The Final Round of the Kansas Junior Amateur concluded late Thursday afternoon at Crestwood Country Club. The three-day tournament ended with 14 players scoring under par. Asher Whitaker won the Boys’ division by four strokes over Benjamin Wheeler. Emerie Schartz defended her title, winning the Girls’ division by seven strokes over Avery Schartz.
Asher Whitaker earned the title of Kansas Junior Champion. He scored a three-day total of 64-66-70-200 (-16). He had one bogey in his first round, a bogey-free second round, and carded four birdies in his final round to secure his victory. “My putting solidified my rounds. I was able to take advantage of the good shots that I hit on the putting green,” Whitaker said after finishing his final round. Benjamin Wheeler earned solo second, scoring 69-72-63-204 (-12). He is the new course record holder at Crestview Country Club, with his round of 63.
Emerie Schartz, the defending champion, once again proved her ability by securing the Kansas Girls Junior Champion title with a three-day total of 72-68-68-208 (-8). Her performance, marked by 12 birdies and two eagles, was a testament to her competitive spirit. Her sister, Avery Schartz, showcased her consistency and resilience, carding three birdies in her final nine holes. Avery earned the Kansas Girls Junior Amateur Runner-Up carding 72-72-71-215 (-1).
Emerie Schartz’s three-day total qualifies her to play in the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur Championship at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, California, from July 15 to 20.
Central Links Golf is grateful to Crestwood Country Club for hosting the event. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the players and their families for participating, which made this week a truly memorable one.
The final round of the competitive Watson Challenge, held at Mission Hills Country Club, concluded on Saturday afternoon. Joseph Winslow emerged as the champion, showcasing his exceptional skills and winning the event by five shots over Ben Hadden.
Winslow started the day one shot back from Julian Taylor, starting strong on his front nine, carding three birdies and an eagle. “The greens this week were unbelievable. The first two days, I putted ok but felt like I was due for a really good putting round, and it happened,” Winslow said during the awards ceremony. Winslow finished his final round three-under. He shot 70-67-67 (-6). His Challenge win also earns him an exemption into next year’s AdventHealth Championship Korn Ferry Tour event.
Ben Hadden, the only other player to shoot under par, scored 72-67-70 (-1) for the three-day tournament. His journey in this event was particularly touching, as he caddied for his dad a decade ago. Now, he stands as the runner-up in the same event, finishing his round with an up and down to save par and secure the solo second place.
Jackson Foth was the Watson Challenge Amateur Champion. He placed solo fifth place, carding 69-71-71 (+1).
Joseph Winslow, the newly crowned champion of the Watson Challenge, is now set to take on the PGA Tour Americas. The tour consists of 10 events over 12 weeks, starting in a week and a half.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mission Hills Country Club for their exceptional hospitality and for hosting this event. Their contribution has been instrumental in making this Watson Challenge a success.
The second round of the Watson Challenge began Friday morning at Mission Hills Country Club. Julian Taylor, the current frontrunner, wrapped up his round with a birdie on 18, shooting an impressive 67 (-3). “Putting was the best part of my game today,” Taylor said, “I drove the ball really poorly.” Taylor made eight birdies in his second round and hopes to keep that hot streak going into the final round.
Joseph Winslow, who shot 67 (-3), is in second place, one stroke ahead of Ben Hadden. Winslow carded seven birdies in his second round, which helped to push him to second place. “My mental game was the best part of my game today. I stayed focused and patient,” Winslow said, walking off the eighteenth green. He is looking forward to the final round tomorrow.
Ben Hadden made a remarkable leap from 10th to 3rd place after his second round. His bogey-free back nine, coupled with four birdies, propelled him to a 67 (-3) score, securing him a solo third place. Hadden’s performance is a testament to his skill and determination, and he’s definitely one to watch in the final round.
Jackson Froth and Davis Cooper are tied for fourth at even par. They are still in excellent standing to earn the title of best golfer in Kansas City.
Will King scored a 66 (-4), the best round of the day.
The final round of the Challenge will begin at 8:00 a.m. Saturday. Tom Watson will attend the award ceremony following the round.
The highly anticipated Watson Challenge teed off Thursday morning at Mission Hills Country Club. The field, comprising 51 top-notch golfers, is vying to claim the title of the best golfer in Kansas City.
Setting the pace at an impressive two-under-par, Davis Cooper and Charlie Hillier. Cooper, the 2022 Challenge Champion, is determined to reclaim his title, while Hillier, with a solid performance on the front nine, is looking to make his mark in the tournament.
