Estorga takes down Bills for Texas Mid-Am Match Play title

WESTLAKE, Texas (July 29, 2018) – Anthony Estorga claimed the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play Championship on Sunday, taking down Gant Bills, 5 and 3.

Estorga and Bills rode hot putters going in to the championship match at Vaquero Club. Bills took the early lead, going 1 up through the first five holes. After that, Estorga’s putter caught fire as he birdied the next three holes. After the front nine, he had a 3-up advantage on Bills.

Bills quickly won No. 10 to get back to 2 down, but he could never catch up from there. Estorga knocked a 3-wood to 15 feet at the par-5 12th and when Bills couldn’t hole his bunker shot for par, he conceded the hole. It helped Estorga reestablish his 3-up lead.

Estorga went 4 up with a par on the 14th hole and closed out Bills on the 15th when Gant failed to record another par. Estorga took the win in dominating fashion, 5 and 3.

Estorga’s road to the title was a tough one as he was the fifth overall seed and faced a Vaquero member in Mark Johnston in the first round. He competed against two fellow Hackberry Creek Country Club members that he plays with regularly, and then defeated Scott Abbott, a player who had reached the semifinals three years in a row including at last year’s Mid-Amateur Match Play. Finally, he took down Bills, arguably the hottest player in the field, to win it all.