TheMetropolitan
Vol. 1 No. 1
St. Louis CC #16
PLAYERS OF THE
YEAR FOR 2013
udly Presented By
Pro
MEN
Exclusive Corporate Partner
SENIOR MEN
Jeff Johnson
US WOMEN’S OPEN
May 20
Lake Forest CC
Entry Deadline: April 30
WOMEN
Catherine Dolan
SENIOR WOMEN
Ellen Port
O’TOOLE BEGINS TERM AS
USGA PRESIDENT
From 1941-1944, a Metro Open
Tournament, with amateur and
professional divisions, was held
across the area. The first event
was held at Lake Park GC (today
Grand Marias) at 52nd and State
Streets in East St. Louis. The
key match featured Meadowbrook’s Tom Draper, who would
win the 1971 US Senior Amateur, and Cardinal Pitcher Dizzy
Dean, who played out of Normandie. Draper downed Dean in
their match. In the following
years, the event would be played
at Meadowbrook and Normandie
before ending in 1944.
2014 USGA EVENTS
US OPEN QUALIFYING
May 13
Missouri Bluffs GC
Entry Deadline: April 23
Skip Berkmeyer
A LOOK BACK...
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., founder of
the MAGA and longtime Executive
Director, began his term as president
of the USGA in February 2014. He
becomes the second St. Louis resident
to assume the position, following the
legendary Hord Hardin, who was
USGA president in 1968-69.
Rising through the ranks as a rules
official, Tom quickly gained a
reputation as one of the very best.
Throughout his career, he has
officiated golf at the highest levels,
earning the respect and admiration of
his counterparts. His ascension to
president of the USGA signifies a
break from tradition as he is the first
to do so coming from the officiating
side the the game.
(Continued on page 3)
MAGA EVENTS
OLD WARSON CUP
MAY 3-4
OLD WARSON CC
- INVITATIONAL NORMANDIE AMATEUR
May 17-18
Normandie GC
Entry Deadline: May 10
EAST SIDE AMATEUR
June 14-15
Lockhaven GC
Entry Deadline: June 7
See page 19 for full schedule
Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131
314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • info@metga.org
The Metropolitan
January-February 2014
STAFF
CURT’S COMMENTS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org
DIRECTOR, FINANCE
Jennifer Langford - jennifer@metga.org
METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Amateur Championship
Match Play Championship
Open Championship
Women’s Amateur Championship
Junior Amateur Championship
Senior Amateur Championship
Metropolitan Cup Matches
Four-Ball Championship
Mid-America Junior Cup
USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS
US Open Qualifying (Local and Sectional)
US Senior Open Qualifying
US Amateur Qualifying
US Mid-Amateur Qualifying
US Women’s Mid-Amateur
US Junior Amateur Qualifying
US Amateur Public Links Qualifying
US Senior Amateur Qualifying
US Women’s Open Qualifying
US Amateur Four-Ball
US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Stanford S. Grossman – President Emeritus
Thomas J. O’Toole, Jr. – Vice-President
Thomas O. Sobbe, Jr. – Vice-President
M. Ray McCraine – Secretary
G. Scott Engelbrecht – Treasurer
G.F. (Rick) Meyer, Jr. – At-Large Member
H. Mick Wellington – At-Large Member
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Scott Thomas, Chairman
Dustin Ashby
Tom Barry
Skip Berkmeyer
Jim Dunn
David Rhoads
Curt Rohe
Hello, welcome to the first
edition of The Metropolitan!
We are very excited to launch
this new, all digital newsletter
to provide current news and
events of the Metropolitan
Amateur Golf Association
(MAGA).
Curt Rohe
Executive Director
You, our members, will
exclusively
receive
The
Metropolitan via email eight (8) times in 2014. Four of the
issues will be bi-monthly, off-season issues, along with 4
monthly editions, keeping you up-to-date with MAGA
news and events during the “golf season.”
We are very excited to have Jim Healey, St. Louis’ golf
historian, join us as our Editor/Publisher of The
Metropolitan. Jim is the foremost authority of the history
of the game in the St. Louis region. Having written the
book Golfing Before the Arch and worked with several St.
Louis clubs to write their anniversary / history books. Jim’s
expertise in writing and photography is going to make The
Metropolitan one of the finest regional golf association
newsletters in the country.
The all digital, interactive layout will give you the
opportunity to experience The Metropolitan via computer,
tablet or other mobile device. The articles will allow
readers to get updates with direct links to the MAGA
website, WWW.METGA.ORG and other sites
referenced. Additionally, the format will allow readers to
print the newsletter if so desired.
The first edition will provide our members with a
sampling of things to come in the coming year. However,
we also want to hear from you and we want to know what
you want to read about. We have setup an email address
dedicated to The Metropolitan for feedback, it is:
themetropolitan@metga.org. This newsletter is for YOU
and it will be about YOU, our individual members.
