A combination of heat and a difficult trek around Shadow Glen Golf Club resulted in a long day for many golfers attempting to qualify for the USGA’s US Mid-Amateur Championships.

However, Joe Ida and Martha Linscott withstood the scorching temperatures and long loop around the course to claim medalist positions.

Linscott posted a six-over, 76 and earned one of the three qualifying spots for the women.

Leaning on five birdies, Linscott delivered a two-stroke lead over runner-up Carmen Titus.

Titus, who finished at eight-over, 80, will join Linscott and Sheri Hauck, who turned in a 12-over, 84, as qualifiers for the Women’s US Mid-Amateur.

The three will compete at The Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Ida, a long with Charlie Stevens, Bradley Lane and Kory Bowman, travel to Stonewall Links in Elverson, Pennsylvania.

Ida posted a one-under, 71, thanks to a exclamation point-eagle on No. 18 to seal the deal for the former Watson Challenge champion.

Stevens, Lane and Bowman each posted even-par, 72s, but required playoff victories to punch their tickets to the US Mid-Amateur championship.

Follow these links for complete scoring and results from US Mid-Amateur qualifying:

Men’s results

Women’s results

The first thing Connor Knabe and Ben Fernandez did once they laid their eyes on the Heart of America trophy was begin looking for past Kansas State alumni who once held the same honor before them.

The pair can now rest assured that their names will join the likes of other Wildcats who were crowned Heart of America champions.

Knabe and Fernandez cemented themselves in the tournament’s history by defeating Alex Higgs and Park Ulrich 6 and 5 at Milburn Country Club.

The Kansas Golf Association’s top seeded team held a 4 up advantage through 18 holes, before Higgs and Ulrich, the Kansas City Golf Association’s No. 3 seed, cut the lead to three holes on the 22nd hole.

Unfortunately for Higgs and Ulrich, Knabe and Fernandez ripped off back-to-back birdies on the 28th and 29th hole, and put the match away for good with a birdie after 31 holes.

Knabe and Fernandez punched their finals ticket by knocking off Preston Fleenor, the 2016 Kansas City Amateur champion, and his teammate Chase Hanna, the 2015 Watson Challenge champion.

Higgs and Ulrich made it to the championship round by defeating Jeff Bell and Jon Platz.

For full results from the Heart of America tournament, click here.

Day two of the Heart of America Championship saw a handful of upsets en route to setting the stage for the final round.

Connor Knabe and his partner Ben Fernandez knocked off the duo of Preston Fleenor and Chase Hanna in the semifinals 3 and 2, while also delivering a 2 up victory of Tavin Dugan and Justice Valdivia.

Awaiting Knabe and Fernandez is Park Ulrich and Alex Higgs, who handed a lopsided 7 and 5 quarterfinal-loss to Kansas City Fourball senior division champions Mark Addington and Steve Groom.

Following the decisive quarterfinal victory, Ulrich and Higgs outlasted Jeff Bell and Jon Platz by a 2 up decision on the KCGA side of the bracket to earn their finals berth.

View all results and the final round pairing here. 

It seemed rather fitting that the last match of the day required extra holes to set the stage for the Heart of America quarterfinals.

Chase Hanna, the 2015 Watson Challenge winner, and teammate Preston Fleenor, the 2016 Kansas City Amateur champion, were one of six teams that needed 19 or more holes of golf to punch tickets to the next round of matches.

Hanna and Fleenor dispatched William Gantz and Bradley Lane in 20 holes during the round of 16, and knocked off Brent Mertz and Darrel Holden 2 and 1 in the opening round of match play.

While Hanna and Fleenor required a much more grinding effort to handle their opponents, Mark Addington and Steve Groom needed only 27 holes to advance to the quarterfinals.

The opening round saw Addington and Groom defeat Kevin Handlan and Bill Hanger 5 and 4, while Mark Worthey and Dave Kirschbaum fell to the 2016 Kansas City Fourball senior division champions 7 and 5.

Tomorrow has six matches slated, including four quarterfinal bouts and two semifinal showdowns.

Hanna and Fleenor face Matt and Max Lazzo at 8:36 am, while Addington and Groom begin their day at 8:12 am against Park Ulrich and Alex Higgs.

Jeff Bell and John Platz face Gage Ihrig and Conrad Walcher at 8 am, while Ben Fernandez and Connor Knabe take on Tavin Dugan and Justice Valdivia at 8:24 am.

Complete results and pairings can be found here. 

A hot and humid day at Lake Quivira was the scene for the 2016 Junior Tour Championship.

With 88 participants in the field only one from each division was named champion.

Medalist in each division for the championship were as follows, Boys 16+; Joe Bultman with a round of 67, Girls 16+; Tatum King with a round of 74, Boys 13-15; 2 way tie at 77 from Jackson Likes and Andy Scholz, Girls 13-15; Faith Hedges with a round of 86, Boys Prep; Will Hedges with a 9 hole round of 37 and Girls Prep, Eden Shipp with a 9 hole round of 56.

