Dallas Players Bring Home Three Wins from the Texas Open

Scott R Chilcutt, Horseshoe Bay, TX (March 4, 2012)  Horseshoe Bay Resort, situated just west of Historic Marble Falls, TX  in the highland lakes region of the Texas Hill Country, hosted the 2012 Texas Open Major Championship for the second year.

Apple Rock and Ram Rock, two of the three Robert Trent Jones, Sr. courses on the property overlooking Lake LBJ, would not disappoint the traveling competitors in search of prizes and National Championship qualification.  Just like 2011, beautiful skies and warm south winds were on hand for the practice rounds on Friday only to change direction from the north on opening day, cooling off the players and changing strategies.  As quickly as the winds and temperatures changed for Saturday, light SW breezes and sunshine welcomed the final round.

Championship Flight:  Starting the round on Sunday two strokes behind overnight leader, Al Smith from Cabot, AR, defending Texas Open Champion Marshall Morgan knew he needed a strong start.  Morgan from Odessa, TX would need to make up ground on Smith, but also stay ahead of Jeff Boyer  from Oklahoma City starting the day just one stroke back.  Coming off the 14th green, Morgan looked to have it locked up going +1 against Al's +5 but the remaining four holes would set the stage for the first playoff of the afternoon when they both finished with 155 two day totals.  On the first playoff hole, the 58 year old Morgan successfully defended his title with the long hitting Smith picking up his best Major Championship finish while Boyer picked up the final National Championship qualification finishing third.

Palmer Flight:   Consistency would prove to be the key to the championship for Keller, TX player Guy Nickels.   Nickels, the 2010 Texas Masters at TPC San Antonio Champion has now won his last four outings with the Am Tour.  Starting the final round 8 strokes back of overnight leader Ivan Zweig from Dallas, Guy followed up his first day 81 with an 82 on the arguably tougher Ram Rock course to snatch the championship by three strokes over Zweig.  Ivan would hole out from the fairway on the 10th hole for an eagle two but couldn't control any momentum.  2012 Duel in the Desert Flight Champion, Ron Finnerty from Laredo, TX would start and finish the final round in the third spot punching his ticket for the second time this year to the Nationals.

Senior Palmer Flight:  It was traveling Phoenix, AZ player Richard Hunt's tournament to lose after firing an eight over par 79 Saturday at the tough and windblown Ram Rock course.  In the final pairing, Sean Fenton from Fort Worth along with Garland, TX player Kem Albritton were six strokes back to start the day and both mounted a charge. but in the end couldn't make up the deficit.  Albritton and Fenton finished tied for the second spot two strokes back. Hunt, the 2010 WESTERN OPEN  champion made it his second Major championship and thirteenth win on the tour.

Hogan Flight:  Brack Blackwood from Grandbury, TX completed the first half of the events "father / son" tandem championship.  Blackwood, the overnight leader, got into trouble in the middle of his round but finished the last five holes in one over par to grab the championship by 6 strokes over Roger Masek of Sugerland, TX.  Masek took seven strokes off his first round finish ahead of consistent scores from Auburn, WA player Barry Lauderbaugh.  Lauderbaugh's best finish in a major championship punched his ticket to the National Championships by two strokes over fourth spot.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Out of State travelers take the top two spots in the Senior Hogan Flight with William Wirtz from Maryland Heights, MO claiming the trophy and his best finish in a Major.  Two strokes back, overnight leader Gary Spears from Brighton, CO, had enough of a lead going into the final round to stay ahead of Maurice Mintken from Round Rock, TX and Cypress, TX player Bob Miller bettering his score from Saturday to tie for the final National Championship qualification spots.  

Sarazen  Flight:  Oklahoma Tour player Jeffrey Banner from Lawton went wire to wire for his second win on tour.  Starting on the eleventh hole at Ram Rock, Banner played steady through the early going but would run into big trouble towards the late portion of his round.  Playing along side Banner in the final pairing Derrick Matthews from Kileen, TX bounced back after a first hole disaster to put pressure on Banner, but just fell short taking the second spot over Westfield, IN traveler Jon Wendt by three strokes.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Battling back and forth the entire round, overnight leader Jamie Sansom from Frisco, TX looked to have it locked up coming to the final hole over Mark Kirby of Bridge City, TX.  A two shot swing on the last would put the pair in a playoff where Kirby maintained the momentum and captured the championship.  San Felipe, TX member Jim Craig took twelve strokes of his first day total with three birdies and landed the final National Championship qualification by a couple of strokes over the fourth spot.

