Steve Moran, Wins the 2023 Houston Senior Amateur Championship, Super Senior Division

By Richard Dean

At age 68 Steven Moran still has a desire to compete and continues to have the ability to contend for championships. If he chose to, he would most likely be one of the top golfers participating in the Greater Houston Senior Amateur Championship.

Instead, Moran has played in the event’s Super Senior flight the past two years, where he has won both times. Moran captured the 2023 edition, beating second-place finishers Clark Quandahl and Chuck Reeve by five shots.

Before moving to the senior division, for ages 65 and up, Moran played in the regular city amateur and then the senior tournament, both conducted by the Houston Golf Association.

In the 2013 Greater Houston Senior City Amateur Championship, Moran tied for first with nine-time Houston city amateur champion Mike Booker, losing in a playoff. Now eligible for Super Senior, Booker, 68, won the Houston Senior City Amateur for a fourth time in 2023.

“I asked him when are you going to come up and play with us old guys,” Moran said. “He said, not yet. I look forward to when he gets up here; it will be good competition.

“I could play the (Senior), but I always like to play where you are in contention to win. It’s harder to get in contention to win against younger guys. The fun part about golf is getting in position to win and see if you can pull it off and play well when you are under pressure.”

Moran’s game more than held up in holding up the trophy for winning the Super Senior flight of the 2023 Houston Senior Amateur Championship. Over two days and 36 holes, Moran shot 3-under 139, carding rounds of 69-70 at Gus Wortham Golf Course.

The way Moran played Gus Wortham, no one was going to catch him. He claimed he grinded his way to victory, but it was not overly taxing for Moran, who made seven combined birdies against only four bogeys. He played the par 5s in 3 under.

Moran was solid in all phases of the game. He drove and hit the ball well. His short game was sold, as was his putting. He 3-putted only one green in 36 holes. He also excelled in course management, not making any foolish decisions.

The primary defense of Gus Wortham is its greens, which are difficult due to its undulation. And the treacherous greens play faster during the tournament. Leaving shots in the right position is crucial. Avoiding downhill and sidehill putts are essential to score well.

There are some tight driving holes, most notably 6 and 7, both par 4s. Both holes are challenging from tee box to green. Moran said he was pleased to play each a combined 1 over in four attempts. His lone 3-putt came on No. 5, a par 3, where his tee shot landed above the hole.

Avoiding big numbers was crucial to victory for Moran, who has qualified for the U.S. Senior Open two times. Quandahl (Houston), who didn’t start playing golf until he was 32 years of age, and Reeve (Houston) were Moran’s biggest challengers. Each finished 2-over 144 and each made six birdies and eight bogeys. Finishing fourth was Kirk Thomason (Montgomery) at 3-over-145. Abie Miller (Montgomery) came in fifth at 5-over 147.

“I’m an average golfer that had a couple good days,” said 66-year-old Quandahl, who put together rounds of 73-71 for second place and plays out of Sterling Country Club. “My swing is not impressive but it works. I played with some guys, my putts went in and there’s didn’t. You like beating your friends, but you want to stay competitive.”

Moran is a retired investment advisor with a good track record in the Super Senior division, having won both times he has entered.

“I feel fortunate; it’s an honor because Houston has so many good amateur golfers,” said Moran, who lives in Clear Lake and plays primarily out of Bay Forest in La Porte. “It’s one of the better golfing areas in the country, so it’s always an honor to win anything in Houston with all the good players they have here.”

Most weeks, Moran plays a round of golf a couple of times a week and practices a couple of times a week. He likes playing in Super Seniors.

“It’s pretty relaxed, but anytime you are in competition, you get a little nervous and you want to win,” Moran said. Super Seniors is fun. Everybody is enjoyable to play with.

“You always want to play well. But we’ve played long enough (over the years) you don’t get overly upset if you don’t play as well as you want to. I enjoy playing the Super Seniors.”

The HGA operates Gus Wortham, originally Houston Country Club, through a contract with the City of Houston.

“I love playing Gus Wortham,” Moran said. “I try to play there at least once a month. I love playing there. They keep it in such good condition. They do an amazing job with that golf course. It’s kept up as well as most country clubs.”

Quandahl echoes Moran’s sentiments on Gus Wortham as well as the job the HGA does in running the course and conducting the City of Houston’s amateur championships.

“They do a fantastic job,” Quandahl said. “The HGA volunteers are unbelievable.”

Mike Booker Wins the 2023 Greater Houston Senior City Amateur Championship

By Richard Dean

Mike Booker is still on top of his game. In so many ways. A legend in the amateur golf ranks, the Texas Golf Hall of Famer has written a best-selling book titled “The Tournament Golfer’s Playbook.”

