Pahls is Back-to-Back Champion and McCurdy wins Girls Division

OLATHE, Kan. – The 2015 Kansas City Junior Championship was held June 2-3 at Prairie Highlands Golf Course. There were two divisions competing in the event, the boys and the girls.

After a sun shining first round of the 2015 Kansas City Junior Championship, the second round started as scheduled. The morning round experienced a brief 40-minute weather delay as the storms rolling through Kansas City came in range of the course. After the delay, the golfers continued play for a few hours until another wave of storms hit Prairie Highlands. After a two delays, play continued for an hour before more lightning arrived in the area.

During the third weather delay, the decision was made for the boys division to cancel play as there would not be enough time to finish the round before sunset. Therefore the winner of the 2015 Kansas City Junior Championship was based on the first round’s 18-hole score, crowning Eric Pahls the back-to-back champion.

Pahls is given an invitation to compete in the 2015 Watson Challenge that will be held at Mission Hills Country Club on June 12-14.

Once the third weather delay cleared the area, the girl’s division continued play as there were six holes of play left. The future Northwest Missouri State Bearcat, Nikki McCurdy, pulled away with the lead, edging both Kaleigh Ashen and Caroline Klemp by one stroke. McCurdy fired 79 (+7) in the final round, posting 162 (+18). Ashen and Klemp both posted 163 (+19).

The final results can be found at http://www.ghintpp.com/kcga/TPPOnlineScoring/Default.aspx?id=532

Grisham and Johnson Lead Girls; Pahls Leads Boys

After what has seemed like weeks of endless rain, the sun finally came out for Round 1 of the 2015 Kansas City Junior Championship.

Prairie Highlands (Par 72) is the host of this year’s championship, and proved to be a tough test for the areas best juniors.

In the girl’s division, Hanna Johnson, of Warrenburg, MO and Madison Grisham, of St. Louis, MO will sleep on a first round lead. Both Johnson and Grisham fired 81’s, two strokes ahead of Caroline Klemp, Nikki McCurdy and Samantha Paulak. Teagan Noblit’s 85 put her in 5th place, while defending champion India Gaume and Kaleigh Ashen are tied for 6th with 86.

In the boy’s division, defending champion Eric Pahls posted the first score of the day, and it proved to also be the best score of the day. The only player in red figures, at -1, Pahls will enter round 2 with a two-shot lead over Aaron Lang. Andy Fain’s 74 puts him in third place, while Eric Larson and Tripp Walsworth lurk 5 shots back at 76.

Round 2 of the Kansas City Junior Championship will start at 7:30am tomorrow morning at Prairie Highlands.

For complete results and to follow tomorrow’s live scoring, CLICK HERE!!

Spencer, Buerk, Elliott and Ward Earn Spots in Watson Challenge

The qualifier for the 2015 Watson Challenge was held today at Prairie Highlands Golf Course in Olathe, KS. The Prairie Highlands staff worked around the clock to get the golf course into playable condition for the 65 players who would vie for 4 qualifying spots.

Newly crowned Kansas 6A high school state champion Andy Spencer continued his run of great play by firing an even par 72 to take one spot. Recent Missouri Southern grad Ryan Buerk matched Spencer’s 72 and locked up a trip to Mission Hills.

Finishing just behind Spencer and Buerk was Travis Elliott. Elliot shot a 2-over 74.

Rounding out the qualifiers was former Kansas Jayhawk Kevin Ward. Ward shot 74 to lock up the final invitation.

The Watson Challenge will be played June 12th-14th at Mission Hills Country Club.

Complete results can be found be clicking here…

Fowler Punches Ticket to Senior Open

The U.S. Senior Open Championship local qualifier took place at Loch Lloyd Country Club, Monday, May 18.  The 34-golfer field gathered from around the Midwest and three international golfers from Spain and New Zealand to compete for a spot in the 2015 U.S. Senior Open Championship.

Peter Fowler shined as he posted a 67 (-4) to qualify for the 2015 U.S. Senior Open Championship in Sacramento, California, on June 22-28 at the Del Paso Country Club. Fowler, the 1983 Australian Open Champion fired a bogey-free round, including three birdies on the front nine and one on the back nine.

The first alternate for the 2015 U.S. Senior Open Championship is the runner-up Miguel Angel Martin of Spain who shot 68 (-3), including five-birdies.

The second alternate is Jeff Sheppard who posted 69 (-2), including five birdies on the day.

