Wichita, KS – Thirty-four teams competed in the Spring Triple Threat at Crestview Country Club’s South Course this morning. Teams played six holes of Four Ball, six holes of Chapman Alternate Shot, and six holes of Scramble. The competition awards prizes for gross and net scoring in each of three flights as well as trophies for the Overall Gross Champions and Overall Net Champions. Players also receive points in the KGA/KCGA Women’s Player of the Year series, which is being awarded for the first time this year.
Karen Exon of Topeka and Denise Desilet of Wichita were the Overall Gross Champions firing a three-under-par 69. The cruised through the Four Ball portion of the event carding two birdies to only one bogey. A solid +1 performance in the Chapman format kept the team going strong, but a -3 Scramble distanced the team from the field to claim the title.
Jan Davis and Barbara Crawford led all the way with stellar play in all three formats. A -3 Four Ball to go with a -6 Chapman stretch and a -6 Scramble made the pair wire-to-wire leaders. A net eagle on #13 along with birdies on both par 3s in the final holes made it difficult for the rest of the field to keep pace.
The next event in the Player of the Year Series is the Kansas Senior/Super Senior Championship at Wichita Country Club on June 19-20. Entries close on June 12.
On May 7th, the beautiful Lawrence Country Club hosted our second Stateline Amateur Tour event of the season. 76 players battled through perfect conditions at Lawrence CC to claim medalist honors in each of the four divisions.
The low round of the day belonged to Ritch Nigh of the Seniors division. Nigh recorded a 71 (+1) on the day, highlighted by three birdies. Nigh claimed the Senior division title by 5 strokes over second place finisher John Samples (76). Samples battled through an up and down round with his three birdies on the day helping to secure him second place. Third place was captured by David Hamilton with a 77 (+7) round.
In the Open division, Lee York came out on top with a 74 (+4) round at Lawrence CC. Despite a few bogeys, York’s round was highlighted by a birdie on both the front and back nine with his first birdie on the day coming at the Par-5, Hole #3. Charles Rinehart finished second only by 1 stroke with a 75 (+5). In a two-way tie for third was Jason Adkins and Gregory Diederich was 76 rounds (+6). The close competition in the Open division is always great to see by the KCGA.
In the Legend’s division, Pete Robbins took home his second victory in a row in the gross division with a six-over 76. Despite a double bogey late in his round, Robbins battled with two birdies on the day to claim the gross division title by 4 strokes. David Hornaday finished second after shooting a round of 80 and Philip Squier rounded out the top three with an 81 (+11).
In the net division, Hornaday and Squier both tied for first with scores of 72 net. Gross division winner Pete Robbins took third. Congratulations to all three for top finishes in both the gross and net division for the Legends.
With a six-over, 76, Steve Hammond claimed first place in the Player’s Gross division. Despite an up and down round, Hammond’s three birdies put him atop the leaderboard by two strokes. Andrew Makowske and Derek Garver both finished second with 78 (+8) rounds.
Finally, in the Player’s Net division, Hammond also claimed the title with a 70 net score. Derek Garver finished second in the net division as well with a 72 net score and third place was closely followed by Jacob Epperson and Andrew Makowske who both posted scores of 74 net.
As always the KCGA appreciate all of its tournament participants and congratulate the medalists on the day. Our next SLAT event will take place May 29th at the Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate.
Carmen Titus defeated defending champion Lacy Shelton on Saturday afternoon at Swope Memorial to win the 65th playing of the Kansas City Women’s Match Play Championship.
Shelton took a quick 2-up lead in the final match, but Titus fought back to square it up through five. From there, the match was very even, with both players trading 1-up leads. Titus took a 1-up lead into the 17th, but made bogey, squaring the match. Following a halve on 18, the players went back to #1 to play their 19th hole. Shelton, who hit her approach shot over the green, was unable to save par, setting up a 2-putt victory for Titus.
On July 31, 2018, the Kansas City Golf Association will hold a qualifier for a Web.Com Tour event. The Kansas City Crusader Web.Com Qualifier will be held at Canyon Farms Golf Club and participants will be playing for two spots in the Web.Com event, the KC Golf Classic, formally known as the Digital Ally Golf Tournament. The KC Golf Classic will take place August 2nd through August 5th at the Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate.
The cost for participation in the qualifier is $350.00 per player. $50 of that entry fee will go to the Kansas City Golf Association in support of our Youth on Course program. Registration will take place through Golf Genius and the deadline to enter for the qualifier is July 30th at 6:00 PM. Registration is open to anyone who wishes to participate.
To register for the Kansas City Crusader Web.Com Qualifier, please click here.
For more information on the KC Golf Classic, please see the PGA Tour’s website here.
Saturday, April 28th, Milburn Country Club held their opening day tournament for the benefit of their members and to kick off the summer season. One member in particular, Dave Jackson, took the opportunity upon himself to raise awareness and money for the local Youth on Course program.
During the duration of the opening day tournament, Jackson perched himself on the #1 tee and passed out information packets as well as advocated for the importance of the Youth on Course program in Kansas City to Milburn members as they passed through. His persuasiveness paid off in a big way. In one day, Jackson and Milburn CC were able to raise nearly $5,00o from its members specifically for the Youth on Course program. On top of a successful donation of nearly $2,000 earlier in the year, Milburn CC has managed to raise almost $7,000 for Youth on Course in 2018 alone.
Despite being a private club and not being able to personally benefit from Youth on Course services, Milburn CC has done a great thing for its Kansas City community.
“It’s great to see private clubs embracing Youth on Course,” said Doug Habel, Executive Director of the Kansas City Golf Association.
“The success of Youth on Course will ensure the success and future of these private clubs for years to come. I hope the rest of the private clubs around Kansas City will also take opportunities such as this to help such an important program.”
