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PLAYERS OF THE
YEAR FOR 2013
MENSkip Berkmeyer
SENIOR MENJeff Johnson
WOMENCatherine Dolan
SENIOR WOMENEllen Port
Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • [email protected]
UPCOMING EVENTS
2014 USGA EVENTSUS OPEN QUALIFYING
May 13Missouri Bluffs GC
Entry Deadline: April 23
US WOMEN’S OPEN
May 20Lake Forest CC
Entry Deadline: April 30
MAGA EVENTS
OLD WARSON CUP
MAY 3-4OLD WARSON CC- INVITATIONAL -
NORMANDIE AMATEUR
May 17-18Normandie GC
Entry Deadline: May 10
EAST SIDE AMATEUR
June 14-15Lockhaven GC
Entry Deadline: June 7
Metropolitan
See page 19 for full schedule
O’TOOLE BEGINS TERM AS
USGA PRESIDENTThomas J. O’Toole Jr., founder of
the MAGA and longtime ExecutiveDirector, began his term as presidentof the USGA in February 2014. Hebecomes the second St. Louis residentto assume the position, following thelegendary Hord Hardin, who wasUSGA president in 1968-69.
Rising through the ranks as a rulesofficial, Tom quickly gained areputation as one of the very best.Throughout his career, he hasofficiated golf at the highest levels,earning the respect and admiration ofhis counterparts. His ascension topresident of the USGA signifies abreak from tradition as he is the firstto do so coming from the officiatingside the the game.
(Continued on page 3)
A LOOK BACK...From 1941-1944, a Metro OpenTournament, with amateur andprofessional divisions, was heldacross the area. The first eventwas held at Lake Park GC (todayGrand Marias) at 52nd and StateStreets in East St. Louis. Thekey match featured Meadow-brook’s Tom Draper, who wouldwin the 1971 US Senior Ama-teur, and Cardinal Pitcher DizzyDean, who played out of Nor-mandie. Draper downed Dean intheir match. In the followingyears, the event would be playedat Meadowbrook and Normandiebefore ending in 1944.
St. Louis CC #16
TheVol. 1 No. 1
Proudly Presented By
Exclusive Corporate Partner
2
The Metropolitan January-February 2014
STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Curt Rohe - [email protected]
DIRECTOR, FINANCEJennifer Langford - [email protected]
METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPSAmateur Championship
Match Play ChampionshipOpen Championship
Women’s Amateur ChampionshipJunior Amateur ChampionshipSenior Amateur Championship
Metropolitan Cup MatchesFour-Ball ChampionshipMid-America Junior Cup
USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDSUS Open Qualifying (Local and Sectional)
US Senior Open QualifyingUS Amateur Qualifying
US Mid-Amateur QualifyingUS Women’s Mid-Amateur
US Junior Amateur QualifyingUS Amateur Public Links Qualifying
US Senior Amateur QualifyingUS Women’s Open Qualifying
US Amateur Four-BallUS Women’s Amateur Four-Ball
EXECUTIVE BOARDStanford S. Grossman – President Emeritus
Thomas J. O’Toole, Jr. – Vice-PresidentThomas O. Sobbe, Jr. – Vice-President
M. Ray McCraine – SecretaryG. Scott Engelbrecht – Treasurer
G.F. (Rick) Meyer, Jr. – At-Large MemberH. Mick Wellington – At-Large Member
ADVISORY COMMITTEEScott Thomas, Chairman
Dustin AshbyTom Barry
Skip BerkmeyerJim Dunn
David RhoadsCurt Rohe
Hello, welcome to the firstedition of The Metropolitan!We are very excited to launchthis new, all digital newsletterto provide current news andevents of the MetropolitanAmateur Golf Association(MAGA).
You, our members, willexclusively receive TheMetropolitan via email eight (8) times in 2014. Four of theissues will be bi-monthly, off-season issues, along with 4monthly editions, keeping you up-to-date with MAGAnews and events during the “golf season.”
We are very excited to have Jim Healey, St. Louis’ golfhistorian, join us as our Editor/Publisher of TheMetropolitan. Jim is the foremost authority of the historyof the game in the St. Louis region. Having written thebook Golfing Before the Arch and worked with several St.Louis clubs to write their anniversary / history books. Jim’sexpertise in writing and photography is going to make TheMetropolitan one of the finest regional golf associationnewsletters in the country.
The all digital, interactive layout will give you theopportunity to experience The Metropolitan via computer,tablet or other mobile device. The articles will allowreaders to get updates with direct links to the MAGAwebsite, WWW.METGA.ORG and other sitesreferenced. Additionally, the format will allow readers toprint the newsletter if so desired.
The first edition will provide our members with asampling of things to come in the coming year. However,we also want to hear from you and we want to know whatyou want to read about. We have setup an email addressdedicated to The Metropolitan for feedback, it is:[email protected]. This newsletter is for YOUand it will be about YOU, our individual members.
Enjoy this inaugural edition. If you would like to reachme at anytime, please email me personally [email protected].