Enjoy this inaugural edition. If you would like to reach
me at anytime, please email me personally at
curt@metga.org.
2
The Metropolitan
January-February 2014
CONNECT WITH US...
O’TOOLE ASCENDS TO PRESIDENCY (Continued)
Tom has been associated with the USGA since 1988
and has served as a Rules official at more than 125 USGA
championships, including every U.S. Open since 1990. He
begins his sixth year as a member of the USGA Executive
Committee, having served three years as vice president,
and secretary in 2010. In 2013, Tom chaired the
Championship and Compensation Committees, while
serving on the Audit, Commercial, Handicap,
International Team Selection, Management, Rules of Golf
and Joint Rules of Golf Committees.
Learning the game from the ground up, Tom started
as a caddie, became a rules official, started a golf association
and rose at dawn to mark courses. One of the premier
administrators in the game, Tom’s rise to the presidency is,
to some, long overdue. Considered a populist president by
many, Tom comes into the position with perhaps more
knowledge of the game than any of his predecessors.
His relationship with Jim Holtgrieve is legendary.
Though ten years his senior, Tom caddied for Jim during
many of his championships, including his win at the 1981
U.S. Mid-Amateur at Bellerive CC. It was Holtgrieve who
first suggested to Tom that he become involved with the
USGA. After introducing him to Tom Meeks, then Senior
Director 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 Director
of the USGA, believes that Tom’s presidency will mark a
new era within the USGA.
Perhaps it was former USGA president Jim Hyler,
who has summed it up best: “For 25 years, he has volunteered
much of his time to do a lot of great things for golf. It is very
fitting that he has gone through the ranks. He is someone who
defined himself early and has remained incredibly passionate
about golf. He has a rich history, and we are lucky to have him.”
O’Toole is a partner in the law firm of Mickes
Goldman O’Toole, LLC, where he chairs the firm’s
Business and Corporate Group, with a practice focused on
real 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-month
old. A member of Old Warson CC, Tom is well aware of
the 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 is
serious. If we are going to be leaders – if we even have a game to
govern – we have to focus on the game’s health.”
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RULES OF GOLF CORNER
USE OF MULTI-FUNCTIONAL
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
The Rules of Golf have been relaxed in regard to
use of multi-functional electronic devices (Cell
Phones) and distance measuring devices (DMDs). You
can now use your phone to check on weather
conditions as long as there is nothing on the device
that would allow you to measure the temperature or
wind conditions at your specific location. You can also
use the compass on your electronic device as long as it
provides only directional information.
While you can now use these devices you must still
be aware of other Rules of Golf that could be violated
by using them, i.e. unduly delaying play, texting
another player about what club he used at a particular
hole, calling a golf instructor for a swing tip.
The USGA further has announced that DMD’s
will now be allowed at all amateur championships and
qualifiers in 2014. They will still not be allowed at any
of the Open Championships. As long as the Local
Rule allowing DMDs (Laser Rangefinders, GPS or
Apps installed on a cell phone) is enacted you can use
any device or application that measures distance only.
The qualifications that make a multi-functional device
legal have also been changed. Please click this link to
see an excellent flow chart that details these changes.
“Can I Use My DMD?” If you have any doubt if your
DMD is legal always check with the Committee prior
to starting your round.
Contributed by Tom Wohlgemuth, MAGA Rules
Committee. The Rules of Golf Corner will feature a
member of our Rules Committee.
3
2013 YEAR IN REVIEW
GATEWAY CUP
For the first time in years, the Metropolitan Season
did not commence with the Match Play Championship
in May. For 2013, the Season began with players
venturing to St. Albans for the Gateway Cup Matches,
pitting amateurs against professionals over the Tavern
Creek Course. Held April 7-8, the event featured
fourteen singles matches, seven foursomes and seven
four-ball contests. The PGA players, all of whom
were members of the Gateway Section, faced-off
against a select squad of top amateurs representing the
Metropolitan.
The Sunday afternoon round featured Four-Ball
Matches (Best Ball). The MAGA team racked up four
points as Chad Niezing & Jeff Johnson, Eli Grant &
Brett Meeske, Skip Berkmeyer & Ted Moloney and
Tom Barry & Scott Edwards each won their matches.
For the pros, JC Anderson & Mike Suhre, Ryan Roy
& Gideon Smith and Nash Haxel & Mike Tucker
earned points for their team.
Monday would be a full day with the morning round
featuring Foursome matches (Alternate shot) with
Singles in the afternoon.
Once again, the MAGA team fared very well in this
difficult format. Johnson & Niezing, Patrick Britt &
Joe Migdal, and Phil Caravia & Scott Edwards each
won their matches with Andy Frost & Andy Fogarty
and Grant & Meeske both earning Halves, giving the
MAGA a 4-2 lead and an overall lead of 8 – 6 heading
into the afternoon singles matches. For the pros, Rob
Sedorcek & Mike Tucker along with Suhre & Gaus
won their matches with Anderson & Brian Fogt and
Roy and Smith earning halves.
