Thunder and Lightning can't stop Houston Tour Championship

Scott R Chilcutt, Cypress, TX (August 21, 2016)  Blackhorse Golf Club was back on the schedule to finish out the points season on the Houston Tour.  This time around, the South Course was added to the rotation mixing up the views over the 36 holes.  The club, hammered by floods in the spring, had been attempting to get the washed out bunkers back in play, but additional rains leading up the event, simply didn't cooperate.

Lightning delays on both days tried the patience of the competitors, but in the end, the 36 hole event was contested in full.

Carl Eaton (Senior Snead Flight) was "Up for the Srixon Challenge".   Winning his respective flight playing a Srixon ball, Carl will get a dozen sent to him for the win. Rich Houchins picked up the Tournament Champion, presented by Carlisle's Engraving in a scorecard playoff over Matt Wolfe with a two day total of -5 - 139. The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $520, bringing the year to date total from the Texas Tour local events to $12,940 contributed to the Foundation.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Fort Worth, TX, player Jeremy Frenzel, with the help of four birdies on his opening round, took a two stroke advantage over a pair of players to the Sunday finale.  Making the turn, Frenzel added a stroke to the lead, but couldn't slow down a charging Thomas Cruickshank of Richmond, TX.  Playing his final nine holes in even par, Cruickshank would force a sudden death playoff, taking the momentum to pick up his first win, in his first year on tour.  Four time winner, in his first season on tour, League City, TX, member Blake Wilson, bettered his Saturday round by four strokes to round out the top three.

Senior Championship Flight:  Continuing a string of first time winners at the final event of the points season, David Jones of Silsbee, TX, put together a pair of +2 - 74's for the victory.  Jones, close in his first event out in February at the Golf Club of Houston, and then another runner up at The Prelude to the Texas Open - Barton Creek Lakeside, carded four birdies at the event for a six stroke lead.  Sugar Land, TX, runner up, Gordan Wagner carded his best finish on the season, with David Ortego of Spring, TX, taking fourteen strokes off on the final day, to round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Hill Country Tour visitor, Derrick Matthews of Killeen, TX,  playing in the final group, six strokes back after the Saturday round, did just enough with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 8th to pick up his third win on the season.  Houston,TX, first round leader Harrison Hastings, carded a birdie before making the turn at the par 5 - 18th, but couldn't keep it rolling on his back nine, finishing one stroke back of the Championship.  James Sheppeard of Tomball, TX, and Orange, TX, member Rick Keszeg, a winner his last time out, shared the third place finish.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Vidor, TX, player Robert Corbello, started the weekend well going out in even par on Saturday.  Coming to the clubhouse Robert got into a little trouble, but was able to hold on to a one stroke advantage heading into the final round.  Sunday was the tale of two nines, starting on the 10th hole, Corbello made a mess of the front nine, got back into his rhythm on the back with another even par nine holes to win his second on the season and repeat at the Houston Tour Championship at Blackhorse.  Promoted to the Senior Palmer Flight, just after a T2 at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek, Mike Hafner of Katy, TX, proved he was not afraid of the new flight. Hafner, a Major Champion at the Kingsmill Classic in April, carded his sixth runner up spot on the season.  2015 Humble, TX, Senior Hogan National Champion, Tim Kozlowski, rounded out the top three. 

Hogan Flight:  Firing a career low round, +1 - 73 on Saturday, Matt Wolfe of Groves, TX, set up a big cushion for the Sunday finale.  Wolfe, with a pair of birdies on his opening round, looked to have some travel lag when he got to the final 9 holes on Sunday, but used just about all of that cushion to pick up his second win on the season. Two strokes back, Houston, TX, player Rick Houchins, with an eagle on the par 5 - 18th on Saturday, made it interesting going his final twelve holes in even par to pick up the second place spot, with John Heintz of San Antonio, TX, in the show place finish.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Chris Phillips of Richmond, TX, started out his 36 holes with a birdie on the par 4 - 1st.  Mediocre for the next, thirteen holes, Phillips made a 10 on the par 5 - 15th, but wouldn't let that get him down.  Following up with three pars, Chris was still only three back after the Saturday round.  While somewhat shaky starting the day on Sunday, two birdies in three holes, making the turn would be just enough to jump into the lead and a certain flight promotion.  Phillips with two wins on the season and runner up finishes at Pinehurst and Barton Creek Majors, looks toward the National Championship as a Senior Palmer Flight member.  Brenham, TX, member Jerrod Hoyle, carded his best finish on the season in the runner up spot, with 2016 Flight Champion, David Anthony of Cypress, TX, rounding out the top three.

