Oklahoma Tour Opens in the Tulsa Area - Forest Ridge Classic Recap

Scott R Chilcutt, Broken Arrow, OK (March 31, 2012) Forest Ridge Golf Course, the home of our season openers in the Tulsa area for the past three years has seen some changes during that period.  In 2010 the area had a great deal of winter kill from abnormally low temperatures, 2011 the course made some subtle, but substantial changes during the previous fall.  2012 brought with it new USGA course slope and ratings from the previous year changes. While those paper changes didn't affect play from 2011 to 2012 it did point out the fall of 2010 changes were more substantive than what meets the eye.  Average ratings were up almost a full stroke and the slope was up as much as 10 points for the Gold Tees.


The club had to delay some previous greens maintenance and closed down the course on Monday to aerify the greens, but with great growing conditions, medium (pencil sized) holes and fine sand those greens were back to great conditions in the five days.  Beautiful skies, light winds and warm temperatures welcomed players from around the state and Kansas to Broken Arrow.


Like many players, Fairview, OK member KC Montgomery had never stepped on the golf course before the round Saturday, but unlike most decided to seek some help.  Recruiting fellow tour member and Tulsa resident, Roland Lewis for a day of caddy work proved to be key in his low round, winning his flight and picking up the Tournament Champion, presented by Labor Finders, Trophy.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Two for two for Norman, OK member Pat Proctor.  Proctor the winner of the ST. Patty's Day Challenge @ KickingBird went one over par on the front, stumbled on 10 and 11, but finished with birdies on the 16th and 18th holes to fire a 77.  Two strokes back, Stephen Carroll from Lawton, OK recorded a consecutive runner up spot playing the final 11 holes even par.  Recently relocated to the Fort Smith, AR area from Tulsa, Douglas Duke rounded out the top three. 

Palmer Flight:  In only his second event after being promoted from the Hogan Flight, 15 year old Ethan Smith from Oklahoma City held on to a roller coaster for the win.  After taking a nine on the par four fourth hole, Smith carded four birdies to finish the back nine in three over par to win by one stroke over local Broken Arrow first time player Jason Goombi.  With birdies on the 16th and 17th holes, Curtis O'Rorke from Shawnee, OK tied it up with Goombi, but fell to the third spot after Jason birdied the final hole.   

Hogan Flight:  Stigler, OK player Chris Blankenship picked up his second win on the season, five strokes clear of Zack Whitlock from Broken Arrow, OK.  After a rough start, Blankenship recorded three birdies on his round to finish with an 82.  One over par on the front 9, Ernest DeBruler from Wichita, KS couldn't keep the momentum coming to the club house and finished in the third spot.      

Senior Hogan Flight:  Recently transferred to the Arkansas Tour former Oklahoma member,  Kirby Rogers from Muldrow, OK birdied the final hole to take it to extra holes with Edmond, OK member Bud Surber.  Surber would fall in the playoff to Rogers for his second straight runner up finish.  Michael Hicks also from Edmond finished in the runner up spot one stroke clear of Checotah, OK player Bruce Callich.

Sarazen Flight:  Knocking on the winners door many times over the last year, Pawhuska, OK member David Price finished two strokes clear of Gary Schuessler from Wichita, KS.  Price had a few hicups on the round but always backed up a bad hole with a par to pick up his first win on tour.  Jones, OK player Stan Wilson rounded out the top three.  

Jones Flight:  With Roland Lewis on the bag, K.C. Montgomery from Fairview, OK picked up his first win since April, 2011 at the Emerald Falls Championship by one stroke over Blanchard, OK resident Jerime Parker.  Parker kept it close all day and the pair was tied going to the 18th tee where Montgomery would finish with a Birdie - 4 for the win.  Traveling member Tony Solano from Aurora, CO played the final four holes one under par to finish in the show position.

Snead Flight:  Broken Arrow, OK local Shawn Depew grabbed his first win on tour by two strokes over Mike Camp from Edmond, OK.  After trouble on the par four 17th, Depew bounced back with a final hole birdie to solidify the win. Nick Silk, also from Broken Arrow, finished four strokes back from Camp to pick up his second consecutive 3rd place finish.









SKINS:


Championship: 2 -- Jeff Boyer, Oklahoma City, OK. 1 -- Stephen Carroll, Lawton, OK; Pat Proctor, Norman, OK; Curt Howard, Sapulpa, OK.


Palmer:  4 -- Curtis O'Rorke, Shawnee, OK. 3 -- Jason Goombi, Broken Arrow, OK. 1 -- Allen Sawvel, Broken Arrow, OK.


