Kansas City Junior and Senior Match Play Championship, presented by Granite Garage Floors Kansas City, took place this week at Shoal Creek Golf Course. The tournament began on Wednesday morning with an 18-hole stroke-play qualifying round.
JUNIOR GIRLS DIVISION
In the Junior Girls Division, Emree Cameron fired an impressive 66 (-5) on Friday’s qualifying round, earning her the number one seed going into match play. She didn’t slow down, in the round of 16 matches she defeated Gabby Vineyard 6&5. In Thursday’s Quarterfinal match, she defeated Reagan Kauthn 6&5, and in the Semifinal match, she won 1 up over Liz Lyons. Cameron faced Hadley Neese in the Final match, winning 8&7. “I just wanted to go out and play some good golf,” Cameron said, “and I birdied the first hole; I was just kind of on fire from there.”
JUNIOR BOYS DIVISION
In the Junior Boys Division, Nick Nickloy was crowned Champion on Friday afternoon. Nickloy shot 72 (+1) in Wednesday’s qualifying round earning him the 13-seed going into the round of 16 matches. Nickloy defeated Noah Holtzman 5&4 in his first match. In the Quarterfinal match, he defeated Elliott Cowden 3&1, and in the Semifinal match, he defeated Peyton Smith 3&1. In Friday’s Finals, Nickloy won 1 up over Jacob Fratzel. “I started out playing some tough guys, but won those early matches which led me to the win,” Nickloy said.
SENIOR DIVISION
Ed Brown won the KC Senior Match Play after defeating RJ Oplinger 2&1 on Friday. Brown shot 72 (+1) during the qualifying round and won his first match against Michael Bickley 3&1. In the Quarterfinals Brown defeated Jon Platz 1 up, and in the Semifinals he defeated Johnathan Valuck 6&5. After making some changes to his driver, Brown said that his driver was “his biggest weapon” this week.