37 Texas Tour members from the Golf Channel AM Tour, contributing to 26 teams will meet players from around the US and Canada for the annual event that sells out each year with 432 players.
Unlike other events on the Golf Channel Amateur Tour, this tournament is open to BOTH Golf Channel Am Tour Members and Non-Members and is a two-person team championship! The 54-hole, two-person team tournaments consist of a scramble, modified alternate shot and best ball on three of Las Vegas’ finest golf courses – Paiute’s Snow Mountain, Wolf and Sun Mountain.
2017 Texas Member Preview:
FLIGHT 1:
Team Desilets/Morgan: Daniel Desilets, Kermit, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Marshall Morgan, Odessa, TX, DFW Tour. This pair of Senior Championship Flight players on the GC AM Tour proved they could compete with the top flight. Taking home the Flight Championship in 2016 after finishing third in 2015, they look for the repeat.
FLIGHT 2:
Team Childress/Viernes: Keith Childress, Diana, TX, DFW Tour, and Nathaniel Viernes, Waipahu, Hawaii Tour. Childress is back on the Duel schedule for the first time since he played in the 2013 event, finishing T5.
TEAM Brown/Vansau: Kevin Vansau-Crawford, TX, DFW Tou, and Mitch Brown, Spring, TX. First-time players at the Duel in the Desert.
TEAM Finnerty/Miller: Ron Finnerty, San Antonio, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Mark Miller, Spring Branch, TX, Hill Country Tour. Winners in 2012, the pair followed with runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2014 and look to get back to the top spot on the podium.
FLIGHT 3:
TEAM Harkings/Perez: Mike Harkins-Cedar Park, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Servando Perez, Cedar Park, TX, Hill Country Tour. Unable to play in the scheduled 2013 Duel, this will be Harkins first attempt, with a new tour member, Servando Perez. Look out for them, they both took home trophies last weekend at Port Aransas.
TEAM Smith/Smith: Al Smith, San Angelo, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Jeffrey Smith, Boerne, TX, Hill Country Tour. 2015 Senior Palmer National Champion, Al Smith, and partner will take on the Duel for the first time.
TEAM Wilson/Wilson: Blake Wilson, League City, TX, Houston Tour, and Darwin Wilson, League City, TX, Houston Tour. Father / Son duo make the trip to Las Vegas for their first Duel in the Desert competition.
FLIGHT 4:
TEAM Adcock/Moore: Mike Adcock, River Oaks, TX, DFW Tour, and Randy Moore, Fresno, CA, Sacremento Tour. Adcock, Texas Tour assistant teams up with Sacremento Tour assistant Randy Moore. It's not a first for Moore to pair up with a Texan, in 2015 he teamed with Joe Urqiduez of Austin, TX just missing out on the win after coming up short in a playoff.
TEAM Adams/Swann: George Adams, Houston, TX, Houston Tour, and
Gio Swann-Lauderhill, FL, Miami Tour. Adams, made his first showing at the 2016 event, picking up a 3rd place 2016 National Championship exemption, with partner Jim Penn. Scheduled to play again, Penn had to back out due to health issues, in steps Gio Swann, available on the waiting list.
TEAM Kuester/Zils: Ben Zils, Spring, TX, Houston Tour, and Ben Kuester, San Francisco, CA. Zils, a member of the Golf Channel AM Tour for just under a year teams up with a guest of the tour for his first Duel.
FLIGHT 6:
TEAM Lessnau/Tran: Trung Tran, Southlake, TX, DFW Tour, and Ronald Lessnau, Englewood, CO. This team will make their third attempt at a flight championship after a middle of the pack run in 2015.
FLIGHT 7:
TEAM Douglas/Puckett: Joshua Douglas, Leander, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Jim Puckett, Leander, TX, Hill Country Tour. With a T6 finish in 2015, the Leander duo look to make the third time the charm.
TEAM Barnes/Casella: Blake Barnes, Deer Park, TX, Houston Tour, and Brandon Casella, Winter Springs, FL-Orlando Tour. Second time Duel attendee, Barnes swaps partners to make a go of it with his Florida partner in crime.
