Texas Super Senior Amateur Set for April 22-24

Riverbend Country Club in Sugar Land will be the host site for the 9th Texas Super Senior Amateur, to be played from April 22-24.

This year’s Texas Super Senior Amateur will be the fourth TGA championship held at Riverbend Country Club, which most recently hosted the 2022 Women’s Four-Ball, won by Elise Parel and Jacqueline Nguyen.

“We are thrilled to return to such a wonderful venue as Riverbend Country Club,” said Owen Kinney, TGA Tournament Manager. “The club has been a tremendous supporter of the amateur game, and we know the membership and staff are looking forward to showcasing their exceptional facility and providing a memorable experience for the players.”

Designed by Press Maxwell, Riverbend Country Club opened for play in 1957. Maxwell routed the challenging layout through gently rolling terrain and created interest and strategy by incorporating the site’s abundant natural features. In 2010, architect Jeff Blume oversaw an extensive renovation project that included rebuilding and shifting tees and bunkers, reconstructing green complexes, and upgrading irrigation and drainage systems.

“Riverbend is a thorough test of golf from tee to green,” Kinney said. “It’s a very traditional design that demands accuracy and good course management skills and I know the players will enjoy competing for the championship title on this great stage.”

First conducted 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 an up-to-date WHS Handicap Index® not exceeding 12.4 (16.4 for Legends) issued through a member club of the TGA.

The starting field of 84 players (60 Super Seniors, 24 Legends) will play 54 holes of individual stroke play over three days with no cut. Each age division will compete from different tees and yardages, with separate champions recognized. Players who are 75 and older can opt to compete in the Super Senior Division at the time an entry form is submitted. The top three finishers and ties in the Super Senior Division, regardless of age, and the winner of the Legends Division will earn exemptions into this year’s Texas Senior Amateur to be held Sept. 27-29 on the Tournament Players Course at The Nelson Golf & Sports Club in Irving. In addition to the overall Super Senior and Legends champions, awards will also be given to the lowest net scores in each division.

Starting times and pairings for the first and second rounds will be posted online at txga.org no later than April 16. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available on the TGA website once the action gets underway from Riverbend Country Club.

At the 2023 Texas Super Senior Amateur, Chuck Gardner of Texarkana won for the second year in a row with rounds of 72-74-69 on the New Course at White Bluff Resort in Whitney. His one-under-par 215 total was good for a one-shot margin of victory over 2016 champion Jerry Hudgins of Tyler. With the win, Gardner became the first person in the event’s history to successfully defend the title. Bill Holstead of Wichita Falls shot 73-76-83 to claim a wire-to-wire victory in the Legends Division. Holstead, the 1970 Texas Amateur champion, finished at 16-over 232 and well ahead of a trio of players tied at 237. Ed Turner of Dallas and Jay Trahan of Montgomery won low net honors in the Super Senior and Legends Divisions, respectively.

Cedar Crest Golf Course First of Six Courses Hosting U.S. Adaptive Open Qualifier

Addison – Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, Texas is set to host their first U.S. Adaptive Open Qualifier. The qualifier will be one of only six sites across the United States between April 16 to May 7.  

In 2017, the USGA followed through with a pledge to establish a “championship for the adaptive golf community”. The U.S. Adaptive Open is the 15th and newest USGA Championship for men and women amateur golfers. The tournament is split into eight groups based on the player’s disability and features the widest age range of players with eligible players ranging from 16-80 years old. Modifications in the Rules of Golf were added by the USGA in 2023, permitting players to “compete using on-course aides, loosened club-anchoring rules, and adjusted drops” to accommodate carts. The players compete for two trophies that are given to the lowest-scoring players in the women’s and men’s divisions while copper medals are awarded to the lowest scorers in each of the divisions in the tournament.  

Blazing a path for the future of adaptive golf, you can say that more than a trophy is what is on the line for these players. This is a golf event unlike any other with an opportunity to grow the adaptive golf community year-by-year going into the future. Every golfer wants to uphold this great game and keep improving it and these players are no different. Some of the players shared with the USGA after last year’s event that they wouldn’t even think they could play a full 18 holes and now they are playing as part of a USGA championship.  

With the first two tournaments taking place at Pinehurst Country Club & Resort, this is the first year the tournament will head to a new site. That is not the only new part of the 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open with this year’s event featuring a cut for the first time. Starting April 16, Adaptive players across the country will play in qualifiers to try and punch their ticket to Sand Creek Station.  

