Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (March 22, 2014) The Oklahoma Tour has opened the season to the 2014 calendar year as it has since 2010 at KickingBird Golf Club in Edmond, OK. This year with favorable scheduling availability, we tried it a week later, hoping for a change to the chilly north winds of years past. No such luck, low to mid 50's with a moderate overcast sky made the northerly cold to the bone. But playing golf, unlike a great deal of the country, allowed for not much sympathy from our friends to the north.
Local, Edmond resident Christian Williamson took advantage of the shortened tees for his flight, shooting a career low round to capture his first Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Carlisle's Engraving.
RESULTS:
Championship Flight: First year member, Jared Taylor a local from Edmond, OK birdied the par 5 -9th and par 4 -10th to go with a lone bogey on the day to shoot a one under par 69. Taylor, a runner up in his only other AM Tour start on the Dallas Tour, finished four strokes clear of Sapulpa, OK member Curt Howard. Howard, even par on the front with the help of a birdie on the par 3 -6th, came to the clubhouse +3 for a six stroke advantage over James Fowler of Checotah, OK rounding out the top three.
Palmer Flight: Back on tour after taking 2013 and most of 2012 off, Mel Yates of Texhoma, OK recorded his first win since the 2011 Tour Championship @ Jimmie Austin. Two strokes back, Edmond local Steve Steele, playing as a guest, relinquished his prize fund awards and points to Jimmy Westfall of Oklahoma City. Sharing the third place points were the pair of , Richard Cordis and John Montazzoli both of Edmond, OK.
Hogan Flight: Jeffrey Banner of Lawton, OK birdied the par 5 - 15th to back up his 2013 win at KickingBird and fourth on tour. Three strokes back, John Kang of Enid, OK and Pawhuska, OK member David Price matched front and back nine scores, with Price carding birdies on the par 4 - 1st and par 3 -16th to split the runner up honors.
Senior Hogan Flight: The Edmond, OK pair of Bud Surber and Tim Mathis swapped the 2012 and 2013 finishes at KickingBird where Mathis finished on top, but this time, Surber recorded his fifth win on tour. Art Green of Edmond, OK playing along as a guest matched Mathis in the second place finish, with Hank Chang of Lawton taking the third place points.
Sarazen Flight: Local knowledge continued the trend in the winners circle, when Christian Williamson of Edmond, OK birdied the par 3 - 3rd and par 5 - 15th to command an eight stroke advantage for his third win on tour. Coming off his win on the Dallas Tour for the St Patty's Day Challenge @ Lantana, Scott Ingerson of Mustang, OK finished in the second spot with Jerime Parker of Blanchard, OK rounding out the top three with three birdies of his own.
Senior Sarazen Flight: Bill Clark of Edmond, OK, Jones, OK member Stan Wilson and first time player Roger Pappan finished regulation play knotted up in the first place position. On the first hole of the playoff, Clark a recent transplant to Oklahoma from San Antonio, TX, lost his drive to the trees on the right side, had to play out to the seventh hole fairway, where he would hole out for birdie from 140 yards for his seventh win on tour and first since the 2011 Austin/San Antonio Tour Championship. Jones and Pappan split the second and third place points.
Jones Flight: Defending 2013 KickingBird Challenge Champion, Ron Walker of Crescent, OK repeated on the Edmond course. Walker birdied the par 5 - 9th and par 3 -14 with the help of the closest to the pin award for his seventh win on tour and third at KickingBird. Dallas Tour traveler Lloyd C Reid Jr and Oklahoma City, OK player Chris Manahan shared the runner up honors.
Snead Flight: Springdale, AR member, Brandon Walters recorded his second win on tour in as many attempts after a rerouting weekend due to a change in the Arkansas Tour schedule. Rick Henthorn of Yukon, OK finished second with Tulsa, OK player William Hughes rounding out the top three.
SKINS:
Giant Skins: 2 -- Ronnie Draper, Oklahoma City, OK. 1 -- Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK; Jared Taylor, Edmond, OK; Stanley Emerson, Topeka, KS; Roger Pappan, Ponca City, OK; Ron Walker, Crescent, OK.
Championship / Palmer: 2 -- Ronnie Draper, Oklahoma City, OK; Steve Steele, Edmond, OK; Jared Taylor, Edmond, OK. 1 -- Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK.
Hogan / Senior Hogan: 1 -- Frank Schield, Norman, OK; Jeffrey Banner, Lawton, OK.
Sarazen / Senior Sarazen: 3 -- Jerime Parker, Blanchard, OK. 1 -- Stanley Emerson, Topeka, KS; Christian Williamson, Edmond, OK; Roger Pappan, Ponca City, OK; Ambrose (Tony) Solano, Aurora, CO.
Jones / Snead: 3 -- Ron Walker, Crescent, OK. 2 -- Mike Camp, Edmond, OK; Brandon Walters, Springdale, AR. 1 -- Gary Chrisman, Yukon, OK.
#3: Kerry Greer #6: Loyd Reid - #11: Stan Emerson - #14: Ron Walker
NEXT UP:
The Oklahoma Tour makes it swing to the Tulsa area for the Forest Ridge Classic in Broken Arrow, OK on April 19th. Entry deadline for that event is Friday April 11th. One week later the Oklahoma and Dallas Tour combine for the Border War at Rock Creek Resort. This event will sell out quickly because of a limited field, so be sure to get on the list.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Hill Country / Oklahoma Tours
405.513.1467
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
