Ugly Opener at Iron Horse

Scott R Chilcutt, North Richland Hills, TX (February 22, 2015)  Weather plagued Dallas opener.  

Over the past four years, the Dallas Tour has opened it's calendar year schedule at Tangle Ridge for the Grand Prairie Classic.  With cold, rain and wet conditions always on the menu, a change of venue attempted to mix up the luck. Iron Horse Golf Course in North Richland Hills, TX, off the Dallas schedule since 2010 because of scheduling made its not so friendly comeback.  Overseeded fairways, with exceptional greens over the previous few weeks looked to be just what the tour members ordered.   It looks like the venue wasn't the issue, but luck certainly didn't change.

Play was shortened do to unplayable water conditions on the greens, simply too many without any relief possibilities.  




RESULTS:

Championship Flight:   Rusty Ramsey of Euless, TX picked up his first win on tour by a stroke over Granbury, TX member Eric Anderson.  Dallas Webster of Wylie, TX followed the second place spot by a stroke.

Palmer Flight:   First time player, Brandon Offield of Burneyville, OK took home the hardware with a two stroke advantage. Greg Hawkins of Argyle, TX, one of only two players to actually attempt to get in the event late, was second with Flower Mound, TX player David Wright rounding out the top three.

Senior Palmer Flight:  John Price of Whitney, TX punched his ticket to the Senior National Championship (pending eligibility) with his third win in as many attempts.  Fort Worth, TX member Scott Harris shared the runner up finish with Michael Rutkoski of McKinney, TX.

Hogan Flight:  Bedford, TX player Darren Bufton picked up his second win on the season in three attempts.  Cory Welch of Fort Worth, TX a winner at the Fall Championship / Hawks Creek finished one stroke back for the second place honors, while Scott Harper of Ranger, TX a winner the day before at the Kerrville Championship rounded out the top three.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Phillip Holt of Haslet, TX and Cleburne, TX member Michael Starks finished the flights mutual holes tied.  Without the ability to have an on course playoff, Holt picked up his fifth win on tour with the help of the scorecard playoff. Steve Killion of Sanger, TX and Edmond, OK traveler, Tim Mathis shared the third place honors.

Sarazen Flight:  All out of town winner circle.  Houston Tour member, Rick Smalley of College Station, TX made the most of his trip picking up his second win on tour.  Kansas City Tour member, Stanley Emerson of Topeka, KS and Tulsa, OK player Chad Morrison, back on tour after a five year hiatus, split the second place finish.

Senior Sarazen Flight:   Lewisville, TX member, Mark Donohue carded his third win on tour by two strokes ahead of a pair tied for second.  Ron Junghans of Arlington, TX and Keller, TX member, Joe Longley shared the runner up honors.

Jones Flight:  Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX, a periennal winner in the Snead Flight picked up his first win since his move to the Jones Group.  Terry Everts of Eastland, TX one of a few players doing the weekend double and North Richland Hills, TX player Luis Dayer shared second place.

Snead Flight:  In the second Harper win of the weekend after Scott won on the Hill Country Tour on Saturday, Stan Harper of Lake Leon, TX grabbed his second win of the season.  Arlington, TX player Thomas Rauch rounded out the top two. 









SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($80/each) 1 -- Rusty Ramsey, Euless, TX; Dallas Webster, Wylie, TX; Greg Hawkins, Argyle, TX; Pete Partain, Bedford, TX; Mark Donohue, Lewisville, TX; Cory Welch, Fort Worth, TX.

Championship:  ($35/each)  2 -- Dallas Webster, Wylie, TX. 1 -- Andrew Morsinkhoff, Rockwall, TX; Rusty Ramsey, Euless, TX.

Palmer / Senior Palmer:  ($50/each)  1 -- John Price, Whitney, Texas; Scott Harris, Fort Worth, TX; Greg Hawkins, Argyle, TX; Bart Slaughter, Dallas, TX.

Hogan:  ($40/each) 2 -- Cory Welch, Fort Worth, TX. 1 -- Darren Bufton, Bedford, TX; Scott Harper, Ranger, TX.

Senior Hogan;  ($120/each)  1 -- John Cox, Mansfield, TX; Michael Starks, Cleburne, TX.

Sarazen;   ($110/each)  1 -- Chris Gassaway, North Richland Hills,TX; Stanley Emerson, Topeka, KS.

Senior Sarazen:  ($50/each) 1 -- Ron Junghans, Arlington, TX; Pete Partain, Bedford, TX; Mark Donohue, Lewisville, TX; Joe Longley, Keller, TX.

