Schedule Additions Contribute to Record Year - Oklahoma Tour Year in Review

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.  Bruce 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