Red River Shootout - WinStar

7 of 10 Flight Champions previous Major Winners

Golf Channel Am Tour Staff, Thackerville, OK (June 30,2013)  WinStar Golf Club, part of the WinStar World Casino complex located just north of the Red River in Oklahoma played host to the second Red River Shootout.  Unlike last years sweltering heat, a cool front blew in to welcome the players to an 86 degree day on Sunday.  Similar to last year the scores went low with a lack of normal strong southerly winds and great course conditions. 

32 National Championship invitations were given to the top three and ties, with 12 of those players already qualified through Major finishes this year, and of the 10 Champions crowned only three became first time Major Champions as seven became or were already multiple Major winners.  While, $1,200 was raised for David Feherty's Troops First Foundation.
  
 
 
RESULTS:
 
 

Championship Flight:   Southlake, TX member Justin Lee led from the beginning for his third win on tour and first since his promotion to the Championship Flight in 2009.  Lee started out his weekend with a one under par 71 and held on to the lead for his second Major Championship win, the first coming at the rain shortened 2009 TEXAS OPEN-REGIONAL MAJOR at Castle Hills.  First year tour member, Sean Skellenger of Dallas, TX came to the final round with an eight stroke deficit, carded six birdies on the day and finished in the runner up spot just two strokes back.  After a runner up finish at the Western Open earlier in June,  Houston Tour player Travis Nichols went even par on his final nine, with the help of three birdies,  to grab the third place finish.
 

Palmer Flight:  Craig Hart of Killeen, TX picked up his second win on tour and first Major Championship with just one stroke to spare.  Starting the final day tied in the second spot with Martin Nealey of The Woodlands, TX, Hart got his final advantage with an even par front nine, then the pair finished the back +2.  Nealy ended the weekend two strokes ahead of, Fort Hood, TX member Jake Morton.  Morton a winner at the 2013 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay led after the first day, maintained his lead on the front nine, but was relegated to third after struggling on the back nine.
 

Senior Palmer Flight:  Cypress, TX resident Traylor Sells put his foot on the gas early, firing a career low round -4 / 68, with the help of five birdies on the first day and never looked back. Sells recorded a flight low round on day two to get his seventh win on tour and second Major Championship win.  Five strokes back, Dallas Tour member Sean Fenton of Fort Worth, TX maintained his runner up finish with eight birdies on the weekend.  Robert Lippert of Copperas Cove, TX backed up his third place finish at the 2012 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay to close the door on any further National Championship qualifications.
 

Hogan Flight:  With a one stroke over night lead,  Greg Hawkins of Argyle, TX widened the gap on Sunday coming to the clubhouse with an even par 36 on his back nine for his third win on tour and second Major Championship of the year.  Hawkins a winner at both his Major starts, finished six strokes clear of Broken Arrow, OK resident Allen Sawvel.  Runner up Sawvel carded his best Major finish and solidified his National Championship qualification with another Oklahoma Tour member Brandon McCool of Edmond, OK rounding out the top three.
 

Senior Hogan Flight:    Bill Mathews of Houston, TX started his second day three strokes back, went out on his front nine in even par and finished the round knotted up with Edmond, OK first round leader, Bud Surber.  Mathews would finish off the victory on the first playoff hole for his sixth win of the year and fourth Major Championship of his career.  Surber, the 2013 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay Champion finished second with fellow Edmond, OK member Tim Mathis and Bob Hunter of Lee's Summit, MO sharing the third place finish and final National Championship qualifications.
 

Sarazen Flight:  In his 18th attempt at a Major Championship, Kirby Rogers of Muldrow, OK finally got to the top in his home state.  Rogers, who has had runner up finishes in a couple of previous majors recorded two consistent rounds to make up a first day four stroke deficit for his second win of the year.  Edmond, OK resident, Imran Siddiqi birdied five holes on opening day and ended up in the runner up spot for his best finish in a Major.  Dallas, TX native,  Caleb Brown now living in Cottonwood, AZ made the trip to punch his ticket to the National Championships, three strokes back of Siddiqi.
 

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Jones, OK resident Stan Wilson is now 2 for 3 on the season when holding and or sharing the overnight lead at a Major, but it took more than 36 holes this time.  Derek Drake of Wichita Falls, TX shared the overnight lead, got behind one stroke on the front nine, but took the lead with a birdie on the par 3 -17th.  Wilson would then birdie the final par 5 - 18th to knot it back up and force a playoff.   After two extra holes, Wilson would par the 18th, which was just enough for his third win on the year and second Major Championship.  Hill Country Tour member Gregg Smith of Austin, TX had the low flight round on the final day to get within one of the pair, setting up his fifth trip to the National Championships.
 

Jones Flight:    Nick Easen of Keller, TX was a wire to wire winner and became another multiple Major Champion of the day.  Easen, the 2011 TEXAS OPEN at Horseshoe Bay Resort Champion, held on to his five stroke, day one advantage for his second win in as many attempts. Narrowing the gap, Robert Glittenberg of Rowlett, TX matched his best runner up finish for the second spot, three strokes ahead of Coy Dayton of Buda, TX.

Senior Jones Flight:   Five strokes back and tied with five players after the Saturday round,  Tom West of Giddings, TX shot the low flight round of the weekend to jump into a sudden death playoff with first round leader, Arkansas Tour member Dennis Baxter of Bella Vista, AR.  Two playoff holes later, Baxter the 2011 The Payne Stewart Championship winner picked up his third win of the year and second Major.  Two strokes back of the pair, Tom Stockton of Euless, TX matched his third place finish at the 2013 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay to round out the top three.

Snead Flight: Larry Tolson of McKinney, TX started the final round one stroke back, fired a flight low round in the wind with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 18th to pick up his first Major Championship.  Despite taking two strokes off her first round leading score on Sunday,  Marcy Glidden of Brookshire, TX the 2013 Myrtle Beach Classic Champion, slid into second place by one stroke.  Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX and Bakersfield, CA member Don Risner shared the third place honors.                 



NEXT UP:

The Dallas Tour members will tee it up next on Monday July 8th for the Championship at TPC Craig Ranch. Entry deadline is Friday, June 28th at 11:59pm EST.

Oklahoma Tour will resume play on July 13th at the Grand Lake Showdown at Patricia Island. ENTRY DEADLINE is Friday July 5th @ 11:59pm EST.


The Hill Country Tour returns to Canyon Springs for the rescheduled Memorial Championship on Saturday, July 6th. 





Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth Tour - Hill Country Tour - Oklahoma Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.302.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com