The weather delay created from Wednesday’s storms advantageously changed the momentum for the eventual 53rd Heart of America champions.

Thursday morning saw two teams punch their tickets for the 18-hole, normally 36, match-play championship.

The team of Jackson Foth and Josh Weems, arguably one of the greatest pair of Heart of America teammates and defending champions, out-dueled the Kansas City Match-Play champion Phil Bartimus and his teammate Michael Greene, who claimed the fifth seed, by a score of 2 and 1 to secure their spot in the championship round.

Foth and Weems, the tournament’s second-overall seed, made their third appearance in as many years in the final round of play in the historic match-play tournament.

Weems continued his personal streak of four consecutive championship appearances.

However, awaiting the three-time finalists were ninth-seeded Matt Barry and Colby Yates, a pair of teammates who also team up together during the collegiate season at University of Missouri-Saint Louis.

Barry and Yates saw an early 2 up lead erased by fifth-seeded semifinalists Cameron and Wiltse and Evan Shartzer, who will be teammates this fall at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, but rallied on No. 11 to eventually win 4 and 3.

The Foth and Weems combination jumped out to an early 1 up lead after a birdie on No. 3, but Barry and Yates answered with a birdie on No. 6 and 7 to turn the match in the champions favor.

The pair added an additional birdie on No. 11 to take a 2 up lead, which would stand pat until Foth and Weems tallied a birdie on No. 14 to cut the lead to 1 up.

Barry and Yates delivered the final blow of the match, birdieing No. 16, which eventually sealed a 2 and 1 victory over Foth and Weems.

The open division only needed 17 holes to decide the fate of the championship, the senior division needed every bit of all 18 holes.

The championship match featured the top-seeds Don Kuehn and Greg Loteckie, against third-seeded Andy Smith and Karl Elbrecht.

Kuehn and Loteckie defeated

The match never swung in either direction beyond a two-hole lead by Kuehn and Loteckie before Smith and Elbrecht evened the match at all square on No. 17 with a chip-in from in front of the green and well below the hole from Smith.

However, Kuehn took control of the match by rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt from the back fringe.

The putt sealed the senior championship for Loteckie and Kuehn.

View the full results from the week’s Heart of America championship, here.

 

 

 

The third day of play at the 53rd Heart of America could not out run the inbound severe weather.

Despite completing the quarterfinal round without a hitch, the open division could not escape lightning before suffering a substantial delay.

However, the senior division final match is set, as top seeds Don Kuehn and Greg Loteckie defeated Mark Addington and Chris Gaunce 1 up.

Kuehn and Loteckie entered the semifinals round by claiming a 4 and 3 victory over Mike Snyder and Dick Clancey.

Andy Smith and Karl Elbrecht teamed up to defeat Ron Brewer and Fred Rowland by a 5 and 4 decision.

Smith and Elbrecht punched their tickets to the semifinals with a 2 and 1 win over Doug Anderson and George McDonnell.

Shortly after the final senior division match concluded, a strong storm cell proceeded to flood numerous areas of the course while lighting up the darkening sky with a relentless lightning show.

Jackson Foth and Josh Weems, the open division No. 2 seed, clung to a 1 up lead over Phil Bartimus and Michael Greene at the time of the storm and weather delay.

The other match was controlled by Evan Shartzer and Cameron Wiltse, leading Matt Barry and Colby Yates by a 1 up lead.

The course was cleared due to lightning and inclement weather in the area , forcing players to wait well over an hour before the tournament executive committee decided to suspend play for the remainder of the evening.

The Open division semifinal matches will resume tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. and the final of the Senior division has been rescheduled for a 9:30 a.m. start weather permitting.

The defending Heart of America champions wasted no time Monday sending a message to the tournament field.

Jackson Foth and Josh Weems secured a share of the lead after the tournament’s opening round of stroke-play qualifying, combining to shoot seven-under, 65.

Park Ulrich and Alex Higgs also turned in a seven-under effort.

There was little breathing room between the pair of leaders and the pair of teams tied for third place.

Cy Moritz and Tyler Hirlinger carded a six-under, 66, while Preston Fleenor and Hank Simpson matched the six-under mark.

Greg Loteckie and Don Kuehn took sole possession of first-place in the senior division.

The pair shot a four-under, 68 to earn a bye Tuesday morning.

Charlie Schorgl and Ed Walsworth finished one-stroke behind the leaders, turning in a three-under, 69.

Finally, Andy Smith and Karl Elbrecht rouneded out the top-three in the seniors division, posting a two-under, 70.

The top seven place finishers in the open division earned byes Tuesday morning, while the top eight senior teams earned a bye.

To view the full results from Monday, click here.