The Texas Golf Association is one of six AGAs (Allied Golf Associations) hosting a qualifier with Cedar Crest Golf Course hosting the first U.S Adaptive Open qualifier in the Lonestar State.  

“We are very excited to be a part of this growing initiative for adaptive golf. Cedar Crest is a great and historic course, and we couldn’t think of a better place for a USGA qualifier site,” said Managing Director of TGA Foundation/Outreach Kelly Kilgo “To be a part of six other AGAs hosting a qualifier is something special. We can’t wait to meet these players and not only see them play some great golf but also hear some of their incredible stories.” 

Cedar Crest Golf Course has a rich history of golf and is a favorite amongst metroplex golfers. Designed by A.W Tillinghast, the course held the 1927 PGA Championship, 1926 Dallas Open, 1954 USGA Negro National Open and USGA’s Public Links Championship. The country club was turned public in 1946 after the City of Dallas purchased it. In 2001 the club built a new clubhouse and renovated the course. 

“It means a great deal to Cedar Crest and our team to be able to host an event like this,” shared Cedar Crest’s PGA Professional Ira Molayo. “This provides an opportunity to promote golf in an inclusive way.”  

The Texas Golf Association will be working with the Texas Adaptive Golf Association and hosting its 3rd Texas Adaptive Golf Championship later this fall at Indian Creek Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas on October 7-9.  The TGA has supported the Texas Adaptive Golf Association to help with staff, volunteers, and rules officials for the tournament and this year the TGA will be more involved with the event. Based in Fort Worth, TAGA was founded by Bobby Bell, Randy Shack, and Josh Tankersley to bring the game of adaptive golf to Texas.  

For more information on the 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open, click here. For more information on the Texas Golf Association Adaptive Open, click here.  

Bobby Baugh Wins South Senior Amateur; Brad Greebon Wins Super Senior Amateur

Briefly: San Antonio’s Bobby Baugh breaks through with his first Texas Golf Association victory following a four-shot win in the 2024 South Senior Amateur at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort. Baugh started the final round two shots off of the lead and posted a final round even par score to sit atop the leaderboard at 2-under par for the championship.

Brad Greebon, of San Marcos, claimed his first TGA championship with his victory in the Super Senior Division. Greebon’s two-day total of 3-over par was good for a one-shot victory over Kingsland’s Mark Johnson, who finished at 4-over par.

Final Results

Golf Course: This is the sixth championship at Tapatio Springs. Most recently they hosted the 2023 Texas Father-Son, won by Brian and Wick Comegys. The resort has also hosted the TGA’s Texas Shamble, a mixed team event, for the last six years. Located approximately 30 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio, Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort opened in 1981 with a course originally designed by Bill Johnston. In 2015, Tripp Davis & Associates completed an extensive renovation of the facility which included reshaping and rebuilding all fairways, bunkers, teeing areas, and green complexes.

Weather: Tuesday’s opening round of the South Senior Amateur welcomed the players with partly cloudy skies and gusty winds out of the north. Tuesday’s high reached the mid-70s. Wednesday welcomed the players with sunny skies and a slight breeze out of the north. The final round temperature reached the low 70s.

Top Finishers: Baugh played steady golf throughout the championship, with seven birdies over the two rounds. Baugh multiple times has been in contention at TGA events, was able to close out this week and finish four strokes ahead of Austin’s Michael Allen and Boerne’s Blake Ross. Allen and Ross finished the South Senior Amateur at 2-over par.

Finishing in a tie for fourth place at 3-over par were League City’s Blanton Hansen and first round leader Tommy Tucker, of San Antonio.

Super Senior Division: Greebon, a member at Kissing Tree in San Marcos, played steady golf during the final round after an opening round of 3-over par. Greebon posted three birdies, one bogey and a double bogey during his final round for even-par.

Rounding out the top three finishers in the Super Senior Division were runner-up Mark Johnson and David Pocknall, also of San Marcos, in third place. Pocknall, a multiple time winner in TGA events, finished the final round at 1-over par and 5-over for this year’s championship.

Player of the Year: Senior and Super Senior Player of the Year points will be awarded to the top finishers at the 2024 South Senior Amateur. The winning player in each division will receive 500 points, followed by 400 for second, 300 for third, 200 for fourth, and 100 for fifth. For Senior and Super Senior POY information, click here and here.

