Author: Baile Stephenson

Kansas City Golf Showing Coming February 21-23, 2025

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Purchase Tickets + More Information

AdventHealth welcomes you to Get in the Groove at the Kansas City Golf Show Feb. 21-23, 2025, at Overland Park Convention Center – 90-plus golf exhibits, top-level manufacturers, huge sales and experiences await the golfer – amazing front door bonuses await. IT’S THE BIGGEST SHOW YET.

One of the signals that golf is booming and ready for spring is the Kansas City Golf Show each year, and 2025 show may be one of our best.

The show is highly interactive and brings lots of value to the show attendees. Here are some of the expo’s upcoming highlights:

NEW: NEW INDOOR KC SKILLS CHAMPIONSHIP TICKET, SIMULATOR ZONES (MIDWEST GOLF INNOVATIONS, PXG, BIRDIES INDOOR GOLF, THE TEE BOX), LATEST MANUFACTURER’S CLUBS FITTED WITH GOLF MD, NEW WOMEN’S PROGRAMMING, NEW PXG FITTING EXPERIENCE, MORE INTERACTIVE ZONES AND MORE!

SHOW EXPERIENCES INCLUDE:

  • Buy your ticket online and get a bonus offer to Old Kinderhook.
  • AMAZING Front Door Bonuses see website for details (while they last). Bonuses – Free Balls, ticket to the AdventHealth Championship, get a $25 round including cart to these four GreatLIFE courses: Blue Springs GC, Painted Hills GC, Royal Meadows GC, Shiloh Springs GC; and $30 round with cart to Drumm Farm and Willowbend GC. Also get a round golf to Mules National GC available while they last. Other offers include KC Mavericks Hockey Team ticket and offers to Birdies Indoor Golf, The Tee Box, Berry’s Golf & Groove, T-Shotz and Puttery.
  • COMPETE IN THE KC INDOOR GOLF SKILLS CHALLENGE – buy a special perks-packed ticket and chip, putt and drive for cash and prizes.
  • PLAYERS TOUR PASS VIP Ticket as over $300 in value for $59 – only 250 available.
  • 90 exhibits – one of our best expos ever.
  • Enjoy the AdventHealth Golf Wellness Zone and AdventHealth Championship Pavilion.
  • Sat. Feb. 22 is Women’s Day with stage sessions, lessons and ladies’ skills games presented by: The Tina Team, Envoy Mortgage, AdventHealth, Swing Sports, Yuengling Flight. Shop in the Swing Sports Zone.
  • Visit with Courses and Resorts from the Midwest and around the U.S.
  • Plan your next great golf trip. Meet representatives from several great golf destinations including Las Vegas, Lake of the Ozarks, Mississippi, Oklahoma and more!
  • GOLF MD Equipment Testing and Fitting Zone and Sale area. Try and buy the hot new clubs from the game’s biggest brands!
  • Meet, get fitted and buy from: Cleveland, Srixon, Callaway, Cobra, and Mizuno and with GOLF MD.
  • Imperial Golf Studio led by teaching guru Jon Snyder.
  • Enjoy or onsite simulators and putting green by Xtreme Green.
  • Olathe Ford Lincoln KC Putting Championship: Grand Prize is a Shangri-la Golf Club Resort Dream Trip powered by Pure Line and PXG.
  • Olathe Ford Lincoln New Car and RV Showroom.
  • The GreatLIFE Golf Showcase.
  • The Puttery Experience putting green.
  • RMI Golf Carts Showcase.
  • MGI Power Trolley Test Drive Area.
  • Pro-Am Golf USA Super Sale and other sales zones.
  • Short Game chipping challenge will have 100s of prizes presented by The Tina Team, Envoy Mortgage and PXG.
  • Midwest Golf Innovations Simulator contests presented by Edward Jones, Old Kinderhook and Lake of the Ozarks – powered by PXG.
  • Yuengling Flight Main Stage and 19th Hole presented by WHB. Also, The Tee Box Yuengling Flight Simulator.
  • Bushnell Golf Zone and super sale.
  • Orange Whip Training Zone with Putt Master and Chappie Golf.
  • PGA Lessons Zone with Midwest PGA pros.
  • First Tee Junior Area – kids under 12 are free at the show and Sat. is KIDS DAY.
  • LIBATION SAMPLING STATIONS: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Arnold Palmer Spiked, Barmen Bourbon, Happy Thursday, Simply Spiked, Topo Chico Hard Seltzer and Surfside all weekend long

VOLUNTEERS GET PERKS – SIGN UP TODAY

Stay informed by following KansasCitygolfshow.com and socially via Facebook and Instagram. If you are interested in volunteering at the show, contact Tiffanie Neyens at tiffanie@varsitycommunications.com

The show is once again endorsed by regional governing bodies Central Links, PGA Midwest Section, Missouri Golf Association, Kansas Golf Foundation and First Tee. All are scheduled to be at the show.

