Howard / Wilson Champions

Curt Howard / Stan Wilson Champions @ Missouri Valley Championship

Eight Oklahoma Tour Members Qualify for National Championships

Branson, MO (April 28, 2013)  The annual Golf Channel AM Tour April Major in Missouri returned to Branson, coined as the community that "PUTS THE SHOW IN THE SHOW ME STATE". 

With the clubhouses situated on adjoining hill tops in the Ozark Mountains just south of Branson the John Daly's Murder Rock Golf Club and the Tom Fazio designed Branson Creek Golf Club created two very different challenges.  While rain virtually washed out the practice rounds on Friday, the nearly two inches that fell during the 24 hours changed any tricks that may have been discovered during those rounds anyway.  Overcast and cool mornings, with intermittent showers on Saturday gave way to a semi dry Sunday final round.  Tour players from 17 states and Canada, representing 25 Tours competed for 11 Flight Champion awards and 37 players made their reservations for the National Championship / Senior National Championship events in LaQuinta, CA in late September.

Nearly $1,400 was raised for the  Feherty's Troop First Foundation during the 50/50 drawing.

RESULTS:

Championship Flight:   Marcus House of Olive Branch, MS became a three time Major Champion on the Am Tour in a wire to wire fashion.  After taking a five stroke advantage into the final day, House took no time to add to the lead with two birdies on the first four holes, carding a one under par on the front nine for a seven stroke win.  Rolla, MO member Jared Jordan, with three birdies on the weekend,  edged out Oklahoma Tour Member Douglas Duke of Fort Smith, AR for second place finish by a single stroke, one that came during the opening round when they matched scores on Sunday.

Palmer Flight:  After taking a ten during the first round at the par 4 - 8th hole, his 17th of the day, the disappointment was short lived for Dave Davlin of San Antonio, TX when he saw his name on top of the leader board.  Davlin took three strokes off on his second round to pick up his tenth win on tour and second Major Championship by three stokes over a pair knotted up in the second place finish.  Hard charging Oklahoma Tour Member Chad Schuchmann of Nixa, MO, T12 after round one, shot a course low 74 on day two to snuggle into a runner up tie with Louisville, KY resident Chris Jaggers.

Senior Palmer Flight:  First round leader Robert Corbello of Vidor, TX struggled early on day two to open the door for a pair of Oklahoma players, tied in the third spot overnight.  Sapulpa, OK player Curt Howard played his first twelve holes on the final day in even par to edge out Bill McConnell of Norman, OK by a single stroke.  Howard picked up his third Major Championship of his career and second on the year for his eleventh win overall.  McConnell recorded his best finish in a major two strokes ahead of Herb Reynolds from The Woodlands, TX the final player in the flight to punch his ticket to the Senior National Championship.

Hogan Flight:  Paired in the second to last pairing of the flight,  Kevin Campbell of Westminister, MD made up an eight stroke deficit after day one for his fourth Major Championship and sixth win on tour.  Campbell, a former AM Tour Director from Baltimore took six strokes off his first day total to hold on to a two stroke win over Lawton, OK runner up, Jeffrey Banner.  The trio of  Joe Deere of Catoosa, OK, New Braunfels, TX member Michael Campbell and Trevor Peck of Shiloh, IL made a fivesome for National Championship qualifications.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Stumbling on the final day after a first round lead at the Myrtle Beach Classic, Jones, OK resident Stan Wilson had to have uncomfortable thoughts taking a three stroke advantage into Sunday's round. On the contrary, the experience may have just been enough to solidify his fifth win on tour and first Major Championship holding on to those three strokes.  Olan Benge of  Wharton, TX, eight strokes back after the opening round took ten strokes off his first round score to share the second place honors with fellow Houston Tour member Roman Umali.

Jones Flight:  Jason Mueller of Wright City, MO added three strokes to his first round lead to win his second event on tour by seven strokes over Oklahoma Tour member Gary Chrisman of Yukon, OK.  Chrisman, in his fourth runner up finish on the year, finished two strokes ahead of Katy, TX traveler Kris Bixby for the final qualification to the National Championship final in LaQuinta, CA.

Senior Snead Flight:   Sri Lanka native, Nimal Gunasinghe now residing in Creve Coeur, MO grabbed his second win on tour and first Major Championship by eight strokes over Weldon Springs, MO member Steve Oien.   Oien a winner at the 2012 Lake of the Ozarks Classic and Midwest Classic at Blackwolf Run held on to his first round runner up spot over Saturday leader Rick Henthorn of Yukon, OK by nine strokes.  Henthorn qualifies for the Nationals for the second time after a T-3 at the 2013 Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay.


Next Up:  The Oklahoma Tour will resume play on May 11th at the Valley View Invitational in Farmington, AR.  REGISTRATION DEADLINE Friday May 3rd.  The Dallas Tour members will tee it up next for the Bobcat Open at Texas Star on May 19th. Hill Country Tour will be back in Kerrville for the Mr. Nelson Open at Riverhill on May 11th.  

Scott R Chilcutt

Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth Tour - Hill Country Tour - Oklahoma Tour
GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.302.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com