Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (August 23, 2012) With increased schedule cooperation with the Dallas Tour (wink, wink) the Oklahoma Tour finished out the season with record numbers, but that would have happened without the visitors from the south.
This year we were brazen enough to go outside the box scheduling a couple of Monday events. The Oklahoma Open at Oaktree drew a strong field of 75 players, most without access to the course on regular days. While many skeptics questioned two Monday events, it was apparent for those participants that having a golf course to ourselves made for faster play, earlier starts and an overall enhancement to the player experience with the premier golf venues.
The entry fees from the players at the 2012 events contributed to over $12,000 in gift cards along with over in $4,000 flight trophies. Over $800 in Tournament Champion Trophies were presented by Labor Finders and over $2,600 in Player of the Year Staff bags were awarded at the Tour Championship, presented by Edward Jones.
On behalf of Sara Carlin, Dave Kirby, Jerrell Neely and myself we appreciate the opportunity to organize and manage a great deal of your free time this year.
Oklahoma Tour Statistics:
- 218 Players from 10 different tours across the country competed in 11 local events with one rain out.
- 112 Oklahoma Tour members (in good standing as of today) played in at least one event and averaged 6.4 rounds on the year.
- 40 Oklahoma members played in 8 or more events during the points year.
- 20 Oklahoma players will attend the National and Senior National Championships
Edward Jones Player of the Year Award Winners:
Order of Merit points winners from each flight receive a customized Bridgestone Staff Bag presented by Edward Jones.
Championship Flight: Steve Lusk from Ponca City, OK took over the points lead when apparent POY winner, Edmond, OK player Al Swanson moved divisions to the Senior Group for the National Championships. Lusk played in five events on the year, picking up his National qualification with a second place finish at the Lake of the Ozarks Classic. Steve will take on a healthy field of 90 Championship Flight contestants at TPC Sawgrass next month.
Senior Championship Flight: Oklahoma Tour sponsor, Sapulpa, OK stalwart, Curt Howard moved to the Senior Division this year and set his sights on the Senior National Championships. Picking up two wins, 10 top fives and the automatic National qualification from the mud sloppy Lake of the Ozarks Classic,
where he finished 3rd. Unfortunately due to the scheduling of the Senior Nationals, Curt will have to bypass the event to play in his long-time family tradition, Vandersluis Memorial Golf Tournament. Good luck to Curt in Minnesota, we'll miss you in Florida.
Palmer Flight: 15 year old Ethan Smith from Oklahoma City may not be able to drive a car yet (or golf cart at many locations), but he has developed his game off the tee. Smith promoted from the Hogan Flight after his first event of the year went on to win three tournaments, and has not been outside the top two since late March. Including a National qualifying playoff loss at the Lake of the Ozarks Classic and a big win at the Tour Championship. Smith will tee it up with a record 142 other Palmers in Ponte Vedra.
Senior Palmer Flight: Jimmy Westfall an Oklahoma City, OK resident came to the final event at the Tour Championship @ River Oaks needing the win to take the top spot and pulled off in a big way. Westfall finished the year with thirteen events under his belt, three wins and eleven top fives. Jimmy will have to bypass the Senior National event this year.
Hogan Flight: Win less on tour with a limited schedule since 2009, Piedmont, OK player Jason Conner started out the year with a win in Dallas at the rain drenched Grand Prairie Classic @ Tangle Ridge to go along with his victory at the Tour Championship @ River Oaks to hold the Hogan Flight Player of the Year margin by 150 points. Conner will make his second Nationals appearance in September with his first trip to TPC Sawgrass.
Senior Hogan Flight: Checotah, OK traveler Bruce Callich plodded along in the top points positions all year. Competing in fourteen events, Callich picked up four wins, with a Major at the Texas Masters at Barton Creek and his Player of the Year sealing victory at the Tour Championship @ River Oaks. B
ruce will take a great deal of momentum heading to his second Senior National Championship in as many years.
Sarazen Flight: David Price from Pawhuska, OK fought through an injury that plagued him all summer to finish on top of the Sarazen Flight. Price, just outside of the top spot in 2011 started the new year early traveling to three fall events and sixteen for the points season. Despite his problems, consistent play led him to two wins, nine top three finishes and he wasn't outside the top five since late March. Price will have to bypass the Nationals for the second year in a row with conflicts, but anticipate him making a run at it again in 2013.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Second year tour player and Lawton, OK resident Hank Chang used four wins on the season to take the top flight honors. Chang played in eight events on the year and finished in the runner up spot the last two events of the year to edge out the tour championship winner Jones, OK member Stan Wilson by 35 points.
Jones Flight: Edmond, OK resident Imran Siddiqi amassed four wins in his first year on tour to dominate the Jones Flight points. Back to back Major third place finishes at the Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort and the Texas Masters at Barton Creek would have him finishing out the year with a promotion to the Sarazen Flight, where Siddiqi will compete at the National Championships.
