TYLER, Texas (Oct. 5, 2013) -- Moving day proved to be very valuable during the second round of the State Senior Amateur Championship at Tyler’s Willow Brook Country Club. With a windy cold front moving through, those that could adapt to the weather were able to make their way up the leader board. As the second round came to a close, Cypress’ Tim Carlton and Chip Stewart, of Dallas, sit atop the Senior and Super Senior divisions, respectively.
Carlton, a two-time winner of the Willow Brook CC Men’s Club Championship (1982 and 1985), had one birdie and one bogey on his opening nine to turn at even-par 36. With his vast knowledge of the golf course, Carlton recorded four birdies on the back nine. Those birdies, coupled with a lone bogey, Carlton finished his round at 3-under par 68. Carlton will enter the final round with a narrow one stroke lead in the Senior division at 3-under par 139 after his opening round of even-par 71. When asked the difference between his opening round of even-par 71 and his second round of 3-under par 68, Carlton said "I hit the ball more solidly and have putted well for both days”. One shot behind Carlton is Irving’s Mike Peck. Peck, who began the day at 2-under par, was able to turn in a second round score of even-par 71.
Peck was able to roll in five birdies Saturday morning to go along with five bogeys. First round leader Lelan Chiles, of Granbury, joins three other golfer’s just two strokes off of the lead at 1-under par 141. Rounding out the four players two strokes back are Jimmy Wheeler (Tyler), Bill Holstead (Wichita Falls) and Tom McGraw (Montgomery).
Wheeler and McGraw both shot 2-under par 69 in their second rounds while Holstead registered a 1-under par 70. Stewart was able to adjust to the northern winds with steady play throughout his second round. During Saturday’s afternoon wave, Stewart went on to record one birdie and two bogeys en route to his second round 1-over par 72. With his opening round of 2-over par 73, Stewart will head into the final round with a two-day total of 3-over par 145. First round leader Mike Arnold, of San Antonio, and McKinney’s Gary Kirwan each find themselves one stroke back of Stewart with a two round total of 4-over par 146.
Arnold recorded a second round 5-over par 76 while Kirwan turned in his second straight 2-over par 73. Rounding out the top five after two rounds are Georgetown’s Don Grider and Willow Brook CC member Andy Wall at 5-over par 147.
Grider played the second round at 1-over par 72 while Wall turned in an even-par 71. With the State Senior Amateur Championship the last opportunity to stake claim to a Texas Golf Association state championship, the final round will surely come down to the wire. In all, 53 players made the cut in the Senior division with 24 making the cut in the Super Senior division. Tee times will begin Sunday morning off of holes #1 and #10 at 8:00am.
View results for Texas Senior Amateur
ABOUT THE Texas Senior Amateur
The State Senior Amateur is the second oldest
event of all the TGA tournaments, having first
been played in 1937.
Eligibility: Entries are open to male amateur golfers
with a
GHIN Handicap Index of 6.4 or less and who are 55
years
of age or older as of the tournament start date (first
round
of tournament play). All players will be competing in
one
division from the same tees and yardage.
Format/Field Size: Play will be contested over 54
holes of
stroke play. All players will be competing in one
division
from the same tees and yardage. The field is limited
to
144 players. At the completion of the 36 holes the
field will
be cut to the low 54 players and ties.
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