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Texas League Play Playoffs Recap

Texas League Play Playoffs Recap

The 2019 Texas League Play Playoffs featured 14 teams competing in a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament.

The first round took place at Horseshoe Bay’s Slick Rock course, with 12 teams competing in the first round. Hillcrest Country Club and Royal Oaks Country Club received byes into the quarterfinal round. The first match of the day saw Jersey Meadow Golf Course from Jersey Village take on Lochinvar Golf Club of Houston. The first points of the day were won by Jersey Meadow’s Peter Costner and Ralph Eureste, who won their match to put their team up 2.5-0.5 early. Lochinvar answered in their second match as Ragan Shawell and Robert Simon took 2 points to close the gap at 3.5-2.5. Jersey Meadow’s Clark Quandahl and Scott Blickenstaff sweet the third match, and extended their overall match score 6.5-2.5 lead. Teammates Rob O’Sullivan and Bernie Rains halved the final match to seal Jersey Meadow’s victory 8-4.

Thursday’s second match featured Spanish Oaks Golf Club of Bee Cave and Odessa Country Club (Old). The teams split the first and second matches 1.5-1.5 before Spanish Oak’s Don Dean and Chris Badciong swept their match for 3 points. Odessa’s Brian Scherer and Blake Parks swept the final match 3-0 to bring to overall match to 6-6, forcing a playoff. Odessa’s Blake Parks and Brian Scherer won the match for their team to move on.

The first round also saw Tierra Verde Golf Club of Arlington against Gentle Creek Golf Club of Prosper. Tierra Verde’s Shawn Walsh and Randy Stephens took 2 points in the first match. Gentle Creek’s Keith Jackson and Paul Krause 2.5 points in the second match jumped their team into the lead, with a 3.5-2.5 score going into the third match.  A split third match set up a crucial fourth, where Tierra Verde’s Carson Good and Michael August swept 3 points to advance their team 7-5. 

The next match took place between Midland Country Club and Four Seasons Resort of Irving. The first match was won 2.5-0.5 by Four Season’s Bill Bailey and Josh Dunlap, with both teams splitting the second match 1.5-1.5.  Midland’s Bryan Word and Cody Childers’ 2.5 points in the third match tied the overall match score at 4.5, but Kevin Golding and Steve Nichols of Four Seasons edged Midland in the final match 2-1 to send their team into the next round, winning 6.5-5.5 over Midland.

Thursday’s penultimate match saw Pecan Plantation Country Club of Granbury competing against Dallas’ Lakewood Country Club. Pecan Plantation’s Dustin McKelvy swept 3-0 in the first match followed by a split 1.5-1.5 second match.  Another 3-0 sweep by Pecan Plantation’s Al Wilkes and Chip Bradley in the third match extended the lead going into the final match, where Dustin Sherrill and Marc Barrington sealed the deal with 2.5 points to win the overall match 10-2 against Lakewood.

The last match of the day featured the Grapevine Golf Course and Sugartree Golf & Country Club of Lipan. Grapevine had a quick and large lead, as Josef Christman and Rich Plotsky, along with teammates Ygnacio Dominguez and Greg Hougendobler both swept their matches 3-0. Another match victory for Jeff Dodson and Charles Beavers extended Grapevines’ lead in the third match to 8.5-0, but Sugartree’s Matt Sommerfield and Jake Smith captured a consolation win in the final match.  Grapevine advanced with a 9-3 victory.

Advancing teams returned to Slick Rock on Friday for the quarterfinal matches. The first match of the day took place between Hillcrest Country Club of Lubbock and Jersey Meadow. Guy Morrison and John Dutkowsky of Hillcrest came away with 2.5 points in the first match, but Jersey Meadow answered as Joe Drumwright and Phil Warmington took 2.5 points in the second match. Clark Quandahl and Scott Blickenstaff of Jersey Meadow also secured 2.5 points in their match, holding a lead into the final match by 2 point. Hillcrest’s Adam Headley and Michael Pruitt swept and took 3 points in the last match to propel their team to a 6.5-5.5 victory.

The second match of the day had Royal Oaks Country Club of Dallas against Odessa Country Club. Mark Jones and Sterling Swack of Odessa took 2 points in the first match. Royal Oaks jumped ahead to 4-2 overall after the second match, with Joe Lawless and Patrick Zuber sweeping 3-0.  But Odessa’s Luke Groves and Jim Bob McNeil, along with teammates Brian Scherer and Blake Parks both swept their matches 3-0 to win 8-4, advancing to the semifinal.

Friday’s third match featured Gentle Creek Golf Club and Tierra Verde Golf Club. Shawn Walsh and Randy Stephens of Tierra Verde took the first match with 2 points, but Gentle Creek’s Keith Jackson and Paul Krause answered with a 2.5 point victory in the second match. Both clubs split the third match 1.5-1.5, with an overall match score of 5-4 in favor of Gentle Creek with one match to play. Carson Gooch and Michael August of Tierra Verde swept 3-0 in dominant fashion in the final match to send their team into the semifinal with a 7-5 come-from-behind win.

Friday’s final match took place between the Pecan Plantation Country Club and Four Seasons Resort. Four Seasons’ Bill Bailey and Josh Dunlap won their first match and 2 points.  The teams split the second match. Four Seasons took control in the end, where Kelly O’Neil and Guy Grivas swept the third match 3-0, and teammates Kevin Golding and Steve Nichols did the same in the fourth to secure a 9.5-2.5 victory and the final spot in the semifinal round.

Saturday’s semifinal rounds continued at Slick Rock, and the first match of the day was between Hillcrest Country Club and Four Seasons Resort. The first and second matches between the teams ended in 1.5-1.5 ties, putting pressure on the final two matches. Kelly O’Neil and Guy Grivas of Four Seasons broke the stalemate with a 3-0 sweep in the third match, but Hillcrest’s Adam Headley and Michael Pruitt swept the fourth to send the overall match into a playoff at 6-6. In the playoff, Headly Pruitt prevailed when Headley’s second shot on the par five 12^th was put to inches.

The second semifinal match took place between Odessa Country Club and Tierra Verde Golf Club. Odessa’s Mark Jones and Sterling Swack swept the first match to give their team the quick and early lead. Tierra Verde stormed back in the second and third rounds, sweeping 3-0, 3-0 to take a 6-3 overall lead into the fourth. Odessa’s Brian Scherer and Blake Parks answered with a 3-0 sweep to tie the match at 6-6, and force a playoff. Parks closed the door on the second playoff hole with a birdie which saw Odessa advance to the championship.

Summit Rock course at Horseshoe Bay played host to Sunday’s championship round between Hillcrest Country Club and Odessa Country Club.  Mark Jones and Sterling Swack of Odessa won the first round with 2.5 points.  Matches two and three both ended in 1.5-1.5 ties, setting the stage for a close final match.  Brian Scherer and Blake Parks secured the championship for Odessa with 2.5 points in the fourth match, capturing the 2019 Texas League Play championship over Hillcrest 8-4.