The 2016 Kansas City Golf Association season got off to a frosty start at Loch Lloyd.

A 90-minute frost delay awaited the 106-player field for the first StateLine Amateur Tour event of the year.

However, once the sun went to work on the frosty greens and fairways, senior division winner Charlie Shorgl wasted no time claiming his first event victory of the season.

Shorgl birdied five of nine holes stretching between holes four through 12, en route to a one-under, 71 round. His birdie on No. 12 was critical in allowing him to overcome troubles on No. 17 and 18 and securing his one-stroke victory over Kevin Handlan and Steve Groom, who each shot a 72-even, respectively.

Matt Kelley joined Shorgl at one-under, 71, picking up the open division title at Loch Lloyd. Kelley countered a trio of bogeys with four birdies of his own.

Open division runner-up Michael Hillyard turned in an even, 72, while Luke Lutgen rounded out the top 3 at one-over, 73.

Two golfers split the legends division title.

Both Jim Seward and Bob Bezek carded even, 72s, while David Hornaday claimed a solo third place finish at one-over, 73.

Mike Berlin took the players division title, posting a two-over, 74. Eddie Sanchez, Jr. followed Berlin with his three-over, 75 and three-way tie for third rounded out the top 3 places for the players.

Finally, Addie Chapin led the women’s players division with an eight-over, 80. Jettie Bezek narrowly missed sharing a claim for first with her nine-over, 81. Janelle Krohn rounded out the women with her 19-over, 91.

The StateLine golfers prepare for the second event of the tour, April 23 at Blue Hills Country Club.

The USGA’s Lee Rainwater was back at it Wednesday, presenting a USGA Handicap Services Seminar at Blue Hills Country Club for over 50 attendees.

The audience, comprised of local golf pros and volunteers, listened to Rainwater’s presentation on the importance of sound handicap services and handicap ratings to effectively manage and maintain handicaps for both golfers and courses.

This presentation followed Tuesday’s Course Rating Workshop at Oakwood Country Club where KCGA and KGA course raters learned how to properly and effectively rate area courses.

To learn more about USGA Handicap or Course Rating services, visit the USGA website.

Oakwood Country Club played host to numerous Kansas City Golf Association and Kansas Golf Association course raters Tuesday to hone their skills on course rating.

The USGA’s Lee Rainwater led a course rating workshop and on-course application of his teachings, preparing the associations’ volunteer course raters for the upcoming season.

Course raters are an important and invaluable group of volunteers to golf associations across the country. These volunteers and practices allow local clubs and associations to accurately pair golfers and events to courses capable of challenging the best amateur golfers in the area.

The KCGA constantly relies on volunteers to assist in presenting the best events possible to the KC area. Areas volunteers are involved include rules officiating, scoring and course rating.

If you’re interested in becoming a rules official or course rater in the future, contact the KCGA to find out how.

Forbes.com recently highlighted and applauded Youth On Course as a “sure way” to get youth and junior golfers on courses across America.

The entire article is available on the Forbes’ website.

For those still unfamiliar with Youth On Course, the initiative helps subsidize rounds of golf for golfers between the ages of 6-18. These YOC members are ensured to never pay for than $5 for a round of golf at participating golf courses.

The program originates from the Northern California Golf Association and just recently expanded to the Kansas City area.

For more information on YOC, visit their website and view all of the participating courses throughout the KC Metro