Media assets needed? Contact us or use photos from our website with our compliments. Follow us: KansasCitygolfshow.com, @KansasCitygolfshow, #KansasCitygolfshow

Questions on the show? Contact the Show Producer, Dick Stephens at stephens@varsitycommunications.com for more information.

Taking The Nation By Storm

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Kansas and Central Links Golf tournament players may have wondered what happened to Greg Goode this year. The Salina resident hasn’t been seen around these parts for some time.

Well, the three-time Kansas Senior Player of the Year set his sights on national and world Super Senior ranking points in 2024 and has been in hot pursuit of those goals all season.

After winning three national events in the fall of 2023, Goode committed to playing a national schedule in 2024. He played in 22 events around the country, concluding with the Golfweek Tournament of Champions in Florida on December 15th.

By the end of that tournament, he had locked up Super Senior Player of the Year honors in the Society of Seniors — an independent national golf organization — and was second in the Golfweek Super Senior rankings. On the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points list, Goode finished the year in 12th place for players 65 and over. In the AmateurGolf.com rankings, Goode finished 4th.

The Golfweek POY goal eluded him only because in one event early in the year he inadvertently entered as a Senior, rather than as a Super Senior, and those points don’t transfer. If he could have added his Senior points from that one tournament, he would have been a runaway for the Player of the Year honor.

Highlights of the year included two victories, one in New York at the Jack Hesler Tournament, and the other in Las Vegas at the Golfweek Desert Showdown. He also had a second-place finish in the Society of Seniors National Super Senior Championship in Portland, Oregon. Goode had eleven top five finishes in the 22 events he entered.

Time zone changes, weather, making travel arrangements, adjusting to different kinds of grasses and course conditions is challenging, he said. But asked what inspired him to devote the full year to pursuing top honors in competitive tournament play, Goode said,

“I started on this journey six yeas ago. Don Kuehn encouraged me to play in the Golfweek National Senior Match Play Championship at Tobacco Road in North Carolina. I watched him win his flight and from then on, I was hooked. I’ve played in a few ‘national’ events every year since. There’s nothing quite like it. These are the best players in the country.

“I also appreciate Central Links Golf and their rigorous schedule, competitive environment and professionally run tournaments. It makes a big difference to come out of that kind of competition. It prepares you for playing a tough schedule against the best players. CLG does a heck of a job developing players of all ages. We’re lucky to have them,” he said

Goode plans to return to a Central Links Golf schedule in 2025. Could a fourth Kansas POY be in his sights? (You’ve been warned!)

Article written by Don Keuhn

Kansas City Golf Hall of Fame to Induct Four

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The Kansas City Golf Hall of Fame will add four new members to its ranks at a luncheon and induction ceremony at Milburn Golf and Country Club on November 23, 2024, beginning at 12:00 PM.

This year’s class will include long-time Head Professional at Mission Hills Country Club, Charles Lewis III; Marty Sallaz, one of only a handful of golfers to have won both the Kansas and Missouri Amateurs; PGA Tour professional Tom Pernice Jr. who got his start as a young golfer here, in the Kansas City area; and Carolyn Lee, a “Committee Selection” who won the very first two Kansas City Women’s Championships in 1915 and ’16 and three consecutive Missouri Women’s Amateurs from 1918 to 1920.

A closer look at this year’s honorees:

Charles Lewis III is the son and grandson of golf professionals who served the members of Mission Hills Country Club for thirty years. He had a good amateur career before his big “claim to fame” at the 1960 US Amateur in St. Louis. There, after advancing to match play and knocking off his first three opponents, he faced the defending champion, a pudgy kid from Columbus Ohio named Jack Nicklaus.