FLIGHT 8:
TEAM Faubion/Kirby: Greg Faubion, Richmond, TX, Houston Tour, and Mark Kirby, Bridge City, TX, Houston Tour. This Houston pair, will tee it up for the first time at the Duel.
TEAM Johns/Purgahn: Matt Purgahn, Orange, TX, Houston Tour, and Shane Johns, Orange, TX. This will be the pairs, fourth go as partners for the dual. Progressively better finishes each year, the duo will head to Paiute in 2017 as defending Champions looking to go back to back.
FLIGHT 9:
TEAM Brown/Donohue: Tim Brown, Richland Hills, TX, DFW Tour, and Mark Donohue, Lewisville, TX, DFW Tour. First time out for the Duel, the pair plays plenty of golf together, most of it competing. With over 120 rounds of AM Tour golf between the team, they'll look to convert some of that knowledge to team play.
TEAM Lamb/Wilson: Stephen Lamb, Garland, TX, DFW Tour, and Stan Wilson-Jones, OK-Oklahoma Tour. Stephen Lamb teams up with Oklahoma Tour traveler, Stan Wilson, nearly a Texas Tour regular, for the second year, and another shot at the prize.
TEAM Hill/Skinner: Marvin Hill, San Angelo, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Donald Skinner, Grand Blanc, MI, Detriot Tour. This team has competed with the Duel as long as online records will show. They look to beat their best finishes, 3rd in 2015 and 4th in 2016
FLIGHT 10:
TEAM Graham/Graham: Michael Graham, Burkburnett, TX, DFW Tour, and Matthew Graham, Keller, TX, DFW Tour. This will be the Grahams, first time to compete in the team play event.
TEAM Allison/Rayburn: Steve Allison, Spring, TX, Houston Tour, and Mike Rayburn, Montgomery, TX, Houston Tour. This will be the fourth Duel in the Desert for this pair, and they'll be working to beat their midfield finishes.
FLIGHT 11:
TEAM Neild/Lambert: Charles Lambert, Richardson, TX, DFW Tour, and RJ Neild, El Centro, CA, Palm Springs Tour. First timers in Las Vegas for the Duel in the Desert.
TEAM Benge/Viktorin: Olan Benge, Wharton, TX, Houston Tour, and Larry Viktorin, Wharton, TX, Houston Tour. This formidable Texas pair has four runner-up finishes with one third place finish in the last five appearances, and they're looking for the top spot in 2017.
TEAM Freeman/Severson: Judson Severson, College Station, TX, Houston Tour, and Billy Freeman, Wharton, TX. Looking to transfer some of his AM Tour event success to team play, this will be the pair's first run at the Duel.
FLIGHT: 13:
TEAM Reed/Wendel: Delynn Reed, Austin, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Jacob Wendel, Midland, TX. This pair makes the trip for the third consecutive year and looks to build on the 8th place finish in 2016.
TEAM Macha/Pekar: Gene Macha, Hungerford, TX, Houston Tour, and Freddie Pekar, Wharton, TX. First time team at the event.
FLIGHT 14:
TEAM Colen/Taylor: Ramon Colen, San Antonio, TX, Hill Country Tour, and Noah Taylor, Evansville, IN, St Louis Tour. Colen a Champion in 2014 with Hill Country Tour player, Charles Mielak, looks to get back in the winners circle with a new partner.
Best of luck to all the players for a safe trip and wonderful golf experience.
Upcoming Texas Events:
Houston and the Hill Country will continue the 2017 year with a doubleheader on the second weekend of February. Houston with the Golf Club of Houston - Redstone Classic, on Saturday, February 11th (sold out but waiting list spots are available) with the Briggs Ranch Classic at the Golf Club of Texas in San Antonio on Sunday, February 12th. Entry deadline for both events is Friday, February 3rd at midnight.
The DFW Tour will start the year at the DFW Winter Challenge on Sunday, February 26th at The Golf Club at Fossil Creek in Forth Worth. Registration closes on Friday, February 17th.
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