Cal Clyde wins Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play

Published 11:15 pm Sunday, August 4, 2024

Cal Clyde, a former Tyler resident, captured the 26th Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play championship on The Cypress Course at Sweetwater Country Club in Sugar Land on Sunday.

Clyde, a Grace Community School graduate who is a Dallas resident, defeated No. 6 seed Joey Gullion of Spring, 5 & 4, in the Texas Golf Association event.

The No. 24 seed Clyde defeated seeds No. 9, No. 8, No. 17 and No. 21 to reach the final. Gullion’s path to the Championship consisted of victories over seeds No. 3, No. 10, No. 22 and No. 27.

Gullion parred the first hole giving him a 1 up lead. Clyde then birdied the next three holes, to give him 1 up advantage. Clyde kept rolling as he birdied two more holes to make the turn 5 up.

Gullion was able to cut into Clyde’s lead by winning the par four 12th hole to pull within four holes, but Clyde closed the door and ended the match with a par on the par three 14th hole.

The 26th edition of the championship began with the mid-amateur (25 years and older) starting field playing 18 holes of stroke play qualifying on Thursday with the lowest 32 scorers advancing to the match play stage of the championship. First- and second-round matches were played on Friday; quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday.

Clyde carded a 74 in stroke play to tie for 24th, along with Tyler’s Seth Murphy.

Tyler’s Aaron Hickman earned medalist honors in stroke play with a 6-under 65.

In the Round of 32, Clyde defeated No. 8 Culley Howard of Spring (1 up), while Hickman as the top seed won over Harrison Stone of Pearland (2 up). Murphy, the No. 25 seed, lost to No. 8 Evan Doherty of Houston (2 & 1).

In the Round of 16, Clyde topped No. 8 Doherty (3 & 2). Hickman was upset by No. 17 Will Wallace of Houston (1 up).

Then Clyde won over Wallace (3 & 2) in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Clyde downed No. 24 Colby Harwell of San Antonio (3 & 2). Gullion, who had a 69 in the stroke play round, downed No. 10 Scott Maurer of Dallas in the semifinals, 1 up.

The Texas Golf Association was established in 1906 with a mission to promote the playing and advancement of the royal and ancient game of golf in Texas. The association is one of the most respected in the country with an ongoing commitment to its members, contestants, volunteers and all who strive to preserve the great traditions of the game.