Jay Reynolds posted a final round 69 to catch first round leader Ben Carter and force a playoff to decide who would be the champion of the Hill Country Amateur, held at Crystal Falls Golf Course in Leander, Texas. Reynolds, who posted a first round 73, completed regulation play at two under par, 142.
Carter, who had the first round lead with a 69, posted one over 73 in the second round and was also in at two under par for the tournament. The playoff was decided when Reynolds made birdie on the par five 18th.
Ronnie Hackleman won the Senior Division. His rounds of 67-71 gave him the tournament’s low round and the lowest total for 36 holes. Hackleman has been the dominate player in the senior division of this tournament for several years.
David Volk won the Open Division with rounds of 75-71.
Click here for the full field results of the Crystal Falls Amateur.
The victory for Reynolds continues his early dominance of the local amateur golf scene. He has won twice this season and has a commanding lead in the rankings maintained by the Austin Amateur Golf Website. Click here to see those rankings.
Carter’s performance in the tournament moved him up into fifth place in the AAG rankings behind Reynolds, Barrett Sandefur, Jonathan Alden, and Matt Werneke. Those rankings are used to determine the Austin Team for the Rudy’s Cup, which takes place later this year. Aside from the captain’s picks, that team is based on the points accumulated in a selected group of tournaments. For a detailed explanation of the AAG points system, click here.
With the heart of the local golfing season coming up, the competition will intensify for a spot on the team. For more information about which tournaments are included in the points competition, the schedule of events and the Rudy’s Cup go to the AAG website.
Congratulations to Wes Skaggs and his staff for running a successful tournament. They always put on a quality event and do their best to make the players feel welcome, regardless of their skill level. The tournament had a full field and the weather cooperated so everyone seemed pleased with the event.