Saturday October 19, 2019

Avery Ranch Golf Club

Austin Texas

 

 

                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

               The North Austin Open

 

 

 

 

     Saturday marked the opening of the 2019-20 season on the Hill Country Tour, and it kicked off at Avery Ranch Golf Club in  Austin. A warm and humid morning gave way to a pleasant afternoon as the players tested themselves against the golf course and the field.

 

 

     

     The Palmer flight was as close as could be at the finish. Gary Grizzle had played himself to a two-stroke lead through 13 holes Saturday, but that's when Bryan Wood started his charge. Playing his final four holes in two under par, Wood made it very intereresting for Grizzle. In the end the San Antonio resident was able to par the final hole, fend off his pursuer, and start the season with a win. 

 

 

 

 

   

     In Hogan, Jack Zambrano managed his game well enough to get season-opening win. Keeping sevens off the card, Zambrano fired nines of 40 and 39 to wrap up the title by three. His final tally of 79 bested the entire field on this day, and set him well on his way to qualification for the National Championship next September in Oregon.

 

 

  

 

     The Sarazen flight was neck-and-neck as well Saturday, as Gene Rampy and Randy Adcock traded the lead twice in the final three holes. When the smoke cleared, Rampy's clutch par on 18 was the difference in a narrow one-shot win. A multiple Tour winner, Rampy is also well on his way to SunRiver and the 2020 National Championhship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Johnathan Tawney's round started off with a birdie at the opening hole, and the 27-year-old from Lorena, TX never looked back on his way to his first Jones title of the season. While that opening salvo was Tawney's only birdie on the day, he mixed in five pars and generally kept the big numbers off his card on the way to the winner's circle. 

 

 

   

     Eugene Hanley has been a stalwart in the Snead flight. He earned three trophies on Tour last season, and jumped out of the gate in 2019-20 with a North Austin Open title in the Snead flight. The only player in his flight without a birdie, Hanley's consistency was the key on Saturday, as he earned a six-stroke win with 95. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     The Tour would like to thank Avery Ranch Golf Club for their hospitality, as well as all the players who participated. Next up on the Hill Country Tour:

 

Houston Amateur prelude on Friday November 8, 2019

 

 

Click HERE to sign up now!

 

2019-20 Hill Country/DFW Schedule