Texas Open Round 1

Round 1 of the Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay got under way today in a brisk northerly wind that kept players guessing all day. 

Three players from the Arkansas Tour made their way down to test their skills on these challenging hill country golf courses.  Championship Flight player Al Smith played the difficult Ram Rock course.  He fought through a triple bogey and a double bogey and came back with a hole out for an eagle and followed that with a birdie!  Al leads the Championship Flight by two strokes with a 75.  Good luck tomorrow Al.

On the Apple Rock course, Jay Williams (Sarazen Flight) of Van Buren AR and Kirby Rogers (Hogan Flight) of Muldrow, OK struggled against the elements and hope to make a come back on Ram Rock on Sunday!  Good luck guys!

Be sure to check back tomorrow to see how our guys do!

Results: Winter Challenge at Chamberlyne Country Club

Down to the wire!  Once again, multiple contests come down to the last hole or two.

Paul C. Gomez, Danville, AR(December 3, 2011)  What looked like an iffy and sloshy kind of day, turned into an early Christmas present for golfers who love to play competitive golf!  Golfers from Tulsa, OK to Cabot, AR and from Bella Vista, AR to Mena, AR came to compete at the Chamberlyne Country Club. 

Flight Winners:

 

Chuck Rummel

Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9) – Talk about coming back...Chuck Rummel of Hatfield, AR overcame a disastrous second hole and after being eight over after five holes played the final thirteen holes one under par to overtake Wayne Baldwin of Russellville, AR by one stroke.  Going into the final hole, Rummel needed to birdie and Baldwin needed to par to tie at 79.  Rummel birdied and Baldwin bogeyed giving Rummel the victory.

Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – With one hole left

Richard Ainsworth

to play, Richard Ainsworth of Maumelle, AR was two strokes down to John Hamilton of Hot Springs Village, AR.  Every stat but one was in Hamilton's favor up to number 18 - more pars, less bogeys, and less doubles.  But the last hole was one stat Hamilton didn't want - the dreaded "other."  Ainsworth bogeyed the last hole to take the victory by two strokes.
 

Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) - After 15 holes, the Sarazen title could have gone to any of the top 5 finishers - all being tied or close to 74.  Tenacity belonged to Dale Stringer of Russellville, AR who went one over for the last three holes and shot an 88 to edge out Mike Lewis of Mena, AR and Daniel Freeman of Russellville, AR.  Stringer made the only eagle of the day which gave him the edge he needed to hold on to the victory.

Sam Reeves

Snead Flight (20.0 +) –  One strokewas all it would take to produce a Snead winner on Saturday as well.  Tied going into the last hole, Sam Reeves of Bentonville, AR and Jeanette Potter of Bella Vista, AR were staring at a playoff.  Both had played close all day with each having only one disastrous hole.  Reeves would finish with a bogey to shoot 104 and edge Potter out by one stroke on her first event as an AM Tour player.  Congratulations Mr. Reeves!

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For a complete list of results and pictures visit our GCAT Facebook Page  or go to the results site  or go to our Picasa web site .

For more information about the GCAT of Arkansas:
Paul C. Gomez
Arkansas Director, Golf Channel AM Tour
917-553-3814
pgomez@GCAmTour.com

Results: The Payne Stewart Classic

Paul C. Gomez, Branson, MO (November 12, 2011)  Fall golf was at it's best at one of the best fall venues of mid-South America - Branson Missouri's Payne Stewart Golf Course.  The Arkansas tour hosted players from five states on a blustery cloud covered day that tested golfers of all skill levels.

Flight Winners:

Mike Dryer

Championship Flight (0-3.9) – Defending champion Mike Dryer of Bella Vista, AR hit a lot of good iron shots and kept it in play all day to hold on to his title and win the Championship Flight.  After 15 holes, Dryer and Al Smith of Cabot, AR were tied but the last three holes proved to be the difference and Dryer held off Smith's charge.  Don Karl of Lees Summit, MO placed third.  

Wayne Baldwin

Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9) – Wayne Baldwin of Russellville, AR credited tenacity and 'making a few putts' with his victory in the Palmer Flight.  Certainly being a member of the course didn't hurt either.  John Todd of Wright City, MO finished strong by parring the final 3 holes to finish in second place by one stroke over Henry Maxeiner of Bethalto, IL.