Jones Flight:  Katy, TX ace Richard Kelley captured his first win on tour by a whopping 16 strokes over two players knotted in the second spot.  Scott Thompson from Helotes, TX playing in his third event on tour birdied the par four ninth hole to tie up the second spot with Keller, TX player Nick Easen.

Senior Jones Flight:  Randy Adcock from Vidor, TX knows how to win the Texas Open making it a three-peat.  Adcock the 2010 National Champion won the first major at the 2010 Texas Open MAJOR at Barton Creek  and successfully defended his championship last year at Horsehoe Bay.  Ron Hardy took thirteen strokes off his day one total with birdies on the third and seventh holes to finish in a tie for second with Bob Eustice from Garland, TX playing in his first Major Championship.

Snead Flight:  The back half of the father / son Championship, David Blackwood playing out of the Hill Country Tour finished the final round strokes ahead of Jason Crawford from Round Rock. Crawford, playing a limited schedule recorded his best finish on tour bested a pair from San Antonio, overnight leader Xavier Bardy and Carlos Cruz who shared the third and final qualification spot for the Nationals.

Senior Snead Flight:   Timothy Thayer from  Cypress, TX and Pflugerville, TX member Thomas Kerwin took it to extra holes.  Thayer finished off his Championship run picking up the trophy and first win since 2010.   It was Kerwin's best finish in a Major in six attempts.  Rounding out the top three, The Woodlands, TX player Jim Lamberth grabbed his National Championship invitation in his first major event.


Texas Open players put the "Troops First" this weekend raising over $1,600 for the Troops First Foundation.


Next Up - Hill Country Tour back in action at the End of Winter Open at the River Crossing Club on March 10, 2012.  Dallas Tour resumes play at the Classic at The Creek on March 24, 2012.   Oklahoma Tour starts off 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event. 

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

39 Dallas Tour Players Take on the Texas Open

First Major of 2012 in the Central Part of the Country

Scott R Chilcutt, Horseshoe Bay, TX (February 29, 2012)  The Golf Channel Am Tour is heading back to the scenic Horseshoe Bay Resort in the Texas Hill country for the 2012 Texas Open Major Championship. Nestled along Lake LBJ, Horseshoe Bay is one of the most picturesque venues in Texas and the event will be held at two great golf courses, Ram Rock and Apple Rock.

Dallas Tour Players competing this weekend.

Championship Flight:

Jeff Bookout - Dallas, TX

Ken Dyke - Keller, TX

Barton Harris - Fort Worth, TX

Marshall Morgan - Odessa, TX

Andrew Morsinkhoff - Rockwall, TX

Tony Peppler - Southlake, TX

John Sells - Burleson, TX

Jeff Shores - Irving, TX

Palmer Flight:

John Anderson - Lake Worth, TX Ben Burney - Amarillo, TX Jeremy Henson - Midland, TX Guy Nickels - Keller, TX Ivan Zweig - Dallas, TX Senior Palmer Flight: Kem Albritton - Garland, TX Sean Fenton - Fort Worth, TX Hogan Flight: Brack Blackwood - Granbury, TX Joe Luman - Odessa, TX Sarazen Flight: Patrick Gutridge - Hurst, TX Scott Harper - Ranger, TX Preston Miller - Fort Worth, TX George Peddy - Bedford, TX Shawn Whitaker - Lewisville, TX Senior Sarazen Flight:

Rick Allaire - Dallas, TX

John Cox - Mansfield, TX

Raul Martinez - Brownwood, TX

Jamie Sansom - Frisco, TX

Jones Flight:

Bobby Ashcraft - San Antonio, TX

Nick Easen - Keller, TX

Lale Esquivel - Southlake, TX

Brandon Litzner - Coppell, TX

Senior Jones Flight:

