KCGA Competitions Preview

As we begin our 103rd year of supporting amateur golf in the Kansas City Metro, the Kansas City Golf Association is pleased to announce the 2015 Competitions schedule is now available on our website at www.kansascitygolfer.org.  Tournament registrations will open on March 3rd, 2015 at 10:00am.  Please contact the KCGA office at (913) 649-5242 with any questions related to KCGA competitions.

Regional Championships

The 100th Kansas City Match Play Championship will be held at Swope Memorial Golf Course May 8th-10th.  The Kansas City Match Play is one of the longest running championships in the area and has a long list of notable champions, including Tom Watson in 1964 and 1967. Phil Bartimus is the defending champion.

The Kansas City Junior Championship is the premier junior tournament in the Kansas City area.  This year’s championship will be conducted at Prairie Highlands on June 2nd and 3rd, and the event will identify the best junior golfers, both boys and girls, in the region.  The boys’ champion will receive an exemption into the 2015 Watson Challenge, under residency requirements. The defending KC Junior champions are Eric Pahls and India Gaume.

The 9th Watson Challenge will be conducted at Mission Hills Country Club on June 12th,13th & 14th.  Last year’s champion, Robert Streb, is in 2nd place in the PGA Tour FedEx Cup points standings at the time of this writing and has been a PGA Tour winner at The McGladrey Classic in October 2014. The Watson Challenge offers the strongest field of amateur and professional golfers in the Kansas City area.  Proceeds from The Watson Challenge benefit The First Tee of Greater Kansas City.

The Prairie Invitational, formerly The Women’s Amateur of Kansas City, is the region’s top event for both amateurs and professionals.  The 2015 event will be played at Staley Farms Golf Club on June 30th and July 1st.  The event was renamed The Prairie Invitational in 2014 with the intent to identify the Best Female Golfer in the Midwest, whether amateur or professional.  Catherine Dolan was the first Prairie Invitational Open champion with a two-under-par 142 total.

The Kansas City Amateur Championship will be held at Shoal Creek Golf Course on July 17th through July 19th.  The Kansas City Amateur is a three-day, 54-hole stroke play event aimed to determine the best amateur player in the Kansas City area.  PGA Tour player Gary Woodland is among the list of notable champions. Zac Dittmer is the reigning KC Amateur Champion.

StateLine Amateur Tour

The StateLine Amateur Tour is a great opportunity for amateurs in the Kansas City regional golf community to compete on some of the best courses in the area in an atmosphere similar to inside the ropes at a big-time tour event or national amateur championship.  All events are one day, 18-hole competitions.  The StateLine Amateur Tour has eleven events on the schedule featuring different divisions of play.  This year’s tour schedule is highlighted by events at Loch Lloyd Country Club, Blue Hills Country Club, The Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate, and Lake Quivira Country Club.

Kansas City Junior Tour

The Kansas City Junior Tour provides opportunities for varying levels of junior golfers.  Two flights separate the Kansas City Junior Tour – the Prep division and the Players division. Junior golfers ages 9-12 may compete in the Prep division, which plays nine holes at each of the events.  Junior golfers ages 13 and older may participate in the Players division, which plays eighteen holes at each event.  The Players division is divided into flights for boys/girls ages 13-15 and boys/girls ages 16 and over and boys varsity.  This year’s Tour Championship will be at Shadow Glen Golf Club.

The KCGA hopes all golfers in the Kansas City Metro will consider competing in a KCGA-sponsored event and support The First Tee and golf in the Kansas City area by attending The Watson Challenge as a spectator.

Doug Habel Chosen as New KCGA Executive Director

On December 19th, 2014, Doug Habel, 36, was announced as the new Executive Director of the Kansas City Golf Association. Habel had been Competitions Manager for the KCGA since 2012. Previously, Doug had been a PGA assistant pro at three Kansas City area courses. He was at Hillcrest from 2003-2005, Wolf Creek from 2005-2009 and Oakwood from 2010-2011. Doug has since had his amateur status reinstated.