The best-seller among golf books is not about what one needs to do on the last hole of a tournament but focusing on what you are doing. Booker has applied those principles for years, not worrying how the competition is playing.

His golf resume is extensive and keeps expanding. His win in the 2023 Greater Houston Senior City Amateur is the fifth time he has won the event conducted by the Houston Golf Association.

“I didn’t worry about results,” Booker said. “The backbone of my book is not to play result-oriented golf; just play your process. Take care of your business here, and let everything happen. I had to remind myself of my own book.”

Booker previously won this event in 2013, ’15, ’18 and ’19. Before embarking on an outstanding senior career, the 68-year-old Booker won the regular Houston city amateur four times.

“This is my town. This is where I live,” said Booker, who plays out of River Oaks Country Club. “The thing about senior golf is, you compete against these guys literally 50 years. It’s remarkable to play and compete with good friends and great golfers.

“When we were younger, we felt like (city of) Houston had some of the best (amateur) players in the country, and now I feel we have some of the best senior players. Because it is the same guys keeping up with it, working hard, and competing. Never giving up. We (seniors) still have fire in our belly.”

It is evident that Booker, who is in wealth management, has remained friends with many of the top senior amateurs in the Houston area. He had numerous conversations with a smile on his face after winning his ninth overall Houston City amateur.

For three days and as many rounds over Gus Wortham Golf Course, Booker led after each round. His 4-under 209 total was 2 shots clear of runner-up Mike Padilla (Richmond). David Leiss (Houston), the 2020 champion, finished third at even-par 213.

“It’s a real privilege at 65 to be still able to compete,” Leiss said. “And I love Gus Wortham. They’ve (HGA) done an amazing job out here. I hope the city continues to rally, donate money.”

John Dowdall (Fulshear) was fourth at 1 over. Sharing fifth at 2 over were Jeff Kramer (Spring) and Andrew Whitacre (The Woodlands). A shot behind them was three-time Texas Senior Amateur champion Gary Durbin (Houston). In the eighth spot at 4 over was John Vidales (Deer Park), who made the tournament’s most birdies (13).

Buzz Baker (Richmond) was in ninth at 5 over. Jeff Bellnap (Kingwood) rounded out the top 10 at 6 over.

They all were chasing Booker, who carded rounds of 66-72-71. For the first round, Booker started with par before eagling back-to-back par 5s on holes 2 and 3. His 5 under round included hitting all 18 greens in regulation.

“That is probably the best start of any golf tournament I’ve ever played,” Booker said. “I find this course challenging.”

Friday’s opening round, played into a north wind, saw Booker’s best ball-striking of the championship. In Sunday’s final round, Booker did not hit his iron shots as well as he had been, missing some greens and looking at lengthy putts. He made a 45-footer with a 7-foot break on No. 12 that helped keep Padilla at arm’s length.

Padilla, Baker and Booker played in the final grouping. Padilla, 59, made a realistic run at Booker on the back nine. The game changer was on No. 12 when Booker made his long birdie putt, and Padilla missed his birdie attempt on the same hole following his birdie on 11.

“He’s (Booker) real consistent, and I knew that coming in,” said Padilla, who plays with a 10-finger grip and is self-taught. “I figured he would shoot around even par or 1 under (for the final round), so my goal was (either) 66, 67.”

But bogeys on 7 and 9 were not helpful in Padilla’s attempt to catch Booker.

“I still tried to keep the pressure on, I just played as well as I can,” Padilla said. “He’s just a really good player.”

Padilla plays a lot of golf at Golf Club of Houston in Humble. In the 1990s he played on the Hogan Tour. Giving Booker quite the run, Padilla shot 72-70-69 over Gus Wortham’s par-71 layout. Padilla recovered from a couple unforced errors on the front nine in the final round, birdieing holes 11, 14 and 15. Padilla still had a shot of a playoff on the final hole. But he missed an 8-foot birdie try while Booker sealed the victory by making a 5-foot par putt.

“I make a point to never look at scoreboards, I just try to play my game,” Booker said.

Like most years, 2023 has been memorable for Booker. In September, he was inducted into the University of Houston’s Hall of Honor. Booker was a member of the school’s 1977 NCAA championship team.

Over the years, Booker has not lost much distance. He still hits the ball off the tee roughly 270 yards. In 2019, he was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, Byron Nelson, Ben Crenshaw, Steve Elkington and Jackie Burke Jr. A record four-time Texas Golf Association Player of the Year, Booker is a winner of a record 14 TGA events, including senior, mid-amateur and mid-amateur match play. He has won the Carlton Woods Invitational four times.

The website for Booker’s “The Tournament Golfer’s Playbook. Change your mind, change your life” is available at tgplaybook.com.

