Simmerman Comes From Behind to Win the South Amateur
LOST PINES – Danny Simmerman comes from behind to claim the 2016 South Amateur Championship at Wolfdancer Golf Club in Lost Pines, and his second South Regional Championship of the season. With a 54-hole total of 4-under par 212, and a final round score of even par 72, Simmerman sealed a four stroke victory.
Simmerman, of Shavano Park, started his round one back of the overnight leader Brady Price. Simmerman attributed his stellar play to his attitude. “I didn’t get a chance to play a practice round so I tried to stay conservative and learn the golf course”. Simmerman carded two birdies and a bogey on his opening nine to turn at 1-under par on the day, 5-under par for the Championship. “The ball striking got a little shaky on that back nine.” Simmerman began his second nine with a bogey on the par four 10th and he followed it up with another on the par four 13th. “I was able to hang around to make some putts. I was able to close it out with my short game.”
Simmerman’s fellow competitors in the final pairing left the door wide open for him. Price and Andrew Jacobe carded a 78 and 77, respectively. Both Price and Jacobe finished in a tie for third place with Nicholas Cristea, of Houston.
The overnight leader, Price kept his momentum going and got to 6-under for the Championship with a birdie on the par five third, but the wheels fell off after that. Price, of The Woodlands, would go on to double his next hole, the par three fourth. He went on to bogey three of the remaining five holes on his opening nine. Price’s struggles continued on his second nine with two more bogies. He was able to get something going with birdies on holes 14 and 16, but he gave the strokes right back with a double bogey on the par three 17th.
Jacobe, of Houston, started his round of one stroke back of Price and tied with Simmerman. Jacobe didn’t get off to a good start and he bogeyed his opening two holes. He went on to birdie the par five third but he couldn’t keep it going. Jacobe carded nine total bogies and finished with a 54 hole total of 217.
Austin’s Jake Hendrix posted a final round even par 72 to finish in second place alone at even par 216. Hendrix had three bogies to go along with three birdies in his final round to move up the leaderboard. Hendrix, a member of the Stephen F. Austin State University Men’s Golf Team, began the final round in solo 6th before making his climb to Runner-Up.
Simmerman is the first individual in the Texas Golf Association South Regional Series to hold both the South Amateur title and the South Mid-Amateur title in the same year. Simmerman claimed this year’s South Mid-Amateur at Eagle Pointe Golf Club, in Mont Belvieu. “Winning both of them is special for me. Thursday was the two year anniversary of my dad passing away. I was thinking of him out there all day today.”
The Texas Golf Association extends their appreciation to the membership and staff of Wolfdancer Golf Club for their gracious efforts in hosting this year’s championship.
For final results and additional information from the 2016 South Amateur Championship, click here.