Golf World magazine called Lewis’ take-down of the champion “the greatest match play upset of the 20th century.” His march to the semi-finals that year guaranteed him a spot in the 1961 Masters Tournament.

After serving in the Marine Corps and trying the professional tour for a time, Lewis worked as Assistant to “Duke” Gibson (Hall of Fame class of 2013) at Blue Hills before accepting the Head Professional position at Mission Hills in 1975.

Marty Sallaz was a mainstay on the local golf scene for many years. Among his championship titles are the 1990 Missouri Amateur, the Missouri Fourball and the Dawson and Phil Cotton titles.

He reached the final match in the Kansas Amateur four times, winning it all in 1995 and collecting four Kansas Mid-Amateur titles between 1992 and 2000. He also represented Kansas in the USGA State Team Championship in 1995 and 1999.

Tom Pernice Jr. graduated from Raytown High School where he captured All-state honors before moving on to play at UCLA. He was two-time All-American and PAC 10 Player-of-the-Year on a team that featured four other players who would go on to win on the PGA Tour.

Locally he won the Heart of America Four Ball, was runner-up in the Missouri Amateur and qualified for 6 USGA championships. As a professional, he won the Midwest Section PGA Championship three consecutive years (1984 -’86).

On tour, he won twice, made an impressive 317 cuts and earned over $15 million in prize money. After turning 50 he joined the PGA Tour Champions where he won six titles, including the season-ending Charls Schwab Championship in 2014. Pernice has played in twenty-seven of golf’s “Majors”.

Carolyn Lee won the first two Kansas City Women’s Championships at a time when clubs were hickory shafted, balls were made with Balata rubber and many courses still had sand greens. Originally from the old Evanston Golf Club, then from Hillcrest, Ms. Lee dominated local tournament golf in the early 1910’s and into the ‘20’s. She won three consecutive Missouri Women’s Championships from 1918 to 1920 and won the old Tri-State and Missouri Valley titles as well. Her record in the Missouri Women’s Amateur was a staggering 26-3.

Ms. Lee enters the Hall of Fame as a Committee Selection.

“The Hall of Fame was created in 2012 as part of our celebration of the centennial of the KCGA,” said Doug Habel, Executive Director of Central Links Golf (CLG). “Our goal is to preserve our past and honor the accomplishments and contributions of those who made golf in this area great. Central Links Golf is committed to continuing the tradition established prior to the merger of the KCGA and the Kansas Golf Association.”

“Over the first five classes of inductees,” he said, “we have recognized amateurs and professionals, men and women, contemporary as well as historic figures, golf administrators and superintendents and players and teachers. We are very proud that our Hall of Fame is all-inclusive and has recognized the greatest of those who have contributed so much to the enjoyment of our game.”

Previous inductees in the class of 2013 included professionals Tom Watson, Stan Thirsk, Leland “Duke” Gibson; 1927 US Women’s Amateur Champion Miriam Burns (Horn) Tyson; founding member of the LPGA Opal Hill; long time KCGA Executive Director Bob Reid; and pioneering course superintendent Chester “Chet” Mendenhall.

In 2014 the honorees were teaching and touring professional Bob Stone; amateur stand-out Karen (Shull) MacGee; and “The Foursome” a group of African Americans who integrated the links at Swope Park in March 1950.

The 2016 class recognized “The Father of Kansas City Golf” James Dalgleish; amateur player Marian Gault; and Bill Ludwig, long-time Board member, volunteer and champion player.

The 2018 class brought touring professional and outstanding amateur Jim Colbert; Jean Pepper who was the “player to beat” in the 1930’s and 40’S; Frank Kirk who was instrumental in the establishment of the First Tee program and has served on the Boards of various golf organizations; and Maxine Johnson who dominated women’s golf in the 1950 in the region.

In 2020 the class included amateur Steve Groom; long-time professional Rob Wilkin; the late Dave Fearis, who was Superintendent at Blue Hills for 40 years; and Mary Jane Barnes, the first woman to head the KCGA and 18-time Women’s club champion at Kansas City Country Club.

The class of 2022 featured the Devers Family: Maxine, Andy, Ian and Clay who all were champion golfers in their day; Fred Rowland, winner of the Canadian Senior Amateur, nine Kansas Championships, seven Kansas City titles and qualified for 11 USGA championships; and Don Kuehn, who has won over 50 championships in local, state and national tournaments.

