Empire Ranch Shootout Recap
Sunday, October 27, 2019
Folsom, CA – The Golf Channel Am Tour’s Sacramento section had its second event of the 2019-2020 season at the popular Empire Ranch GC in Folsom on Sunday. The Tour can’t seem to catch a break with visiting Empire Ranch, as last year the course was hammered with heavy rain the night before and morning of the event, while on Sunday some of the strongest winds in recent memory whipped through Northern CA all day long. It was fitting that Tiger Woods was over in Japan hitting “stingers” on his way to his (record tying) 82nd professional victory when that was a shot you would have loved to have in your arsenal on Sunday in Folsom. Here were your top finishers from a tough scoring day at Empire:
Cheyenne Jaurequi, out of Placerville, was your winner in the Championship flight on Sunday. Jaurequi posted (+9) 80 to win the flight by four shots over Eric Evans and Alex Stephenson (84s). Jaurequi is now your leader in the Championship flight in the early stages of the new season.
Reno, NV player Terrance Ream was your champion in the Palmer flight on Sunday. Ream got off to a great start by parring his first nine holes and was able to hold on on the back nine to card (+9) 80, two better than runner-up finisher Chris Mateo (82). A great start to the season for Ream, who now is the front-runner in the Las Vegas, NV Senior Palmer flight standings.
Daniel Alcantar, out of Roseville, was your champion in the Hogan flight and tournament medalist on Sunday. Alcantar posted a phenomenal round of (+5) 76 to take the flight by six shots over nearest finisher Josh Smith (82). What a great round by Alcantar in such tough conditions on Sunday. The W in the big 22-player Hogan flight gave Alcantar 175 points to kick off his 2019-2020 campaign.
The Sarazen flight was won by San Antonio, TX player Michael Betzale on Sunday. Betzale posted (+16) 87 to win the flight by two shots over Michael Ugenti (89). The 145 points earned on Sunday moved Betzale into the early lead in the Texas Hill Country Sarazen point standings after his first event of the 2019-2020 season.
Tim Kolsrud, out of Tracy, was your champion once again in the Jones flight on Sunday. Kolsrud posted (+17) 88 to win the flight by four shots over newcomer Andrew Roberts (92). Kolsrud already has three victories in as many tries this season, which qualifies him for the Senior National Championship at Sunriver Resort in September of 2020, perhaps the earliest to reach three wins in the entire country. What a start to the year for the Am Tour veteran.
Another player off to a terrific start this season is Virginia City, NV player Matt McDowell. McDowell carded a (+28) round of 99 on Sunday to win the Snead flight by two shots over 2018-2019 Senior Snead flight Player of the Year Loran Polete. McDowell has now won his first two starts on Tour and will look to, like Kolsrud, become one of the very first qualifiers for Nationals the next time he tees it up.
For full field scores and photos please visit www.gcamtour.com > Schedule > Local > Sacramento > Empire Ranch Shootout
Top Finishers & Payouts
Championship Flight
80 – Cheyenne Jaurequi ($50 in gift cards + Award)
Palmer Flight
80 – Terrance Ream ($100 in gift cards + Award)
82 – Chris Mateo ($50 in gift cards)
Hogan Flight
76 – Daniel Alcantar ($150 in gift cards + Award)
82 – Josh Smith ($100 in gift cards)
83 – Sean Harrigan ($75 in gift cards)
84 – Taylor Brard ($50 in gift cards)
86 – Henry Stueve ($25 in gift cards)
86 – Daniel Duvall ($25 in gift cards)
Sarazen Flight
87 – Michael Betzale ($125 in gift cards + Award)
89 – Michael Ugenti ($50 in gift cards)
90 – Ken Hamblen ($25 in gift cards)
Jones Flight
88 – Tim Kolsrud ($100 in gift cards + Award)
92 – Andrew Roberts ($50 in gift cards)
Snead Flight
99 – Matt McDowell ($100 in gift cards + Award)
Thanks again for coming out and playing! We hope to see you all at Carmel Valley Ranch on November 8th -- a “warmup” event for the Monterey Amateur Major on November 9th& 10th!!
Dan Cacho
dcacho@gcamtour.com
707-567-7700