Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (March 17, 2012) Unseasonably warm temperatures during the week brought out the green in the fairways and blooms on the trees in Edmond, OK welcoming St. Patty's day to the season opener. Temp's in the mid 70's were welcome, but the straight and often gusty winds of 30+ mph out of the south made for challenging conditions.
With confidence that the excellent maintenance staff will provide consistent off season play, KickingBird Golf Club hosts the Oklahoma Golf Channel Am Tour season opener for the third year in a row. KickingBird, the oldest golf course in Edmond, built in 1971 and redesigned by touring professional Mark Hayes in 1997 was host to the Oklahoma Open from 1979 - 1985. Winners included PGA Tour players Danny Edwards (1979), Dr. Gil Morgan (1981), Doug Tewell (1982) and Bob Tway (1985).
81 players (Oklahoma Tour record) made the call with 9 flight champion trophies and over $2,000 in gift cards at stake for those that could stay steady in the conditions. Hank Darcey from Oklahoma City edged out Tim Mathis and John Kang for the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Labor Finders.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: Norman, OK's Pat Proctor went two over on the front nine, started the back with a birdie on the tenth and held on to win in his first event on tour. One stroke back, Jeff Case, also from Norman and Lawton, OK tour player Stephen Carroll tied for the second place points in their inaugural event. Surrounded by first timers, traveling Dallas Tour member, Chad Johnson from Cleburne, TX edged to within 45 points of the top spot in Dallas merit points.
Palmer Flight: Heading to the 17th tee, 27 year old Curtis O'Rorke was one shot back of Kansas City Tour member, Lance Berland from Salina, KS. O'Rorke took care of his part with par's on the final two holes and got some help from Berland when he went double and bogey to finish two strokes back. 2011 Points Champion, Allen Sawvel from Broken Arrow, OK and Del City, OK member Travis Klein finished T3 two strokes out of the runner up spot.
Senior Palmer Flight: Low round of the day was a Birdie barrage that Hank Darcey from Oklahoma City put together. Wind obviously didn't bother Darcey, with five birdies, three bogie's and a lone double where he finished even par, eleven strokes better than Jimmy Westfall also from Oklahoma City. Tahlequah, OK traveler, Jim Crawford rounded out the third place points when David Shear, a guest, finished in the third spot.
Hogan Flight: Joining the tour just before the 2011 Tour Championship @ Jimmie Austin, Texas Pandhandle resident, Mitch Day from Perryton, TX picked up the win in his second try, though not without humility. Day sponsored guest, Grant Skinner from Oklahoma City who actually bested his ten over par 80. Skinner wasn't eligible for the prize fund / points, but still offered up his winnings. Chris Blankenship from Stigler, OK finished two strokes back with Broken Arrow, OK member Zack Whitlock and Jason Conner Piedmont, OK tied for third place points.
Senior Hogan Flight: Early leader in the club house Bud Surber from Edmond, OK thought he might have his first win on tour with on course scoring displaying through the 14th hole. But Surber's buddy, Tim Mathis had different thoughts. Mathis, also from Edmond, finished 15 through 18 even par with a birdie on the 17th hole to pick up his second win of the points season and fifth on tour. Bud finished in his tour best second spot, four strokes ahead of Cheyenne, OK member, Allan Barnett and Ronald Haddock from Siloam Springs, AR.
Sarazen Flight: With no top five's in ten starts, Enid, OK member John Kang must have been working on his game in the off season. Kang recorded a birdie on the 6th hole and finished 3 over par on the back to win his first event by four strokes over Van Buren, AR player Jay Williams and Dallas tour player Brenton Fillers from Brownwood, TX. Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay champion, Jeffrey Banner from Lawton, OK finished one stroke back in fourth.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Hank Chang from Lawton, OK picked up his first win on tour, seven strokes clear of local Edmond, OK player Tom Collinsworth. Chang started out hot going four over par through fourteen holes when he got into trouble on the final four holes, but had plenty of room to grab the win. First time player Casey Beasley from Yukon, OK and Arkansas Tour traveler, Michael Petersen from Ozark, AR finished tied for the third spot.
Jones Flight: McAlester, OK long time member, Loyd Welch picked up the win in a score card playoff over Jerime Parker of Blanchard, OK when darkness deemed the course unplayable for a sudden death playoff. Welch and Parker both shot 85's one stroke clear of Dallas Tour player Burnie Rodgers from Haslet, TX. K.C. Montgomery from Fairview, OK and Crescent, OK member Ron Walker finished two strokes back tied for fourth.
Snead Flight: Yukon, OK member Rick Henthorn grabbed his sixth win on tour and second of the points season with a sixteen over 86, three strokes ahead of newcomer, Shawn Depew from Broken Arrow, OK. Depew finished +3 over the final six holes to stay ahead of fellow Broken Arrow member Nick Silk.
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE (Sponsored by KickingBird Golf Club): $65 Gift Cards each; # 3 Tom Collinsworth; #6 Jason Conner; #11 John Kang; #14 KC Montgomery; #16 Pat Proctor.
SKINS:
Championship /Palmer: 2 -- Chad Johnson, Cleburne, TX. 1 -- Jeff Case, Norman, OK; Pat Proctor, Norman, OK; Brook Lister, Tulsa, OK; Curtis O'Rorke, Shawnee, OK; Marven Goodman, Guthrie, OK.
Senior Palmer / Hogan: 5 -- Hank Darcey, Oklahoma City, OK. 2 -- Chris Blankenship, Stigler, OK. 1 -- Jimmy Westfall, Oklahoma City, OK; Mitch Day, Perryton, TX.
Senior Hogan: 2 -- Tim Mathis, Edmond, OK; Art Wiles, Oklahoma City, OK. 1 -- Bud Surber, Edmond, OK; Kirby Rogers, Muldrow, OK; Bruce Callich, Checotah, OK.
Sarazen / Senior Sarazen: 2 -- John Kang, Enid, OK. 1 -- Clinton Betchan, Guthrie, OK; Jay Williams, Van Buren, AR; Tom Collinsworth, Edmond, OK.
Jones / Snead: 1 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Ron Walker, Crescent, OK; Nick Silk, Broken Arrow, OK; Shawn Depew, Broken Arrow, OK.
Next Up - Oklahoma Tour resumes play at the Forest Ridge Classic in Broken Arrow on Saturday, March 31st. Registration closes on Friday March 23rd.
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
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.
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.
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