Habel grew up in the Kansas City area and attended Hickman Mills High School and Truman State University in Kirksville. Doug and his wife Laura are the proud parents of four children, ages 4 through 11. Doug replaces Matt Williams who took the Georgia Golf Association Executive Director post on November 16.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity.”, said Habel, “I’ve spent my whole life working in golf in the Kansas City area, and I’ve always admired and respected what the KCGA does. I’m honored to be leading such a fine organization into the future.”

StateLine Player of the Year Awards

    Another StateLine Amateur Tour year in the books as last weekend closed out the season with the Tour Championship. It has been an exciting year in all divisions and on behalf of the KCGA staff we would like to thank everyone who played this year.
It feels like just yesterday when we started the Tour back in April at Sycamore Ridge Golf Course or when we had an incredible 118 players at The Nicklaus Club in May.

One of the best highlights from the year happened at Hillcrest Golf and Country Club when Addie Chapin dominated the boys and won the Players Division by three strokes. Another great highlight came from Phil Bartimus when he fired off a 4 under, 68 at The Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate. He had a total of eight birdies on the day and six of those birdies came on the back nine.

It has been an exciting year for the StateLine Amateur Tour! Below is your Player of the Year Golfers by division:

Open Division: Michael Greene

Michael Greene with his tee shot at The Country Club at Loch Lloyd for the 2014 Watson Challenge.
Michael Greene with his tee shot at The Country Club at Loch Lloyd for the 2014 Watson Challenge.

     In the Open Division Michael Greene dominated this year. He had a total of four victories on the year and recorded two more top five finishes, including finishing fourth at the StateLine Tour Championship. Michael has had an outstanding 2014, with his best finish of the year coming at Creekmoor Golf Course where he shot a 4 under, 68 and had a total of seven birdies on the day. Outside of the StateLine Tour Michael qualified for the final USAPL at Sand Creek Station, and also qualified to the US Open Sectional. He also was a quarter-finalist in the 99th Match Play Championship and a semi-finalist at the 53rd Heart of America Four Ball. Congratulations to Michael on a great 2014 and on winning the 2014 Open Division Player of the Year Award.

Players Division: Michael Buckhouse

Michael Buckhouse staring down his birdie attempt at Hillcrest Golf and Country Club.
Michael Buckhouse staring down his birdie attempt at Hillcrest Golf and Country Club.

     Not only is he good with money and the skins game but he can also play golf as well. Michael Buckhouse had a great 2014 season winning Player of the Year for the Gross Division in the Players Division. Michael recorded two victories in the Gross Division this year with one of them coming at the StateLine Tour Championship. He also finished in the top 5 six times this year. His lowest round came in the first round of the StateLine Tour Championship where he battled the windy conditions and cold to shoot a 1 under 70. He had a total of four birdies on the day and held off Rich Nigh in the second round to go on the win. Congrats to Michael on being named the 2014 Players Division Player of the Year. Does this mean he is moving to the Open Division?

Players Division (Net): Greg Hillman

Greg Hillman bundled for warmth at the Tour Championship at Shoal Creek.
Greg Hillman bundled for warmth at the Tour Championship at Shoal Creek.

     In the Players Net Division Greg Hillman finished on top of the points list this year. He started and finished the season in great fashion with a win at Sycamore Ridge in the first event and a T1 in the StateLine Tour Championship. Greg played in nine events this year and finished six of those events inside the Top 5. His low NET score for the year came in round one of the StateLine Tour Championship when he fired off a 4 under, 67. Congratulations to Greg on winning the 2014 Player Net Division Player of the Year.

Senior Division: Steve Groom

Steve Groom awaiting his putt on #9 at The Country Club at Loch Lloyd for the 2014 Camaraderie Cup. Steve would go on to win six points for team amateurs.
Steve Groom awaiting his putt on #9 at The Country Club at Loch Lloyd for the 2014 Camaraderie Cup. Steve would go on to win six points for team amateurs.

