News

Carlton Holds Slim Lead Heading into Final Round of the State Senior Amateur

(Tyler, TX) –
Moving day proved to be very valuable during the second round of the State
Senior Amateur Championship at Tyler’s Willow Brook Country Club.  With a windy cold front moving through, those
that could adapt to the weather were able to make their way up the leader
board.  As the second round came to a
close, Cypress’ Tim Carlton and Chip Stewart, of Dallas, sit atop the Senior
and Super Senior divisions, respectively.
 
Carlton,
a two-time winner of the Willow Brook CC Men’s Club Championship (1982 and
1985), had one birdie and one bogey on his opening nine to turn at even-par
36.  With his vast knowledge of the golf
course, Carlton recorded four birdies on the back nine.  Those birdies, coupled with a lone bogey,
Carlton finished his round at 3-under par 68. 
Carlton will enter the final round with a narrow one stroke lead in the
Senior division at 3-under par 139 after his opening round of even-par 71.
 
When
asked the difference between his opening round of even-par 71 and his second
round of 3-under par 68, Carlton said “I hit the ball more solidly and have
putted well for both days”.
 
One
shot behind Carlton is Irving’s Mike Peck. 
Peck, who began the day at 2-under par, was able to turn in a second
round score of even-par 71.  Peck was
able to roll in five birdies Saturday morning to go along with five bogeys.
 
First
round leader Lelan Chiles, of Granbury, joins three other golfer’s just two
strokes off of the lead at 1-under par 141. 
Rounding out the four players two strokes back are Jimmy Wheeler
(Tyler), Bill Holstead (Wichita Falls) and Tom McGraw (Montgomery).  Wheeler and McGraw both shot 2-under par 69
in their second rounds while Holstead registered a 1-under par 70.
 
Stewart
was able to adjust to the northern winds with steady play throughout his second
round.  During Saturday’s afternoon wave,
Stewart went on to record one birdie and two bogeys en route to his second
round 1-over par 72.  With his opening
round of 2-over par 73, Stewart will head into the final round with a two-day
total of 3-over par 145.
 
First
round leader Mike Arnold, of San Antonio, and McKinney’s Gary Kirwan each find
themselves one stroke back of Stewart with a two round total of 4-over par
146.  Arnold recorded a second round
5-over par 76 while Kirwan turned in his second straight 2-over par 73.
 
Rounding
out the top five after two rounds are Georgetown’s Don Grider and Willow Brook
CC member Andy Wall at 5-over par 147.  Grider
played the second round at 1-over par 72 while Wall turned in an even-par 71.
 
With
the State Senior Amateur Championship the last opportunity to stake claim to a
Texas Golf Association state championship, the final round will surely come
down to the wire. In all, 53 players made the cut in the Senior division with
24 making the cut in the Super Senior division. 
Tee times will begin Sunday morning off of holes #1 and #10 at 8:00am.