Conditions for Monday’s USGA Local US Open Qualifying was less than ideal for golfers chasing the chance to play in this year’s US Open Championship.

Three automatic qualifier spots were up for grabs in the chilly and drizzly elements at Sycamore Ridge Golf Course.

Less than half of the field failed to record a round of 79 or lower, while Clay Devers and Preston Fleenor topped the scoreboard with one-under, 71s. Each shared medalist honors and earned bids to compete at the sectionals level of qualifying for the US Open.

While Fleenor and Devers each earned outright qualifying bids, three golfers finished in a tie for third, leaving playoff golf to be played for the final qualifying spot, as well as, determining the first and second alternate spots.

Linus Lilliedahl, Alex Higgs and Hayden Buckley each finished their 18-hole qualifying round at even-par, 72.

Lilliedahl nailed down the final qualifying bid by carding a birdie on the first playoff hole of the afternoon.

Higgs and Hayden, however, locked up for six holes to determine the alternate spots.

Eventualy, Higgs edged Hayden to claim the first alternate position while Hayden will occupy the second alternate role.

The next round of sectionals is June 6 at one of 10 US sites.

For complete results, click here.

The 2016 Kansas City Match Play once again crowned a champion who endured the grueling

three-day gauntlet of sudden death matches and stroke-play qualifying.

The Sunday finale came down to two golfers who’s games peaked at the perfect times.

Jackson Foth, the 10 seed, defeated 1981 KC Match Play champion Bob Bezek in the first round

of matches. A 4 and 3 victory over Zach Kirby in the second round set up a showdown between

Foth and Josh Weems, two well-known friends on the Kansas City golfing circuit.

Foth defeated Weems 2 up in the quarterfinals en route to punching his semifinals ticket where

Jeff Mason awaited him.

The semifinal round saw Foth reel in a 5 and 4 win and notching a berth in the championship

round of the 101st KC Match Play Championship.

Unfortunately for Foth, his string of victories would come to an end at the hands of Craig

Broswick, the tournament’s No. 20 seed.

Broswick benefited from his first round opponent withdrawing before grinding out a 21-hole

victory over T.J. Pennington in the second round.

Broswick made much quicker work of his quarterfinal match, notching a 7 and 6 over Zach

Sanders.

The second semifinal match of the day pitted another pair of friends together, this time between

Broswick and No. 1 seed Michael Greene.

While Foth earned an early entry into Sunday’s championship match, Broswick needed 22 holes

to finally punch his championship ticket.

With the final match of the day set, Foth and Broswick set their eyes on the newly minted Bob

Reid Memorial Match Play Championship Trophy.

The two dueled it out through 17 holes, but it was Broswick who managed to avoid trailing at

any point of the championship match.

Broswick delivered the final blow of the match on No. 16 and held on to his 2 up lead on No. 17

to secure his Match Play title 2&1 over Foth.

For a complete list of results and match play bracket, click here.

Despite soggy conditions at Swope Memorial Golf Course, the 2016 Girls Match Play lived up to its potential through the semifinal matches Saturday afternoon.

However, before the match play matches could get underway, 11 teed it up for seven openings into the match play tournament. Awaiting those seven qualifiers was No. 1 seed and two-time Match Play champion Taylor Black.

Friday saw three girls, India Gaume, Megan Propeck and Julia Misemer earn their ways into Saturday’s matches with even-par, 36 9-hole rounds.

Following the three qualifier leaders was Skylar Brunk, Teagan Noblit, Samantha Paulak and Jessica Parker who all earned opportunities to challenge defending champion Black for the 2016 Match Play crown.

Saturday showcased two completely different set of conditions facing the junior golfers. Early showers and blustery conditions tested the four sets of quarterfinal matches, including a near wire-to-wire showdown between No. 1 seed Black and No. 8 seed Paulak. However, Black eventually downed Paulak 2 and 1, securing a semifinal berth for Black.

Propeck punched her semifinal ticket by defeating Brunk 5 and 3, while Misemer eliminated Parker 4 and 2.

Noblit pulled off the upset of the day by defeating former Kansas City Junior champion Gaume 3 and 2.

The afternoon tilt of matches displayed two varying outcomes.

Misemer defeated Noblit 7 and 6, while Black sweated out a 1 up victory over Propeck, despite trailing by two holes throughout a stretch of the semifinal match up.

The final match featured defending and No. 1 overall seed Black against Misemer.

Misemer had Black on the ropes at 1 up through six holes before Black battled back and went 1 up after 10 holes. From there on, Black extended her lead to 3 up through 15 holes before finally closing out her tournament victory 4 & 2 on No. 16.

Black captured her third overall and consecutive Girls Match Play Championship.

