Scott R Chilcutt, The Colony, TX ( April 23, 2011) While The Colony Texas is certainly not the home of golf and Lake Dallas is not the North Sea, The Tribute Golf Club on this April Saturday had more similarities than the golf course layout. Tour members were immediately greeted with a view of the one and eighteen holes fashioned after the Old Course at ST. Andrews. Carnoustie , Murfield, Royal Troon , Turnberry, Western Gailes and others sprinkled in between the start and finish included overcast skies and 30 MPG straight winds, similar to the days off the North Sea. While the thousands of miles separate the two worlds, one thing that has no distance is the honor of the game of golf. Loyd Welch, the apparent winner of the Jones Flight was traveling home when he received the e-mail of his score card. He immediately called to the Tournament Committee’s attention a score card error, while going over the score card with his marker they changed the score of a hole that he found to be incorrect. As Loyd later stated, “the best trophies I could ever win are the friends I’ve made with the Golf Channel and I had a great bunch to play with on Saturday”. “The integrity of the game is more important than a gift card” he added.
Claret Jug trophies only seemed appropriate for this day and Ron and JeanAnn Hardy sponsored the Tournament Champion award. In a score card playoff, Tom Eysenbach a visiting player from Houston carded that award with a net 4 under par.
Next Up – The Challenge at The Cliffs - As I’m sure everyone is aware, that area has been devastated by wild fires and although The Cliffs has not been affected they have limited access. Watch your e-mails and the blog for further details. Results:
Championship Flight: As the tournament committee was circling the wagons for a potential playoff between three players in the clubhouse with 3 over par, Nick Quast from Grapvine quashed those thougths when he brought to the scorers table an even par 72. Nick's three birdies, three bogies and 12 pars would cap the field by three strokes. Oklahoma City's Jeff Boyer, Marshall Morgan from Odessa and Wizzle Walsh from Weatherford knotted up the 2nd spot with 75's and Ryan Nash from Proper rounded out the top 5 of the 17 player field. Palmer Flight: Visiting the Metroplex for a Texas Rangers weekend, Steven Rice from Midland made the best of his trip. The 17 year old carded a 6 over par 78 to distance himself from the field en route to winning 4 skins on the way. Shreveport, LA player Randolf Kallenberg in his first tournament of the year parred the 17th and 18th holes to stay one clear of Adrian DelaGarza from Coppell and Lewisville's Randy Sellers who finished tied for third. Senior Palmer Flight: Richardson, TX resident Kem Albritton secured his third win of the 2011 points season with a 4 over par 76. Shreveport's Michael Morgan vyeing for his third win of the season eagled the par 5 third hole but could only manage a tie for 2nd place finish with Russ Cornell from Cibolo, TX. Cornell a San Antonio player played the front nine in two over par wasn't able to reduce the
two stroke gap with Albritton's two over par on the back. Hogan Flight: Recently equipped with a new SGX SkyCaddie, Rockwall, TX Paul Gray took home the trophy in the 20 player flight with a 5 over par 77. McKinney's Brenen Hofstadter also finishing with a 77 wasn't able to compete in the playoff because of other commitments finished 2nd. Hogan Flight points leader Bronco von Hoerling from Proper, TX finished in 3rd one stroke clear of Lewisvilles' Drew Keith and 3 clear of Stillwater, OK Ryan Cummings. Sarazen Flight: 34 year old Ryan Hise from Melissa, TX got his first win in two attempts on the tour. Ryan stayed clear by two strokes of Ranger, TX Scott Harper and points leader George Peddy from Bedford. With her best score of the year along with a birdie on the 13th hole Nancy Geihl from Grand Prairie secured a tie for 4 place with Garland's Willie Dozier.
The following flight had shortened rounds due to lightning. Prizing was done on holes finished by the flight. Handicaps and Tournament Index was recorded based upon USGA Handicap Policy.
Jones Flight: Recently self promoted Snead flight player Nick Easen from Keller, TX took his 3rd win of the year and first in the Jones flight. Houston Tour player Lee Isham finished in 2nd place, his 4th runner up spot of the year. Colleyville, TX member Bob Holmok finished just one stroke back from Isham for his 2nd third place finish.
Senior Jones Flight: Soon to be promoted to the Senior Sarazen Flight, Lantana, TX Barry Gray grabbed his 4th win of the 2011 points season. Gray's worst finish of the year was a 3rd place round at Coyote Ridge in March. Ron Hardy from Lewisville and Grand Prairie's Ken Benjamin weathered the pairing to finish in a tie for 2nd. Benjamin took the only skin of the Jones / Senior Jones flight. Snead Flight: In his first event on the tour, Memphis native now from Longview, TX, Darrin Howard is now one for one. Howard stayed clear of another Houston tour member, Tom Eysenbach by 3 strokes. Tom edged out Larry Tolson from McKinney, Flower Mounds Bill Hendrix and Carlos Cruz from Burleson who tied for the 3rd spot.
Skins Results:
Championship: 2 -- Michael Edwards. 1 -- Marshall Morgan; Master Mehaffey.
Palmer: 4 -- Steven Rice; Sean Fenton. 2 -- Randy Sellers.
Senior Palmer: 3 -- Kem Albritton. 2 -- Larry Huppert; Russ Cornell.
Hogan: 3 -- Paul Gray. 2 -- Patrick Gent. 1 -- Ryan Cummings; Monty Fisher.
Sarazen: 1 -- John Morrissey; Bert Beal; Walter White; Ricky Gates.
Senior Sarazen: 3 -- Steve Killion. 1 -- Ed Dye; Jerrell Neely.
Jones / SR Jones: 1 -- Ken Benjamin.
Snead: 2 -- Darrin Howard. 1 -- Bill Hendrix.
For more information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth - Oklahoma
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.302.9478
