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2019 Prairie Invitational Player Preview

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The Prairie Invitational is a premier women’s event in Kansas City for amateur and professional players. Its purpose is to enhance women’s golf and junior women’s golf not only in the Kansas City area but on a regional level. Formerly known as the Women’s Amateur of Kansas City, the Prairie Invitational was founded to determine the best female golfer in the Midwest. The 2017 event was the first time the event was conducted over 54 holes in the Open Division and was also the first year the event was included in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

The championship includes two-separate divisions. The Open division is targeted toward expert level players and will be played at championship yardage of 6,100-6,200 yards. The Open Division features a cut to the low 18 players and ties after play on Tuesday with a final-round finish for those who advance on Wednesday. A 36-hole Players division will be for gross and net players who want to play from the traditional ladies’ tees.

The 2018 Prairie Invitational was held on July 23rd-July 25th at Indian Hills Country Club. It proved to be an excellent test of golf for both the Open and Players Divisions.  The tree-lined fairways and undulating greens made making par very difficult and gave up very few birdies. The course gave up a low single-round score of 71 (+1) and a record-high winning total of +14. Emma Whitaker of Wichita, Kansas claimed the Open Division title over defending champion Kristen Samp. She also won the Kansas Women’s Amateur title.  Reagan Zibilski of Nixa, Missouri won the Open Division Low Junior award, while Julia Misemer claimed the Kansas Low Junior. Hope Robinett won the Players Division Gross title, and her twin sister Hanna Robinett won the Players Division Net title.

The 2019 Prairie Invitational will be held at The National Golf Club of Kansas City in Parkville, Missouri on July 22-24, 2019 and will be run as an individual championship with the Kansas Women’s Amateur to be run in August.

Players to Watch

Sarah Bell

With the lowest handicap index of the field of +3.4, Sarah Bell already sticks out as a player to watch for this year’s championship. From Jackson, Missouri, Bell just finished her freshman year at Oral Roberts University. A two-time high school girls golf Champion at Notre Dame High School, Bell’s talent and proximity to the Kansas City area makes her a great choice to take away the trophy.

Kristen Samp

Kristen Samp is no stranger to the Prairie Invitational. Samp’s finishes in the Prairie include a tied for 2nd finish in 2016, Champion in 2017 and a runner-up finish in 2018 after losing in a playoff. Following a tenured professional career and competing on the LPGA Tour, Samp is a PGA/LPGA Professional in Lawrence, Kansas.

After a few years being at the top of the leaderboard in the Prairie Invitational, Samp’s experience in the event gives her the ability to win it all again.

Ellen Port

Ellen Port is a name you should know if you follow amateur golf. A seven-time USGA Champion, Port will be playing in the Prairie Invitational for the second year in a row. From St. Louis, Port is no stranger to the Kansas City area, and it showed with a tied for 5th finish in last year’s event.

Port’s Championship accolades include four US Women’s Mid-Amateur titles and three US Senior Women’s Amateur titles. It wouldn’t be surprising to see her add the 2019 Prairie Invitational to that already distinguished list.

Stacy Dennis

Stacy Dennis is set to make her first appearance in the Prairie Invitational. Executive Director of the Texas Golf Association, Dennis comes all the way from Plano, Texas to compete against a highly talented field.

Dennis’s playing career is not something that goes unnoticed. Dennis was a member of the Texas A&M Women’s Golf team and winner of two Texas Women’s Amateur Championships (2004, 2009). She also won the Women’s State Four-Ball Championship twice (2009, 2015) and was a US Women’s Mid-Amateur semifinalist in 2012.

Her knowledge of the game and experience competing at the highest level gives her an edge in this year’s event.

Emma Whitaker

Emma Whitaker is the current Defending Champion of the Prairie Invitational. Just finishing up her sophomore season at Oklahoma State, the 20-year-old is used to performing under pressure. After winning in a playoff over Samp, Whitaker completed one of the biggest wins of her career.

Originally from Wichita, Kansas, Whitaker is a talented young golfer that should thrive on a course like The National. It will be exciting to see how she fares as the defending champion.

Rachel Stous

Rachel Stous, a Topeka native, won the Kansas City Women’s Match Play in early June in record fashion – with a walk-off Hole-In-One to close out the match.  With length being a strong suit of her game, Stous should thrive on a modern course like The National and will be one of the few players in the field with ability to reach some of the long par-5 holes.  Stous has also advanced through the men’s Topeka City Match Play, winning matches against men while competing from the same tees the last two years.  She played one season at Wichita State and is set to represent Kansas on the Fore State team at the end of the month.

