Home of "The Greatest Round Ever Played...." Oklahoma Tour Championship

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