TX to snatch his eleventh win on tour. One stroke back, Spring, TX player Gary Gum recorded his second runner up finish of the points season with the pair of Richmond, TX players, Greg Faubion and Marty Hodges nipping at his heals just two strokes back finishing tied for third.
Jones Flight: Anthony Parrish of Cypress, TX used a bogey on his final hole to tie up the flight with Brookshire, TX player Marcy Glidden forcing extra holes. On the first sudden death hole, the par 5 - 10th, Glidden made par to pick up her fifth win on tour, including two Major Championships and first since being promoted to the Jones Flight. One stroke back, Scott Sammons of Katy, TX with a birdie on the par 4 - 18th and Montgomery, TX player John Pickens with a birdies of his own on the par 4 - 13th shared the show place finish.
Snead Flight: Selma, TX player Mark Colwell made it two in as many attempts after winning the February 21st, Kerrville Championship. Four strokes back, fellow Hill Country Tour member, Christopher Cobb of Austin, TX made the best of a birdie on the par 4 - 11th for his third straight runner up finish on tour, edging out Javier Quintero of Houston, TX landing the third place finish in his first outing this points season.
Senior Snead Flight: It ultimately took 20 holes to crown a winner in the flight, when Stephen Sater of Sugar Land, TX and his two birdies on the day, tied up Robert Vespa of Pasadena, TX with a birdie at the par 4 - 13th and Magnolia, TX member Hal Wychopen at the end of regulation. On the second playoff hole, the par 4 - 18th, Vespa secured his first win on tour with darkness looming.
SKINS:
Giant Skins: ($155/each) 1 -- Traylor Sells, Cypress, TX; David Brassard, Spring, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; John Pickens, Montgomery, TX.
Championship / Palmer: ($40/each) 2 -- John Price, Whitney, Texas. 1 -- Jeff Whitzel, Sealy, TX; Leslie Clifton, Houston, TX; Keith Storey, Houston, TX; Harold Jackson, Baytown, TX; Traylor Sells, Cypress, TX.
Hogan: ($30/each) 2 -- David Brassard, Spring, TX; Jeff Zemencsik, Magnolia, TX. 1 -- Robbie Roberson, Conore, TX; Derrick Matthews, Killeen, TX; Michael Campbell, New Braunfels, TX; Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX.
Senior Hogan: ($56/each) 1 -- Steve Meyers, Houston, TX; Arthur Flores, Houston, TX; Will Whitley, Cypress, TX; Bob Murphy, Pearland, TX; Steve Hamilton, Leander, TX.
Sarazen: ($20/each) 5 -- Ross Gonzales, Hockley, TX. 1 -- C.D. Dunem, San Antonio, TX; Massimo Passini, Houston, TX; Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX; Rick Houchins, Houston, TX.
Senior Sarazen: ($40/each) 2 -- Michael Bell, Pearland, TX. 1 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX; Gary Gum, Spring, TX; Marty Hodges, Richmond, TX.
Jones: ($20/each) 4 -- Scott Sammons, Katy, TX. 2 -- John Pickens, Montgomery, TX. 1 -- Wayne Glover, Nederland, TX; Anthony Parrish, Cypress, TX; Mark Boles, Sealy, TX.
Snead / Senior Snead: ($40/each) 3 -- Stephen Sater, Sugar Land, TX. 2 -- Christopher Cobb, Austin, TX. 1 -- Robert Vespa, Pasadena, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:
($150/each) #4 - John Hilgers - 3' 8"; #6 - Blake Barnes - 4' 9"; #12 - Les Clifton - 7' 4"; #15 - Les Clifton - 2' 1"
Upcoming Texas Events:
Next on tap for Houston Tour members, the Galveston Island Championship @ Moody Gardens on Sunday, March 29th. Registrations closes on Friday, March 20th at 11:59 PM EDT.
Dallas Tour players move to the Pecan Valley Open in Fort Worth on Saturday, April 4th after playing the Classic at the Creek on March 21st. Registration deadline for the Pecan Valley event is Friday, March 27th.
The Hill Country is just up the road from Marble Falls for the Classic at the Springs on March 22nd and then will tee it up for the San Antonio Masters at The Dominion Country Club on Monday, April 13th. Space is limited and the event closes on Friday, April 3rd.
For More Information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