With the slim lead for the Metropolitan squad, the
pros dug in and fought for every point. When the last
putt fell, it was all even as the pros edges the MAGA
players 8 – 6 to earn a hard fought tie at 14 apiece.
Smith and Gaus each won their matches easily, while
Fogarty, Meeske, Barry, Breven Giebler and Frost
posted wins for the MAGA squad.
In the end, it proved to be a great opening salvo to a
terrific 2013 season.
The Metropolitan
MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
The 18th Metropolitan Match Play Championship at
Old Warson CC had another outstanding field as the
top players from 2012
earned spots in this
season opening
amateur event. Played
over two days in early
May, the first balls
were in the air at 7 am
on Saturday morning.
By 5pm on Sunday, a
champion would be
crowned.
Garrett Sneed
Thomas
Wuennenberg opened
with a bang when he defeated 2012 Player of the Year
Skip Berkmeyer in 20 holes. Ted Moloney downed
fellow Greenbriar member Mike Kendrick while Alex
Cusumano outlasted Phil Caravia in 20 holes. Joe
Migdal of Aberdeen took Corey Choate of Wolf
Hollow 3&2, Garrett Sneed of St. Albans earned a
7&6 win over Kevin Bell of Bellerive, Jeff Johnson
cruised past Matt McKiernan 5&4, while Andy Frost
edged Mike Ehlers of WingHaven in 19 holes.
Rounding out the first round was Bryan Bohme of
Norwood downing Tommy Ponce 4&3. The
afternoon round saw Wuennenberg continue his fine
play downing Bohme 9&7, Moloney edging
Cusumano 3&2, Sneed taking Migdal 1up, and Frost
over Johnson 3&1.
As players arrived at the tee early Sunday morning it
was clear that a new champion would be crowned by
days end. Wuennenberg, playing out of Tapawingo,
continued to play steady golf as he earned a 4&2
victory over Moloney. The match was tight through
the first nine holes, with Wuennenberg holding a 1-up
lead. However, on the back, after taking the tenth and
thirteenth, while losing the eleventh, Wuennenberg
stood 2-up at the fourteenth. Moloney, who would
win only two holes in the round, seemed over-matched
on this day as Wuennenberg took the fifteenth and
sixteenth to close out the match. In the match to
determine the other finalist, Sneed started strong as he
had a 6-up lead at the end of nine holes. However,
January-February 2014
Frost took the first two holes on the back before
dropping one at the thirteenth, then bouncing back to
take the fourteenth with a birdie. However, Sneed’s
birdie on the fifteenth ended the match, placing him
into the finals.
For all of his fine play during the early matches,
during the final match Wuennenberg’s game seemed
to drift away. He won only one hole during the match
– at the twelfth – which extended the match to the
fourteenth. It was there that the players halved the
hole, giving Sneed a 5&4 win. For his part, Sneed
played beautifully. His stroke score through the first
nine was 34 to Wuennenberg’s 40.
NORMANDIE AMATEUR
Skip Berkmeyer
The 27th Normandie
Amateur, played over
the historic layout,
proved once again that
the course earned its
distinction through the
years as a true player’s
course. The 36-hole
event generally features
many of the area’s best
and this year was no
different.
The field was dotted with former champions: Skip
Berkmeyer, Andy Frost, Ted Moloney, Buddy Allen,
Phil Caravia, Jeff Johnson, Tom Barry, Scott Fann and
Justin Bliss.
Round one produced some sterling play as Berkmeyer
posted a 3-under 68. Just a stroke back at 69 was Andy
Frost, with Corey Choate, Alex Cusumano sitting at
70. Phil Caravia and Ted Moloney rounded out the
six players in the field who were at par or better.
Berkmeyer’s play was stellar with the lone blemishes
being a double bogey on the 200-yard third and a
bogey on the tough 399-yard 14th. He offset these
with birdies on the 4th, 8th, 13th and 15th, and an
eagle on the 558-yard par 5 seventh, the lone eagle on
that hole for the tournament. Frost, the defending
champion, who had posted a 7-under 135 in 2012 –
edging Berkmeyer by three shots – also had two
bogey’s, but overcame these with four birdies for his 2under round.
The Metropolitan
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. His
three birdies, with a single bogey on the twelfth,
catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard at 141 as
he waited for the other leaders to complete their
rounds. Caravia, playing just behind Allen, was 1-over
through eleven before birdies at the thirteenth and
sixteenth moved him to 1-under, putting him also at
141. Berkmeyer was in the final group with Frost and
Cusumano, both of whom posted rounds of 77 and out
of the chase. Berkmeyer’s play was erratic as he was 1under on the front but 2-over on the back as he
approached the final holes. With pars on fifteen,
sixteen and seventeen, all that was needed was a par on
the 246-yard par 3 eighteenth to clinch victory.