Nominees are voted on by a broad cross-section of local electors: all members of the CLG Board, living members of the Hall of Fame, the Executive Board of the Midwest Section PGA, representatives of the Golf Course Superintendents Association and emeritus members of the CLG Board. Five nominees appeared on this year’s ballot and each voter was able to cast three votes.

The induction will take place at Milburn Golf and Country Club at 12:30 PM on Saturday, November 23.

The public and the media are welcome and encouraged to attend.

                                                                        # # #

For more information, please contact:
Doug Habel
Executive Director
Central Links Golf
(913) 649-5242
doug@clgolf.org

Winslow Wins the 114th Kansas Amateur Match Play Championship

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The 114th Kansas Amateur Match Play Championship was held July 16-21st at Topeka Country Club. The Championship began with a 36-hole stroke play, qualifying for the Round of 64 matches.

Micheal Winslow earned the title of Kansas Amateur Champion after 35 holes in the Final Round against Will King. Winslow finished 2up after 35 holes and was projected to shoot 73-67 in the Final Match. In Stroke Play Qualifying, Winslow shot 70-70-140 (-2) to earn the tenth seed going into the Round of 64. 

In the Round of 64, Winslow defeated Jack Bradbury 1up after 18 holes. In his second match, he won 3&2 against Jack Tarvin. During the Round of 16 Matches, Winslow played Jake Huffaker, winning the match 4&3. In the Quarterfinals, Winslow played the two seed, Alex Springer, and won 5&4. Winslow played the Semifinals against Zach Sokolosky, the 2023 Kansas Amateur Champion. This was a rematch from the Final Match of the 2023 Kansas Amateur, where Winslow placed second. Winslow won the Semifinal Match 1up after 18 holes. 

In the Final Match, Winslow played against Will King, the fifth seed. Both players are collegiate golfers in the state of Kansas. King, a part of the KU Men’s Golf Team,  shot 67-70-137 (-5) in the qualifying rounds earlier in the week. Winslow, a part of the Wichita State Men’s Golf Team, was tied with King after the first 18 of the 36-hole Final Match. Both players won five holes to make the match even going into the final 18. Winslow heated up, winning the first hole of the second round. Winslow was 3up through 14, coming down to their final holes. King won the 16th hole to continue to push his way back. However, the players tied the 17th hole, ending the match at Winslow 2up over King. 

Winslow’s victory also earned him an Exemption into the U.S. Amateur Championship in August. “It’s huge to get in the U.S. Amateur; if you are playing Amateur golf, that’s the tournament everyone wants to be in. I can’t wait to get up to Hazeltine!” Winslow said.

Thank you to Topeka Country Club for hosting this wonderful event!  We look forward to the 2025 Kansas Amateur Match Play Championship at Wichita Country Club. 

Full results >>

Tarvin & Sun Win at KC Junior Match Play

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The KC Junior Match Play, sponsored by Granite Garage Floors Kansas City, took place this week at Heritage Park Golf Course. The tournament began Monday morning with an 18-hole stroke-play qualifying round. 

In the Girls Division, Jenny Sun fired a 76 (+5) on Monday’s qualifying round, earning her the number two seed going into match play. She defeated Addie McKenna 2 up in the round of 16. In Tuesday’s Quarterfinal match, Sun overcame Naomi Koontz 3&2, and in the Semifinal match, she defeated Claire Sullivan after 19 holes. Sun faced Hadley Neese in the Final match, winning 6&5. “The match that got me here was the Semifinal match,” Sun said after claiming her trophy. “Claire and I would go back and forth; it was a challenging match.” In her final match, Sun birdied three out of the four par 3s she played. 

In the Boys Division, Myles Tarvin was crowned Champion on Wednesday afternoon. Tarvin shot 72 (+1) in his qualifying round, earning him the eleventh seed going into the round of 16 matches. He overcame a tough match against Parker Boggins, winning 2&1. In the Quarterfinal match, Tarvin had to dig deep to defeat Connor McGee 2 up. In the Semifinal match, he was pushed to his limits by Luke Springer, winning by a narrow margin of 1 up. In the Final match, Tarvin’s resilience paid off, winning 1 up over Parker Bennett on 18. “McGee was my hardest match,” Tarvin said, “he birdied 16, the hardest hole on the course, to tie it up, in my Quarterfinal match. That match came down to the 18th hole.” The Match Play field was filled with many competitive golfers this week. 

