SAN ANGELO, Texas (July 19, 2013) — The 85th Annual West Texas Amateur got underway Friday at San Angelo Country Club. Hosting this championship for the first time since 2008, San Angelo Country Club is providing the 125 player field with a fantastic golf course that is sure to produce an exciting finish. The field is made up of three divisions (Open, Senior, and Super Senior), each competing for the coveted West Texas Amateur Trophy and title. The open division started early on Friday morning, where they were met with soft conditions, ideal for scoring.
David Pocknall of Katy sits at the top of a crowded leaderboard in the Open division after an opening round 66. Pocknall started the day with three straight pars but birdied three of the next six and would head to the back nine at 3-under par. He continued his great play on the back side with birdies at #10, #15, and #17. The only blemish on his card came on the 18th hole with a bogey. A round of 5-under par, 66, gives Pocknall a one shot lead heading into the second round on Saturday. Logan Philley of Robert Lee sits one shot back of Pocknall with a 4-under par round of 67. Philley overcame two bogeys with four birdies and an eagle on the par 4, 5th, to position himself nicely heading into the weekend. San Angelo Country Club member and 2011 West Texas Amateur Champion, Beau Davis is tied for 3rd at 3-under par with Lewis Stephenson. Michael Culin, Mitchell Griffin, and Ed Sanchez are also in close proximity after solid 2-under par rounds of 69.
The afternoon round brought slightly tougher conditions for the Senior and Super Senior divisions. That didn’t seem to bother Mike Peck, who fired a bogey free round of 66. Pecks round included birdies on holes #3, #9, #10, #12, and #14. Peck holds a two shot lead over Mac McGee of Midland. McGee had two birdies on his front nine, and followed them up with two birdies and a bogey on his back nine to finish with an 18-hole total of 3-under par, 68. Doug Hopton-Jones sits three shots back at 2-under after a solid round that consisted of one birdie, one bogey, and an eagle. Also close behind at 1-under par are Bob Kearney, and Denny Alexander.
Michael Hastings of Waxahachie has a one shot lead in the Super Senior division after a solid round of even-par, 71. Hastings shot even on both sides matching three birdies with three bogeys. Bill Holstead of Wichita Falls sits alone in second place at 1-over par, followed by Sam Boyd and Dale Fell at 2-over par.
Round 2 will present each division with a 36-hole cut to determine who will play in the final round on Sunday morning. 35 players and ties will move on from the Open division, 19 players and ties from the Senior division, and 9 players and ties from the Super Senior division. Scores and tee times are available at www.txga.org.
View results for West Texas Amateur
ABOUT THE West Texas Amateur
Eligibility: Entries are open to male amateur golfers
who reside in either region (North/South) of the
state of Texas.
Applicants must have a certified GHIN Handicap
Index of 10.0 or less. Senior division players must be
55 years of
age as of the first round of tournament play. Super
Senior players must be 65 years of age as of the first
round of
tournament play.
Format/Field Size and Cut: The championship will be
contested over 54 holes of stroke play with three (3)
divisions;
Championship, Senior and Super Senior. Each
division will play from separate tees/yardages and
separate
champions will be recognized in each division.
At the conclusion of 36 holes the field will be cut to
the low 72 players (and ties), with a pro-rated
representation
from each division. The pro-rated allocation of
players making the cut from each division will be
reflective of the
number of players in each division, relative to the
total field size. The determination of total field size,
number of
players in each division and pro-rated representation
of players making the cut (before ties) will be
announced in
conjunction with pairings being posted.
The field is limited to 144, as outlined below:
Championship: Open (84 players)
Senior: 55 & Over (42
players)
Super Senior: 65 & Over (18 players)
View Complete Tournament Information