Joe Bendetti leads Texas Mid-Am
- TXGA photo
Note: Rain postponed play in the second round
at the Texas Mid-Amateur. We'll have updated
results as they're made available.
BOERNE, Texas (Sept. 27, 2013) -- One
hundred and thirty-two
players found themselves in a battle of
attrition
as the opening round of the Texas Mid-
Amateur
Championship got underway today at
Cordillera
Ranch. The Nicklaus designed course, which
opened in 2006, provided a stunning backdrop
for this year’s championship as it welcomed
the
players with immaculate course conditions and
beautiful hill country scenery. Not to give way
to
the players too early in the championship, the
course played tough for many as fast greens
and gusty winds provided challenges to the
players throughout most of the day. With only
one score falling under par and a scoring
average of 81.1, Cordillera Ranch is giving the
players a true test of championship golf.
Defending 2012 Texas Mid-Amateur Champion,
John Bearrie, began his repeat journey with a
strong opening round of two over par, 74.
Bearrie jumpstarted his round with a birdie on
the par-4 tenth hole and added a second birdie
on the twelfth before carding back-to-back
bogeys to head into the back nine at even par.
An up and down back nine which included five
bogeys and three birdies places Bearrie in a
tie
for fifth heading into tomorrow’s second
round.
“The greens were very fast”, Bearrie stated
“but
the wind was the primary reason that it
became
so difficult to score. Getting the ball in the
fairway is critical for me and if I can do that I
have a good shot.” Bearrie heads into
tomorrow
three shots back of round one leader, Joe
Bendetti, of Austin.
Bendetti finds himself continuing his stellar
play
of 2013 after firing an opening round of one-
under par, 71. Bendetti, who captured both
the
Texas and Trans-Miss Four-Ball titles this
year,
found trouble early as he carded a triple
bogey
on just his third hole of the day. Bouncing
back
quickly, Bendetti made back-to-back birdies
on
holes fourteen and fifteen before making an
eagle on the par-4 eighteenth to bring him
back
to one under par for the round. “It’s a great
golf
course…definitely a second shot golf course
that
forces you to be on the correct side of the
green. If you can stay patient and leave
yourself
below the hole you can give yourself some
good
looks.” A closing nine of even par, 36, placed
Bendetti atop the leaderboard and no one was
able to catch him throughout the remainder of
the days play. His round of 71 was the lone
under-par round of the day and gives him a
one
shot lead over Ron Kilby of McAllen and Clay
Hodge of Bryan who finished with rounds of
72.
Sitting in third place is John Dowdall of
Houston
who opened up his championship with a one-
over par, 73.
View results for Texas Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE Texas Mid-Amateur
Eligibility: Entries are open to male golfers
with a
USGA Handicap index of 8.4 or less, and who
are
25 years of age or older by the first day of
championship qualifying.
Format/Field Size: 54 holes of stroke play. At the
completion of 36 holes the field is cut to the low 54
players and ties. The field is limited to 132 players.
Mid-Master Recognition: In addition to the overall
champion, an award will be given to the low Mid-
Master finisher. (Mid-Master – any player 40+ years
of age)
View Complete Tournament Information