Joel Baker Wins Wire-to-wire at Hurst, TX Event
Hurst, TX - Arlington's Joel Baker won his first Texas Tour
title of 1999 in style today posting a 33-under par 75 and 7-shot victory over Saturday's
winner Cliff Matthews
(82). Baker's 36-hole score of 50 is the lowest shot on tour this season and his 54-hole
total of 75 ties the lowest recorded tournament score on the Texas Putting Tour in more
than a decade. (Houston's Rainey Statum also
shot 75 on this same Hurst course in 1996) The win earned Joel Baker his second qualifying
spot for the state championship in Tyler, TX this fall.
Texas Putting Tour points leader Greg Roberts of
Houston and David Lynch
of Mesquite both carded final round 24's to tie Baker and Tim Murphree for the lowest
round shot in the tournament. Their strong finish also vaulted them from a tie for eight
place after two rounds to a tie for third place at 83. Murphree and Jeffrey Smith finished
another shot back at 84 and in a tie for fifth place.
In match play Cliff Matthews won his third state qualifying spot in as many starts as
he defeated Tim Murphree of Mesquite in an exciting sudden death final. In the other pro
match play bracket, David Lynch claimed his second qualifying spot for state weekend as he
won over Chris Conradi of Duncanville in the finals.
Kile Wins APA Title at Hurst, TX
.James Kile of Duncanville, former professional and Texas Open Champion,
claimed his first APA title of 1999 with a 20-under par 88 and a one stroke victory over
Houstonians John Drexler and Doug Austin. Drexler, a two-time winner on the tour last
season, was in position to win his first tournament of the year but stumbled going down
the stretch as he could do no better than par on his last 6 holes in the final round.
Tournament favorite Randy Wimpy of Arlington finished 3 shots back and in fourth place
at 91.In the APA match play at Hurst, it was Fort Worth's Mike Wellborn and Robert Martin
claiming their first state qualifying spots.
Professional Scores from the Hurst, TX Event (18 April
1999)