The first event on the Louisiana/ East Texas tour is now behind us. The weather presented some challenging conditions leading up to this event for both players and golf course staff. I continue to be amazed at how the weather in East Texas can change at the drop of a hat. Just two weeks prior to this event, the course was being pounded with rain, which was then followed by snow and then more rain. When the sun finally came out, the staff got busy getting this course ready for play. With the promise of 70-degree weather on Saturday, and a fantastic turnout of 64 players for this new tour, things were looking great for an enjoyable round of competitive golf. There was a lot of excitement in the air with all the “New Members” getting their first experience on tour.
As it goes in East Texas, it all depends on how the wind blows, and blow it did. Just when the weather looked to be in our favor, things changed and the wind became big a factor in how tough this course played. It seemed like it was in your face or working against you on the majority of shots. When the wind blows on this course, things get downright difficult. This event turned out to be an extremely tough test of golf. I want to congratulate everyone for playing in such tough conditions. I believe when you reflect back on this event later in the year, this one will stick in your mind for how difficult it played.
Overall, this first event went well and I heard many good comments. Several tour members traveled long distances and you are to be commended for your sacrifice to play a game we all love. This one is now behind us.
The low round of the day for a tour member was fired by Eric Habimana of Frisco, Texas. Eric demonstrated his ability to play in tough conditions by firing a (78). He now has a well-earned tour win under his belt. Eric is very familiar with tough conditions, as his first two events in Dallas have prepared him for a very challenging round of golf. One of our guests playing in the Championship flight recorded our lowest round – Don Bogue of Lufkin, Texas took it to the young guns at this event and recorded a (73) to take overall honors. His closest to the pin on #9 was just one highlight of his round, but what really stands out about Don’s performance is the fact that he had just 12 putts on the front side. Great round Don!
The Course: Twin Lakes Golf Course, Canton Texas
The course received heavy rain and a little snow the week prior to the tournament. The course presented an tough challenge right from the start as the Palmer flight was faced with a challenging first shot across water that was made even tougher by the windy conditions. The first tee box for the rest of the field had to be moved across the water prior to the event and turned out to be a blessing. Due to the extreme weather conditions just prior to this event, a couple of areas were marked ground under repair including the end of number ten fairway and right of the eighteenth green. The seventeenth fairway was extremely wet and was played as lift, clean and place. The greens were in good condition for this time of year and the course was just beginning to come out of its winter dormant conditions.
The Weather: Mostly sunny. The high temperature was 67 with winds from the NNW 15-20 gusting to 30 mph at times.
Palmer Flight - Chad Roden of Forney, TX captured his first tour victory of the season by defeating Chris Davis of Calhoun, Louisiana in an on course sudden death playoff. Competition was fierce all day long with family bragging rights on the line. Chad holds the first tour win in the family and now has bragging rights over Chris. David McElveen of Lufkin, Tx had a birdie on the 5th hole and won the scorecard playoff against Ricky Meeks of Henderson, Tx to place 3rd. Rodney Conerly of Vidor, Tx rounded out the top 5 and recorded a birdie on 7 which got him a skin.
Palmer Flight: Top 5: Chad Roden (83), Chris Davis (83), David McElveen (85), Ricky Meeks (85), Rodney Conerly (87).
As it goes in East Texas, it all depends on how the wind blows, and blow it did. Just when the weather looked to be in our favor, things changed and the wind became big a factor in how tough this course played. It seemed like it was in your face or working against you on the majority of shots. When the wind blows on this course, things get downright difficult. This event turned out to be an extremely tough test of golf. I want to congratulate everyone for playing in such tough conditions. I believe when you reflect back on this event later in the year, this one will stick in your mind for how difficult it played.
Overall, this first event went well and I heard many good comments. Several tour members traveled long distances and you are to be commended for your sacrifice to play a game we all love. This one is now behind us.
The low round of the day for a tour member was fired by Eric Habimana of Frisco, Texas. Eric demonstrated his ability to play in tough conditions by firing a (78). He now has a well-earned tour win under his belt. Eric is very familiar with tough conditions, as his first two events in Dallas have prepared him for a very challenging round of golf. One of our guests playing in the Championship flight recorded our lowest round – Don Bogue of Lufkin, Texas took it to the young guns at this event and recorded a (73) to take overall honors. His closest to the pin on #9 was just one highlight of his round, but what really stands out about Don’s performance is the fact that he had just 12 putts on the front side. Great round Don!
The Course: Twin Lakes Golf Course, Canton Texas
The course received heavy rain and a little snow the week prior to the tournament. The course presented an tough challenge right from the start as the Palmer flight was faced with a challenging first shot across water that was made even tougher by the windy conditions. The first tee box for the rest of the field had to be moved across the water prior to the event and turned out to be a blessing. Due to the extreme weather conditions just prior to this event, a couple of areas were marked ground under repair including the end of number ten fairway and right of the eighteenth green. The seventeenth fairway was extremely wet and was played as lift, clean and place. The greens were in good condition for this time of year and the course was just beginning to come out of its winter dormant conditions.
The Weather: Mostly sunny. The high temperature was 67 with winds from the NNW 15-20 gusting to 30 mph at times.