CURT’S COMMENTS
Curt RoheExecutive Director
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The Metropolitan January-February 2014
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USE OF MULTI-FUNCTIONALELECTRONIC DEVICES
The Rules of Golf have been relaxed in regard touse of multi-functional electronic devices (CellPhones) and distance measuring devices (DMDs). Youcan now use your phone to check on weatherconditions as long as there is nothing on the devicethat would allow you to measure the temperature orwind conditions at your specific location. You can alsouse the compass on your electronic device as long as itprovides only directional information.
While you can now use these devices you must stillbe aware of other Rules of Golf that could be violatedby using them, i.e. unduly delaying play, textinganother player about what club he used at a particularhole, calling a golf instructor for a swing tip.
The USGA further has announced that DMD’swill now be allowed at all amateur championships andqualifiers in 2014. They will still not be allowed at anyof the Open Championships. As long as the LocalRule allowing DMDs (Laser Rangefinders, GPS orApps installed on a cell phone) is enacted you can useany device or application that measures distance only.The qualifications that make a multi-functional devicelegal have also been changed. Please click this link tosee an excellent flow chart that details these changes.“Can I Use My DMD?” If you have any doubt if yourDMD is legal always check with the Committee priorto starting your round.
Contributed by Tom Wohlgemuth, MAGA RulesCommittee. The Rules of Golf Corner will feature amember of our Rules Committee.
RULES OF GOLF CORNER
Tom has been associated with the USGA since 1988and has served as a Rules official at more than 125 USGAchampionships, including every U.S. Open since 1990. Hebegins his sixth year as a member of the USGA ExecutiveCommittee, having served three years as vice president,and secretary in 2010. In 2013, Tom chaired theChampionship and Compensation Committees, whileserving on the Audit, Commercial, Handicap,International Team Selection, Management, Rules of Golfand Joint Rules of Golf Committees.
Learning the game from the ground up, Tom startedas a caddie, became a rules official, started a golf associationand rose at dawn to mark courses. One of the premieradministrators in the game, Tom’s rise to the presidency is,to some, long overdue. Considered a populist president bymany, Tom comes into the position with perhaps moreknowledge of the game than any of his predecessors.
His relationship with Jim Holtgrieve is legendary.Though ten years his senior, Tom caddied for Jim duringmany of his championships, including his win at the 1981U.S. Mid-Amateur at Bellerive CC. It was Holtgrieve whofirst suggested to Tom that he become involved with theUSGA. After introducing him to Tom Meeks, then SeniorDirector of Rules and Competitions, O’Toole was hooked.Tom’s passion for the rules of the game became legendary.
His longtime friend, Mike Davis, Executive Directorof the USGA, believes that Tom’s presidency will mark anew era within the USGA.
Perhaps it was former USGA president Jim Hyler,who has summed it up best: “For 25 years, he has volunteeredmuch of his time to do a lot of great things for golf. It is veryfitting that he has gone through the ranks. He is someone whodefined himself early and has remained incredibly passionateabout golf. He has a rich history, and we are lucky to have him.”
O’Toole is a partner in the law firm of MickesGoldman O’Toole, LLC, where he chairs the firm’sBusiness and Corporate Group, with a practice focused onreal estate. He received both his undergraduate degree(1979) and law degree (1985) from St. Louis University.
Married, he has a 14-year-old son and a seven-monthold. A member of Old Warson CC, Tom is well aware ofthe challenges facing him during his presidency.
“We have to encourage more people to play the game,”O’Toole said. “We have to figure out why golf isn’t growing.We have to be worried about the future of the sport. This isserious. If we are going to be leaders – if we even have a game togovern – we have to focus on the game’s health.”
O’TOOLE ASCENDS TO PRESIDENCY (Continued)
For the first time in years, the Metropolitan Seasondid not commence with the Match Play Championshipin May. For 2013, the Season began with playersventuring to St. Albans for the Gateway Cup Matches,pitting amateurs against professionals over the TavernCreek Course. Held April 7-8, the event featuredfourteen singles matches, seven foursomes and sevenfour-ball contests. The PGA players, all of whomwere members of the Gateway Section, faced-offagainst a select squad of top amateurs representing theMetropolitan.
The Sunday afternoon round featured Four-BallMatches (Best Ball). The MAGA team racked up fourpoints as Chad Niezing & Jeff Johnson, Eli Grant &Brett Meeske, Skip Berkmeyer & Ted Moloney andTom Barry & Scott Edwards each won their matches.For the pros, JC Anderson & Mike Suhre, Ryan Roy& Gideon Smith and Nash Haxel & Mike Tuckerearned points for their team.
Monday would be a full day with the morning roundfeaturing Foursome matches (Alternate shot) withSingles in the afternoon.
Once again, the MAGA team fared very well in thisdifficult format. Johnson & Niezing, Patrick Britt &Joe Migdal, and Phil Caravia & Scott Edwards eachwon their matches with Andy Frost & Andy Fogartyand Grant & Meeske both earning Halves, giving theMAGA a 4-2 lead and an overall lead of 8 – 6 headinginto the afternoon singles matches. For the pros, RobSedorcek & Mike Tucker along with Suhre & Gauswon their matches with Anderson & Brian Fogt andRoy and Smith earning halves.