Mike Quesenberry

Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – After 9 holes, the Hogan field was close not separated by more than four strokes.  The back nine proved to be the difference maker as Mike Quesenberry of Wentzville, MO kept it together to shoot an 82 and win the flight.  Quesenberry said the key was being able to keep the ball down out of the wind and hit a lot of fairways.  William Wirtz of Maryland Heights, MO parred the last hole to edge out Ronald Polillo of O'Fallon, IL by one stroke and take second alone.  

Craig Merrill

Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) -  Craig Merrill of Roland, AR said he wanted revenge on Payne Stewart from a prior performance - and got it by 'not trying anything cute.'  Among the five Sarazens playing, the only significant difference between the ten 9-hole scores was Merrill's front nine.  All the other 9 hole scores among all players were only a couple of strokes apart.  Merrill distanced himself on the front 9 and the rest of the field never caught up.  Keith Vess of Dardanell, AR beat Josh Hinojosa of Rogers, AR in a scorecard playoff to take 2nd place.  

Steve Oien

Snead Flight (20.0 +) – After starting with an 8 on the first hole,  Steve Oien of Weldon Spring, MO decided to play conservatively and stay out of trouble.  His strategy worked as he came back to lead the field on the front nine by 4 and cruising to a four stroke victory over Pat Cashin, of Dora, MO.  

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For a complete list of results and pictures visit our GCAT Facebook Page, the tournament results site, or go to our Picasa web site.

For more information about the GCAT of Arkansas:

Paul C. Gomez

Arkansas Director, Golf Channel AM Tour

917-553-3814

pgomez@GCAmTour.com

Results: The Glenwood Open, Glenwood, AR

Paul C. Gomez, City, AR (October 29, 2011)  The inaugural visit of the GC AM Tour of Arkansas to the Glenwood Country Club proves a challenge for all flights!

Flight Winners:

Brian Smith

Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9) – Al Smith of Cabot, AR was the only Champ player and played with the Palmers shooting a 76. Eighty-Three (83) was the winning Palmer score by one by Brian Smith of Rogers, AR over Chuck Rummel of Hatfield, AR.  Smith's final hole bogey was enough to win him a one stroke victory after being down one going into #18.  Roy Blancaflor played as a guest local member of Glenwood Country Club.

John Hamilton

Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – Big numbers found their way across all Hogan scorecards and the contest proved to be one of endurance.  In the end, John Hamilton of Hot Springs Village, AR held on to win his first event with an 82.  After 15 holes, 3 of the four Hogans were one stroke apart, but #16 gave everyone trouble!  A par-bogey finish gave Hamilton a win over Robert Tillman, of Bentonville, AR, Richard Ainsworth of Maumelle, AR and Robert Taylor of Cabot, AR.  Keith Greenfield, local Glenwood member, played as a guest and would have won the Hogan flight shooting an 84.

Craig Merrill

Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) – A tight race among the Sarazens came down to who could avoid the "others."  Craig Merrill of Roland, AR held on to a back nine charge from Joshua Hinojosa of Rogers, AR to win with an 89.  Hinojosa couldn't overcome the rough start to the back nine.  Mike Lewis of Mena, AR was in the mix, but needed a birdie or two to catch up.  Local member Dale Adams played as a guest and shot what would have been a winning 85.

Danny Miller

Jones/Snead Flight (16.0-19.9) – Danny Miller of Mena, AR put on an impressive run of pars and posted only two double-bogeys to claim his first victory on the AM Tour after six starts.  Good shooting Danny.  Miller defeated Charles Moore of Cabot, AR who finished with a good back nine.

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Next official AM Tour event is the Payne Stewart Classic in Branson, Missouri.

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For a complete list of results and pictures visit our GCAT Facebook Page, the tournament results site, or go to our Picasa web site.

For more information about the GCAT of Arkansas:

Paul C. Gomez

Arkansas Director, Golf Channel AM Tour

917-553-3814

pgomez@GCAmTour.com

Paul's Pace of Play Pointers

I've watched hundreds of golfers play tournament golf and been driven nuts by some very bad habits which slow down play.  You don't need to play "hurry golf" to have a good pace of play.  Slow pace is usually a result of poor preparation.  A few seconds here and there add up in a hurry.  Here are some good habits to help you learn to keep a good pace of play from tee to green.  Good habits should not make you feel rushed, they should only help you feel ready!

