Hickman Wins Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Hickman Wins Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Argyle – Aaron Hickman of Tyler wins 2 &1 to claim the 2023 Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship. This is Hickman’s second Title in the last four years, previously winning the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play at his home club in 2020, at Willow Brook Country Club.

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Championship Match: In Sunday morning’s Championship Match, No. 3 seed Aaron Hickman of Tyler went head-to-head against No. 17 seed Matthew Sullivan of Lewisville. Hickman struck first with a par on the par-4 first to go 1-up. The two would tie the 2^nd and 3^rd holes with a pair of pars and birdies, respectively, keeping the match at Hickman 1-up. On the 420-yard par-4 4^th, Hickman made his second consecutive birdie after sticking his approach shot seven feet. Hickman and Sullivan would then trade holes back and forth through No. 10. Sullivan added his second birdie of the front nine on the 332-yard par-4 8^th after sinking a 12-footer uphill right to left. Hickman’s largest lead on the front nine was 3 up but Sullivan fought back to get to down 1 after 9-holes.

1-up at the turn, Hickman won the 10^th after Sullivan’s par putt slide by the hole. After tying holes No. 11, No. 12, No. 13, and No. 14, Hickman’s birdie putt on the 519-yard par 5^th was conceded after Sullivan’s up and down from the bunker wouldn’t fall. Standing on the par-3 16^th, Hickman was 3 up with 3 to go, known to many as being dormie. After what looked like to be the end of the match, Sullivan’s putting came in clutch once again, he drained his 20-foot birdie putt to extend the match to No. 17. After finding the fairway on the par-4 17^th, Sullivan’s approach found the front of the green with a back left hole location. Hickman’s drive found the right rough but was able to muscle one up to the front of the green, about the same distance as Sullivan’s. After both players missed their birdie putt, Hickman’s par putt was conceded, in which crowned him the Champion.

Course: Cross Timbers Golf Course in Azle will be the host site for the 25^th Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play. Opened in 1995, Cross Timbers Golf Course was designed by Texas-based architect Jeffery Brauer. Routed through a secluded woodland area near Ash Creek, the strategic 6,734-yard, par-72 layout features significant elevation changes, tree-lined fairways, natural penalty areas, and well-protected, contoured greens.

Tournament History: The Mid-Amateur Match Play is open to players 25 years of age or older and hold a handicap index of 5.4 or less. The unique format starts with 84 players competing in an 18-hole stroke play qualifying round. From there, the low 32 players will advance to the match play portion of the championship. Matches will take place over three days, with 36-holes being played Friday and Saturday for those who continue to advance, and an 18-hole championship match to crown our champion on Sunday morning.

POY Points Race: By winning the 25^th Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play, Hickman was awarded 750 points towards Statewide Player of the Year standings. For more information about TGA Statewide Player of the Year points, click here.

What’s Next: The TGA will conducting their North and South Amateurs to close out the regional series. The regional amateurs are schedule to be played simultaneously, August 4-6. Next on the state championship schedule is the Texas Four-Ball which will be contested August 18-20 at Pinecrest Country Club in Longview, TX. Texas Mid-Amateur and Texas Senior Amateur qualifying is underway for the TGA with sites scattered across the state for the next two months. The Texas Mid-Amateur will be hosted by Midland Country Club September 29 – October 1. The Texas Senior Amateur will be hosted by Amarillo Country Club September 8-10.

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 25^th Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play, click here. To see all the scores from Cross Timber Golf Course, click here.

Championship Match

#3 Aaron Hickman vs #17 Matthew Sullivan – Hickman def. Sullivan 2&1

Championship Match Set at Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Azle — During Saturday morning’s Quarterfinals, two of three defending champions fall while the stroke play qualifying medalist and last remining past champion advances. In the afternoon Semifinal Matches, Aaron Hickman defeated Seth Murphy while Matthew Sullivan continued his match play run defeating local Azle resident, Kyle Wesolowski.

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Quarterfinals: 

The first Quarterfinals match, Match 1, extra holes were needed as past champion Chris Wheeler of Addison and Matthew Sullivan of Lewisville went head-to-head. Sullivan, who is playing in his second TGA event and first TGA state championship got the best of No. 9 Wheeler, defeating him in 20 holes. No. 17 seed Sullivan is the first player advancing to this afternoon’s Semifinal matches. In Match 2, No. 13 Kyle Wesolowski defeated No. 21 seed Andrew Grice of Austin. Wesolowski who resides in Fort Worth had yet another dominating match play performance winning the match 6 &5. Wesolowski will be paired against Sullivan in the first Semifinal Match of the afternoon.

