Around the Green

Cameron and Dean Brown Win 2017 Texas Father-Son Championship

GALVESTON – After having favorable weather at Moody Gardens Golf Course throughout the week, storms rolled through the area Sunday afternoon, forcing the championship to be curtailed to 36 holes for the Championship Division. As a result, the duo of Cameron and Dean Brown – the 36-hole leaders at 14-under par and runners-up in last year’s event – were crowned 2017 Texas Father-Son champions.

“We had a bit of a bitter taste in our mouths after last year,” Cameron Brown said. “We were glad to get some revenge this year and win it.”

In golf, the adage often goes that a tournament does not really start until the back nine on Sunday. But on the final day of the Texas Father-Son, the third round didn’t have the opportunity to start.

“We are a little disappointed that we didn’t get to play today,” Dean Brown said. “But we know we can’t control the weather.”

The teams of Matthew and Scott Van Zandt and Andrew and Mark Lindberg finished tied for second place two shots behind at 12-under par. The two teams were co-leaders after round one with scores of 64, but on day two they each shot 68 to fall two off the Brown’s pace.

“Overall it wasn’t as easy today,” Matthew Van Zandt said after round two. “But we put ourselves in contention, and tomorrow is going to be the day that really matters.”  

Unfortunately for Matthew and his father, inclement weather proved that prediction to be premature.

At last year’s Texas Father-Son, Andrew and Mark Lindberg outlasted the Browns in a playoff after they finished the 54-hole event tied. But a double bogey on the extra hole from Dean Brown eventually allowed the Lindbergs to be crowned champions.

“I feel like I let Cameron down a little bit making double bogey on the playoff hole (last year),” Dean Brown said. “It kind of had a little fire under us to play a little bit better this year.”  

After 36 holes, the Championship Division was cut in half and separated into two separate flights – the Championship and the Presidents. With play being cancelled for the day, the Presidents Flight had four teams tie for first place – Burl and Trip Hobson, Rick and Richman Houston, Chuck and Clinton Keller, and Scott and Knox Wagoner. Each of the four teams shot a two-day gross total of 2-under-par 142 to claim a share of the title.

All of the net flights were able to finish their rounds in spite of the inclement weather. In the Hogan Flight, John and Jack Kennedy of Lufkin took medalist honors with a three-day total of net 26-under par.  

Darrell and Tim Bowe won the Nelson Flight with a 65 in the final round. They used individual gross scores of 71 and 74 on Sunday to get them to a net total of 23-under par for the tournament.

In the Crenshaw Flight, the teams of Mike and Chip Block and Ken and Samson Jackson finished tied at the top of the leaderboard at net 25-under par. Each pair shot net 10-under-par 62 in the final round on their way to medalist honors.

In the Kite Flight, David and David Cash utilized their local course knowledge to cruise to a six-shot victory. The duo shot a final-round 60, coupled with rounds of 57 and 66, to reach net 33-under par for their three-day total. 

The Texas Golf Association extends its warmest and most sincere appreciation to the staff of Moody Gardens Golf Course, as well as our volunteers, for their integral part in making the 2017 Texas Father-Son a memorable and successful event. For more information about this championship, click here.