However, it was not to be as he failed to get up and
down and walked off with a bogey and in a three-way
tie for the lead.
The players made their way to the 443-yard par 4 first
hole to determine a winner. An uphill tee shot to a
mounded fairway – with trees along both sides – the
small, back to front sloping green demands an accurate
approach if one hopes to make par. For the week, the
hole ranked the third-toughest playing to a 4.7 to par.
Allen’s approach found the right bunker while
Berkmeyer and Caravia lay on the putting surface.
Berkmeyer rolled in his 12-foot birdie to take the
crystal trophy and his fifth Normandie title.
EAST SIDE AMATEUR
For the first time in 9-years, Belk Park was not the site
of the East Side Amateur. Rather it would be
Lockhaven, for former private club now turned semiprivate, that would test the players in the 36-hole
event.
The course record of 62 at Lockhaven was established
by none other than Tom Watson during an exhibition.
Founded in 1955, it was designed by noted Chicago
architect Robert Bruce Harris, the designer of another
well-known St. Louis area course, Meadowbrook.
Playing at a par 71, the first round would find six
players post rounds in the 60s, led by a 68 by Buddy
January-February 2014
Allen and rounds of 69 by Troy Halterman, Jeremy
Franklin (winner of the 2012 East Side Amateur title),
Corey Choate, Eli
Grant and Bob
Hanneken. Sam
Migdal came in at 1under 70, with 4
additional rounds at
even par.
Allen, Hanneken and
Choate would be in the
final group, just behind
Grant, Franklin and
Halterman. However,
Bob Hanneken
the best rounds of the
day would come from an earlier group with Andy
Frost and Bryan Bohme who each carded a round of
70 for a 142 total. Finishing nearly an hour ahead of
the leaders, they would have some tense moments to
see if they would play off for the title.
Grant would finish his round before the final group
and with five bogeys and four birdies, post a round of
72 and a 141 total. With that, Frost and Bohme
headed for the parking lot. It was now left to see if
Hanneken, Allen or Choate were up to the task.
Unfortunately for Allen, a double bogey on the
second, followed by bogeys on the third and eighth,
left him 4-over at the turn. As he played the back nine
in level par, his 75 left him on the outside looking in as
he tied for sixth place with Franklin. Meanwhile,
Wooten had finished with rounds of 71-72, good
enough to tie with Allen and Franklin. Choate
followed his 69 was a 73 and in a tie for third. Bob
Hanneken of Persimmon Woods went out in 35, as
had Choate, so he knew he was in a dogfight. After
bogeys at the tenth and thirteenth, and a lone birdie at
the eleventh, he shot par through the remaining holes
to post a 72 – the same total as Grant had posted
earlier.
After each player made bogey on the ninth hole, they
went to the tenth tee. Hanneken put his approach
tight to the flag, while Grant struggled to find the
green. An easy two-putt gave Hanneken his first
Metropolitan title, having played in numerous events
over the years. In the senior portion of the event,
Andy Frost finished at the top of that group.
The Metropolitan
JUNIOR AMATEUR
Elizabeth Leath
Chris Ferris
Elizabeth Leath and Chris Ferris captured their
respective Girls and Boys titles at the 14th Junior
Amateur Championship at Quail Creek GC. Ferris,
from Aberdeen, has been competing in a number of
MAGA events in the last several years. His rounds of
76-74 enabled him to edge our Joe Williams by three
strokes.
Leath began the day one shot back of the Round 1
leader Jordan Leonard, but passed her by with a
second round 79 to capture the Barbara A. Berkmeyer
Trophy! Leath (Four Seasons CC) had rounds of 8479. Elise McDonough (Metropolitan GC) would
finish Runner-Up after rounds of 87-85.
In the Boys 14-15 Age Division, Ferris was the winner
of the Age Division along with the overall title. Davis
Soderberg (Old Hickory GC) would finish runner-up
at 154. Clayton Voss (Franklin County CC) started
the day one shot back of Ferris, would finish runnerup in the Boys 16-17 Division with rounds of 77-80.
There were two participants in the boys Age 12-13
Division compete with Nathaniel Conroy
(Metropolitan GC) edging out Joshua Garrett (Old
Hickory GC) by 4 shots.
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Arizona professional Drew Stoltz, of Whisper Rock
GC, out-dueled 2-time Metropolitan Open champion
Shawn Jasper during the final round to claim victory
and the $13,500 top prize. The Weiskopf-Moorish
design Lewis & Clark course proved to be quite a test
for the players as the winning score of 4-under par was
nine strokes higher than the winning total for 2012.
Further evidence of the challenges presented by the
January-February 2014
layout is that out of the field of 138 players, only five
were able to post a total in red numbers. This was
brought about by the firm conditions, deep, thick
rough and difficult hole locations.
Drew Stoltz
However, at weeksend, the tournament
belonged to the former
Texas Christian golfer.
