Hard Rock Open - Cherokee Hills

Scott R Chilcutt, Catoosa, OK (April 28, 2012)  Cherokee Hills Golf Club, opened the tee boxes in 1924, designed by Perry Maxwell and orignally called Indian Hills Golf Club.  When the Cherokee Nation purchased the course with plans to build a casino and hotel complex they hired Tripp Davis to modify the layout.  Tweaking a few holes, rerouting some others, while trying to keep the original feel of the Maxwell design, Davis created a challenge like not many others.

Winds laid down from the 40mph gusts on Friday but whipped up enough to bring into play the native areas and many hazards around the layout.  Rod Haddock from Siloam Springs, AR picked up the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Labor Finders by one stroke over a trio of players that had winning days in their prospective flights.

RESULTS:

Palmer Flight:   Travis Klein from Del City, OK may have battled the three putts all day long but, commanded a seven stroke win, his first since the 2011 The Open @ Rose Creek.  Broken Arrow, OK member Allen Sawvel picked up the second spot by a stroke over Jim Crawford from Tahlequah, OK.

Hogan Flight:  Rod Haddock from Siloam Springs, AR had three birdies on the day in route to his second win on tour.  Tahlequah, OK player Mike Johnson finished six strokes back and three strokes clear of third place finisher Jeffrey Banner from Lawton, OK.

Sarazen Flight:  In his 2nd flight promotion on tour, Blanchard, OK resident Jerime Parker picked up his first win as a Sarazen two strokes clear of Christian Williamson from Edmond, OK.  David Price from Pawhuska, OK rounded out the top six strokes back.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Hank Chang from Lawton, OK picked up his second win in as many starts.  Tahlequah, OK traveler Christian Abels edged out Stan Wilson by a stroke for the second place finish.

Jones Flight:  McAlester, OK long time member Loyd Welch lapped the field for his third win on the year by 15 strokes.  Coming off his win at the Forest Ridge Classic in March, K.C. Montgomery from Fairview, OK grabbed the second spot by a stroke over Chris Manahan from Oklahoma City.

Snead Flight:  Off the tour since 2009, Bellflower, CA native now residing in Lawton, OK Kevin Amos recorded his first win over Vicki Lynch from Fort Smith, AR.  Lynch making her debut on the tour finished ahead of the pair knotted up in the third spot,  Rick Henthorn from Yukon, OK and Fort Smith's Chris Smith.



SKINS:

Palmer:  2 -- Travis Klein, Del City, OK. 1 -- Curtis O'Rorke, Shawnee, OK.

Hogan:  3 -- Ronald Haddock, Siloam Springs, AR. 2 -- Mike Johnson, Tahlequah, OK.  1 -- Bud Surber, Edmond, OK; Zack Whitlock, Broken Arrow, OK.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  3 -- Hank Chang, Lawton, OK. 2 -- Casey Beasley, Yukon, Ok. 1 -- David Price, Pawhuska, OK; Jerrell Neely, Richland Hills, TX; Christian Abels, Tahlequah, OK.

Jones / Snead:  1 -- Chris Manahan, Oklahoma City, OK; Loyd Welch, McAlester, OK; Kevin Amos, Lawton, OK; Chris Smith, Fort Smith, AR.

Next Up:  The Oklahoma Tour matches with the Arkansas Tour for The Cherry Springs Challenge on May 12th.  Dallas Tour takes on the Bear Creek Golf Club for the Casper Challenge at Bear Creek on May 12th.   Hill Country Tour is back in action this weekend at the Championship at Falconhead.

For More Information:

Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas - Hill Country - Oklahoma Tour
405.51.31467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com