Hogan:  5 -- Chris Blankenship, Stigler, OK.  4 -- Ernest DeBruler, Augusta, KS.  2 -- Greg Rader, Owasso, OK.  1 -- Gary Hayes, Chickasha, OK; Zack Whitlock, Broken Arrow, OK.


Senior Hogan:  2 -- Kirby Rogers, Muldrow, OK.  1 -- Michael Hicks, Edmond, OK; Art Wiles, Oklahoma City, OK; Bud Surber, Edmond, OK.


Sarazen:  3 -- Gary Schuessler, Wichita, KS.  2 -- David Price, Pawhuska, OK.


Jones / Snead:  2 -- K.C. Montgomery, Fairview, OK. 1 -- Ron Walker, Crescent, OK.


Next Up - Oklahoma Tour visits the Cherokee Hills Golf Club for the Hard Rock Open on April 28th. Dallas Tour is at The Golf Club at Frisco Lakes for the Frisco Lakes Challenge on April 7th.  Hill Country is back in action at the Onion Creek Golf Club on April 15th for The Legends of Golf Classic.  

For more information:

Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Wind Blown on St. Patty's Day - KickingBird Recap

Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (March 17, 2012)  Unseasonably warm temperatures during the week brought out the green in the fairways and blooms on the trees in Edmond, OK welcoming St. Patty's day to the season opener.  Temp's in the mid 70's were welcome, but the straight and often gusty winds of 30+ mph out of the south made for challenging conditions.

With confidence that the excellent maintenance staff will provide consistent off season play, KickingBird Golf Club hosts the Oklahoma Golf Channel Am Tour season opener for the third year in a row.  KickingBird, the oldest golf course in Edmond, built in 1971 and redesigned by touring professional Mark Hayes in 1997 was host to the Oklahoma Open from 1979 - 1985.  Winners included PGA Tour players Danny Edwards (1979), Dr. Gil Morgan (1981), Doug Tewell (1982) and Bob Tway (1985).

81 players (Oklahoma Tour record) made the call with 9 flight champion trophies and over $2,000 in gift cards at stake for those that could stay steady in the conditions.  Hank Darcey from Oklahoma City edged out Tim Mathis and John Kang for the Tournament Champion Trophy, presented by Labor Finders.


RESULTS:

Championship Flight:  Norman, OK's Pat Proctor went two over on the front nine, started the back with a birdie on the tenth and held on to win in his first event on tour.  One stroke back, Jeff Case, also from Norman and Lawton, OK tour player Stephen Carroll tied for the second place points in their inaugural event.  Surrounded by first timers, traveling Dallas Tour member, Chad Johnson from Cleburne, TX edged to within 45 points of the top spot in Dallas merit points.

Palmer Flight:  Heading to the 17th tee, 27 year old Curtis O'Rorke was one shot back of Kansas City Tour member, Lance Berland from Salina, KS.  O'Rorke took care of his part with par's on the final two holes and got some help from Berland when he went double and bogey to finish two strokes back.  2011 Points Champion, Allen Sawvel from Broken Arrow, OK and Del City, OK member Travis Klein finished T3 two strokes out of the runner up spot.

Senior Palmer Flight:  Low round of the day was a Birdie barrage that Hank Darcey from Oklahoma City put together.  Wind obviously didn't bother Darcey, with five birdies, three bogie's and a lone double where he finished even par, eleven strokes better than Jimmy Westfall also from Oklahoma City.  Tahlequah, OK traveler, Jim Crawford rounded out the third place points when David Shear, a guest, finished in the third spot. 

Hogan Flight:  Joining the tour just before the 2011 Tour Championship @ Jimmie Austin, Texas Pandhandle resident, Mitch Day from Perryton, TX picked up the win in his second try, though not without humility.  Day sponsored guest, Grant Skinner from Oklahoma City who actually bested his ten over par 80.  Skinner wasn't eligible for the prize fund / points, but still offered up his winnings.  Chris Blankenship from Stigler, OK finished two strokes back with Broken Arrow, OK member Zack Whitlock and Jason Conner Piedmont, OK tied for third place points.

Senior Hogan Flight:  Early leader in the club house Bud Surber from Edmond, OK thought he might have his first win on tour with on course scoring displaying through the 14th hole.  But Surber's buddy, Tim Mathis had different thoughts.  Mathis, also from Edmond, finished 15 through 18 even par with a birdie on the 17th hole to pick up his second win of the points season and fifth on tour.  Bud finished in his tour best second spot, four strokes ahead of Cheyenne, OK member, Allan Barnett and Ronald Haddock from Siloam Springs, AR.

