Around the Green

Round One of Texas Four-Ball Suspended, Hickman and Couture Lead

HORSESHOE BAY – Aaron Hickman of Tyler and Rob Couture of Dallas hold the clubhouse lead of the Texas Four-Ball after turning in a magnificent 9-under-par 63 at Horseshoe Bay Resort’s Apple Rock Course. Due to multiple suspensions of play during the first round there are groups that were unable to finish.

Play was suspended for a total of 2 hours and 23 minutes between two delays in the late afternoon due to lightning in the area during Friday’s first round. Play will resume at 7:45 a.m. Saturday morning.

Hickman and Couture became friends through golf many years ago and now travel the country playing together. Over the years, they have played countless rounds together including last year’s Texas Four-Ball in which they finished runner-up. Though this year is only the second time the duo has teamed up in the Texas Four-Ball, Hickman and Couture had no problem navigating the Apple Rock Course on Friday.

Hickman carded five birdies on his own ball, while Couture tallied four birdies of his own. The duo went 5-under on their last eight holes en route to their opening 9-under 63 to lead the field by two.

“We got off to a good start. I birdied number one and we kind of hung in there,” Hickman said. “It wasn’t that stressful. We just played pretty solid all day.”

Despite the weather delays Hickman and Couture were able to keep their rhythm and composure.

“It’s not easy. We didn’t hit great shots coming out of the first weather delay,” Couture said. “But after that we played well coming out of the second one.”

Brady Jones of Royse City and Matt Neyra of Rockwall sit two shots back of Hickman and Couture in sole second place. Fort Worth’s Colby Amparan and Gary Ezmerlian sit in third after an opening round of 6-under 66.
Three teams are tied for fourth at 5-under par. They include Jess Bonneau and Chase Chapman, Will Glanville and Jeff Howard as well as Greg Smith and Josh Swanson.

In the Senior Division, Don Gafner and Jim Quinn sit atop the leaderboard after firing an opening round 8-under par 64. The teams of Scott Smith and William Shock, Dan Cook and Steve Miles as well as Ron Finnerty and Tommy Tucker fired 6-under-par 66s. They’ll head into Saturday’s second round with a one-stroke advantage over Dan Howard and Craig Rumora. Mike Booker and Pat Youngs are tied for sixth with Lee Sandlin and Hollis Sullivan after rounds of 4-under-par 68.

In the Super Senior Division, John Grace and Bill Holstead fired a 10-under par 62 to take a commanding three stroke lead into Saturday’s second round. The team of Aaron Billings and Richard Koenig sit behind in solo second after a first round 7-under 65.

With its spectacular setting on the shores of Horseshoe Bay, the Apple Rock resort course is one of the state’s most scenic championship golf courses in Texas. The Horseshoe Bay Resort – Apple Rock Course opened in 1985 and was designed by the highly touted Robert Trent Jones, Sr.

Jones, Sr. took full advantage of the hill country land – rolling hills, water features, and rocky terrain – to create a course that is challenging, exciting and picturesque. The course offers plenty of risk-reward shots for players of all skill levels.

Round one of the Texas Four-Ball resumes Saturday at 7:45 a.m. Once play of the second round concludes the field will be cut to the low 24 teams and ties in the Championship Division, low 10 teams and ties in the Senior Division and low six teams and ties in the Super Senior Division. For more information, click here.