The Stonebridge Standoff

Paul C. Gomez, Bella Vista, AR (May 23, 2015)

Wet and windy conditions made the already difficult to manage Stonebridge Meadows golf course even more demanding.  Carts on path meant a lot of walking and long approach shots.  Still, the AM Tour of Arkansas played and produced new winners!

The Hogan Flight (tour index ranging from 8.0 to 11.9) was a battle of buddies to the finish.  Marvin Light of Farmington,

Jeff Loafman
Hogan Flight Champion

AR and Jeff Loafman of Rogers, AR tied the front nine at 43. Rex Clarkson of Edmond, OK actually had the low front nine at 40.  Loafman trailed Light for most of the back nine catching up only to fall back again.  The turning point was the intimidating par 3 #17 over water.  The watery grave was unfriendly to Light while Loafman parred the hole to flip the lead and go two up over Light.  Mr. Loafman went on to win by one on the final hole and wins his first event in three tries!


The Jones Flight (tour index ranging from 16.0 to 19.9)

Brandon Walters
Jones Flight Champion

continues to have tough competition with players used to fights to the finish! Only four strokes separated 5 of the 6 competitors after 9 holes. Craig Merrill of Roland, AR and Brandon Walters of Springdale, AR started separating themselves from the field on the back nine and found themselves tied after 13 holes.  Then Walters took advantage of a couple of missteps by Merrill and added a birdie to boot to come to the 18th hole five strokes up!  Even a birdie by Merril and a triple by Walters was not enough to steal the victory.  With this victory, Walters wins his first event of 2015 after playing well enough to finish second in two prior events this year.

David Dildy
Snead Flight Champion

The Snead Flight (tour index ranging from 20.0 up) also saw three players play very closely to the end.  David Dildy, formerly of Fayetteville, AR but now living in Sulphur Springs, TX came home to play a course very familiar to him.  Not long hitting, but rarely in trouble to the left or right, Dildy plodded his way to victory by three strokes over Scott Bundrick of Little Rock, AR.  




Next on the Schedule for the Arkansas AM Tour:

• June 5: The Hot Springs Classic at Cortez in Hot Springs Village, AR. (Currently sold out, waiting list available)
• June 20: The Rivalry at Rivercut in Springfield, MO.
• July 11: The Battle at the Border in Joplin, MO at the Downstream Casino's Eagle Creek golf course (Stay and Play options)
• August 8: The Shadow Valley Showdown in Rogers, AR at Shadow Valley Country Club.
• August 22: The Fort Smith Shootout in Alma, AR at Eagle Crest golf course.