The Prairie Invitational Preview – Presented by Dr. J Douglas Cusick MD, FACS

The 2020 Prairie Invitational will be played July 27-29 at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, KS. “We are thankful to be able to host The Prairie Invitational at Shadow Glen. This could be the toughest Prairie venue yet, and I am excited to see how the players fare,” said Jacque Madison, Tournament Director. “As always, the field is very strong and a good mix of professionals, collegiate players, and mid-amateurs.”

78 of the top female golfers in the Midwest will complete the field.

Amateurs:

• Bri Boden, an incoming sophomore at the University of Missouri
• Standout golfers representing Wichita State University: Kenni Henson, Megan Lucas, and Madison Slayton
• Home course favorite and former University of Nebraska golf team member, Audrey Judd

Mid- Amateurs:

• 2020 Kansas Mid-Amateur Champion, Carmen Titus
• 2019 Kansas Mid-Amateur Champion, Katy Winters
• Texas Golf Association Executive Director, Stacy Dennis

Juniors:

• Kansas City local and 2019 Kansas Junior Girl’s Player of the Year, Julia Misemer
• Nebraska’s Danica Badura. Badura is the 2019 Nebraska Junior Girl’s Golfer of the Year, 2020 Nebraska Girls Junior PGA Champion, 2020 Nebraska Junior Girls Amateur Champion, and 2020 Nebraska Girls Match Play Champion
• 2020 Kansas City Junior Girls Match Play Champion, Beth Grant

Professionals:

• 2017 Prairie Invitational Champion and 2018 Runner Up, Kristen Samp
• Three-time Kansas High School State Champion, former K-State Golfer, and LPGA Teaching Professional, Gianna Augustine
• PGA Head Golf Professional at St. Andrews Golf Club and former University of Kansas golfer, Jennifer Clark Walker
• PGA Teaching Profession in the Overland Park Golf Division, Maureen Olson

About The Prairie Invitational

The Prairie Invitational is a premiere women’s event in Kansas City for amateur and professional players. It’s purpose is to enhance women’s golf and junior women’s golf not only in the Kansas City area, but on a regional level. Formerly known as the Women’s Amateur of Kansas City, the Prairie Invitational was founded to determine the best female golfer in the Midwest. The 2017 event was the first time the event was conducted over 54 holes in the Open Division, and was also the first year the event was included in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

The Prairie Invitational consists of two divisions. The Open Division is includes golfers with a handicap index of 5.0 or below. The Open Division competes as a 54-hole event with a cut to the low 18 and ties after 36 holes. The Player’s Division includes golfers with a handicap index of 5.1-18.0. Golfers in this division compete in a 36-hole event.

Dr. J. Douglas Cusick is serving as the title sponsor again in 2020. The Cusick family’s dedication to promoting women’s golf in the area has been a tremendous boost to the event and to the Girls Performance Initiative. The Kansas City Area Toyota Dealers join us as the presenting sponsor along with the Midwest Section PGA Foundation.

All golfers will be required to comply with state and local government COVID-19 safety policies and additional safety procedures put in place by Central Links Golf.

Tournament Information & Results >>

Full Media Package available upon request. Please email baile@clgolf.org.

Newton, KS – Kate Tilma, Wichita, won the Kansas Women’s Amateur Tuesday shooting 74-71-74-219 (+3). This is Tilma’s second Amateur victory of the summer. Last month, she won the Kansas Junior Amateur in Salina, KS. There has never been another woman in the history of Kansas women’s golf to hold both titles in the same year.

When asked how she felt about holding both titles in the same year she said “It’s a great honor to be able to play, it’s good for the hard work that I put into both.”

Abby Glynn, Unversity of Kansas golfer, also made a run for the Kansas Women’s Amateur title. Glynn, hot off her win at the Missouri Women’s Amateur just two weeks ago, made a push in the final round today shooting an even-par, 72. Going into 18, both Glynn and Tilma were tied at four-over-par for the tournament.

Going into 18, Tilma knew she needed to either birdie or par in order to win. She proceeded to make a 20-foot birdie putt to win the championship and overall Low Junior. “I just wanted to give it enough to have a chance at going in,” Tilma said.

Madison Slayton, Wichita State University golfer, held the lead after rounds one and two on Monday. Although Slayton carded only one birdie on her scorecard today, she finished in third place.

The 2021 Kansas Women’s Amateur will be held at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, KS.

Full Results >>

Pictures >>

Day 1: Slayton leads at Kansas Women’s Amateur

Newton, KS – The Kansas Women’s Amateur is underway at Sand Creek Station. Madison Slayton leads by two strokes.

Slayton, an incoming freshman on the Wichita State University golf team, shot 70-73-143 (-2) at Sand Creek Station today. Slayton found success throughout her day, carding a total of nine birdies.

