Oklahoma Tour Opens in the Tulsa Area - Forest Ridge Classic Recap

Scott R Chilcutt, Broken Arrow, OK (March 31, 2012) Forest Ridge Golf Course, the home of our season openers in the Tulsa area for the past three years has seen some changes during that period.  In 2010 the area had a great deal of winter kill from abnormally low temperatures, 2011 the course made some subtle, but substantial changes during the previous fall.  2012 brought with it new USGA course slope and ratings from the previous year changes. While those paper changes didn't affect play from 2011 to 2012 it did point out the fall of 2010 changes were more substantive than what meets the eye.  Average ratings were up almost a full stroke and the slope was up as much as 10 points for the Gold Tees.


The club had to delay some previous greens maintenance and closed down the course on Monday to aerify the greens, but with great growing conditions, medium (pencil sized) holes and fine sand those greens were back to great conditions in the five days.  Beautiful skies, light winds and warm temperatures welcomed players from around the state and Kansas to Broken Arrow.


Like many players, Fairview, OK member KC Montgomery had never stepped on the golf course before the round Saturday, but unlike most decided to seek some help.  Recruiting fellow tour member and Tulsa resident, Roland Lewis for a day of caddy work proved to be key in his low round, winning his flight and picking up the Tournament Champion, presented by Labor Finders, Trophy.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Two for two for Norman, OK member Pat Proctor.  Proctor the winner of the ST. Patty's Day Challenge @ KickingBird went one over par on the front, stumbled on 10 and 11, but finished with birdies on the 16th and 18th holes to fire a 77.  Two strokes back, Stephen Carroll from Lawton, OK recorded a consecutive runner up spot playing the final 11 holes even par.  Recently relocated to the Fort Smith, AR area from Tulsa, Douglas Duke rounded out the top three. 

Palmer Flight:  In only his second event after being promoted from the Hogan Flight, 15 year old Ethan Smith from Oklahoma City held on to a roller coaster for the win.  After taking a nine on the par four fourth hole, Smith carded four birdies to finish the back nine in three over par to win by one stroke over local Broken Arrow first time player Jason Goombi.  With birdies on the 16th and 17th holes, Curtis O'Rorke from Shawnee, OK tied it up with Goombi, but fell to the third spot after Jason birdied the final hole.   

Hogan Flight:  Stigler, OK player Chris Blankenship picked up his second win on the season, five strokes clear of Zack Whitlock from Broken Arrow, OK.  After a rough start, Blankenship recorded three birdies on his round to finish with an 82.  One over par on the front 9, Ernest DeBruler from Wichita, KS couldn't keep the momentum coming to the club house and finished in the third spot.      

Senior Hogan Flight:  Recently transferred to the Arkansas Tour former Oklahoma member,  Kirby Rogers from Muldrow, OK birdied the final hole to take it to extra holes with Edmond, OK member Bud Surber.  Surber would fall in the playoff to Rogers for his second straight runner up finish.  Michael Hicks also from Edmond finished in the runner up spot one stroke clear of Checotah, OK player Bruce Callich.

Sarazen Flight:  Knocking on the winners door many times over the last year, Pawhuska, OK member David Price finished two strokes clear of Gary Schuessler from Wichita, KS.  Price had a few hicups on the round but always backed up a bad hole with a par to pick up his first win on tour.  Jones, OK player Stan Wilson rounded out the top three.  

Jones Flight:  With Roland Lewis on the bag, K.C. Montgomery from Fairview, OK picked up his first win since April, 2011 at the Emerald Falls Championship by one stroke over Blanchard, OK resident Jerime Parker.  Parker kept it close all day and the pair was tied going to the 18th tee where Montgomery would finish with a Birdie - 4 for the win.  Traveling member Tony Solano from Aurora, CO played the final four holes one under par to finish in the show position.

Snead Flight:  Broken Arrow, OK local Shawn Depew grabbed his first win on tour by two strokes over Mike Camp from Edmond, OK.  After trouble on the par four 17th, Depew bounced back with a final hole birdie to solidify the win. Nick Silk, also from Broken Arrow, finished four strokes back from Camp to pick up his second consecutive 3rd place finish.









SKINS:


Championship: 2 -- Jeff Boyer, Oklahoma City, OK. 1 -- Stephen Carroll, Lawton, OK; Pat Proctor, Norman, OK; Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK.


Palmer:  4 -- Curtis O'Rorke, Shawnee, OK. 3 -- Jason Goombi, Broken Arrow, OK. 1 -- Allen Sawvel, Broken Arrow, OK.


Hogan:  5 -- Chris Blankenship, Stigler, OK.  4 -- Ernest DeBruler, Augusta, KS.  2 -- Greg Rader, Owasso, OK.  1 -- Gary Hayes, Chickasha, OK; Zack Whitlock, Broken Arrow, OK.


Senior Hogan:  2 -- Kirby Rogers, Muldrow, OK.  1 -- Michael Hicks, Edmond, OK; Art Wiles, Oklahoma City, OK; Bud Surber, Edmond, OK.


Sarazen:  3 -- Gary Schuessler, Wichita, KS.  2 -- David Price, Pawhuska, OK.


Jones / Snead:  2 -- K.C. Montgomery, Fairview, OK. 1 -- Ron Walker, Crescent, OK.


Next Up - Oklahoma Tour visits the Cherokee Hills Golf Club for the Hard Rock Open on April 28th. Dallas Tour is at The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes for the Frisco Lakes Challenge on April 7th.  Hill Country is back in action at the Onion Creek Golf Club on April 15th for The Legends of Golf Classic.  

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