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

Quarterfinal Matches Set at Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Azle — During Friday morning’s Round of 32 matches, eight of the top ten seeded players advanced to the afternoon’s Round of 16. The Round of 32 matches included five upsets with the higher seed winning and advancing. One stroke play qualifying medalist and three past champions advance to Quarterfinals after Friday afternoon’s Round of 16 matches.

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Round of 32: In Match 1, No. 1 seed Dave Davis of Saginaw defeated No. 32 seed James DeWitt of Dallas. Davis won the match 4 & 3 and was the first player to secure his spot in Friday afternoon’s Round of 16.

In Match 2, No. 31 seed Jared Jimenez of Heath upset No. 2 seed Jacob Walsh of Montgomery winning the match 5 & 4. The third match of the day was between No. 3 seed Aaron Hickman of Tyler and Richardson’s Bob Forneris. Hickman, a past Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play champion defeated No. 30 seed Forneris 4 & 2.

In Match 4, No. 4 seed Gant Bills of Plano defeated No. 29 seed Chris Pena of Rockwall 2 & 1. In the fifth match, No. 5 seed Scott Maurer of Dallas defeated No. 28 seed Jeffrey Juillerat of Fort Worth. Maurer closed out the match on the par-5 15^th to win 4 & 3.

In Match 6, No. 6 seed Matt Miller of McKinney defeated Justin’s Harris Graham 2 & 1. Graham was the No. 27 seed heading into match play. In Match 7, No. 7 seed Kendrick Vinar of Richardson defeated No. 26 seed Logan Fox of Harker Heights 3 & 2.

In Match 8, two-time past champion Colby Harwell of San Antonio upset No. 8 seed Jeff Dodson of Flower Mound. Harwell, the No. 25 seed, won the match 2 up. In the ninth match of the day, No. 9 seed and past champion Chris Wheeler of Addison defeated No. 24 seed Brad Phelps of McKinney 1 up.

In Match 10, Tyler’s Seth Murphy defeated Irving’s Tyler Palmer. Murphy, the No. 10 seed, defeated No. 23 seed Palmer 4 & 3. Match 11 was the first match of the day that needed extra holes, and the second upset of the Round of 32. The match was between No. 11 seed Michael Samp of Irving and No. 22 seed Eric Heinle of Houston. The pair went 19-holes before Heinle defeated Samp.

In Match 12, No. 13 seed Kyle Wesolowski of Fort Worth defeated No. 20 seed Chris Behney of Trophy Club. Wesolowski’s 6 & 4 win was the largest margin of victory in the Round of 32. In Match 13, No. 21 seed Andrew Grice upset No. 12 seed Jake Istnick. Grice, of Austin, defeated Dallas’ Istnick 1 up.

Match 14 was between No. 14 seed Brandon Grace of Mansfield and Dallas’ Derek Abel. The No. 19 seed Abel defeated Grace in 19 holes. In Match 15, past champion Anthony Estorga of Dallas defeated No. 18 seed Ted Waldrip. Estorga, the No. 13 seed, won the match 4 & 3. The final match of the Round of 32, Match 16, was between No. 16 seed Bryan Mitchell and No. 17 seed Matthew Sullivan. Sullivan, of Lewisville, upset Katy’s Mitchell 3 & 2.

Round of 16: Friday afternoon’s first match of the Round of 16, Match 1, was between No. 1 seed Dave Davis and No. 17 seed Matthew Sullivan. Sullivan kept the momentum going into the afternoon when he defeated Davis 3 & 2, knocking out the No. 1 seed. This was the second upset of the day for Sullivan, defeating another lower seeded player. Match 2 was the featured match of the afternoon including two past champions with Colby Harwell and Chris Wheeler. Wheeler, the No. 9 seed, defeated No. 25 seed Harwell 4 & 3 advancing Wheeler to tomorrow morning’s Quarterfinals against Sullivan.

In Match 3, No. 13 seed Kyle Wesolowski defeated No. 4 seed Gant Bills 4 & 3. Joining Wesolowski in the Quarterfinals is Andrew Grice who defeated No. 5 seed Scott Maurer 1 up in Match 4. Grice, the No. 21 seed,  is the highest seeded player advancing to the Quarterfinals and will face-off against Wesolowski.

Match 5 was between No. 31 seed Jared Jimenez and No. 15 seed Anthony Estorga. After defeating the No. 2 seed in this morning’s Round of 32, Jimenez was defeated by past champion Estorga 4 & 2. In Match 6, No. 10 seed Seth Murphy defeated No. 7 seed Kendrick Vinar 1 up, advancing to the Quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. With the Round of 16 victory, Murphy will be paired against Estorga in the Quarterfinals.

In Match 7, No. 3 seed Aaron Hickman defeated No. 14 seed Brandon Grace. The past champion showcased his experience with closing birdies on the par-4 17^th and par-5 18^th to win the match 1 up. Hickman was the lone stroke play qualifying medalist to advance to the weekend. The final match of the day, Match 8, was between No. 6 seed Matt Miller and No. 22 seed Eric Heinle. After a conceded two-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18^th, Miller defeated Heinle 2 up and secured the final spot in the Quarterfinals and will play against Hickman.

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: Quarterfinal matches will begin at 7:30 am on Saturday, July 29. Following those matches, the semifinal matches start in the afternoon beginning at 12:30 pm.

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.

Five Players Tie for Medalist Honor at Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Azle — Five players tied for medalist honor at 4-under par 68 in the stroke play qualifying round of the 25^th Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play. The cut line for the low 32 players into the match play portion of the championship was 4-over par 76.