Cooper started strong, making birdie the first hole. The most challenging part of his round today was judging the wind. Cooper and his caddying worked to judge the wind to determine what type of shots he needed to hit. Dealing with the wind prevented him from hitting the ball as well as he would have liked; however, he was still happy with his final score.
Hillier carded a thirty-two on the front nine, three-under-par. He stayed consistent even with the tricky pin locations on the course today. Leading into the second round, “I am looking forward to getting the putter going,” Hillier said. The difficult pin locations did not cause him to be too unhappy with his putting after his first round.
Andy Spencer, Julian Taylor, and Jackson Foth shot 69 (-1) to finish tied after their first round. They are both looking forward to their second round, continuing to strike the ball well and miss in the right places.
Players to watch going into Friday’s round include Joseph Winslow, who shot 70 (E). Connor Knabe, Michael McGee, and Alex Springer are all tied for fifth place after shooting 71 (+1). Six players tied for tenth at two-under.
The 2024 Kansas City Junior Championship, presented by Granite Garage Floors Kansas City, was held at Winterstone Golf Course in Independence, Missouri, and concluded on Tuesday, June 4th.
Bennett Warren emerged as the victor for the boys division, with a two-day total of nine under par. Warren’s two rounds of 68-67 for a 36-hole total of 135 showcased his consistency and skill. Bailey Burkett won the event for the girls at five under par for two days. Burkett’s 66-73 for a two-day tournament total of 139 demonstrated her determination and ability.
Bennett Warren claimed his first Central Links Championship event at nine-under par. He led the tournament after Monday’s round by two strokes. On Monday’s back nine, Warren carded five birdies coming into the clubhouse. He kept that momentum going into his final round, carding eight birdies and only one double bogey. Chance Rinkol finished solo second, scoring a two-day total of 70-68-138 (-6). Rinkol carded four birdies in his first round and two eagles in his final round. He finished three strokes ahead of Myles Tarvin, who earned third place, carding a two-day total of three under.
Bailey Burkett, in a display of skill, carded eight birdies on her Monday round, leading the first day by an impressive nine strokes over Hadley Neese. In Burkett’s final round, she carded two birdies and three bogeys, showcasing her ability to adapt and perform under pressure. She carded five pars coming into the clubhouse, a testament to her consistency and focus. Burkett’s performance earned her the title of the Central Links Junior Championship at five-under par, a well-deserved achievement.
Hadley Neese earned runner-up, finishing one-over par. On Monday, Neese carded three birdies and two double bogeys. However, on Tuesday, she stayed consistent and carded four birdies to finish with a total of two-under. Neese earned a solo second by two strokes over Makenna Casey, who placed third, carding a two-day total of three-over.
The Watson Challenge will be held at Mission Hills Country Club from June 6 to 8, 2024. Tom Watson’s vision for the Watson Challenge began in 2007 to “Determine the best golfer in Kansas City.” The event raises funds for The First Tee of Kansas City, benefitting our area children.
Spectator Information: Off-site parking and shuttle will be located at Pembroke Hill High School. Tickets are available at the gate for a suggested donation of $25 to the First Tee of Kansas City. Media will be allowed entry with valid employer credentials.
Past Champions
2024 Field
Wade Binfield, Professional Brookridge Golf and Fitness Collegiate All-American, Turned Pro in 2010, 2015-2018 PGA Tour Canada, 2019-2021 & 2023 Korn Ferry Tour Member.
Ed Brown, Amateur Shamrock Hills Golf Club 2021 & 2023 KC Sernior Amateur Champion, 2023 KC Sernior Match Play Champion, 2019, 2021, & 2023 Missouri Mid-Amateur (Senior) Champion, 2021 Open Dicision Club Champion at Swope Memorial, 2011 Open Division Club Champion at Shamrock Hills, 2019 Senior Club Champion at Shamrock Hills.
Bret Burgmeier, Professional Wolf Creek Golf Club Shot 63 in a Midwest Section PGA event.
Kyle Capps, Professional Hallbrook Country Club
Drew Carlson, Amateur Milburn Country Club Qualified for The Watson Challenge in 2019, 2022, & 2024, 2022 KC Match Play Finalist, 2023 Kansas Amateur Quarterfinalist, Milburn Country Club – Club Champion, Winner – Falcon Wealth Advisor Tour Championship, 2024 Kanza Cup Winner
Maxence Catherine, Amateur UMKC Men’s Golf Alumni Three-time 2nd Team All-Conference, Freshman of the Year at UMKC, Three-time All-American Scholar.