Haley Thiele

Haley Thiele just won her second Nebraska Women’s Amateur Championship in three years.  A standout for the University of Nebraska women’s program, she went deep in the KC Women’s Match Play Championship last month as well.  She will be joined by several of her teammates in the field.

Whitney Pyle

Whitney Pyle was a standout on the Kansas State University team. Whitney has been preparing to play LPGA Q-school in the fall with a solid off-season of play in Florida.

Announcing the 2019 Women’s Fore State Team

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Lenexa, KS – The Kansas Women’s Fore State team has been finalized and is set to begin the annual competition with teams from Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma later this month at Shadow Valley CC in Rogers, Arkansas.  The competition features Four Ball matches on Monday, July 29 in the morning, and Foursomes matches later that afternoon.  It is completed with Singles matches on Tuesday, July 30.  Players are selected from a points list that includes championship results from the prior two seasons and up to the Tee Fore Two Championship in June of this year.  Team Kansas is looking to win the championship for only the third time since the competition was established 20 years ago.  Wish your team the best of luck and follow their matches online during the competition.

Amateur Division Players

Rachel Stous – Topeka High graduate; played one year at Wichita State; 2019 KC Women’s Match Play Champion with a walk-off hole-in-one; quarter-finalist in Topeka GA Men’s Match Play in 2019 & semifinalist in 2018; won 2018 Topeka Women’s City Championship

Anna Zech – Family of four, brother Ryan is a professional golfer; started playing with her dad and brother at age 7; plays on the women’s team at Northwest Missouri State; finished top 25 in MIAA Conference Tournament

Chloe Kraus – Started playing golf in Skip Maiwald golf camps at age 13; has four younger brothers and sisters; Olathe NW graduate; attended Wallace State CC for one year, then to Freed Hardiman University; 4-time NAIA Player of the Week; 5th place in conference – 2018; First Team All-Conference – 2019; Kansas Women’s Amateur Runner-Up – 2018; 4th place at The Prairie Invitational – 2018; just started as graduate assistant coach for men’s and women’s golf at Baker University

Becky Thomas – 2019 Tee Fore Two Champion out of Terradyne GC in Wichita, KS; married to husband Steve for 16 years, has a daughter in the 8th grade and a 5 year-old Weimaraner; works full time as a transactional paralegal at a large Kansas law firm; has played golf since age 10 and been hooked ever since; played four years at Wichita State University finishing as one of the top 10 players in the MVC as a senior; continued playing competitively after college and qualified for the 2010 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Wichita CC; former Wichita City Match Play Champion

 

Mid-Amateur Division Players

Martha Linscott – Family of five – 2 swimmers at the University of Minnesota and 1 sophomore in high school; girl’s golf coach at St. Theresa’s Academy; played in 11 USGA Championships (2 US Women’s Amateur Public Links, 3 State Team Championships, 6 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships); enjoys competing with women who love golf as much as she does

Robbin Wasson – Married to Brian Jackson and has a son, Pierce; is a licensed attorney in Kansas City and has served as a prosecutor handling homicide, major case, and sex crime prosecutions; began playing golf in 2014 after joining Indian Hills CC and began an instant love affair with the game and has worked to improve ever since; 3rd Net in The Prairie Invitational Players Division in 2018; named Most Improved Female Golfer in 2015, 2017, and 2018

Susan DeVoe – Began playing golf in her mid-40s; 2016 KWGA Players Champion; 5-time Kansas Fore State team member; spends time traveling with partner, Mary, and friends; high school social worker and starting a high school golf team at Eudora HS

Kim Wright – Married to Kyle, daughter Madison is 19 and son Logan is 16; has worked in public schools as a speech pathologist for 25 years, currently in Olathe Schools at Indian Trail MS; Earned BA and MA from KU; played collegiate golf at KU; started playing golf as a junior with her parents; enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, playing golf during the summer, and cheering for the Jayhawks

 

Masters Division Players

Terri Albers – Married to husband Chris, has two grown children – daughter is an architect in Colorado and son is a 1st Lieutenant in the Air Force flying C-130s; is a dentist with a practice in Oakley, Kansas; multiple Tee Fore Two champion, multiple top 5 finishes in the Kansas Senior Championship

Jettie Bezek – Met husband Bob on a golf course ten years ago; one daughter and two grandchildren; began playing golf at age 31; won KCGA Tournament of Champions at Hallbrook; qualified for three USGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Championships