Link to full results >>

The 2024 Watson Challenge is Underway

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The highly anticipated Watson Challenge teed off Thursday morning at Mission Hills Country Club. The field, comprising 51 top-notch golfers, is vying to claim the title of the best golfer in Kansas City. 

Setting the pace at an impressive two-under-par, Davis Cooper and Charlie Hillier. Cooper, the 2022 Challenge Champion, is determined to reclaim his title, while Hillier, with a solid performance on the front nine, is looking to make his mark in the tournament.

Cooper started strong, making birdie the first hole. The most challenging part of his round today was judging the wind. Cooper and his caddying worked to judge the wind to determine what type of shots he needed to hit. Dealing with the wind prevented him from hitting the ball as well as he would have liked; however, he was still happy with his final score. 

Hillier carded a thirty-two on the front nine, three-under-par. He stayed consistent even with the tricky pin locations on the course today. Leading into the second round, “I am looking forward to getting the putter going,” Hillier said. The difficult pin locations did not cause him to be too unhappy with his putting after his first round. 

Andy Spencer, Julian Taylor, and Jackson Foth shot 69 (-1) to finish tied after their first round. They are both looking forward to their second round, continuing to strike the ball well and miss in the right places. 

Players to watch going into Friday’s round include Joseph Winslow, who shot 70 (E). Connor Knabe, Michael McGee, and Alex Springer are all tied for fifth place after shooting 71 (+1). Six players tied for tenth at two-under. 

Round two begins at 8:00 AM Friday.

Results >>

Watson Challenge Field Announced

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The Watson Challenge will be held at Mission Hills Country Club from June 6 to 8, 2024. Tom Watson’s vision for the Watson Challenge began in 2007 to “Determine the best golfer in Kansas City.” The event raises funds for The First Tee of Kansas City, benefitting our area children.

Spectator Information: Off-site parking and shuttle will be located at Pembroke Hill High School. Tickets are available at the gate for a suggested donation of $25 to the First Tee of Kansas City. Media will be allowed entry with valid employer credentials.

Past Champions

2024 Field

Wade Binfield, Professional
Brookridge Golf and Fitness
Collegiate All-American, Turned Pro in 2010, 2015-2018 PGA Tour Canada, 2019-2021 & 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Member.

Ed Brown, Amateur
Shamrock Hills Golf Club
2021 & 2023 KC Sernior Amateur Champion, 2023 KC Sernior Match Play Champion, 2019, 2021, & 2023 Missouri Mid-Amateur (Senior) Champion, 2021 Open Dicision Club Champion at Swope Memorial, 2011 Open Division Club Champion at Shamrock Hills, 2019 Senior Club Champion at Shamrock Hills.

Bret Burgmeier, Professional
Wolf Creek Golf Club
Shot 63 in a Midwest Section PGA event.

Kyle Capps, Professional
Hallbrook Country Club

Drew Carlson, Amateur
Milburn Country Club
Qualified for The Watson Challenge in 2019, 2022, & 2024, 2022 KC Match Play Finalist, 2023 Kansas Amateur Quarterfinalist, Milburn Country Club – Club Champion, Winner – Falcon Wealth Advisor Tour Championship, 2024 Kanza Cup Winner

Maxence Catherine, Amateur
UMKC Men’s Golf Alumni
Three-time 2nd Team All-Conference, Freshman of the Year at UMKC, Three-time All-American Scholar.

Davis Cooper, Professional
Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate
2022 Watson Challenge Champion, 2021 Windon Memorial Champion

Wylie Curtis, Amateur
Shawnee Mission East High School
2022 Midwest Junior Champion, 2023 Team State Champion.

Gregory Diederich, Amateur
The National Golf Club of Kansas City
2022 Club Champion at The National Golf Club of Kansas City.

Calvin Dillon, Amateur
University of Central Missouri
2020 Missouri Junior Amateur Champion, 2019 KC Junior Match Play Champion, 2023 NCIS Championship Runner-Up, 2023 & 2024 GCAA All-American Scholar, 2022 KC Amateur Runner-Up. This is Calvin’s third Watson Challenge appearance.

