This week we were lucky enough to have two Kansas City Junior Tour events: Lakewood Oaks and St Andrews.

The overwhelming heat continued on July 9 out at Lakewood Oaks. 65 players played their best despite the humidity and blaring sun.

A few new faces emerged as division champions. In our 16+ Girls Division, Lauren Muller had two birdies on the day to help card an 84 and capture the division champion title.

In our 16+ Boys division, Griffin Brassell won his second KCJT title in a row with a round of 76 (+5). Brassell’s round was highlighted by two birdies on the day.

In our 13-15 Girls Division, Hillary Currier had her first win of the season with an 88, highlighted by a birdie on the Par 4, 15th. Patrick Neal won his third KCJT event this season with a 74 (+3) with a birdie on the Par-3, 16th.

Our Prep division was won by Jacob Fraztel with a 37 (+1) nine hole round. Fratzel played a great round with two bogeys and a birdie on the 8th.

 

We did it all again on July 11th, this time at St Andrews GC. We had 95 golfers try to compete for their first or multiple win this season. Competition was stiff at this KCJT event and had a few new faces get their first champion’s towel.

In our 16+ Boys division, we had two new winners  Jackson Likes and Jack Dwyer both carded 75 and both had two birdies on the day to tie for first and become co-champions. In our 16+ Girls division, Sarah Lawson won her first event of the season with a 77 (+6) highlighted by a birdie at the Par-3, 4th.

For our 13-15 Boys, Benjamin Bessette also won his first event after coming in second at Lakewood Oaks with a great round of 72 (+1). Bessette had three birdies on the first nine holes and finally captured his champion’s towel. Elizabeth Grant took home her first win of the season in the 13-15 Girls division with a round of 85.

Jacob Fratzel carded another 37 for the second week in a row  and his second win in a row. Him and Chance Rinkol have battled it out all season. Fratzel was interviewed after his round and is posted on our KCGA Facebook page. Pictures of all of our division champions are posted on our KCGA Instagram page.

As always we enjoy the KCJT and hope more kids come out to play each week. We have three events and a championship left in the KCJT series: Blue Springs, Eagle’s Landing, Swope, and Lake Quivira.

For a full field of results for Lakewood see here.

For a full field of results for St Andrews see here.

For Player of the Year standings, see here.

By Taylor Albritton, KCGA Intern

47 players attempted to qualify for the US Women’s Amateur at Eagle Bend Golf Course in Lawrence, Kansas on June 27th. It was a hot, humid day and the players had to weather the conditions to make the top 4.

Our medalist on the day was Ashley Gilliam from Manchester, Tennessee with a two-under, 70. Gilliam’s round was highlighted by four birdies and a consistent finish with six pars in a row to end her day in the top spot.

Sera Tadokoro (Japan) and Katy Winters (Wichita) tied for second place with even par 72. Tadokoro started out hot with three birdies in a row and four total through the front nine. A couple hiccups on the back would slow down her round and bring her into the clubhouse with a 72 (E). Winters started out with a couple bogeys, but battled back with four birdies on the day to tie for second place.

A five way tie for fourth with a 73 (+1) round would cause a playoff to determine the fourth and final qualifying spot. Brook Boardman from Waukee, Iowa, was victorious in the five-player playoff to claim our final spot.

Despite the heat, it was a great, competitive day of golf out at Eagle Bend. Good luck to the women who qualified as they move on.

For a full field of results, see here.

Just when you thought $5 or less was a great deal for youth golf… it gets even better this Friday June 29th! All Youth on Course members can play golf for $1 for National Youth on Course Day at any YOC participating facility.

This Thursday June 28th is also YOC Day of Giving. The goal for this day is to raise $25,000 for Youth on Course which equates to $2,500 rounds of golf on YOC Day.

For more information on YOC Day and to donate, please see here.

To search for a participating course near you, see here.

Grab your clubs and book your tee times for this Friday, June 29th!

In it’s third year, the 2018 KC Fourball Championship saw almost double it’s field size since last year. 30 teams paired up at Shoal Creek Golf Course not only to win the KC Fourball title, but to qualify for the Heart of America Fourball Championship later this summer.

Matt and Andy Kelley were the leaders in the clubhouse after Round 1 with an incredible score of 64 (-7). Andy Kelley had six birdies on the day and an eagle 2 on the Par-4, 1st. Matt Kelley provided a couple clutch pars for the duo to combine for the low round of the day by two strokes over Cummings/Gillund and defending champs Jeff Bell and Elliot Soyez.