Susan Mueller – Married to Mike Mueller, MD; has two daughters, a son, and two granddaughters; enjoys traveling, hiking, golfing and water sports with her family; began playing golf 19 years ago, and it quickly became a passion; plays golf frequently with her husband and lives on the 18th hole of the North Course at Crestview CC; 5-time Crestview CC Ladies Club Champion; has won various tournaments in the state of Kansas and city of Wichita, both gross and net; enjoys teaching her granddaughters golf and sewing; has been a Realtor since graduating from Bethany College in 1977; her father is healthy and active at 101 years old; represented Team Kansas at Fore State in 2017

Barbara Cusick – has MBA & CPA and worked at Disneyland in Internal Audit & Finance; she and husband, Dr. Doug Cusick, have been actively organizing and doing medical missions in Peru for four years with Advent Health; the Cusick family has been involved in overseas and local medical missions for over 30 years; has served on the boards of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Heart to Heart; currently serves on the Asian American Chamber of Commerce KC and is the Foundation Board Chair of Advent Health Shawnee Mission and Advent Health Board of Trustees; started playing golf with her husband so they could play a sport together; loves competing and promoting women’s and junior golf; 2014 & 2017 Prairie Invitational Players Division Gross Champion; three-time Hallbrook CC Club Champion

Captains:

Karen Exon – recently retired as Baker head men’s and women’s golf coach Karen Exon was with the Baker athletics staff since the 1998 school year when she helped start the women’s golf program as head coach; served multiple terms as President of the Kansas Women’s Golf Association

Jacque Madison – Married to Aaron, one son, Braden, who is 20; been a golf professional for 20+ years; PGA and LPGA Class A member; played college golf at Kansas State, Academic All-American 1993-1994; PGA LEAD Class member 2019-2020; qualified for five USGA Championships (US Girls Junior, 2 US Women’s Amateur Public Links, US Women’s Amateur; State Team Championship); Director of The Prairie Invitational; Manages Women’s Championships for the state of Kansas

 

Team Kansas Competing in 51st Junior Girls Four State in Nebraska City

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Singles Matches Update

Team Kansas finished in Third Place at Junior Girls Four State on Tuesday. After winning two singles matches and tieing one match, the team finished with 5 total points for the tournament. Team Nebraska won the event earning 11.5 points out of 12 possible points available.

Alison Comer of Team Kansas won her match 5&4, McKenna Rice won her match 5&4, and Victoria Klausner tied her match against Team Missouri’s Audrey Rischer.

Rounds One & Two Update

Team Kansas was off to a strong start after the first round at the Junior Girls Four State tournament on Monday. Victoria Klausner and Sarah Lawson won their morning match 3&1, while Caroline Setter and Vera Bohning were 1 up through 18, giving Team Kansas a total of two points after the first round.

The team struggled in the afternoon, but put up a good fight against Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa. Sarah Lawson and Allison Comer were the only Four-Ball pair from Kansas to win points after tieing their match against Missouri. Lawson & Comer were 1 up most of their match on the back nine. Comer saved the team with a chip-in birdie on 16 to tie the hole. Comer again made an impressive attempt to win the 17th hole, however, bogies from both Kansas & Missouri tied the hole again. The Missouri team made bogey on the 18th hole and the Kansas pair made a double, leading to a tied match and a half point awarded to both teams.

Kansas is tied for second place going into the final round.

Tee times begin at 8:00 on Tuesday where the teams will play singles matches.

Tournament Information 

Arbor Links GC, Nebraska City, NE – Team Kansas is representing our associations this week at the 51st Junior Girls Four State hosted by the Nebraska Golf Association at Arbor Links GC in Nebraska City.  The teams are selected from a points list based on player’s tournament results in selected events over the past two seasons of play.  Jaci Weber of Derby, Kansas was selected as the team captain.  She played collegiate golf at the University of Kansas and 3-time Kansas Junior Amateur Champion.  Baile Stephenson was selected at the vice-captain.  Stephenson played collegiate golf at the University of Northern Colorado.  Both have represented Kansas in the Junior Four State and adult Fore State team competitions.

This year marks the first year of the new Solheim Cup-style competition.  Historically the competition followed the traditions high school scoring format.  Going forward the competition is comprised of Foursomes (alternate shot) match play, Four Ball match play, and singles match play in a round robin format with Team Kansas playing an equal number of matches in each format against teams from Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri.