     Anyone who knows golf in Kansas City knows who Steve Groom is. This year in the Senior Division Steve played in seven total events and won five of those events. He finished in second place in the other two events. He finished the year strong with a victory at the StateLine Tour Championship at Shoal Creek Golf Course. It has been an impressive year for Steve on the StateLine Tour and outside of the tour as well. Steve started his year out strong after finishing in 6th place against the best professionals and amateurs in Kansas City at the Watson Challenge at Loch Lloyd. He continued his great year with Top Five finishes in both the Missouri Senior Am and the Missouri Mid-Am. Steve finally broke into the winners circle with a victory at the Kansas City Amateur Championship in the Senior Division with a 7 under finish after three rounds. Congratulations to Steve Groom the 2014 Senior Player of the Year.

Legends Division: Ron Brewer

Ron Brewer speaking with Rod Wray from Wolf Creek prior to the Semi-Final KC Cup match at Milburn Country Club. Wolf Creek would go on to win that match and the next one to become the 2014 Kansas City Cup Champions.
Ron Brewer speaking with Rod Wray from Wolf Creek prior to the Semi-Final KC Cup match at Milburn Country Club. Wolf Creek would go on to win that match and the next one to become the 2014 Kansas City Cup Champions.

     The most consistent player from 2014 goes to Ron Brewer who is the 2014 Legends Division Player of the Year. Ron competed in ten events on the year and finished outside the Top 5 just once. He added two victories to that and finished second in three events including the Tour Championship. His low score for the year came at Creekmoor Golf Course where he shot a remarkable +1, 73. He went on to finish second in that event. Mr. Consistent never found himself in trouble on the course this year which helped him to finish on top of the points list. Outside of the StateLine Tour Ron helped to captain the 2014 Kansas City Cup Champions from Wolf Creek. Ron also was a semi-finalist in the 53rd Heart of America Four Ball, and finished tied for Second in the Kansas City Amateur Championship Legends Division. When Ron is not playing golf he is volunteering with the KCGA as a rules official. Thanks again Ron for all that you do to support the KCGA, and congrats on winning the 2014 Legends Player of the Year award.

Legends Division (Net): John Pawsat

John Pawsat with his putt from just off the green on #5 on the Posse at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex.
John Pawsat with his putt from just off the green on #5 on the Posse at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex.

     John is another one of the most consistent golfers on the tour this year. He might not hit it the farthest but it always goes straight and stays out of trouble. John competed in eight events this year and finished outside the Top 5 just once. He had one victory of the year at The Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate and added two second place and two third places finishes to that. His low of the year came at The Nicklaus Club where he shot a NET score of 7 under, 65. He finished the year strong with a T3 at the Tour Championship at Shoal Creek Golf Course. Congrats to John for becoming the 2014 Legends Net Player of the Year.

Thanks again for everyone who competed this year. Keep your eyes on the website for the 2015 schedule coming out soon. Be sure to check out the photos from this year Below is Tournament Results from the 2014 Season:

Sycamore Ridge Golf Course – April 9th
• Open Division: Michael Greene (-1,71)
• Players Division: Jamie Lyndes and Greg Hillman (+6,78)
• Players Net Division: Greg Hillman (-3,69)
• Senior Division: Charlie Schorgl (+2,74)
• Legends Division: Grant Renne (+5,76)
• Legends Net Division: Ron Brewer and Pat Goeke (-2,69)
• Women’s Division: Audrey Judd (+8,77)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

Staley Farms Golf Club – April 23rd
• Open Division: Dave Cunningham (+3,75)
• Players Division: Matt Barberich (+2,74)
• Players Net Division: Matt Barberich and Brett Ricky (+1,73)
• Senior Division: Charlie Schorgl and Ernie Swart (+5,77)
• Legends Division: Ronnie Walters (+2,74)
• Legends Net Division: Bob Hunter (-6,66)
• Women’s Division: Jettie Bezek (+15,87)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

Paradise Pointe Golf Complex – May 15th
• Open Division: Derek Nicholson, Don Walsworth, Jon Troutman (+5,77)
• Players Division: Mark Worthey (+4,76)
• Players Net Division: Mark Worthey and Dale Hotop (-1,71)
• Senior Division: Ed Walsworth and Charlie Schorgl (+3,75)
• Legends Division: Ronnie Walters (+7,79)
• Legends Net Division: Ronnie Walters (+1,73)
• Women’s Division: Jettie Bezek (+15,87)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

The Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate – May 27th
• Open Division: Phil Bartimus (-4,68)
• Players Division: Matt Barberich (E, 72)
• Players Net Division: Josh Williams (-5,67)
• Senior Division: Frank Booth (-4,68)
• Legends Division: Bob McKinney and Richard Landon (+3,75)
• Legends Net Division: John Pawsat (-7,65)
• Women’s Players Division: Addie Chapin (+7,79)
• Women’s Open Division: Audrey Judd (+3,75)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

Ironhorse Golf Club – June 25th
• Open Division: Mark Terranova (40)
• Players Division: Marko Ungashick (34)
• Players Net Division: Brian Moeller (45)
• Senior Division: Ed Walsworth (41)
• Legends Division: David Hornaday (35)
• Legends Net Division: Pat Goeke (42)
• Women’s Division: Pat Seber-Bradley (22)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

Meadowbrook Golf and Country Club – July 21st
• Open Division: Brent Mertz (+3,74)
• Players Division: Mark Worthey, Wes Lowe, and Chris Meyer (+6,77)
• Players Net Division: Dale Hotop (-5,66)
• Senior Division: Andy Smith and Rob Gleissner (+1,72)
• Legends Division: Ron Brewer (+3,74)
• Legends Net Division: Frank Muehlbach (-3,68)
• Women’s Division: Lindsey Mateer (+7, 78)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

The Golf Club at Creekmoor – August 14th
• Open Division: Michael Greene (-4,68)
• Players Division: Matt Barberich (-2,70)
• Players Net Division: Matt Barberich and Michael Buckhouse (-3,69)
• Senior Division: Greg Loteckie and Steve Groom (-3,69)
• Legends Division: David Hornaday (-2,70)
• Legends Net Division: David Hornaday (-6,66)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

Hillcrest Golf and Country Club – August 26th
• Open Division: Brent Mertz (-2,70)
• Players Division: Addie Chapin (+1,73)
• Players Net Division: Addie Chapin (-8,64)
• Senior Division: Steve Groom (-6,66)
• Legends Division: Jim Lodes and Bob McKinney (+2,74)
• Legends Net Division: Pat Goeke (-6,66)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

St. Joseph Country Club – September 8th
• Open Division: Don Walsworth and Michael Greene (E,71)
• Players Division: Michael Buckhouse (+3,74)
• Players Net Division: Michael Buckhouse (-1,70)
• Senior Division: Steve Groom (+1,72)
• Legends Division: Ron Brewer (+6,77)
• Legends Net Division: Mike Findley (-2,69)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

St. Andrew’s Golf Course – September 26th
• Open Division: Michael Greene (-3,68)
• Players Division: Rich Nigh (-1,70)
• Players Net Division: Dale Hotop (-6,65)
• Senior Division: Steve Groom (-1,70)
• Legends Division: Jim Lodes (+2,73)
• Legends Net Division: John Breau (-4,67)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

StateLine Tour Championship at Shoal Creek Golf Course – October 3rd-4th
• Open Division: Mark Terranova (+5,147)
• Players Division: Michael Buckhouse (+7,149)
• Players Net Division: Greg Hillman (-1,141)
• Senior Division: Steve Groom (+1,143)
• Legends Division: Fran Ferns (+8,150)
• Legends Net Division: Ron Brewer (-1,141)
To see the full results from the event Click Here!

Wolf Creek Wins Again

Ironhorse Golf Course – Another Kansas City Cup trophy found its way into Captain Ron Brewer’s hand on Tuesday night at Ironhorse Golf Course. Wolf Creek held off Stone Canyon in a close match on Tuesday at Ironhorse to become the 2014 Kansas City Cup Champions.

This is multiple Kansas City Cup wins for Wolf Creek in recent years. Wolf Creek won the match 6 to 3 but it was a lot closer than on paper.

