Scott R Chilcutt, Choctaw, MS (October 26, 2014) Pearl River Resort, in Choctaw, MS played host to the first Golf Channel AM Tour, Major Championship contested in the State of Mississippi at The Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit. The resort, operated by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is set in the rolling hills and pine trees known in the East / Central part of the state.
AM Tour members from 23 states and Canada, representing 26 tours were welcomed to two beautiful Tom Fazio and Jerry Pate designed courses. While both had similar terrain, that's where the similarities ended. Bermuda fairways and Bent greens highlighted the Azeleas course, while Zoysia fairways led to Bermuda greens on The Oaks layout setting up for a weekend that would require innovation and flexibility.
Players, contributed $1,000 to the Feherty's Troops First Foundation, participating in the 50/50 raffle.
RESULTS:
Palmer Flight: Coming off of two birdies to offset a double bogey on the Azeleas course for a first round even par day, Lance Evans of Oxford, AL extended his lead on the final round to post a sixteen stroke victory, his fourth straight win of the season and ninth on tour. Iowa Tour member, Christopher Brueggeman from Carlisle, IA carded three birdies on the weekend and held on to his first round runner up spot by one stroke. Jumping from two strokes out of a National Championship qualification spot after Saturday's round, Shanga White of Norcross, GA, finished his Sunday round, with a one stroke advantage over the fourth spot, stamping his ticket to the Nationals.
Senior Palmer Flight: Mesa, AZ resident, Tony Ham settled into a lead Saturday on the back nine with three birdies and never looked back. Bettering his first round finish by three strokes with the help of two more birdies, Ham took his third Major Championship after previous wins on both coasts at the 2013 Pinehurst Amateur Championship and 2014 Pacific Northwest Major Championship. Dallas Tour member, Michael Fee of Mansfield, TX jumped into a tie for second, after a third place first round, With Chicago Tour player, Steve Dlugosinski from Elk Grove, IL.
Hogan Flight: Two strokes out of the lead following Saturday's round on The Oaks course, it didn't look good for Donovan Childers of Frankfort, KY after doubling his first two holes on Sunday. After the bad start Childers, would get into a rhythm and finish the remaining holes +4 with the help of a birdie on the par 4 -6th to win his first Major Championship, third win of the points season and fifth overall. Greensboro, GA player, Torben Dileng, six strokes out of the first round lead, finished one stroke out of the championship, taking five strokes off his Saturday total. Rich Adams of Miramar Beach, FL, also starting his Sunday final, six strokes back picked up the final National Championship qualification, just two strokes back.
Senior Hogan Flight: In the final pairing on Sunday, with the help of three birdies on his first round, St Louis Tour member, Randy Miller Wentzville, MO started his day on the 15th hole of The Oaks course shotgun. Four pars out of the gate, Miller would get a little loose during the middle part of his day, but finish with six straight pars to record his first Major Championship title and eighth win on tour. Equaling Millers final round 78, Chelsea, AL resident, Mike Williamson jumped into a share of the runner up finish playing his first fourteen holes at +3, with first round leader, Bruce Beakley of Houston, TX. Beakley, with three birdies on the weekend, including his second hole on Sunday, took the final Senior National Championship invitation.
Sarazen Flight: Gulf Coast Tour member, Matt McCollister of Addis, LA and Birmingham Tour player, Jonathan Sun couldn't settle the score after 36 holes. McCollister, with three birdies on his Saturday round and a four stroke advantage heading into the final 18 holes, opened the door to Sun on his last hole of the weekend, where Jonathan would take advantage of the extra sudden death holes for his first win on tour. Chet Lovelace of Alabaster, AL used two birdies on the weekend for his best finish at a Major Championship punching his ticket to the Nationals. Kirk Trussell of Houma, LA carded his first hole in one, taking advantage of the $500 gift card promotion, withe an 8 iron on the 154 par 3 - 13th on Sunday.
Senior Sarazen Flight: The top three from the first round at The Oaks course, took it to a tenth hole start on Sunday and the battle was on. Bruce LeGrand of Houston, TX, one stroke back starting the day would even up the pairing with a birdie on the par 3 - 13th, but fall back on the next hole to grab the show position finish. Newark, DE player, Arthur Young, carded seven straight pars to finish his first nine holes with a commanding lead, only to hit a wall on his 17th hole of the day, relegating himself to the runner up finish, when Houston Tour player, Mark Kirby of Bridge City, TX played his final five holes at +3 for a two stroke victory. It was Kirby's second Major Championship after winning the 2012 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay and sixth win on tour.
Jones Flight: Chris Conaway of Atlanta, GA picked up his first win on tour outlasting Euless, TX resident Tom Stockton by a single stroke. Starting the Sunday round knotted in the top spot both players would begin play on the fourth hole of The Oaks course shotgun, Conaway would take the lead early, but never really get too far away when Stockton made up ground on the 17th and 18th holes of the final round, falling short of the win. With the help of two birdies on his final round, Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX jumped into the T3 finish taking ten strokes off his first day total, with Chillicothe, IL resident, Richard Ledbetter making a big move of his own to share the final National Championship qualification.
Snead Flight: Atlanta, GA player, Mario Miller started the Sunday round tied in the fifth place spot five strokes back. Miller played two consistent nines taking eight strokes off his first day total for his third win on tour and first Major Championship. Rodney Langley Oneonta, AL sharing that fifth place spot after Saturday's round, jumped his way into the runner up spot with Arkansas Tour member, Scott Bundrick of Conway, AR rounding out the top three.
NEXT UP:
North Texas 2015 actions gets under way at the Frisco Lakes Challenge on Saturday, November 1st.
The Houston Tour gets back to play at the November 8th Katy Classic / Cinco Ranch, registration closes on Friday, October 30th.
The Hill Country Tour resumes action at the Winter Championship @ Canyon Springs on Saturday November 22nd.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott R Chilcutt
Director - Texas Tours
Dallas Tour - Hill Country Tour - Houston Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467
