The Shootout At The Highlands

Paul C. Gomez, Bella Vista, AR (May 24, 2014)

The Shootout At The Highlands

Allen Huffman

Championship Flight: (0.0-3.9) – It was a two man match for the top title between Allen Huffman of Holiday Island, AR and Sam Greenleaf of Broken Arrow, OK.  Both men would agree that the tight and tree lined Highlands course in Bella Vista, AR was the true victor. Huffman had two birdies on the back nine to shoot only two over par on that nine coming back to win.  With this victory, Huffman defends his title at the challenging venue.

Hogan Flight: (8.0-11.9) – Seven Hogan players from Arkansas, Missouri, and Texas competed from just over 6,000 yards that felt like nearly 7,000 in the wet conditions.

David Price

 At the end of what is arguably the harder and first nine holes, David Price of Pawhuska, OK was in fourth place behind by three strokes.  The field came back to him and he picked up four strokes to edge out Steve Nufer of Dodge City, KS by just two strokes.  It's Price's first victory in seven attempts in the 2014 season.

Sarazen: (12.0-15.9) – A four hour drive turned out to be no obstacle to Kerry Greer of Oklahoma City, OK.  A basic

Kerry Greer

bogey round front nine for Greer followed up by a five par and five over back nine was all he needed to keep ahead of the pack and win his first event of the 2014 season.  Greer also had the best round of the day against his handicap to win the Tournament Champion of the day.

Jones Flight: (16.0-19.9) – The largest field of the day was the combined Jones and Snead flights with eleven players.  Four players were only three strokes apart after nine holes.

Wallace Stine

 Wallace Stine of Lees Summit, MO and Steve Rutherford of Bentonville, AR were tied at 43 and started separate from the field almost immediately.  New tour member Timothy Marta of Bella Vista, AR tried to stay in it but stumbled coming in and finished in third place. Through 16 holes Stine and Rutherford played head to head and were tied.  The par 5 #17 proved to be the pivotal hole when Stine's bogey bested Rutherford by four strokes and he held on to win. 

Next on the schedule for the Arkansas Tour are The River Valley Rumble at Fianna Hills on Sunday, June 8th and The Stonebridge Standoff at Stonebridge Meadows on Saturday, June 21st!

Special thanks to the ladies of Belle Journee Spa in Rogers, AR who came out to give our players a free warm up therapy massage! Thank you Amber, Shelly and Kendall!

Bell Journee Spa

The Midwest Classic at Blackwolf Run

Paul C. Gomez, Kohler, WI (May 19, 2014)

Home of the famed Whistling Straits, Blackwolf Run River and Blackwolf Run Meadow Valleys courses, this is a golfer's paradise and perhaps one of the most scenic destinations the AM Tour visits. Home of an upcoming PGA Championship and to the previous LPGA US Open, Arkansas players came prepared for challenging conditions and courses.  They were not disappointed!

Senior Championship flight player, Bob Brooks of Bella Vista, AR started the two day event with a birdie on his first hole on the spectacular River Course and rolled along at even par for his first seven holes.  Things started looking

Bob Brooks

shaky through his 8th through 11th holes going six over par in four holes.  But just like a reigning national champion should, he buckled down and birdied the next two holes shooting five over par his first day.  Day two was the round Brooks needed to secure his victory with a round that "could have been."  Four birdies secured a round of +3 and a two day total of +8 (152) which gave him a five stroke victory!  Congratulations, Bob!
  
Two Senior Hogan players from Bella Vista, AR also made the trip to compete against other 8.0-11.9 handicappers!  Having already qualified for the 2014 National Championship tournament at Talking Stick and Grayhawk in Scottsdale, Arizona, Tom Stephens of Bella Vista could just enjoy the amazing golf!  Stephens finished tied for 11th place. Both Stephens and Ron Stratton, also of Bella Vista, played competitively in a field of 20 players. Stratton finished in 15th place in his first experience at a Major Championship.

Senior Hogan player Craig Merrill of Roland, AR battled health issues during the weekend but played with heart against other 16.0-17.9 handicappers and finished in 12th place. Also competing in Kohler was Palmer Flight player Matt McClain of Decatur, AR, who finished tied for 16th in the 4.0-7.9 handicap flight.  

The next Arkansas tour event is The Shootout at The Highlands.