Jones / Snead:  ($40/each)  2 -- zane Latham;  Dickie Clement. 1 -- Stan Harper, Lake Leon, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($120/each)  #5 - Pending Review;  #8 - Kevin Evans - 4' 6";  #14 - Sven Bock  - 14' 2"; #17 - Manuel Martinez - 13' 11 1/2"

Upcoming Texas Events:

The Tours in the State of Texas will take a break for the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay Major on March 7th and 8th.  The Hill Country takes on Delaware Springs Golf Course for the first time in Burnet, TX.  The Classic at the Springs is Sunday, March 22nd, entries close on Friday March 13th.

Dallas Tour gets back into the swing of things at the Classic at the Creek, Indian Creek Golf Club on Saturday March 21st with a registration deadline of Friday March 13th.

Houston Tour members follow up with the Masters at the Ridge, River Ridge Golf Club on March 14th, entry deadline is Friday, March 6th.  

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

www.gcamtour.com

Dallas Tour Finish for a Holiday Break

Scott R Chilcutt, Westworth Village, TX (November 16, 2014)  Dallas Tour Members took their last swing on the local tour for points and prizes before the Holiday break.  Hoping to avoid the weather of the 2014 Fall Championship by backing things up a week, the impending Arctic blast making its way south still made things uncomfortable, but notably better than the previous year at Champions Circle. 

Hawks Creek Golf Club, built only a par 5 away from Carswell Field runways, on the grounds of the Naval Air Station - Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth played host to the Fall Championship, opening the event to the Star Spangled Banner over the loudspeaker.  Wet from overnight misting, the course played soft and tough, added to quick and undulating greens the overwhelming majority of the non - winners pointed to 3+ putt greens.

Hoping to stay away from the multiple putt greens, Paul Vessels of Mesquite, TX connected with his Adams #6 Hybrid for his first career hole in one on the 153 yard par 3 -10th hole.  Arlington, TX player Don Freitag forced to play with a combined Snead / Jones flight, edged out Championship Flight winner Jeremy Frenzel, by one stroke for the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.



RESULTS:

Championship Flight:   Trophy Club, TX player Andrew Braun took a two stroke lead to the back nine, but couldn't keep pace with Jeremy Frenzel of Fort Worth, TX after he birdied three on the back.   Using local course knowledge it was Frenzel's second win and first, since his first event with the Golf Channel AM Tour at the February 2013 Grand Prairie Classic @ Tangle Ridge.   Starting on the par 4 - 2nd, Tim Williams of McKinney, TX struggled on his first and last holes of the day, but added birdies on the par 5 - 12th and par 5 - 18th to get into the mix and round out the top three.

Palmer Flight:   Bart Slaughter of Dallas, TX became the second two time winner on the day. Slaughter also a winner his first time out, made an eagle on the par 5 - 18th, added a birdie on the par 5 - 5th to capture the championship by six strokes.  Flower Mound, TX member David Wright made it back to back runner up finishes after a T2 at the Frisco Lakes Challenge.  Clay Johnston of Lewisville, TX had one of the most colorful cards of the day.  Johnston managed only three pars on the morning, but carded four birdies to finish out with third place honors.

Hogan Flight:  Taking advantage of a familiar and short commute to his home in Fort Worth, Cory Welch added to his tour titles.  Making it six, including the Major Championship at the 2013 Texas Masters at Barton Creek, Welch birdied the par 4 - 8th and par 5 - 18th to finish four strokes clear of Dallas, TX player Melvin Wilson III.  Wilson used his birdie on the par 4 - 16th to finish just one stroke ahead of traveling Amarillo, TX member Tim Edwards.

Senior Hogan Flight:  First year tour member, Manuel Martinez of Cisco, TX, followed up his T5 his first time out at the Frisco Lakes Challenge with a par on his final hole, the par 5 - 9th to break a tie with second place finisher James Galbraith of Prosper, TX for his first win on tour. Leesville, LA visitor, Phillip Mayo started out hot in spite of the weather, with birdies on his first two holes, ran into trouble mid way through both nines to finish knotted up with Trophy Club, TX member Jalil Daneshfar one stroke back of Galbraith splitting the third place honors.

