Napier Claims the 54th M&P Group Texas State Open After a Playoff
Tanner Napier of Paris, TX won the 54th M&P Group Texas State Open at Cascades Country Club on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff against Kyle Pritchard. Napier fired rounds of 62-63-66-68 to finish the Championship at 21-under-par.
Napier started the day with a two stroke lead over Frederick Wedel of the Woodlands and a five stroke lead over 2019 Champion Kyle Pritchard from Castroville. Napier made all pars until a birdie on the par-3, 9th hole.
As he made the turn to the back nine, Pritchard began to go on a run in the group in front of him, just like he did the day prior. Pritchard birdied holes 11 through 16 and drained a 35-foot putt for eagle on the 18th to get to 21-under-par. His round of 63 was the lowest round of the day for the second day in a row. He also shot the lowest back nine score of the week today with an 8-under par, 27.
Napier three putted the 17th hole for bogey and could not convert on the par-5, 18th for birdie to win in regulation. He and Pritchard would go back to the 18th tee for a sudden-death playoff. Napier found the fairway with a tee shot of 310 yards. He followed his drive with a 3-wood from 245 yards to the right side of the green and had about 50 feet for eagle. After his first putt he had a 3-footer remaining for the win after Pritchard left his 12 foot birdie putt on the lip.
“I had the thought of how many of these have I hit in my life. Thousands. So that’s how I treated it,” said Napier about his thoughts before hitting the three-foot putt. He went on to make the putt for a birdie and capture the 54th M&P Group Texas State Open title.
“I was lucky enough to get it done! You look at the names of past champions and it’s really cool to see those guys. It’s awesome to have my name there.”
Napier earned $40,000 for his victory and a lifetime past champion exemption into the Texas State Open.
The Championship features two additional divisions, Low PGA of America Golf Professional and Low Amateur.
For the first time, Spencer Dillard, PGA assistant professional at Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas, TX, claimed the PGA Professional Division at 14-under-par after rounds of 66, 65, 66, 69.
“My goal coming into the week was to have four rounds under par and luckily I was able to do that this week,” said Dillard.
Speaking about representing the PGA Members Dillard said, “It was nice to have a top ten and show my talents against these guys. A lot of people don’t know that we’re good players.”
For his T8 finish Dillard will head back to Dallas with over $5,450 and an exemption into next year’s Championship.
Jack Burke (a) of Orange, TX, a rising senior at Texas State University secured Low Amatuer honors after a 12-under-par finish. He carded rounds of 65-69-66-68 and finished six strokes ahead of the next closest amateur.
Speaking about the week, and his first time playing the event, Burke (a) said, “It was fun…The greens out here are so perfect. “This week it was a gold mine to come out here and shoot four rounds under par.”
Burke (a) earned an invite back for next year’s Championship as well as $1,000 gift certificate for the golf shop at Cascades Country Club. Next year, he plans to turn professional and will be playing for the overall purse.
The 54th M&P Group Texas State Open was a 72-hole stroke play event and consisted of 156 professionals and amateurs. The starting field was made up of exempt players as well as successful qualifiers. The 61 players who made the cut competed for the Championship purse of $201,000.
This was M&P Group’s second year as the title sponsor and the Championship was presented by Joyce Crane and supported by Christus Trinity Mother Frances, Holiday Inn - Tyler Conference Center, Jucys Hamburgers and Patterson Tyler.
Cascades Country Club
Par: 35-35–70
Yardage: 6,882 yards
View Round Final Results
HERE
