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Linscott Claims Senior Title

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A new era of Women’s Senior champions has begun.

Martha Linscott claimed the title shooting 80-74-154. Linscott held the lead going into today, “I wanted to stick to my game plan which was hit the fairway, hit the green, and not worry about what everyone else was doing,” Linscott said.

Her plan worked well, as she finished one over on the front nine today. Going into the back nine she was coaching herself to stay in the moment and think positively about her putting. On the tough par-3, 17th hole she hit the green and made par. From there she knew she had a good chance of finishing strong.

This was Linscott’s first year eligible for the championship. Historically champions at the Women’s Senior Championship have won the event multiple times throughout their careers. Most notably, is Denise Desilet who has won the event 11 times during her career.

2019 Champion, Pam Simpson finished in a close second shooting 81-77-158 for the event. Susan DeVoe, 2019 Senior Player of the Year, shot 83-76-159 to hold third place.

Calmer conditions today at the Senior/Super Senior championship yielded lower scores.

Darlene Allen claimed the Super Senior title this afternoon shooting 91-84-175 winning by two shots over Jettie Bezek. “Yesterday I shot a 91 and I didn’t feel too bad about it,” said Allen while discussing the weather on Monday, “I looked forward to today to play again.”  

The last women’s event of the season will be Fall Triple Threat at Country Club of Leawood on October 12.

Full Results >>

Pictures >>

Round 1

Wind Prevails at Women’s Senior/Super Senior

It was a very windy day in Manhattan, Kansas for the first round of the Women’s Senior/Super Senior Championship.

Leading the overall gross Senior division is Martha Linscott, Mission Hills. Linscott shot 80, holding a one-shot lead over 2019 champion, Pam Simpson, Kansas City. Susan Mueller, Wichita holds third place at 82. Terri Albers, Susan DeVoe, and Denise Desilet all hold fourth place at 83. With scores so close, the championship is still in reach for many.

Jettie Bezek holds first place in the overall gross Super Senior division. Bezek shot 88 on the cold and windy round. Jan Allerheiligen is in second place shooting 90 today. Darlene Allen holds third place with her 91.

With cooler temperatures predicted for Tuesday, golfers will need to dress warm and mentally prepare for tougher course conditions. Tee times will begin at 9:00 AM.

View full results >>

Tyler Shelton Repeats as KC Match Play Champion

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What a victory for Tyler Shelton. It took six rounds of golf, a weather delay, and a 5 down comeback semifinal win, but he is our 2020 KC Match Play Champion. This is his second KC Match Play victory, with the first coming in 1994.

Shelton finished stroke play qualifying on Friday morning as the 22 seed with an even par round of 72 that featured one birdie and one bogey. He matched up with Patrick Roth in the first round of match play and after winning Holes 16 & 17 went on to win the match, 1 up.

In the Round of 16 on Saturday morning, Shelton faced a familiar name in Kansas City of Mark Terranova. After getting out to an early 3 up lead, Shelton faced a tough competitor in Terranova who tried to stage a comeback. Winning Hole 15, Shelton had a comfortable 2 up lead heading in to 16 and clinched the match with a par on the 17th hole to win 2 and 1.

Shelton stayed steady in his Quarterfinal match on Saturday afternoon, going up against Stateline Amateur player Alex Reed. Shelton again got out to an early 3 up lead and after trading a few holes got back to a 3 up lead heading in to the par-5, 12th hole. Reed and Shelton halved the next three and with a win on the 15th, Shelton was heading to the semifinals on Sunday.

In his first match of the day, Shelton faced a tough opponent in Kyle Hummer, who had defeated Kansas Amateur Champion, Park Ulrich, and 2 seed Ryne Fisher. What an exciting match it was. Instead of getting out to an early lead, Shelton saw himself down 5 after the front nine. Hummer had the early momentum with three birdies through the first five holes.

“When you’re five down, you really think you’re done. But I just hung in there and kept going,” said Shelton after the match. And kept going he did. Shelton chipped away at Hummer’s lead with a win on Hole 10 and 12. Hummer quickly responded with a win of us own on Hole 13 and Shelton was down 4 heading to 14 tee. Shelton birdied 14 to cut in to the lead and with a bogey by Hummer on 15, Shelton was two down with three holes to play. Hummer made a clutch par putt on 16 green to keep his lead. Hummer had a little trouble on 17 and with a bogey, left the door open a little for Shelton on 18. An errant tee shot, gave Shelton the opening he needed and was able to capitalize with a par on 18 to send the match to extra holes.