There is a crowd on the leader board for second place. Megan Whittaker, junior at the University of Nebraska, shot 72-73-145. Kate Tilma, 2020 Kansas Junior Amateur Champion, shot 74-71-145. Most notably, Thirteen-year-old Kinslea Jones shot 76-69-145. Jones had 5 birdies and one eagle during her second round.

Also at the top of the leader board is 2019 Kansas Women’s Mid-Am Champion, Katy Winters. Winters, a former Kansas University golfer, shot 75-71-145. During the afternoon, she had five birdies on holes 6, 9, 10, 16, and 18.

Competitors played 36 holes on Monday at Sand Creek Station Golf Course. They will finish the event with 18 holes on Tuesday morning.

View full results >>

Media Package available upon request. Contact: Baile Stephenson baile@clgolf.org

Hays, KS – Susan DeVoe and Alane Studley hold the first round lead in the Tee Fore Two Championship at Smoky Hill CC. Windy conditions prevailed from the start this morning and picked up as the day progressed. Smoky Hill CC is in top condition for the championship, and the fast greens coupled with the windy conditions made for a difficult back nine.

Judy Morris and Jaci Weber or Derby, Kansas and Jayne Clarke (Hays) and Terri Albers (Oakley) were keeping pace with DeVoe and Studley through the front nine. DeVoe and Studley rounded the difficult back nine in 1-under par 35. Morris/Weber and Clarke/Albers were both over par on the back as the winds picked up. DeVoe and Studley lead by four shots heading into the challenging Chapman Alternate Shot format on Tuesday, which is setting up for another day of strong winds.

In the Net Division, Valerie Wente and Lien Quan, both of Hays, lead with a score of 4-under par 68. Wente and Quan also played the back nine well, finishing with a 4-under 32. They lead Paula Routon and Shirley Blick of Wichita by two shots, and Jettie Bexek (Ottawa) and Kathy Thomas (Lee’s Summit, MO) by three shots.

Tomorrow’s Alternate Shot round will begin at 8:00am.

Manhattan, KS – Carmen Titus was all smiles after a fantastic come-from-behind victory in the Kansas Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship today at Colbert Hills GC in Manhattan, Kansas.  This year was especially sweet since it was the championship that got away from her least season.

The field maintained the positions they started in for the most part through the front nine, but the momentum shifted as the final group made the turn.  First round leader Meghan Stasi started the back nine with an uncharacteristic double bogey on the 10^th, and a triple bogey on the 11^th.  Suddenly, Titus had made up four strokes of the six-stroke deficit she had at the turn.  Stasi got one back with a par to Titus’s bogey on the 12^th hole, then another with a birdie on #13.  Titus had a strong finish starting with the 14^th hole.  Stasi made triple bogey at the difficult hole as the wind was really picking up, while Titus carded a steady bogey.  Titus made two more birdies at #15 and #16 and finished with two strong pars as the wind continued to howl. 

Titus said after the round that this win felt good after losing a big lead last year at about the point on the course where this year’s championship turned around for her. “It was fun being in this position this year after being where Meghan was last year.  I got to be the chaser.” “I just tried to play my own game…I tried to play smart and make pars and let her come back to me, and it worked.”  Titus has a Kansas City Women’s Match Play Championship under her belt and has qualified for several USGA Mid-Amateur Championships including advancing to match play in 2018.  After a great win over a player with multiple national championship wins, she can head into the next qualifying season knowing she can play with anyone in the field.

Alane Studley took home the Overall Net title after a very steady two rounds of play.  She had a rocky stretch on the back nine going bogey-double bogey-bogey on holes #12 through #14.  She regained her composure and finished strong even as the winds were picking up.  Ashley Childers fired a net 74 today including a birdie and an eagle on the back nine, but it wasn’t enough to counter Studley’s consistency.

The next Central Links Golf women’s event is June 15-16 at Smoky Hill CC in Hays, KS at the Tee Fore Two Championship which includes one round of Four Ball and one round of Chapman Alternate Shot.

Click here for complete results.

Manhattan, KS – The Kansas Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship is underway under hot and difficult conditions at Colbert Hills GC in Manhattan, KS. Meghan Stasi, four-time US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion, leads the field at 1-under par.

Stasi had a very steady round with nothing more than a bogey on her card.  She was under par on the difficult par 5s.  Chasing her is Audrey Judd (former University of Nebraska player), Carmen Titus (former Rockhurst University player), and Chloe Kraus (assistant coach at Baker University).  Judd, Titus, and Kraus all gave up some strokes on the par 5s but have plenty of firepower to make a comeback in round two.  Defending champion Katy Winters (Andover, KS) is not out of reach in spite of carding two triple bogeys in her round.  Winters and Martha Linscott (Mission Hills, KS) are tied for 5^th with scores of 79.

Alane Studley of St. Joseph, MO leads the Net Division at even par.  Studley finished strong on the difficult back nine.  She kept the ball in play nicely and managed the difficult 10^th hole carding one of the few pars in the field.

Play will resume with the final round tomorrow at 7:30am.  The Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship is held annually for women age 20+ who are not on a college golf roster for the fall. 