Soyez/Bell combined for seven birdies on the day, but one hiccup on the Par-3, 11th left them with some work to do heading into Round 2.

A surprise group of Gregory Diederich and Charlie Rinehart, who shot a first round of 67 (-4), found themselves sneaking up the leaderboard after carding a Round 2 score of 64 (131). With seven birdies and no bogeys, Diederich/Rinehart became the leaders in the clubhouse while Kelley/Kelley and Soyez/Bell finished up in the last group of the day.

For Matt and Andy Kelley, Round 2 went even better than the first. Matt Kelley provided three birdies for the team before an hour lightning delay brought the last half of the field inside. Andy Kelley appreciated the delay as afterwards birdied five holes in a row, #12-16. Their Round 2 bettered Round 1 by one stroke, entering the clubhouse with a 63 (-8) and a total score of 127.

Defending champions Soyez/Bell again had seven birdies on their round, but a few bogeys totaled to a round of 66 (-5) to knock them into third place with a total score of 132 for the tournament.

Matt and Andy Kelley played great golf both days to win the 2018 KC Fourball Championship title by four strokes over Diederich/Rinehart. With 14 combined birdies and an eagle, the Kelley’s earned the Champions title as well as a qualifying spot in the Heart of America Championship at the National Golf Course  of Kansas City on August 8 and 9th.

The Top 8 teams from the KC Fourball earned a qualifying spot as well as a first and second alternate. These teams include:

1. Andy and Matt Kelley
2. Gregory and Diederich and Charlie Rinehart
3. Jeff Bell and Elliot Soyez
4. Jeff Mason and Sam Parrott
5. Frank Booth and Don Kuehn
6. Don and Tripp Walsworth
7. Jay Gregory and Rob Petersen
8. Ritch Nigh and Brian Taylor

First Alternate: Travis Mays/Tyler Hirlinger

Second Alternate: Adam Cummings/Austin Gillund

For a field of results, see here.

We thank everyone for coming out and playing in the 2018 KC Fourball Championship. We hope the turnout continues to increase next year and even get some more college and high school golfers involved. Thank you to Shoal Creek for holding the tournament and for lending us their great golf course.

By Taylor Albritton, KCGA Intern

Milburn Country Club Ranked in Top 10

Best Remodels of 2017 released by Golf Digest

Overland Park, Kansas: Milburn Country Club has been ranked in the Top 10 of Best Remodeled Courses in 2017 by Golf Digest. The Renovation Category is defined as remodeling that maintains the original architecture but has made modifications in terms of course upgrades (technology, aesthetics).

“A nice feel to an old country club…A hidden gem in Kansas City and a sneaky good Old School experience” raved panelists. Ron Whitten, Contributor at Golf Digest, adds “Milburn is not one of those flashy courses that panelists gush over on the first glimpse. It’s the sort of solid design that gets more appreciation the more one plays it.”

“Not only is this an incredible honor for the Club, but it is also for our membership who have patiently seen these projects through from conception to reality”, said James Nanson, GM/COO. Golf Digest panelists played and assessed new and remodeled golf courses throughout the year. Over 1,000 panelists participated and evaluated clubs in the United States and Canada. Categories that were evaluated consisted of Shot Values, Design Variety, Resistance to Scoring, Conditioning, Ambience, Aesthetics and Memorability.  Milburn Country Club was the only club in Kansas and Missouri recognized in the Renovation Category.

About Milburn Country Club

Located in Overland Park, Kansas, and founded in 1917, Milburn is home to one of the oldest, top-ranked championship golf courses in the Kansas City area. The country club is exclusive to members yet provides a warm and welcoming environment.  In the spring of 2013, Milburn unveiled a new 30,000-square-foot clubhouse. Additional features at Milburn include five tennis courts, swim facility, exceptional dining and superior service that come together to give members the finest golf and country club experience around.

For more information please contact the club at (913) 432-0490 or visit us online at www.milburn.org.

Despite less than optimal conditions, battling through a day of on and off again rain, over 90 juniors competed at Minor Park in our Kansas City Junior Tour summer series.

Players battled through the wind chill and rain to fight for their division championship title. In our Boys 16+ division, Michael Bessenbacher claimed his first victory this summer with a round of 73 (+3). With a few bogeys and two birdies, Bessenbacher was able to grind it out through the rain to beat out Michael Garcia by one stroke for first place. Rees Conder, Luke Elbrader, and Daniel Duffin all tied for third place with rounds of 76 (+6).