Despite an hour and a half of a weather delay, Shelton and Hummer returned to 1 fairway to resume their extra holes match. Both players would par Holes 1 & 2. Hummer’s tee shot on Hole 3 (21st hole) was left and he had to chip through the trees to the green. Laying two in the greenside bunker, Hummer chipped to about 15 feet for par. He would barely miss and Shelton had two putts to win the match. With a clutch par putt, Shelton completed his epic comeback and was headed to the finals.

In a windy and rainy afternoon, the 1 seed Luke Horseman and 22 seed Tyler Shelton faced off to claim the KC Match Play crown. Horseman struck first with a birdie Hole 2, but Shelton quickly followed with a win on Hole 4 and 6. Luke tried to battle back and tie the match with a birdie on Holy 7, but Tyler responded yet again with wins on 8 & 9 to go two up through the front nine. With another win on Hole 10 and then 12 & 13, Shelton found himself 5 up heading to 14 tee. Horseman continued to fight and made a clutch par putt to put some pressure on Shelton. He responded with a par putt of his own to clinch the match.

It was a great weekend and we had such a strong field this year. This is one of our premiere events and we are excited to see the growth of the field size and talent this year.

Thank you to Swope Memorial for hosting us yet again and for being so flexible and helpful. The course is in fantastic shape and we love having events out there. Thank you of course to all of our volunteers as well. It’s been a busy and exciting 2020 for us and we hope to see everyone again next year. The tournament is scheduled to be played in its usual month of May in 2021.

>> Full Results Here

Day Two Recap

And then there were four.

Saturday at Swope Memorial featured two rounds of match play between a very competitive field. The top 8 seeds remained in the bracket at the start of the day and only the 1 seed remains.

1 seed, Luke Horseman secured his place in the semi-finals with a narrow victory over Nebraska freshman, Will Harding, 1 up, and an extra holes match against junior golfer Nicklaus Mason, winning with a birdie on the 21st hole.

The three remaining players are 21, 22, and 23 seed respectively. Michael Garden (21) looks toward his match up with the 1 seed, Horseman, after taking out Jeff Spradlin and Greg Goode. Kyle Hummer (23) and Tyler Shelton (22) will compete in our second semi-final match tomorrow morning. Hummer had to go through Kansas Amateur Champion Park Ulrich and 2 seed Ryne Fisher to earn his spot in the semifinals. Shelton took out Mark Terranova on the 17th hole and secured his place in the semis with a 4 & 3 win over Alex Reed.

It should be an exciting finish to the 2020 KC Match Play Championship as we are guaranteed to have a new winner. Live scoring for each match will be available.

>> See Results Here

Day One Recap

After a beautiful Friday of golf, the Kansas City Match Play Championship is in to the Round of 16.

An 18-hole stroke play qualifying round kicked the tournament off Friday morning at Swope Memorial Golf Course. 84 players competed to earn their spot in the top 32 golfers and make match play.

Low medalist of the morning qualifying round was Luke Horseman, of Weston, after shooting an impressive nine-under round of 63. Horseman, the current Kansas City Amateur Champion, had a bogey-free round with four birdies on the front nine and five on the back.

Ryne Fisher and Zach VanDolah, both of Kansas City, finished tied for second in the qualifying round with rounds of 65 (-7). VanDolah and Fisher had 15 birdies combined on the day with the only blemish coming on Hole 15 for Fisher.

A total of 15 players carded under-par rounds for qualifying. Five players were tied at 31st place after all rounds had been turned in at 75 (+3). A playoff began on Hole 5 and with two birdies, the last two seeds were determined. Tyler Norris finished as the 31 seed and Eric Lester as the 32.

The Round of 32 afternoon matches began at 2:00 pm off Holes 1 & 10. The #1 seed, Horseman advanced with a win over Lester, 7 & 5. Michael Garden (21) and Ryne Fisher (2) also cruised to the Round of 16 with a 6 & 5 and 5 & 4 victory respectively. The lower seed took 8 out of the 16 matches this afternoon.

