Around the Green

Simmerman Leads After Opening Round of the South Mid-Amateur

Mont Belvieu – Danny Simmerman shot a 4-under par 67 in the first round of the 2016 South Mid-Amateur Championship. Simmerman leads by three strokes over a group of four at 1-under par. Eagle Pointe Golf Club, east of Houston in Mont Belvieu, is the host site for this year’s championship.
 
Shavano Park’s Simmerman started his round off with a birdie one his opening hole, the par four 10^th. He carded three more birdies and one bogey on his opening nine. Simmerman made two more birdies and a second bogey on his back nine on his way to an opening round 4-under par 67. Simmerman is followed closely by 11 other individuals that sit at even par 71 or better.
 
Simmerman leads by three strokes over four players tied at 1-under par 70 after the first round of play. That group includes Jess Bonneau, the 2015 South Super Mid-Amateur Champion. Bonneau, of Houston, carded four birdies and three bogies on his way to a 1-under par round of 70. Terrance Miskell, of New Braunfels, joined Bonneau with four birdies and three bogeys during his round of 1-under par 70. Nicholas Cristea, of Houston and Bart Worthing, of Weston Lakes also sit at 1-under par 70. Each of them posted three birdies and two bogeys.
 
Twelve players are within three shots of the first round lead. The group at even par 71 includes Houston’s Bob Kearney, San Antonio’s Colby Harwell, and Houston’s John Hunter.  
 
The award of Super Mid-Amateur is also awarded during the South Mid-Amateur Championship. A medallion is presented to the individual with the low 54-hole total that is 40+ years of age. Simmerman also leads the race for the Super Mid-Amateur. Simmerman leads by three over Bonneau and Miskell.  
 
This is the second TGA event that Eagle Pointe GC has hosted. They previously hosted one of the qualifying sites for the 104^th Texas Amateur in 2013. A packed leaderboard will make for an interesting second round of the South Mid-Amateur Championship.
 
The second round of the 2016 South Mid-Amateur begins at 8:00 am on Saturday. Click here to follow the championship.