Sarazen Flight:   Nearby Fort Worth, TX resident Preston Miller has a parka and knows how to swing a club wearing it.  Miller broke through for his first win on tour at last years November 2013 Fall Championship @ Champions Circle in even more inclement weather, then followed up with a cold windy win at the February 2014 Grand Prairie Classic - TangleRidge.  Two strokes back, Wadsworth Jarrell also from Fort Worth and coming off his first win at the Frisco Lakes Challenge made birdie on the par 5 - 5th to settle into the runner up finish with Garland, TX member Sven Bock rounding out the top three.

Senior Sarazen Flight:   James McKee of Abilene, TX made it two for two after winning his second event on Tour his last time out at the November 1st Frisco Lakes Challenge.  McKee starting on the 14th hole played his first seven holes in +3 for his third win, five strokes ahead of Haslet, TX player Burnie Rodgers.  It was Rodgers' best finish of the points season, one stroke clear of Mark Donohue from Lewisville, TX.    

Jones Flight:  Following up his best finish on tour, a T2 at the Frisco Lakes Challenge, Mike Rogers of Lewisville, TX made par on his first two holes of the day, finished the last with a par and broke into the winners circle for his first win on tour.  Shuffled into the Jones Flight after the other Snead Flight players opted out of the event, Don Freitag of Arlington, TX had his best finish since a win at the November 2013 Bobcat Open @ Texas Star to grab the runner up points with Midland, TX late entry, Jack Dillard making the best of his trip for a third place finish.      
  



SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($110/each)  1 -- Jeremy Frenzel, Fort Worth, TX; Bart Slaughter, Dallas, TX; Kyle Akins, Mesquite, TX; Steve Killion, Sanger, TX.

Championship / Palmer:  ($85/each)  1 -- Jeff Shores, Irving, TX; Jeremy Frenzel, Fort Worth, TX; Clay Johnston, Lewisville, TX; Bart Slaughter, Dallas, TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  ($44/each)  2 -- Steve Lamb, Garland, TX. 1 -- Kyle Akins, Mesquite, TX; Darren Bufton, Bedford, TX; Nick Easen, Keller, TX; Cory Welch, Fort Worth, TX; Denver Roden, Irving, TX; Phillip Mayo, Leesville, LA.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:   ($40/each)  3 -- Preston Miller, Fort Worth, TX. 2 -- James McKee, Abilene, TX. 1 -- Wadsworth Jarrell, Fort Worth, TX.

Jones:   ($36/each)  2 -- Mike Jones, Midland, TX. 1 -- Mike Rogers, Lewisville, TX; Doyle Fleming, Haslet, TX; Don Freitag, Arlington, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($105/each)  #4 - Sven Bock - 15'4";  #7 - John Lopez - 5'2";  #10 - Jim Largent - 1'3"; #17 - David Wright - 6' 8"



NEXT UP:

The Hill Country Tour resumes action at the Winter Championship @ Canyon Springs on Saturday November 22nd.

Next on the Houston Tour schedule players from around the state will take on The Falls Golf Resort and Club in New Ulm, TX for the two day South Texas Winter Championship on December 6th and 7th.   While single rooms are still available for this event most of the Villa's are sold out.  If you plan on playing, book your accommodations early.


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

Frisco Lakes Challenge - 2014

Scott R Chilcutt, Frisco, TX (November 1, 2014)  The Dallas Tour opened its 2015 points season at the Frisco Lakes Challenge.  Brisk northerly winds hit the area on Halloween and dropped the overnight lows into temperatures the area has not seen since last winter.  Variable clouds and sunshine would eventually prevail to beat the past few openers.   On the eastern side of Lake Lewisville, Frisco Lakes Golf Club, off the tour the past year, showed it was worthy of a stop.  Great course conditions with quick and smooth greens would make it a putting contest for the top finishers.

Ron Hardy from nearby Lewisville, TX would take home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by his Carlisle's Engraving business.



RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Dallas Webster of Wylie, TX won the 2013 - Pinehurst Amateur Championship, has carded a handful of runner up finishes, including three Major Championships this past points season and his last time out at Frisco Lakes in 2013.  Until today he hasn't stood on top of the podium at a local event.  Webster, with a steady scorecard of fourteen pars, finished off his first Dallas Tour win, three strokes ahead of Abilene, TX, first time player Jared Cramer. Cramer, was all over the board with only one par on the day, but added four birdies and an eagle to clinch the runner up spot.  A pair of Granbury, TX players, Jim Largent and Eric Anderson, with two birdies on the day, shared the third place honors two strokes back of Cramer.