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Garret Driver Leads Greater Houston City Amateur Championship

Saturday September 30, 2023

Garrett Driver leads the Greater Houston City Amateur Championship after 36 holes with a score of 7 under par 133. Driver is trailed by Marek Fleming and Shaunak Nair at 4 under par 136 at the halfway point of the championship. Travis Skorheim is tied for fourth with Grant Carter at 2 under par. Skorheim is joined by his father, Bill, and brother, Justin, in the forty-player cut field for the 36-hole final day on Sunday.

Third round tee times begin at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, followed by the fourth and final round Sunday afternoon.

See the results and tee times here.

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Garret Driver and Logan Thomason Lead Round One of the 2023 Houston City Amateur Championship

Friday, September 29, 2023

Garrett Driver and Logan Thomason are tied for the lead after the first round of the 2023 Greater Houston City Amateur Championship. Driver finished second at the championship in 2022, and Thomason shot five under par 65 on the 70 Gus Wortham Park Golf Course. Driver currently holds the competitive course record of 62, which he shot in round 3 of the 2022 City Amateur Championship.

They hold a one shot lead over two players - Travis Skorheim and Marek Fleming.

The second round of the championship starts Saturday, with tee times beginning at 7:30 am.

See the results and tee times here.

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Gus Wortham Ready for Tournament Play, Top Players Weigh In

Monday, September 25, 2023

By Richard Dean

Being a multiple winner of the Houston City Amateur is a good indication of John Hunter’s golf skills. With those two victories, he has the distinction of winning such prestigious championships on two different courses – Memorial Park and Gus Wortham.

“I take pride that I’ve won it at the old Memorial and the refreshed Gus,” Hunter said. “They’re both a fun tournament to play.”

In 2014, Hunter ran away from the field, being out front by nine shots at Memorial Park. In 2019, the first year the Houston Golf Association took over operations of the tournament at Gus Wortham Golf Course, Hunter defeated Devaughn Robinson by two shots.

A former baseball player at Purdue, Hunter, 39, works in wealth management. If there is one tournament he is not going to miss, it is the city amateur. The 2023 Greater Houston Men’s City Amateur Championship is Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at Gus Wortham. There is a mid-amateur in Connecticut that falls on the same date, but Hunter would rather be in Houston that weekend.

“It’s one of those where I don’t want to ever miss it,” Hunter said. “I like to be around to play it, so when I have other commitments, I’m always figuring how I can play it.”

Hunter, who plays out of The Club at Carlton Woods, gets great satisfaction practicing golf. He is on the driving range and putting green way more than he’s on the actual course playing.

“I try to play enough tournament golf to keep me competitive,” Hunter said. “I’m different than a lot of guys where a lot of guys love to go out and play. I don’t necessarily love to play as much as I like to practice. I don’t require as much time as others.

“I need to feel like it’s special when I go play. I don’t want to get burned out. I think that’s why I try to not do any tournaments around this tournament because I want to come in refreshed, come in ready, I want to be here.”

The Houston city amateur moved to Gus Wortham when Memorial Park was closed for renovation in 2019. The tournament has remained at 7000 Capitol. The Houston Golf Association operates the facility through a contract with the City of Houston.

“It works great for us,” said Steve Timms, president of the non-profit HGA. “The fact that we operate the golf course. We can control how we want to get things set up, the things we want to do in advance, to make sure we’re in the best possible condition that we can be. Operationally, it’s great and the reception from the players has been very positive. It works for everybody.”

When the HGA took over operations in 2015, the course had fallen into disrepair. The HGA ran the golf course for a better part of a year before the course was shut down for nearly two years for a $11 million makeover. The new Gus Wortham opened in Oct. 2018.

The HGA’s business model when it proposed taking it over from the City of Houston and operating it, was to pay close attention to its agronomy program as the golf course matured. Reinvesting into a maintenance program.

“The amount of play we get now, and how popular the golf course has become, is a testament to the fact that we put the golf course product at the forefront,” Timms said. “Keep it in good shape, pace of play is good. We allow foursomes, no fivesomes.

“Being a golf association, that’s where we land. We want to make sure that golf is first and that it’s a quality product at a reasonable price.”

The price of greens fees remains affordable for recreational golfers. Gus Wortham gets close to 54,000 rounds per year. Prior to the HGA taking over, the course was getting around 16,000-17,000 rounds annually.  

There is a big difference between the two public golf courses, length being one of them. Memorial plays long. From the back tees, it’s a 7,292-yard par 72. From the tips, Gus Wortham plays 6,395 yards at par 70.

“You don’t have to have a 7,400-yard golf course to make it challenging,” Timms said. “I think the players in the first years were surprised at how challenging the golf course is. When you look at the card, (length) is not very long.