Match number one was back and forth on the front nine. Stone Canyon started to pull away in on holes 10 and 11 but Mark Addington and Mark Terranova would not go away. They made a roaring comeback after winning holes 14 and 15 to bring the match to all square. Hole 16 would be the turning point in the match when Mark Terranova chipped in for birdie to go 1 up. Wolf Creek would go on to win that match 2 up after a par on 18.

Wolf Creek dominated in the single matches with Brent Mertz winning 6 and 5 and Fred Rowland holding off Mike Craddock with a 3 and 2 victory.

The professionals from Wolf Creek also dominated their match against Stone Canyon. An injury to Rick Holtcamp made it tough to play on the challenging Ironhorse course, and ultimately the Stone Canyon team fell to far behind. Wolf Creek would take a four to zero lead after match number four ended 5 and 4 in favor of Wolf.

Down four points and only five groups left on the course, Stone Canyon had a tough road to comeback. Match number five fell to Stone Canyon in a 2 up victory for Steve Bush and Denny Limbach. This gave Stone Canyon some life and put a point on the board making it 4 to 1.

That life would soon be taken from Stone Canyon when match number would finish in favor of Wolf Creek on the 18 green. Mike Bowersock and Chris Williams would hold off Bobby Jones and Alan Jessup in a 2 up win that would secure the Kansas City Cup for Wolf Creek.

Thanks again for Ironhorse for hosting the event and to all the clubs that competed this year.

                                                    Final Results per match
Wolf Creek Golf Links                       Result             Stone Canyon Golf Course

Mark Addington/Mark Terranova              2 Up                               Shane Collins/Derek Hileman
Brent Mertz                                                           6 & 5                                               Kris Casburn
Fred Rowland                                                        3 & 2                                             Mike Craddock
Rodney Wray/Wes Nichols                            5 & 4                                    Joe Bauer/Rick Holtcamp
John Devaney/Greg Mealy                                    2 Up                               Steve Bush/Denny Limbach
Mike Bowersock/Chris Williams                2 Up                               Bobby Jones/Alan Jessup
Ned Eddy/Taylor Nedrow                                      2 & 1                     Gregg Morrison/Craig Roberts
Mason Jones/Steve Purdum                                   AS                                Justin Stroud/Lee Anderson
Nate Sprague/Ryan Barauskas                               AS                                  Kyle Sinclair/Steve Johnson
Total Points                                                       6 to 3                                          Total Points

The KC Cup Finals Are Set

After a season long tough competition including a vast majority of Kansas City’s golf clubs the 2014 Men’s and Women’s Kansas City Cup Finals are set.

On the Men’s side the championship match will take place at Ironhorse Golf Club on Tuesday September 23. The match is between the number one seed Wolf Creek Golf Links who defeated Blue Hills Country Club 5 to 4 in the semifinals.

Wolf Creek will face off against number two seed Stone Canyon Golf Course. Stone Canyon defeated Fred Arbanas Golf Course 51/2 to 31/2 at Blue Springs Country Club yesterday.

One the Women’s side Golf Club of Kansas dominated their semifinal match against Indian Hills at Tiffany Greens Golf Course. Golf Club of Kansas won the match 3 to 0.

On the other side of the bracket Blue Hills Country Club faced off against Hillcrest Golf and Country Club. It was a close match till the end but Blue Hills came out on top with a 2 to 1 victory.

The Women’s championship match will take place at Meadowbrook Golf and Country Club on September 24th.

Make sure to follow the action live next week on our twitter @thekcga.

To see information on Kansas City Cup Click Here.

Kansas City Golfers Grab National Headlines

Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that the legendary Tom Watson will captain the U.S. Ryder Cup team in Gleneagles, Scotland next week.  Watson will try to lead the U.S. team to victory on foreign soil for the first time since he last captained the squad in 1993.

What you may not know is that the area’s best players have been dominating the national golf headlines the past several weeks.

