Category: Top Story

The 2015 Prairie Invitational Began Play Tuesday at Staley Farms

Posted on

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The 2015 Prairie Invitational presented by J. Douglas Cusick began play at Staley Farms Golf Club in Kansas City, Missouri, Tuesday morning.

The Prairie Invitational is a premiere women’s event in Kansas City for amateur and professional players. Its’ purpose is to enhance women’s golf and junior women’s golf not only in the Kansas City area, but on a regional level. Formally known as the Women’s Amateur of Kansas City, the Prairie Invitational is a 36-hole stroke play championship to determine the best female golfer in the Midwest.

The 66-golfer field arrived early as they prepared to compete on a challenging golf course known for its difficult greens. The women were split up into two separate division as the Open division played the white tees, a par-72, 6,082 yard course and the Players division that played the red tees, a par 72, 5,405 yard course.

There was a two-way tie for first after the first day as Erin Carney and Susan Kirschenman posted a 74 (+2). Carney had two birdies and Kirschenman had three birdies on the day. Two-strokes behind the leaders is a three-way tie for third with Baile Winslow, Carmen Titus and Audrey Judd as all three fired a 76 (+4).

The 2015 Prairie Invitational presented by J. Douglas Cusick will continue tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. The final results of day one can be found here.

Wells Padgett Qualifies for the U.S. Junior Amateur at Hallbrook

Posted on

LEAWOOD, Kan. – The U.S. Junior Amateur sectional qualifier was hosted at Hallbrook Country Club on Monday, June 29.

There were 26-junior golfers that showed up at Hallbrook Country Club to play 36-holes and compete for only one qualifying spot for the U.S. Junior Amateur.

The qualifier was played from the green tees, a 6,938 yards championship course. Hallbrook is known for its native prairie grass, multi-leveled greens and the surprising elevation changes throughout the course that adds challenge to the already difficult course.

Wells Padgett from Wichita, Kansas, dominated the field posting a two-round 73-72—145 (+1), including one eagle and two birdies on the first 18-holes and four birdies on the second 18-holes to secure his five-shot lead over the field.

The first alternate for the U.S. Junior Amateur is Eric Pahls who fired a two-round 76-74—150 (+6). Pahls had two birdies on his first 18-holes and one eagle and three birdies on his second 18-holes.

The second alternate was determined in a playoff as Blake Allen won on the second playoff hole. Allen posted a two-round 151 including six birdies on the day.

The 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur will be hosted at the Colleton River Plantation Club in Bluffton, South Carolina on July 20-25.

U.S. Junior

The KC Junior Tour Fought the Heat at Minor Park

Posted on

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The third KC Junior Tour event of 2015 was held at Minor Park Golf Course in Kansas City, Missouri, Thursday morning. There were 88-junior golfers that showed up to fight the heat and were split into five divisions.

The five divisions consisted of boys 16 and up, girls 16 and up, boys 13 to 15, girls 13 to 15 and the prep division. Minor Park golf course is a fun, short and easy to walk 18-hole layout, located in south Kansas City.

Both the boys 16 and up and the boys 13 to 15 division played from the blue tees, a 5,624 yard, par 70 course. James O’Connor led the boys 16 and up division, a 26-golfer field, posting a 71 (+1). The was a four-way tie for second place as James Pederson, Nelson Searcy, Sam Parrott and Trystan Tovkach all shot 73 (+3).

Jackson Likes won the boys 13 to 15 divison, firing a 71 (+1). Likes posted three birdies on the day. There was a three-way tie for second as Michael Bessenbacher, Owen Hill and Will Harding all inked a 73 (+3).

The girls played the red tees, a 4,790 yard, par 71 course. Molly Marx edged Brianna Walker posting a 77 (+7) to win the girls 16 and up division. Walker was the runner-up posting a 78 (+8) in the eight-golfer field.

Isabella Hadden dominated the girls 13 to 15 division as she inked an 80 (+9), including three birdies on the day. There was a two-way tie for second as Rosalyn Klausner and Julia Misemer both posted an 85 (+14).

The prep division played the front nine-holes from the red tees, consisting of seven golfers. Ryan Lee dominated the field as he fired a 35 (E), including one birdie. The runner-up was Ben Slicker who posted a 40 (+5).

The KC Junior Tour will continue July 15th at the Shirkey Golf in Richmond, Missouri.

The results can be found here

DSC_2675

The KC Junior Tour Continued at Blue Springs Country Club

Posted on

BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – The second KC Junior Tour event of 2015 was held at the Blue Springs Country Club in Blue Springs, Missouri, Tuesday morning. There were 71-junior golfers that showed up to play and were split into five divisions.

The five divisions consisted of boys 16 and up, girls 16 and up, boys 13 to 15, girls 13 to 15 and the prep division. Blue Springs Country Club is a par 72 golf course.