Erich Brehm - Sunnyvale, TX

Bob Eustice - Garland, TX

Ron Hardy - Lewisville, TX

Mike Logsdon - Wylie TX

David McCasland - Red Oak, TX

Douglas Pritchett - Ft Worth, TX

Burnie Rodgers - Haslet, TX

Paul Vessels - Mesquite, TX Senior Snead Flight: Doyle Fleming - Haslet, TX Next Up - Hill Country Tour back in action at the End of Winter Open at the River Crossing Club on March 10, 2012.  Dallas Tour resumes play at the Classic at The Creek on March 24, 2012.   Oklahoma Tour starts off 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  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

Web Feet at Tangle Ridge - Grand Prairie Classic

Scott R Chilcutt, Grand Prairie, TX (February 18, 2012) Friday practice rounds started a little soggy but the skies gave way to sunshine and light winds.  The Tournament Committee scrambled to notify players of a delayed start time with overnight and early morning thunder in the forecast after the course obliged us with the change in schedule.


125 players signed in for the event, 37 more than the opener of 2011 to drizzle and wet conditions.  Saturday's forecasters were one for three, no thunder and .5" for the day were off, but they did get the rain correct.  Cart paths only kept the field walking on water and helped the pace crawl through the first 3 hours and then came the hard rain.  The course became unplayable with puddles on the greens and the event was cut short with all players finishing at least nine holes.


In an adjusted final score, Jason Conner from Piedmont, OK took home the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Labor Finders.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  2011 Player of the Year, Andrew Morsinkhoff from Rockwall, TX picked up his third win on tour over newcomer Dallas, TX member Joseph Tedesco by a single stroke.  Another newcomer, Andrew Braun from Trophy Club stuck in the round just one shot back with Cleburne, TX player Chad Johnson rounding out the fourth spot.

Palmer Flight:  Guy Nickels from Keller, TX won his 6th event on tour over Dallas, TX member Clay Johnston with John Anderson from Lake Worth, TX rounding out the top three.

Senior Palmer Flight: Local Grand Prairie, TX member Daniel Esqueda won his first time on tour.  Rick Froebe from Plano, TX and Lorena, TX first timer Bill Olson tied for the 2nd spot.  Mark Greene from Austin rounded out the top four.

Hogan Flight:  Traveling Oklahoma member, Jason Conner from Peidmont, OK edged out Van Alstyne, TX member Chris Murray by a stroke.  Cameron Kirkpatrick from Dallas finished in the third spot by himself with Ethan Smith from Oklahoma City and Stillwater, OK Ryan Cummings sharing the fourth spot.

Senior Hogan Flight:  New tour member from Trophy Club, TX, Jalil DaneshFar paced the field with Todd Landrum from Coppell, TX.  Four players shared the third place honors, Paul Burleson from Argyle, TX, Robert Felix from Irving, TX, Mansfield, TX member Gregory Stairs and  Bud Surber from Edmond, OK.

Sarazen Flight: Darrin Howard from Longview, TX picked up his first win as a Sarazen player after his promotion at the end of 2011. Michael Esquivel from Austin, TX finished one stroke back in the second spot, one stroke ahead of Plano, TX rookie Geoff Van Ry.    Bert Beal from Plano, TX rounded out the top four.

Senior Sarazen Flight: Alto, TX player Nicky Baugh picked up his second win of the year in a scorecard playoff over Jerrell Neely from Richland Hills, TX.  Kaufman, TX member, Jeff Carter finished one stroke back to take the show position.  Rick Allaire from Dallas and Sanger, TX player Steve Killion tied for fourth.

Jones Flight:  Trecia Wood from Frisco, TX tied it up at the top with Killeen, TX traveler Josue Duprey.  Duprey won in the score card playoff with Keller, TX player Nick Easen rounding out the third spot.

Senior Jones Flight:  Mesquite, TX player Paul Vessels picked up his first win on tour over Ray Torrez from Irving, TX.  Mike Logsdon from Tulsa, OK along with Ron Hardy from Lewisville, TX and Burnie Rodgers from Haslet, TX tied in the third spot.





Snead Flight:  Juan-Paz Pena from Plano, TX, another first time winner on tour held off Bolaji Harris from Richardson, TX finishing in the second spot with Haslet, TX player Doyle Fleming taking the third spot in his first outing.