Some upsets included Brent Mertz (18) over Jeff Mason (15) in 19 holes, Colton Allen (24) over Scott Schaeffer (9), and Tyler Shelton (22) over Patrick Roth (11).

We will return to Swope Memorial tomorrow morning to see who makes it to the Quarterfinals in the afternoon.

Women’s Senior/Super Senior Championship Preview

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54 women from across the state will compete at the Senior/Super Senior Championship at Manhattan Country Club on Monday and Tuesday. Women who are 50 years of age and older as of September 28, 2020 are eligible to compete.

Senior Division (50-69 years old)

Notable players include: Pam Simpson, defending champion. Notorious victor, Denise Desilet will compete for her 12th state championship title. Desilet has proven to be a strong and consistent competitor. Martha Linscott is newly eligible and could begin a new era of senior victories after claiming Low Senior at the 2020 Prairie Invitational. Susan DeVoe is also competing as the reigning Senior Player of the Year.

Super Senior (70+ years old)

Notable players include: Phyllis Fast who will compete to defend her 2019 Super Senior title. Past Super Senior Champion, Judy Morris, and Jettie Bezek competing as a super senior for the first time this year.

All golfers will be following COVID-19 safety precautions throughout the event.

Media contact: Baile Stephenson, baile@clgolf.org.

Dropbox images for press to use with credit to Central Links Golf >>

Thayer, Emerson Win Senior Series Titles

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Results
Photo Gallery
Senior Cup Teams

The 2020 Senior Series program wrapped up on Tuesday with two wonderful days of weather at Firekeeper Golf Course.

Garden City’s Sean Thayer – Senior Champion

Garden City’s Sean Thayer continued his stellar play this year with another victory in the Senior Division. Thayer posted a final round 4-under par 68 to finish at 5-under par 139 total. Wichita’s Tracy Chamberlin took second at 2-under par 142 total. John Bailey, Michael Rack, Sam Walker and David Oetken rounded out the top five.

The 2020 Ozark Senior Challenge cup team was named following the Senior Series Championship. The Ozark Senior Challenge is an annual Ryder Cup style team event against the Missouri Golf Association for players age 50 to 64. The 2020 competition will be held at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Joplin, MO on October 13-15. Click the link above to see the gross and net qualifiers and the captain picks.

In the Super Senior Division, Baldwin City’s John Emerson claimed his first tournament title. Emerson’s final round 3-under par 69 elevated him to the top after finishing at 1-under par 143 total. Basehor’s Sam VanLandingham finished two shots back. Doug Kaup, Joe Rothwell and Tom Nielsen all tied for third place.

Baldwin City’s John Emerson – Super Senior Champion

The 2020 Association Senior Cup team was named for the Super Senior Division following the Senior Series Championship as well. The Association Senior Cup is an annual Ryder Cup style team event against the Missouri Golf Association for players age 65 & older. The 2020 competition will be held at Twin Hills Golf & Country Club in Joplin, MO on October 13-15. Click the link above to see the gross and net qualifiers and the captain picks.

Champions Crowned at Mid-Am Team/Sr Team Championships

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Results
Photo Gallery

A full field of teams battled tough playing conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday at the 2020 Mid-Am Team & Senior Team Championships at Falcon Lakes Golf Club in Basehor.  Warm summer conditions gave way to cold, overcast and damp conditions during opening day of the championship and persisted until the final putt was holed at the 54-hole event.

In the Mid-Am Team, Overland Park’s Park Ulrich and Leawood’s Doug Albers teamed up for the first time and put together a dominating performance of the rest of the field of teams.  Ulrich and Albers finished at 18-under par which was good for a nine shot victory over the teams of Matt Kelley/Jordan Smith and Pete Krsnich/Tyler Chapman. 

It was the third championship of the 2020 season for Ulrich who captured the 110th Kansas Amateur in July and the Heart of America Four-Ball last week with partner Davis Cooper.  It was the second time that Albers has won the Mid-Am Team.  He won the 2010 event with partner Jason Seeman.

In the Senior Team Championship, the Wichita duo of Tracy Chamberlin & Michael Holloway edged Brian Burris & Randy Vautravers by one shot.  Chamberlin/Holloway finished at 10-under par 206 for the 54-hole championship. 