Sarazen Flight:  With no top five's in ten starts, Enid, OK member John Kang must have been working on his game in the off season.  Kang recorded a birdie on the 6th hole and finished 3 over par on the back to win his first event by four strokes over Van Buren, AR player Jay Williams and Dallas tour player Brenton Fillers from Brownwood, TX.   Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay  champion, Jeffrey Banner from Lawton, OK finished one stroke back in fourth.

Senior Sarazen Flight:  Hank Chang from Lawton, OK picked up his first win on tour, seven strokes clear of local Edmond, OK player Tom Collinsworth.  Chang started out hot going four over par through fourteen holes when he got into trouble on the final four holes, but had plenty of room to grab the win.  First time player Casey Beasley from Yukon, OK and Arkansas Tour traveler, Michael Petersen from Ozark, AR finished tied for the third spot.

Jones Flight:  McAlester, OK long time member, Loyd Welch picked up the win in a score card playoff over Jerime Parker of Blanchard, OK when darkness deemed the course unplayable for a sudden death playoff.  Welch and Parker both shot 85's one stroke clear of Dallas Tour player Burnie Rodgers from Haslet, TX.  K.C. Montgomery from Fairview, OK and Crescent, OK member Ron Walker finished two strokes back tied for fourth.      

Snead Flight:  Yukon, OK member Rick Henthorn grabbed his sixth win on tour and second of the points season with a sixteen over 86, three strokes ahead of newcomer, Shawn Depew from Broken Arrow, OK.  Depew finished +3 over the final six holes to stay ahead of fellow Broken Arrow member Nick Silk.



CLOSEST TO THE HOLE (Sponsored by KickingBird Golf Club): $65 Gift Cards each; # 3 Tom Collinsworth; #6 Jason Conner; #11 John Kang; #14 KC Montgomery; #16 Pat Proctor. 

SKINS:

Championship /Palmer:  2 -- Chad Johnson, Cleburne, TX.  1 -- Jeff Case, Norman, OK; Pat Proctor, Norman, OK; Brook Lister, Tulsa, OK; Curtis O'Rorke, Shawnee, OK; Marven Goodman, Guthrie, OK.

Senior Palmer / Hogan:  5 -- Hank Darcey, Oklahoma City, OK.  2 -- Chris Blankenship, Stigler, OK.  1 -- Jimmy Westfall, Oklahoma City, OK; Mitch Day, Perryton, TX.

Senior Hogan:  2 -- Tim Mathis, Edmond, OK; Art Wiles, Oklahoma City, OK. 1 -- Bud Surber, Edmond, OK; Kirby Rogers, Muldrow, OK; Bruce Callich, Checotah, OK.

Sarazen / Senior Sarazen:  2 -- John Kang, Enid, OK.  1 -- Clinton Betchan, Guthrie, OK; Jay Williams, Van Buren, AR; Tom Collinsworth, Edmond, OK.

Jones / Snead:  1 -- Burnie Rodgers, Haslet, TX; Ron Walker, Crescent, OK; Nick Silk, Broken Arrow, OK; Shawn Depew, Broken Arrow, OK.



Next Up - Oklahoma Tour resumes play at the Forest Ridge Classic in Broken Arrow on Saturday,  March 31st.  Registration closes on Friday March 23rd. 

For more information:

Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Banner Wins Texas Open

Scott R Chilcutt, Horseshoe Bay, TX (March 4, 2012)  Horseshoe Bay Resort, situated just west of Historic Marble Falls, TX  in the highland lakes region of the Texas Hill Country, hosted the 2012 Texas Open Major Championship for the second year.

Apple Rock and Ram Rock, two of the three Robert Trent Jones, Sr. courses on the property overlooking Lake LBJ, would not disappoint the traveling competitors in search of prizes and National Championship qualification.  Just like 2011, beautiful skies and warm south winds were on hand for the practice rounds on Friday only to change direction from the north on opening day, cooling off the players and changing strategies.  As quickly as the winds and temperatures changed for Saturday, light SW breezes and sunshine welcomed the final round.

Sarazen  Flight:  Oklahoma Tour player Jeffrey Banner from Lawton went wire to wire for his second win on tour.  Starting on the eleventh hole at Ram Rock, Banner played steady through the early going but would run into big trouble towards the late portion of his round.  Playing along side Banner in the final pairing Derrick Matthews from Kileen, TX bounced back after a first hole disaster to put pressure on Banner, but just fell short taking the second spot over Westfield, IN traveler Jon Wendt by three strokes.



