Around the Green

Bills and Estorga to meet in Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play Finals

Westlake, Texas – Gant Bills and Anthony Estorga advanced to the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play Finals with commanding victories in their Quarter and Semi-Final Matches. For both players, it will be their chance to claim one the Texas Golf Association’s State Titles.

The day started with Scott Abbott of Dallas facing off against number one overall seed, Rick Sulzer of Carrollton in which he pulled off the upset. The match went to the 17^th Hole where Abbott won 3 & 1 to make it to his third straight Semi-Final in the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play.. In 2016, he lost to Colby Harwell in the Final Four, and in 2017, placed Runner-up in the Mid-Amateur Match Play losing to Colby Harwell in extra holes for the Championship. Abbott and Sulzer combined for 15 total birdies in their match.
Anthony Estorga of Dallas advanced to the Final Four winning his match over Michael Samp of Irving, 4 & 2.
Gant Bills of Plano continued his impressive play as he advanced to the Final Four, with an exclamation point, when his birdie putt on 16 did a full circle around the cup before it fell to the bottom. Bills won his match over Kip Estep of Rockwall, 3 & 2.
The last player to make it to the Final Four was Jake Istnick of Dallas, who came back from two down against Aaron Hickman of Tyler, to win the match 1 up on 18. Istnick cemented his spot in the final four when his birdie putt on 18 dropped.

(Match Play Bracket)

Anthony Estorga used a hot putter to help end Scott Abbott’s dream of reaching the Championship Match in back to back years. Estorga won the match versus Abbott, 5 & 4.

“I wouldn’t say I have been hitting the ball well,” said Estorga. “My putting has saved me this weekend, and I actually decide to use this putter last Saturday, and it looks like I have made the right choice.”

Continuing his clutch putting, Gant Bills did not cool down sinking back to back 25 footers in his Semi-Final match against Jake Istnick. Bills won the match 3 & 2, and will be moving on to the Championship Match.

Bills and Estorga will start their Championship Match at 8:00am at the Vaquero Club. The Match Status will be updated after every hole. You can follow along at here.