Match 3 was between No. 15 seed Anthony Estorga of Dallas and No. 10 seed Seth Murphy of Tyler. Past champion Estorga tried to make a late round charge winning the par-3 16^th hole to get the match to 1 down heading into the short par-4 17^th. Under pressure, Murphy remained solid and won the 17^th hole to win the match 2 & 1, advancing himself to the Semifinals. The fourth and final match of the morning, Match 4, was a pairing of No. 3 seed Aaron Hickman of Tyler and No. 6 seed Matt Miller of McKinney. Hickman, who shared stroke play qualifying medalist honor, found something in his game and got hot mid-round winning three consecutive holes before making the turn. Miller tried to match Hickman shot for shot on the back nine but ultimately fell to the past champion 4 & 3. His win in the Quarterfinals secured him a spot in the second Semifinals Match, which will be a showdown between two of Tyler’s very own.

Semifinals:

In the first match of the afternoon Semifinals, Match 1, No. 17 seed Matthew Sullivan of Lewisville was up against No. 13 seed and local resident, Kyle Wesolowski of Azle. In just his second TGA Championship, Sullivan advanced to the Championship Match after winning the last two holes of the Match, the par fourth 17^th, and par five 18^th. Sullivan carded four birdies in his Semifinal match with the most important one coming on his final hole to close out the match, 2 up.

In Match 2 of the Semifinals, No. 3 seed Aaron Hickman of Tyler defeated No. 10 seed Seth Murphy, also from Tyler. Murphy grabbed the lead quickly after driving the par four, 1^st. After dropping the second hole, Murphy went on to win the next two holes to grab a 2 hole lead. Hickman grabbed the lead on the par 4, 17^th after Murphy found trouble off the tee and was forced to take relief from an unplayable ball. Hickman found the fairway on the par 5, 18^th while Murphy found the rough. With a good approach, Hickman was able to get up and down to secure a birdie and the final spot in the Championship Match. Hickman is looking to add his first win of the season while another Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play title. Hickman recently won the Championship after defeating Colby Harwell in the 2020 Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play at his home club, Willow Brook Country Club.

Course: Cross Timbers Golf Course in Azle will be the host site for the 25^th Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play. Opened in 1995, Cross Timbers Golf Course was designed by Texas-based architect Jeffery Brauer. Routed through a secluded woodland area near Ash Creek, the strategic 6,734-yard, par-72 layout features significant elevation changes, tree-lined fairways, natural penalty areas, and well-protected, contoured greens.

Tournament History: The Mid-Amateur Match Play is open to players 25 years of age or older and hold a handicap index of 5.4 or less. The unique format starts with 84 players competing in an 18-hole stroke play qualifying round. From there, the low 32 players will advance to the match play portion of the championship. Matches will take place over three days, with 36-holes being played Friday and Saturday for those who continue to advance, and an 18-hole championship match to crown our champion on Sunday morning.

POY Points Race: Statewide Player of the Year points will be awarded to the top players making it to the Round of 16. The champion will receive 750 points towards the statewide honor followed by 500 for runner-up, 400 for semifinalists, 200 for quarterfinalists, and 100 for Round of 16 participants. For more information about TGA Statewide Player of the Year points, click here.

What’s Next: Sunday’s Championship Match will start at 7:30 am tomorrow morning.

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 25^th Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play, click here. To see all the scores from Cross Timber Golf Course, click here.

Quarterfinal Matches

#17 Matthew Sullivan vs #9 Chris Wheeler – Sullivan def. Wheeler 20 holes

#13 Kyle Wesolowski vs #21 Andrew Grice – Wesolowski def. Grice 6&5

#15 Anthony Estorga vs #10 Seth Murphy – Murphy def. Estorga 2&1

#3 Aaron Hickman vs #6 Matt Miller – Hickman def. Miller 4&3

Semifinal Matches

#17 Matthew Murphy vs #13 Kyle Wesolowski – Murphy def. Wesolowski 2 up

#10 Seth Murphy vs #3 Aaron Hickman – Hickman def. Murphy 1 up

Harris and Knight Lead After Round 1 of Texas Stableford

KERRVILLE – Curtis Harris of Eastland and Stephen Knight of Fredericksburg have the lead after the first round of play at the 2021 Texas Stableford Handicap at beautiful Riverhill Country Club.  Harris and Knight carded 83 points, 8 over their first round quota.

