HOUSTON GOLF LEAGUE

GET REGISTER NOW FOR THE U.S. OPEN AT MOODY GARDEN JUNE 28TH AT 1:00 PM

SAM GARCIA

HIGH STAKES POKER

Sam Garcia pushed every chip to the center of the table and walked away as the 2026 U.S. Open Champion at Moody Gardens, turning the final stretch of golf into something that felt less like a scorecard and more like a high-stakes poker game. At the turn, there were still several players sitting at the table, each one hoping the next hole would be the card that changed everything. Chris Webb, Karl Holzapfel, Joe Hart, and Daniel Villarreal all had respectable stacks in front of them, enough to keep the pressure on and make the championship feel wide open. Every drive was a bet, every approach shot was a raise, and every putt carried the weight of a river card waiting to decide who would stay alive. But halfway through the back nine, the big stacks began to disappear. One by one, the field folded under the pressure until only three players were really left in the hand: Tony Ford, Ethan Bulthouse, and Sam Garcia. What had started as a crowded free-for-all suddenly turned into a three-man showdown under the brightest lights, the kind of moment where the fairways felt like green felt, the pin placements looked like hidden cards, and every swing carried the danger of going all in. Nobody wanted to blink first. Nobody wanted to show weakness. Each player was trying to read the course, read the wind, and read one another, just like poker players staring across the table and searching for the smallest tell. Ethan was already in the clubhouse at one under par, even after a costly bogey on 18, and for a moment it looked like he had laid down a strong pair of kings that might be good enough to win the pot.Then Tony Ford came in one group later and beat Ethan’s hand, knocking him down to a third-place finish and briefly taking control of the table. Tony’s joy, though, did not last long. Sam Garcia stepped to the final stretch with the calm of a player holding the winning cards and the nerve to play them perfectly. When it mattered most, Sam showed the golfing version of a royal flush: an even-par finish that scooped up every chip on the table and delivered him the 2026 U.S. Open Championship.

Congratulations, Sam, on a well-played hand and a championship performance to remember. At Moody Gardens, the course became the casino, the leaderboard became the table, and when the final card was turned, Sam Garcia was the one holding all the chips.

SUMMARY


POS	PLAYERS	SCORE	GROSS	NET	PURSE
1	SENON GARCIA	76	-3	69	$880.00
2	ANTOINE FORD	76	-2	70	$560.00
3	ETHAN BULTHOUSE	73	-1	71	$360.00
T4	GREG LOPEZ	81	1	73	$0.00
T4	KARL HOLZAPFEL	78	1	73	$0.00
T6	CHAD WILSON	92	2	74	$0.00
T6	JOE HART	81	2	74	$0.00
T6	DANIEL VILLARREAL	80	2	74	$0.00
T9	GABE RAMOS	86	7	79	$0.00
T9	JAIME ALVARADO	86	7	79	$0.00
T9	ERNEST STANDLEY	89	7	79	$0.00
12	HAJA RABE	83	8	80	$0.00
T13	CHRIS WEBB	91	11	83	$0.00
T13	CRAIG HANNAH	93	11	83	$0.00
T13	JOHN KILGORE	98	11	83	$0.00
16	KEVIN HOWARD	96	13	85	$0.00
17	LARRY DRISCOLL	104	17	89	$0.00
WD	JIMMY HAYES	WD	-	WD	$0.00

PAYOUT

	SUMMARY
POS	PLAYER	PURSE
1	SENON GARCIA	$982.86
2	ETHAN BULTHOUSE	$691.71
3	ANTOINE FORD	$662.86
4	JAIME ALVARADO	$138.86
5	JOE HART	$102.86
6	GREG LOPEZ	$102.86
7	JIMMY HAYES	$36.00
8	KEVIN HOWARD	$36.00
9	LARRY DRISCOLL	$36.00
	Total Purse	$2,790.01

MONEY LIST

A FLIGHT

POS	PLAYER		TOTAL
1	JOSE	SANCHEZ	$3,537.00
2	HAJA	RABE	$2,642.00
3	ETHAN	BULTHOUSE	$2,347.00
4	ROLAND	TURNER	$1,340.00
5	JIMMY	HAYES	$1,190.00
6	DANIEL	VILLARREAL	$1,075.00
7	SAM	GARCIA	$983.00
8	TONY	FORD	$797.00
9	TY	TAYLOR	$577.00
10	JAIME	VILLARREAL	$452.00
11	JOE	HART	$400.00
12	JAIME	ALVARADO	$353.00
13	GABE	RAMOS	$279.00
14	JUSTIN	STUBER	$232.00
15	GREG	LOPEZ	$102.00
16	CARL	HOLZAPFEL	$76.00
17	SKYLAR	SCHROEDER	$53.00
		TOTAL	$16,435.00

