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Texas League Play Playoff Matches Recap

Texas League Play Playoff Matches Recap
 
The 13^th edition of the Texas League Play Playoffs featured 12 clubs competing in a single-elimination playoff bracket over the course of four days.

The first round was contested at Horseshoe Bay Resort’s Slick Rock course on Thursday with eight clubs playing their first round matches and the four others taking advantage of their byes with practice rounds.  The first match featured Spanish Oaks Golf Club from Bee Cave against Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.  The first points were earned by Colonial’s Mike Thomas and Dalton Reeves taking two and half of a possible three. However, Spanish Oak’s Steve Sharp and Chris Finke answered with two and half of their own points to tie the overall match at 3-3  before heading to the last two matches. Joe Sanders and Chris Badciong of Spanish Oaks took two in the next match only to have their Director of Golf, David Von Hoffman, and teammate Josh Swanson seal the victory with one and half points and the 6.5 to 5.5 point victory.

The next match was Tierra Verde Golf Club in Arlington versus Midland’s Green Tree Country Club. Bret  Maison and Randy Stephens of Tierra Verde  earned two and half points in the first match but was answered by Green Tree with Michael Ledford and Ken Patterson earning two points. Sam Saxton and Ben Hick III earned two more point bringing Tierra Verde’s total to five and half. Carson Gooch and Zee Siddiqui closed the door with one and half more points for a seven to five victory in favor of Tierra Verde Golf Club.

Following the Colonial and Spanish Oaks Match, Cross Timbers Golf Course from Azele battled Royal Oaks Country Club from Houston. Cross Timbers grabbed the first six points in the match before Anthony Arriaga and Lloyd Davis of Royal Oaks grabbed three points of their own. Despite the last match only earning a point in the last match, Cross Timbers survived and advanced with a seven to five victory.

The last match of the first round was Golf Club of Houston versus first time participants Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch. Brookhaven’s Brian Hernandez and Ken Eldridge gained two points in the first match, but Golf Club of Houston got two and half right back from Brian Truby and Derek Delach. Brookhaven’s Todd Spence and Burk Goldthorn earned all three possible points in their favor to seize control of the match. Ross Prachar and Michael Parker sealed the dale though when they also secured three points for a six and half to five half victory for Golf Club of Houston.

The Quarter-final matches saw all remaining teams playing the Slick Rock Course again with top seed Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas against Spanish Oaks Golf Club.  Reversing the outcome of their previous match, Steve Stadhiem and Matt Haney earned all three points for the early lead. Steve Sharp and Chris Finke backed the three point lead with two and half points. Spanish Oaks only needing  a point more to move on to the semi-finals, Chris Badciong and Joe Sanders earned two points.  Dean Larsson and Chuck Palmer added three points but it was Spanish Oaks who prevailed with a seven and half to four and half victory.

The next match of the Quarter-finals was Golf Club of Houston versus Cross Timbers. Doug Deaver and Derek Delach of Golf Club of Houston earned two points in the first match, while Charles Russo Jr. and Brian Truby tied their match with Joseph Myers and Andy Fulfer of Cross Timbers. Golf Club of Houston’s Jeff Gossett and Nick Festino secured all three points in their respective match. Only a point and a half shy of moving on to the semi-finals, Ross Prachar and Michael Parker added two and a half points to cap off a decisive nine to three victory.

In the ensuing match, Tierra Verde took on Lakeridge Country Club from Lubbock. Joseph Bauer and Bret Maison won all three points to take an early lead for Tierra Verde. Tyler Dehay and Trent Donahoo from Lakeridge responded with two and a half points. Following suit, Lakeridge’s Ben Greene and Ryan Rodgers added two and a half points to pull within a point and a half of the semi-finals. Zeeshawn Siddiqui and Carson Gooch instead took all three points in the final pairing to move Tierra Verde into the semi- finals with a seven to five win.

The final Quarter-finals match was De Cordova Bend Country Club from Granbury versus Eagle Pointe. Randy Chiles and Kyle Ditto won all three points for De Cordova in the opening pairing. De Cordova’s Gary Pittman and Chris Price added to their lead with a two point victory. Only a point and a half shy of a trip to the semi-finals, Colby Ditto and Steve Hunt earned two and a half points out of three to secure the victory. Eagle Pointe’s Derrick Hammer and Jamie Carrol won the final pairing with two and a half points, although it was too late as De Cordova won the match eight to four.

The Semi-finals matches were played at Horseshoe Bay Resort’s Apple Rock course on Saturday with only four teams remaining. The first match showcased Spanish Oaks versus Golf Club of Houston. Doug Deaver and Derek Delach responded once again with a decisive two and a half points in the first pairing, while Spanish Oaks’ Steve Sharp and Chris Finke answered back earning all three points in their respective match. Eric Swanson and Jeff Gossett did their part in earning three points for Spanish Oaks. David Von Hoffman and Josh Swanson added two points for Spanish Oaks, however, they came up a point short of sending the team to the finals. In a tightly contested opening semi-final match, Golf Club of Houston secured their finals trip with a 6.5-5.5 victory.

Following the first semi-final match was DeCordova Bend playing against Tierra Verde Golf Club. All the matches were momently halted with a 36 minute lightning delay but once play started again, Joe Bauer and Randy Stephens got the first points for Tierra Verde with two and half in the first match out.  Bret Maison and Doug Foster answered the call as well with two points of their own. Colby Ditto and Gary Pittman swayed the momentum briefly as they claimed two point for DeCordova but Tierra Verde clinched the match when Carson Gooch and Zee Siddiqui got two and half points.