The winning Texas Shootout team (TGA photo)
HOCKLEY, Texas (Oct. 28, 2018) – Needing 13 points heading into Sunday’s singles matches, the North team captured the 2018 Texas Shootout title despite a South team charge. The South team trailed by 11 points but came out firing on all cylinders at Houston Oaks Golf Course and won 17 points in the first seven matches of the day.
Chris Wheeler for the North and Josh Luongo for the South were the first players to hit the course Sunday morning and both spent 18 holes grinding. With the match all square at the turn, both players continued their solid play onto the back nine, halving the match for the day and thus earning a point and a half for their respective sides.
The second match of the day featured John Stollenwerck and Broc Haymon. Stollenwerck got things started for the North on the front side, earning a point for his 1 up performance through nine. Haymon turned the tables on the back side winning the side, 4 and 2, and the match, 3 and 2, and earning two points for the South.
The South team started its charge in the next two matches, shutting out the North. John Hunter and Devaughn Robinson took all six points available in the next two matches. Hunter took three points from the North’s Tate Allred. Although starting after Hunter, Robinson was the first to post his three points for the South with a dominating performance in his match against Jake Istnick.
The South charge didn’t stop with the Senior matches as Bobby Baugh earned two points for his side against Chuck Palmer.
In the next match, Mike Lohner took on South Captain John Pierce. Pierce continued the strong play for the South, and was the third member of the team to earn three points on the day winning.
David Leiss was the next Senior to put points on the board for the South, earning two and a half points. Leiss started strong against Wayne Wright of the North, winning the front side, 3 and 2, and the match, 2 up. Wright earned half a point for the North, halving the back nine.
The final Senior match featured North Team Captain Lewis Stephenson, and ultimately ended the South charge. Stephenson finished the Shootout strong, earning all three points for the North. The match against Chris Hartenstein of the South finished 1 up, 1 up, 2 and 1.
Scott Abbott of the North and Jacob Davis of the South battled on the front nine going back and forth. After halving the front and earning half a point for their respective teams, Davis took charge and earned the two remaining possible points winning, 3 and 2, 3 and 2.
Anthony Estorga of the North carried over his solid team play into the Singles matches, earning two and a half points for the North against Grant Schroeder.
The second-to-last match of the day ended up being the clinching match for the North. Jay Csipkes followed his captain’s lead and earned all three points available in his match. Csipkes beat Ryan Clarke of the South.
With 36.5 points already on the board, the final match of the day between Micah Rodgers and Jess Bonneau was halved all around, putting the final points on the board. The singles matches points tally finished in favor of the South, 21.50 to the North’s 14.50. After an impressive performance by both teams, the North team claimed the 2018 Texas Shootout at The Clubs at Houston Oaks narrowly defeating the South 38-34.
ABOUT THE
Texas Shootout
This Ryder Cup-style team event is the final
tournament of the Texas Golf Association
competitive amateur golf season. Each team
consists of 8 players who qualify for their
respective teams via TGA State and Regional
Player of the Year points accumulated
throughout the TGA season.
Eligibility: The field will be made up of 16
competitors, 8 players from each region
(North
/ South). Of the 8 players chosen from each
region, 5 players will be selected from the
TGA
Statewide Player of the Year point standings,
and 3 players will be selected from the TGA
Regional Player of the Year point standings.
All
statewide players will have up to the
completion of the current year USGA Mid
Amateur Championship to earn points toward
the event. All Regional players will have up to
the completion of the Regional Mid Amateur
Championship to earn points towards the
event. If a player qualifies by both criteria,
he
will be selected based on the higher rank.
The
next highest ranked player from within the
Regional or Statewide points will be added to
ensure 5 players from the statewide rankings
and three players from the Regional rankings
will be chosen.
Format: Ryder Cup format: Four-ball
Matches, Foursome (Alternate shot) Matches,
and Singles Matches. 3 point system, 1 point
for the winner of each nine holes, and 1 point
for the overall match winner
View Complete Tournament Information