Around the Green

Top Players Ready for Texas Shootout

 
After a comprehensive 15-month, multimillion dollar building and renovation project, The Clubs at Houston Oaks was unveiled in April 2017 on an expansive property west of Houston along Highway 290 that was the former site of Tennwood Country Club.
 
The centerpiece of the family friendly retreat is the Chet Williams-designed golf course. Williams, who also designed top-ranked Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, routed the new course between massive oaks, rolling terrain and natural water features. With tree-lined fairways, nearly 80 strategically placed bunkers and plenty of intricate movements in and around the green complexes, The Clubs at Houston Oaks provides a challenging test for players of all skill levels.
 
First conducted in 2003, the season-ending Texas Shootout is by invitation-only and features the top 12 players (eight mid-amateurs and four seniors) from North Texas squaring off against their counterparts from South Texas in a Ryder Cup-style competition.
 
Players earn their way onto their respective teams by accumulating points throughout the year in designated TGA regional and statewide tournaments, as well as USGA national championships. North and South regions are defined as either being above or below the 31’ parallel (Salado, Texas).
 
Of the eight mid-amateurs selected from each region, five come from the TGA Statewide Player of the Year point standings and three from the Regional Player of the Year point standings. The top four North and South senior players are chosen based on the Statewide Senior Player of the Year point standings.
 
The format for the Shootout includes foursome, four-ball and singles matches. A total of 24 matches will be played over the two days. Each match is worth three points – one point each for front nine, back nine and 18 – making for 72 available points. The first team to accumulate 36½ points is the winner.
 
Skippered by playing captain Lewis Stephenson of Mansfield, the North team bested the South squad, 43½ to 28½, at the 2017 Texas Shootout contested at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton. The South now leads the overall series 8-7.
 
Live scoring updates and daily recaps, as well as tee-times and pairings, will be available at txga.org once the action gets underway from The Clubs at Houston Oaks. 
 
2018 TEXAS SHOOTOUT NOTES:
 
North Team: Scott Abbott (Dallas), Tate Allred (Perrytown), Jay Csipkes (McKinney), Anthony Estorga (Dallas), Jake Istnick (Dallas), *Mike Lohner (Southlake), *Chuck Palmer (Dallas), *Mike Peck (Irving), Micah Rodgers (Odessa), *Lewis Stephenson (Mansfield), John Stollenwerck (Dallas) and Chris Wheeler (Addison).
 
South Team: *Bobby Baugh (San Antonio), Jess Bonneau (Houston), *Mike Booker (Houston), Ryan Clarke (Houston), Jacob Davis (Cibolo), *Chris Hartenstein (Austin), Broc Haymon (Pearland), John Hunter (The Woodlands), Josh Luongo (Round Rock), *John Pierce (San Antonio), Devaughn Robinson (Houston) and Grant Schroeder (Montgomery).
 
*Indicates senior player representative
 
Schedule of Events:
 
Friday, October 26
11:00 a.m. – Registration
12:30 – 12:50 p.m. – Practice Rounds (South)
1:00 – 1:20 p.m. – Practice Rounds (North)
6:00 p.m. – Cocktail Reception & Match Draw
 
Saturday, October 27
8:00 – 8:50 a.m. – Foursome Matches
12:30 – 1:20 p.m. – Four-Ball Matches
6:30 p.m. – Player’s Dinner
 
Sunday, October 28
8:00 – 9:28 a.m. – Singles Matches; Awards presentation following conclusion of play.