With the slim lead for the Metropolitan squad, thepros dug in and fought for every point. When the lastputt fell, it was all even as the pros edges the MAGAplayers 8 – 6 to earn a hard fought tie at 14 apiece.Smith and Gaus each won their matches easily, whileFogarty, Meeske, Barry, Breven Giebler and Frostposted wins for the MAGA squad.
In the end, it proved to be a great opening salvo to aterrific 2013 season.
The 18th Metropolitan Match Play Championship atOld Warson CC had another outstanding field as the
top players from 2012earned spots in thisseason openingamateur event. Playedover two days in earlyMay, the first ballswere in the air at 7 amon Saturday morning.By 5pm on Sunday, achampion would becrowned.
ThomasWuennenberg opened
with a bang when he defeated 2012 Player of the YearSkip Berkmeyer in 20 holes. Ted Moloney downedfellow Greenbriar member Mike Kendrick while AlexCusumano outlasted Phil Caravia in 20 holes. JoeMigdal of Aberdeen took Corey Choate of WolfHollow 3&2, Garrett Sneed of St. Albans earned a7&6 win over Kevin Bell of Bellerive, Jeff Johnsoncruised past Matt McKiernan 5&4, while Andy Frostedged Mike Ehlers of WingHaven in 19 holes.Rounding out the first round was Bryan Bohme ofNorwood downing Tommy Ponce 4&3. Theafternoon round saw Wuennenberg continue his fineplay downing Bohme 9&7, Moloney edgingCusumano 3&2, Sneed taking Migdal 1up, and Frostover Johnson 3&1.
As players arrived at the tee early Sunday morning itwas clear that a new champion would be crowned bydays end. Wuennenberg, playing out of Tapawingo,continued to play steady golf as he earned a 4&2victory over Moloney. The match was tight throughthe first nine holes, with Wuennenberg holding a 1-uplead. However, on the back, after taking the tenth andthirteenth, while losing the eleventh, Wuennenbergstood 2-up at the fourteenth. Moloney, who wouldwin only two holes in the round, seemed over-matchedon this day as Wuennenberg took the fifteenth andsixteenth to close out the match. In the match todetermine the other finalist, Sneed started strong as hehad a 6-up lead at the end of nine holes. However,
2013 YEAR IN REVIEW
MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIPGATEWAY CUP
Garrett Sneed
The Metropolitan January-February 2014
Frost took the first two holes on the back beforedropping one at the thirteenth, then bouncing back totake the fourteenth with a birdie. However, Sneed’sbirdie on the fifteenth ended the match, placing himinto the finals.
For all of his fine play during the early matches,during the final match Wuennenberg’s game seemedto drift away. He won only one hole during the match– at the twelfth – which extended the match to thefourteenth. It was there that the players halved thehole, giving Sneed a 5&4 win. For his part, Sneedplayed beautifully. His stroke score through the firstnine was 34 to Wuennenberg’s 40.
The 27th NormandieAmateur, played overthe historic layout,proved once again thatthe course earned itsdistinction through theyears as a true player’scourse. The 36-holeevent generally featuresmany of the area’s bestand this year was nodifferent.
The field was dotted with former champions: SkipBerkmeyer, Andy Frost, Ted Moloney, Buddy Allen,Phil Caravia, Jeff Johnson, Tom Barry, Scott Fann andJustin Bliss.
Round one produced some sterling play as Berkmeyerposted a 3-under 68. Just a stroke back at 69 was AndyFrost, with Corey Choate, Alex Cusumano sitting at70. Phil Caravia and Ted Moloney rounded out thesix players in the field who were at par or better.Berkmeyer’s play was stellar with the lone blemishesbeing a double bogey on the 200-yard third and abogey on the tough 399-yard 14th. He offset thesewith birdies on the 4th, 8th, 13th and 15th, and aneagle on the 558-yard par 5 seventh, the lone eagle onthat hole for the tournament. Frost, the defendingchampion, who had posted a 7-under 135 in 2012 –edging Berkmeyer by three shots – also had twobogey’s, but overcame these with four birdies for his 2-under round.
On Sunday, the course hit back a bit as scores jumped,leaving some of the leaders scratching their heads.With only three rounds at par or better on the day,Phil Caravia and Tom Barry, each with rounds of 70,moved into the hunt. However, it was Buddy Allen,the 2007 champion, who made the biggest jump. Histhree birdies, with a single bogey on the twelfth,catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard at 141 ashe waited for the other leaders to complete theirrounds. Caravia, playing just behind Allen, was 1-overthrough eleven before birdies at the thirteenth andsixteenth moved him to 1-under, putting him also at141. Berkmeyer was in the final group with Frost andCusumano, both of whom posted rounds of 77 and outof the chase. Berkmeyer’s play was erratic as he was 1-under on the front but 2-over on the back as heapproached the final holes. With pars on fifteen,sixteen and seventeen, all that was needed was a par onthe 246-yard par 3 eighteenth to clinch victory.However, it was not to be as he failed to get up anddown and walked off with a bogey and in a three-waytie for the lead.
The players made their way to the 443-yard par 4 firsthole to determine a winner. An uphill tee shot to amounded fairway – with trees along both sides – thesmall, back to front sloping green demands an accurateapproach if one hopes to make par. For the week, thehole ranked the third-toughest playing to a 4.7 to par.
