No matter how well he plays this week, or even if he doesn’t play well and misses the cut, Houston Open week 2018 will be a time Chris Stroud never forgets.

The Port Neches-Groves ex, you see, kicked off the week on Monday with a pair of $50,000 check presentations from the Hurricane Harvey Pro-Am he co-hosted with Bobby Gates in December. On Tuesday, there was another check presentation, as well as a press conference at the Houston Open media center.

By the end of the week, roughly $975,000 in checks will have been disbursed to some of the folks hit hardest by Harvey’s flooding.

“It truly doesn’t get any better than this,” said an emotional Stroud. “Other than the birth of my two girls, my marriage and my first tournament win, being able to help people in need like this has been the greatest joy of my life.

“If I were to win a major, win the Masters, it would be great. But what I am doing right now to help people get back to a normal life is just the most uplifting thing I have ever been associated with.”

One of Stroud’s check recipients, a long-time PGA Tour caddie who lost his home in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina, then was wiped out again in the Katy area by Harvey, found Chris on the range Monday at the Golf Club of Houston. He was so overwhelmed with the email informing him a $50,000 check was on the way he couldn’t even talk.

“Tears were streaming down his face,” said Stroud. “He came up and hugged me for the longest time. We were both crying. Finally he was able to say, ‘You have no idea how much this means.’ ”

Stroud and his committee of eight spent the last three weeks going through the stories of 80 families who completely met the criteria set out to qualify for assistance from pro-am funds. They did not have names or pictures, only details of damage sustained and what had been received from FEMA, the Red
Cross and insurance.

From that information, the committee debated at length before determining how much each family would get. The checks ranged from $5,000 to $75,000.

“We wish we could have done more,” said Stroud. “But this is not over. Mattress Mack (Jim McIngvale) announced Tuesday that he is going to give $60,000 worth of furniture. We are hoping to get a national focus on what we’re during telecasts of the tournament. Information will be put out on how
people can donate.”

Because of how the committee worked, nobody knew the names of people who had been chosen until after money determinations had been made. Imagine Stroud’s surprise when former Lamar golfer Dawie van der Walt, whose home in Kingwood was wiped out, as well as a long-time friend from Vidor, were among those selected.

“My friend in Vidor was still living in a tent. I believe he received $22,000,” Stroud said. “Dawie got $25,000. It made the whole thing even more special to know a couple of the guys we helped. Bottom line, it was so meaningful to be able to give back to people who were hurting, through the game that I love and have played all my life.”

Stroud, who has not played in a PGA Tour event for a month, says he has no idea how he will fare on the golf course this week. With all that has been going on around him, it would certainly be understandable if getting locked in is difficult. But, as usual, he is a glass half full kind of guy.

“It would be unbelievably special if I could play well, and I think I am going to,” he said. “Honestly, there is something special in the air because of the check presentations. I have to believe there are positive vibes headed my way. And I want to put on a good performance because I know a lot of folks
from home are coming over.”

Again, it won’t matter in the big picture. Stroud has already secured his best Houston Open ever.
CHIP SHOTS

Former Lamar golfer Shawn Stefani is the author of this week’s hole-in-one news, and it is worth Googling “Shawn Stefani Hole in One” to check it out.

Competing in the PGA Tour event in the Dominican Republic for players not eligible for the World Match Play Championship, Stefani sank an 8-iron on the 214-yard, 17th hole during the second round.
Adding theatre to the shot, Stefani was not sure the ball fell into the cup.

He is heard saying on the video that he didn’t think it went in. Somebody else in the group thought it did. Things went back and forth for 15 or 20 seconds before he received confirmation.

The ace helped the Barbers Hill ex make the cut and rounds of 70-68 on the weekend propelled him to his best finish of the year — a tie for 13th. …

Andrew Landry will be doing diaper duty instead of playing in the Houston Open this week. Andrew and his wife, Elizabeth, welcomed 7-pound, 8-ounce Brooks Ryan Landry into the world Tuesday, March 20 in Austin.

Landry plans to return to the PGA Tour at Hilton Head the week following the Masters. In the meantime, he is loving his new role in life.

“Nothing better in the world than being a dad,” he said. “Hands down the greatest accomplishment of my life. The love is so real. So blessed.” …

Nederland was a 26-stroke winner last week in the Warren Invitational at Brentwood, shooting a team total of 333. Little Cypress-Mauriceville was the runner-up.

The Bulldogs’ Brendan Marley took medalist honors with an 80. Teammates Tyler Wallie and Jadon Bell tied for third at 84, with Wallie winning the playoff.

Daniel Cormier added an 85 for Nederland …

PNG ex Karlei Hemler had another strong showing for McNeese State in the Houston Baptist Husky Invitational at BlackHorse Golf Club.

Hemler shot a closing 78 for a 54-hole total that was 12th overall in an 11-team field. McNeese placed sixth. …

Nederland grad Felicia Sauceda, playing in the same tourney for Lamar, shot a final round 74 for a 236 that was tied for 21st. Lamar tied for first with HBU, then prevailed via the tiebreaker. …

The Monday Senior 55 Plus 2 ball game at Babe Zaharias saw teams captained by Rick Pritchett, Adam Noel and Russ Gloede tie the front with even par. On the back, the Gloede team that included Ed Hetzel, Bob Luttrull and Dan Flood won with minus-4. …

In the Saturday Super Senior 2 ball at Zaharias, the fivesome of Ron Carlin, Thad Borne, Troy Touchet, Charles Leard and John Vellion scored a sweep, winning the front in minus-4 and the back in minus 3. …

The Friday Senior 2-ball at Zaharias featured a two-way tie on the front at minus-1 between the team of Benny Sharpe, Tony Trevino, Larry Reece and Wes McDonald and the foursome of Randy Monk, Scotty Ray, Larry Foster and Wes McGuire. The Sharpe team won the back with minus-1. …

Individual stroke play with handicap was the format for the Thursday Senior Game. Sharpe bested Noel in First Flight while Brad Royer topped Leard in Second Flight. Closest to the pin winners were Noel (No. 2) and Leard (No. 12). …

The Wednesday Zaharias DogFight was won with 19 points by the team of Ron Mistrot, Tom LeTourneau, Dwayne Benoit and Art Miller. Second with 18 points was the foursome of Gloede, Flood, McGuire and Paul Brown.

Closest to the pin winners were Keith Marshall (No. 2), Ed Holley (No. 7), Mistrot (No. 12) and Benoit (No. 15).

Golf news should be emailed to rdwest@usa.net.