Sarazen Flight:  Just three events removed from a Journey to Better flight promotion, Montgomery, TX, member Joe Michetti, picked up another Sarazen Flight victory.  Michetti, with the help of a birdie on the par 4 - 16th on Saturday took a one stroke over night lead to the tee on Sunday and was able to lead the field wire to wire.  It was Joe's seventh win in his first season on tour.  Adam Bray of Katy, TX, a winner at The Woodlands, Tournament Course in July, six strokes back, but eleven strokes clear of third place Richardson, TX, player Sven Bock.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  McClendon - Chisholm, TX, traveler, David Day, slept well on an overnight lead, putting two +12 - 84's together for the start to finish victory.  For Day, in his second year on tour, it was his first championship.  Three strokes back a pair of players that lowered there first round scores, Chris Neeley of Spring, TX, and Pearland, TX, member Michael Bell, shared the runner up finish.

Jones Flight:  Playing together for both rounds, day one because of points, with the final round, shuffled by score, Wayne Waldrep of Spring, TX, and Houston, TX, member Artis Stewart looked to have a shootout on Sunday.  Waldrep, appeared to have things in hand with an eagle on his second hole of the day, but came back to the field finishing the front nine with a 50.  Ever so steady, Stewart, made the turn with a nine stroke advantage on Sunday and held onto the championship after Waldrep charged on the back nine.  For Stewart, it was his sixth win on tour and first of the season.  Tony Parrish, of Spring, TX, took fifteen strokes off his opening round on Sunday to round out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Conroe, TX, resident Carl Eaton, eight strokes back after the opening 18 holes, carded the round of his year on Sunday to jump ahead of the field for his third win of the season, after placing in the runner up spot seven of his last ten events.  Javier Quintero of Houston, TX, with a birdie on the par 5 - 15th on Saturday, came back to the field to finish seven strokes out of the lead, but plenty to pick up the 2016 Flight Champion honors. Corrigan, TX, player Mike Murphy, struggled through the cart path only situation on Sunday to finish the last points event of the season in the third pace spot. 




SKINS:

DAY 1 (South Course):

Giant SKINS:  ($130/each)  1 -- Jeremy Frenzel, Fort Worth, TX; Rick Houchins, Houston, TX; John Heintz, San Antonio, TX; Tony Parrish, Cypress, TX; L.P. Jones, Houston, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($55/each)  4 -- Jeremy Frenzel, Fort Worth, TX.

Senior Championship / Senior Palmer:  ($65/each)  1 -- Mike Bailey, Houston, TX; David Jones, Silsbee, TX; Gordon Wagner, Sugar Land, TX; Robert Corbello, Vidor, TX.

Hogan  ($25/each)  2 -- Rick Houchins, Houston, TX; John Heintz, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Steve Nagy, Sugar Land, TX; Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX; Matt Wolfe, Groves, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($106/each)  1 -- William Popek, Bay City, TX; Chris Phillips, Richmond, TX; Jerrod Hoyle, Brenham TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  ($72/each)  1 -- L.P. Jones, Houston, TX; Michael Bell, Pearland, TX; Mark Tylenda, Dallas, TX; David Day, McClendon-Chisholm, TX; Bruce LeGrand, Houston, TX.


Jones / Snead:  ($22/each)  2 -- Tony Parrish, Cypress, TX; Wayne Waldrep, Spring, TX. 1 -- Javier Quintero, Houston, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX; Neil Macdonald, Huntsville, TX; Artis Stewart, Houston, TX.

DAY 2 - (North Course):

Giant SKINS:  ($155/each)  1 -- James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX; Chris Phillips, Richmond, TX; Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX; Wayne Waldrep, Spring, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($28/each)  2 -- Blake Wilson, League CIty, TX. 1 -- Jeff Zemencsik, Magnolia, TX; James Sheppeard, Tomball, TX; Travis Nichols, Houston, TX; Jeremy Frenzel, Fort Worth, TX; Thomas Cruickshank, Richmond, TX.

Senior Championship / Senior Palmer:  ($52/each)  2 -- David Jones, Silsbee, TX. 1 -- David Ortego, The Woodlands, TX; Robert Hayward, Houston, TX; Tim Kozlowski, Humble, TX.

