The Bella Vista Championship

Paul C. Gomez, Bella Vista, AR (April 18, 2015)

Overnight flooding closed two of the six Bella Vista courses.  Morning thunderstorms and more rain threatened to close Dogwood Hills golf course and cancel yet another Arkansas AM Tour event.  Somehow, the skies cleared and players went off as scheduled and play went on.  The course drained amazingly well and good scores were going to follow!

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\The Palmer Flight (tour index ranging from 4.0 to 7.9): Four players finished one stroke apart from first to fourth in the

Palmer flight.  After 14 holes two Palmers were tied at 56 and two tied at 58.  The closing holes challenged all of them and it could have been anyone's day.  In the end, Kent Busch of Shawnee, KS finished with only two bogeys and held on for a one stroke victory over Wayne Baldwin of Russellville, AR.  

The Hogan Flight (tour index ranging from 8.0 to 11.9) had

two players have stellar rounds going out with a one over par 37.  They remained tied through 15 holes.  New tour member Marvin Light of Farmington, AR played the second nine also one over par and earned his first tour victory with a two over par 73. Light played conservatively off the tee all day and also chipped and putted well given the course conditions.  Chad Schuchmann of Springfield, MO also had a great round shooting a five over par 75.

The Sarazen Flight (tour index ranging from 12.0 to 15.9) saw  some great scoring on a day with wet fairways and soft

greens.  Michael Martori of Newburg, MO and Chris Johnson of Wind Lake, WI both had record from nines shooting even par and two over par.  Just when it looked like Johnson was going to make a move, Martori finished the last 5 holes one over par, recorded his best round not the AM Tour, and secured his third victory in the 2015 season!

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

had its share of close competitions and playoffs.  This round was no different.  It took 21 holes to produce a winner in the flight.  Carl Imhof of Rogers, AR turned in his lowest 9 hole score on the AM Tour with a 3 over par 39, four ahead of Bobby Deaton of Holiday Hills, AR.  But, after 14 holes, they were tied with four to go.  They both parred the treacherous par 3 #18 to find themselves in a playoff.  So they played it again. And again!  Finally, they had to go to the #1 hole for Deaton to secure his first victory on the AM Tour since his last victory on the same course!  Deaton said that although he didn't get off the tee well, his iron play and putting was good enough to earn the victory!

The Farmington Open

Paul C. Gomez, Farmington, AR (March 28, 2014)

Even though the calendar says it's spring, "old man winter" has held on for as long as possible in Northwest Arkansas.  The final group of the morning teed off at 40º with a 35º real feel.  The course was wet from a morning rain, and the blowing wind made the bones brittle.  Still, players from across the state came to compete at the Golf Club of Valley View.

The Palmer Flight (tour index ranging from 4.0 to 7.9): Allen Huffman of Holiday Island, AR had a 3 footer to win on the final  

hole, but it just wouldn't drop.  So, Huffman and Wayne Baldwin of Russellville, AR went off for a playoff on the treacherous 18th hole.  And then they had to do it again.  Finally, Baldwin's persistence paid off and he prevailed on the second playoff hole. Even with "ball in hand" it was a good test of golf for all skill levels.  

The Hogan Flight (tour index ranging from 8.0-12.9): Three new players to the Arkansas tour, one Texan, and one 

Coloradan filled out the Hogan flight.  Sometimes playing without preparation pays off.  Doyle Wofford of Montgomery, TX ran to the first tee and left all the stress in the parking lot.  It was a good thing, because he was trailing Tony Ambrose of Aurora, CO and Marvin Light of Farmington, AR with three holes  left to play.  The entire flight was very close to the end with only 5 strokes separating first and last place.  In the end, Wofford finished with three pars while his competitors stumbled coming in.  Wofford earned his first championship since 2013 with this victory and he won with a Srixon ball earning him a free box of golf balls.

The Jones Flight (tour index ranging from 8.0-12.9): Six players who are no strangers to competing together went at it

again on the soggy Farmington terrain.  Early on it looked like Derek Middlebrooks was going to run away with it turning a stellar front nine, but a challenging back nine took him out of the competition.  Bobby Deaton of Holiday Island, AR and Jeff Thompson of Farmington, AR made a great run with low back nines, but just couldn't overcome the front nines.  Craig Merrill of Roland, AR held on to win another Jones flight event by a hair.  Merrill also won with a Srixon golf ball.

The Stonebridge Meadows Standoff

Paul C. Gomez, Fayetteville, AR (June 21, 2014)

What was once a farm home to thoroughbred race horses in the gently flowing hills of southwest Fayetteville is now a great golf course for AM Tour golfers.  

The Senior Sarazen Flight (tour index ranging from 12.1-0-

Rick McClain

13.9) was up for grabs after 9 holes and any player could have contended for the title.  However, nobody saw coming the flurry of eight straight pars that Rick McClain of Decatur, AR would rip off on the back nine.  Not even McClain!  ''I finally put together a good round on the AM Tour'' stated the first time winner in eight tries on the tour.  The 80 that McClain shot was also good enough for a tie for for the low net contest for the Showcase Trophy and Awards ''Tournament Champion.'' That contest was won on a scorecard playoff against Carl Imhof of Rogers, AR.  