Combined, the duo holed two eagles, eight birdies and 15 par-saves, placing them at the top of field, along with the Hogan flight, before Saturday’s second round.

Round 1 Results | Round 2 Pairings

Golf Course: Designed by close friends Joe Finger and Byron Nelson in 1974, Riverhill Country Club’s 18-hole course is a premier location for golf in Texas and the United States.  Based in the heart of Hill Country, the course boasts its rare bent-grass greens and a 7,137 yard, 72-par challenge featuring scenic creeks, hills and a lake throughout the property.  Over time, the course became Nelson’s favorite, where he was quoted saying, “If I had only one golf course to play, it would be Riverhill.”

Weather: Sunny, high of 75 degrees with a calm wind out of the North at nine mph.

In Contention: Following the leaders are Robert Evans and Wesley Goodlett, both of Austin.  The men carded 63 points, 2 under their first-round quota. Evans and Goodlett are in the Hogan flight trailing Harris and Eastland.  X and X lead the X flight.

In the Nelson flight, Greg Taylor of Georgetown and Paul Till of Sugar Land finished the round with 60 points, 5 under first round quota.

What’s Next: Round 2 tee times begin Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. off No. 1 & 10 tees at Riverhill Country Club.

More Info: For more information on the Texas Stableford Handicap, click here.

Wheeler Wins Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Briefly: Addison’s Christopher Wheeler finishes strong and defeats Andrew Lawson 6 and 4 at Trinity Forest Golf Club to win his first Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship. The 2019 Texas Golf Association player of the year and number one seed was able to perform confidently and continued his hot streak even after 18 holes of stroke play and 85 holes of match play. 

Match Play Leaderboard

Golf Course: Opened in 2016, Trinity Forest was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Built in the Great Trinity Forest and surrounded on its edges by thousands of majestic hardwood trees, the classic links-style course artistically meanders through an open meadow of rolling, rumpled sand recalling the wind-swept land of Great Britain or the coastline of the Northeastern U.S.

Weather: Sunny with a high in the mid-90s and a slight breeze from the west north-west.

 Championship Match Summary: Wheeler continued his torrid play throughout the week with going two up through the first two holes against Lawson. The two halved the par four 3rd hole and par four 4th hole before Wheeler nearly eagled the 5th. Wheeler made two birdies throughout the first nine holes and lost only one hole, the par five 7th hole, when he made the turn at 4-up. On the 11th hole Lawson, who is no stranger to Trinity Forest, capitalized by draining a birdie putt and watched Wheeler miss his attempt to win the hole. Wheeler continued his birdie barrage on 12 to go 5-up with five holes to play. Lawson, unable to win the par four 14th hole gave Wheeler another Texas Golf Association victory to add to his name with a 6 and 4 win.

The Texas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the membership and staff at the Trinity Forest Golf Club for hosting this year’s Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play.

More Info: For more information on the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play, visit the tournament homepage here.

Finals Set For Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Briefly: Christopher Wheeler’s run as the top seed continues to extend as he defeated John Derrick 5 and 4 and no. 5 seed Coy Breen in a demanding 23-hole match. Andrew Lawson continues his hot streak as the no. 10 seed, eliminating Gary Ezmerlian and two-time champion Colby Harwell on Saturday at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas.

Match Play Leaderboard

Golf Course: Opened in 2016, Trinity Forest was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Built in the Great Trinity Forest and surrounded on its edges by thousands of majestic hardwood trees, the classic links-style course artistically meanders through an open meadow of rolling, rumpled sand recalling the wind-swept land of Great Britain or the coastline of the Northeastern U.S.

Weather: Mostly sunny with a high in the mid-90s and a slight breeze from the southeast.

In Contention: Saturday morning saw the quarterfinals play out with the elimination of both past champions. Coy Breen defeated Colby Harwell 2 and 1 and Aaron Hickman defeated Padden Nelson 3 and 1. Following Andrew Lawson’s 7 and 5 victory over Gary Ezmerlian, Lawson continued his hot play on his home course versus defending champion Aaron Hickman defeating him 2 and 1 on hole 17.

What’s Next: The championship match will begin at 8:00 a.m. with live scoring provided.

More Info: For more information on the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play, visit the tournament homepage here.

Quarterfinals Set For Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Briefly: Christopher Wheeler continued his hot play as the top seed in the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas. Wheeler won his first match in the Round of 32 Friday morning 5 and 4 and then advanced to the Quarterfinals after defeating Todd Albert in a 20-hole match Friday afternoon. The Quarterfinalists head into another marathon day Saturday with the Semifinals to be contested after lunch.