Davis Cooper, Professional Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate 2022 Watson Challenge Champion, 2021 Windon Memorial Champion
Wylie Curtis, Amateur Shawnee Mission East High School 2022 Midwest Junior Champion, 2023 Team State Champion.
Gregory Diederich, Amateur The National Golf Club of Kansas City 2022 Club Champion at The National Golf Club of Kansas City.
Calvin Dillon, Amateur University of Central Missouri 2020 Missouri Junior Amateur Champion, 2019 KC Junior Match Play Champion, 2023 NCIS Championship Runner-Up, 2023 & 2024 GCAA All-American Scholar, 2022 KC Amateur Runner-Up. This is Calvin’s third Watson Challenge appearance.
Tyler Docking, 2024 Runner-Up KC Match Play
Sean Dougherty, Professional Golf TRK 2011 & 2015 PGA Championship Participant, 2015 PGA Cup Team Member.
Alex Downing, Amateur Shamrock Hills Golf Club 2x Academic All-American, 3x Falcon Wealth Advisor Tour Player of the Year, 2022 Kansas Amateur Runner-up, 2 Career Hole-in-Ones – Both on Par 4s
Tyler Dunn, Professional Blue Hills Country Club Third Place at 2009 Watson Challenge, 2014 Midwest Section PGA Player of the Year & Assistant Player of the Year, 2020 Midwest Section Assistant Player of the Year, 2015 & 2018 PGA Professional National Championship Participant.
Ryan Eckroat, Professional Ironhorse Golf Course 2011 & 2012 Member of the Southwest PGA Gibson Cup, 2013 Member of the Southwest PGA Goldwater Cup, 2017 Champion of the Northern California PGA Section, Qualified for the Watson Challenge 2020-2023.
Ryne Fisher, Amateur Blue Hills Country Club 2x Kansas City Amateur Champion, 2x Kansas City Masters Champion, 1x Kansas City Match Play Champion
Jackson Foth, Amateur Lake Quivira Country Club 2018 KC Match Play Champion, 2018 Pine to Palm Champion, 2013 Heart of America Four-Ball Champion, and three Watson Challenge Top 10s. This is Jackson’s seventh Watson Challenge appearance.
Ben Hadden, Professional Shawnee Golf and Country Club 2021 PGA Tour Canada Member, 3x United Airlines Pro-Am Champion, Salina Country Club Record Holder at 60 (-11), 2019 NAIA All-American
Austin Hardison, Professional Excelsior Springs Golf Course 2018, 2020, 2021 Midwest Section PGA Assistant Champion, 2023 Midwest Section PGA Professional Champion. This is Austin’s fourth Watson Challenge appearance.
Andrew Hatten, Amateur Blue Hills Country Club Two-time Missouri 4-Ball Champion, 2007 Missouri Mid-Amateur Runner-Up. This is Andrew’s third Watson Challenge.
Charlie Hillier Wolf Creek Golf Club 2023 Brazil Open Champion, 2023 Top 5 Latino America 2024 Korn Ferry Tour Member, University of Kansas 2015-2019
Harry Hillier, Professional Wolf Creek Golf Club/Kansas University 2022 Nebraska Open Champion, 2024 Race to Tieke Champion, 12th Place in 2023 New Zealand Open, Current Member of the PGA Tour Americas
Alex Hogan, Amateur Blue Hills Country Club, Rockhurst High School 2023 KC Junior Champion
Austin Jarchow, Professional Shamrock Hills Golf Club University of Central Missouri Golf Alumni, High School Golf at Lees Summit West, 2-time Qualifier for Professional National Championship.
Will King, Amateur Kansas University 2023 NCAA Division I Qualifier, 2023 Gopher Invitational Champion, 2024 All-Big 12 Tournament Team, Finished tied for eighth at 2024 Big 12 Championship. This is Will’s second Watson Challenge.
Connor Knabe, Amateur Former K-Sate Men’s Golf Team This is Connor’s sixth Watson Challenge.
Michael Letzig, Professional The Club at Porto Cima Missouri Amateur Champion, 15 years as a professional Golfer, and five years on the PGA Tour. This is Michael’s seventh Watson Challenge.
Henry Mayor Mission Hills Country Club/Rockhurst High School 2021-2023 Mission Hills Country Club Junior Club Champion, 2023 Hurrican Junior Tour Fall Classic Champion in Chicago.
Ian McCrary, Amateur Kansas State University Member of the Kansas State Men’s Golf Team. This is Ian’s second Watson Challenge.