The 30-year-old
veteran of the minitour circuits made the
shots when it counted
as he finished with a
two-under-par 68 to
edge Jasper and Chris
Thompson by a single
stroke.
Stoltz made a pair of birdies over his final six holes to
finish the tournament at 206 (68-70-68). After
confirming his round, he left the scorer’s table and
stood nervously as he watched Jasper and Thompson
each missed birdie efforts on the eighteenth green.
While the prize money was nice, it was earning his
seventh professional victory that excited him most.
Stoltz noted that “…these were not great scores, but
this (St. Albans) course wasn’t one where you were
going to make a lot of birdies this week. It was playing
tough and that’s the way I like it. It wasn’t a birdie-fest
this week.”
St. Albans member, Jay Delsing, finished at 209 (7072-67), in fifth position, while low amateur honors
went to Alex Cusumano at 216.
Stoltz became the 2nd Arizona golfer to win the event
and take possession of the James S. Manion Trophy.
WOMEN’S AMATEUR
Having finished 1-2 in the Missouri Women’s Amateur
in early July, with Catherine Dolan edging Ellen Port
by a stroke at Old Kinderhook, the Women’s
Metropolitan Amateur at St. Louis Country Club
proved to be a rematch between two of the area’s best
lady golfers. However, for Port, the area’s best woman
amateur ever, these two events belonged to the
youthful player from Ballwin.
The Metropolitan
Dolan started her quest for the title with birdies on the
first three holes, something seldom seen over the
historic Charles Blair Macdonald course. With pars
on 13 of the remaining holes, her even round 71 gave
her a one stroke lead. For her
part, Port, who would win the
US Senior Women’s Amateur in
the fall, had an up and down
round with five bogeys, two
birdies and an eagle to scratch
out a 1-over round.
While Dolan’s play was marked
by steady play in the second
Catherine Dolan
round – three bogeys and a
birdie – for a 2-over 73, Port
had another uncharacteristic round with five bogeys
and only two birdies for a 3-over 74, giving Dolan the
title. Persimmon Woods’ Kelli Kirchoff finished third
at 154.
In the other flights, Rebecka Bahn of the MAC Golf
Club took the A Flight, followed by Maria Morrison
and Peggy Shamleffer. The B Flight had Debra Bene
on top with St. Louis CC’s Carol Ann Jones finishing
second. In the C Flight, Carol Amling posted a 185
with Julia McEdwn of Bear Creek taking second.
Persimmon Woods played host for the Men’s Amateur
in early August. Having developed into one of the
area’s premier championships – always with a strong
field – players knew that the 54-hole event would be
both a mental and physical challenge.
MEN’S AMATEUR
Defending champion Kyle Weldon – a sophomore at
Kansas State University – played his high school golf
at Parkway South, where he earned all-state honors.
Also in the field were several former champions,
including: Skip Berkmeyer, Brian Kennedy, Scott
Edwards and Eli Grant.
Whitmoor’s Michael Wooten went off at 8:14 and
took the early lead atop the leaderboard with a round
of 67. Nearly an hour later, Joe Migdal posted a 69.
However, it would not be until later in the day when
Weldon knocked in his sixth birdie of the round, with
only one bogey, that his round of 65 stood as the
measuring stick. When Joe Timpone, playing in the
day’s final group, came in with a 68 that the last of the
January-February 2014
rounds in the 60s was
completed for the day.
Clearly, Persimmon
Woods was up to the test;
the question remained to
be seen which players
would pass the challenge.
The second round say
another round of 65, this
from Cy Moritz of
Franklin County CC,
Kyle Weldon
giving him a two round
total of 141. However, Berkmeyer’s 69, to go with his
opening 71, put him at 140, along with Teddy Jones
(72-68). Weldon did not have a good a round, falling
to a 3-over 73; still, it was good enough for a 2-shot
lead. With the cut at 150, 44 players would tee it up
in the final round.
Berkmeyer and Weldon were paired together in the
final group, just behind Moritz and Jones. Timpone
and Austin Pearl were in the third to last group, with
Phil Caravia and Jeremy Franklin in the next group.
Berkmeyer started strong with a birdie on the first
hole. However, bogeys on the third and sixth put him
1-over at the turn. On the other hand, Weldon made
five pars to start his round before back-to-back birdies
had him at 33 and 2-under for his first 9 holes;
widening his lead over Berkmeyer to five shots. Skip
played the back nine in 1-over, giving him a round of
2-over 70, placing him in fifth place.
Meanwhile, Caravia went out in 35 and made three
birdies on the back to complete a round of 68 and a
210 total, good enough for a second place finish. Pearl
and Timpone both had solid rounds, though Pearl’s 69
enabled him to post 211 and a third place tie with
Teddy Jones, who shot a 1-over 71. Timpone’s 72 put
him just behind Berkmeyer in sixth place.
Weldon’s play was not overly spectacular; in fact he
seemed 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 good
enough to secure the victory and back-to-back titles;
making him only the second to do so, with David
Estes having accomplished that feat in 1997 and 1998.
