Around the Green

William Aycock Leads 38th Texas Mid-Amateur

HOCKLEY – William Aycock of The Woodlands holds the first-round lead of the 38th Texas Mid-Amateur after turning in a phenomenal 6-under-par 65 at The Clubs at Houston Oaks.

Aycock, who qualified for the championship at Quail Valley Golf Course with a 3-over 74, made only one birdie on his opening nine to card a bogey-free 1-under-par 35. He caught fire on his back nine though. Aycock birdied five of his last six holes to take the round one lead.

Aycock hit his tee shot on the par-3 ninth to around 15 feet and drained the putt for birdie to post 6-under.

“I hit a lot of fairways,” said Aycock. “That’s the key out here is getting it in play and making sure you’re hitting the short grass and hitting greens.”

Aycock, who was hampered by an elbow injury all summer, felt as though his game was trending upward heading into this week.

“Everything’s been aiming up for the last few weeks,” said Aycock with a smile. “I came out here and felt I was going to put a good round together.”

A stout field of experienced players are chasing Aycock including the defending champion Ryan O’Rear of Leander, who sits tied for second. O’Rear put together a strong round of 4-under 67 to begin his defense.

“Yeah, it’s important,” O’Rear said when asked about the importance of starting off strong in his title defense. “You know – you just want to get yourself in a good position so you’re right there heading into Sunday.”

Also sitting tied for second is Houston’s Matt Van Zandt and Eric Lodge. They will begin Saturday two shots back of Aycock after carding rounds of 4-under-par 67.

Ryan Haag of Houston is tied fifth with Joseph Mathis of Sugarland and Mike Flanagan of Wylie. Haag, Mathis, and Flanagan carded rounds of 3-under-par 68.

A total of seven players are within four shots of Aycock with 36 holes to play.

This is the first Texas Mid-Amateur contested at The Clubs at Houston Oaks, which has a history of playing host to high profile tournaments including this year’s Big 12 Conference Match Play Tournament. The 38^th Texas Mid-Amateur is also the first TGA major and third championship overall held at Houston Oaks. The club previously hosted the 2018 Texas Shootout and 2020 Jackie Burke Cup Matches. It will also host the 114^th Texas Amateur in 2023.

The Clubs at Houston Oaks was transformed by world-renowned golf course architect Chet Williams in 2017. The 17-month, multimillion dollar project has vaulted the club into the spotlight as it was ranked by the Dallas Morning News as the third best course in Texas for 2021. The first round of the Texas Mid-Amateur was played from 6,813 yards.

The second round of the Texas Mid-Amateur starts Saturday at 8 a.m. For more information, click here.