Allen’s approach found the right bunker whileBerkmeyer and Caravia lay on the putting surface.Berkmeyer rolled in his 12-foot birdie to take thecrystal trophy and his fifth Normandie title.
For the first time in 9-years, Belk Park was not the siteof the East Side Amateur. Rather it would beLockhaven, for former private club now turned semi-private, that would test the players in the 36-holeevent.
The course record of 62 at Lockhaven was establishedby none other than Tom Watson during an exhibition.Founded in 1955, it was designed by noted Chicagoarchitect Robert Bruce Harris, the designer of anotherwell-known St. Louis area course, Meadowbrook.
Playing at a par 71, the first round would find sixplayers post rounds in the 60s, led by a 68 by Buddy
NORMANDIE AMATEUR
EAST SIDE AMATEUR
Skip Berkmeyer
The Metropolitan January-February 2014
Allen and rounds of 69 by Troy Halterman, JeremyFranklin (winner of the 2012 East Side Amateur title),
Corey Choate, EliGrant and BobHanneken. SamMigdal came in at 1-under 70, with 4additional rounds ateven par.
Allen, Hanneken andChoate would be in thefinal group, just behindGrant, Franklin andHalterman. However,the best rounds of the
day would come from an earlier group with AndyFrost and Bryan Bohme who each carded a round of70 for a 142 total. Finishing nearly an hour ahead ofthe leaders, they would have some tense moments tosee if they would play off for the title.
Grant would finish his round before the final groupand with five bogeys and four birdies, post a round of72 and a 141 total. With that, Frost and Bohmeheaded for the parking lot. It was now left to see ifHanneken, Allen or Choate were up to the task.
Unfortunately for Allen, a double bogey on thesecond, followed by bogeys on the third and eighth,left him 4-over at the turn. As he played the back ninein level par, his 75 left him on the outside looking in ashe tied for sixth place with Franklin. Meanwhile,Wooten had finished with rounds of 71-72, goodenough to tie with Allen and Franklin. Choatefollowed his 69 was a 73 and in a tie for third. BobHanneken of Persimmon Woods went out in 35, ashad Choate, so he knew he was in a dogfight. Afterbogeys at the tenth and thirteenth, and a lone birdie atthe eleventh, he shot par through the remaining holesto post a 72 – the same total as Grant had postedearlier. After each player made bogey on the ninth hole, theywent to the tenth tee. Hanneken put his approachtight to the flag, while Grant struggled to find thegreen. An easy two-putt gave Hanneken his firstMetropolitan title, having played in numerous eventsover the years. In the senior portion of the event,Andy Frost finished at the top of that group.
Elizabeth Leath and Chris Ferris captured theirrespective Girls and Boys titles at the 14th JuniorAmateur Championship at Quail Creek GC. Ferris,from Aberdeen, has been competing in a number ofMAGA events in the last several years. His rounds of76-74 enabled him to edge our Joe Williams by threestrokes.
Leath began the day one shot back of the Round 1leader Jordan Leonard, but passed her by with asecond round 79 to capture the Barbara A. BerkmeyerTrophy! Leath (Four Seasons CC) had rounds of 84-79. Elise McDonough (Metropolitan GC) wouldfinish Runner-Up after rounds of 87-85.
In the Boys 14-15 Age Division, Ferris was the winnerof the Age Division along with the overall title. DavisSoderberg (Old Hickory GC) would finish runner-upat 154. Clayton Voss (Franklin County CC) startedthe day one shot back of Ferris, would finish runner-up in the Boys 16-17 Division with rounds of 77-80.
There were two participants in the boys Age 12-13Division compete with Nathaniel Conroy(Metropolitan GC) edging out Joshua Garrett (OldHickory GC) by 4 shots.
Arizona professional Drew Stoltz, of Whisper RockGC, out-dueled 2-time Metropolitan Open championShawn Jasper during the final round to claim victoryand the $13,500 top prize. The Weiskopf-Moorishdesign Lewis & Clark course proved to be quite a testfor the players as the winning score of 4-under par wasnine strokes higher than the winning total for 2012.Further evidence of the challenges presented by the
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
JUNIOR AMATEUR
Elizabeth Leath Chris Ferris
Bob Hanneken
The Metropolitan January-February 2014
layout is that out of the field of 138 players, only fivewere able to post a total in red numbers. This wasbrought about by the firm conditions, deep, thickrough and difficult hole locations.
However, at weeks-end, the tournamentbelonged to the formerTexas Christian golfer.The 30-year-oldveteran of the mini-tour circuits made theshots when it countedas he finished with atwo-under-par 68 toedge Jasper and ChrisThompson by a singlestroke.
Stoltz made a pair of birdies over his final six holes tofinish the tournament at 206 (68-70-68). Afterconfirming his round, he left the scorer’s table andstood nervously as he watched Jasper and Thompsoneach missed birdie efforts on the eighteenth green.
While the prize money was nice, it was earning hisseventh professional victory that excited him most.Stoltz noted that “…these were not great scores, butthis (St. Albans) course wasn’t one where you weregoing to make a lot of birdies this week. It was playingtough and that’s the way I like it. It wasn’t a birdie-festthis week.”
