Joshua Irving (R) and Will Osborne, the 2017 Texas Four-Ball champions
(Texas Golf Association photo)
LUFKIN, TX (May 21, 2017) – Joshua Irving and Will Osborne began the final round of the Texas Four-Ball with a nine-shot lead over the Championship Division. The duo, who posted 17-under-par thru 36 holes, coasted on Sunday to a five-shot win. Irving and Osborne carded a 1-under-par 71 en route to their first Texas Four-Ball title. Jerry Hudgins and Mike Rice won the Senior Division. They followed their second round 63 with a six-under-par 66 to win by five strokes.
Irving and Osborne did not top their second round 62, but their steady final round play was enough to clinch the victory. They both birdied the par-5 first hole, but followed with seven pars and a bogey on the par-3 seventh. They made the turn at even par, their only nine of the week not in red numbers.
Irving, who won TGA Player of the Year honors in 2015-16, hit his tee shot on the par-3 14th hole to within eight feet. He curled in the short birdie putt for the team’s first of two birdies on their closing nine. They shot 1-under-par on the back nine to post 18-under 198 for the tournament. Barrett Sandefur and David Backus of Austin shot a 5-under-par 67 in their final round to finish solo second.
“The first two days we gave ourselves a bunch of opportunities,” Osborne said. “Today was not so good but we were able to get it done. We just hit it solid all week.”
Irving and Osborne navigated around Crown Colony Country Club with ease all three days. They combined for 20 birdies, an eagle and just four bogeys over the 54-hole stroke play event. The current North Four-Ball and Texas Four-Ball champions said their confidence will carry into the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship next week at Pinehurst.
“This week showed us how to strategize a golf course and how to strategize our mental lapses,” Irving said. “Winning an event like this is not easy and we are going to take that into next week.”
Irving and Osborne will tee it up at the USGA Four-Ball Championship Saturday, May 27 in North Carolina.
In the Senior Division, Hudgins and Rice put themselves in position to close out the tournament after a second round 63. The field tried to make a push, but Hudgins and Rice outpaced their division with a score of 17-under 199. They carded five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 16th hole in their final round to win by five shots. Chuck Ellenwood and John Stark of Fair Oaks and a shot 4-under-par 68 to finish solo second.
View results for Texas Four-Ball
ABOUT THE
Texas Four-Ball
Eligibility: Entries are open to male
amateur golfers age 25 or older as of
the first round of tournament play, with
a certified USGA Handicap Index of 8.4
or less. Please reference “TGA State
Championship Eligibility” at
www.txga.org for additional eligibility
details.
Format: Scheduled for 54 holes of
Four–Ball Stroke Play.
The field is limited to 80 teams, as outlined below:
Championship: 25 & Over (48 teams)
Senior: 55 & Over (20 teams)
Super Senior: 65 & Over (12 teams)
View Complete Tournament Information