Texas Mid-Am: Playoff Win for Osler

13 Sep 2009
by Texas Golf Association
see also: View results for Texas Mid-Amateur, Denton Country Club
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2009 Texas Mid-Amateur champion

AUSTIN, TX (September 13, 2009)--The rain finally made its way out of Austin leaving Austin Country Club in great shape for the players this morning. 59 players started the day after a cancelled second round yesterday, but in the end, it was Cameron Osler of Austin playing in his first ever TGA event, defeating David Pocknall in two hole playoff.

With 18 players within five strokes of the lead and challenging golf course to maneuver around it was anyone’s championship to win. The final group which consisted of Osler (a three time Colorado State Champion), Pocknall and John Dowdall of Houston got off to a quick start as Dowdall kicked off his round with three birdies on the first 4 holes giving him a one stroke lead for the championship.

However that was all for Dowdall as six bogeys coming in left him at 3-over par for the day, leaving him all alone in 5th place for the championship.

Pocknall did what we have come to expect from him this year which is play steady golf, making the big shot when he needed to. Carding two bogeys on the front nine, the Katy resident looked to have his back to wall as Osler held a three shot lead with only six holes to play. However the next two holes were the turning point. Osler made a par on the par 3, 13th hole and a costly bogey on the par 4, 14th opened the door for Pocknall and he took advantage of it by carding his first two birdies back to back creating a three shot swing and bringing him back to 2-under for the day and in a tie for first place.

Pars the rest of the way in for both players left them dead locked in a tie for first which meant a sudden death playoff would determine this year’s champion. The 18th hole opened the playoff where both players found the middle of the fairway leaving each player approximately 190 yards to the hole. Pocknall’s second shot found the bunker on the right hand side of the green while Osler played a safe shot hole high 30 feet from the hole giving him a putt to win the championship. But Pocknall made a brilliant shot from the bunker leaving him a four footer which he was able to convert. Osler failed to make his putt which took the playoff to the par 5, 17th hole.

Both players again found the fairway, but Pocknall again made a costly error hitting his second shot right of the fairway with his ball coming to rest in the right hand rough.

Osler remained aggressive as his second shot carried all the way to the green trickling onto the left hand fringe leaving an uphill chip for his third shot. Pocknall proceeded to make an amazing recovery shot hitting a low pitch shot which bounced four feet from the hole but couldn’t hold the green, leaving him about fifteen feet from the fringe for a par. Osler’s chip was left well short of the hole and two putted for his par. Pocknall was unable to clean up his five footer for par, making Cameron Osler the 26th champion of this very prestigious event.

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)