Around the Green
The latest golf-related news, notes, and feature stories from the TGA.
Sanchez Comes From Behind to Win South Mid-Amateur Title
With a crowded leader board heading into the final round, it was a stellar 6-under par 66 that propelled Ed Sanchez to victory in the 2013 South Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by Club Champion. The wind that played with the field the first two rounds at Austin’s Grey Rock Golf Club was missing as perfect scoring conditions allowed for an exciting finish. Barrett Sandefur finished one stroke behind Sanchez to claim second.
Sitting four strokes off of the second round lead heading into Sunday, Sanchez, of San Antonio, took advantage of the calm conditions and played aggressive golf. With four birdies in his opening front nine, Sanchez was able to make up ground on the leaders with a 4-under par 32.
A fifth birdie was carded on the 11th hole, before a bogey on the par five 14th hole. Sanchez’s eagle on the par five 17th hole proved to be the deciding factor. With his second shot coming to rest on the back of the green and a front hole location, Sanchez was able to hole out from approximately 50 feet for eagle.
Sanchez finished the three day championship as the lone player under par, with a 1-under par 215 (79-70-66).
Second round leaders John Hunter and Barrett Sandefur registered final round scores of 1-over par 73, and 1-under par 71, respectively. Hunter, of Houston, finished in a tie for fourth place at 2-over par 218 with 2012 South Mid-Amateur Champion David Pocknall. Sandefur, a member of Grey Rock GC, finished the championship at even par 216.
Houston’s John Dowdall finished alone in third place with a final round 3-under par 69 and three day total of 1-over par 217. Dowdall was able to claim the Super Mid-Amateur title awarded to the low player age 40 and older.
The Texas Golf Association would like to thank the membership and the staff of Grey Rock Golf Club for hosting the 2013 South Mid-Amateur Championship.
