Around the Green

Gardner, Franklin Lead at Texas Super Senior

SUGAR LAND — The first round concluded Tuesday morning after a weather delay on Monday afternoon saw almost two inches of heavy rain and lightning halt the first round with two groups left to finish. All competitors now have completed 36 holes, and Texarkana’s Chuck Gardner will sleep on a two-shot overnight lead headed into the final round after a second round 1-under-par 71 in the Texas Super Senior. Gardner is the only player under par after two rounds in the TGA’s first state championship of the season. In the Legends Division, J. Wayne Franklin holds a three-shot lead with one round remaining, following his 5-over 77 on Tuesday.

Click here for full leaderboard

Leaders: Gardner followed up his opening round of even-par with four birdies, one bogey and double bogey to finish with his 71. Gardner, who finished T5 last year, will look to claim his first individual state championship. Franklin, who resides in Abilene, began the second round two shots off Egerton’s lead in the Legends Division. Franklin’s 77 tied for the low round of the day with Ron Hubbard within the division.

In Contention: In the Super Senior Division, first round leader Hollis Sullivan came back to the pack after a second round 5-over 77 and sits two strokes off Gardner’s lead at 1-over 145 through 36 holes. Houston’s Gary Durbin recorded the lowest round of the day in the Super Senior Division with seven birdies and four bogeys en route to a 3-under 69, good enough to sit alone in third place heading into the final round.

In the Legends Division, Franklin will look to hold off first round leader Ted Egerton from Dallas and Fair Oaks Ranch’s Hubbard, who both sit three off the lead at 12-over 156. Wichita Falls’ Bill Holstead is in fourth place at 14-over-par and David Wagner, also of Fair Oaks Ranch, rounds out the top five at 15-over-par.

Course: Founded in 1972, Sugar Creek Country Club is one of the Greater Houston area’s most acclaimed private clubs with 27 holes of championship golf all designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. The three nine-hole courses the legendary architect crafted at Sugar Creek feature rolling fairways framed by mature strands of trees, large undulating greens, and numerous bunkers and water features dotting the landscape.

Over the past several years the club has invested millions in facility-wide improvements to meet the needs of a growing and active membership. Texas-based architect Jeffrey Blume supervised the phased golf course renovation project that included extensive updates and enhancements to playing surfaces and infrastructure while preserving the features and strategy of Jones’ original design.

Today’s Super Senior Division was contested at 6,201 yards. The Legends Division competitors played from 5,810 yards.

Tournament History: First played in 2015, the Texas Super Senior features two age divisions: 65 and older (Super Senior) and 75 and older (Legends). Entries are open to male amateur golfers who meet the age requirements by the first round of tournament play and have a certified Handicap Index® of 12.4 or less (16.4 or less for Legends) issued through a TGA Member Club.

The format for the championship, which will be contested on the Trent/Jones Courses, is 54 holes of individual stroke play with no cut. Each age division competes from different tees and yardages, with a separate champion recognized. Prizes are also awarded to low Net scores in both Super Senior and Legends Divisions.

POY Points Race: Super Senior Player of the Year points will be awarded to the Top 20 finishers of Texas Super Senior. The champions will each get 1,000 points towards the statewide honor, followed by 750 for runner-up; 650 for third; 600 for fourth; and 550 for fifth. A complete breakdown of the Texas Super Senior Player of the Year, including points allocation, can be found here.

What’s Next: The final round of the Texas Super Senior will begin at 8:30 a.m. off holes No. 1 and No. 10 out at Sugar Creek Country Club. The leaders of the Super Senior going last off hole No. 1 and the leaders of the Legends going last off hole No. 10.

About the TGA: The Texas Golf Association was established in 1906 with a mission to promote the playing and advancement of the royal and ancient game of golf in Texas. The association is one of the most respected in the country with an ongoing commitment to its members, contestants, volunteers and all who strive to preserve the great traditions of the game.

For More information about the Texas Super Senior, click here.