Hickman Wins Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Briefly: Aaron Hickman goes wire-to-wire and defeats Colby Harwell 5 and 4 at Willow Brook Country Club to win his first Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship. Hickman felt the pressure all week to perform at his best in front of his home club and lived up to the challenge.

Match Play Bracket Leaderboard

Golf Course: Organized in 1922, the course at Willow Brook was designed by Ralph Plumber and newly renovated by Tripp Davis. The newly renovated 6,782-yard, par-71 layout stretches across a pristine land and features a great variety of shape and length of holes, ample fairways, artistic bunkering and small, elevated greens. Willow Brook maintains a long tradition of providing players with a top-flight course.

Weather: Sunny, humid morning with in the mid-80s and a slight variable breeze. 

Championship Match Summary: Hickman continued his torrid play throughout the week with going three up through the first six holes against Harwell. The two halved the par four 7^th hole before Hickman carded two more birdies to make the turn at 5-up. Harwell won the next two holes to close the gap. With both players hitting close tee shots into the par three 12^th hole, Hickman once again capitalized by draining a birdie putt and watched Harwell miss his attempt to halve the hole. Hickman continued his birdie barrage on 13 to go 5-up with five holes to play. Harwell, unable to win the par four 14^th hole gave Hickman his biggest Texas Golf Association victory of his career with a 5 and 4 win.

“To play in front of the home crowd brings added pressure with all of the moving parts, but the membership here was so supportive of everything this week. They are really excited to host the 2022 Texas Amateur, which is also our 100^th anniversary as a club.”

Hickman went on to say how much this victory means to him. “This is validation for all of the hard work I have put in. I have won team events, but this is special to do this on my own”.

“Getting that first birdie in each match helped settle the nerves” Hickman said. “I had four bogeys all week and played the rest of the golf at 31-under par.”

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

The Texas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the membership and staff at the Willow Brook Country Club for hosting this year’s Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play. The next state championship on the 2020 calendar will be the 111^th Texas Amateur at Boot Ranch August 6 – 9.

Finals Set For Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Briefly: Aaron Hickman’s run as the top seed continues to extend as he defeated Cole Wiederkehr 6 and 4 and 5 seed, Scott Maurer 8 and 7. Colby Harwell, the two time champion (2017 and 2019) continues his hot streak as the 14 seed, defeating Paul McNamara and Tyler Terry on Saturday at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler.

Match Play Bracket Leaderboard/Results

Golf Course: Organized in 1922, the course at Willow Brook was designed by Ralph Plumber and newly renovated by Tripp Davis. The newly renovated 6,782-yard, par-71 layout stretches across a pristine land and features a great variety of shape and length of holes, ample fairways, artistic bunkering and small, elevated greens. Willow Brook maintains a long tradition of providing players with a top-flight course.

Weather: Mostly cloudy with a high in the mid-80s including a slight variable breeze.

In contention: Saturday morning saw the quarterfinals play out with Maurer and Harwell each winning their matches 1 up over Padden Nelson and Paul McNamara, respectively. Ensuing Tyler Terry’s 5 and 4 victory over Judd Pritchard, Harwell was able to defeat Terry 5 and 4 this afternoon to advance to the final.  Hickman continued his hot play on his home course versus Maurer with six birdies and one eagle in the eleven holes their match went.

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.

Hickman Claims Top Seed at Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Briefly: Aaron Hickman earned the top seed headed into the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play after a Stroke Play Qualifying Round of 6-under-par 65 at Willow Brook Country Club in Tyler, his home course. Friday begins the marathon 32-player, single-elimination bracket to crown a state champion. Hickman enters the Mid-Amateur Match Play as a six-time Club Champion at Willow Brook CC.

 

Leaderboard:

1          Aaron Hickman           Tyler                -6                     65

T2        Charles White             Houston          -5                     66

T2        Zach Atkinson             Colleyville        -5                     66

4          Todd Albert                 Katy                 -4                     67

5          Scott Maurer               Dallas              -3                     68

 

Stroke Play Qualifying Results

Match Play Bracket Pairings

 

Golf Course: Organized in 1922, the course at Willow Brook CC was designed by Ralph Plumber and recently renovated by Tripp Davis. The newly renovated 6,782-yard, par-71 layout stretches across a pristine land and features a great variety of shape and length of holes, ample fairways, artistic bunkering and small, elevated greens. Willow Brook CC maintains a long tradition of providing players with a top-flight course.

 

Weather: Partly cloudy with a high in the lower-90s and a slight breeze out of the north.

 

In contention: Charles White and Zach Atkinson posted Qualifying Rounds of -5 under, finishing in a two-way tie for second. After all of the scores were verified, there was a playoff at 3-over 74 for the 32^nd position in Match Play. The one-hole playoff saw 10 players vying for one spot. Elliot Thompson birdied the first play-off hole to clinch the 32nd seed.

 

What’s Next: Friday morning’s Round of 32 begins at 7:30 a.m., and the Round of 16 takes place tomorrow afternoon at approximately 1 p.m.

 

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