Warm Before the Storm - Pecan Valley Open

Scott R Chilcutt, Fort Worth, TX (April 12, 2014)  Am Tour players made a visit to southwest Fort Worth for the Pecan Valley Open on Saturday of the Masters.  The Clear Fork of the Trinity River meanders through Pecan Valley, located below the dam of Benbrook Lake.  While the river itself doesn't come into play, a couple of the runoff areas make the 10th and 18th holes very challenging. 

Winds gusting to 30+ MPH made for some tough holes into the wind, it also created down wind problems keeping balls on the greens, but warm temperatures were a pleasant surprise to the 2014 schedule. 

Mark Taylor, edged out Preston Miller for the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving in the score card playoff.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Rockwall, TX member Andrew Morsinkhoff went out +1 on the front nine with the help of an eagle on the par 5 - 7th.  With only a few hiccups on the back, Morsinkhoff added a birdie at the par 4 - 14th to pick up his fourth win on tour and first since the 2012 Grand Prairie Classic @ Tangle Ridge. One stroke back,  Greg Polledri of Southlake, TX settled for the runner up finish after making a charge with a one under par back nine, but couldn't make up for a tough start.  Dallas, TX member Tony Peppler added another third place finish to his T3 National Championship qualification at the Pinehurst Amateur Championship just two strokes off the lead.

Palmer Flight:  First year player Michael King of Fort Worth, TX birdied the par 3 - 3rd en route to a six stroke advantage for the win in his first attempt.  Coming off his win at the March 29th Classic @ The Creek - Indian Creek Golf Club, Lewisville, TX member Clay Johnston got into trouble on four holes of a relatively clean scorecard for the runner up finish with Mark Anderson of Plano, TX rounding out the top three with a couple of birdies on the day.

Senior Palmer Flight:  With three runner up finishes on five outings for the points season, including the Bayou Classic at Lake Charles Major his last time out,  Mark Taylor of Lewisville, TX finally broke through to the winners circle for his third victory on tour.  Taylor's birdies on the par 4 -4th and par 5 - 7th helped to clear the flight by eleven strokes.  David Alan Wood of North Richland Hills, TX and Keller, TX player Nic Linde shared the runner up honors.

Hogan Flight:  Granbury, TX,  first time player, Dave Hanson put together a pair of 40's to pick up the championship in his first attempt.  One stroke back, Caleb Brown of Dallas, TX put together his best finish of the year with the help of a birdie on the par 5 - 7th hole.  Mequite, TX resident, Gabriel Brisco finished four strokes shy of the win for the third place awards.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Phillip Holt of Haslet, TX book ended his front nine with birdies on the par 4 - 1st and par 4 - 9th to fly by the field for his second win on tour and the points season.   Seven strokes back, James Galbraith of Prosper, TX birdied his final hole, the par 5 - 18th to snare a piece of the second place finish with Edmond, OK traveler Bud Surber.

Sarazen Flight:  Residing just over the hills from Pecan Valley, Preston Miller of Fort Worth is now a three time winner on tour.  Picking up his first win on tour at the 2014 points season Fall Championship @ Champions Circle, adding one at the Grand Prairie Classic - TangleRidge, Miller birdied his final hole for the Championship. Falling two strokes short, George Peddy of Bedford, TX matched Miller on the front nine with birdies at the par 3 - 6th and par 4 - 9th, but ran into trouble on the final hole to record his third runner up finish in as many attempts.  Stephenville, TX first year member,  Tony Lyon rounded out the top three for his best finish on tour.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Gerald McElvy of Southlake, TX became a first time winner on tour.  McElvy led the field on his front nine play and it was just enough for the one stroke victory over a pair knotted in the runner up spot.  Burnie Rodgers of Haslet, TX parred the long, par 5 - 18th to jump into a tie with Hideaway, TX player Ray Blackshear.

Jones Flight:   Jon Neff of Frisco, TX made the turn with a two stroke lead over Garrett Tidman of Little Elm, TX.  Tidman went to the tough par 4 - 10th and finished with a birdie 3 to get back the lead, but the pair would finish the final nine tied up for the Championship.  Heading back to the 10th for sudden death, Tidman took those birdie memories with him, picking up his seventh win on tour and first of the year. Neff's finish was his best since moving to the Dallas Tour. Luis Dayer of North Richland Hills, TX, with an eagle on the par 5 - 7th rounded out the top three.

Snead Flight:  Doyle Fleming of Haslet, TX put another notch in his gun for the fifth win of the season.   Arlington, TX first year member, Sandye Conner kept it within one at the turn, but left another on the back for her best finish on tour. Another Arlington, TX member, Don Freitag struggled on the final four holes, but still put together the third place finish, three strokes out of the lead. 






SKINS:

Giant SKINS:  2 -- Randy Free, Prosper, TX. 1 -- Andrew Morsinkhoff, Rockwall, TX; Mark Anderson, Plano, TX; Myles Gallemore, Irving, TX; Bob Moreau, Rockwall, TX; Nick Easen, Keller, TX; George Peddy, Bedford, TX.

Championship:  2 -- Jeremy Frenzel, Fort Worth, TX; Randy Free, Prosper, TX. 1 -- Andrew Braun, Trophy Club, TX; Jeff Shores, Irving, TX; Andrew Morsinkhoff, Rockwall, TX.

Palmer / Senior Palmer:  3 -- Mark Anderson, Plano, TX. 1 -- Chris Hamilton, Burleson, TX; Myles Gallemore, Irving, TX; David Alan Wood, North Richland Hills,  TX; Nic Linde, Keller TX.

Hogan:  1 -- Mike Davis, Carrollton, TX; Jason Shuffield, Frisco, TX; Scott Harper, Ranger, TX.

Senior Hogan:  2 -- Michael Starks, Cleburne, TX; James Galbraith, Prorper, TX. 1 -- Phillip Holt, Haslet, TX; B.V. Bailey, Plano, TX; Stephen Lamb, Garland, TX; Bob Moreau, Rockwall, TX; Denver Roden, Irving, TX.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  2 -- George Peddy, Bedford, TX. 1 -- Barry Vigoda, Frisco, Texas; Nick Easen, Keller, TX; Preston Miller, Fort Worth, TX; Gerald McElvy, Southlake, TX; Mike Frenzel, Arlington, TX; Dale McFarland, Crowley, TX.

Jones / Snead:  1 -- Jon Neff, Frisco, TX; Garrett Tidman, Little Elm, TX; Douglas Pritchett, Ft Worth, TX; Stan Harper, Lake Leon, TX; Thomas Rauch, Arlington, TX.




NEXT UP:

The Dallas Tour tees it up again for the sold out, Border War at Rock Creek Resort  on April 26th before a break in action for The Sooner State Showdown Major on May 3rd and 4th.

The Hill Country Tour schedule has a stop at one of Austins premier spots, River Place Country Club for The Challenge @ River Place on Sunday, April 27th.  Registration closes Friday, April 18th.




FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com