While Persimmon Woods played above 8-over par for
The Metropolitan
the first two rounds, during the final round players
averaged just over 74. Surprisingly, the course yielded
only 1 eagle all week, and that in round 1 on the
eighth hole by Garrett Sneed.
SENIOR AMATEUR
The always-demanding
Sunset course played
host for the 2013 Senior
Amateur. Day one
found two former
champions – Scott
Edwards and Jim Dunn
- among the trio tied
atop the leaderboard.
Joining them was
reining Player of the
Year, Jeff Johnson. Had
Jeff Johnson
all 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 in
four bogeys and a double bogey to fall back to level
par. Just two shots off the pace was 2012 champion
Andy Frost.
Yielding more double bogeys than birdies – with an
average of nearly 9-over par – the leaders knew that
the winner would face a number of challenges if he
was to claim the title. With Dunn, Edwards and
Johnson in the final group, there is always the danger
of 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, but
four bogeys on the back nine tied Edwards as they
each posted a 77 for their rounds. Meanwhile,
Johnson’s first 8 holes found him 2-over before a
birdie on the ninth seemed to steady the ship. An
eagle-3 on the par 5 tenth, followed by 8 pars, was all
he needed. His 1-under par round was the best score
of the day, giving him a 4-shot victory. Andy Frost,
who followed his first round 74 with a solid 73, moved
into the second spot, with Tim Boyd, Mark Gardiner,
Joe Timpone,Edwards and Dunn tying for third.
Age Group winners were as followed: (50-59) Randy
Gibbs of the Metropolitan GC, (60-64) Jay Mason of
the CC at the Legends, (65-69) Terry Fairbanks of
Whitmoor, (70 and over) Michael Mooney of
Algonquin.
January-February 2014
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
GOLF ODDITIES
USGA website: www.usga.org
MAGA website: www.metga.org
GHIN website: www.ghin.org
ST. LOUIS WALKER CUP PARTICIPANTS
Year
Player
Site
Score
1953
Jim Jackson
Kitansett Club
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
1983
Jim Holtgrieve
Royal Liverpool
1985
Jerry Haas
Pine Valley
9-3
In 1961, Bob Goalby won two tournaments and tied for second at the US
Open. This would have earned him
enough points to qualify for the
Ryder Cup Team that year. However,
at that time, a touring professional
had to serve a 5-year apprenticeship
on tour, or in a golf shop, to be considered a full PGA Member. Consequently, Bob was passed over for the
1961 team. He would be selected
and play in the 1963 Ryder Cup.
15-9
13½-10 ½
13-11
* USA score first
HOLTGRIEVE CAPTAINS US WALKER CUP VICTORY
JIM HOLTGRIEVE’S
WALKER CUP
CAREER
Player Record 6 - 4
Foursomes 3-3; Singles 3-1
1979 US Walker Cup Team
USA wins 15½ - 8½
1981 US Walker Cup Team
USA wins 15 - 9
1983 US Walker Cup Team
USA wins 13½ - 10½
2011 Captain, US Walker Cup
GB&I wins 14 - 12
2013 Captian, US Walker Cup
USA wins 17 - 9
Jim Holtgrieve (seated at center) with the 2013 Walker Cup Team
The Metropolitan
January-February 2014
The Metropolitan
January-February 2014
2013 USGA QUALIFYING
Joining Beisiegel at 144 were Amy Meier, an amateur
from Rochester Hills, Michigan, and professionals
Megan Grehan from Franklin, Tennessee and Emma
Jandel of Dayton, Ohio.
US OPEN - LOCAL QUALIFYING
One-hundred and
twenty players arrived at
Aberdeen GC on
Wednesday, May 15,
each hoping to capture
the brass ring and
advance to the
Sectional round and a
shot at competing in
the US Open at historic
Merion GC.
With only 18 holes in
front of them, there
would be no time to
US OPEN - SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
A beautiful day awaited
hopefuls looking to
punch their ticket for the
US Open. While a
number of PGA Tour
players were expected to
take part, in the end only
Aberdeen owner Rocky Dollarhide
Tour veteran Jay Don
(l) and GM Matt O’Dell.
Blake became the name
catch up from a slow start.
player for the site. After
Adam Long had five birdies and only one bogey to
an up-and-down morning
post a 4-under 67 to take the top spot. Two behind at
round – with four bogeys
Jay Don Blake
69 were Alex Cusumano and Joe Migdal. Justin Bryant,
and four birdies – he was
Zach Barlow and Carr Vernon were a shot back at 70
well positioned to make an afternoon charge.
while Skip Berkmeyer and Kyle Weldon were the final
However, the morning’s best rounds were a pair of 2qualifiers, posting rounds of 71. Todd Mitchell claimed under 69s by amateur Brant Peaper of Tequesta,
the first alternate spot with Ted Moloney taking the
Florida, and professional Travis Johns of Oswego,
2nd alternate spot following a playoff of four players
Illinois.
who were tied at 72.