This year’s team is comprised of:

  • Victoria Klausner of Olathe who will be a senior at Olathe Northwest HS
  • Sarah Lawson of Shawnee who is a May graduate of Mill Valley HS and will play at Wichita State in the fall
  • Allison Comer of Overland Park who will be a senior at St. James Academy
  • McKenna Rice of Lee’s Summit who is a May graduate of Lee’s Summit West and will play at the University of Central Missouri in the fall
  • Caroline Setter of Topeka who was the 2017 4A Girls State Champion
  • Vera Bohning of Lee’s Summit who will be a junior at St. Michael the Archangel

Foursomes matches began at 8:00am.  Follow the action live at:  https://51stjuniorgirlsfourstatechampionship.golfgenius.com

 

 

Alex Springer Earns First Watson Challenge Title

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Mother Nature Ends Watson Challenge Early – Alex Springer’s Great Second Round Crowns Him Champion

Round 3 of the Watson Challenge has been cancelled due to excessive rain and unplayable course conditions. The Championship has been shortened to a 36 hole championship. After a great round two, Alex Springer has been crowned the 2019 Watson Challenge Champion with an eight-under, two day total of 136. Tom Watson and Andy Spencer finish tied for second with a two-day total of 138 (-6).

Congratulations to Alex Springer for earning his first Watson Challenge title. We look forward to next year’s event and hope the weather cooperates a little more. We hope to see everyone out at Blue Hills Country Club in 2020!

New Leader, Alex Springer, After Moving Day at Watson Challenge – Round 2 Recap

On moving day of the Watson Challenge, a new leader emerged after 36 holes of competition and after another lengthy weather delay. On top of battling the field, players were forced to endure another rain and lightning delay before the second round of the Watson Challenge could begin. 7:30 am starting times were pushed back until 9:45 am.

Alex Springer, Mackenzie Tour player and Central Missouri graduate, made a move in to first place with another great round of 68 (-4) for a total of 136 (-8). Springer started off strong with a birdie on Holes 3, 4 and 6 to find himself with a one shot lead over Tom Watson. Springer’s front nine ended with a bogey on Hole 9, but his back nine featured another three birdies and a solo bogey on Hole 13. Six birdies and two bogeys would be enough to put Springer’s name atop the leaderboard after moving day over second place Tom Watson and Andy Spencer.

Watson’s round featured three birdies through the first 12 holes and the only two blemishes came on the last two holes of the round. A bogey on Hole 17 and 18 would keep Watson from tying Springer as leader in the clubhouse. Spencer also had a few hiccups on the day to erase his five birdies and card a two-under round of 70 to put him tied for second at a 138 (-6) total score with Tom Watson.

The rest of the field sits at least five shots behind second place with Michael Letzig and Tanner Owen at a one-under, 143 total and tied for fourth place. Letzig shot a two-under par round of 70, after a slightly disappointing one-over, 73 on Round 1. Owen fought back after a round one score of 74 that featured a 9 on the Par-5, 12th hole. A three-under, 69, second round that saw four birdies, an eagle, a bogey, and a double would shoot Owen in to the top five.

Four players are tied for sixth with an even-par total score of 144. Clay Devers, Jackson Foth, Nicklaus Mason, and Park Ulrich all sit on the outside looking in.

Championship Sunday will surely bring some exciting golf and leaderboard changes as players vie for the title of Kansas City’s best golfer. Springer is battling for his first ever Watson Challenge in two appearances. Spencer is vying for his third Watson Challenge victory in a row. Watson is trying for his sixth Watson Challenge victory, and first since 2013. Round 3’s final pairing will tee off at 10:00 am with Alex Springer, Tom Watson, and Andy Spencer.

Follow along with the Golf Genius app using the code WATSON19 or click here.

For all professional pictures of the event, see the KCGA Facebook.

Watson’s 67 Shines Through the Rain – Round 1 Recap

In it’s 13th year, the Watson Challenge began with an unlikely turn of events that included a 5 and a half hour rain delay at the Nicklaus Club of Lionsgate. 7:30 am starting times turned in to 9:30 am and then to 1:30 pm after two separate storm delays that lasted a total of 5.5 hours with powerful winds and heavy rain.

Despite the unexpected start to the tournament, round one did not disappoint. Local media and spectators turned up at the Nicklaus Golf Club in Overland Park to see the best golfers compete in Kansas City at the new venue. Media officials snapped pictures and fans paraded around the course as the featured group of the day had some jaw-dropping performances.

