North Team Defends Texas Shootout Title
Hockley – Needing 13 points heading into Sunday’s Singles Matches, the North team captures the 2018 Texas Shootout title despite a South team charge.
Trailing by 11 points, the South team came out firing on all cylinders, taking 17 points in the first seven matches of the day.
Chris Wheeler for the North and Josh Luongo for the South were the first players to hit the course this morning and grinded through 18 holes. With the match all square at the turn, both players continued their solid play onto the back nine halving the match for the day, each earning a point and a half for their respective sides.
The second match of the day featured John Stollenwerck and Broc Haymon. Stollenwerck got things started for the North on the front side, earning a point for his 1 up performance through nine. Haymon turned the tables on the back side winning the side 4 & 2 and the match 3 & 2, earning two points for the South.
The South team started their charge in the next two matches shutting out the North. John Hunter and Devaughn Robinson took all six points available in the next two matches. Hunter took three points from the North beating Tate Allred 2 & 1 / 1 up / 3 & 2. Although starting after Hunter, Robinson was the first to post his three points for the South with a dominating performance finishing his match against Jake Istnick 4 & 3 / 2 up / 6 & 5.
The South charge didn’t stop with the Senior matches as Bobby Baugh earned two points for his side, beating Chuck Palmer 1 down / 2 & 1 / 1 up.
In the next match, Mike Lohner took on South Captain John Pierce. Pierce continued the strong play for the South, and was the third member of the team to earn three points on the day winning his match 2 & 1 / 1 up / 3 & 1.
David Leiss was the next Senior to put points on the board for the South, earning two and a half points. Leiss started strong against Wayne Wright of the North, winning the front side 3 & 2 and the match 2 up. Wright earned half a point for the North, halving the back nine.
The final Senior match featured North Team Captain, Lewis Stephenson, and ultimately ended the South charge. Stephenson finished the Shootout strong, earning all three points for the North. The match against Chris Hartenstein of the South finished 1 up / 1 up / 2 & 1.
Scott Abbott of the North and Jacob Davis of the South battled on the front nine going back and forth. After halving the front and earning half a point for their respective teams, Davis took charge and earned the two remaining possible points winning 3 & 2 / 3 & 2.
Anthony Estorga of the North carried over his solid team play into the Singles matches, beating Grant Schroeder Halved / 2 & 1 / 2 & 1 and earning two and a half points for the North.
The second to last match of the day ended up being the match to clinch the Texas Shootout for the North. Jay Csipkes followed his captain’s lead, and earned all three points available in his match. Csipkes beat Ryan Clarke of the South 3 & 2 / 3 & 2 / 6 & 5.
With 36.5 points already on the board, the final match of the day between Micah Rodgers and Jess Bonneau was halved all around, putting the final points on the board. The Singles Matches points tally finished in favor of the South, 21.50 to the North’s 14.50.
After an impressive performance by both teams, the North team claimed the 2018 Texas Shootout at The Clubs at Houston Oaks narrowly defeating the South 38-34. The Texas Golf Association extends a sincere appreciation to everyone at The Clubs at Houston Oaks for hosting this year’s Texas Shootout.
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