Qualifying for the US Open is usually marked by
players finishing strong and making few mistakes. The
best rounds at Old Warson were no different. Blake
US WOMEN’S OPEN
birdied 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, his
Qualifying for the US
three-under 38 was good enough to earn the top
Women’s Open was held qualifying spot. With one spot remaining there were
at Algonquin GC on
only a handful of players on the course with morning
May 30. Fifty-eight
rounds that put them in a position to take the next spot.
players – 43 amateurs
Besides Johns, Brad Hopfinger of Lake Forest, Illinois,
and 15 professionals –
Chris Thompson of Lawrence, Kansas, AndrewDahl of
were scheduled to tee it
Salinas, California and Mackenzie Hughes of
up for a chance to head
Charlotte,North Carolina remained in contention.
to Sebonack GC in
Hughes, a veteran of the Canadian Tour, was paired
Southhampton, NY.
with Blake and his 1-under 70 left him at 142. Johns
However, bad weather
Megan Grehan (l) & Izzy Beisiegel
followed his morning 69 with a 73, tying him with
saw only 52 players
Hughes. Hopfinger, with a 70, fell one stroke short.
arrive for play with only 37 completing all 36 holes.
Hughes and Johns had a playoff for the 2nd qualifying
Professional Izzy Beisiegel of Broken Arrow,
spot, which went to Hughes, leaving Johns as the first
Oklahoma shot a 3 over 74 in the morning round then
alternate.
followed that with a one-under 70 for a 2-over total.
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The Metropolitan
January-February 2014
US AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS
The venerable
Clinton Hill GC in
Fairview Heights,
Illinois, had not hosted
a USGA qualifying
event in many years.
The 2013 US Amateur
Public Links
Qualifying would take
place over the par 69
layout. With its
generous fairways, there
Kyle Weldon
were a number of low
rounds by the leaders,
making for some very competitive final holes. The
2012 Men’s Amateur Champion Kyle Weldon posted
two 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.
Kristian Caparros of
Hollywood, Florida, with
rounds of 73-70, took the
top qualifying spot. Matt
Lavery of Peoria, Illinois
and Matt Echeimeier
from Columbia, Missouri
tied at 146 with
Echelmeier taking the 2nd
qualifying spot in a
playoff.
Caparros is one of the
Kristian Caparros
top ranked players in the
country and has
committed to play college golf at the University of
Florida.
US AMATEUR
US SENIOR OPEN
Tour veteran Trevor
Dodds outlasted Jeff
Whitfield as both
players finished with
rounds of 70 at Quincy
Carr Vernon
Chance Holden
Country Club. Trevor
birdied the first hole to
The West course at Norwood Hills CC, site of the
earn his spot at Omaha
1948 PGA Championship, won by Ben Hogan over
CC for the US Senior
Mike Turnesa, was the site of the US Amateur
Open. With Whitfield
qualifying.
earning the first
Players from across the region arrived to earn their
Trevor Dodds
alternate spot, Jay
ticket to the historic Country Cub in Brookline,
Delsing and Steve Lotz
Massachusetts, site of Francis Ouimet’s win at the 1913
would battle for the 2nd alternate. With both players
US Open.
hitting driver from the tee, Lotz – a frequent long-drive
Chance Holden of Dexter, Missouri and Carr Vernon
participant – drove the green and made a two-putt
of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, each posted 141 totals to
birdie for the second spot.
qualify. Holden had rounds of 71-70, while Vernon
went 69-72. Steven Souchek of Columbia, Illinois had
the best round of the day with a 68, which he followed
US JUNIOR AMATEUR
with a 74, giving him a 142 total. Joininghim was
Kirkwood golfer Tanner Bulejski who went 73-69 for
Two players from outside the St. Louis area claimed
his rounds. The four of them each earned their way to
the two qualifying spots at WingHaven CC for the US
compete at Brookline.
Junior Amateur.
11
The Metropolitan
January-February 2014
Alex Cusumano came in at 143 to take first alternate
while Cy Moritz took second alternate out of a three
way playoff.
two-over rounds, good enough to qualify. Ryan
Eckelkamp and Dan Emrick earned alternate spots.
US SENIOR AMATEUR
Whitmoor CC was
the site of the US
Senior Amateur
Qualifying. Twenty
players submitted their
entries, each hoping to
capture the lone
qualifying spot. It was
a stellar field with a
number of former area
champions among
Jim Dunn
those competing. This
included: Tim Boyd,
Robert Trittler, Bob Meeh, Mike Kootman, Dennis
Osborne, Scott Edwards and Jim Dunne. Playing as a
par 72, each of the top players seemed to have
difficulty on the front nine as only Kootman managed
to break par, posting a 1-under 35. However, after a
lengthy delay, he would have difficulties closing as two
bogeys and a triple bogey on the seventeenth ended
his chances. Meanwhile, Scott Edwards was having an
up and down round with four bogeys and three
birdies to finish at 1-over. Like Edwards, Dunn’s play
was also a bit erratic, though his four birdies against
only three bogeys were enough to give him a 1-under
round and the lone qualifying spot. Dunn also
completed his round before the weather delay.