Senior Championship Flight:    Fort Worth, TX player Sean Fenton is two for two after his first win on the season at the October Fall Challenge in Round Rock.  Fenton, with a big skins buster at the par 3 - 12th hole, made it his eleventh win on tour, including two Major Championships.  Matching Fenton on the front side, Larry Vannatta of  Grand Prairie, TX fell one shy on the back to secure the runner up finish.  Tony Peppler of Dallas, TX and Diana, TX player Mark Echols split the show place honors three strokes out of the lead.

Palmer Flight:  After only playing in four events over the previous two seasons, Russell Rice of Fort Worth, TX was only able to conjure up a seventh place finish.  Two consecutive birdies going out was just enough to cover some tough holes on the back for his first win on tour. Clay Johnston of Lewisville, TX and Flower Mound, TX resident, David Wright finished just one stroke back to split the runner up honors.

Senior Palmer Flight:   Kem Albritton of Garland, TX became a ten time winner on tour with a consistent round of +7 - 79.  Four strokes back,  Irvine, CA traveler, Todd McSeveney made the best of a birdie on the par 4 - 7th to secure the runner up finish.  First time player, John Price of Whitney, TX and Keller, TX player Nic Linde, with help of a birdie on the par 5 - 15th split the third place finish.

Hogan Flight:  Bedford, TX player, Darren Bufton carded a pair of 40's to record his second win on tour. Three strokes back, Scott Harper of Ranger, TX birdied the par 4 - 7th and par 5 - 18th to secure the runner up finish with McKinney, TX member, Navakiran Chitturi one stroke back for the third place honors.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Columbus, OH native, Bob Mulligan now residing in Dallas, TX grabbed his second win on tour.  Mulligan with thirteen pars on the day, cleared the field by three strokes with visiting Houston Tour member, Bruce Beakley in the runner up spot. Beakley, already with three second place finishes on the 2015 points season birdied his final hole, the par 5 - 18th to stay one clear of Haslet, TX member Phillip Holt finishing in the final podium spot.   

Sarazen Flight:   Starting his day on the tenth hole, Wadsworth Jarrell of Fort Worth, TX, birdied his tenth and eighteenth holes, which would end up just the number to pick up his first win on tour.  Two strokes back, San Antonio, TX player C.D. Dunem, in the Metroplex for business, picked up the runner up finish, three strokes clear of  Scott Brown of Oklahoma City, OK with a pair of birdies of his own on the day.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  James McKee of Abilene, TX,  five strokes off the lead after his first nine holes, finished his last five holes in even par to force a sudden death playoff with Lewisville, TX player Mark Donohue. Matching on the first extra hole, it would take a total of twenty holes on the day for McKee to prevail for his second win on tour.  Davis Noble of Lake Kiowa, TX, with a birdie on the par 5 - 18th, and  Sanger, TX resident, Steve Killion with a birdie of his own on the par 4 - 2nd, shared the third place finish.

Jones Flight:     Long time Lewisville, TX player, Ron Hardy used a birdie on his second to last hole, the par 3 - 8th to secure his first win in twenty five events. It was Hardy's seventh win on tour and first since the May 2013 Bobcat Open @ Texas Star.  Steve Kemp of Dallas, TX,  Abilene, TX traveler, Leon Giesecke and Mike Rogers of Lewisville, TX were knotted in the second place finish, just two strokes back.

Snead Flight:  In another two for two, Larry Atchley of  Kyle, TX continued his great play following up his win at the Fall Challenge in Round Rock.  In town for the NASCAR events on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, Atchley, birdied the par 4 - 2nd and par 5 -15th to finish with a nine stroke advantage over Arlington, TX player Thomas Rauch.  Stan Harper of Lake Leon, TX rounded out the top three. 




SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  ($330/each)  1 -- Eric Anderson, Granbury, TX; Sean Fenton, Fort Worth, TX.

Championship / Senior Championship:  ($30/each)  3 -- Jared Cramer, Abilene, TX. 1 -- Larry Vannatta, Grand Prairie, Tx; Tim Williams, McKinney, TX; Eric Anderson, Granbury, TX; Sean Fenton, Fort Worth, TX; Jeff Shores, Irving, TX.

Palmer / Senior Palmer:  ($35/each)  2 -- Russell Rice, Fort Worth, TX; Todd McSeveney, Irvine, CA. 1 -- Chris Wadle, Coupland , TX; Bart Slaughter, Dallas, TX; Nic Linde, Keller TX.