In the Super Senior Division, past champions Tom Bachelor & Gary Roles partnered up for an eight shot win.  Bachelor/Roles finished at 14-under par 202 total.  Greg Goode & Don Kuehn finished in second at 6-under par 210.

Thank you to the membership and staff at Falcon Lakes Golf Club for hosting the rescheduled 2020 championship.  We look forward to seeing everyone in Wichita in May 2021 for the Mid-Am Team & Senior Team Championship!

Ulrich and Cooper win HOA Four-Ball

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A great two days of competition at Lawrence Country Club concluded today with the team of Park Ulrich and Davis Cooper winning the Heart of America Four-Ball Championship. Ulrich and Cooper defeated the team of Zach Sokolosky and Grant Herrenbruck in the final match by a result of 4&3. The final match was an intense one, highlighted by the exciting finish – on hole 14, a drivable par 4, Grant Herrenbruck made a birdie but was matched by Davis Cooper with a chip-in, which kept the side of Ulrich and Cooper 3UP at that point. On the 15th hole, which ended up being the final hole, Davis Cooper continued his momentum by holing a 20-footer for birdie to close out the match. After the round, Ulrich and Cooper was ecstatic to have won: “I’m so glad we won – I’ve wanted to win this event real bad, it’s one I haven’t won, so for Davis and I to come out on top was awesome”, Park Ulrich told us.

In Tuesday’s round of 16 and round of 8 matches, the team of Ulrich/Cooper defeated the team of Flanagan/Kagy by a result of 3&1, followed by a 3&2 victory over the team of S. Mason/Sapporito. The team of Herrenbruck/Sokolosky defeated the team of Hermeston/Wiltse by a result of 3&2, followed by another 3&2 victory over the team of Grove/Williams.

In the semifinal matches on Wednesday morning, the team of Ulrich/Cooper won their match by a result of 2&1 over the team of Clifford/Frederes in style, with Davis Cooper chipping in for a birdie on the 17th hole to close out the match. In the other semifinal match, the team of Herrenbruck/Sokolosky defeated the team of McHenry/Beckler by a result of 2&1 in a round that included 7 birdies and an eagle made by the winning squad of Herrenbruck/Sokolosky.

Thank you to Lawrence Country Club and all our volunteers for making this event possible! To view the final results, click here: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/2343873

Hillier Wins High Plains Amateur

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Results
Photos

University of Kansas golfer Harry Hillier took the 2020 High Plains Amateur Championship on Sunday at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City. Hillier, a native of New Zealand, used a final round 6-under par 66 to best the field on his way to victory. Hillier finished the 36-hole championship at 7-under par 137 total.

2019 High Plains Amateur champion and Washburn University golfer Andrew Beckler of Topeka finished in the runner-up position. KU golfer Sion Audrain, Manhattan mid-am Brian Fehr and Washburn golfer Dawson Wills rounded out the top five in the Open Division.

In the Masters Division, Wakeeney’s Justin Sherfick posted a final round 5-under par 67 to take the division championship by two shots over past champion Sean Robertson of Salina.

In the Senior Division, Salina’s Greg Goode continued his winning ways with a two shot victory of Garden City’s Sean Thayer.

Thank you to the full field of players and to the staff at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course for hosting the 2020 championship! We look forward to seeing everyone at Mariah Hills Golf Course in Dodge City for the 2021 High Plains Amateur.

2019 Players of the Year Honored at The Prairie Invitational

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Lenexa, KS – The 2019 Women’s Players of the Year were honored at the awards ceremonies at The Prairie Invitational recently.  Each year’s award winners may choose which event in the following season where they will receive their award, and all selected The Prairie as the event with the strongest field in the rotation.

Susan DeVoe, 2019 Senior Women’s Player of the Year, was honored on Tuesday, July 28th.  Ms. DeVoe’s accomplishments during the 2019 season are quite impressive.  In addition to her playing resume, Susan started both a boys and girls team at Eudora HS where interscholastic golf had never existed.  She had 22 students, both boys and girls, try out for the team in February of this year for the inaugural season of competition before it was ultimately canceled due to COVID-19.  The Prairie Invitational Committee is pleased to announce that the Eudora HS Girls Team is the recipient of a grant providing uniform jackets for their first season of play this fall.