Youth on Course is great program that supports local kids’ desire to play golf at an affordable and less competitive environment. In order to keep the game of golf relevant and important for many years to come, the youth movement must continue to grow. Please join us and the many other golf associations in supporting your local Youth on Course program.
A big thank you to Milburn Country Club for their amazing contribution!
The 2018 Watson Challenge Press Conference was held this morning at Shadow Glen GC for the one and only Kansas City legend, Tom Watson. Past players and media personnel gathered at the prestigious club to hear Tom Watson discuss his favorite tournament held every year in Kansas City: The Watson Challenge. An esteem panel was invited to sit alongside Mr. Watson and answer questions from the media as well.
Pictured Left to Right: Travis Mays, Dave Resch, Doug Habel, Tom Watson, Robert Russell at the Watson Challenge Press Conference: April 26, 2018
Travis Mays, David Resch, Brigette Chirpich, Robert Russell, and Executive Director Doug Habel surrounded Tom Watson on the press conference panel. Opening remarks and thanks to Mr. Watson were given by each before the media got their turn with the man himself. The first topic of discussion was Mr. Watson’s recent trip to the Master’s which saw him win the Par 3 Championship and witness a Hole-In-One by Jack Nicklaus’s grandson.
One reporter asked if his success at the Par 3 gave Mr. Watson any desire to get back out and compete at the big stage at Augusta National.
“Not one ioata,” Mr Watson replied humbly. “You need a 280 yard carry [off the tee]”, Mr. Watson described what makes you successful at Augusta. “I wasn’t gonna get any longer, only shorter.”
Mr. Watson then went on to describe how he still loves to “throw down” at the Watson Challenge and how his competitive juices still flow til this day.
“I don’t play this golf tournament any different than I played my first golf tournament on the tour. I play this just like a regular tour event. I’m all in,” said Watson.
In his opening comments, Travis Mays described how honored he especially felt to be able to play in the Watson Challenge as many times as he has and how the Watson Challenge is by far the favorite golf event of his and many other amateur players’ seasons.
According to Watson, the objective of the Watson Challenge tournament is to create a competition opportunity for the best golfers in Kansas City. Watson of course hopes to come out on top this year and secure his title as the best golfer in Kansas City. He’ll have some stiff competition in the likes of Chase Hanna, Andy Spencer: defending Watson champion, Dave Resch, Travis Mays and many others.
The Kansas City Golf Association gets just as excited as the players for this event every year, and we hope to see many of our players and fans out there. It’s an event unlike any other and getting a chance to see the great players in Kansas City as well as Mr. Tom Watson in action is something you can’t miss. The 2018 Watson Challenge tournament will be held June 8-10 at Shadow Glen GC.
The 2018 Kansas City Golf Association season kicked off this week with our first event at the Country Club of Loch Lloyd. Despite the windy, cold conditions, we had a great turn out for our first Stateline Amateur Tour event with over 100 players.
18th green at CC of Loch Lloyd
On top of the chilly weather, players battled slick greens and the abundant water hazards around Loch Lloyd. This beautiful course lived up to its reputation and players tried their best to navigate this difficult golf course.
The low round of the day belonged to Steve Groom, shooting an even par 72 and claiming the Senior division title. His round was highlighted by three birdies and three bogeys, shooting 36 on both the front and back nine.
Ritch Nigh trailed Groom by one stroke, finishing with a one-over, 73. After starting out bogey-bogey, Nigh battled back to finish with two birdies and one bogey on the back nine. Two players tied for third place in the Senior division, Mark Addington and Kurt Lorenzen, both shooting a four-over, 76 round for the day.
In the Open division, Kevin Rome claimed low-medalist with a three-over, 75. Despite an up and down round from Rome, his three birdies on the day propelled him to the top of the leaderboard.
Jackson Foth followed in second place by one shot with a four-over, 76. Mark Terranova and Chris Beaubien both tied for third place right behind Foth and Rome with five-over, 77 rounds.
In the Legend’s battle, Pete Robbins took home the title in the gross division with a two-over, 74. His round was highlighted by two birdies on the back nine. Keith Forrest claimed second place with a five-over, 77. Three players tied for third place with a 79 (+7) in the gross division: Mitch Bowen, Bob Bezek, and Jim Lodes.
In the Legend’s net division, Keith Forrest came out on top with a six-under, 66 net score. Tom Baddeley secured second place with a three-under, 69 net score. Top three was rounded out by Dan Gray with an even par, 72 net score.
With a four-over, 76, Chris Meyer claimed first place in the Player’s Gross division. Despite a few bogeys, Meyer’s two birdies on the day helped propel him into first. Three players tied for second place shooting a 77 (+5) in the gross division: Anthony Morales, Michael Buckhouse, and Alex Reed.
In the Player’s Net division, Dennis McCormack shot a four-under, 68 net score to claim the lead. In second place was Spencer Webb with a three-under, 69. Two players tied for third with a 70 (-2) net score: Anthony Morales and Alex Reed.
As always, the KCGA thanks of all its participants for sticking through the weather and coming out to play in our first event of the season. We hope to see everyone at our next SLAT event on May 7 at Lawrence Country Club.
In honor of the upcoming Master’s tournament, Jack Garvin’s piece on the 1968 Master’s reminds us all about the long legacy and traditions of one of the greatest golf tournaments in history!
As of 10 AM today, players are now eligible to register for any KCGA event, as well as post scores. Registration for KCGA events will be through Tournament Pairing Program (TPP), the same system used last year.
To be eligible to register, players must have an active GHIN number. For StateLine Amateur Tour and Kansas City Junior Tour, players must also be a registered member of the league before signing up for individual events.
If you have any questions or issues feel free to email the KCGA staff or give us a call at (913)-649-5242 ext 0.
