Alex Ellis, Cory Bull break through to claim 2022 Hillcrest Swinger golf tournament title

Nathan Giese, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
·6 min read

All dynasties must come to an end. Alex Ellis and Cory Bull wouldn't have it any other way.

After multiple years of watching the duo of Brady Shivers and Michael Pruitt claim title after title, Ellis and Bull had the last laugh on Sunday night, winning the 2022 Hillcrest Swinger golf tournament championship with a one-stroke victory.

Ellis and Bull entered the final day of the three-day tournament one shot off the lead with Shivers and Pruitt one stroke behind them.

Alex Ellis (right) and Cory Bull celebrate after securing the championship during the final day of the Hillcrest Swinger golf tournament on Sunday, June 26, 2022.
Alex Ellis (right) and Cory Bull celebrate after securing the championship during the final day of the Hillcrest Swinger golf tournament on Sunday, June 26, 2022.

Having won the last four Swinger titles, Shivers and Pruitt have made comebacks before, so if Ellis and Bull were going to pull off the proverbial upset, they were going to have to have some things go their way.

On paper, Ellis and Bull had their worst day of the tournament on Sunday, but they did enough to knock the four-time reigning champs off their throne.

"Cory made three birdies in a row, two long putts," Ellis said. "My partner stuffed a three-wood on 16. Shot of the day, for sure. Then we birdied 17 and got a little favor on 18. We got lucky on 18."

Cory Bull (left) and Alex Ellis pose with their Championship Flight after winning the Hillcrest Swinger golf tournament on Sunday, June 26, 2022.
Cory Bull (left) and Alex Ellis pose with their Championship Flight after winning the Hillcrest Swinger golf tournament on Sunday, June 26, 2022.

Shivers and Pruitt were one group ahead of Ellis and Bull — who were paired with Cody King and Blake Ashcraft, the leading duo heading into Sunday's action -— and watched the favorites wrap up the day at 19-under par. Ellis and Bull just needed to par the 18th hole, which they accomplished, to give the Swinger a new champion at 20-under.

"We were right there and they played better than us," Pruitt said. "That's part of it. That's golf. They're great players and they've been with us almost every year. ...It was their turn to win, I guess."

Ellis and Bull came in second in last year's tournament. Getting a bit of revenge this year felt sweet.

"They beat us darn near every time and took us down last year," Bull said. "It was nice to finally beat them."

King and Ashcraft tied with Shivers and Pruitt at 19-under for second place.

"The stuff we've done the last five or six years, making seven-footers, making eight-footers, get up and down when we need to, we just didn't do that this year," Shivers said. "That is what cost us."

Though they're the new champs, Ellis and Bull aren't considering this the start of a new dynasty at Hillcrest Swinger.

Michael Pruitt (left) and Brady Shivers wait their turn on the 18th green during the final day of the Hillcrest Swinger golf tournament on Sunday, June 26, 2022.
Michael Pruitt (left) and Brady Shivers wait their turn on the 18th green during the final day of the Hillcrest Swinger golf tournament on Sunday, June 26, 2022.

"It's our first win," Bull said, "but these guys are so good that nobody's going to come out here and expect to win every time. We just want to be competitive and have a good time."

2022 Hillcrest Swinger

at Hillcrest Golf & Country Club

Final Results

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT — 1. Alex Ellis-Cory Bull, 196; T2. Brady Shivers-Michael Pruitt and Blake Ashcraft-Cody King, 197; 4. Brian Scherer-Lane Branum, 198; T5. Shawn Savage-Kelly Grunewald and Tripp Wallace-Ty Houtchens, 200; 7. Alex Gutesha-Tyler Sheppard, 202; 8. Alex Woodard-Cole Esau, 203; T9. Lynney Tucker-Stefan-Cronje and Mason Couch-Taylor Areolla, 204; 11. Ben Winter-Mitchell-Griffin, 205; 12. Beau Burgess-Tyler DeHay, 208; 13. D'kota Dixon-Ruben Hernandez, 209; 14. Alex Krol-Carson Good, 213.

PRESIDENTS FLIGHT — 1. Gerry Diaz-Scott Tilson, 207; 2. Ryan Rogers-Jason Byrd, 209; 3. Barry Ledbetter-Logan Scarlett, 210; 4. Kyle Shuman-Mark Gilmour, 211; 5. Collin Cunningham-Mark Cunningham, 212; 6. Marty McClintock-Wade McClintock, 219; 7. Ross Tyler-Scott Caswell, 221; 8. Bryan Howard-Kyle Kirkland, 222; 9. Matt Abram-Matt Midgett, 223; 10. Michael Payne-Bud Arnett, 226.

