DALLAS, Texas. (Aug. 19, 2011) -- Clear skies and smoldering temperatures greeted the players during the first round of the Texas Senior Amateur Championship which is being held at Bent Tree Country Club. This year marks the first time that the Senior Amateur Championship has been played at Bent Tree CC, a club that has hosted multiple TGA championships in the past. Even with the temperatures quickly rising above the 100 mark, several players were ready to stake their claim at an early opening round lead.
David Pocknall (Katy) began his round on cruise control as he made pars on each of his first eight holes. He then found a hot streak and birdied holes #9, #11, #12, and #13 while only having one blemish, a bogey on #10. After 3 consecutive birdies David then set it back on cruise control ending his round with five straight pars giving him a total of three under par, 68. David finds himself with a one shot lead heading into tomorrow’s second round over Bill Caveness (Dallas). Defending champion, John Grace (Fort Worth), finds himself in a tie for third with five other players all of whom posted rounds of 70, one under par.
In the super senior division three players find themselves in a tie for the lead after carding one over par, 72. Bob Hullender (San Antonio), Donny Anderson (Dallas), and Andy Wall (Tyler) have taken a two stroke lead over Dale Fell who sits in fourth place after posting a three over par, 74. In all, twelve players find themselves within four strokes of the lead heading into tomorrow’s second round.
The first round of the 2011 Texas Senior Amateur was not without a little excitement. Two players, Howard Knowles and Billy McBee, both carded hole in ones during their opening round! Knowles found the bottom of the cup on the par 3 seventeenth from 158 yards. McBee then answered with an ace of his own on the par 3 fifth from 178 yards.
The format for the championship is scheduled for 54 holes of stroke play. The field will be cut after 36 holes as follows: Low 54 scores and ties in the Senior Division and low 21 scores and ties in the Super Senior Division. For more details, click on the “Championship Information” link at the top of the page.
Bent Tree was designed by Desmond Muirfield and opened to rave reviews in 1974. After hosting a number of LPGA and Champions Tour events in the 1980s the course was renovated in 1990. Some fifteen years later, the club underwent another major renovation, this time overseen by renowned architect Keith Foster, who also did similar projects for Colonial CC in Fort Worth and Southern Hills CC in Tulsa, The new layout retains the charm of the original, but with many more strategic features and design elements. With water hazards coming into play on 14 holes and narrow chutes off the tee, players are sure to find Bent Tree to be a truly exceptional experience.
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.
View Complete Tournament Information