Hogan:  ($90/each)  1 -- Mike Karlin, Houston, TX; Rick Houchins, Houston, TX.

Senior Hogan:  ($50/each)  2 -- Geoffrey Knight, Houston, TX; David Anthony, Cypress, TX. 1 -- Chris Phillips, Richmond, TX; Daryl Epperson, Houston, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  ($56/each)  2 -- Gary Gum, Spring, TX. 1 -- Rick Halprin, Houston, TX; Wayne Glover, Nederland, TX; Michael Bell, Pearland, TX; Matt Larson, Spring, TX.

Jones / Snead:  ($20/each)  2 -- Michael Pierce, Montgomery, TX; Tony Parrish, Cypress, TX; Wayne Waldrep, Spring, TX. 1 -- Carl Eaton, Conroe, TX; Artis Stewart, Houston, TX.



CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

DAY 1 - (South Course):

($175/each)  #4 - Jerrod Hoyle - 14" 7" ;  #6 - Tim Kozlowski - 3' 6";  #13 - Rick Smalley - 7' 2 1/4"";  #17 - Bruce LeGrand - 1' 8".

DAY 2 - (North Course):

($175/each)  #2 - Carl Eaton - 3' 7 1/2" ;  #6 - Jeff Zemencsik - 2' 3";  #14 - William Popek - 3' 5";  #16 - Leslie Henry - 9' 3".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Off to the National Championship from September 13th - 16th and Senior National Championship, contested September 19th - 22nd, many players from around the tour will compete for the top prize of the season.

Fall events and 2017 points schedule will be posted soon, look out for the opportunity to get a jump start on the next season. 

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

Timber Creek - Friendswood Challenge - 2016

Scott R Chilcutt, Friendswood, TX (August 6, 2016)  Just minutes west of the Johnson Space Center, Clear Lake and the Bay of Galveston, Timber Creek Golf Club hosted the repeat of the Friendswood Challenge on the Houston Tour Schedule.  While the 2015 edition was hampered with rain / lighting, this year saw nothing but clear and hot skies.

Dwayne London (Jones Flight) and Ray Bednar (Snead Flight) were "Up for the Srixon Challenge". Winning their respective flights playing a Srixon ball, both players will get a dozen sent to them for the win. Ray Bednar picked up the Tournament Champion, presented by Carlisle's Engraving with a -7 - 64.  The winner of the Feherty's Troops First Foundation 50/50 raffle, took home $330, bringing the year to date total from the Texas Tour local events to $11,690 contributed to the Foundation.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  League City, TX, player Blake Wilson, may have made a mess early in his front nine, but rebounded on the par 4 - 6th to play the last twelve holes in -1 to card his fourth win in seven attempts on the season.  Matthew Winters of Magnolia, TX, needed some help from the back nine as well, to finish five strokes back of Wilson in the runner up spot. Houston, TX, first year member, George Adams, taking part in the event to finalize his Senior National Championship eligibility, rounded out the top three.

Palmer Flight:  Rick Keszeg of Orange, TX, playing an abbreviated schedule this season, carded a +5 to pick up his first win since July 2014, and his sixth win on tour.  First year Magnolia, TX, player Steven Ruonavaara, carded three birdies on the round for his best finish on tour, with a pair stuck just one stroke behind.  Roger Masek of Sugar Land, TX, took eight strokes off his final nine to split the third place honors with Montgomery, TX, player Tyler Logeman. 

Senior Palmer Flight:  In a repeat of the Masters at Magnolia in April, Fred Rich of Tomball, TX,  Houston, TX, player Walter Menuet and Bo Kirkwood of Pasadena, TX, couldn't settle the score in eighteen holes. This time around the tables where turned, where Rich won in April, he was first out of the playoff with Walter Menuet, settling T2 as before, with Kirkwood picking up his second win on the season on the second playoff hole.

Hogan Flight:  Local Deer Park, TX, member Al Campo, used his home course advantage to command his third win on the season, by six strokes.  Mike Karlin, of Houston, TX, notched his fifth runner up on the season to go with a win at the Prelude to the Houston Open - Pecan Grove.  Nacogdoches, TX, member Charles Kirk, added another third place finish to two previous on the season, one stroke back of Karlin.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Lane McKinney of League City, TX, playing only sparingly since 2013,  picked up his first of four wins on tour, with a two stroke advantage.   Orlando, FL Tour player, Steven Wood, playing out of Leesburg, FL, made his second start on the Houston Tour this season to card the runner up finish, with William Popek of Bay City, TX, and Bellaire, TX, member Vernon Wells sharing the third place finish.