In our Boys 13-15 age division, Patrick Neal claimed the division title for the second week in a row with an incredible 72 (+2). Neal had a consistent round despite conditions and his lone birdie on the day helped propel him to the top of the leaderboard. Nate Saporito came in second place with a round of 75 and Ian McCrary rounded out the top three with a 78 (+8).

For the 16+ Girls division, Victoria Klausner ran away with her division with an amazing 73 (+2). Klausner excitement was evident after shooting such a great round. She also earned her first win of the summer series with four birdies on the day. Hope and Hanna Robinett tied for second place with rounds of 81.

In the Girls 13-15 division, Caroline Giocondo beat out Lia Johnson by two strokes to card an 82 for her division title. Her best hole of the day came with a birdie on the Par-5, 6th. Libby Green rounded out the top three with an 88.

In our Prep division, Chance Rinkol won his division for the second week in a row with a nine hole score of 38 (+3). His consistency showed with his seven pars on the day fighting through the rain. Jacob Fratzel came in second with a nine hole score of 40.

Once again, thank you to everyone who participated and we enjoyed having everyone out at Minor Park today for another great KC Junior event. We hope to see everyone again June 28 at Drumm Farm.

For full field results click here.

For pictures and video from today’s event, see our KCGA Instagram and KCGA Facebook page.

For Player of the Year standings, click here.

By Taylor Albritton, KCGA Intern

Wichita, KS – Denise Desilet of Wichita continued her consecutive victory streak after a 3-hole playoff with Susan DeVoe of Overland Park at Wichita Country Club.  Down two at the start of round two, Desilet was not ready to let the trophy go and held on to claim her seventh consecutive Kansas Women’s Senior Championship and her eleventh championship title.  Opening with an even par 36 on the front to DeVoe’s 40, Desilet opened a two-shot lead.  DeVoe responded with a 36 on the back nine to force the playoff.  Both players made pars on the first two playoff holes before Desilet finally edged out the victory with a par on number three.

There was spectacular play in every division of the championship.  Megan Dupy of Salina had a hard-fought battle with Jordan Patterson of Hays to claim the first-ever Mid-Amateur Championship.  Dupy started the day one shot behind first round leader Patterson after an opening 80.  Steady play in round two with a 73 edged Patterson by one stroke.  The Mid-Am Division had particularly strong play with four players carding sub-80 rounds on a very difficult WCC golf course.

Judy Morris of Derby had the come-back round of the day to win the Super Senior Gross title by two shots over first round leader Phyllis Fast.  Morris opened the day with a 38 on the front nine in spite of two double bogeys.  Birdies on 2, 4 and 8 closed the gap, and steady play on the back nine sealed the championship title.

MidAm
1st Gross – Megan Dupy (Salina)
1st Net – Jordan Patterson (Hays)

Senior Overall
1st Gross – Denise Desilet (Wichita)
1st Net – Susan DeVoe (Overland Park), Paula Routon (Wichita), Darlene Lamb (Overland Park)

Senior Division Championship Flight
1st Gross – Denise Desilet (Wichita)
2nd Gross – Paula Routon (Wichita)

1st Net – Susan DeVoe (Overland Park)
2nd Net – Susan Mueller (Wichita)

Senior Division First Flight
1st Gross – Stephanie Welk (Wichita)
2nd Gross – Laurie Gaston (Wellington)

1st Net – Marcia Roets (Manhattan)
2nd Net – Danell Wilbur (Wichita)

Senior Division Second Flight
1st Gross – Darlene Lamb (Overland Park)
2nd Gross – Carol Herter (Wichita)

1st Net – Paula Gill (Wellington)
2nd Net – Beth Kuckelman (Topeka)

Senior Division Third Flight
1st Gross – Janet Ast (Wichita)
2nd Gross – Pat Garrison (El Dorado)

1st Net – Kelly Rundell (Wichita)
2nd Net – Becky Rogers (Wichita)

Super Senior Division
1st Gross – Judy Morris (Derby)
2nd Gross – Phyllis Fast (Topeka)

1st Net – Jan Wiley (Ozawkie)
2nd Net – Carla Winn (Wichita)

Wichita, KS – Beautiful conditions prevailed at Wichita Country Club for round one of the Kansas Women’s Senior/Super Senior/Mid-Amateur Championship. The championship consists of divisions for Mid-Amateurs who are 25-49 years of age, Seniors age 50-69, and Super Seniors age 70+.