SKINS:


Championship:  2 -- Andrew Morsinkhoff, Rockwall, TX.  1 -- Andrew Braun, Trophy Club, TX; Chad Johnson, Cleburne, TX.


Palmer/Senior Palmer:  1 -- Guy Nickels, Keller, TX; Mark Greene, Austin, Tx.


Hogan/Senior Hogan:  1 -- Roger Davis, Frisco, TX; Tim Mathis, Edmond, OK; Derek Hammonds, Atlanta, TX; Jorge Rodriguez, Round Rock, TX.


Sarazen/Senior Sarazen:  1 -- Nicky Baugh, Alto, TX; Brenton Fillers, Brownwood, TX; Nancy Geihl, Grand Prairie, TX.


Jones/Senior Jones:  2 -- Mike Logsdon, Wylie TX.  1 -- Thomas Rauch, Arlington, TX; Ray Torrez, Irving, TX.


Snead: 1 -- Bolaji Harris, Richardson, TX; Rick Henthorn, Yukon, OK.


Next Up - Hill Country Tour back in action at the End of Winter Open at the River Crossing Club on March 10, 2012.  Dallas Tour resumes play at the Classic at The Creek on March 24, 2012.   Oklahoma Tour starts off 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  The first Major in the Central Region of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at Horseshoe Bay for the Texas Open.  

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

Dallas Member Shines in Sin City

Scott R Chilcutt, Las Vegas, NV (February 5, 2012)  The Golf Channel Amateur Tour finished the 9^th annual Duel in the Desert golf tournament on Saturday.  The first time it has been held in Las Vegas,  Saturday's round was contested under beautiful skies and light winds after starting out the event in what seemed to be hurricane force winds.  2-person teams competed on the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort’s three courses (Wolf, Sun Mountain, Snow Mountain) with three different formats of 2-person scramble, best-ball, and modified alternate shot.

Flight Five Champions:  Dallas tour member, Jeremy Henson from Midland, TX paired up with his father Jerry Henson to take the Flight Five championship by ten strokes.  The team had the low rounds on the first day and final day to finish eleven strokes over par.






Next Up - Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Kerrville Championship at The Club @ Comanche Trace on February 11, 2012.  Dallas Tour resumes play at the Grand Prairie Classic on February 18, 2012.   Oklahoma Tour is off until 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  The first Major in the Central Region of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at Horseshoe Bay for the Texas Open.  

For more information:


Scott R Chilcutt
Tour DirectorDallas / 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

Know the Rules - Equipment

Scott R Chilcutt, Kerrville, TX (January 27, 2012)  While the eyes of golf are on the PGA Merchandise Show this week in Orlando we thought it would be appropriate to follow up our "KNOW the RULES" segments with "Equipment" and clothing.  We won't be getting into conforming clubs but simply some of the USGA rules we follow and some areas where the Am Tour may make exceptions.

LIMITATIONS OF GOLF BALL:   The one ball rule is not in effect with most AM Tour events unless otherwise stated on the Notice to Contestants, however a player must complete the hole playing the same type of ball.

Note Rule 16-1b, the Rule that allows the player to lift his ball from the putting green, does not permit the player to substitute another ball; this precludes the player from substituting a “putting ball.”

MAXIMUM 14 CLUBS: Rule 4-4 -  The player must not start a stipulated round with more than fourteen clubs. He is limited to the clubs thus selected for that round, except that if he started with fewer than fourteen clubs, he may add any number, provided his total number does not exceed fourteen.

Repacing (damage / broken) or adding clubs (if you've started with under 14 clubs) can only be done during the round if this process does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7), and (3) none of the clubs  have been selected for play by any other person playing on the course.  In other words, you cannot borrow another players golf club as a replacement / addition.

Please note that training and/or weighted clubs are considered one of the 14 club maximum.

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICE:  Rule 14-3 - USGA conforming DMD's are allowed at all local, Major and National Tournaments on the Am Tour.  Cell phones may also be used as DMD's providing it's USGA conforming as well.

Features that would include, SLOPE, WINDSPEED and DIRECTION along with climate-based information such as TEMPATURE, HUMIDITY, etc.. render the device non conforming.

Such non-conforming features render use of the device contrary to the Rules, irrepective of whether or not the features can be swithced off or disenganged.