St. Albans member, Jay Delsing, finished at 209 (70-72-67), in fifth position, while low amateur honorswent to Alex Cusumano at 216.
Stoltz became the 2nd Arizona golfer to win the eventand take possession of the James S. Manion Trophy.
Having finished 1-2 in the Missouri Women’s Amateurin early July, with Catherine Dolan edging Ellen Portby a stroke at Old Kinderhook, the Women’sMetropolitan Amateur at St. Louis Country Clubproved to be a rematch between two of the area’s bestlady golfers. However, for Port, the area’s best womanamateur ever, these two events belonged to theyouthful player from Ballwin.
Dolan started her quest for the title with birdies on thefirst three holes, something seldom seen over thehistoric Charles Blair Macdonald course. With parson 13 of the remaining holes, her even round 71 gave
her a one stroke lead. For herpart, Port, who would win theUS Senior Women’s Amateur inthe fall, had an up and downround with five bogeys, twobirdies and an eagle to scratchout a 1-over round.
While Dolan’s play was markedby steady play in the secondround – three bogeys and abirdie – for a 2-over 73, Port
had another uncharacteristic round with five bogeysand only two birdies for a 3-over 74, giving Dolan thetitle. Persimmon Woods’ Kelli Kirchoff finished thirdat 154.
In the other flights, Rebecka Bahn of the MAC GolfClub took the A Flight, followed by Maria Morrisonand Peggy Shamleffer. The B Flight had Debra Beneon top with St. Louis CC’s Carol Ann Jones finishingsecond. In the C Flight, Carol Amling posted a 185with Julia McEdwn of Bear Creek taking second.Persimmon Woods played host for the Men’s Amateurin early August. Having developed into one of thearea’s premier championships – always with a strongfield – players knew that the 54-hole event would beboth a mental and physical challenge.
Defending champion Kyle Weldon – a sophomore atKansas State University – played his high school golfat Parkway South, where he earned all-state honors.Also in the field were several former champions,including: Skip Berkmeyer, Brian Kennedy, ScottEdwards and Eli Grant.
Whitmoor’s Michael Wooten went off at 8:14 andtook the early lead atop the leaderboard with a roundof 67. Nearly an hour later, Joe Migdal posted a 69.However, it would not be until later in the day whenWeldon knocked in his sixth birdie of the round, withonly one bogey, that his round of 65 stood as themeasuring stick. When Joe Timpone, playing in theday’s final group, came in with a 68 that the last of the
WOMEN’S AMATEUR
Catherine Dolan
Drew Stoltz
MEN’S AMATEUR
The Metropolitan January-February 2014
rounds in the 60s wascompleted for the day.Clearly, PersimmonWoods was up to the test;the question remained tobe seen which playerswould pass the challenge.
The second round sayanother round of 65, thisfrom Cy Moritz ofFranklin County CC,giving him a two round
total of 141. However, Berkmeyer’s 69, to go with hisopening 71, put him at 140, along with Teddy Jones(72-68). Weldon did not have a good a round, fallingto a 3-over 73; still, it was good enough for a 2-shotlead. With the cut at 150, 44 players would tee it upin the final round.
Berkmeyer and Weldon were paired together in thefinal group, just behind Moritz and Jones. Timponeand Austin Pearl were in the third to last group, withPhil Caravia and Jeremy Franklin in the next group.
Berkmeyer started strong with a birdie on the firsthole. However, bogeys on the third and sixth put him1-over at the turn. On the other hand, Weldon madefive pars to start his round before back-to-back birdieshad him at 33 and 2-under for his first 9 holes;widening his lead over Berkmeyer to five shots. Skipplayed the back nine in 1-over, giving him a round of2-over 70, placing him in fifth place.
Meanwhile, Caravia went out in 35 and made threebirdies on the back to complete a round of 68 and a210 total, good enough for a second place finish. Pearland Timpone both had solid rounds, though Pearl’s 69enabled him to post 211 and a third place tie withTeddy Jones, who shot a 1-over 71. Timpone’s 72 puthim just behind Berkmeyer in sixth place.
Weldon’s play was not overly spectacular; in fact heseemed to play a bit defensively on his final nine holes,making one birdie and three bogeys for a 2-over 37.However, his round of 70 – even par – was goodenough to secure the victory and back-to-back titles;making him only the second to do so, with DavidEstes having accomplished that feat in 1997 and 1998.
While Persimmon Woods played above 8-over par for
the first two rounds, during the final round playersaveraged just over 74. Surprisingly, the course yieldedonly 1 eagle all week, and that in round 1 on theeighth hole by Garrett Sneed.
The always-demandingSunset course playedhost for the 2013 SeniorAmateur. Day onefound two formerchampions – ScottEdwards and Jim Dunn- among the trio tiedatop the leaderboard.Joining them wasreining Player of theYear, Jeff Johnson. Hadall things gone well for
him, Jim Dunn would have held a commanding lead.Having recently qualified for the US Senior Amateur,he carded six birdies during his round but mixed infour bogeys and a double bogey to fall back to levelpar. Just two shots off the pace was 2012 championAndy Frost.