What’s Next: The next event in the Regional Series will be the 96^th West Texas Amateur at Quicksand Golf Course in San Angelo. Registration is open to players from all over Texas and will open on May 22^nd and the event will have three divisions – Open, Senior and Super Senior. The final event in the South Regional Series will be the South Amateur held at Corpus Christi Country Club in Corpus Christi. Registration for the South Amateur will open on June 12^th.

More Info: The Texas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the staff, members of Tapatio Springs, and our volunteers for their integral part in making the South Senior Amateur a memorable and successful event. For more information on the South Senior Amateur, click here.

Randall Conn Wins North Senior Amateur; Tom Takes Claims Super Senior Division

Briefly: Trophy Club’s Randall Conn wins the North Senior Amateur title with a final round 72 to finish at five-over-par 145 for the tournament, to claim the win over the field by five strokes.  This is Conn’s first Texas Golf Association championship.

Tom Takes of Weatherford, claimed the Super Senior Division at 7-over-par 147, a one shot victory over second place Sam Manning of Dallas.  This is Takes first Texas Golf Association victory as well.

Final Results

Golf Course: This is the third Texas Golf Association regional championship at Walnut Creek Country Club. Most recently they hosted the 2019 North Four-Ball, won by Jason Schultz and Dru Fenimore. Located in Mansfield approximately 30 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, Walnut Creek Country Club opened in 1974 and was designed by Don January and Bill Martindale.  Walnut Creek Country Club has been rated as one of the best clubs in the DFW area by Avid Golfer every year since 2020.

Weather: Tuesday’s opening round of the North Senior Amateur presented an extreme challenge to the players with overcast skies and strong winds out of the northwest blowing at 25-30 mph all day with gusts up to 40 mph. Tuesday’s high reached into the upper 60s. Wednesday welcomed the players with slightly better conditions, the wind continued to blow out of the northwest at about 8-10 mph and gusts up to 20 mph. The final round temperature reached the low 70s.

Top Finishers: Conn fired a very impressive three-over-par 73 in the first round of the North Senior amateur in brutal conditions with wind gusts reaching upwards of 40 mph.  Conn recorded one birdie during his first round on the par 3 fourth hole.  Conn shot 72 in the final round, running away from the rest of the field by taking advantage of much better playing conditions.  Conn put a stamp on his victory with an eagle on hole 18.

Tim Mauser, of Aledo, fired rounds of 74-75-150.  Mauser entered the final round one back of Conn after the tough first round playing conditions and started strong with a birdie on the first hole of the final round but Conns stellar play was enough to pull away from the field. 2022 and 2023 North Senior Amateur Champions Neal Barfield of Dallas and Jon Schaefer of Plano finished in a tie for third place after round of 79-72-151 and 76-75-151, respectively.  Rounding out the top five were David Johnson of Trophy Club and Lee Sandlin of Dallas who both finished at twelve-over-par for the tournament.

Super Senior Division: Takes played consistent golf over the two days with rounds of 74-73-147 to claim the Super Senior Division of the North Senior Amateur by one stroke over Sam Manning.  Takes and Manning were neck and neck throughout the entire final round with Manning firing four birdies to make a strong run at Takes.  However, it would end up being a par on hole 16 that would be the deciding factor in Takes’ win as Manning finished bogey, bogey, birdie versus Takes par-bogey-birdie. Finishing in third place Michael Puls of Irving, shot 76-74-150.  Gary Kirwan of McKinney and Russell Cox of Woodway rounded out the top five with tournament totals of 152 and 153.

Player of the Year: Senior and Super Senior Player of the Year points will be awarded to the top finishers at the 2024 North Senior Amateur. The winning player in each division will receive 500 points, followed by 400 for second, 300 for third, 200 for fourth, and 100 for fifth. For Senior and Super Senior POY information, click here and here.

 What’s Next: The next event in the Regional Series will be the 96^th West Texas Amateur at Quicksand Golf Course in San Angelo. Registration will open to players from all over Texas on May 22^nd and the event will have three divisions – Open, Senior, and Super Senior. The final event in the North Regional Series will be the North Amateur held at Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater, TX. Registration for the North Amateur will open on June 12^th.

More Info: The Texas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the staff, members of Walnut Creek Country Club, and our volunteers for their integral part in making the North Senior Amateur a memorable and successful event. For more information on the North Senior Amateur, click here.