Results of the rest of the field can be found at http://www.ghintpp.com/kcga/TPPOnlineScoring/Default.aspx?id=589

 

Booth Shines Through the Rain at Adams Pointe

The third event of the 2015 Stateline Amateur Tour began Thursday, May 14, at Adams Pointe Golf Course in Blue Springs, Missouri.

The event began with a solid turnout of 71 players to battle non-stop rain and windy conditions throughout the morning until the weather lightened up in the afternoon.  There were five divisions competing in the Stateline Amateur Tour event including the open, players, senior, legends and women.

Frank Booth led the senior division posting a 72, even par, carding three birdies on the day.  Following Booth was Don Kuehn who fired 78 (+6).  Ernie Swart and Greg Loteckie both shot 79 (+7).

In the Legends division, Pat Goeke won the event shooting 75 (+3), edging the runners-up Jerry Reid and Jim Lodes who both posted a 76 (+4). Gary Noble finished fourth shooting 77 (+5).  Goeke carded two birdies on the day.  In the net competition, Pat Goeke won with a 66 (-6), followed by Mike Findley with 70 (-2) and Jim Lodes with 71 (-1).

In the Open Division, Dave Cunningham took the win with a 74 (+2), defeating the eight-golfer field.  Nicholas Rehmer finished second with 77 (+5) and Luke Lutgen in third at 78 (+6).  Cunningham played solid on the front nine shooting even par (36), but double bogeyed hole number 14.

The Players Division consisted of a 25-golfer field led by Jim Thompson who fired a 73 (+1) including five birdies on the day. Chris Meyer finished runner-up posting 76 (+4), followed by Doug Flint at 77 (+5) and Jeff Mott with 79 (+7). In the net competition, Jim Thompson won shooting 70 (-2), edging the runner-up Doug Flint by one-stroke 71 (-1).

Five women battled the rainy weather in the women’s division, which was led by Addie Chapin who posted 85 (+13), followed by Jettie Bezek at 86 (+14).

Final results for the Stateline Amateur Tour at Adams Pointe can be found at http://www.ghintpp.com/kcga/TPPOnlineScoring/Default.aspx?id=538

The next Stateline Tour event is Tuesday, May 26 at The Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate. The entry deadline is Tuesday, May 19.

 

Four Advance to Sectionals

On a day that saw extremely difficult condition at Blue Hills Country Club, where the stroke average was 81.3, four players advanced to sectional qualifying for the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

The medalist, Zechariah Potter was the only player that managed an even par score, carding a 72. Korbin Kuehn finished second with a 73, and Josh Weems and Curtis Yonke finished tied for third with 74’s.

Potter, Kuehn, Weems and Yonke will now go on to play in a 36 hole qualifier for the rite to play in the 2015 United States Open Championship.

For full results, click here….

Fisher wins the Kansas City Match Play

The semifinals of the 100th Kansas City Match Play Championship action had a quick start as Ryne Fisher got off to an early lead over Steve Groom, going one up on the second hole.  Fisher maintained that through the front nine as he finished two up heading towards the back nine.  Steve Groom cut the lead to one up until Fisher caught fire, winning the 14th and 15th holes to defeat Groom 3 and 2 and advance to the finals.

The second match of the semifinals was Alex Springer vs. Hank Simpson.  Simpson got off to an early lead as he finished the front nine 4 up.  As the back nine started, Simpson extended his lead to 5 up on the 10th hole, but Springer made the match exciting as he won four holes heading into the 17th with Simpson two up.  Simpson and Springer halved the 17th hole, allowing Simpson to advance to the finals winning 2 and 1.

The final match of the 100th Kansas City Match Play Championship was between Ryne Fisher and Hank Simpson.  Fisher and Simpson were battling back and forth through the first six holes as Fisher was one up, before the two competitors had to wait an hour and a half for the storm to pass.  Fisher maintained a one hole lead through the back nine and they went to the 18th with the match still in the balance.  Both players found the left rough on 18, but Fisher was able to find the green with his approach.  Fisher’s par was good enough to lock up the championship, 2-up.

Thank you to all the participants and spectators for a great week!

The Kansas City Match Play Championship – Day 2

The 100th Kansas City Match Play Championship continued with the round of 16 Saturday morning.  The action kicked off early as Ryne Fisher carded five birdies through 14 holes to defeat Chris Reinert 6 and 4.  Hank Simpson won 3 and 2 over Dave Cunningham and Alex Springer defeated Matt Kelley 3 and 1.  Jeff Mason won one up over Patrick Roth and Josh Weems defeated Matt Barry one up.

