Southern New Mexico Challenge
Albuquerque, NM—The GOLF CHANNEL Amateur Tour of New Mexico continued its 2013 season with the Southern New Mexico Challenge at the Sierra del Rio Golf Course in Truth or Consequences NM on Saturday, February 23. New Mexico Am Tour players had to handle a cool and windy day, as Sierra del Rio proved to be a tough challenge, with narrow fairways and fast greens. The back nine at Sierra del Rio was particularly challenging as the winds pick up. Three holes, the tight par 5 #10, the tricky par 4 #16, and the long par 4 #18, proved to be brutal as the field averaged 2 over par on each of these holes. Needless to say, there were some real disasters on these holes.
Alan Turney of Albuquerque, the defending Palmer/Sr Palmer flight winner, has moved to the Championship Flight. He continued his strong play with a dominating 9 stroke victory in the Championship Flight with an excellent 77.
Returning tour member, Roland Lucero of Peralta, NM, captured the Palmer/Sr Palmer flight with a very good 83. Roland started slow, but finished with a strong 39 on the tough back nine as he avoided trouble on the three problem holes. New tour member Robert Bauder and tour veteran Lee Goddard were right behind Roland, both posting strong 84s. Robert missed out when he hit trouble with a quad bogey on #18. Lee started off very strong with a 38 on the front, but also had trouble on #10 and #16 to miss out on his first victory. Robert took the second place prize with a scorecard playoff.
Ken Stopka of Rio Rancho, NM captured his second victory of the year in the Hogan/Sr Hogan flight. Ken started off strong, posting a 40 on the front nine, faded some on the back nine with a 47 (87), but still managed a convincing 6 shot victory. Returning tour member Dave Pritts took second place with a 93.
In the combined Sarazen/Sr Sarazen Flight, tour veteran Brett Burrell of Albuquerque, shot the second lowest round of the day with an excellent 79 and took an eleven shot victory. Brett managed the three problems holes with a par, double bogey, par to shoot an excellent back nine 39. Jesus Duran started off very strong with a 39 on the front nine, but got hurt with triple bogeys on #10 and # 16 to fade back to second place.
In the combined Jones/Sr Jones Flight, tour veteran, Mark Madrid from Rio Rancho NM, broke through with a victory after several second place finishes in the 2012 season. Mark finished with solid 86 and a three shot victory. Stephen Inoue finished second with a fine 89 on the tough day.
John Mangan of Albuquerque, the defending Snead Flight winner, took the Snead flight win again with an 101. John was another player that started off strong, struggled on the back nine, but held on for his 4 shot victory.
Note: The TOUR returns to action with the Sandia Championship on March 23. Please contact me by email or phone before the registration deadline, if you want to pay by cash or check for this tournament.
Top Finishers and Payouts:
For full field scores and event photos please visit www.gcamtour.com/albuquerque
Championship Flight:
77 – Alan Turney ($125 and Trophy)
Palmer/Senior Palmer Flight:
83 – Roland Lucero ($125 and Trophy)
84 – Robert Bauder ($50)
84 – Robert Bauder ($50)
Hogan/Senior Hogan Flight:
87 – Ken Stopka ($150 and Trophy)
93 – Dave Pritts ($50)
93 – Dave Pritts ($50)
Sarazen/Senior Sarazen Flight:
79 – Brett Burrell ($100 and Trophy)
90 – Jesus Duran ($50)
90 – Jesus Duran ($50)
Jones/Senior Jones Flight:
86 – Mark Madrid ($100 and Trophy)
89 – Stephen Inoue (50)
89 – Stephen Inoue (50)
Snead Flight
101 – John Mangan ($100 and Trophy)
Optional Skins Game Results:
Group 1 ( Championship/Palmer)
#12, 14 – Robert Bauder ($88)
#6 – Alan Turney ($44)
#2 – Gregory Allen ($44)
#1 – Lee Goddard ($44)
#6 – Alan Turney ($44)
#2 – Gregory Allen ($44)
#1 – Lee Goddard ($44)
Group 2 (Hogan/Sarazen)
#4,6,13 – Ken Stopka ($102)
#5,16,17 – Brett Burrell ($102)
#3 – Darrell Clement ($34)
#5,16,17 – Brett Burrell ($102)
#3 – Darrell Clement ($34)
Group 3 (Jones, Snead)
#3,12,15 – Mark Madrid ($69)
#1 – Jeff Brown ($23)
#11 – Douglas Christian ($23)
#16 – Stehen Inoue ($23)
#18 – Eric Greenwood ($23)
#1 – Jeff Brown ($23)
#11 – Douglas Christian ($23)
#16 – Stehen Inoue ($23)
#18 – Eric Greenwood ($23)
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