1. TAKE A CLUB TO THE TEEBOX even when you need to check the distance. Distances devices should increase your pace, not slow you down.  Why would you walk to a tee box empty handed?
2. NO HONORS! Get ready and tee off! I say "honor the first guy to the tee."
3. KEEP UP WITH THE GROUP IN FRONT OF YOU.  Focus on keeping pace with the group in front of you. Do not be concerned with the group behind you.  "If you're not being held up, you're holding somebody up!"  Tee times are designed and scheduled so that you are a half a stroke behind the group ahead of you.  
4. PLAY READY GOLF. There is no penalty for playing out of turn in stroke play. If you are ready and your fellow players are not, make eye contact and announce your intention to hit.  I've seen guys waiting on each other for minutes, not sure who is going to hit!
5. KEEP AN EYE ON EACH OTHER’S SHOTS. Help look for lost balls AFTER you have hit your shot. If all four members are looking for the ball at the same time, the group has come to a dead, screeching halt, and you are wasting time!
6. THE CART DRIVER should drive to the first ball and drop off that player with 3 clubs (the one, one less and one more) and hit when safe and ready. (Decide then who’ll hit first).
7. THE SECOND PLAYER should immediately drive to their ball and prepare to hit when safe and ready. (Make eye contact with other players).
8. TAKE YOUR PUTTER with you if your next shot is a wedge or short iron to the green, and tell the driver to go without you. Walk!
9. KNOW WHEN IT’S YOUR TURN TO PUTT.  Somebody call out the order: “Ray, your away, Jack your next, then Gene ...” If you want to check your putt out from both sides, get a look from one side BEFORE it becomes your turn. PUTT CONTINUOUSLY when possible! Don’t mark a 2 footer.
10. NEVER RECORD SCORES AT THE GREEN. Announce your score on the green, walk to your cart, drive to the next tee box, THEN write them down. 

Hopefully these tips will make your next round of golf enjoyable and flow smoothly!

The 2012 Fall Launch at Fianna Hills

The Fall Launch!

The 2012 Season Begins

Paul C. Gomez, Ft. Smith, AR (October 9, 2011)  The Oklahoma Tour joined the Arkansas tour for the 2012 season launching event at Ft. Smith's Fianna Hills Country Club.  The wind blew and nobody avoided big numbers, so it took perseverance to fight through the winding neighborhood to produce a winner in each flight.

Flight Winners:

Douglas Duke

Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9) – It took birdies to win the Palmer flight, and not just one or two.  Douglas Duke of Tulsa, OK carded six birdies and won the Palmer flight by four strokes over Roland Lewis also of Tulsa.  After a quad, triple combination, Duke finished with three birdies and a par to secure the first victory of 2012.   

Kelly Smith

Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – A one over par front nine gave Kelly Smith of Sentinel, OK all the cushion he needed to secure the first Hogan victory of 2012 by five strokes over Brian Buchanan of Cabot, AR.  Buchanan's back nine was just good enough to keep him three stokes ahead of Dan Nieman of Bella Vista, AR and Chris Blankenship of Stigler, OK who tied for third place.

Josh Hinojosa

Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) – It was a tale of two nines for Josh Hinojosa of Rogers, AR whose 11 over front nine was not the way he had hoped to play his first AM Tour event.  His back nine one over par, however, was good enough to catch David Price  of Pawhustaka, OK.  Price had a steady round of +5 and +7 but with no birdies, Price went to a playoff with Hinojosa.  THe momentum   Hinojosa had established, however, carried him through a one hole playoff and for his first AM Tour victory!  

Dale Stringer

Senior Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) – Only three strokes separated 1st from 2nd place in the Senior Sarazen flight.  Dale Stringer of Russellville, AR and Craig Merrill of Roland, AR both struggled with the tight design of the golf course, and both had one birdie apiece.  Stringer's four stroke lead after nine proved to be a sufficient lead to hold off the one stroke advance Merrill made on the back nine.  Stringer's 88 gives him his first victory of the 2012 season and his second on tour.

Lloyd Welch

Jones Flight (16.0-19.9) – Lloyd Welch of McAlester, OK, Danny Miller from Mena, AR, and  Sam Reeves from Bentonville, AR had a great three way battle going all day.  In the end, Welch's performance on the par 4's (six better than his competitors) and his back nine three birdies gave earned him his first victory of the 2012 season.  All 3 players had 5 pars, but Welch's 3 birdies gave him a comfortable victory.

  

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For a complete list of results and pictures visit our GCAT Facebook Page, go to the results site, or go to our  Picasa web site . 