Next Up - Hill Country Tour back in action at the End of Winter Open at the River Crossing Club on March 10, 2012.  Dallas Tour resumes play at the Classic at The Creek on March 24, 2012.   Oklahoma Tour starts off 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event. 

For more information:

Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

14 Oklahoma Tour Players Take on the Texas Open

First Major of 2012 in the Central Part of the Country

Scott R Chilcutt, Horseshoe Bay, TX (February 29, 2012)  The Golf Channel Am Tour is heading back to the scenic Horseshoe Bay Resort in the Texas Hill country for the 2012 Texas Open Major Championship. Nestled along Lake LBJ, Horseshoe Bay is one of the most picturesque venues in Texas and the event will be held at two great golf courses, Ram Rock and Apple Rock.

Oklahoma Tour Players competing this weekend.

Championship Flight:

Jeff Boyer - Oklahoma City, OK

Douglas Duke - Ft. Smith, AR

Curt Howard - Sapulpa, OK

Al Swanson - Edmond, OK

Palmer Flight:

Gary Hayes - Chickasha, OK Senior Palmer Flight:  Clayton Badger - Drumright, OK Mel Yates - Texhoma, TX Hogan Flight:  Chris Blankenship - Stigler, OK Senior Hogan Flight:  Robert Lakey - Sayre, OK Bud Surber - Edmond, OK Sarazen Flight:  Jeffrey Banner - Lawton, OK Senior Sarazen Flight:  Stan Wilson - Jones, OK Jones Flight: Chris Manahan - Oklahoma City, OK Senior Snead Flight:  Rick Henthorn - Yukon, OK

Next Up - Hill Country Tour back in action at the End of Winter Open at the River Crossing Club on March 10, 2012.  Dallas Tour resumes play at the Classic at The Creek on March 24, 2012.   Oklahoma Tour starts off 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event. 

For more information:

Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com -

Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com

Know the Rules - Equipment

Scott R Chilcutt, Kerrville, TX (January 27, 2012)  While the eyes of golf are on the PGA Merchandise Show this week in Orlando we thought it would be appropriate to follow up our "KNOW the RULES" segments with "Equipment" and clothing.  We won't be getting into conforming clubs but simply some of the USGA rules we follow and some areas where the Am Tour may make exceptions.

LIMITATIONS OF GOLF BALL:   The one ball rule is not in effect with most AM Tour events unless otherwise stated on the Notice to Contestants, however a player must complete the hole playing the same type of ball.

Note Rule 16-1b, the Rule that allows the player to lift his ball from the putting green, does not permit the player to substitute another ball; this precludes the player from substituting a “putting ball.”

MAXIMUM 14 CLUBS: Rule 4-4 -  The player must not start a stipulated round with more than fourteen clubs. He is limited to the clubs thus selected for that round, except that if he started with fewer than fourteen clubs, he may add any number, provided his total number does not exceed fourteen.

Repacing (damage / broken) or adding clubs (if you've started with under 14 clubs) can only be done during the round if this process does not unduly delay play (Rule 6-7), and (3) none of the clubs  have been selected for play by any other person playing on the course.  In other words, you cannot borrow another players golf club as a replacement / addition.

Please note that training and/or weighted clubs are considered one of the 14 club maximum.

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICE:  Rule 14-3 - USGA conforming DMD's are allowed at all local, Major and National Tournaments on the Am Tour.  Cell phones may also be used as DMD's providing it's USGA conforming as well.

Features that would include, SLOPE, WINDSPEED and DIRECTION along with climate-based information such as TEMPATURE, HUMIDITY, etc.. render the device non conforming.

Such non-conforming features render use of the device contrary to the Rules, irrepective of whether or not the features can be swithced off or disenganged.

With PDA's there must be no other features or applications installed on the device that, if used, would be in breach of the Rules, whether or not they are actually used.

DRESS CODE:  While some golf courses may have further requirements, the Am Tour will strictly enforce a tournament dress code with no exceptions. Collared shirts/mock turtle necks are required, and no jeans, denims, jogging outfits, or sweat pants are permitted.

As always if you have questions, comments or need further assitance please let us know!