Five-time champion, Tom Watson, two-time defending champion, Andy Spencer, and club professional, Robert Russell, created quite the following around the golf course. Leader in the clubhouse, Tom Watson, carded a five-under, 67. After making the turn at even par with two birdies and two bogeys, Watson went on to birdie four in a row and finish with a birdie on the Par-4, 18th. Andy Spencer finished tied for second with a round of 68, (-4), that included five birdies and one bogey. Local favorite Robert Russell started out hot with two birdies, but followed with a little hiccup on the Par-5, 6th hole. Russell fought back with three birdies to card an even-par round of 72.

Also tied for second place after Round 1 is Clayton Devers and Alex Springer with rounds of 68. Devers had a steady round that included only one bogey on the Par-3, 2nd hole and five birdies. Alex Springer’s round featured an eagle on the Par-5, 4th hole and followed it up with a birdie on Hole 6. With two bogeys on the day, Springer had a total of four birdies and the eagle to shoot four-under.

Despite the weather and course conditions, 11 players carded an under-par round. Notable names include two juniors: Nicklaus Mason (-2) and Davis Cooper (-1), Garret (-2) and Blake Allen (-1), and Blue Hills golf professional Sean Dougherty (-2).

Four players sit an even par: Tim Barry, Jackson Foth, and local favorites Park Ulrich, and Robert Russell.

Round two will kick off tomorrow at 7:30 AM and tee times will continue until 10:00 AM. The final pairing of round two will include Tom Watson, Alex Springer, and Andy Spencer. The KCGA and fellow fans of golf hope round two of the Watson Challenge will bring less rain and even better golf.

For live scoring, see here.

Amanda Booth and Rebecca Thomas Take Overall Title at Tee Fore Two

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Rolling Hills CC, Wichita, KS – It took an extra hole for Amanda Booth (Wichita, KS) and Rebecca Thomas (Wichita, KS) to claim their first title in the Tee Fore Two Championship over defending champions Denise Desilet (Wichita, KS) and Patricia Sherwood (Wichita, KS).  Booth and Thomas began the day with a two-stroke lead after Monday’s Four Ball format and made the turn in the difficult Chapman Alternate Shot format with the same margin.  Desilet and Sherwood chipped away at the lead with a birdie on the par-3 13th hole and narrowly missed claiming a second straight title with a missed birdie putt on the 18th.  Booth and Thomas gave away the lead with a bogey at the 18th.  Both teams returned to the 1st hole for a playoff continuing in the Chapman format.  Booth and Thomas parred the first playoff hole to claim the title.

In the net division, Laurie Hughey (Wichita, KS) and Susan Mueller (Wichita, KS) began the day five strokes back after Monday Four Ball.  Chasing Beth Parmley (Loma Linda, MO) and Peggy Hinde (Pittsburg, KS) in the challenging Chapman format, they fired a gross 75 for a net 61 to win the Overall Net Championship by two strokes. The pair made eagle on the 2nd hole and never looked back.

The Monday afternoon Shootout began with 20 teams playing for the championship.  Preliminary action whittled the field down to Betty Skillett & Nancy Thomas, Karen Exon & Cindy Cooper, Bobbi Sauder & Diana Solis, Susan Mueller & Laurie Hughey, Danell Wilbur & Pam Marlow, and Karen Irwin & Lou Ann Buss.  Skillett/Thomas were eliminated on the 14th hole, and Sauder/Solis exited on the 15th.  Exon/Cooper were eliminated after a tough 3-putt at the 16th.  It took a chip-off to eliminate Mueller/Hughey on the 17th.  It looked like Wilbur/Marlow had the advantage on the 18th green, but Buss/Irwin made a long putt for par to change the dynamic and would eventually claim the shootout title.

Kim Wright made a hole-in-one on the 6th hole in the Chapman format. The next women’s championship is The Prairie Invitational at The National Golf Club of Kansas City on July 22-24 followed quickly by the Kansas Women’s Amateur at historic Prairie Dunes CC in Hutchinson, Kansas on August 5-6.

Click Here for Complete Results

 

 

Stous Wins Match With Hole-In-One on #13

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Swope Memorial GC, Kansas City, MO – Rachel Stous and Julia Misemer began the match each seeking a first victory in the Kansas City Women’s Match Play Championship.  Stous took an early lead with a par to Misemer’s bogey on the first hole and did not look back.  She continued her stellar play from Wednesday with birdies to win holes at #4 and #5.

