Around the Green

The latest golf-related news, notes, and feature stories from the TGA.

Texas Senior Amateur Set for Sept. 28-30

 

AUSTIN – The 81st playing of the Texas Senior Amateur will take place Sept. 28-30 on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at The Hills Country Club.
 
Located on the shores of Lake Travis, the Signature Course at The Hills CC was designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened for play in 1981. One of the modern era’s most acclaimed architects, Nicklaus transformed the dramatic backdrop of the beautiful Texas Hill Country, complete with granite outcroppings, groves of live oaks and spring-fed creeks, into a stunning layout. With its relatively narrow fairways, shrewdly placed bunkers and challenging green complexes, the Signature Course demands a player’s confidence and commitment on every shot.
 
The Senior Amateur is open to male amateurs with a GHIN Handicap Index of 6.4 or less, have reached the age of 55 on or before Sept. 28, 2018 and are current Texas residents.
 
The format for the championship is 54 holes of individual stroke play. The starting field of 144 golfers play two rounds on Sept. 28-29. At the completion of the 36 holes the field is cut to the low 54 players and ties for the final round.
 
Ed Brooks of Fort Worth, who won the 2017 championship at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, will be back to defend his title. In addition to Brooks, six other past champions are set to tee it up at The Hills CC. They are Lewis Stephenson of Mansfield (who won in 2016), Mike Booker of The Woodlands (2015), two-time winner Ron Kilby of McAllen (2014, ’11), Mike Peck of Irving (2013), Chuck Palmer of Dallas (2012) and John Grace of Fort Worth (2010).
 
The exceptionally strong field this year also includes Mickey Jones of Odessa, winner of the 2018 Texas Super Senior and John Pierce of San Antonio, the 2017 Senior Player of the Year and reigning South Texas Senior Amateur champion.
 
Live scoring updates and daily recaps, as well as tee-times and pairings, will be available at once the action gets underway from The Hills CC.