Lawrence Country Club Head Professional Kristen Samp fired a stress-free 72 on Wednesday to win The Prairie Invitational by seven shots.  Playing alongside eventual runner-up Audrey Judd and defending champion Kayla Eckelkamp, Samp stretched her lead in the third round with steady play.  Judd rebounded from some bogeys early in the back nine to hold off a charge from Taryn Torgerson to claim the Kansas Women’s Amateur Title, which was contested alongside The Prairie Invitational for the first time in the history of the event.  Rosie Klausner led a group of fine junior players to claim both The Prairie Invitational Low Junior title and the KWGA Low Junior title with 76-77-74=227.

The event began on Monday at Milburn Country Club, which had been battered by a storm on Saturday evening.  The field of 87 players included the Open Division of elite amateur players competing in a 54-hole all gross competition and the Players Division competing in a 36-hole gross and net competition.  The Players Division concluded on Tuesday afternoon, and the Open Division was cut to the low 18 players and ties continuing play on Wednesday.

Barbara Cusick, the 2014 Players Division Gross Champion, reclaimed her title with consistent play in both rounds (80-81=161).   Victoria Klausner, Julia Stopperan, Alane Studley, and Sarah Brookfield rounded out the top five.  First-time competitor Sarah Lawson won the Players Division Net Championship by seven shots over defending champion Julie Young. Milburn CC’s Lia Johnson, Jessalyn Shipp, and Robbin Wasson completed the top five net competitors.

The 2018 Prairie Invitational will be held at Indian Hills Country Club on July 23-25.

Eighty-one players teed it up at Swope Memorial Golf Course on Wednesday, July 26, for the KCJT event. The players battled rainy conditions throughout the day, but play was never stopped due to inclement weather.

In the boys 16+ division, Walter Honnold fired a four-over, 76, to win the division. There was a four-way tie for second place between Jack Dwyer, Ryan Graves, Jackson Likes, and Dustin Nichols who all shot rounds of six-over, 78.

In the girls 16+ division, Lauren Muller shot an even par round of 72 to win the division by five shots. Lauren Wood finished second with a score of 77 and Katyln Killeen and Bri Arello both came in a tie for third with rounds of 85.

Justin Wingerter shot a one-under, 71, despite making double bogey on his last hole in the boys 13-15 division. Liam Coughlin finished in second place, one shot behind Wingerter. Charlie Russell and Connor Hanrahan finished in a two-way tie for third at 74.

Maggie King won the girls 13-15 division after a score of six-over, 78. Tess Roman and Abby Howard tied for second with scores of 85.

In the boys prep division, Caden Michelson and Jacob Fratzel finished in first with a nine-hole score of five-over, 41. Jimmy Welsh and Drew Krystyn finished in a tie for third place after shooting seven-over, 43.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

 

Ninety-one players competed at the KCJT event at Tiffany Greens, Wednesday, July 19. Players faced a one-hour and twenty-minute weather delay due to thunderstorms in the late morning. Play was suspended at 9:13 a.m. and resumed at 10:30 a.m.

In the boys 16+ division, Ethan Wegner and Aaron Robinson shared first place with a score of one-under, 71. Michael Garcia finished in solo third with a one-over, 73.

Samantha Paulak fired an outstanding score of two-under, 70, to take the girls 16+ division by ten shots! Molly Saporito finished second with a score of eight-over, 80. There was a two-way tie for third between Bri Arello and Grace Parkerson who both shot rounds of 85.

In the boys 13-15, Liam Coughlin fired an even-par round of 72 to win the division. Nicklaus Mason fired a two-over, 74, good enough for second place. Charlie Russell came in third with a score of 76.

Abby Howard won the girls 13-15 division with a score of nine-over, 81. Hope Robinett and Vera Bohning both tied for second place shooting 86.

In the boys prep division, Caden Michelson fired a two-over, 38, to win the division. Jacob Fratzel and Myles King shot 41 to tie for second place.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the KCJT at Tiffany Greens!

 

The Stateline Amateur Tour picked back up at the CC of Leawood on July 17. The field consisted of 72 players who all battled the heat on Monday.

In the legends division, Ron Brewer shot a two-over, 73, to claim the victory. David Hornaday was two strokes back of Brewer with a 75 and he finished second. There was a two-way tie for third at five-over, 76, between Sam Vanlandingham and Brad Robinson.

Jason Cross made 3 birdies and an eagle in his round, en route to a one-under par, 70, to win the open division. Brent Mertz took second place in the open division shooting one-over, 72. Jason Adkins and Matt Barberich both tied for third with rounds of two-over, 73.