Tyler Docking,
2024 Runner-Up KC Match Play

Sean Dougherty, Professional
Golf TRK
2011 & 2015 PGA Championship Participant, 2015 PGA Cup Team Member.

Alex Downing, Amateur
Shamrock Hills Golf Club
2x Academic All-American, 3x Falcon Wealth Advisor Tour Player of the Year, 2022 Kansas Amateur Runner-up, 2 Career Hole-in-Ones – Both on Par 4s

Tyler Dunn, Professional
Blue Hills Country Club
Third Place at 2009 Watson Challenge, 2014 Midwest Section PGA Player of the Year & Assistant Player of the Year, 2020 Midwest Section Assistant Player of the Year, 2015 & 2018 PGA Professional National Championship Participant.

Ryan Eckroat, Professional
Ironhorse Golf Course
2011 & 2012 Member of the Southwest PGA Gibson Cup, 2013 Member of the Southwest PGA Goldwater Cup, 2017 Champion of the Northern California PGA Section, Qualified for the Watson Challenge 2020-2023.

Ryne Fisher, Amateur
Blue Hills Country Club
2x Kansas City Amateur Champion, 2x Kansas City Masters Champion, 1x Kansas City Match Play Champion

Jackson Foth, Amateur
Lake Quivira Country Club
2018 KC Match Play Champion, 2018 Pine to Palm Champion, 2013 Heart of America Four-Ball Champion, and three Watson Challenge Top 10s. This is Jackson’s seventh Watson Challenge appearance.

Ben Hadden, Professional
Shawnee Golf and Country Club
2021 PGA Tour Canada Member, 3x United Airlines Pro-Am Champion, Salina Country Club Record Holder at 60 (-11), 2019 NAIA All-American

Austin Hardison, Professional
Excelsior Springs Golf Course
2018, 2020, 2021 Midwest Section PGA Assistant Champion, 2023 Midwest Section PGA Professional Champion. This is Austin’s fourth Watson Challenge appearance.

Andrew Hatten, Amateur
Blue Hills Country Club
Two-time Missouri 4-Ball Champion, 2007 Missouri Mid-Amateur Runner-Up. This is Andrew’s third Watson Challenge.

Charlie Hillier
Wolf Creek Golf Club
2023 Brazil Open Champion, 2023 Top 5 Latino America 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Member, University of Kansas 2015-2019

Harry Hillier, Professional
Wolf Creek Golf Club/Kansas University
2022 Nebraska Open Champion, 2024 Race to Tieke Champion, 12th Place in 2023 New Zealand Open, Current Member of the PGA Tour Americas

Alex Hogan, Amateur
Blue Hills Country Club, Rockhurst High School
2023 KC Junior Champion

Austin Jarchow, Professional
Shamrock Hills Golf Club
University of Central Missouri Golf Alumni, High School Golf at Lees Summit West, 2-time Qualifier for Professional National Championship.

Will King, Amateur
Kansas University
2023 NCAA Division I Qualifier, 2023 Gopher Invitational Champion, 2024 All-Big 12 Tournament Team, Finished tied for eighth at 2024 Big 12 Championship. This is Will’s second Watson Challenge.

Connor Knabe, Amateur
Former K-Sate Men’s Golf Team
This is Connor’s sixth Watson Challenge.

Michael Letzig, Professional
The Club at Porto Cima
Missouri Amateur Champion, 15 years as a professional Golfer, and five years on the PGA Tour. This is Michael’s seventh Watson Challenge.

Henry Mayor
Mission Hills Country Club/Rockhurst High School
2021-2023 Mission Hills Country Club Junior Club Champion, 2023 Hurrican Junior Tour Fall Classic Champion in Chicago.

Ian McCrary, Amateur
Kansas State University
Member of the Kansas State Men’s Golf Team. This is Ian’s second Watson Challenge.

Michael McGee, Amateur
Indiana University
2023 US Mid-Amateur Qualifier

Bryan Norton, Amateur
Mission Hills Country Club
Three-time Kansas Senior Amateur Champion.

Bryson Oots, Amateur
William Jewell College
State Champion 2022, Kenneth Smith Award Winner, 2-time NCAA Division II Champion, and Individual Selection for the Division II Regional Tournament.