Susan DeVoe of Overland Park leads the Senior Division with a steady round of 77, carding nothing more than a bogey.  DeVoe has a one-shot lead over Paula Routon (Wichita) and leads six-time defending/ten time champion Denise Desilet (Wichita) by two strokes. Marcia Roets of Manhattan holds the lead in the Net Championship with a 2-under 69.

Phyllis Fast of Topeka has a commanding six-stroke lead in the Super Senior Division over Judy Morris (Derby).  The Super Senior Net is a close race with Bev Dilsaver-Millan tied with Fast at 1-under 70.

This year marks the first time in the history of the competition for the Mid-Amateur Division.  Jordan Patterson of Hays leads the Mid-Ams with a strong performance carding a 79 despite a triple-bogey 8 on number 9.  She has a narrow margin over Megan Dupy of Salina and Martha Linscott of Mission Hills.

The final round will begin at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow at Wichita CC.

For the second year in a row, Joe Bultman shot the low round of the day to qualify for the US Junior Amateur Championship at Milburn CC.

With 21 total players in the field, there was one spot to give for the US Junior Amateur at Baltusrol GC. Joe Bultman got out to a quick lead, stretching to four-under at one point in his round. A couple mistakes brought him back to one-under through 14 holes and tied with Cole Elling.

Bultman battled by birdying the Par-3, 15th to go one up over the field. Bultman would par out to stay at two-under and win low medalist with a round of 70 (-2).

Cole Elling had a great round with four birdies on the day, two coming on the Par-3’s. He will be the first alternate for the US Junior Amateur Championship. Third place finisher Liam Coughlin, 73 (+1), will be the second alternate.

Bultman qualified last year for the US Junior Amateur out of Illinois after a schedule conflict kept him from playing in the Kansas City qualifier. He says his goal this year for the US Junior Championship is to make it match play and of course play well.

We wish Joe the best of luck out in New Jersey July 16-21 in the championship his second time around. Bultman has had a great year so far after coming in second at our KC Junior Championship and just finishing a good showing in the Watson Challenge.

For results of today’s qualifier see here.

For an interview with Bultman, see our KCGA Facebook page.

By Taylor Albritton, KCGA Intern

91 of our juniors golfers competed at our second KCJT event of the summer at Hillcrest Golf and CC.

With such a great turnout, each division saw competitive scoring and some multiple champions. In the 16+ Girls division, Caroline Setter beat out last week’s division champion Jaclyn Koziol with an impressive 79 (+7) round. Caroline’s round included a few bogeys, but battled back with a birdie on the front nine and a birdie on the back.

Jaclyn Koziol missed first place by one stroke with an 80 round, and Maggie King came in third with a round of 82.

In the 16+ Boys division, we had three co-champions all bringing in a round of 75. Hillcrest seemed to be a tougher course than that of Fred Arbanas last week as scores were a little higher. Brett Blau, Michael Garcia and Tanner Collins all had a great round of 75 (+3). Each player had at least two birdies on their round and all finished tied for the lead. In a four way tie for fourth, Griffin Brassell, Michael Bessenbacher, Trey Stone and Brooks Baldwin all carded a 78 (+6).

In our 13-15 Girls division, good friends Tess Roman and Savannah Gentry claimed co-division champions with a 89 round. After coming off her first ever eagle last week at Fred Arbanas, Gentry followed it up with a chip-in birdie this week. Roman had two birdies on her round, one on a Par-3 and the other on a Par-4.

In the 13-15 Boys, our last competitor in stole the show with a carded round of 83. Patrick Neal beat out Nathan Thompson by 3 strokes to take the division champion title. Despite some mistakes, Neal birdied Holes 11, 12 and 13 to take home the champion towel.

In our 9-hole Prep division, Chance Rinkol beat out Jacob Fratzel by one stroke with a 38 (+2) 9-hole round. Rinkol played a consistent 9 with 7 pars and two bogeys. Fratzel made a birdie on the Par-5, 14th to battle back from a few bogeys to narrowly miss first place with a 39.

KCJT events are a great chance to play friends and be competitive. We love seeing our juniors golfers get out to play no matter their talent level. Our next KCJT event will be at Minor Park GC June 21. Don’t miss out!

To see pictures of our champions, check out the KCGA instagram page.

For Player of the Year Standings click here.

By Taylor Albritton, KCGA Intern