Julia Misemer opened with a bogey but played a very solid round after that.  She cut into the lead with a birdie to win #9 but just could not overcome Stous’s strong play.

Stous went on to win #10 and then made birdie at #12 to take a 5-up lead to the 13th tee with only six holes to play.  She then went on to make a hole-in-one on #13.  After the excitement died down at the tee, Julia Misemer hit her shot to within three feet of the hole, but the ace proved to be the match winner.

Stous felt that the par 5s were key in winning the tournament.  Her scoring average for the tournament was under par on the par 5s even though she only played the par-5 17th hole in the stroke play qualifying round. Stous carded ten birdies and three eagles during the event, including her hole-in-one to win the match today.  Her next event will be the Topeka GA City Match Play where she will tee it up with the men again in just a few weeks.

Click here for full results.

Misemer and Stous Advance to Final Match

Swope Memorial GC, Kansas City, MO – The semifinal matches proved just as exciting as the morning quarterfinals.  Julia Misemer (Overland Park) and Isabella Caamal Solis (Mexico/Oral Roberts University) traded birdies for the first few holes.  With the match all square on the 5th tee, Misemer made three more birdies to gain a 3-up advantage at the turn.  Solis made a charge on the back nine with holes won on #13 and #14 to narrow the margin to two holes, but Misemer closed out the match with a solid par at #16 for a 3&2 victory.

Rachel Stous (Topeka) jumped out to an early lead on Haley Thiele (Wahoo, NE/University of Nebraska) with birdies at #1 and #3. With Stous 3-up on the 4th tee, Thiele won #4 but made the turn with Stous 3-up.  Thiele cut into the margin by winning holes #9-#11.  Stous went on to win #13 and #15 to build the lead back to 3 holes.  The match ended 3&2 with #16 halved with pars.

The final match begins tomorrow morning at 7:30 am at Swope Memorial GC.  Both players advancing are power hitters, and the final looks to be a hotly contested match-up.  Both players had seven birdies each in their semifinal matches.  Both are experienced at match play with Misemer advancing to match play in the 2017 US Girls Junior Championship and Stous making history when she won a match against the men at the Topeka GA City Match Play championship last June.  Tomorrow’s final match will be live scored at the link below.

Powerhouse Matches in Women’s Match Play Semis

Swope Memorial GC, Kansas City, MO – The quarterfinal matches did not disappoint this morning with all four matches having a slim margin.  Isabella Caamal Solis (Mexico/Oral Roberts University) defeated Megan Lucas (Topeka/UMKC) on the 17th hole  2&1.  Solis took the lead on #2 and the pair had a back and forth match throughout the front nine.  Solis made three birdies on the back nine including the match-winner on #17.

Julia Misemer (Overland Park) took an early 3-up lead in her match with Hannah Thiele (Wahoo, NE/University of Nebraska) leaving #5 green at 3-under par on the day. Thiele closed the margin to 1-up after ten holes before falling to Misemer 4&3.

Rachel Stous (Topeka) and Jenna Teeter (Carl Junction, MO) traded punches for the first few holes.  Stous made eagle on #5 and birdie on #6 to go 2-up and built on the lead from there.  Stous closed out the match 3&2.

Haley Thiele (Wahoo, NE/University of Nebraska) jumped out to an early lead over Tatum King (Lenexa/Illinois State University) with consecutive birdies at #2, #3, and #4.  King stayed alive in the match-winning holes #3 and #9.  Both played a very steady back nine with Thiele winning the match 3&2.

Semifinal matches begin at 11:30 am at Swope Memorial GC.

Semifinal #1: Isabella Caamal Solis vs Julia Misemer

Semifinal #2: Rachel Stous vs Haley Thiele

Exciting First Day at KC Women’s Match Play

Swope Memorial GC, Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Women’s Match Play began today with nineteen players attempting to qualify for sixteen places in the match play bracket.  This year’s field is the largest and strongest in the recent history of the event.  Swope Memorial GC proved to be an excellent test for the field of competitors.

The morning stroke play qualifying ended with Isabella Camaal Solis from Yucatan, Mexico and a collegiate golfer at Oral Roberts University earning the top seed with an even-par 72.  She made the turn at 1-under and continued the steady play on the back nine.  The highlight of the morning was a hole-in-one on #16 by Kate Robertson of Rogers, Arkansas, a collegiate player at Newman University.  It was her first career hole-in-one.