With PDA's there must be no other features or applications installed on the device that, if used, would be in breach of the Rules, whether or not they are actually used.

DRESS CODE:  While some golf courses may have further requirements, the Am Tour will strictly enforce a tournament dress code with no exceptions. Collared shirts/mock turtle necks are required, and no jeans, denims, jogging outfits, or sweat pants are permitted.

As always if you have questions, comments or need further assitance please let us know!

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

Know the Rules - 2012 Rule Changes

Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (January 20, 2012)  As we look forward to our kick off events of 2012 we wanted to make sure everyone is aware of the changes the USGA and the R&A have made to the rules of golf.  Following a four-year review of golf's 34 playing Rules, nine principal rules have been amended.   Two of the significant changes that can effect each of you:
  

Ball Moving After Address (Rule 18-2b). A new exception is added which exonerates the player from penalty if their ball moves after it has been addressed when it is known or virtually certain that they did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it is a gust of wind that moves the ball after it has been addressed, there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position.

Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions (Rule 13-4). Exception 2 to this Rule is amended to permit a player to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from that hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 (improving lie, area of intended stance or swing or line of play) is not breached.

For more detail see the following pages at the USGA website -

Principal Changes To The Rules Of Golf

New Decisions

Revised Decisions

Next Up - Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Kerrville Championship at The Club @ Comanche Trace on February 11, 2012.  Dallas Tour resumes play at the Grand Prairie Classic on February 18, 2012.   Oklahoma Tour is off until 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  The first Major in the Central Region of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at Horseshoe Bay for the Texas Open.  

For more information:


Scott R Chilcutt
Tour DirectorDallas / 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

Provisional Ball - Part II

Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (December 1, 2012)  Now you have elected to play a provisional ball, what's next?

First be sure you are not playing out of turn:

10-3. Provisional Ball or Another Ball from Teeing Ground

If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball from the teeing ground, he must do so after his opponent or fellow-competitor has made his first stroke. If more than one player elects to play a provisional ball or is required to play another ball from the teeing ground, the original order of play must be retained. If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball out of turn, Rule 10-1c Rule 10-2c applies.

If you are not on the teeing ground this doesn't come into play.  Simply make sure that's it's safe to play your additional ball and go for it!

Second be sure to make it aware that you are electing to play a provisional. 

Simply saying, "I might be in the junk" doesn't work.  If you don't make the fact that you are playing a provisional ball aware to your marker / playing partners you are now putting that ball in play.

Third identify the difference in balls / markings.

While this is not a requirement it may save you strokes in the long run:

27/11  Provisional Ball Not Distinguishable from Original Ball

A player entitled to play a provisional ball from the tee plays it into the same area as his original ball. The balls have identical markings and the player cannot distinguish between them. Following are various situations and the solutions, which are based on equity (Rule 1-4), when the above circumstances exist and one or both of the balls are found within a search of five minutes:

Situation 1: One ball is found in a water hazard and the other ball is not found.

Solution 1: The ball that was found must be presumed to be the provisional ball.

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Situation 2:Both balls are found in a water hazard.

Solution 2: As the player's original ball is lost in the water hazard due to his inability to identify it (see analogous Decision 27/10), the player must proceed under Rule 26-1 with respect to the original ball (estimating the spot where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, if necessary — see Decision 26-1/17); his next stroke would be his third.

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Situation 3: One ball is found in bounds and the other ball is lost or is found out of bounds.

Solution 3: The ball in bounds must be presumed to be the provisional ball.

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Situation 4: Both balls are found in bounds, whether in a playable or an unplayable lie, and (1) one ball is in a water hazard and the other is not or (2) both balls lie through the green or in a bunker.

Solution 4: One could argue that both balls are lost. However, it would be inequitable to require the player to return to the tee, playing 5, when the player has found both balls but does not know which is the original and which the provisional. Accordingly, the player must select one of the balls, treat it as his provisional ball and abandon the other.  

Part III will speak to what happens when you find your original ball.



Next Up - Dallas Tour resumes play at the Grand Prairie Classic on February 18, 2012.  Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Winter Classic at Hyatt Hill Country on December 3rd.  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 DirectorDallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com