John Scarsella had a very steady round that included 15 pars, two bogies, and one birdie. His round of one-over, 72, gave him a two-shot victory over Tom Leonard in the senior division. Don Kuehn finished in third place with a four-over, 75.

Ritch Nigh won the players division with a score of two-over, 73. Carter Likes took home second place with a three-over, 74. Rounding out the players division in third place was Aaron Kuhn with a five-over, 76.

The KCJT event this week was held at St. Andrews on Wednesday, July 12. A field of 115 juniors competed in the event. Jackson Likes shot a one-over 73 to take first place in the 16+ boys division. Aaron Robinson took home second place after shooting four-over, 75. Rounding out the boys 16+ division in third place was Bennett Holloway who fired a score of five-over, 76.

In the boy’s 13-15 division, Nicklaus Mason led the way with a one-under, 70. Christian Mergia took second with a three-over, 74, and Michael Winsow finished third with a 75.

Rosie Klausner made four birdies in her round on route to a three-over, 74. She won the girls 16+ division in close finish for the top three spots. Grace Parkerson came in second with a four-over, 75. Molly Saporito took third place after firing a 76.

Maggie King took first in the girls 13-15 division with a score of five-over, 76. Victoria Klausner claimed second place shooting an eight-over, 79, three strokes back from the winner.

In the boys prep division, James P Hepler fired a four-over, 40, to claim first place. Jack Michael Cobb finished in second with a score of five-over, 41. Sabastian Hamm, Myles King and Jacob Fratzel all finished in a three way tie for third with a six-over, 42.

Thanks again to all who participated as well as the golf staff at St. Andrews, and finally to all of our volunteers! Our next KCJT event is at Tiffany Greens on July 19!

The KCJT event this week was held at Prairie Highlands on Thursday, July 6. A field of 92 juniors competed in the event. Garrett Clark continued his fine play again this week in the boys 16+ division, with a score of one-under, 71. Jack Dwyer took home second place after shooting two-over, 74. Rounding out the boys 16+ division in third place was Josh Miller who fired a score of four-over, 76.

In the boys 13-15 division, Michael Winslow led the way with a score of even, 72. Charlie Russell took second with a two-over, 74, and John Gardner finished third with a 75.

India Gaume made three birdies and an eagle in her round on route to a one-over, 73. She won the girls 16+ division over Rosie Klausner who finished second with an eight-over, 80. Karoline Nelson took third place after firing an 83.

Victoria Klausner and Maggie King both tied for first in the girls 13-15 division with scores of ten-over, 82. Brooke King finished in third place three strokes behind with an 85.

In the boys prep division, Jack Michael Cobb fired a four-over, 40, to claim first place. Myles King finished in second with a score of seven-over, 43.

Thanks again to all who participated as well as the golf staff at Prairie Highlands, and finally to all of our volunteers! Our next KCJT event is at St. Andrews on July 12!

The 2017 KC Fourball Championship was held at Shoal Creek Golf Club June 26 and 27. Twenty-two teams competed in the event with the top 16 teams advancing to the Heart of America Fourball Finals.

During the first round of the Fourball Championship inclement weather caused two rain delays. Jeff Bell and Elliot Soyez didn’t let the delays slow them down, however. They carded eight birdies and only one bogey and fired a seven-under par, 64, on day one. They took a three-shot lead over Travis Mays and Brent Mertz who were in second place heading into the final round.

Bell and Soyez continued right where they left off during the second and final round of the Fourball Championship. With four birdies and a clean card on the back nine, Bell and Soyez shot a five-under, 66, to win the 2017 KC Fourball Championship. Mays and Mertz also shot 66 on day two and finished three strokes behind Bell and Soyez. There was a two-way tie for third place at eight-under by Don and Tripp Walsworth and Jeff Mason and Sam Parrot.

The teams who qualified for the Heart of America Fourball Finals on August 7-9 at Topeka Country Club:

#1 – Jeff Bell & Elliot Soyez

#2 – Travis Mays & Brent Mertz

#3 – Don Walsworth & Trip Walsworth

#4 – Jeff Mason & Sam Parrot

#5 – Grant Grego & Zach Pickett

#6 – Michael Hillyard & Matt Quandt

#7 – Scott Richey & Dave Cunningham

#8 – Matt Kelly & Andy Kelley

#9 – Eric Pahls & Garrett Clark

#10 – Scott Kramer & Mike Hawken

#11 – Logan Truninger & Derek Seid

#12 – Mark Addington & Steve Groom

#13 – Ian Schneider & Chris Beaubien

#14 – Jay Gregory & Rob Peterson

#15 – John Scarsella & Ben Kimminau

#16 – Stan Wiehe & Kevin Rome