B FLIGHT

POS		PLAYERS	PURSE
1	EARNEST	STANDLEY	$758.00
2	SHADRICK	WALL	$640.00
3	KEVIN	HOWARD	$630.00
4	CHAD	WILSON	$553.00
5	JAIME	VILLARREAL	$395.00
6	CHRIS	WEBB	$322.00
7	BILL	CHENEL	$300.00
8	ART	FLORES	$290.00
9	JOSE	CARRIZALES	$275.00
10	AMARIES	SMITH	$240.00
11	BEN	DEJEAN	$240.00
12	JARROD	BALLOU	$220.00
13	RODERICK	WOODWORTH	$160.00
14	GABE	RAMOS	$139.00
15	LONNIE	KNOWLES	$92.00
16	TIKU	ARREY	$52.00
		TOTAL	$5,306.00

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the Houston Golf League?

Established in 2012, the purpose of the League is to provide amateurs of all ages, sexes and handicaps the opportunity to compete in stroke-play golf tournaments on a regular basis. The League concludes with a Player’s Championship in which the winner from each tournament. Through this competition, the Houston Golf League promotes the sport of golf by providing an atmosphere of friendly, fair, and well-managed competition for amateur golfers in the pursuit of excellence.

How much does it cost to join the League?

The Houston Golf League has an annual membership of $150.00

What is the cost of the tournaments?

The cost of each regular tournament is 120.00 the majors are $200.00 The entry fee for each tournament includes green fees, cart, and range balls in most cases. A portion of the entry fee establishes the purse. Tournaments can be prepaid online or the day of the tournament.

What can I win?

Cash Money and Trophies are awarded to the first place winner of each flight. A purse is established from the entry fees, and depending on the size of the flight, money is awarded to the top finishers in each flight. Additionally, there are voluntary skins games, deuce game, and closest to the pin. Membership dues must be paid before any prize money awarded.

What is the format of the tournaments?

The players are flighted by handicap, then play a gross stoke-play format within their flight.

What are the handicap parameters for each flight?

Base on the number of players

0-6……. A Flight 0-10……..A Flight

7-13……. B Flight 11-20 ……B Flight

14-20…… C Flight

What if I don’t have a current handicap?

The League uses the Callaway system if a player does not have to establish a verifiable handicap, and the league trumps all other handicaps of other leagues handicap. Callaway system 10 strokes max for A flight and 20 shot max for the B flight. The League will access your level of play based on your most recent scores, which courses you have played and the tees you used. Once you’re placed on a flight, your tournament scores and handicap index are posted on the web page

How is the integrity of the handicaps and flights maintained?

The League will establish your handicap index based solely on your scores posted in the tournaments. If your handicap index improves during the season, you will be promoted to the next higher flight if your index falls within the parameters of higher flight. If your index falls within the parameters of a lower flight, you will only be moved to the lower flight if you request it.

When and where are the tournaments played?

All the tournaments are played on the weekends, with most being played on Sundays. Tee times vary but are posted on the website. The tournaments are played at local courses listed on our website.

How many tournaments do I have to play in?

Play in as many or as few as you would like. Of course, the more you play, the more points you can accumulate toward qualifying for the Players Championship and Culture Cup.

Is there a deadline to join the League?

No. You can join the League anytime during the season. The sooner you join, the more points you start accumulating towards the points race.

Why should I join the The Houston Golf League?

If you enjoy weekend golf at some of the finest local courses, if you enjoy competitive stroke-play golf, if you want to improve your game by playing under tournament conditions like the pros, and if you like the feeling of winning, collecting prizes and trophies, join the tour and enjoy all of these benefits. All tournaments are played by USGA rules and handicaps are tracked on each player to ensure the integrity of each flight.

PLAY LIKE THE PROS

TIGER,PHIL,JACK

The Houston Golf League format mirrors that of the PGA Tour. The tournaments will be held on the finest golf courses around the greater Houston area. The HGL will consist of four major tournaments and a “Players Championship”, Ryder Cup-type Event called the Culture Cup. Stats will be kept on putts, fairways, and greens hit. There will also be a money list leader from each flight. These leaders will be eligible for awards that will be given at the Tournament’s Awards Banquet

HOUSTON GOLF LEAGUE HAS STUDIO 18 WHERE YOU CAN CATCH HIGHLIGHTS, REPLAYS AND
INTERVIEWS FROM OUR LEAGUE PLAYERS, JUST LIKE ESPN AND THE GOLF CHANNEL THE
HOUSTON GOLF LEAGUE HAS IT ALL!