FIRST FLIGHT — 1. Brad Smith-Travis Smith, 198; 2. Gene Black-Tracy Witherspoon, 209; 3. Braden Daniel-Jeremy Jackson, 210; 4. Clay Simpson-Rob Francis, 213; 5. Ryan Castillo-Sonny Garza, 214; 6. Jerry Hill-Steve Gooch, 216; 7. Alec Jeffries-Steve Jeffries, 217; 8. Billy Blankenship-Dale Jakeway, 220; 9. Al Benson-Bubba Atchley, 222; 10. Joe Combest-Luke Anderson, 229.

SECOND FLIGHT — 1. Alex Huggins-Thomas Henley, 212; 2. Bryce Bowley-Jeff Lyles, 213; 3. Danny Scott-Tim Kute, 215; T4. David Steffey-David Webb and John Carson-Shon Ross, 217; 6. Daniel Gray-Jon-Michael Garrett, 221; 7. Darrell Bateman-Rick Black, 223; T8. Bob A. Ricks-Joey Barker and Craig Morgan-Marty Faubus, 224; 10. Casey Daniel-Steve Kennedy, 227.

THIRD FLIGHT — T1. Dean Teykl-Jason Moore and Chance Cook-Kenneth Pickering, 217 (Teykl-Moore won playoff); 3. Blake Dowdy-Kyle Mills, 221; 4. Jeff Gage-Trent Donahoo, 223; 5. Clayton Swan-Mike Hiebert, 224; 6. John Casper-John Dutkowsky, 225; 7. Rex Rose-Wade Roark, 228; 8. Brent Murray-Kyle Welcher, 230; 9. Colton-Kemp-Logan Messerly, 231; 10. Brady Garza-Jared Pharr, 239.

FOURTH FLIGHT — T1. Michael Rijoas-Ron Thomas and Charles Hohertz-Randy Richardson, 222; 3. Brad Holcomb-Norman Allen, 224; 4. Brandon Shipman-Scotland Church, 225; 5. Steven McMurry-Zane Vaugh, 226; T6. Chris Gregg-Robert Daniel, Shawn Bently-Juan Dominguez and Mike Zaccard-Shelby Brake, 228; 9. Kirk Williams-Marlin Burns, 231; 10. Jimmy Holloway-Kevin Noles, 235.

FIFTH FLIGHT — T1. Donny Tucker-Rex Thomas and Gary Branch-Greg Duran, 225; 3. Monte Mclean-Tommy Davis, 228; 4. Peter Smith-Rhett Richardson, 230; 5. Scott Stephens-Todd Williams, 231; 6. Jimmy Davila-Tony Vigil, 232; 7. Brett Dunlap-Charles Downing, 238; 8. Lonnie Cypert-Rick Black, 239; 9. Buddy Gerber-Steve Smothermon, 245; 10. Carey Taylor-Jared Swopes, 255.

SIXTH FLIGHT — 1. Michael Augirre-Pete Richarte, 230; T2. Justin Miller-Matt Davidson and Steve Kemp-Zack Wall, 232; 4. Adrian Cano-Orval Jackson, 233; T5. Brad Ritter-Steven Todd and Tad Cornett-Tyler Cornett, 236; 7. Chase Morrison-Guy Morrison, 237; T8. Colton Valdez-Ryan Rogers, Clay Taylor-Zeth Henson and Mike Lance-Rollie Sheppard, 238; 11. Oscar Delgado-Paul Dehn, 239; 12. Braden Pyles-Robert Dominguez, 247.

SEVENTH FLIGHT — 1. Bill Anderson-Geary Lindberg, 234; 2. Lyndall Couch-Steve Lee, 235; T3. Kelly Livingston-Willis McCutcheon and Brian Willis-John Hart, 236; T5. Chuck Chapman-Jim Boop and David Hodges-Rowdy Hartman, 242; 7. Brent Hamilton-Cy Barton, 249; T8. Kenneth Patterson-Tom Pitts and Michael Anderson-Stan Fry, 250; 10. Trevor Owens-Tyler Fikes, 251.

EIGHTH FLIGHT — 1. Jim Evans-Jon Moody, 228; T2. Arlan Patton-Carroll Mathis and Craig Wallce-Hayden Wallace, 236; 4. Jeff Wyatt-Joe Riker, 238; T5. Danny Pierce-David Pierce and Jerry Jones-Jon Henson, 244; 7. Derrick Bush-Kirk Noles, 245; 8. Michael Martinez-Robert Torres, 255; 9. Johnny Garcia-Rodney Keeton, 256; 10. Juan Trevino/Jim Trevino, 269.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Hillcrest Swinger golf tournament 2022 results, winners