Regional Senior Amateurs Set for April 2-3

The Texas Golf Association’s 2024 men’s regional tournament series rolls on in the first week of April with the North and South Senior Amateurs. The championships will be held concurrently from April 2-3.

The North Senior Amateur will be played on the Pecan Course at Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield. Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort in Boerne will be the host site for the South Senior Amateur.

This will be the fourth TGA championship held at Walnut Creek and the sixth at Tapatio Springs. The last TGA championship held at Walnut Creek was the 2019 North Four-Ball, won by Dru Fenimore and Jason Schultz. Tapatio Springs most recently hosted the 2023 Texas Father-Son, won by Brian and Wick Comegys. The resort has also hosted the TGA’s Texas Shamble, a mixed team event, for the last six years.

The Pecan Course at Walnut Creek Country Club opened in 1974 and was designed by Billy Martindale and Texas Golf Hall of Fame member Don January. The classic, parkland-style layout weaves through groves of trees, natural water hazards, and unspoiled native areas. Located approximately 30 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio, Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort opened in 1981 with a course originally designed by Bill Johnston. In 2015, Tripp Davis & Associates completed an extensive renovation of the facility which included reshaping and rebuilding all fairways, bunkers, teeing areas, and green complexes.

First played in 2003, the Regional Senior Amateurs feature two age divisions: 55 and older (Senior) and 65 and older (Super Senior). Entries are open to male amateur golfers who meet the age requirements by the first round of tournament play, have an up-to-date Handicap Index® not exceeding 8.4 (10.0 for Super Senior) issued through a member club of the TGA, and reside in the region relative to their respective championship. The delineation between the North and South regions is the 31st parallel that passes through the city of Salado.

Both championships are conducted using the same competitive format. The starting field of 84 players (60 Seniors, 24 Super Seniors) will play 36 holes of individual stroke play over two days with no cut. Each age division will compete from different tees and yardages, with separate champions recognized. Players who are 65 and older can opt to compete in the Senior Division at the time an entry form is submitted.

The top 15 finishers and ties in the Senior Division, regardless of age, will earn exemptions into this year’s Texas Senior Amateur to be held Sept. 27-29 on the TPC Course at The Nelson Golf & Sports Club in Irving. In addition, the top five finishers and ties will earn performance points which will be applied to the year-long Senior Player of the Year race.

Starting times and pairings for the first round of both championships will be posted on the TGA website no later than March 27. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from Walnut Creek Country Club and Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort.

At the 2023 championships, Mike Booker secured his fifth overall South Senior Amateur title with a 36-hole total of 2-under-par 140 at Gus Wortham Park Golf Course in Houston. Charles Reeve won the Super Senior Division on the second playoff hole over Steve Moran after the two players tied at 4-over 146 at the end of regulation play. John Schaefer won the North Senior Amateur with rounds of 74-75 (+5) over 36 holes at Whitestone Golf Club in Benbrook. Rick Lindsay took home the honors in the Super Senior Division with a 7-over 151 total.

Chris Wheeler wins North Mid-Amateur

Briefly: Chris Wheeler of Addison, TX captures the 2024 North Mid-Amateur, and earns low Mid-Master recognition, at The Courses at Watters Creek for his third TGA championship victory. Wheeler closed the event with a bogey free final round of 3-under par 69. Wheeler improved his scores each day and was the only player to record three rounds of par or better. Overall, Wheeler recorded rounds of 72-71-69 for a 4-under par 212. With this win Wheeler earns an exemption into the 115th Texas Amateur at Trinity Forest Golf Club

Wheeler duked it out against 36-hole co-leader Luke Condon throughout the better part of the final round. Condon held serve until the final three holes, which he played in 5-over par. Condon finished the championship in third place, which opened the door for Rob Couture. Couture stayed within striking distance after posting 73-73-146 after 36 holes. Couture recorded a bogey free final round of 3-under par 69 to finish at 1-under par 215 and work his way into second place for the championship. With his 2nd place finish, Couture will also earn an exemption into the 115th Texas Amateur.

Final Results

Golf Course: Formerly known as Chase Oaks and redesigned by the the Weibring/Wolfard team, The Courses at Watters Creek weaves through woodlands of red oak, cedar elm and pecan trees. Comprised of 419 Bermuda grass fairways and mini verde greens, The Courses at Watters Creek offers a challenge to all levels of players.