The boys 16 and up played the black tees, a 6,590 yard course. Kerry Maguire posted 72 (E), including three birdies to win the divisions consisting of 24 golfers. The runner-up for the boys 16 and up was Sam Parrott, who shot 75 (+3). Mott Griffin and Trystan Tovkach finished tied for third with a 76, one-stroke behind Parrott.

The girls played the green tees, a 5,194 yard course. Mia Tovkach dominated the 10-golfer field in the 16 and up division, firing a 72 (E), including four birdies on the day. The runner-up was Teagan Noblit who shot 80 (+8). The 13 to 15 division consisted of three girls’ golfers and led by Faith Hedges who shot 100.

The boys 13 to 15 played the yellow tees, a 6,174 yard course. This division consisted of 28-golfers, led by Owen Hill and Jackson Likes. Hill and Likes posted a 77 (+5) to become co-champions. Cannon Miller finished runner-up shooting 78 (+6), one-stroke behind Hill and Likes.

The prep division played the front nine-holes, consisting of six golfers. As the prep division played the green tees, it was led by Drake Krumme who posted a 38 (+2).

The next KC Junior Tour event is on June 25th at Minor Park Golf Course in Kansas City, Missouri.

The results can be found here

kcjt at blue springs cc

Black, Fonseca and Cedo Advance to the U.S. Girls’ Junior

Posted on

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The U.S. Girl’s Junior Sectional Qualifier took place at Swope Memorial Golf Course in Kansas City, Missouri, Monday morning.

There were 30 junior girls that showed up to fight for the three qualifying spots available to compete in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur at the Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 20-25.

Swope Memorial Golf Course is located in the middle of Swope Park, filled with multi-leveled greens and has been known to host many amateur events. The girls played a difficult 5,700-yard, par 72 course facing difficult weather conditions, including heat and wind.

Taylor Black led the field firing a 71 (-1), the only below par, 18-hole, score of the day. Black had two birdies on the day. Ariadna Fonseca finished second, posting the only even par, 18-hole score of the day 72 (E).

The third qualifying spot came down to a playoff hole between Annika Cedo and Yang Liu who both posted a 73 (+1). Cedo went on to defeat Liu on the first playoff hole by one-stroke and became the third and final qualifier. Liu was named the first alternate.

To determine the second alternate, there was a playoff between Brooke Matthews and Ashley Mayhall. Matthews and Mayhall both inked a 74 (+2) in the original 18 holes. In the playoffs, Matthews edged Mayhall by one-stroke to be named the second-alternate.

The KC Junior Tour Began the Season at Paradise Pointe

Posted on

SMITHVILLE, Mo. – The KC Junior Tour kicked off the 2015 season at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Missouri on Thursday.

It was a great day at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex as the five divisions consisting of 57 total juniors showed up and battled it out on the course. The five divisions were boys 16 and up, boys 13 to 15, girls 16 and up, girls 13 to 15 and the junior prep division.

James O’Connor led the 20-golfer field in the boys 16 and up division as he posted a 73 (+1), including four birdies on the day. The runner-up in the boys 16 and up division was Eric Larson and Matt Madill who both inked a 77 (+5). Larson started the day strong with his only birdie on the first hole.

Owen Hill dominated the 22- golfer field in the boys 13 to 15 division as he fired a 68 (-4) on the day. Hill shot three birdies and his only bogey on the front nine, and two birdies on the back. The runners-up were Tony Bonadonna and Cannon Miller who both posted a 75 (+3).

There was a tie for first in the girls 16 and up division as Teagan Noblit and Mia Tovkach both posted an 80 (+8) on the day. Noblit had one birdie and Tovkach had two birdies on the day. The runner-up was Haley Bell who fell just short of a three way tie for first by one stroke as she fired an 81 (+9).

Julia Misemer won the girls 13 to 15 division as she inked a 77 (+5) on the day, including two birdies and one eagle. The runner-up was Faith Hedges who posted 117 on the day.

There was another two-way tie for first in the prep division as Drake Krumme and Will Hedges both shot a 44 (+8) on nine holes. Krumme had one birdie on the day.

Results can be found here

The next Junior Tour event will be held at Blue Springs Country Club on June 23rd.

Kansas City Junior Tour

Shadow Glen Earns the First Junior KC Cup Series Victory

Posted on

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate hosted the first round of the Junior Kansas City Cup this Tuesday, June 16. Thirteen clubs from around the Kansas City area competed in the first round of the Junior KC Cup series.

Shadow Glen’s team edged Brookridge by only two strokes, shooting a total 214, making them the first victor for the start of the series.

Miles Tarvin started off the day shooting a 47 on the back nine of the course, which was the second lowest nine-hole score for the 11 and under age division. Will Hedges, from Lawrence, Kansas finished his round shooting a 41, the lowest nine-hole score for his division.