Michael McGee, Amateur Indiana University 2023 US Mid-Amateur Qualifier
Bryan Norton, Amateur Mission Hills Country Club Three-time Kansas Senior Amateur Champion.
Bryson Oots, Amateur William Jewell College State Champion 2022, Kenneth Smith Award Winner, 2-time NCAA Division II Champion, and Individual Selection for the Division II Regional Tournament.
Sam Parrott, Amateur Central Links Golf 2018 DII GCAA All-American, 2018 GCAA All Region, 2019 Holiday Inn Express Classic Champion, 2021 KC Am Champion, 2021 CLG Player of the Year. This is Sam’s fifth Watson Challenge appearance.
Jared Paul, Professional Southwestern College One College and two Professional victories. This is Jared’s third Watson Challenge appearance.
Ben Pearson, Amateur Falcon Ridge Golf Club Third Place in 2023 Kansas Mid-Amateur, Second Place in 2022 Kansas Mid-Amateur, 2023 KC Four-Ball Champion, Second Place in 2023 Hear of America, Semi-Finalist in 2023 KC Match Play. This is Ben’s second Watson Challenge appearance.
Chance Rinkol, Amateur University of Iowa AJGA Joplin Junior Champion, 2023 Midwest PGA Section Junior Golf Student of the Year, and Founder of Red Bags Shootout.
Robert Russell, PGA Nickalaus Golf Club at Lionsgate 2023 Watson Challenge Champion
Andy Spencer, Professional Wolf Creek Golf Club/University of Kansas Status on the Challenge Tour, Three-time Watson Challenge Champion, having won in 2017, 2018, and 2021.
Alex Springer, Amateur Sycamore Ridge Golf Course 2019 Watson Challenge Champion. Alex will make his seventh appearance at the Watson Challenge.
Tyler Strong, Amateur Praire Highland Golf Course 2023 Kansas Junior Amateur Champion, 2023 Junior Player of the Year, Committed to K-State Golf in the Fall.
Julian Taylor, Professional Tiffany Greens Golf Course 3-time All-American, 14 collegiate wins, NAIA Golfstat Cup winner. This is Julian’s second Watson Challenge Appearance.
Park Ulrich, Amateur Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate
Zach VanDolah, Amateur Tiffany Greens Golf Club 2023 Kansas Player of the Year, 2022 & 2023 Kansas City Player of the Year, 2023 Kansas City Amateur Champion, 2022 Kansas Mid-Amateur Champion, 2022 Kansas City Match Play Champion. Zach will be playing in his fifth Watson Challenge.
Brad Volker, Professional The Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate 2018 Midwest Section Player Development Award Winner. This is Brad’s sixth Watson Challenge.
Kevin Ward, Professional The Golf Stable/Mission Hills Country Club/Wolf Creek Golf Club Founder of The Golf Stable, 2023 Midwest Section PGA Teacher of the Year, Golf Digest Top in the State, 2004 “Show Me, Sunflower” Champion, 2004 Kansas Golfer Summer Four-Ball Finalist
Michael Winslow, Amateur Wichita State University 2024 AAC All-Conference, 2018 Kansas Junior Amateur Champion, 2018 5A State Champion, Runner-Up in 2024 Kansas Amateur, Runner-Up in 2024 Missouri Amateur.
Joseph Winslow, Professional Wolf Creek Golf Club Tied for Fourth in PGA TOUR Americas Brazil Open, Winner – PGA TOUR China Yantai Championship, 3x Kansas High School State Champion
Heeil Yang, Professional PXG Member of the Korean Professional Golfers Association.
Two additional golfers will earn their spot in the Watson Challenge Field after playing the Watson Challenge Junior Qualifier on Friday, May 31st. Full results from that event can be found here >>
HOW BOUT THOSE CHIEFS! Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs on winning the Super Bowl. I’m sure many of us saw how Patrick Mahomes remained poised the entire game. You could really see how focused he was and into his process out there. No matter what happened during the game, he just kept focused on the next play, the next drive… sounds a little similar to what we want to do in golf.
One of the most important aspects in golf is the mental game. That can be a very broad term, and in this specific article, I wanted to talk about the pre-shot routine. Our routine allows us to control what we can control and clear out distractions to be our best. We can see disciplined routines every week on the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods is the gold standard for a disciplined routine. This allows us to be in the same clear frame of mind for every shot we hit and will allow us to play our best golf. It also allows us to recognize when we aren’t in a clear frame of mind. Without it, we don’t have a game plan and are just at the mercy of “hoping” we hit a great shot.
