MISSOURI CITY, Texas (Aug. 7, 2011) -– Another day of sunny skies and hot temperatures, coupled with a breeze out of the south welcomed the players to the final round of the 2011 South Amateur hosted by Quail Valley Golf Course. The El Dorado layout welcomed a familiar face back to the winner’s circle as Mike Booker edged out Juan Jose Salcedo to claim a one-stroke victory in the last regional championship of the season.
The Woodlands’ Booker entered the final round with a two-stroke lead over Kingwood’s Jeff Bellnap at 7-under par. The former University of Houston golfer started the day with five straight pars. He then gave one back with a bogey before closing his front side out with consecutive birdies.
Booker made a third consecutive birdie on the par five 10th hole, but gave it right back with a bogey on the 11th. Another bogey and a double bogey on the par three 14th and par four 15th, respectively, dropped Booker down to 4-under par for the championship. A great approach shot into the challenging par four 17th set up what would prove to be the clinching birdie for the 2004 South Amateur champion. A par on the closing hole produced a 2-over par 73 for the day and gave Booker a three-day total of 5-under par 68-67-73—208.
Juan Jose Salcedo gave Booker a run for his money by posting a final round 3-under par 68. With three birdies in his first eight holes, Salcedo seemed to have momentum to make a run for the championship. A hiccup bogey on the par four 9th hole was his only blemish on his final round card. The Woodlands resident was only able to card one more birdie, the par five 10th hole, before finishing with eight straight pars. This is the second consecutive year for Salcedo to finish runner-up in this event, losing last year by one-stroke to James Kwon. Salcedo finished the championship at 4-under par 73-68-68—209.
League City’s Blake Wilson and Brandon Wilhide, of Richmond, finished in a tie for 3rd place at 3-under par for the championship. Wilson concluded his final round with three birdies and a single bogey for his three day total of 71-70-69—210. Wilhide, a redshirt freshman for Houston Baptist University, was able to register three birdies, but also carded four bogeys en route to a three day total of 67-71-72—210.
View results for Texas South Amateur
ABOUT THE Texas South Amateur
Eligibility: Entries are open to male amateur
golfers that reside in South Texas as defined
by the Texas PGA Sections (South of 31
degree parallel, Salado TX and south is break
point), with a certified USGA Handicap Index of
8.4 or less.
Format/Field Size: Play will be contested over 54
holes of Individual Stroke Play. The field is limited to
84 players.
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