Yielding more double bogeys than birdies – with anaverage of nearly 9-over par – the leaders knew thatthe winner would face a number of challenges if hewas to claim the title. With Dunn, Edwards andJohnson in the final group, there is always the dangerof it turning into a match play situation among them.However, Edwards lost his way on the front nine,ballooning to a 44. Dunn made the turn at 2-over, butfour bogeys on the back nine tied Edwards as theyeach posted a 77 for their rounds. Meanwhile,Johnson’s first 8 holes found him 2-over before abirdie on the ninth seemed to steady the ship. Aneagle-3 on the par 5 tenth, followed by 8 pars, was allhe needed. His 1-under par round was the best scoreof the day, giving him a 4-shot victory. Andy Frost,who followed his first round 74 with a solid 73, movedinto the second spot, with Tim Boyd, Mark Gardiner,Joe Timpone,Edwards and Dunn tying for third.
Age Group winners were as followed: (50-59) RandyGibbs of the Metropolitan GC, (60-64) Jay Mason ofthe CC at the Legends, (65-69) Terry Fairbanks ofWhitmoor, (70 and over) Michael Mooney ofAlgonquin.
SENIOR AMATEUR
Jeff Johnson
Kyle Weldon
The Metropolitan January-February 2014
In 1961, Bob Goalby won two tourna-ments and tied for second at the USOpen. This would have earned himenough points to qualify for theRyder Cup Team that year. However,at that time, a touring professionalhad to serve a 5-year apprenticeshipon tour, or in a golf shop, to be con-sidered a full PGA Member. Conse-quently, Bob was passed over for the1961 team. He would be selectedand play in the 1963 Ryder Cup.
GOLF ODDITIES
HOLTGRIEVE CAPTAINS US WALKER CUP VICTORY
Jim Holtgrieve (seated at center) with the 2013 Walker Cup Team
JIM HOLTGRIEVE’SWALKER CUP
CAREERPlayer Record 6 - 4
Foursomes 3-3; Singles 3-1
1979 US Walker Cup TeamUSA wins 15½ - 8½
1981 US Walker Cup TeamUSA wins 15 - 9
1983 US Walker Cup TeamUSA wins 13½ - 10½
2011 Captain, US Walker Cup GB&I wins 14 - 12
2013 Captian, US Walker Cup USA wins 17 - 9
IMPORTANT INFORMATIONUSGA website: www.usga.org
MAGA website: www.metga.orgGHIN website: www.ghin.org
The Metropolitan January-February 2014
Year Player Site Score
1953 Jim Jackson Kitansett Club 9-3
1955 Jim Jackson St. Andrews 10-2
1961 Bob Cochran Seattle CC 11-1
1975 Jay Haas St. Andrews 15½-8½
1979 Jim Holtgrieve Muirfield 15½-8½
1981 Jim Holtgrieve Cypress Point 15-9
1983 Jim Holtgrieve Royal Liverpool 13½-10 ½
1985 Jerry Haas Pine Valley 13-11
* USA score first
ST. LOUIS WALKER CUP PARTICIPANTS
10
The Metropolitan January-February 2014
One-hundred andtwenty players arrived atAberdeen GC onWednesday, May 15,each hoping to capturethe brass ring andadvance to theSectional round and ashot at competing inthe US Open at historicMerion GC.
With only 18 holes infront of them, therewould be no time to
catch up from a slow start. Adam Long had five birdies and only one bogey to
post a 4-under 67 to take the top spot. Two behind at69 were Alex Cusumano and Joe Migdal. Justin Bryant,Zach Barlow and Carr Vernon were a shot back at 70while Skip Berkmeyer and Kyle Weldon were the finalqualifiers, posting rounds of 71. Todd Mitchell claimedthe first alternate spot with Ted Moloney taking the2nd alternate spot following a playoff of four playerswho were tied at 72.
Qualifying for the USWomen’s Open was heldat Algonquin GC onMay 30. Fifty-eightplayers – 43 amateursand 15 professionals –were scheduled to tee itup for a chance to headto Sebonack GC inSouthhampton, NY.However, bad weathersaw only 52 players
arrive for play with only 37 completing all 36 holes. Professional Izzy Beisiegel of Broken Arrow,
Oklahoma shot a 3 over 74 in the morning round thenfollowed that with a one-under 70 for a 2-over total.
Joining Beisiegel at 144 were Amy Meier, an amateurfrom Rochester Hills, Michigan, and professionalsMegan Grehan from Franklin, Tennessee and EmmaJandel of Dayton, Ohio.
A beautiful day awaitedhopefuls looking topunch their ticket for theUS Open. While anumber of PGA Tourplayers were expected totake part, in the end onlyTour veteran Jay DonBlake became the nameplayer for the site. Afteran up-and-down morninground – with four bogeysand four birdies – he was
well positioned to make an afternoon charge.However, the morning’s best rounds were a pair of 2-under 69s by amateur Brant Peaper of Tequesta,Florida, and professional Travis Johns of Oswego,Illinois.
