-- photo Texas Golf Association
DALLAS, Tex. (Aug. 21, 2011) -- The relentless heat continued to beat down on the players at the final round of the Texas Senior Amateur Championship which was held at Bent Tree Country Club. While record breaking temperatures refused to let up, it was the stellar play of several individuals that really started to heat things up. Though several players made a valiant push from behind, it was the magnificent play of second round leader, Ron Kilby, that solidified the title of Senior Amateur Champion.
Taking a one shot lead heading into today, Kilby looked to continue his consistent play. After a bogey on the par-4 second hole, Kilby made seven straight pars to close out his opening nine. He then caught fire making birdies on #10, #11, and #13 on his way to a final round 69, two-under-par. After being forced to lay up on his approach shot on the eighteenth hole Kilby faced a twenty foot par putt in which he confidently rolled in to claim the title by a five shot margin.
Claiming runner up honors was Michael Rice. Rice started the third round with ten straight pars before bogeying the 11th, 12th, and 15th. After a birdie on #16, Rice finished with two pars giving him a final round of two over par, 73.
Defending champion, John Grace, found himself three shots back heading into the final round. It was an up and down round for Grace in which he made four bogeys and three birdies giving him a final round score of one over par, 72. His three day total of 215 was good enough to put him a tie for third with Reggie Howell.
Super Seniors
It was excitement right down to the wire in the super senior division. Second round co-leaders Donny Anderson and Jim Hays struggled early making several bogeys on their opening nine’s. Anderson then took the lead as he birdied the par four tenth hole. Hays then answered back rolling in his birdie putt on the par five sixteenth while Anderson made bogey to bring the two men to a tie heading into eighteen.
Sitting one shot back was their fellow competitor Michael Hastings. Both Hays and Anderson found trouble on the eighteenth; Anderson found the lateral hazard just right of the green on his approach shot and Hays found trouble in a left fairway bunker which forced him to lay up short of the green. With both men in trouble, Hastings took full advantage of the situation hitting his approach shot to a foot.
After failed attempts at up and downs Jim Hays made a double bogey, 6, and Donny Anderson made a triple bogey, 7. In a whirlwind comeback Michael Hastings tapped in his birdie putt and solidified his title as the champion of the super senior division.
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