Ten players competed in the combined Jones Flight (tour index ranging from 16.0-19.9) for the winner's title.  As one

Lloyd C. Reid, Jr

would expect with that many players of similar skill level competing against each other, the race was tight and the scores resulted in an on-course playoff for first place.  Half the field was virtually tied through nine holes.  Lloyd C. Reid, Jr of Dallas, TX avoided big numbers on the back to catch Carl Imhof of Rogers, AR and force  an on-course playoff!  Imhof turned his best round on the AM Tour since 2011.  Reid, however, took the first hole and earned the championship title!

Special thanks to the ladies of Belle Journee Spa for coming out and providing free sports therapy to our players before their round!  Be sure to check out their Facebook page!

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.

The Valley View Open

Paul C. Gomez, Alma, AR (April 27, 2014)

Flight Winners

Hogan Flight: (8.0-11.9) – Given the blowing wind and the

Derek Goodson

still growing in conditions of the golf course, Derek Goodson of Fort Smith, AR felt like he left a few strokes out there.  "It wasn't pretty, but it was good enough!" might be one way to translate what Goodson said after the round.  For seven holes, it was a back and forth round between Goodson and John Trull of Bella Vista, AR.  A misstep by Trull gave Goodson the opening he needed. He took the advantage and never looked back for this third victory in three years on the AM Tour.

Jones Flight: (16.0-19.9) – It looked like it might be a tight race between Craig Merrill of Roland, AR and home course

Craig Merrill

resident Jeff Thompson of Farmington, AR.  Thompson, who lives on the course, gave Merrill a pretty good run through seven holes, but Merrill's competitive experience coupled with a birdie on #8 against Thompson's "other" sealed the fate of the Jones flight.  Just to seal the deal, Merrill finished with a birdie on the 18th to win the Jones Flight.

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Next on our local tour is The Shootout At The Highlands in Bella Vista, AR.  Sign up by this Friday, April 2nd and save $10 on your skins game entry fee!  Deadline is May 16th.

The Highlands, Bella Vista, AR

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For a complete list of results and pictures visit our GCAT Facebook Page or go to the results site.  For more information about the GCAT of Arkansas:

Paul C. Gomez
Arkansas Director, Golf Channel AM Tour
917-553-3814
pgomez@GCAmTour.com

The Battle at Fort Smith

Paul C. Gomez, Alma, AR (April 12, 2014)

After what seemed like the most oppressive winter for golf (read two snow cancelations), the AM Tour of Arkansas finally started the spring season.  The weather in Alma was perfect if not a bit windy.  The greens were fast and the competition was on! The results of these rounds would have been all different if there were a "triple-bogey" maximum rule.  This is why the AM Tour plays GOLF!

Flight Winners

Palmer Flight: (4.0-7.9) – It turned out to be a front nine

Scot Carter

battle between Scot Carter of Bella Vista, AR and Matt McClain of Decatur, AR.  Both players battled the fast greens and increasing winds on the back side to shoot 6 over par.  The three stroke difference between the two came down to one big hole on the front side.  Carter held on the entire back side never trailing once and shot 79. Carter said all day long he was glad to two-putt any of the fast greens with treacherous hole locations.  Carter also won the low net  Showcase Trophy and Awards  Tournament Champion competition against the entire field.



Senior Hogan Flight: (8.0-11.9) – One is not only the loneliest number, but it's the number Tom Stephens of Bella 

Tom Stephens

Vista, AR was better than Ron Stratton of Bella Vista, AR on each nine holes to secure his first victory on the Am Tour!  Golfin' buddies back home, Stratton made his first appearance on the AM Tour. "The round started great with a birdie on #1 and stayed positive all day" said Stephens.  Stephens' 41-43 was enough for a two stroke victory.  This is Stephens' first victory after only two tries!  

Senior Sarazen Flight: (12.0-15.9) –  "This is why you play

Dennis Baxter

every hole" said Dennis Baxter of Bella Vista, AR after winning the Senior Sarazen Flight by only two strokes after Kerry Greer of Oklahoma City, OK had a rough 18th hole to end his round.  Baxter, a seasoned competitor, has been there before, and not always on the winning end.  Baxter wins his first event of the 2014 season with this victory!

Jones Flight: (16.0-19.9) – It was a three man race to the finish in the Jones flight with some of it also coming down to

Michael Mortari

the last hole.  Craig Merrill of Roland, AR jumped out to an early lead by taking a 3-shot lead over the field.  His 18th hole also cost him the trophy. Brian Enos of Farmington, AR made a run for the trophy by starting the back nine with a birdie. A big number on #14 dashed his hopes.  In the end, it was Michael Mortari of Dixon, MO who took the trophy by avoiding any big numbers on the back nine.  Mortari has played twelve events since November and this makes his third victory! 

Scot Carter - Tournament Champion with a +3 net score 

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For a complete list of results and pictures visit our GCAT Facebook Page or go to the results site.  For more information about the GCAT of Arkansas:

Paul C. Gomez
Arkansas Director, Golf Channel AM Tour
917-553-3814
pgomez@GCAmTour.com