Two of the morning matches were decided in extra holes.  Joseph Winslow won on the 19th hole as he made a par and his competitor, Cy Moritz, bogeyed.  The second match to go beyond the 18th hole was Jon Platz vs. Ed Brown.  Brown made par to move on to the quarterfinals as Platz bogeyed the 20th hole.

The matchups for the quarterfinals:

Steve Groom vs. Jeff Mason

Ryne Fisher vs. Joseph Winslow

Ed Brown vs. Alex Springer

Hanks Simpson vs. Josh Weems

 

As the quarterfinals began, Groom took off on a commanding lead over Mason as he won four of the first nine holes.  Groom continued his momentum onto the back nine as he won the 10th and the 11th hole over Jeff Mason to finish 6 and 5 to advance to the semifinals.  Springer had a one- hole lead over Brown through nine holes.  As they moved on to the back nine, Springer took over as he won the first two holes and finished 4 and 3 to move into the semifinals.  Fisher controlled Winslow as he got off to a two-hole lead after four holes.  Fisher maintained his lead through the round as he advanced into the semifinals.  Simpson and Weems battled back and forth throughout the round as Simpson advanced to the semifinals winning one up on the 18th hole.

The Kansas City Match Play Championship will continue tomorrow, May 10 at 7:30 a.m. CT. The pairings and results of the Kansas City Match Play Championship can be found at http://www.ghintpp.com/kcga/TPPOnlineScoring/ResultsMatch.aspx?id=530

 

 

 

The Kansas City Match Play Championship – Day 1

The 100th Kansas City Match Play Championship began Friday, May 8, at Swope Park Memorial Golf Course.

The tournament consisted of one 18-hole stroke play competition to determine the top-32 out the 78-golfer field that will advance to match play.  Day one of the event began battling rainy conditions as the golfers began stroke play.  The players dodged the weather as it cleared up to be a nice day at Swope Memorial.

The lowest score of the day was 66 (-6) shot by Nick Arman, followed by Jon Platz 67 (-5). Arman and Platz both shot a front-nine 31 (-5) as Arman carded nine birdies and Platz posted six birdies in stroke play. Charlie Schorgl aced the 16th hole allowing him to make the cut and advance to match play. The cut was placed at 74 (+2) as 32-golfers advanced into matched play Friday afternoon.

The seedings and pairings of the first round of the match play competition were

  1. Nick Arman vs. 32. Dale Bowne
  2. Steve Groom vs. 17. Alex Downing
  3. Craig Broswick vs. 25. Jeff Mason
  4. Patrick Roth vs. 24. Mark Addington
  5. Ryne Fisher vs. 29. Colby Yates
  6. Chris Reinert vs. Scott Richey
  7. Russell Holzbaur vs. 28. Cy Moritz
  8. Michael Greene vs. 21. Joseph Winslow
  9. Jon Platz vs. Richard Hairgrove
  10. Ed Brown vs. 18. Dan Schaller
  11. Alex Springer vs. 26. Tyler Norris
  12. Travis Holt vs. 23. Matt Kelley
  13. Hank Simpson vs. 30. Charlie Schorgl
  14. Dave Cunningham vs. 19. Jon Scarsella
  15. Matt Barry vs. 27. Aaron Uzelac
  16. Mark Terranova vs. 22. Josh Weems

 

Arman went on to defeat Bowne 5 and 4, Groom beat Downing 3 and 2, Mason Beat Broswick 3 and 1, Roth won one up against Addington, Fisher beat Yates 2 and 1, Reinert beat Richey 4 and 3, Moritz beat Holzbaur one up, Winslow beat Greene 3 and 2, Platz beat Hairgrove 2 and 1, Brown beat Schaller 2 and 1, Kelley defeated Holt 8 and 6, Cunningham defeated Scarsella one up, Barry beat Uzelac 3 and 2 and Weems won one up against Terranova.  Two matches went into extra holes. Springer wins one up on the 19th over Norris and Simpson won on the 20th hole over Schorgl.

 

The second round and quarterfinals of the Kansas City Match Play Championship will continue at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Friday, May 8. Results of the stroke play and first round of match play, as well as pairings for day two can be found at http://www.ghintpp.com/kcga/TPPOnlineScoring/Default.aspx?id=530