Hogan / Senior Hogan:  ($95/each)  1 -- Joseph Roy, Rockwall, TX; Joshua Douglas, Leander, TX; Scott Harper, Ranger, TX; Bob Mulligan, Dallas, Tx.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  ($116/each)  2 -- Rodney Wren, Dallas, TX. 1 -- Ron Junghans, Arlington, TX; Wadsworth Jarrell, Fort Worth, TX; Scott Brown, Oklahoma City, OK.

Jones / Snead:  ($68/each)  2 -- Larry Atchley, Kyle, TX. 1 -- Douglas Pritchett, Ft Worth, TX; Zane Latham, Valley View, TX; Ron Hardy, Lewisville, TX.

CLOSEST TO THE HOLE:

($130/each)  #5 - Wadsworth Jarrell - 7' 1";  #8 - Darren Burton - 8';  #12 - Sean Fenton - 4'6 1/2";  #14 - Tim Williams - 11' 2"


NEXT UP:

Dallas Tour members will visit Hawks Creek Golf Club for the first time on tour, Sunday November 16th.  Entry deadline is Friday, November, 7th at 11:59 PM EST.

Houston gets back to play at the November 8th Katy Classic / Cinco Ranch.

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

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

The Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit

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

schilcutt@gcamtour.com

 

Three National Champions Return Home to Texas!

Scott R Chilcutt, Scottsdale, AZ (September 19, 2014)  Talking Stick Golf Club with its North and South Course along with the Raptor and Talon Courses at Grayhawk Golf Club hosted the over 1200 players to 4800+ rounds of competitive golf with thousands more practice rounds during the 2014 National and Senior National Championship on the Golf Channel AM Tour.

Extreme weather in the Valley of the Sun,  dust storms preceded torrential rains, remnants of Tropical Storm Dolly coming in off the Gulf Coast shortened practice rounds for the Open Group, but diligent golf course maintenance crews worked through the night to make sure play started without a hitch. 

The Senior Championship practice rounds and opening went off as scheduled, with Hurricane Odile slamming the Mexican Baja.  Odile would generally spare the event of any havoc, although skirting the Talking Stick Courses for a wet afternoon of play.  

As the curtains closed on the year end finale, three Texas members, one from each tour in the state returned home as a Champions.  Home Cookin' may have assisted the Arizona Tour members to equal the Lone Star State total with three, with the other six championships spread across the country from Florida to Washington.

2014 National Championship:

Dallas Tour Member Jeff Blackwood of Dallas, TX finished four rounds with a  two stoke victory over 150+ players in the Hogan Flight .  Blackwood progressed each day, with his best two rounds coming at arguably the two hardest tracks of the event at the Grayhawk facility.   Firing a +4 - 76, the low round of the day on the final round, Blackwood came from nine strokes back for the victory.

Two other Texas Members, solidified a 2015 National Championship run with top five finishes.  Hill Country Tour member, Mark Miller of Spring Branch, TX jumped up the leader board on his final day to finish T3 with the help of three birdies in the Championship Flight.  Tomball, TX resident,  James Sheppeard from the Houston Tour, finished T2 for his qualification after finishing near the top of the leader board each round.

2014 Senior National Championship:

Senior Hogan Flight player Ernie Dyer from Orange, TX representing the Houston Tour, peaked at the right time.  Dyer, a winner at the 2014 San Antonio Open at LaCantera at the end of June, carded three rounds in the 70's to finish two strokes clear of the field for the Senior National Championship honors and lifetime qualification to the premier event.

Hill Country Tour member, Larry Harper, qualifying for the event with three wins on the season, shared the low round in the Senior Snead Flight in two of his four rounds to run away from the field, eight strokes clear of second place.




Al Smith, Senior Palmer Flight player from Midland, TX playing out of the Hill Country Tour, secured his 2015 National Championship spot, rebounding from a tough third round with a final round +5 - 76 to finish in the runner up spot.

NEXT UP:

2015 points season underway in the coming weeks.


The Houston Tour opens the season on Sunday, October 12th at the Cypress Open at Cypress Lakes Golf Club, registration closes on Friday, October 3rd.

Hill Country Tour action resumes at the Fall Challenge / Round Rock at the Teravista Golf Club on Sunday, October 19th with entries closing on Friday October 10th.

The Fall Classic at Dancing Rabbit in Mississippi is the first Major of the season in the South Central Region on October 25th and 26th.

November 1st marks the season start on the Dallas Tour at The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes for the Frisco Lakes Challenge, entry deadline is October 24th.. 


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