The run of great play from area residents began with Robert Streb at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.  The Kansas State alum caused an uproar throughout local clubs when he holed an eagle putt on his final hole of the championship.  The NBC broadcast team promptly declared that the dramatic eagle putt was good enough for Streb to continue on in the FedEx Cup race.  The putt momentarily put him in the top 70, but after some recalculating, Streb would fall just two FedEx Cup points short of continuing.

Even though his 2014 season was cut short, Streb has made quite a splash in his second year on tour amassing 1.3 million dollars and while becoming the 181st ranked player in the world.  Streb also claimed the title of Kansas City’s best player when he took down the metro’s best at Loch Lloyd earlier this year during the Watson Challenge.  His class as a player and person was on display at this year’s Watson Challenge as he and his wife promptly donated the winner’s check of $10,000 to the First Tee of Greater Kansas City.

“When Robert said that during the awards ceremony, my mouth just dropped open,” said KCGA Executive Director, Matt Williams.  “I know he is having a great year, but he is only three seasons removed from scrapping it around in the mini-tour world. I mean ten grand is ten grand and it took some real class to step up and have an impact on our community like that.”

With the new PGA Tour schedule, Streb is not likely to stay idle for long.  The official 2015 PGA Tour season kicks off at the Frys.com Open in early October which is an event he had reasonable success at last season.

Shortly after Robert Streb’s eagle putt dropped in Boston, the 2014 U.S Mid-Amateur Championship kicked off at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, PA.  The event, which gathers the best amateurs ages 25 and over, boasts one of the greatest first place prizes in all of amateur golf.  The Mid-Amateur champion is traditionally awarded a spot in the Masters each spring.  Needless to say, the competition from the average “working Joes” is fierce.

St. Joseph’s Brad Nurski, is no stranger to big events.  He has been an excellent player on the local and statewide scene, but has never had substantial success on the national level.  After advancing through the Kansas City local qualifier as medalist, Nurski joined 264 other players from across the globe with the hopes of claiming one of amateur golf’s top prizes.

Nurski opened up with two solid rounds of 70 and 71 to finish one under in stroke play qualifying.  The one under total would be good enough to share medalist honors with Scott Harvey of Grensboro, N.C.  The two players received the first and second seeds in the sixty-four player bracket and went about their business.  After five sets of matches, the two co-medalists would end up squaring off in the finals.

When asked if co-medalists have ever played in a USGA final, the USGA’S Mark Passey explained, “I’m sure our historians back at Golf House are scrambling to find out, but I am not sure it has ever happened.  You typically do not see two players sustain such a high level of golf for an entire week.”

Unfortunately for Nurski, his incredible run would end in the finals.  The inevitable question came from the media following the match. “Obviously you are disappointed with the finish, but what do you take away from this experience?”

Nurski responded, “I mean.. you know that you can compete with the top mid-am guys in the country.  And that was my goal, and the goal is always to win, but Ijust didn’t come out on top today.

You know, obviously it’s going to open up a few doors for me which I didn’t have open when I got here.  I’ll get to play in the U.S. Am next year and I’ll get to come back to this tournament for two years, so that takes a lot of weight off your shoulders when you know you don’t have to qualify for some things.  And we obviously got the USGA State Team coming up in a couple of weeks and hopefully team Missouri can get a little revenge on North Carolina.”

As he mentioned, Nurski will team up with Skip Bermeyer and Phil Caravia, both of St. Louis in the USGA State Team Championship for team Missouri next month.

One of the members of the winning USGA State Team from 2010, Bryan Norton, also grabbed the national spotlight earlier today.  A longtime stalwart in Kansas City area competition, Norton came up just short in the 2014 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship today in Newport Beach, CA.  This was the first time Norton was eligible for the championship as all participants must be at least 55 years of age.

Norton has already amassed an impressive season with a victory in the Senior Coleman Invitational, earned a spot in the U.S. Senior Open at Oak Tree in Oklahoma and took the title at the Kansas Amateur at his home club of Mission Hills.

All that aside, Norton has always had his eyes set on an individual USGA title.  Norton has been very close before.  He suffered an injury in the final match of the 2003 U.S. Mid-Amateur and was forced to concede the match to Nathan Smith.  The final match concession was the first of its kind in the 108 year history of the USGA.