Kansas City-area players who advanced to the Round of 16: Aristelle Acuff (University of Kansas), Samantha Cornelius, Susan DeVoe (Overland Park), Abby Glynn (University of Kansas), Tatum King (Lenexa/Illinois State University), Martha Linscott (Mission Hills), Megan Lucas (UMKC), Julia Misemer (Overland Park), Carmen Titus (Greenwood), Anna Zech (Kearney)

Only two of the matches in the Round of 16 advanced beyond the 15th hole.  Isabella Camaal Solis closed out Carmen Titus 5&4.  Megan Lucas advanced due to a withdrawal.  Julia Misemer defeated Samantha Cornelius 5&4, Hannah Thiele (Wahoo, NE) closed out Martha Linscott 6&5. Rachel Stous (Topeka) defeated Susan DeVoe 5&4. Jenna Teeter won her match with Kate Robertson 4&3. Tatum King closed out Aristelle Acuff 3&1. Haley Thiele (Wahoo, NE) won a back and forth match over Abby Glynn 1 up.

Quarterfinal matches begin at 7:30 am on Wednesday morning at Swope Memorial GC in Kansas City, Missouri.

New Member Club – Brough Creek National

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Brough Creek National – a backyard golf course gone viral. Established in 2015 when Ben Hotaling and Zach Brough built the first hole in their Kansas City backyard. Fast forward a few years later, they’ve gone viral on social media, are growing the backyard course and testing their backyard golf course design company.

“We did nothing with it until May of 2018 when I started blogging about designing a backyard wedge range on the property on No Laying Up’s message board called the Refuge”, Hotaling says. Followers of the project got involved and loved the concept. Over the next few months, Hotaling designed a “dream” routing for the property – released October of 2018 onto the internet. More people got interested and kept pushing along the narrative. It showed that there was serious interest in this type of unconventional golf.

The Takeoff

“We wrote up a little member welcome letter for anyone that wanted to join so long as they do something to push the project forward – be it introduce someone to the concept, design a logo, donate a piece of equipment – anything they are good at or want to contribute. People really loved to be a part of the process, so we made it very public by creating a website and Twitter page,” Hotaling said. They decided they were going to try and crowdfund the entire project there would be no charge to become a member or play the course, but if members really loved the idea and wanted to see the course built, they could make a donation of their choosing. Golfers couldn’t get enough of the idea and the crowdsourcing raised over $20,000. “At that point, it was too late to give up, so we went forward with construction,” Hotaling said.

The Concept

Brough Creek National is a 7-hole routing with 6 greens ranging from 60 yards to 140 yards in length. All the holes are designed with architectural intent, thoughtful design, minimalism/naturalism, and most importantly FUN. The concept isn’t necessarily to play the course in a classic way. The club wants to promote match play and specifically in the format of HORSE. All greens are accessible from nearly everywhere on the property. The idea is to go out with a friend or two, grab a beer, pick a hole and play to it. Best score wins the hole and picks the next one. The ultimate golfer’s playground.

The Membership

“We have a lot of media types that are members at BCN,” says Hotaling, “the folks from No Laying Up and The Fried Egg are extremely supportive and members at BCN. Rob Collins (Architect of the internet famous Sweetens Cove) is a supporting member. Jon Cavalier from “Linksgems” is a big supporter as well (he does golf photography for major publications).” The best part is absolutely anyone can be a member at no cost.

Today, there are 1200 worldwide members and 550 hours of work building the course by hand and they are nearly ready to grass the property. Zach Brough, Evan Bissell, Mark Robinson, Corbin Mihelic, Matt Preuss, and Ben Hotaling founded the club.

The Future

First things are finishing construction of BCN. They hope to open in late summer/early fall this year. “We hope to use BCN as a prototype for the concept of unconventional short courses as a central meeting place for communities across the US and even the world,” said Hotaling, “Building membership and bringing people together is the most important thing you can do in this world and we feel like the BCN concept is a great jumping off point for doing just that.”

Learn more and track their progress on social media: @someguysbackyard

Backyard Golf Course Design: https://someguysbackyard.com

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Most recently, the course was featured on KCTV 5 News and Club & Resort Business.

Winters Overcomes Deficit to Claim Mid-Am Title

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Colbert Hills GC, Manhattan, KS – Katie Winters charged back from a 7-stroke deficit at the start of today’s round to claim the 2019 Kansas Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.  This marks her third association major title adding to her 2009 and 2010 Kansas Women’s Amateur Championships.