Match Play Leaderboard

Golf Course: Opened in 2016, Trinity Forest was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Built in the Great Trinity Forest and surrounded on its edges by thousands of majestic hardwood trees, the classic links-style course artistically meanders through an open meadow of rolling, rumpled sand recalling the wind-swept land of Great Britain or the coastline of the Northeastern U.S.

Weather: Mostly sunny with a high in the mid-90s and a slight breeze from the southwest.

In Contention: Friday mornings matches saw the Round of 32 and Round of 16 play out with no major upsets. Two past champions, Aaron Hickman (2020) and Colby Harwell (2017, 2019) are both looking to notch another victory after winning both of their matches Friday. After a 21-hole match, Padden Nelson defeated Daniel Depasquale in the Round of 16 and is now heading into Saturday’s Quarterfinals.

What’s Next: Saturday’s Quarterfinal Matches begin at 7:30 a.m. followed by the Semifinal Matches beginning at 12:30 p.m.

More Info: For more information on the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play, visit the tournament homepage here.

Dave Davis and Gary Kirwan Capture Titles at 2021 North Senior Amateur

Denton, TX – Dave Davis, of Saginaw, comes from behind in the final round of the North Senior Amateur to capture his third North Senior Amateur title since 2016. Davis fired a two-under par 70 on Friday to get into a playoff with defending Texas Senior Amateur Champion, John Derrick. After tying the first playoff hole, Davis sunk his birdie putt on the 18th green at Wildhorse Golf Club to capture the title.

Gary Kirwan, of McKinney, defeats first round leader of the Super Senior Division, John Grace, in a three hole playoff to capture the Super Senior Division title. Kirwan, like Davis, captured his third North Senior Amateur title since 2016. Both Kirwan and Davis have followed suit in capturing their respective titles in the same years; 2016 at Denton Country Club, 2019 at Eldorado Country Club, and now 2021 at Wildhorse Golf Club at Robson Ranch. The 2020 North Senior Amateur was canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Being said, this feat by both Davis and Kirwan make it even more impressive of their feat of reclaiming their titles in the past four times the North Senior Amateur has been held.

First round leader Michael Jones finished in a tie for 14th after a final round 81. John Derrick, of Waco, fired a three-under par 69 which was good for low round of the tournament in the Senior Division. Finishing in a tie for third place was Grabury’s, Lelan Chiles and of Farmers Branch, Chris Goodspeed at even par for the 36-hole championship.

Finishing in a tie for 3rd place in the Super Senior Division was Tom Takes, of Weatherford. And in fourth place, Scott Munse of Plano with a 36-hole total 150, six over par.

LEADERBOARD

Senior Division
1st       Dave Davis             73-69—142*
2nd     John Derrick          72-70—142
3rd      Lelan Chiles           73-71—144
4th      Chris Goodspeed   71-73—144
T-5th  John Schaefer        74-72—146
T-5th  Rob Wands             72-74—146

*Won on 2nd playoff hole

Super Senior Division
1st         Gary Kirwan       72-75—147*
2nd       John Grace         71-76—147
3rd       Tom Takes          73-76—149
4th        Scott Munse       77-73—150
T-5th    Dub Huckabee   77-75—152
T-5th    Gary Tully           77-75—152
T-5th    Rick Lindsay       75-77—152

*Won on 3rd playoff hole

FULL LEADERBOARD

Weather: Thursday’s first round on Robson Ranch was cool but by early in the afternoon, the sun was shining bright with temperatures reaching the low 80 degrees. The wind was almost non-existent for majority of the day which gave players ideal scoring conditions at Wildhorse Golf Club. Friday’s round was almost a complete flip from Thursday; the wind was a consistent 15 mph with 25-30 mph gusts which added a challenge to the field. Temperatures hit 80 degrees by the end of the day for the lead groups finishing their last hole with partly cloudy skies.

Host Course: Designed by renowned Texas golf architect Gary Stephenson, the 27-hole championship course features strategically placed bunkers and penalty areas that present an enjoyable challenge for all golfers. Wildhorse Golf Club is located within the beautiful Robson Ranch in Denton, Texas. The North Senior Amateur was conducted on the South and West nines.

Next Up: The North Regional Series will take a break for now and resume back up in August for the North Amateur at The Bridges Golf Club on August 6th-8th.

The Texas Super Senior is next up on the championship schedule for the TGA. The top Super Seniors will be tested at beautiful Ridglea Country Club (North Course) in Fort Worth on April 19th-21st.