For more information:
Scott R Chilcutt
Tour Director
Dallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com

Know the Rules - 2012 Rule Changes

Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (January 20, 2012)  As we look forward to our kick off events of 2012 we wanted to make sure everyone is aware of the changes the USGA and the R&A have made to the rules of golf.  Following a four-year review of golf's 34 playing Rules, nine principal rules have been amended.   Two of the significant changes that can effect each of you:
  

Ball Moving After Address (Rule 18-2b). A new exception is added which exonerates the player from penalty if their ball moves after it has been addressed when it is known or virtually certain that they did not cause the ball to move. For example, if it is a gust of wind that moves the ball after it has been addressed, there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position.

Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions (Rule 13-4). Exception 2 to this Rule is amended to permit a player to smooth sand or soil in a hazard at any time, including before playing from that hazard, provided it is for the sole purpose of caring for the course and Rule 13-2 (improving lie, area of intended stance or swing or line of play) is not breached.

For more detail see the following pages at the USGA website -

Principal Changes To The Rules Of Golf

New Decisions

Revised Decisions

Next Up - Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Kerrville Championship at The Club @ Comanche Trace on February 11, 2012.  Dallas Tour resumes play at the Grand Prairie Classic on February 18, 2012.   Oklahoma Tour is off until 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  The first Major in the Central Region of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at Horseshoe Bay for the Texas Open.  

For more information:


Scott R Chilcutt
Tour DirectorDallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478
schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com

Provisional Ball - Part II

Scott R Chilcutt, Edmond, OK (December 1, 2012)  Now you have elected to play a provisional ball, what's next?

First be sure you are not playing out of turn:

10-3. Provisional Ball or Another Ball from Teeing Ground

If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball from the teeing ground, he must do so after his opponent or fellow-competitor has made his first stroke. If more than one player elects to play a provisional ball or is required to play another ball from the teeing ground, the original order of play must be retained. If a player plays a provisional ball or another ball out of turn, Rule 10-1c Rule 10-2c applies.

If you are not on the teeing ground this doesn't come into play.  Simply make sure that's it's safe to play your additional ball and go for it!

Second be sure to make it aware that you are electing to play a provisional. 

Simply saying, "I might be in the junk" doesn't work.  If you don't make the fact that you are playing a provisional ball aware to your marker / playing partners you are now putting that ball in play.

Third identify the difference in balls / markings.

While this is not a requirement it may save you strokes in the long run:

27/11  Provisional Ball Not Distinguishable from Original Ball

A player entitled to play a provisional ball from the tee plays it into the same area as his original ball. The balls have identical markings and the player cannot distinguish between them. Following are various situations and the solutions, which are based on equity (Rule 1-4), when the above circumstances exist and one or both of the balls are found within a search of five minutes:

Situation 1: One ball is found in a water hazard and the other ball is not found.

Solution 1: The ball that was found must be presumed to be the provisional ball.

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Situation 2:Both balls are found in a water hazard.

Solution 2: As the player's original ball is lost in the water hazard due to his inability to identify it (see analogous Decision 27/10), the player must proceed under Rule 26-1 with respect to the original ball (estimating the spot where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, if necessary — see Decision 26-1/17); his next stroke would be his third.

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Situation 3: One ball is found in bounds and the other ball is lost or is found out of bounds.

Solution 3: The ball in bounds must be presumed to be the provisional ball.

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Situation 4: Both balls are found in bounds, whether in a playable or an unplayable lie, and (1) one ball is in a water hazard and the other is not or (2) both balls lie through the green or in a bunker.

Solution 4: One could argue that both balls are lost. However, it would be inequitable to require the player to return to the tee, playing 5, when the player has found both balls but does not know which is the original and which the provisional. Accordingly, the player must select one of the balls, treat it as his provisional ball and abandon the other.  

Part III will speak to what happens when you find your original ball.



Next Up - Dallas Tour resumes play at the Grand Prairie Classic on February 18, 2012.  Hill Country Tour tees it up at the Winter Classic at Hyatt Hill Country on December 3rd.  Oklahoma Tour is off until 2012 at the ST. Patty's Day @ KickingBird event.  The first Major of the 2012 points year (another sell out) will be held at the Innisbrook Resort for the Winter Championship.  

For more information:


Scott R Chilcutt
Tour DirectorDallas / Fort Worth - Hill Country - Oklahoma
Golf Channel Amateur Tour
405.513.1467 - 972.201.9478schilcutt@gcamtour.com
www.gcamtour.com

Visit the Tour Blogs:

Dallas - gcatdallas.blogspot.com - Hill Country - gcatsanantonio.blogspot.com

Oklahoma - gcatoklahoma.blogspot.com