Carmen Titus had a rocky double bogey-bogey start on the challenging opening holes 1 and 2, and an uncharacteristic stretch from 6-10.  Not willing to go without a challenge, she gained some positive momentum with a birdie on #13 with a conservative drive and stellar wedge play.  Her back nine 38 was not quite good enough to bring home a trophy though.

Lacy Shelton also made a strong charge for the title.  She opened with birdies at holes 2 and 4, and closed the gap with Titus to two strokes.  Another birdie on hole 9 gave her a red-hot 3-under par 34 on the front nine.  She faded a little down the stretch with bogeys on 17 and 18 to close the tournament with a 75, leaving her one stroke shy of a playoff.

Winters also got off to a rocky start on holes 1 and 2, but a birdie on the risk/reward 3rd hole changed the tide.  She would go on to make six more birdies including one on the difficult closing 18th hole to claim the title outright.  She recorded nine 3s on her card in a very solid +1 (74) round.  Winters said she focused on course management after her rough start in the opening round, and it showed in today’s results.

Click here for full results.

Titus Leads by Six at Kansas Women’s Mid-Am

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Colbert Hills GC, Manhattan, KS – Carmen Titus is in control of the Kansas Women’s Mid-Am after firing the low round on a day that yielded few good scores.  With a couple of birdies and nothing more than a bogey on her card, her lead at +2 (75) will be hard to overcome for those chasing her. Titus started strong with a par on the difficult opening hole at Colbert Hills where most competitors had bogey or higher to start the round.  The only blemish on her front nine was a bogey at the ninth.

Martha Linscott leads a group of players who will try to chase down the lead tomorrow with an 81.  Katy Winters and Lacy Shelton are tied for third with 82s, and Susan DeVoe will try to build on the momentum she gained by making birdie on the final four holes of the day to shoot 83.

Play begins at 7:30am tomorrow off the #1 tee.

Click here for full results.

 

Harding & Misemer Take Home KC Junior Titles

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The 2019 Kansas City Junior Championship was one of a kind. After multiple days of missed classes due to extreme weather this winter, students had to extend the school year into the week of the KC Junior. Because of this, the tournament was played as a 3:30 shotgun start both days at Brookridge Golf & Fitness.

Boys Division

Our boy’s division, after day one, was highlighted by Michael Winslow shooting a 69 (-2). Winslow caught fire during his back nine going -4 during a five-hole stretch. Liam Coughlin was in sole possession of second place with a 70 (-1) with an impressive three-hole birdie streak on holes four-six.  After round one, four other players shot even par, all within striking range of the two leaders.

Round two was nothing short of exciting from our boy’s division with several players at the top of the leaderboard. One of those players within striking distance was Will Harding who shot 71 in the first round. Harding took advantage of the scorable conditions and started his round making birdies on the first five holes and finishing at 65 (-6). Harding’s two round of 71-65, 136 was good enough to claim the championship over Winslow 69-70, 139. Finishing up the leaderboard was Joe Bultman 71-69, 140 in third, Ian McCrary 69-72, 141 fourth, and Justin Wingerter 71-71, 142 and Nicklaus Mason 71-71, 142 tied for fifth.

Will Harding and Michael Winslow’s exceptional play was rewarded by getting an exemption into the 2019 Watson Challenge on June 21-23 hosted by The Nicklaus Golf Club at Lionsgate.

Girls Division

Our girl’s division was featured by the great play of Julia Misemer and Libby Green. The key hole during the first round was hole 11 with Misemer making a birdie and Green making a double bogey. Green (74) would overcome that three shot difference and take a one-shot lead after round one over Misemer (75). Lia Johnson would find herself 4 shots off the lead with a solid round of 78 carding 11 pars for the day.

Misemer and Green battled for the top of the leaderboard during the second day, which lead to a playoff. Green going into the day holding a one-shot lead, was tied with Misemer after the first hole. Green would find herself with a one-stroke lead again with just two holes remaining. However, Green went on to make bogey on 17th and Misemer making a par. Both made par the 18th hole and finding themselves in a tie for 1st (Misemer, 75-76, 151) (Green 74-77, 151). The playoff started on the 10th hole where Green made a bogey and Misemer made par to claim the 2019 Girl’s Junior Championship. Lia Johnson (78-79, 157) and Audrey Rischer (81-76, 157) tied for third place.

Misemer earned an exemption and paid entry fees into the 2019 Prairie Invitational. The Prairie Invitational will be held at The National Golf Club July 22-24.