Tyler

By SHANE STARK
Staff Writer

Martin Piller pulled the ball from the cup, turned toward the gallery and raised both arms to the sky.

Such is the nature of a champion.

Piller, competing in his first tournament as a professional, fired a final-round 66 to win the Texas State Open on Sunday at The Cascades Golf Club. He finished at 14-under 266.

“It’s a great feeling,” Piller said. “It will sink in soon.”

The victory comes a year after Piller successfully defended his low amateur honors here. He earned a check for $25,000 with this championship.

In ascending to the top, Piller displayed calm during the final round and hardly gave thought to his challengers’ scores.

“I didn’t look at the leaderboard,” Piller said. “I told my caddie and I made a choice for myself that I wasn’t going to look at the board. He kept asking, ‘Do you want to know where you’re at?’ I said, ‘No, I want to keep playing.’

“The only time I looked at the board was when I got on the 18th green.”

It was a good time to steal a peek, indeed. Piller had a two-stroke lead on the green after posting a hole-in-one, three eagles and 14 birdies for the tournament.

“Once I walked up to 18 and saw that I had a two-shot lead, I felt pretty good about myself,” Piller said. “I was anxious, but I calmed down out there. I got off to a great start, which helped.”

The State Open had a 156 player field comprised of 129 professionals and 27 amatuers. The total purse was $128,000.

It will return to The Cascades next year.

Martin Pillar, of Dallas, watches his tee shot during the final round of the Texas State Open on Sunday at the Cascades Golf Club in Tyler. Pillar won first place, shooting an 14-under 266.
(Staff photo by Mark Roberts)