Susan DeVoe’s 2019 Accomplishments:

  • Runner Up – Kansas Women’s Senior Championship
  • 4th Place – Kansas Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship
  • Round of 16 – KC Women’s Match Play Championship
  • Won 2 StateLine Amateur Tour Events
  • 5th Place – Tee Fore Two Championship
  • Top Half finish at the Kansas Women’s Amateur and 2nd oldest player in the field
  • Represented Team Kansas at Fore State Matches

Julia Misemer, 2019 Girls Player of the Year, was honored on Wednesday, July 29th.  Julia is a rising junior at Blue Valley West HS and has been a force to be reckoned with at junior tournaments in our area for several years already.

Julia Misemer’s 2019 Accomplishments:

  • Winner – Kansas City Junior Championship
  • Qualified for USGA Girls Junior Championship and advanced to match play
  • T8th – Kansas Women’s Amateur
  • Qualified for PGA Junior Championship
  • Winner – Kansas 6A High School Championship
  • Winner – Long Drive in her age division at the National Drive, Chip, & Putt Competition at Augusta National GC

Rachel Stous, 2019 Women’s Player of the Year, was also honored on Wednesday, July 29th.  Rachel is a native of Topeka and is one of the best players in the Midwest.  She is currently on the roster at Metropolitan Community College and also recorded wins in a successful fall 2019 collegiate campaign.  She also made a deep run at the Topeka City Match Play against the best male players in the city.

Rachel Stous’s 2019 Accomplishments:

  • Winner – Kansas City Women’s Match Play with a walk-off hole-in-one
  • Runner Up – Kansas Women’s Amateur
  • T6th – The Prairie Invitational

We salute our Players of the Year for their hard work and exemplary play!

Video of Susan DeVoe and competitors

Winters/Redeker Dominate at Triple Threat

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The Women’s Spring Triple Threat was rescheduled for August 20 at Rolling Hills Country Club due to the state-wide quarantine during the original scheduled date.

Katy Winters and Selina Redeker dominated the field, winning the championship by 11 shots over Denise Desilet and Jettie Bezek.

The Winters/Redeker duo shot 63 (-9) in the unique format: 6 holes Four-Ball, 6 holes Chapman Alternate Shot, and 6 holes Scramble. Redeker made birdie on the third hole followed by Winters making an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole. The team really found success in the Alternate Shot format. They birdied four of the six holes. They continued their lead in the Scramble format, making birdies on holes, 14, 16, and 18.

In the overall Net Division, Terri Wittrig and Terrie Ramsey won by one shot over JoAnn McCormack and Tina Lichtlin. Wittrig and Ramsey are both members at Rolling Hills Country Club, giving them the obvious advantage. They found success in the Alternate Shot format making two net birdies and an eagle.

Flight Champions:

First Flight – Katy Winters & Selina Redeker
Second Flight – JoAnn McCormack & Tina Lichtlin
Third Flight – Terri Wittrig & Terrie Ramsey

Net Flight Champions

First Flight: Patricia Sherwood & Marcia Alterman
Second Flight: Karen Clothier & Carol Collins
Third Flight: Brenda Ford & Vicky Maechtlen

Full results >>

Jolliffe, Goode Take Kansas Senior Amateur Titles

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Results, Prize Distribution & Skins
Photo Gallery

Wichita’s Mark Jolliffe added his name to the Dick Scholfield Trophy by besting the full field of players at the 40th Kansas Senior Amateur Championship on Tuesday at Crestview Country Club (North Course). Jolliffe, 51, posted rounds of 73-68–141 to edge 2019 Senior Amateur Champion Michael Holloway and 2015 Senior Amateur Champion Tim McKinnis by a single shot. Garden City’s Sean Thayer and Wichita’s Steve Newman rounded out the top five.

In the Super Senior Division, Salina’s Greg Goode added to his trophy case with another championship win. Goode, the 2018 & 2019 Kansas Senior Player of the Year and 2018 Kansas Super Senior Amateur Champion lapped the field for a three shot win. Goode posted rounds of 72-69–141 to win by three shots over Council Grove’s Tim Tyner. Lawrence’s Dick Stuntz took third in the Super Senior division.

Thank you to the membership and staff at Crestview Country Club for hosting the 40th Kansas Senior Amateur! We look forward to seeing everyone at Falcon Lakes Golf Club in 2021 for the 41st Kansas Senior Amateur.