“When you look at it on face value, it looks like it’s going to be a pushover, but the golf course has held up well, and they were a little surprised at how challenging it does play. It’s gained a reputation of being a great test for a championship.”

Last year however, the scores were low. In four rounds over three days, Alex Papayoanou, currently a freshman on the UCLA golf team, shot 18 under. He became the youngest person to win the Houston city amateur, beating runner-up Garrett Driver, 34, by six shots. Driver, who was playing in the championship for a first time, was five shots clear of third-place Hunter. Nickolas Martinez (Cypress) was fourth at 6 under.

“Just keep hitting it where you need to and putt well,” said Driver, who played collegiately at Sam Houston State University and is head boys golf coach at Atascocita High School. “I practice with our team a couple days a week.”

Driver, who plays out of Eagle Pointe Golf Club in Mont Belvieu, is again expected to contend for this year’s championship. As is long-hitting Todd Albert (Katy), winner of the 2021 Houston city amateur.

“There are so many good players in the Houston area that there’s no one guy that beats up everyone week in, week out,” Hunter said. “There’s no one who just runs over people, it’s always a good battle.”

It takes someone with a good short game to score at Gus Wortham, which has scoreable par 4s and 5s to offset the long par 3s. The difficulty of the course is around the greens, especially with Bermuda grass.

“With how much undulation on the greens, you got to make sure you’re below the hole,” said Driver, who shot a third-round 62 last year. “If you get above the hole, you can three-putt really quick.”

To successfully navigate Gus Wortham, a premium is placed on ball placement, ball striking and recovery shots. If someone hits the greens in the correct spots, they are going to leave themselves with makeable putts. A player must remain focused for all 18 holes at Gus Wortham.

“You just have to be present,” Hunter said. “You can’t get caught up in, ‘I need to get to this number.’ ”

A tough stretch at Gus Wortham on the frontside are holes 5-7. The No. 5 hole is a long par 3. The sixth hole runs along Brays Bayou. There awaits an awkward layup on No. 7.

“Those are holes, at least for me, you’re uneasy on the tee box,” Hunter said.

To be eligible for the three-day tournament, a player must be an amateur with a current USGA handicap index not exceeding 15.4 as well as a minimum six months permanent residency in the greater Houston area.

Past champions since 2018 are exempt for the 72-hole stroke-play championship. The 144-player field will be cut after 36 holes to the top 40 and ties. The third and fourth round will be contested on Sunday, Oct. 1.

Qualifying sites for the 2023 championship were held this summer at Cypresswood (Tradition), Magnolia Creek GC, Pine Forest CC, Clubs of Kingwood (Island), Sugar Creek CC and Hearthstone CC.

Hunter is one of the better mid-amateur players in the nation. He showed that nine years ago when he beat runner-up Scott Loving (Conroe) by the whopping nine shots at Memorial Park Golf Course. Four years ago, Hunter overcame a four-shot deficit over the final three holes in Sunday’s final round to win the Houston city amateur by two shots over Robinson at Gus Wortham in a duel of past champions. 

In addition to winning the Houston city amateur twice, the financial advisor teamed with Brad Segreto to win the prestigious 2021 Champions Cup Invitational in Houston. In 2022 Hunter won a playoff over Chris Wheeler on his home course in The Woodlands to win the Carlton Woods Invitational.

A walkable course, Gus Wortham is on the site of the old Houston Country Club. Built on the banks of Brays Bayou in Houston’s east end in 1908, it was the first 18-hole golf course in the city. Howard Hughes was a regular.

Timms marvels how well the layout has been re-designed by course architect Baxter Spann.  

“We wanted to preserve the historical significance of it, but modernize it,” Timms said.

Hunter said he has not heard anyone say a bad thing about Gus Wortham Golf Course.

“It’s high in my mind and most guys in Houston that appreciate good golf say the same thing,” Hunter said. “And the folks that haven’t played it, when they go play it, they say this course is great.

“If I talk to somebody, they haven’t played Gus, I say you have to go play it. The bones that were there, and what was done with the renovation and the way it’s maintained, it’s a phenomenal place to play.

“For a public tract in the city of Houston, you can’t beat it. Especially under tournament conditions it’s awesome. With what the HGA has done in terms of turning it into a top-shelf public available course, they’re doing a great job. The course itself, when you play it, you say, this is good.” 

Gus Wortham fits Hunter’s eye. He also likes the course because the short layout is demanding.

“There’s a great variety, you’re going to hit all sorts of shots,” Hunter said. “The guy who wins is the guy who just stays present, just plods along. Just keeps going lower and lower.”

Gus Wortham Golf Course also holds the distinction as one of Texas’s best public golf courses by Texas Monthly.

The 2023 Greater Houston Men’s City Amateur Championship is Sept. 29-Oct. 1. The event is open to the public.