The 13 and under age division was stocked with great competitors including Michael Winslow representing Shadow Glen Golf Club. Winslow helped lead the team to victory shooting a 79, one of two lowest scores for the tournament.

Zach Molzer contributed to the team win, shooting 88. Cole Elling, representing the National Golf Club of Kansas City, had the best score for the 15 and under age division, shooting 81.

The next Junior KC Cup will be held at Hallbrook Country Club on July 16th.

Full Results Here

 

Hanna Makes Watson Challenge History

Posted on

Mission Hills Country Club not only hosted the 2015 Watson Challenge, but hosted history, as well.

Chase Hanna used every shot in his bag Sunday to fend off Tom Watson and cling to his share of the lead. The victory marked the first time ever in the event’s history where an amateur golfer claimed the championship.

“You know, I was confident all day,” Hanna said. “I was swinging it really well. I struggled with my ball striking on the first day. Today, I really struck everything well.”

Hanna, a junior at Kansas, finished the tournament at 4-under, 206.

He entered the day in a three-way tie for first, with Watson and Letzig, before finding trouble at holes No. 3 and 7. After bogeying each hole, Hanna reeled off three straight birdies between holes No. 8 through 10. He would later bogey No. 14, but would respond two holes later on No. 16 with a birdie.

The victory marked a major accomplishment in the eyes of Hanna.

“I would say this is the biggest win,” Hanna said. “Beating Mr. Watson and Michael Letzig, too. Mr. Watson made a cut on the tour this year, so I feel I beat a still, great player. I’m just thrilled with how it ended up.”

However, Hanna was not the only one who voiced the importance of an amateur finally winning the Watson Challenge.

“This tournament is designed to see who is the best player in Kansas City, amateur or pro alike,” Watson said. “This year, the best player here was an amateur.”

Watson claimed his second straight runner-up title with a 3-under, 207 tally for the tournament.

The tournament’s namesake picked up bogeys on holes No. 1, 3 and 15, before carding birdies on No. 8, 14 and 16.

Former PGA Tour member Michael Letzig ended his tournament at 1-under, 209.

For complete results from The Watson Challenge, visit the website.

DSC_2103

Watson Cruises Through Rain, Three Tied for Watson Challenge Lead

Posted on

The conditions Saturday at Mission Hills Country Club did little to improve the morale of The Watson Challenge field. Scattered showers and wet course conditions contributed to only five golfers under-par on the day.

Overall, three golfers sit atop the leader board entering championship Sunday. Chase Hanna, Michael Letzig and the tournament namesake, Tom Watson, each sit at 3-under.

Watson, who began the day even, fired off a pair of back-to-back birdies, on No. 2 and 3, and again on No. 8 and 9, in route to a 3-under, 67.

While many players struggled to adjust to the wet conditions, Watson saw little affect on his golf game due to the weather.

“The rain was not much of a factor,” Watson said. “It didn’t really rain that hard. It did slow the greens down just a touch at the end of the day. But, there wasn’t that big of a change from the rain. It wasn’t even that annoying.”

Both Hanna and Letzig finished day two with even rounds.

Hanna dropped birdies on holes No. 4, 9 and 15, but added a bogey on No. 7 and double-bogey on No. 17.

Letzig carded two birdie-bogey scores on holes No.3 and 4, and again on No. 15 and 16.

However, Letzig does not plan on playing Sunday with anxiety, but with excitement.

“I’ve been in the final group with Tiger Woods a couple of times,” Letzig said. “It’s a little different pressure. Tomorrow with Tom is going to be fun.”

Korbin Kuehn represented the closest competitor to the lead group with a 1-over tournament total.

The lead group tees off at 10 a.m. Sunday at Mission Hills Country Club.

Tom Watson stares down a birdie putt on day two of The Watson Challenge
Tom Watson stares down a birdie putt on day two of The Watson Challenge

For full results from day two and pairings for day three of The Watson Challenge, visit the website.

 

 

Letzig and Hanna Lead at Mission Hills

Posted on

Mission Hills, KS — On what turned out to be a great day for golf at Mission Hills Country Club, 48 players teed it up in the hopes of adding their name to the list of Watson Challenge champions.

Michael Letzig and Chase Hanna teed off early with and set the bar high for the rest of the field by posting 67’s. Letzig, a former PGA Tour player, got off to a hot start, with birdies on #2, #3, #8 and #9 to get to four under. Hanna, on the other hand, got off to a slow start, with bogeys at #1 and #3. From #4 in, however, Hanna played great golf. He played the last 15 holes at 5-under to get to 67.

Just behind Letzig and Hanna are Zac Gavlak at -2 and Curtis Yonke at -1.

The group at even par includes the events namesake and 5-time Watson Challenge champion Tom Watson. Watson struggled with his ball-striking at times, but holed enough putts to stay in contention.

Complete results and starting times can be found by clicking here…