Senior Jones Flight: Ron Walker held out his best for the last event with a win at the Tour Championship @ River Oaks to defend his championship at the 2011 Tour Championship @ Jimmie Austin. Walker will make his second appearance at the Senior National Championship this year heading East to the famed TPC Sawgrass facilities.
Snead Flight: First year tour player, Bartow, FL native Sammie Martin now of Elgin, OK knocked on the winners door a few times this year before finally breaking out for a win at the 111 degree Cowboy Classic - Stillwater Country Club . Martin finished the Tour Championship in the third spot to stay ahead of the flight for the Player of the Year honors.
Senior Snead Flight: Five time tour winner on the year and nine times on his tour career Rick Henthorn from Yukon, OK had a stellar year. With his first Major win at the Red River Shootout at WinStar Resort , Henthorn didn't finish out of the top five positions in 15 events on the season. After a T-13 finish at the 2011 Senior National Championship, Rick looks to keep on the winning ways when he takes to the Ponte Vedra, FL courses in early September.
Next Up: After a fall break for the Senior National Championship and National Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, FL the tour will resume play in early October on the Oklahoma Tour. Look for details on the fall schedule soon.
For More Information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (August 13, 2012) River Oaks Golf Club hit the news all over the world with what has been described as "The Greatest Round Ever Played....." when on May 12, 2012 Rhein Gibson shot a 16 under par 55. Home to the 2012 Oklahoma Tour Championship, players enjoyed the possibility of that record round with the realism that they'd have a better chance of being the next man on the moon.
The club southeast of Edmond, OK was originally built on a section of land that was home to a dairy farm. The original developer sold the club to Millennium Golf Properties in 1999 and the course underwent a makeover, redesign and rerouting of the nines. Since that time, River Oaks Golf Club and the surrounding area has had tremendous growth with the highly touted Oakdale School complex bordering to the west and upscale home sites surrounding the property.
With the course closed on Monday, players were welcomed to a full rein of the facility, with light northerly winds and temperatures that were cooler than our recent outings it was a fitting end to the 2012 points season.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: 59 year old Stephen Carroll from Lawton, OK picked up his first win on tour by one stroke over nearby University of Central Oklahoma Student, Jordan Rollins from Keller, TX. After a tough pair of holes early on, Carroll played the final sixteen holes in one under par on two mid round birdies. On a whirlwind tour of the country, from West Texas to Northern Minnesota in the past few weeks, Curt Howard from Sapulpa, OK rounded out the top three.
Palmer Flight: Ethan Smith from Oklahoma City grabbed his third of the season and second in as many attempts. The 15 year old standout shot a tournament low +2 - 73 to lead the field by two strokes over Tulsa, OK member Brook Lister. Traveling, Kansas City Tour member Lance Berland finished two strokes back of Lister for the show position finish.
Senior Palmer Flight: Not out of the top five and on a roll since his June 9th win at the Broken Arrow Open, Jimmy Westfall from Oklahoma City, OK carded his third win on the season. Westfall bookended a double on the eighth with birdies on seven and nine to finish five strokes ahead of Jim Crawford from Tahlequah, OK. One stroke back of Crawford, Roland Lewis of Tulsa finished in the third spot.
Hogan Flight: Piedmont, OK resident Jason Conner recorded his first win on the season while traveling to Dallas for a flood shortened event in February at the Grand Prairie Classic @ Tangle Ridge. Since that time he's been close, but dominated with a solid round to finish four strokes clear of Jeffrey Banner of Lawton, OK. Chickasha, OK player Gary Hayes finished in the top three for the second time in as many attempts.
Senior Hogan Flight: Bruce Callich from Checotah, OK finished with a triple seven on the last hole, but had plenty of cushion to win his fourth event of the season by two strokes over Edmond, OK member James Surber. Playing in only his second event on tour Hyon Shin from Lawton, OK knotted up the third place spot with local Edmond player Michael Hicks and Joe Bonaparte from Watts, OK.
Sarazen Flight: Local Edmond, OK resident Christian Williamson got off his front nine bogey train to record five pars in coming to the club house to snare his first win on tour by one stroke over a pair of players in the second spot. David Price from Pawhuska, OK would birdie four holes on the day to tie it up with Blanchard, OK player Jerime Parker.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Residing just east of the course, Stan Wilson from Jones, OK won his third event on the season by a one stroke margin over Hank Chang from Lawton, OK. Chang carded two birdies on the round to stay six strokes clear of long time McAlester, OK member Loyd Welch.
Jones Flight: Defending Tour Championship winner at the 2011Tour Championship @ Jimmie Austin, Ron Walker from Crescent, OK picked up his third trophy on tour and first of the season, two strokes clear of two players tied up in the second spot. K.C. Montgomery of Fairview, OK and Edmond, OK local Imran Siddiqi shot 89's to share the runner up position.
Snead Flight: 24 hours after his first hole in one, Garland, TX native Mike Camp now residing in Edmond, OK shot a career low round seven over par 78. Also defending his Tour Championship win in 2011, Camp went even par over the last eleven holes for his fifth win on tour and second of the season. Dallas Tour invader Dion Casto from Parker, TX won the fight for the runner up spot by two strokes over Elgin, OK member Sammie Martin.
