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.