Qualifying for the US Open is usually marked byplayers finishing strong and making few mistakes. Thebest rounds at Old Warson were no different. Blakebirdied the first three holes in his afternoon round,then added two more before making the turn in 30.Though he made two bogeys on the back nine, histhree-under 38 was good enough to earn the topqualifying spot. With one spot remaining there wereonly a handful of players on the course with morningrounds that put them in a position to take the next spot.Besides Johns, Brad Hopfinger of Lake Forest, Illinois,Chris Thompson of Lawrence, Kansas, AndrewDahl ofSalinas, California and Mackenzie Hughes ofCharlotte,North Carolina remained in contention.
Hughes, a veteran of the Canadian Tour, was pairedwith Blake and his 1-under 70 left him at 142. Johnsfollowed his morning 69 with a 73, tying him withHughes. Hopfinger, with a 70, fell one stroke short.Hughes and Johns had a playoff for the 2nd qualifyingspot, which went to Hughes, leaving Johns as the firstalternate.
2013 USGA QUALIFYING
US OPEN - LOCAL QUALIFYING
US WOMEN’S OPEN
US OPEN - SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
Jay Don Blake
Megan Grehan (l) & Izzy Beisiegel
Aberdeen owner Rocky Dollarhide(l) and GM Matt O’Dell.
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The venerableClinton Hill GC inFairview Heights,Illinois, had not hosteda USGA qualifyingevent in many years.The 2013 US AmateurPublic LinksQualifying would takeplace over the par 69layout. With itsgenerous fairways, therewere a number of lowrounds by the leaders,
making for some very competitive final holes. The2012 Men’s Amateur Champion Kyle Weldon postedtwo rounds of 67 for a 134 total and take the top spot.He was followed by Mitchell Rutledge at 137 (71-66)for the final qualifying position. Derek Mason (139)and Corey Choate (142) were the alternates.
Tour veteran TrevorDodds outlasted JeffWhitfield as bothplayers finished withrounds of 70 at QuincyCountry Club. Trevorbirdied the first hole toearn his spot at OmahaCC for the US SeniorOpen. With Whitfieldearning the firstalternate spot, JayDelsing and Steve Lotz
would battle for the 2nd alternate. With both playershitting driver from the tee, Lotz – a frequent long-driveparticipant – drove the green and made a two-puttbirdie for the second spot.
Two players from outside the St. Louis area claimedthe two qualifying spots at WingHaven CC for the USJunior Amateur.
Kristian Caparros ofHollywood, Florida, withrounds of 73-70, took thetop qualifying spot. MattLavery of Peoria, Illinoisand Matt Echeimeierfrom Columbia, Missouritied at 146 withEchelmeier taking the 2ndqualifying spot in aplayoff.
Caparros is one of thetop ranked players in thecountry and has
committed to play college golf at the University ofFlorida.
The West course at Norwood Hills CC, site of the1948 PGA Championship, won by Ben Hogan overMike Turnesa, was the site of the US Amateurqualifying.
Players from across the region arrived to earn theirticket to the historic Country Cub in Brookline,Massachusetts, site of Francis Ouimet’s win at the 1913US Open.
Chance Holden of Dexter, Missouri and Carr Vernonof Poplar Bluff, Missouri, each posted 141 totals toqualify. Holden had rounds of 71-70, while Vernonwent 69-72. Steven Souchek of Columbia, Illinois hadthe best round of the day with a 68, which he followedwith a 74, giving him a 142 total. Joininghim wasKirkwood golfer Tanner Bulejski who went 73-69 forhis rounds. The four of them each earned their way tocompete at Brookline.
US AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS
US SENIOR OPEN
US AMATEUR
US JUNIOR AMATEUR
Trevor Dodds
Kyle Weldon
Kristian Caparros
Chance Holden Carr Vernon
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Alex Cusumano came in at 143 to take first alternatewhile Cy Moritz took second alternate out of a threeway playoff.
Whitmoor CC wasthe site of the USSenior AmateurQualifying. Twentyplayers submitted theirentries, each hoping tocapture the lonequalifying spot. It wasa stellar field with anumber of former areachampions amongthose competing. Thisincluded: Tim Boyd,
Robert Trittler, Bob Meeh, Mike Kootman, DennisOsborne, Scott Edwards and Jim Dunne. Playing as apar 72, each of the top players seemed to havedifficulty on the front nine as only Kootman managedto break par, posting a 1-under 35. However, after alengthy delay, he would have difficulties closing as twobogeys and a triple bogey on the seventeenth endedhis chances. Meanwhile, Scott Edwards was having anup and down round with four bogeys and threebirdies to finish at 1-over. Like Edwards, Dunn’s playwas also a bit erratic, though his four birdies againstonly three bogeys were enough to give him a 1-underround and the lone qualifying spot. Dunn alsocompleted his round before the weather delay.
Competing for thefour qualifying spots forthe US Mid-Amateurhad a number of wellknown players arrive atForest Hills for the 18-hole qualifying round.Playing at a par 70, TedMoloney shot a 1-under69 to take honors. SkipBerkmeyer followedwith a 1-over 71 withPatrick Britt and PhilCaravia both posting
two-over rounds, good enough to qualify. RyanEckelkamp and Dan Emrick earned alternate spots.
