Scott R Chilcutt, Thackerville, OK (October 29, 2011) Home of the Red River Challenge, the WinStar Golf Course is part of the WinStar World Casino complex located on the Oklahoma - Texas border just one mile north of the Red River, at Exit 1 off Interstate 35 in Thackerville, OK and is owned by the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Kicking off the first points event of the 2012 season for the Dallas Tour and second event for the Oklahoma Tour the groups met in the middle for bragging rights. In the end parity across the board was the winner with Dallas and The Oklahoma Tour tying it up with 5 wins each.
Chris Manahan from Oklahoma City picked up the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Labor Finders.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Curt Howard from Sapulpa, OK took 19 tournaments and on his 25th round since winning the Redstone Spring Classic in Houston finally broke out of his self proclaimed drought but it wouldn't be easy. Under the weather, Curt would go out with a six over par 42, but would manhandle his way back to the clubhouse with four birdies and two under 34. But that wasn't the end, Tony Peppler from Southlake, TX birdied the final hole to add to his relatively clean scorecard and force a playoff. Howard prevailed on the 1st hole draining a long par putt after they were both short of the green in two. Tulsa, OK player Douglas Duke rounded out the top three with his lone birdie coming on the dogleg left, 10th hole. DFW: 0 - OK: 1.
Palmer Flight: Tim Williams from McKinney, TX didn't leave his winning ways in LaQuinta. Williams the 2011 National Champion in the Hogan flight was promoted to the Palmer ranks after his championship run at PGA West proved he was still on his game. Two birdies on his round would keep him in the running with Midland, TX player Jeremy Henson but it would take an eagle on the 18th hole to bring home the trophy by one stroke. Henson, -1 after 12 holes struggled a little on the back but would secure his best finish on tour just one back and two clear of third place finisher Lance Berland from Salina, KS. DFW: 1 - OK: 1.
Senior Palmer Flight: Hank Darcey from Oklahoma, City, OK would finish the final 9 holes with four birdies in route to a 3 over par 75 to take the top honors over Garland, TX member Kem Albritton. Albritton would stay one stroke clear of a trio tied in the third spot. Mansfield, TX Michael Fee, Jim Crawford from Tahlequah, OK and Fort Worth, TX player Sean Fenton all shot seven over par 79's to share the show position. DFW: 1 - OK: 2.
Hogan Flight: In his first tournament on the Am Tour since May 2009, Atlanta, TX member Derek Hammonds made sure everyone knew he was back. Out of the gate with a birdie on the first hole Hammonds went out in three over par and finished with an eight over 80, two strokes ahead of Zack Whitlock from Broken Arrow, OK and Flower Mound, TX member Monty Fisher. DFW: 2 - OK: 2.
Senior Hogan Flight: Edmond, OK competitor Tim Mathis won his first tournament since April, 2010 with a birdie on the 18th hole to stay clear of fellow Oklahoma player, Allan Barnett from Cheyene, OK by one stroke. Barnett playing in the Senior Hogan flight after his 2nd promotion on the tour parred the final three holes to edge out Wichita Falls, TX member Michael Hardegree rounding out the top three. DFW: 2 - OK: 3.
Sarazen Flight: Eagle on the par five - 18th hole would bring home the win for first time player Cory Womack from Denton, TX over Wichita, KS traveler Gary Schuessler by two strokes. First time with an award finish since joining the tour, Schuessler would birdie the 4th and 5th holes en route to a one stroke edge over fellow Oklahoma member, Jeffrey Banner from Lawton. DFW: 3 - OK: 3.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Stan Wilson from Jones, OK and Frisco, TX player Jamie Sansom would have to retrieve there clubs from the parking lot for extra holes. A birdie on 18 by Sansom knotted the pair up at 10 over par 82's in regulation but Wilson would record his 2nd win on tour with a par on the 1st extra hole. Newly promoted to Senior Sarazen, Ken Benjamin from Grand Prairie, TX would birdie 18 to share third place honors with Mansfield, TX member John Cox just two strokes back. DFW: 3 - OK: 4.
Jones Flight: Nick Easen from Keller, TX won his 4th event in the last 12 months over 2011 Oklahoma Player of the Year winner Jerime Parker, from Blanchard, OK and Arkansas Tour member Joe Tomandao of Rogers, AR by three strokes. Parker and Tomandao both had birdies on the back but couldn't over come Easen's 4 over par front nine. DFW: 4 - OK: 4.
Senior Jones Flight: Bob Eustice from Garland, TX shot a career low round, 7 over par 79 to win by two strokes over another career low round 81 by Oklahoma City, OK member Chris Manahan with Ron Hardy from Lewisville taking the show position. Eustice would go two over par on the first 12 holes with birdies on 12 and 18 to pick up his first win on tour. DFW: 5 - OK: 4.
Snead Flight: It would take the last Oklahoma player of the day to tie up the Red River Challenge when Yukon, OK member Rick Henthorn would pick up his 5th win on tour recording an 87. Dion Casto from Parker, TX off the tour since 2010 would finish three strokes back in 2nd place and one stroke ahead of third place finisher Arlington, TX player Don Freitag. DFW: 5 - OK: 5.
SKINS:
Championship /Palmer Flight: 2 -- Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK; Tim Williams, McKinney, TX. 1 -- Douglas Duke, Tulsa, OK; Jeremy Henson, Midland, TX.
Senior Palmer Flight: 2 -- Hank Darcey, Oklahoma City, OK; Roland Lewis, Tulsa, OK. 1 -- Michael Fee, Mansfield, TX; Jimmy Westfall, Oklahoma City, OK.
Hogan/Senior Hogan Flight: 2 -- Tim Mathis, Edmond, OK. 1 -- Zack Whitlock, Broken Arrow, OK; Ernest DeBruler, Augusta, KS.
Sarazen / Senior Sarazen Flight: 2 -- Stan Wilson, Jones, OK. 1 -- Gary Schuessler, Wichita, KS; Cory Womack, Denton, TX; Jeffrey Banner, Lawton, OK; Joseph Roy, Rockwall, TX; John Cox, Mansfield, TX.
Jones / Snead Flight: 1 -- Jerime Parker, Blanchard, OK; Ron Walker, Crescent, OK; Ron Hardy, Lewisville, TX; Don Freitag, Arlington, TX; Larry Tolson, McKinney, TX.
Next Up - Dallas Tour takes on the Open @ Texas Star on November 19th. Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Silver Horn Open on November 12th. Oklahoma Tour is off until 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event. The first Major of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at the Innisbrook Resort for the Winter Championship.
For more information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com
Visit the Tour Blogs:
Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com
Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com