Redemption will have to wait at least one year more as Norton came up just short in his bid at the Senior Amateur today.  Norton dropped four of his first nine holes, but after birdies on holes eleven and twelve, Norton had clawed his way back into the match.  His opponent Pat Tallent of Vienna, VA rolled in a thirty foot birdie putt on the par four 17th to close out the match 2 and 1.

Norton’s year will certainly be a highlight of his golfing career and as one of the “rookies” in Senior golf, he is poised to be a dominant figure in many more events in the future.

With all this local golf excitement, one burning question remains.  Can Tom Watson lead what experts believe is an underdog American team to a victory in the Ryder Cup?  A victory by the Kansas City icon would serve as the bookend on one of the greatest months in local golf history.

Watson has been downplaying his role as of late. “I am just the director. I put the pieces in place and the actors do their thing.  I really don’t have much say in the outcome,” explained Watson.

That may be true, but Watson is the most successful American ever to play in Europe.  His five British Open victories, dominant record and successful captaincy in the 1993 Ryder Cup can do nothing but bolster the confidence of the twelve man team.

No matter the outcome, the additional exposure on Watson has done nothing but enhance golf in Kansas City.  “I can’t explain it, but there is just a buzz going around golf in Kansas City,” said Matt Williams of the KCGA.  “Every day there is a great story about someone doing something amazing on the links and if team USA can win next week, there will be people celebrating in the streets.  The level of competition here in Kansas City is some of the best in the country and it is exciting to see it play out in the world’s biggest events.”

Spencer Survives Sycamore

Boys Champion Andy Spencer receiving the Match Play Trophy from Executive Director Matt Williams.
Boys Champion Andy Spencer receiving the Match Play Trophy from Executive Director Matt Williams.

Sycamore Ridge Golf Course – It was a calm Sunday morning for the start of the Championship match between Andy Spencer and Eric Pahls. Both competitors won their semifinal matches in tremendous fashion Saturday afternoon.

Eric Pahls seemed to be in control at the start after going 2 up with a birdie on the Par 3 fifth. But Spencer would not go away with birdies on 6 and 8 to bring the match back to all square.

After hitting two golf balls in the water on the Par 5, ninth hole, Spencer conceded the hole to Pahls who went 1 up going into the hard back nine.

The tough back nine at Sycamore saw steady play from both competitors. Lots of pars and few birdies saw an all square match after thirteen holes.

Eric Pahls seemed like he was going to run away with it after the great birdie on number fourteen but Andy would not go away. Eric had an opportunity to put the match out of reach on the sixtieth green but barely missed his birdie putt. Andy took advantage of this opportunity by sinking his par putt after a great chip from behind the green.

On the seventeenth green both players had par putts from five feet but Eric’s putt just slid past the hole opening the door for Andy to make the match all square going into eighteen.
You could feel the shift in momentum going into eighteen after Andy sunk his par putt on the Par 3, seventeenth.

Both players missed the fairway on the eighteen but an awkward lie and stance for Eric Pahls made it hard for him to hit the green with his approach shot.

Eric did everything he could to get up and down form a tough location left of the green but just missed his par putt from five feet. A short putt for par from Andy Spencer secured his come from behind victory.

We want to thank Sycamore Ridge for hosting the event everyone who came out to compete in this year’s competition.

To see full results from this year’s event Click Here.

To see photos from the event Click Here.

Fleenor Grabs the Number One Seed after Qualifying Round

It was a wet and windy start to the Boys Metro Match Play Championship at Sycamore Ridge Golf Course. Ten of the best junior golfers in Kansas City faced off in a 9-hole stroke play qualifier for eight spots in tomorrow’s match play.

Preston showed today why he is the heavy favorite in this year’s Championship. He fired off a 36 on the front nine of Sycamore Ridge Golf Course to claim the number 1 overall seed. Preston will face number eight seed Ethan Packel tomorrow.