For more information about the GCAT of Arkansas:

Paul C. Gomez

Arkansas Director, Golf Channel AM Tour

917-553-3814

pgomez@GCAmTour.com

Tour Championship - Eagle Crest

Down to the Wire

Hot and Fast!

Paul C. Gomez, Alma, AR (August 21, 2011)  Rumors of the demise of the greens at Alma's Eagle Crest were....somewhat exaggerated!  They might not have looked great in a few places - but they rolled!  It was hot, and they were fast!  The story was more about how close many of the matches were as they came...down to the wire!

Flight Winners:

Al Smith

Championship Flight (0-3.9) – After several head to head matches,  Al Smith of Cabot, AR overcame Michael Dryer from Bella Vista, AR with steady play that yielded two 1 under par rounds!  It was never easy, Smith said, competing against a fierce competitor gave him motivation, but missing only 3 fairways and 3 greens each day probably didn't hurt.  With this event, Dryer finishes as the Championship Flight Points leader of the year.

Chuck Rummel

Palmer Flight (4.0-7.9) – It was anybody's tournament after round 1, but Chuck Rummel of Hatfield, AR did one thing his competitors didn't - he avoided the big number!  Never recording more than a double bogey during round 2 and adding two birdies to that secured Rummel his first tour victory! Two 78's with a total 156 was enough to win the Palmer Flight Champion!  Brian Smith of Rogers, AR came in second while Wayne Baldwin of Russellville, AR came in third.  Baldwin is the year end Palmer Flight Points Champion.

Rob Tillman

Hogan Flight (8.0-11.9) – Another tight race was in the Hogan flight. After round 1 only 2 strokes separated four players.   At the end of round 2, Brian Buchanan  of Cabot, AR was one stroke away from a playoff after a 10 on a par 5.  Robert Tillman of Bentonville, AR and Richard Ainsworth of Maumelle, AR went to a playoff tied at a two day total of 168.  It only took one hole for Tillman to emerge as the Hogan Flight Tour Champion.  While no Hogan avoided big numbers, Tillman credits his victory to not losing his focus after an 8 on a par 3. Buchanan finishes the year as the Hogan Flight Points Champion of the year.  Ainsworth finished as the Senior Hogan Points Champion of the year.

Michael Petersen

Sarazen Flight (12.0-15.9) The Sarazen flight was joined by newly promoted Michael Petersen of Ozark, AR who was the Senior Jones points leader until he broke the 12.0 handicap.  Petersen never shot more than a double bogey which gave him his first victory in the Sarazen flight.  Jeremey Sudduth of Bentonville, AR was also recently promoted to the Sarazen flight and edged out Craig Merrill Roland, AR of by 3 strokes for second place.  Merrill finishes the year as the Senior Sarazen Points Champion of the year.   Russell Ingle of Bella Vista, AR finished third place. 

Joe Tomandao

Jones Flight (16.0-19.9) – With only one big number in two days, and that on the last hole of the tournament,  Joe Tomandao of Rogers, Arkansas shot a steady 91-92 to win the Jones Flight Championship. Carl Imhof of Rogers, AR  couldn't take advantage on the last hole and finished 4 strokes back for 2nd place.   Dennis Baxter of Bella Vista, AR finished third place and finishes first in the Senior Jones Order of Merit.

Sam Reeves

Snead Flight (20.0 +) –  Coming from behind from the first day, Sam Reeves of Bentonville, AR shot the exact same score two days in a row to overtake Don Mayberry of Rogers, AR and win the Snead Flight Championship.  This makes Reeves second victory in the Snead flight and earns him the Points Champion of the year.  David Pemberton of Huntsville, AR came in third place.

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Maximum Performance  Tournament Champion - This year's Player of the Year Award came down to the final round of the weekend. We treated the weekend as 3 rounds for the sake of the award to give everyone a chance to make a last minute run.  Michael Petersen was the low net winner for round 1 which put him just ahead of Dennis Baxter.  Al Smith was the low net winner for Round 2.  But the two day total low net winner was Michael Petersen which was enough to earn him the 2011 Player of the Year Award!  Congratulations Michael Petersen!

For a complete list of results and pictures visit our GCAT Facebook Page or go to the results site or go to our Picasa web site. 

For more information about the GCAT of Arkansas:

Paul C. Gomez

Arkansas Director, Golf Channel AM Tour

917-553-3814

pgomez@GCAmTour.com