US MID-AMATEUR
US SENIOR AMATEUR
Jim Dunn
Ted Moloney
ST. LOUIS GOLF
HISTORY
‘04 SENIOR OPEN:
THE VICTORY THATNEARLY WASN’T
In 2004, Peter Jacobsen was having aterrific tournament during the Sen-ior Open at Bellerive CC. At the endof play on Saturday, he was in thelead with a 135 total. However, withthe Friday round having been rainedout – and the Saturday round beinground two – the championshipwould be decided with 36-holes onSunday. Having undergone recenthip surgery (he was on crutches onlysix weeks before the tournamentbegan) Jacobsen informed tourna-ment officials that depending on howthe morning round went, if his hipwas not up to another round, hemight be forced to withdraw! As weknow, not only did his hip performwell, his game was also up to thechallenge as he captured his firstUSGA title, much to the delight ofthe large crowd.
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Ellen Port joined some elite company as she completedanother run through the USGA Senior Women’s Ama-teur Championship at CordeValle in San Martin, CA.Port joins hall of famers Glenna Collett Vare and Hol-lis Stacy as 6-time USGA Champions and joins a list ofonly 9 other golfers in USGA history to have captured6 USGA titles, this being her 2nd Senior Women’sadded to her 4 previous US Mid-Amateur Champi-onship titles.
Ellen becomes just the 4th player in history to win 2different championships in back-to-back years, havingdone so in 1995 and 1996. Additionally, when Ellenserves as the Curtis Cup Captain here in St. Louis inJune of 2014, she will be the first reigning USGAchampion to do so since Carolyn Cudone in 1970.
US SENIOR WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPION
Ellen Port
ELLEN PORT’S HONORS
NATIONAL
1992 Women’s Western Amateur Medalist1994 Women’s National Trans-Miss Champion1994 US Curtis Cup Team1995 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion1995 US Curtis Cup Team1996 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion2000 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion2000 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Medalist2001 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Medalist2002 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Medalist2011 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion2012 US Senior Women’s Champion2013 US Senior Women’s Champion2014 Captain US Curtis Cup Team
STATE1992 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion1995 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion2000 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion2001 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion2002 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion2003 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion2010 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion2012 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion
LOCAL1987 SLWGA Match Play Champion1992 SLWDGA Stroke Play Champion1993 SLWDGA Stroke Play Champion1993 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion1994 SLWDGA Stroke Play Champion1994 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion1995 SLWDGA Stroke Play Champion1998 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion1998 SLWDGA Champion2000 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion2001 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion2002 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion2002 SLWDGA Champion2003 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion2004 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion2005 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion2006 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion2009 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion2010 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
2014 CLUB AND COURSE ANNIVERSARIES
15 YEARSWingHaven20 YEARS
Emerald GreensFox Run
Governors RunMeramec LakesMissouri Bluffs
TapawingoWoodlandsWoods Fort25 YEARSDeer Creek
Eagle Springs
35 YEARSCrescent Farms45 YEARSTower TeeWarrenton50 YEARSArlingtonSherwood
GC at FlorissantForest Hills60 YEARSTamarack
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MAGA COMPETITIONSENTRY
CHAMPIONSHIP DATE(S) DEADLINE VENUE
Match Play Championship May 3-4 Invitational Old Warson Country Club
Normandie Amateur May 17-18 May 10 Normandie Golf Club
East Side Amateur June 14-15 June 7 Lockhaven Golf Club
Women's Amateur Championship June 24-25 June 11 Forest Hills Country Club
Open Championship July 10-12 June 25 Country Club of St. Albans
Junior Amateur Championship July 21-22 July 9 Normandie Golf Club
Amateur Championship July 31 -August 1 July 2 Westwood Country Club
Senior Amateur Championship August 14-15 July 30 Greenbriar Hills Country Club
Four-Ball Championship September 28-29 September 10 Franklin County CC
USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDSENTRY
CHAMPIONSHIP DATE(S) DEADLINE VENUE
US Open (Local) May 13 April 23 Missouri Bluffs Golf Club
US Women's Open (36 Holes) May 20 April 30 Lake Forest Golf & CC
US Women's Amateur Publinks May 28 May 14 Annbriar Golf Club
US Amateur Public Links June 9-10 May 28 Aberdeen Golf Club
US Senior Open June 16 May 28 Country Club at The Legends
US Junior Girls' Amateur June 25 June 4 Bogey Hills Country Club
US Junior Amateur (36 Holes) July 1 June 4 Old Hickory Country Club
US Amateur July 14-15 June 25 Jefferson City Country Club
US Mid-Amateur August 5 July 9 Annbriar Golf Club
US Women’s Mid-Amateur August 5 July 9 Annbriar Golf Club
US Senior Women's Amateur August 20 August 6 WingHaven Country Club
US Senior Amateur August 21 August6 Glen Echo Country Club
US Amateur Four-Ball Ocotber 6 August 6 Bellerive Country Club
US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball September 23 August 6 St. Clair Country Club
2014 COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Go to www.metga.org/2014-schedule-of-events/ to apply on-line or to download an application for an event.
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The Metropolitan January-February 2014
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