Around the Green

Gant Bills Comes From Behind to Capture 2017 North Mid-Amateur Title

Gant Bills Comes From Behind to Capture 2017 North Mid-Amateur Title
 
Arlington, TX – Gant Bills wins the 2017 North Mid-Amateur after using a three-under-par 68 to storm from behind and capture his first Texas Golf Association Regional Championship. 36-hole leader Joshua Irving finished in solo third place after shooting a final round six-over-par 78.
 
Gant Bills of Plano used four birdies to shoot three-under-par, 69 to overcome his six stroke deficit of 36-hole leader Joshua Irving. Bills had his game with him on Sunday as he poured in four birdies while only surrendering his lone bogey on the tough 203 yard par three, 11^th.
 
Without knowing where he stood for most of the round, Bills knew he had to make some birdies to get his round going and that’s exactly what he did. Bills turned at two-under-par on his front side and felt comfortable with how he game was treating him.
 
Taking advantage of the par fives at Tierra Verde Golf Club was a must and Bill’s did just that. Bills capitalized on those par fives with birdies on the 8^th, 13^th and 16^th.   
 
Finishing in solo second was Fort Worth’s Will Osborne after shooting an impressive final round of two-under-par 70. Osborne came out of the gate quickly as he parred his first hole, followed up with birdies on two and three. Unlike Bills, Osborne hit a few bumps in the road as he tallied four bogeys on the day. After backing up his bogey-bogey on holes four and five, Osborne carded another birdie and turned in one-under-par.
 
For Osborne, this is his best career finish in the North Mid-Amateur. With their finishes this week at Tierra Verde Golf Club, Bills and Osborne will receive exemptions into the playing of the 108^th Texas Amateur hosted at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas.
 
Earning his second Mid-Master (age of 40 or older) award in three years, Brandon Scott held on by one over 2016 Texas Senior Amateur Champion Lewis Stephenson. Recognizing the low Mid-Master this year, Scott previously won his award at the 2015 North Mid-Amateur when it was hosted at Trophy Club Country Club (Hogan Course). Scott found it tough to get going as he carded a final round four-over-par 76 to finish in solo seventh overall.
 
36-hole leader Joshua Irving finishes in third place after posting a six-over-par 78 in the final round. Irving battled through the tough windy conditions today but couldn’t get anything to drop. Irving’s struggle began when he reached a tough stretch of holes five through seven.
 
The Texas Golf Association would like to thank the entire professional and maintenance staff of Tierra Verde Golf Club. The golf course proved to be a great test to all players throughout the week as they battled diverse elements on the weekend.
 
The Texas Golf Association’s North Regional Series will continue as it heads to Fort Worth’s Ridglea Country Club for the North Senior Amateur on April 11^th-12^th. For complete results in this year’s North Mid-Amateur, click here.