To view the full results from the Match Play, click here.

 

The second StateLine Amateur Tour event avoided any weather related delays and went off without a hitch.

Blue Hills Country Club lived up to its reputation and presented every division challenge after challenge.

One player found himself under-par by days end, when Dave Cunningham turned in a one-under, 71 card to capture the senior’s division title.

Cunningham used four birdies, including his final birdie of the day on No. 18.

Mark Addington trailed Cunningham by two strokes, finishing one-over, 73, while Mitch Bowen rounded out the top-3 with a two-over, 74.

The open division was claimed by Ryan Zech, who posted a one-over, 73. The former Mizzou golfer used three birdies to fend off Gregory Diedrich IV, who finished two-over, 74.

Jackson Foth claimed third place with his three-over, 75.

Ron Brewer won the legends division with a four-over, 76.

Jim Seward, Brad Robinson and David Hornaday all finished T-2 with five-over, 77s.

Finally, Derek Garver took home the player’s division title with a one-over, 73. Logan Truninger grabbed the second-place spot at five-over, 77.

Bill Grossdidier, Steve Hammond and Bryan Meyer all tied for third seven-over, 79s.

The third StateLine Amateur Tour event is May 18 at Stone Canyon Golf Club.

View the full Blue Hills Country Club StateLine results here.

The 2016 Kansas City Golf Association season got off to a frosty start at Loch Lloyd.

A 90-minute frost delay awaited the 106-player field for the first StateLine Amateur Tour event of the year.

However, once the sun went to work on the frosty greens and fairways, senior division winner Charlie Shorgl wasted no time claiming his first event victory of the season.

Shorgl birdied five of nine holes stretching between holes four through 12, en route to a one-under, 71 round. His birdie on No. 12 was critical in allowing him to overcome troubles on No. 17 and 18 and securing his one-stroke victory over Kevin Handlan and Steve Groom, who each shot a 72-even, respectively.

Matt Kelley joined Shorgl at one-under, 71, picking up the open division title at Loch Lloyd. Kelley countered a trio of bogeys with four birdies of his own.

Open division runner-up Michael Hillyard turned in an even, 72, while Luke Lutgen rounded out the top 3 at one-over, 73.

Two golfers split the legends division title.

Both Jim Seward and Bob Bezek carded even, 72s, while David Hornaday claimed a solo third place finish at one-over, 73.

Mike Berlin took the players division title, posting a two-over, 74. Eddie Sanchez, Jr. followed Berlin with his three-over, 75 and three-way tie for third rounded out the top 3 places for the players.

Finally, Addie Chapin led the women’s players division with an eight-over, 80. Jettie Bezek narrowly missed sharing a claim for first with her nine-over, 81. Janelle Krohn rounded out the women with her 19-over, 91.

The StateLine golfers prepare for the second event of the tour, April 23 at Blue Hills Country Club.

The USGA’s Lee Rainwater was back at it Wednesday, presenting a USGA Handicap Services Seminar at Blue Hills Country Club for over 50 attendees.

The audience, comprised of local golf pros and volunteers, listened to Rainwater’s presentation on the importance of sound handicap services and handicap ratings to effectively manage and maintain handicaps for both golfers and courses.

This presentation followed Tuesday’s Course Rating Workshop at Oakwood Country Club where KCGA and KGA course raters learned how to properly and effectively rate area courses.

To learn more about USGA Handicap or Course Rating services, visit the USGA website.

Oakwood Country Club played host to numerous Kansas City Golf Association and Kansas Golf Association course raters Tuesday to hone their skills on course rating.

The USGA’s Lee Rainwater led a course rating workshop and on-course application of his teachings, preparing the associations’ volunteer course raters for the upcoming season.

Course raters are an important and invaluable group of volunteers to golf associations across the country. These volunteers and practices allow local clubs and associations to accurately pair golfers and events to courses capable of challenging the best amateur golfers in the area.

The KCGA constantly relies on volunteers to assist in presenting the best events possible to the KC area. Areas volunteers are involved include rules officiating, scoring and course rating.

If you’re interested in becoming a rules official or course rater in the future, contact the KCGA to find out how.

Forbes.com recently highlighted and applauded Youth On Course as a “sure way” to get youth and junior golfers on courses across America.

The entire article is available on the Forbes’ website.

For those still unfamiliar with Youth On Course, the initiative helps subsidize rounds of golf for golfers between the ages of 6-18. These YOC members are ensured to never pay for than $5 for a round of golf at participating golf courses.

The program originates from the Northern California Golf Association and just recently expanded to the Kansas City area.

For more information on YOC, visit their website and view all of the participating courses throughout the KC Metro