Click here for complete results.

Lenexa, KS – Central Links Golf is very pleased to announce that the 2021 Kansas Women’s Amateur Championship will be held at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, Kansas on July 12-13, 2021.

“We’ve had a real influx of female talent in Kansas in the past few years, and we want to showcase that talent by hosting the Kansas Women’s Amateur at Flint Hills National. This will be a good test for the ladies and we’re excited about having them here in 2021.” – Dave Henson, Head Golf Professional at Flint Hills National

Flint Hills National Golf Club is a private golf club designed by Tom Fazio.  It has received many accolades including:

• Ranked in Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest Courses
• Ranked as one of the Best New Private Courses – 1998
• Ranked in the top 10 of America’s Best Private Golf Retreats
• Hosted USGA Junior Amateur Championship in 2017
• Hosted the Trans-Miss Amateur in 2003, 2009, and 2015
• Hosted USGA Men’s Senior Amateur Championship in 2007
• Hosted USGA Women’s Amateur Championship in 2001

“We are certain that Flint Hills National will identify a worthy Kansas Women’s Amateur Champion next year.  The beauty and challenge of the golf course will be something special that the competitors will remember for years to come,” said Jacque Madison, championship director.

A priority entry period will be granted to all Central Links Golf members who participate in the 2020 Kansas Women’s Amateur Championship.  Make sure to register this year for the best chance at gaining entry to next year’s event.

Golfers who wish to play in the 2020 Women’s Amateur can register here.

Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Women’s Match Play wrapped up this morning at Swope Memorial Golf Course with a fantastic match in the Championship Bracket.

Sera Tadokoro (Japan/University of Kansas) and Jessica Haraden (Westlake Village, CA/University of Nebraska) had a back and forth match early on.  Tadokoro took a 2-up lead with pars on #7 and #8.  Haraden made a charge winning holes #9 and #10 to even the match.  Haraden had a great up-and-down par save to win hole #11 and take a 1-up lead.  The pair tied the next two holes, before Tadokoro won #14 and #15 to reverse the tide.  Haraden had another great par save on #16 to tie the hole, and they went to #17 tee with Tadokoro 2-up.  Tadokoro hit a big drive and reached the par-5 #17 in two strokes, making a birdie to claim the hole and the match 2&1.

Rosie Klausner (Olathe/Central Missouri) jumped out to an early 2-up lead on Ellen Port (St. Louis, MO) and never looked back.  She claimed holes #1 and #2 with pars, and the match turned with Klausner remaining 2-up.  Klausner made a spectacular birdie at #10 to gain a 3-up advantage.  Port took advantage of an opening and won #11 with a par after Klausner’s approach found the left bunker.  Klausner closed out the match 4&3 with a birdie at #15.  Port continued praised Klausner’s tremendous play today at the end of the match.

The players had great praise for Swope Memorial GC.  The conditions were superb during the championship, and the set-up is good for match play with a number of risk/reward holes on both sides.  

Click here for complete results.

Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Women’s Match Play has delivered as expected – great golf from an exceptionally strong field.  As the semi-final rounds concluded today at Swope Memorial Golf Course, the matches were close with most extending past the 16^th hole.

Jessica Haraden (Westlake Village, CA/University of Nebraska) took an early lead in her match but was continually challenged by her opponent Abby Glynn (Topeka/University of Kansas).  Haraden made a clutch birdie putt on the 16^th hole with Glynn just a couple feet away for birdie to go to the 17^th hole two holes up.  Glynn won the 17^th hole with a birdie to extend the match.  The 18^th hole was tied with pars, and Haraden claimed the match 1-up.  Both players were under par for the match.

Sera Tadokoro (Japan/University of Kansas) took an early lead in her semi-final match and closed out her opponent Kirsten Baete (Beatrice, NE/University of Nebraska) 6&5.

Seven-time USGA champion Ellen Port had a back and forth match with her opponent Lauren Thiele (Wahoo, NE).  Port evened the match on the 15^th hole and took a 1-up lead with a birdie at 16.  Thiele found a penalty area off the 17^th tee.  Port went on to win the 17^th hole and the match 2&1.

Rosie Klausner (Olathe/Central Missouri) and Libby Green (Shawnee) had a back and forth match as well trading holes early on, then making the turn even.  Klausner won 10 and 11 to go 2-up.  The pair traded holes on 12 and 13.  Green won 16 and 17 to even the match.  Klausner finally won the match with a par on the 20^th hole to go 1-up.

“This is a great match play course.  There are opportunities for birdies, but six-foot putts are not easy here,” said Port.  “I am grateful to have something to play in with most of the USGA Championships being cancelled this season.  It is fun to get out and compete again, and you have to play great golf here to beat people.”

Tomorrow’s Championship matches begin at 8:00am with Sera Tadokoro taking on Jessica Haraden in the Championship Bracket, and Ellen Port playing Rosie Klausner in the Silver Bracket.

Click here for complete results.