Ok, it’s the first tee shot of the day. You have been to the range and hit a small bucket of balls to get loose, some shots were good and others not so much. You are standing on the first tee with your buddies and are wondering “well I hit my driver with a fade on the range but I normally hit it with a draw…I don’t know what’s going to happen…just step up and hit it and hope it goes where I want…” Does this sound like you? The solution will be your pre-shot routine!
Mental Aspects of Great Routines:
We focus only on the shot we are about to hit. Our past shots on the range or yesterday or another day do not matter. We focus only on this shot.
We visualize our best shots and ingrain them into our minds. We visualize clearly the shot we want to hit in this moment.
We have clarity on what we want to accomplish with the shot.
Physical Aspects of Great Routines:
We walk into the shot the same way each time. Find a cadence that feels great to you.
Our body is loose and alive to hit the shot the way we want. This is where a practice swing would work.
We feel a sense of joy to be out playing golf. We have to remember we love to be out here and that helps clear out the fear of the shot.
Decision Aspects of Great Routines:
We have a clear distance we want to hit the ball.
We know which direction the wind is blowing and have factored that into our shot.
We have picked a clear target line that we want to start the ball at and a clear finishing target where we want the ball to finish.
Now that you know the components that go into a great routine, it’s time to practice building your routine. The important part of a routine is that YOU have to own it. There is no one right answer. These components listed above will help guide you to build your best routine for success.
I’m excited to share more tips from the TOUR to help you with your game this year. As always please reach out to your PGA Professional for lessons to help your game with this. They are prepared and equipped to help you become the best player you can be. Have fun and good luck!
See you on TOUR,
Joseph Winslow is a contributing writer for Central Links Golf. He is native to Kansas City and is a professional golfer. He has played around the world on the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR China, and PGA TOUR Americas. He was an NCAA Honorable Mention All American at the University of Iowa and graduated from the University of South Florida. Joseph brings insight and advice from a competitive playing perspective to help you in your practice. Follow along with Joseph’s career as he continues to work to win around the world.
Golf shoulder injuries are a common occurrence in golfers. There can be various reasons behind your shoulder pain, which we will dive into below and help you golf pain-free.
Upper Body Dominance
One potential reason for your shoulder pain with golf is having an upper body-dominant swing. Whether it’s due to technical reasons or lack of mobility in other areas (we will go over this later), your arms might be doing too much work from a muscular standpoint – resulting in shoulder overuse. Your lower body must work with your upper body to create an efficient and smooth golf swing to reduce any pain associated with swinging.
Lack of Mobility
Thoracic Spine
As mentioned above, shoulder pain can also result from a lack of mobility from other areas in your body. One key area to examine is your thoracic spine or upper back. Due to their close proximity, a lack of mobility within thoracic spine rotation can create shoulder compensation to still complete your golf swing. Repeatedly swinging with this deficiency will slowly create more and more shoulder strain. Simply addressing and improving thoracic spine mobility can take pressure off your shoulder(s) and help you swing the way your body was designed to.
Shoulder
Your shoulder pain might also be due to a lack of shoulder mobility. During the backswing and the start of the downswing, your trail side shoulder is doing what is called external rotation (rotating outward). If your shoulder is unable to rotate to the degree it needs to, whether it be from previous injury or other joint restrictions, this could potentially explain your pain.
Take this at-home assessment HERE to see if you’re rotating correctly, and get FREE golf shoulder exercises at the end upon submission.
Conclusion
Many golfers deal with shoulder pain regularly; however, this can be prevented. It is best to seek out an assessment from a healthcare professional, such as a golf physical therapist, to assess your mobility and determine the cause of your golf shoulder injury. Book your FREE strategy call with RobertsPT Golf Physical Therapy and Performance HERE, and start your path to pain-free golf today.
Dr. Cole Bunce is a contributing writer for Central Links Golf. Dr. Bunce works at RobertsPT, a golf Physical Therapy and Performance Center in Kansas City.
The Annual February Funding Drive for Youth on Course is back! Help us reach our $15,000 goal!
Did you know Central Links Golf is responsible for subsidizing the YoC program in Kansas & Kansas City?
Members of Youth on Course pay $5 to play a round of golf at participating facilities. This program allows juniors to have greater access to the game of golf.
Help us continue to expand and sustain this program by donating to our campaign.
Central Links Golf will be at the Kansas City Golf Show on February 23-25, at the Overland Park Convention Center! There will be 90-plus golf exhibits, top-level manufacturers, huge sales and experiences for golfers, and front-door bonuses!