ST. LOUIS GOLF
HISTORY
‘04 SENIOR OPEN:
THE VICTORY THAT
NEARLY WASN’T
In 2004, Peter Jacobsen was having a
terrific tournament during the Senior Open at Bellerive CC. At the end
of play on Saturday, he was in the
lead with a 135 total. However, with
the Friday round having been rained
out – and the Saturday round being
round two – the championship
would be decided with 36-holes on
Sunday. Having undergone recent
hip surgery (he was on crutches only
six weeks before the tournament
began) Jacobsen informed tournament officials that depending on how
the morning round went, if his hip
was not up to another round, he
might be forced to withdraw! As we
know, not only did his hip perform
well, his game was also up to the
challenge as he captured his first
USGA title, much to the delight of
the large crowd.
US MID-AMATEUR
Ted Moloney
Competing for the
four qualifying spots for
the US Mid-Amateur
had a number of well
known players arrive at
Forest Hills for the 18hole qualifying round.
Playing at a par 70, Ted
Moloney shot a 1-under
69 to take honors. Skip
Berkmeyer followed
with a 1-over 71 with
Patrick Britt and Phil
Caravia both posting
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The Metropolitan
January-February 2014
US SENIOR WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPION
ELLEN PORT’S HONORS
NATIONAL
Ellen Port
Ellen Port joined some elite company as she completed
another run through the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at CordeValle in San Martin, CA.
Port joins hall of famers Glenna Collett Vare and Hollis Stacy as 6-time USGA Champions and joins a list of
only 9 other golfers in USGA history to have captured
6 USGA titles, this being her 2nd Senior Women’s
added to her 4 previous US Mid-Amateur Championship titles.
Ellen becomes just the 4th player in history to win 2
different championships in back-to-back years, having
done so in 1995 and 1996. Additionally, when Ellen
serves as the Curtis Cup Captain here in St. Louis in
June of 2014, she will be the first reigning USGA
champion to do so since Carolyn Cudone in 1970.
2014 CLUB AND COURSE ANNIVERSARIES
15 YEARS
35 YEARS
WingHaven
Crescent Farms
20 YEARS
45 YEARS
Emerald Greens
Fox Run
Governors Run
Meramec Lakes
Missouri Bluffs
Tapawingo
Woodlands
Woods Fort
Tower Tee
Warrenton
25 YEARS
50 YEARS
Arlington
Sherwood
GC at Florissant
Forest Hills
60 YEARS
Tamarack
Deer Creek
Eagle Springs
13
1992 Women’s Western Amateur Medalist
1994 Women’s National Trans-Miss Champion
1994 US Curtis Cup Team
1995 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion
1995 US Curtis Cup Team
1996 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion
2000 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion
2000 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Medalist
2001 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Medalist
2002 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Medalist
2011 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Champion
2012 US Senior Women’s Champion
2013 US Senior Women’s Champion
2014 Captain US Curtis Cup Team
STATE
1992 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion
1995 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion
2000 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion
2001 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion
2002 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion
2003 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion
2010 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion
2012 Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion
LOCAL
1987 SLWGA Match Play Champion
1992 SLWDGA Stroke Play Champion
1993 SLWDGA Stroke Play Champion
1993 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
1994 SLWDGA Stroke Play Champion
1994 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
1995 SLWDGA Stroke Play Champion
1998 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
1998 SLWDGA Champion
2000 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
2001 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
2002 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
2002 SLWDGA Champion
2003 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
2004 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
2005 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
2006 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
2009 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
2010 MAGA Women’s Amateur Champion
The Metropolitan
January-February 2014
2014 COMPETITION SCHEDULE
MAGA COMPETITIONS
CHAMPIONSHIP
DATE(S)
Match Play Championship
ENTRY
DEADLINE
VENUE
May 3-4
Invitational
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
July 31 -August 1
July 2
Westwood Country Club
August 14-15
July 30
September 28-29
September 10
Amateur Championship
Senior Amateur Championship
Four-Ball Championship
Old Warson Country Club
Greenbriar Hills Country Club
Franklin County CC
USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS
ENTRY
DEADLINE
CHAMPIONSHIP
DATE(S)
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
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
July 1
June 4
Old Hickory Country Club
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
September 23
August 6
St. Clair Country Club
US Amateur Public Links
US Junior Amateur (36 Holes)
US Amateur
US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball
VENUE
Go to www.metga.org/2014-schedule-of-events/ to apply on-line or to download an application for an event.
14
The Metropolitan
January-February 2014
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Resources
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