Weather: The players navigated a soft, wet course during Friday’s first round due to an inch of overnight rain. Temperatures ranged from the high 50’s in the AM to mid 60’s in the afternoon on the overcast day. Players experienced similar temperatures during Saturday’s second round, but the cloud cover broke for a sunny afternoon. Conditions ramped up for Sunday’s final round with wind speeds of 20 mph and 30 mph gusts.

Top Finishers: Dallas’s Will Strickler and Tyler’s Aaron Hickman both finished tied for fourth at 2-over par 218 overall. Hickman held the 36-hole co-lead coming into the final round, but moved backwards after a final round 78. Strickler’s championship was quite the opposite. After an uncharacteristic 82 in the opening round, Strickler recorded rounds of 7-under 65 & 1-under 71 to charge back into the top five.

Plano’s Paul McNamara, Richardson’s Kendrick Vinar, Lantana’s Chase Traughber, and Fort Worth’s Adam Valickus all finished tied for sixth at 3-over par 219 overall.

Regional POY: North Player of the Year points will be awarded to the top finishers at the 2024 North Mid-Amateur. The winning player will receive 900 points, followed by 750 for second, 650 for third, 600 for fourth, and 550 for fifth.  Points will be awarded through the top 30 players and ties. For Regional POY information, click here.

What’s Next: The North Regional Series will head to Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield, TX for the North Senior Amateur.

Registration for the 115th Texas Amateur is currently open and will close on March 27 at 5:00 PM. For more information and to register for the Texas Amateur, click here.

More Info: The Texas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the staff of The Courses at Watters Creek, as well as our volunteers for their integral part in making the North Mid-Amateur a memorable and successful event. For more information on the North Mid-Amateur, click here.

Sheen Shines at the South Mid-Amateur

Briefly: Alvin’s Nathan Sheen finished atop the leaderboard at the South Mid-Amateur down in League City at South Shore Harbour Country Club. Sheen, who shot a tournament low round of 7-under par 65 in the second round, finished four strokes ahead of the field at 7-under par 209 for the 54-hole championship. The Woodlands’ John Hunter finished runner-up at 3-under par 213 and claimed low Mid-Master recognition.

Final Results

Golf Course: South Shore Harbour features three nine-hole courses (South, Shore, and Harbour) designed by Dave Marr and Jay Riviere. The original 18 holes, the South and Harbour Courses, opened for play in 1983, followed by the Shore Course, which opened in 1994. The combination of South (front nine) and Shore (back nine) were used for this year’ South Mid-Amateur.

Weather: Rain softened South Shore Harbour in the days leading up to the South Mid-Amateur, but gave way to breezy conditions and mostly sunny skies throughout the weekend with highs in the mid-70s.

Top Finishers: Sheen played steady golf throughout the championship while battling different conditions along the way. He opened with a 2-under par 70 in the first round, where the winds blew out of the north following two inches of rain the day before. His second round separated him from the field as he distanced himself with a hot putter en route to his 7-under par 65 under ideal scoring conditions. Sunday’s final round saw the wind shift again, this time out of the southeast with gusts up to 35mph. A final round 2-over par 74 was enough to win his first Texas Golf Association championship by four shots.

Hunter, who finished last year in a tie for second, followed it up with another second-place finish in the South Mid-Amateur after rounds of 70-70-73—213 to post 3-under for the championship. Rounding out the top three were Conroe’s Clay Fullick and Brent Battson, of Houston. The duo each posted a 2-under par 214 for three rounds. Fullick was one half of the team that won the first regional championship of the season, the South Four-Ball, last month at Bearkat Course in Huntsville.

Low Mid-Master: Hunter finished the South Mid-Amateur as the low Mid-Master (the lowest player in the field following play over the age of 40 years old) with his second-place finish.

Regional POY: South Player of the Year points will be awarded to the top finishers at the 2024 South Mid-Amateur. The winning player will receive 900 points, followed by 750 for second, 650 for third, 600 for fourth, and 550 for fifth. For Regional POY information, click here.

What’s Next: The next event in the Regional Series will be the South Senior Amateur at Tapatio Springs Resort in Boerne. This year’s South Senior Amateur will be contested April 2-3. For more information, click here.

More Info: The Texas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the staff, members of South Shore Harbour Country Club, and our volunteers for their integral part in making the South Mid-Amateur a memorable and successful event. For more information on the South Mid-Amateur, click here.