Preston was followed closely by James Henderson who also shot a 36. James had a rocky start but came back strong after the one hour rain delay with birdies on 6, 7, and 9. James will be the number two overall seed after he lost the draw for number one. James will play Jake Goldman in tomorrow’s match.

Andy Spencer grinned out a 37 in the windy conditions to claim the number three seed and will face off against Tanner Owen the number six seed.

Kansas City Junior Champion Eric Pahls also shot a 1 over, 37, but lost the draw to Andy to become the number four seed. He will play Nicholas Klock tomorrow in the first match.

Make sure to follow the action live tomorrow.

To see the full results from today’s round Click Here.

Groom Conquers the Heat and Hillcrest

Jim Lodes hits a punch shot out of the trees on the Par 4, 12th, he would go on to make par on the hole.
Jim Lodes hits a punch shot out of the trees on the Par 4, 12th, he would go on to make par on the hole.

Steve Groom was the story of the day at Hillcrest. Even in the scorching heat of the mid-afternoon Groom managed to shoot a 6 under, 66. Groom dominated the Senior Division with a total of six birdies and one eagle.

Behind Groom was Heart of America Champion Don Keuhn, who shot even par. Don is continuing his hot streak of great golf after The Heart; he had a total of three birdies and three bogeys on the day.

The Legends Division also battled the afternoon heat today at Hillcrest but that didn’t stop Jim Lodes and Bob McKinney from doing well. The two of them shot 2 over, 74 today on a tough Hillcrest setup. This is Jim’s first StateLine victory of the year and Bob’s second.

In the Open Division, Watson Challenge competitor Brent Mertz beat out Tyler Shelton by one shot for the victory. Mertz shot a 2 under, 70 with a total of four birdies on the day. This is Brent’s second win of the year after finishing first at Meadowbrook.

The surprise of the day came in the men’s Players Division where Addie Chapin, the only girl in today’s competition, won shooting a one over, 73. This is only her second tournament to compete in the men’s Players Division. Simon Walley finished closely behind in second with 4 over, 76.

The next event is September 8th at St. Joseph Country Club. Be sure to get signed up.

To see the results Click Here!

Greene Goes on Birdie Streak at Creekmoor

The day was set up perfectly for the Stateline event at The Golf Club at Creekmoor. Clear skies and minimum winds made it a great day to score low. On top of the perfect weather today, members of the StateLine Amateur Tour played a golf course in fantastic shape.

In the Legends division, David Hornaday took advantage of the great day, scoring a 2 under, 70. He started off strong with a 2 under front nine, but then struggled on the tough back nine shooting even. David had a total of six birdies on the day.

The Senior Division had some tough competition today. Heart of America Champions, Greg Loteckie and Don Keuhn continued their outstanding play at Creekmoor; Greg shot a 3 under, 69 and Don shot a 72. Greg also took advantage of an easy front nine shooting 3 under, and had a total of five birdies.

Greg Loteckie stares down his putt for birdie on the Par 3, 17th.
Greg Loteckie stares down his putt for birdie on the Par 3, 17th.

Greg shared the lead with Steve Groom who struggled on the front nine but came out strong on the back shooting 4 under. The best statistic of the day for Steve was that he only had one bogey on the day.

They were followed closely by Tom Leonard who shot a 1 under, 71. Tom had a total of three birdies and two bogeys.

The players division saw some fantastic play today from Michael Buckhouse. Michael saw birdies on holes 5, 12, and 14 but struggled on hole 8 with a double bogey. He finished in 2nd place.

1st place went to Matt Barberich who shot a 2 under, 70. He birdied three of the four par threes and almost had a hole in one on hole 17. He finished with a total of five birdies on the day.

Finally in the open division Michael Greene shot the low score for the day with a 4 under, 68. He continues his incredible 2014 season with another win. Michael had the most birdies on the day with seven, and had no bogeys on the back nine.

Behind him in the open division was UMKC golfer Cameron Wiltse who shot a 2 under, 70. Cameron had six birdies on the day and finished with an incredible birdie putt on the 18th.

The next event is at Hillcrest Golf & Country Club on August 25. Be sure to get signed up before the deadline.

To see photos from the event Click Here.