Lone-Star Shootout @ TPC San Antonio Results

This weekend, the Amateur Players Tour made a return stop to TPC San Antonio, the site of the Valero Texas Open on the PGA Tour in two short weeks.  Players would spend Sunday’s final round on the famed AT&T Oaks course, which annually tests the PGA Tour’s top players before the Masters and where Jordan Spieth broke out of his slump and returned to the winner’s circle in 2021.  Players faced challenging weather conditions, as unseasonably cool temperatures across the entire country brought frost delay’s to San Antonio.  However, both Pete Dye’s Canyons course and the AT&T Oaks course were in fantastic condition, providing a challenging and fair test for APT members from all across the country.  128 Players were competing for over $10,000 in VISA Gift Cards in 5 Divisions and a Senior Net Competition. 

In Division 1, Nate McCutcheon (St. Louis) got off to a hot start with a +2 74 on the Canyons Course to take a 3-shot lead over Tennessee East member Tim Saunders and Las Vegas’ John Benyo going into Sunday at the treacherous AT&T Oaks.  McCutcheon entered Sunday seeking redemption after falling to 3rd in last years Lone-Star Shootout.  A solid 78 in difficult conditions was good enough to earn him a 5 shot victory of Tennessee East’s Tim Saunders, who finished in 2nd with a 2-day total of +13.  John Todd (St. Louis) finished in 3rd place.  The win was McCutcheon’s 2nd National Major (2021 Independence Open – Whistling Straits) and earns him a priority exemption into the 2022 and 2023 North American Championships. 

In Division 2, Saturday at the Canyons produced a crowded leaderboard with 3 tied at the top with rounds of 79: Kreg Klaver (Las Vegas), Zach Smith (Dallas Ft. Worth), and Tony Ham (Phoenix).  Bert Flynn (Nashville) and Chris Jones (Carolina Triad) sat just one shot back and set up what would be a really exciting final round.  Dave Adams (STL) started the final day five back, but used a field-best 76 that featured a tap-in eagle on the drivable par-4 5th late in the round (shotgun start) to take a one-shot lead over Bert Flynn.  Adams was able to hold on down the stretch for a one-shot victory.  With his victory in senior net as well, Adams earned the USGA max prize payout of $1,000 in an APT Visa Gift Card that can be used anywhere credit cards are taken.  Bert Flynn (Nashville) finished in 2nd place, one stroke back of Adams.  Richard Michalsky (Houston) took 3rd place, while Tony Ham (Phoenix) finished in 4th place. 

In Division 3, the lead changed multiple times on the back 9 on Sunday as players chased a $950 first place payout for 1st place.  Scott Poniewaz (Metro New York) and Josh Numbers (Metro Philadelphia) went back and forth with the lead changing hands multiple times.  Poniewaz got off to a hot start on Saturday, shooting 1-over on the front 9 before shooting an 81 to be in a tie for 2nd with Lenin Gali (Northern California), 2 shots back of first round leader Josh Numbers.  Poniewaz would end up prevailing on the 18th hole to secure his first national major win and a $950 first place payout.  Josh Numbers would finish one-stroke back, with Lenin Gali coming in 3rd.  LR Gardner (Arkansas) had the round of the day in Division 3, firing an 82 to move into the 4th position, while Dillon Patterson (Rocky Mountain) and Randy Sitz (Dallas Ft. Worth) tied for 5th place.  With the win, Poniewaz qualifies for the 2023 Tournament of Champions to be held in January and the 2022 North American Championship in Nashville, TN. 

In Division 4, Chris Swanson (Nashville) returned to the Lone-Star Shootout with his eyes on the Division 4 crown, after last year tasting victory in the Senior Net competition.  His opening round 85 on a sneaky tough Canyons layout earned him a 1-shot lead going into Sunday’s final round over Rick Johnson (St. Louis).  In tough conditions, Swanson was steady down the stretch, securing a 2-shot victory over Ray Medina (Houston) and Jimmie Paterson (Dallas Fort Worth), who’s division low 85 sent him vaulting up the leaderboard.  Rob Luter (Arkansas) finished in 4th place.  With the victory along with the 2nd place Senior Net finish, Swanson earned the USGA Max Payout of $1,000 for his efforts at the Lone-Star Shootout and earned his way into the field to protect his home turf in Nashville at the 2022 North American Championships.  Swanson also earns a priority exemption into the 2022 Senior North American Championships in North Myrtle Beach, SC. 

In Division 5, John Kelsey (Nashville) was seeking his 2nd major victory on the APT (2021 Independence Open – Whistling Straits).  His first round 89 was good enough for a 5-shot lead heading into Sunday against John Sparks (Houston).  Kelsey’s lead was too much to surmount as a solid Sunday round around the AT&T Oaks course was good enough for a 9-shot victory over John Sparks (Houston) and a $750 Visa Gift Card for first place.  Sparks finished in solo 2nd, while Robert Vespa (Houston) and Tommy Chang (Dallas Fort Worth) tied for 3rd 11 shots behind Kelsey’s two-day total. 

In the Senior Net Division, Dave Adams (St. Louis) was the only player under par in round 2, cruising to a 4-shot win over Division 4 champion Chris Swanson (Nashville).  With both Adams and Swanson earning USGA max payouts, 3rd place and 1st-place money went to St. Louis’ Steve Middendorf who took home $688 in a VISA Gift Card with a 2-day total of 153.  Others finishing in the money were LR Gardner (Arkansas) and Scott Dixon (Charlotte), who tied for 4th position.  Tim Saunders (Tennessee East), Kreg Klaver (Las Vegas), Randy Sitz (Dallas Fort Worth), Simay Souvannarath (St. Louis), and Shan Schaefer (Houston) each tied for 6th place in the Senior Net Game.  Players were able to earn Player of the Year points for their local Senior Net Player of the Year races, where applicable, as well as National Senior Net Player of the Year races. 

Lone-Star Shootout by the Numbers 
Players Registered: 129
Total Prize Pool: $10,060 
Total Skins Pot: $5,730