Palmer Flight - Chad Roden of Forney, TX captured his first tour victory of the season by defeating Chris Davis of Calhoun, Louisiana in an on course sudden death playoff. Competition was fierce all day long with family bragging rights on the line. Chad holds the first tour win in the family and now has bragging rights over Chris. David McElveen of Lufkin, Tx had a birdie on the 5th hole and won the scorecard playoff against Ricky Meeks of Henderson, Tx to place 3rd. Rodney Conerly of Vidor, Tx rounded out the top 5 and recorded a birdie on 7 which got him a skin.Palmer Flight: Top 5: Chad Roden (83), Chris Davis (83), David McElveen (85), Ricky Meeks (85), Rodney Conerly (87).
Hogan Flight
One stroke decided the difference between first and second place in the Hogan flight. Eric Habimana of Frisco, Tx and member of the Dallas tour had birdies on 3 and 8 which led to one of the lowest rounds of the day on the front nine.(36) Eric captured his first win of the season with a very strong performance in difficult conditions. Dale Johnson of Lufkin, Tx received a well deserved promotion from the Jones flight to the Hogan flight during this event due to his exception score, finishing in second place with a birdie recoreded on #4. Kevin Turner member of the La/East Texas tour, made the trip from Vidor, Tx to take home 3rd place honors with a birdie on 17. Jerrod Hoyle of College Station, Tx and member of the Austin/San Antonio tour finished the day in 4th with a birdie on #4. Brian Bloodgood of Lantana, Tx shot (90) to round out the top 5.Hogan Flight: Top 5: Eric Habimana (78), Dale Johnson (79), Kevin Turner (88), Jerrod Hoyle (89), Brian Bloodgood (90).
Sarazen Flight - Gil Coppersmith our starter on the first tee box and member of the Houston tour made the trip up to this event and fired a very respectable (87) to take top honors in the Sarazen flight. Larry Meadows of Hallsville, Tx, fired a (91) just 3 strokes back of second place. Houston Tour Director - Jeff Zemencsik of Magnolia, Tx took third place honors with a (95). One of our newest members on tour, Les Horner of Kirbyville, Tx. finished 4th by firing (96) and recorded a birdie on 16. Robert Reaves of Van Alstyne, Tx rounded out the top 5 shooting (99) and recording birdies on 3 and 10.Sarazen Flight: Top 5: Gil Coppersmith (87), Larry Meadows (91), Jeff Zemencsik (95), Les Horner (96), Robert Reaves (99).
Jones Flight - Jeff Carter of Kaufman, Tx fired one of his best rounds of the year in very tough conditions to take top honors in the Jones flight. Jeff Green of Coldsprings, Tx takes 2nd place honors by shooting (89) and recorded a birdie on hole 3. Michael East of Lufkin, Tx takes 3rd place honors by winning a scorecard playoff against Gary Lee of Tyler, Tx who recorded a birdie on 6 to shoot (96). Roy Allen of Lufkin also won a scorecard playoff to place 5th over Richard Harvey of Mansfield, Tx.Jones Flight: Top 5: Jeff Carter (87), Jeff Green (89), Mike East (96), Gary Lee (96), Roy Allen (98).
Snead Flight - Justin Wilder of Ennis Tx captured first place honors over runner-up Scott Lucas of Lufkin, Tx by just one stroke. Jim Wehmeier of Lufkin, Tx captured 3rd place honors by firing (94). Trecia Wood of Frisco, Tx took 4th place honors and Bobby Ashcraft of Mesquite, Tx rounded out the top 5. For those of you that may not have heard, Bobby was hit in the ear with a golf ball the day before our tournament and elected to make the trip anyway. Bobby’s dedication to play in this event after such a mishap is to be highly commended.
Snead Flight: Top 5: Justin Wilder (92), Scott Lucas (93), Jim Wehmeier (94), Trecia Wood (115), Bobby Ashcraft (124).
Snead Senior Flight - Mike Murphy of Lufkin, Tx is one of those steady players on tour. His 2nd place finish in last year’s National Championship shows how well he handles pressure and his ability to get the ball in the hole when it counts. Mike shot another steady round of (91) to take Top Honors of the Snead (Sr) Flight. Leonard Peterson of Lufkin, Tx fired a (92) to take runner-up honors and continues to add points in his bid to qualify for the National Championship. William Crossland Sr. took 3rd place and had a strong showing for his first event of the year as a new member of our tour. Rick Hagel of Hackberry, La took 4th place honors by winning a scorecard playoff over Billy Hendrix of Flower Mound, Tx.Snead (Sr) Flight: Top 5: Mike Murphy (91), Leonard Peterson (92), William Crossland (99), Rick Hagel (106), Billy Hendrix (106).
In addition to the flight winners, the following players won the skills challenges:
Closest to the pin ($81 each)
Dale Johnson, #4
Dale Johnson, #7
Don Bogue, #9
Dale Johnson, #11
Chris Davis, #14
Skins Winners ($90 each)
Rodney Conerly (won with a 2), #7
Ken Crossland Jr (won with a 4), #8
Danny Tackett (won with a 2), #9
Robert Reaves (won with a 3), #10
Kevin Turner (won with a 3), #17
