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Jackson Markham Wins 91st West Texas Amateur
Jackson Markham Wins 91st West Texas Amateur
Briefly: Jackson Markham of Dallas wins the 91st West Texas Amateur after a final round 2-under-par 70 at Midland Country Club. The rising senior at Southern Methodist University finished at 3-under overall and one stroke better than the field. Chuck Palmer of Dallas won the Senior Division in a sudden-death playoff on the par-4 10th, while Doug Hopton-Jones of Mansfield won the Super Senior Division by two after rounds of 73-74-72.
Leaderboard:
1) Jackson Markham Dallas 70-73-70 | 213
2) Travis Woolf Forth Worth 69-73-72 | 214
T3) Rick Houston Midland 72-77-69 | 218
T3) Will Adams Odessa 73-72-73 | 218
T3) Neil Dufford Midland 76-72-70 | 218
T6) Andy Lopez Dallas 72-71-76 | 219
T6) Brian Scherer Midland 77-70-72 | 219
8) Marcus Jones Argyle 75-72-73 | 219
Golf Course: Founded in 1927, Midland Country Club opened as a nine-hole course with sand greens. From these modest beginnings, Midland Country Club has evolved into one of the premier private clubs in West Texas. At its center is a classic parkland course that was originally designed in 1951 by Texas Golf Hall of Famer Ralph Plummer. In the fall of 2015, the club hired Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design to oversee a major renovation of the golf course and practice facility. The project finished in 2017 and includes a modernized 7,354-yard, par-72 championship course to better test the skills of today’s players. Round 3 was contested at 7,219 yards.
Weather: The temperature reached 101 degrees with steady winds at 16 mph out of the south.
Winner’s Info: Jackson Markham fired a 2-under-par 70 in the final round to post 3-under for the championship and win by one stroke. The rising senior at Southern Methodist University quickly took the solo-lead after three consecutive birdies on the par-3 third, par-5 fourth and par-4 sixth. He went out in 3-under 33, and held a one-shot advantage with nine holes to play. Markham, playing in his first West Texas Amateur, remained steady on the back nine. He battled with playing competitor and 36-hole leader, Travis Woolf, throughout the final round. Following a disappointing double bogey on the par-4 17th, Markham and Woolf were tied heading into the final hole. Woolf found the native grass left of the green on his approach shot and made bogey. Markham seized the moment and made a routine par to win the 91st West Texas Amateur.
“I just kind of mostly tried to put all the focus on myself,” Markham said. “To know that my name will be on a trophy that’s going to long out-live me is pretty humbling, and I’m just honored.”
Chuck Palmer won the Senior Division after three straight rounds in red figures. The 2015 West Texas Amateur Senior Champion finished the 54-hole championship at 4-under par and tied with Ed Brooks of Fort Worth. Palmer and Brooks played the par-4 tenth in a sudden-death playoff. Palmer stuffed his approach shot and tapped in his birdie to solidify the victory.
Doug Hopton-Jones won the Super-Senior Division by two strokes and at 3-over-par 219 overall. He adds this win to his 2002 West Texas Amateur title.
In Contention: Travis Woolf posted 2-under-par 214 for the championship and finished second. Rick Houston of Fort Worth, Will Adams of Odessa and Neil Dufford of Midland finished at 2-over-par 218 and tied third. Andy Lopez of Dallas and Brian Scherer of Midland tied sixth at 3-over-par 219 overall.
What’s Next: The 2019 season continues with the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in Houston July 25-28. You can view the entire Texas Golf Association calendar here.
More Info: The Texas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the staff and members of Midland Country Club as well as our volunteers for their integral part in making the 91st West Texas Amateur a memorable and successful event. For more information on the West Texas Amateur, click here.