Player of the Year and Runner ups as follows:

Boys 16+ Player of the Year: Joe Bultman, Runner up Andrew Cunningham

Girls 16+ Player of the Year: Julia Misemer, Runner up Samantha Paulak

Boys 13-15 Player of the Year: Jackson Likes, Runner up Andy Scholz

Girls 13-15 Player of the Year: Jessalyn Shipp, Runner up Faith Hedges

Boys Prep Player of the Year: Ben Slicker, Runner up Myles King

Girls Prep Player of the Year: Eden Shipp

2017’s KCJT schedule will be published in early February 2017.

 

Yet another Junior Kansas City Cup season has come and gone.

Despite weather washing away the Mission Hills Country Club event, 15 clubs participated in four events, Staley Farms GC, CC of Leawood and Loch Lloyd CC and the Cup Championship at Milburn CC.

When all rounds were completed and each scorecard tallied, Shadow Glen came out on top with 70 total points.

Shadow Glen captured individual event titles at Staley Farms and Leawood, while finishing fourth at Loch Lloyd and and second at Milburn.

The champions used Jack Tarvin’s 76, Myles Tarvin’s 86 and Blaine Sullivan’s 49, for a team total of 213 to secure the Cup title.

For a complete list of events and results, click here.

Preston Fleenor used a wire-to-wire lead to claim his first Kansas City Am open division title.

Fleenor put together rounds of 64, 69 and 71, to finish nine-under, 204 overall and held off 2015 Kansas City Amateur champion Ryne Fisher, who finished five-under, 208 overall for the tournament.

The pair entered the final day separated by one stroke and appeared to be locked in a tight battle Sunday through four holes. Both golfers bogeyed No. 3 and 4, but Fleenor managed to bounce back with birdies on No. 6 and 7.

The momentum completely swung in Fleenor’s favor following a double-bogey from Fisher on No. 9. From there, Fleenor was able to cruise bogey-free through the back-nine.

Jay Gregory leaned heavily on a big lead entering Sunday’s championship round.

Gregory would eventually go on to secure a five-stroke win over Steve Groom, by shooting 69, 67, 72, for a 208 overall total.

Groom completed his tournament at even-par, 213 overall.

Bob Bezek was crowned the legends division title after a three-round, four-under, 209 total.

Mittal Patel earned the players division title with a 26-over, 239 total.

For full results from the Kansas City Amateur, click here.

Day two of the Kansas City Amateur Championship saw three golfers hold on to round one leads.

Preston Fleenor added to his open division lead after his two-under, 69.

The Mizzou golfer struggled at times, carding five bogeys during the round, but bounced back to birdie seven holes, including back-to-back on No. 6 and 7, as well as, 12 and 13.

Fleenor aims to capture his first Kansas City Amateur Championship and sits at nine-under, 133.

Right on Fleenor’s heels was 2015 Kansas City Amateur champion Ryne Fisher, who blistered the course Saturday with a six-under, 65.

Fisher finished Saturday at eight-under, 134 overall.

Jay Gregory, who entered the day with a one stroke lead over the senior division, posted a four-under, 67 to expand his lead to seven strokes over Tom Leonard (one-over, 143).

Gregory enters Sunday’s final round at six-under, 136, after rolling in seven birdies Saturday.

Bob Bezek maintained his legends division lead after posting an even-71 and is currently three-under, 139 overall.

Pat Hansen currently leads the players division at 17-over, 159 overall.

View the full results and pairings here.

 

Preston Fleenor left little doubt who was in control day one at the Kansas City Amateur Championship.

The Mizzou sophomore fired a seven-under, 64 at Shoal Creek Golf Course, en route to a three stroke lead entering Saturday’s second round.

Fleenor, a former Pembroke Hill golfer, tallied birdies on six holes and added an impressive eagle to cap off his front nine 32.

Three more birdies on the back nine helped Fleenor establish a three stroke lead over Alex Springer.

In total, Fleenor carded red numbers on No. 1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 13 and 16.

Five golfers enter round two tied for third, including 2015 Kansas City Amateur champion Ryne Fisher, and 2016 Kansas Amateur Match Play champion Blake Allen.

Ed Walsworth and Jay Gregory each share part of the seniors division lead entering day two.

Both posted two-under, 69s, respectively.

Bob Bezek sits atop the leaderboard for the legends division after his three-under 68.

Pat Hansen is the sole leader of the players division at eight-over, 79. 

For results and pairings, click here.

Three strokes separated Kayla Eckelkamp and the top of the leader board entering the second day of the Prairie Invitational at Loch Lloyd Country Club.

However, three birdies on the day helped catapult her to the open division title by one stroke.

Despite shooting a two-over, 74 in round one, the former Maryville Saints’ golfer fired a two-under, 70 on day two, and finished even-par, 144 for the tournament.

Eckelkamp carded birdies on No. 8, 10 and 14.

Anna Marie Pool narrowly missed a chance at a playoff after shooting a 73 in the opening round, and a 72 to finish T2.

Kristen Samp, the low professional, also earned a T2 after rounds of 72 and 73, respectively.

Caroline Klemp took home the low junior honors, posting an eight-over, 152.

Susan Kirschenman led the field entering day two, posting an opening round 71. She eventually finished T4 with her four-over, 148.

Hwachun Yi took home the players division title, posting a 16-over, 160.

Jailyn Marshall and Jettie Bezek shared T2 honors, each carding 21-over, 165s.

For complete results, click here.