Sarazen Flight:   Fresh off a promotion from the Jones Flight, with five wins on the season, Joe Michetti of Montgomery, TX, made himself known in the Sarazen Flight.  Michetti, with consistent scores on the nines, finished one stroke ahead of Assistant Texas Tour director, Mike Adcock of River Oaks, TX.   Adcock, taking a break from the official grind, had a rough start with three doubles, but then settled himself to shoot a +3 - 39 on the back giving himself a chance.  Three strokes back of Adcock, Adam Bray of Katy, TX, with a birdie on the par 4 - 14th, rounded out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Marty Hodges of Richmond, TX, put together his second sub 80 round on tour and first since 2011 to edge out second place finisher Orange, TX, player Glynn Aldredge by a stroke.  Hodges, with two birdies on his round coming at consecutive holes at the end of the day picked up his first win on the season and sixth on tour.  Aldredge, with a birdie on his final hole of the day, the par 5 - ninth shot a career low round for his best finish on the season.  Rick Halprin of Houston, TX, with a recent promotion for the Senior Jones Flight, finished in the show place position with two birdies on his round.

Jones Flight:  Dwayne London, of League City, TX, became a three time winner on the year punching his ticket to the National Championships.  London, with a birdie on the par 5 - 9th finished his day two strokes clear of Hill Country Tour member, Carlos Cruz of San Antonio, TX, and Montgomery, TX, member Jeff Gregory sharing the runner up honors.

Senior Jones Flight: Spring, TX, player Terry Collins, birdied his final hole of the day, the par 5 - 18th to grab his first win on tour.  Collins, a member since 2011, was two strokes back making the turn, but held a steady hand to finish out the Championship.  John Pickens of Montgomery, TX,  with a birdie on the par 5 - 9th, finished in the runner up spot with Don Martino of League City, TX, taking home the show place finish.  

Snead Flight:  Ray Bednar of Kingwood, TX, coming off two wins the weekend before, keep the ball rolling with a birdie on the par 3 - 4th to pick up his fourth win on the season. Houston,TX, resident Javier Quintero, a two time winner on the season, finished in the runner up spot, with Richard Schram of Bryan, TX, rounding out the top three.



SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($66/each)  1 -- Blake Wilson, League CIty, TX; Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX; Chantz Haas, Beaumont, TX; Mike Karlin, Houston, TX; Steven Wood, Leesburg, FL; Rick Halprin, Houston, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($44/each)  1 -- Blake Wilson, League CIty, TX; Bo Kirkwood, Pasadena, TX; Roger Masek, Sugar Land, TX; Fred Rich, Tomball, TX; Tyler Logeman, Montgomery, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  ($85/each)  1 -- Chantz Haas, Beaumont, TX; Mike Karlin, Houston, TX; Steven Wood, Leesburg, FL; Debbie Leblanc, Orange, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  ($50/each)  1 -- Marty Hodges, Richmond, TX; Joe Michetti, Montgomery, TX; Gary Gum, Spring, TX; Rick Halprin, Houston, TX.

Jones / Senior Jones / Snead:  ($75/each)  2 -- Carlos Cruz, San Antonio, TX. 1 -- Ray Bednar, Kingwood, TX; John Pickens, Montgomery, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($100/each)  #4 - Rick Halprin - 8' 11" ;  #7 - Anthony Parrish - 7' 3";  #15 - Tyler Logeman - 3' 10";  #17 - Rick Halprin - 8' 7".

Upcoming Texas Events:

Final National National / Senior National Championship qualification spots, year end Flight Champions and more will be awarded at the Houston Tour Championship on August 20th and 21st at Black Horse Golf Club in Cypress, TX.   Registrations close on Friday, August 12th.

The Hill Country finishes out its 2016 points season on August 13th and 14th at La Cantera Golf Club for the Hill Country Tour Championship.  

The Dallas Tour Championship at Bridlewood on Saturday, August 27th and Sunday, August 28th, will finish off the points season in Texas.   Spots are already limited with a entry deadline of Friday, August 19th at midnight.  

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