Sam Parrott, Amateur
Central Links Golf
2018 DII GCAA All-American, 2018 GCAA All Region, 2019 Holiday Inn Express Classic Champion, 2021 KC Am Champion, 2021 CLG Player of the Year. This is Sam’s fifth Watson Challenge appearance.

Jared Paul, Professional
Southwestern College
One College and two Professional victories. This is Jared’s third Watson Challenge appearance.

Ben Pearson, Amateur
Falcon Ridge Golf Club
Third Place in 2023 Kansas Mid-Amateur, Second Place in 2022 Kansas Mid-Amateur, 2023 KC Four-Ball Champion, Second Place in 2023 Hear of America, Semi-Finalist in 2023 KC Match Play. This is Ben’s second Watson Challenge appearance.

Chance Rinkol, Amateur
University of Iowa
AJGA Joplin Junior Champion, 2023 Midwest PGA Section Junior Golf Student of the Year, and Founder of Red Bags Shootout.

Robert Russell, PGA
Nickalaus Golf Club at Lionsgate
2023 Watson Challenge Champion

Andy Spencer, Professional
Wolf Creek Golf Club/University of Kansas
Status on the Challenge Tour, Three-time Watson Challenge Champion, having won in 2017, 2018, and 2021.

Alex Springer, Amateur
Sycamore Ridge Golf Course
2019 Watson Challenge Champion. Alex will make his seventh appearance at the Watson Challenge.

Tyler Strong, Amateur
Praire Highland Golf Course
2023 Kansas Junior Amateur Champion, 2023 Junior Player of the Year, Committed to K-State Golf in the Fall.

Julian Taylor, Professional
Tiffany Greens Golf Course
3-time All-American, 14 collegiate wins, NAIA Golfstat Cup winner. This is Julian’s second Watson Challenge Appearance.

Park Ulrich, Amateur
Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate

Zach VanDolah, Amateur
Tiffany Greens Golf Club
2023 Kansas Player of the Year, 2022 & 2023 Kansas City Player of the Year, 2023 Kansas City Amateur Champion, 2022 Kansas Mid-Amateur Champion, 2022 Kansas City Match Play Champion. Zach will be playing in his fifth Watson Challenge.

Brad Volker, Professional
The Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate
2018 Midwest Section Player Development Award Winner. This is Brad’s sixth Watson Challenge.

Kevin Ward, Professional
The Golf Stable/Mission Hills Country Club/Wolf Creek Golf Club
Founder of The Golf Stable, 2023 Midwest Section PGA Teacher of the Year, Golf Digest Top in the State, 2004 “Show Me, Sunflower” Champion, 2004 Kansas Golfer Summer Four-Ball Finalist

Michael Winslow, Amateur
Wichita State University
2024 AAC All-Conference, 2018 Kansas Junior Amateur Champion, 2018 5A State Champion, Runner-Up in 2024 Kansas Amateur, Runner-Up in 2024 Missouri Amateur.

Joseph Winslow, Professional
Wolf Creek Golf Club
Tied for Fourth in PGA TOUR Americas Brazil Open, Winner – PGA TOUR China Yantai Championship, 3x Kansas High School State Champion

Heeil Yang, Professional
PXG
Member of the Korean Professional Golfers Association.

Two additional golfers will earn their spot in the Watson Challenge Field after playing the Watson Challenge Junior Qualifier on Friday, May 31st. Full results from that event can be found here >>

Tips from the TOUR: Pre-Shot Routine

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HOW BOUT THOSE CHIEFS! Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on winning the Super Bowl. I’m sure many of us saw how Patrick Mahomes remained poised the entire game. You could really see how focused he was and into his process out there. No matter what happened during the game, he just kept focused on the next play, the next drive… sounds a little similar to what we want to do in golf.

One of the most important aspects in golf is the mental game. That can be a very broad term, and in this specific article, I wanted to talk about the pre-shot routine. Our routine allows us to control what we can control and clear out distractions to be our best. We can see disciplined routines every week on the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods is the gold standard for a disciplined routine. This allows us to be in the same clear frame of mind for every shot we hit and will allow us to play our best golf. It also allows us to recognize when we aren’t in a clear frame of mind. Without it, we don’t have a game plan and are just at the mercy of “hoping” we hit a great shot.