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Leaders: Dave Davis of Saginaw, Jacob Walsh of Montgomery, Aaron Hickman of Tyler, Gant Bills of Plano, and Scott Maurer of Dallas were among the five players tying for medalist honor at 4-under par 68. Of those five players, Davis will be the No. 1 seed heading into match play followed by Walsh at No. 2, past Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play champion Hickman at No. 3, Bills at No. 4, and Maurer at No. 5.

In Contention: Joining past champion Hickman in the match play portion of the championship are fellow past champions Chris Wheeler of Addison, Anthony Estorga of Dallas, and Colby Harwell of San Antonio. Wheeler, who was the 2021 champion, carded an even par 72 will be the No. 9 seed and face off against No. 24 seed, Brad Phelps of McKinney. Estorga, the 2018 past champion, will be the No. 15 seed and will play against No. 18 seed Ted Waldrip of Grapevine. Harwell, a two-time past champion in 2017 and 2019, will be the No. 25 seed paired against Jeff Dodson of Flower Mound, the No. 8 seed.

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: Round of 32 matches will begin at 7:30 am on Friday, July 28. Following those matches, the Round of 16 matches start in the afternoon beginning at 1:00 pm.

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.

25th Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play Set for July 27-30

Cross Timbers Golf Course in Azle will be the host site for the 25th Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play from July 27-30. This will be the first TGA championship to be held at Cross Timbers.

“We are thrilled to have Cross Timbers Golf Course as a new championship partner,” said Chris Untiedt, TGA Senior Tournament Director. “It is always exciting when we have the opportunity to conduct an event at a spectacular facility for the first time and we are certain it will be a great experience for the players.”

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 hazards, and well-protected, contoured greens.

“Cross Timbers has a wonderful variety of holes that present a challenge to a player’s entire game,” Untiedt said. “There are numerous risk-reward options throughout the round where momentum swings can happen quickly, which makes the course a very compelling venue for the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play.”

The 25th edition of the championship begins with a 90-player starting field playing 18 holes of stroke play qualifying on Thursday, July 27, with the lowest 32 scorers advancing to the match play stage of the championship. First- and second-round matches will be played Friday, July 28; quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday, July 29; and the final on Sunday, July 30. All matches are 18 holes.

Starting times for the stroke play qualifying round will be posted on the TGA website no later than July 24. Live scoring updates and daily recaps will also be available online once the action gets underway from Cross Timbers Golf Course.

At last year’s Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play held at Denton Country Club, Jason Schultz of Allen rallied from an early 2-hole deficit to defeat Rob Couture of Celina, 3 and 1, in the championship final. It was the second TGA title of the season for Schultz, who earlier in the year won the North Mid-Amateur at Paris Golf & Country Club.

First held in 1999, the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play is the only individual event on the TGA annual schedule to feature head-to-head competition. Notable past winners include Texas Golf Hall of Famers Chip Stewart (2001) and Mike Booker (2013) and two-time champion Colby Harwell (2017, ’19).

Schultz Wins Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Argyle – Jason Schultz of Allen wins 3 & 1 to claim the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship. This is Schultz’s second Texas Golf Association win of the year, previously winning the North Mid-Amateur at Paris Golf and Country Club in late March.

Championship Match: In Sunday morning’s Championship Match, No. 4 seed Rob Couture of Celina went head-to-head against No. 7 seed Jason Schultz of Allen. Couture struck first with a par on the par-4 first to go 1-up through early. The two tied the 2^nd hole with a pair of pars keeping the match at Couture 1-up. On the 187-yard par-3 3^rd hole, Couture made birdie from 30-feet to go 2-up in the match. Both players stuck it close on the 4^th hole and made birdie three and then another pair of pars on the 5^th to keep the match status at 2-up in favor of Couture through 4 holes. A bridie on the par-4 6^th hole for Schultz to get to 1-down was what he needed to shift the momentum in the match. He would go on to make three more birdies on the 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th, making it four consecutive birdies. Schultz’s birdies on the 7^th and 9^th matched Couture’s birdies, but his birdie on the par-3 8^th hole was enough to get the match to all tied up.

Tied at the turn, both players made pars on the 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th to keep the match tied through 12 holes. Schultz made birdie on the par-4 13^th hole to take his first lead of the match. On the 14^th hole, the pair each made birdie three to keep the match status Schultz 1-up. Both players made par on the par-4 15^th before Schultz made a birdie two on the 16^th going 2-up and dormie in the match. Schultz found the fairway on the par-5 17^th and hit a near perfect shot reach the green in two, 11-feet short of the flag. Couture missed his birdie putt and conceded the eagle putt to Schultz, giving him a 3 & 1 match victory.

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Course: Denton Country Club is hosting the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play while celebrating the club’s centennial 100^th anniversary. The member-owned club opened in 1922 as a 9-hole course and later expanded to 18 holes in 1969. It was originally designed by Texas Golf Hall of Fame architect Ralph Plummer. The course has undergone several modifications through the years, most notably in the mid-1980s when Dick Nugent oversaw an extensive renovation and modernization project.

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 90 players competing in an 18-hole stroke play qualifying. From there, the low 32 players will advance to the match play portion of the championship. Matches will take place over three days, with a champion being crowned on Sunday morning.

POY Points Race: By winning, Schultz was awarded 750 points towards Statewide Player of the Year standings.

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 5-7. Next on the state championship schedule is the Texas Four-Ball. With registration closed, the Four-Ball will be contested August 19-21 at Comanche Trace in Kerrville. Texas Mid-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 Abilene Country Club September 23-25.

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 Mid-Amateur Match Play, click here. To see all the scores from Denton Country Club, click here.