SKINS:
Championship / Palmer / Senior Palmer: 3 -- Jordan Rollins, Keller, TX. 1 -- Brook Lister, Tulsa, OK; Lance Berland, Salina, KS; Travis Klein, Del City, OK.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: 2 -- Frank Schield, Norman, OK. 1 -- Jeffrey Banner, Lawton, OK; Joe Bonaparte, Watts, OK; James Surber, Edmond, OK.
Sarazen / Senior Sarazen: 4 -- David Price, Pawhuska, OK. 1 -- Jerime Parker, Blanchard, OK; Greg Preissinger, Granbury, TX.
Jones / Snead: 2 -- K.C. Montgomery, Fairview, OK. 1 -- Ron Walker, Crescent, OK; Chris Manahan, Oklahoma City, OK; Dion Casto, Parker, TX; Mike Camp, Edmond, OK; Sammie Martin, Elgin, OK.
Next Up: After a fall break for the Senior National Championship and National Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, FL the tour will resume play in October on the Oklahoma Tour. Look for details on the fall schedule soon.
For More Information:Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
Scott R Chilcutt, Stillwater, OK (July 4, 2012) Stillwater Country Club in the heart of the OSU golf world hosted the players to 111 degree weather with breezes that felt like a hair dryer. The course built in the 60's with Mark Hayes revamped, greens in the late 90's may play short, but 15 or 18 holes have water hazards or out of bounds that come into play and did they.
The par 70 layout played to an average 19.16 over par with the Palmer Flight players averaging almost 14 over par. Jerime Parker from Blanchard, OK shot a net -1 to take the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Labor Finders.
RESULTS:
Palmer Flight: Joseph Hendrix from Yukon, OK may not have played with us since the ST. Patty's Day Challenge @ KickingBird but he's been on the course. Hendrix carded three birdies on the day to pick up his fourth win on tour and first of the year by a single stroke over Broken Arrow, OK resident Allen Sawvel. Sawvel recorded a couple of birdies himself to stay two strokes ahead of Dallas Tour traveler Randy Sellers from Lewisville, TX.
Senior Palmer Flight: Two in his last two, Clayton Badger from Drumright, OK finished off the win three strokes clear of a pair tied up in the second spot. After starting out with a tough front nine, Tulsa, OK player Roland Lewis went five over par on the back nine to tie it up with Paul Stitt from Yukon, OK.
Hogan Flight: Tulsa, OK player Todd Chapman picked up his ninth win on tour and first since the August 2011 River Oaks Classic. Chapman finished four strokes clear of newly promoted John Kang from Enid, OK and Chickasha, OK member Gary Hayes tied in the second spot.
Senior Hogan Flight: After taking a quad 9 on the par five fifteenth, James (Bud) Surber birdied the final hole to win his first event on Oklahoma soil. Surber the winner at the Dallas Tour Heritage Ranch Classic closed out the triumph in the heat over second place fellow Edmond player Tim Mathis by a single stroke. Randy Sullivan from Oklahoma City rounded out the third place spot two strokes back in his third event of the year.
Sarazen Flight: The Lawton, OK pair of Hank Chang and first time player Hyon Shin needed extra holes to settle the top spot. On the first hole of the playoff, Chang drained a birdie putt to finish off his fourth win of the season. David Price from Pawhuska, OK finished just one stroke out of the playoff to round out the third spot.
Jones Flight: Imran Siddiqi from Edmond, OK commanded his fourth win on tour by eight strokes over Yukon, OK resident Gary Chrisman. Chrisman birdied the par five fifteenth hole for his best finish on the year over Dallas Tour member Douglas Pritchett from Fort Worth.
Snead Flight: Sammie Martin from Elgin, OK recorded his first win on tour with Yukon, OK member Rick Henthorn in the second spot and Hartshorne, OK player Jonathan Miller rounding out the top three.
SKINS:
Palmer / Senior Palmer: 2 -- Allen Sawvel, Broken Arrow, OK; Joseph Hendrix, Yukon, OK. 1 -- Roland Lewis, Tulsa, OK; Jimmy Westfall, Oklahoma City, OK.
Hogan /Senior Hogan: 2 -- James Surber, Edmond, OK. 1 -- Gary Hayes, Chickasha, OK; Art Wiles, Oklahoma City, OK; Rod Haddock, Siloam Springs, AR; Robert Lakey, Sayre, OK; Michael Hicks, Edmond, OK; Jeff Rader, Glenelder, KS; Randy Sullivan, Oklahoma City, OK.
Sarazen: 3 -- David Price, Pawhuska, OK. 2 -- Gary Schuessler, Wichita, KS. 1 -- Hyon Shin, Lawton, OK; Hank Chang, Lawton, OK.
Jones / Snead: 3 -- Imran Siddiqi, Edmond, OK. 1 -- Gary Chrisman, Yukon, OK; Ron Walker, Crescent, OK; Sammie Martin, Elgin, OK.
For More Information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