Ok, it’s the first tee shot of the day. You have been to the range and hit a small bucket of balls to get loose, some shots were good and others not so much. You are standing on the first tee with your buddies and are wondering “well I hit my driver with a fade on the range but I normally hit it with a draw…I don’t know what’s going to happen…just step up and hit it and hope it goes where I want…” Does this sound like you? The solution will be your pre-shot routine!

Mental Aspects of Great Routines:

  • We focus only on the shot we are about to hit. Our past shots on the range or yesterday or another day do not matter. We focus only on this shot.
  • We visualize our best shots and ingrain them into our minds. We visualize clearly the shot we want to hit in this moment.
  • We have clarity on what we want to accomplish with the shot.

Physical Aspects of Great Routines:

  • We walk into the shot the same way each time. Find a cadence that feels great to you.
  • Our body is loose and alive to hit the shot the way we want. This is where a practice swing would work.
  • We feel a sense of joy to be out playing golf. We have to remember we love to be out here and that helps clear out the fear of the shot.

Decision Aspects of Great Routines:

  • We have a clear distance we want to hit the ball.
  • We know which direction the wind is blowing and have factored that into our shot.
  • We have picked a clear target line that we want to start the ball at and a clear finishing target where we want the ball to finish.

Now that you know the components that go into a great routine, it’s time to practice building your routine. The important part of a routine is that YOU have to own it. There is no one right answer. These components listed above will help guide you to build your best routine for success.

I’m excited to share more tips from the TOUR to help you with your game this year. As always please reach out to your PGA Professional for lessons to help your game with this. They are prepared and equipped to help you become the best player you can be. Have fun and good luck!

See you on TOUR,

Joseph Winslow is a contributing writer for Central Links Golf. He is native to Kansas City and is a professional golfer. He has played around the world on the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR China, and PGA TOUR Americas. He was an NCAA Honorable Mention All American at the University of Iowa and graduated from the University of South Florida. Joseph brings insight and advice from a competitive playing perspective to help you in your practice. Follow along with Joseph’s career as he continues to work to win around the world.

Why Your Shoulders Hurt After Playing Golf

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Golf shoulder injuries are a common occurrence in golfers. There can be various reasons behind your shoulder pain, which we will dive into below and help you golf pain-free.

Upper Body Dominance

One potential reason for your shoulder pain with golf is having an upper body-dominant swing. Whether it’s due to technical reasons or lack of mobility in other areas (we will go over this later), your arms might be doing too much work from a muscular standpoint – resulting in shoulder overuse. Your lower body must work with your upper body to create an efficient and smooth golf swing to reduce any pain associated with swinging.

Lack of Mobility

Thoracic Spine

As mentioned above, shoulder pain can also result from a lack of mobility from other areas in your body. One key area to examine is your thoracic spine or upper back. Due to their close proximity, a lack of mobility within thoracic spine rotation can create shoulder compensation to still complete your golf swing. Repeatedly swinging with this deficiency will slowly create more and more shoulder strain. Simply addressing and improving thoracic spine mobility can take pressure off your shoulder(s) and help you swing the way your body was designed to. 

Shoulder

Your shoulder pain might also be due to a lack of shoulder mobility. During the backswing and the start of the downswing, your trail side shoulder is doing what is called external rotation (rotating outward). If your shoulder is unable to rotate to the degree it needs to, whether it be from previous injury or other joint restrictions, this could potentially explain your pain. 

Take this at-home assessment HERE to see if you’re rotating correctly, and get FREE golf shoulder exercises at the end upon submission.

Conclusion

Many golfers deal with shoulder pain regularly; however, this can be prevented. It is best to seek out an assessment from a healthcare professional, such as a golf physical therapist, to assess your mobility and determine the cause of your golf shoulder injury. Book your FREE strategy call with RobertsPT Golf Physical Therapy and Performance HERE, and start your path to pain-free golf today.

Dr. Cole Bunce is a contributing writer for Central Links Golf. Dr. Bunce works at RobertsPT, a golf Physical Therapy and Performance Center in Kansas City.

2024 February Funding Drive

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The Annual February Funding Drive for Youth on Course is back! Help us reach our $15,000 goal!

Did you know Central Links Golf is responsible for subsidizing the YoC program in Kansas & Kansas City?

Members of Youth on Course pay $5 to play a round of golf at participating facilities. This program allows juniors to have greater access to the game of golf.

Help us continue to expand and sustain this program by donating to our campaign.