The Metropolitan AMATEUR GOLF ASSOCIATION6No.|9Volume ChampAmateurPg. 6
- Regional authority on the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status
67 - The number Rory McIlroy shot in the opening round of the Tour Championship late last month. A 3-under-par 67 for a player of McIlroy’s ilk is nothing unusual; it is more about how he shot it. His opening nine holes featured a triple, three more bogeys, three birdies, one eagle and one par for a 1-over 36. He then birdied five of the last seven holes - with a bogey and a par in between - to fin ish with his 3-under 67. You can’t teach that. You also might have a hard time teaching what he did next - shooting scores 67, 63 and 66 to win the Tour Championship and FedexCup and a cool $18 million.20,000
- Conduct ten (10) Metropolitan Championships each season
U.S.
U.S. Open
- Provide the GHIN Handicap Service to 140+ Member Clubs under the World Handicap System
U.S.
METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
1 - As in stroke. To explain, the par value of the 13th hole at Nor mandie Golf Club is “4,” and that’s what four strokes at No. 13 got you at the Normandie Amateur last month - a par. But, as Spencer Mason demonstrated in stunning fashion, it also was possible to cover the 318-yard hole in one stroke. With no vision of the target, i.e. the green, Mason launched a tee shot at No. 13 that bounced off the fairway, rolled onto the putting surface and dropped into the Mason jar for a hybrid ace. According to research, the odds of making an “ace-atross,” that is, an “albatross” and ace combined, reaches 6 million to one, depending on the circumstances. A holein-one at a par 4 has happened only one time in PGA Tour history. Andrew Magee turned the trick at the 2001 Phoenix Open, sinking his tee shot on the par 4 17th at TPC Scottsdale, which was playing at 332 yards at the time.
USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS
Open Championship • Women’s Amateur Championship
U.S.
U.S.
- Conduct the Amateur Series of Events for golfers of all ages and abilities
By The NumbersMAGA
Junior Amateur • U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur
WHAT WE DO:
Mid-Amateur • U.S. Amateur
Metropolitan Cup Matches • Four-Ball Championship
Open • U.S. Senior
- Conduct USGA Qualifying for nine (9) USGA Championships each season
Old Warson Cup (Match Play Championship)
2,000 - As in dollars, which is the amount Lexi Thompson was fined for slow play after the final round of the KPMG Wom en’s PGA Championship in late June. The expensive reprimand amounted to insult on top of injury, given Thompson yielded a two-shot lead over the last three holes of the LPGA major cham pionship. The plodding American bogeyed four of her last seven holes, including the 16th and 17th, to finish one frustrating shot behind In Gee Chun. Thompson won $718,000 in prize money for her performance, so she won’t have any trouble covering the fine. A 2009 U.S. Women’s Amateur Girls semi-finalist at Old Warson Country Club as a 14-year old, Thompson was playing with Chun and Hye-Jin Choi in the final round. The group was put on the clock with just two holes to play before completing their round in 5 hours, 45 minutes. It was not known if Choi and Chun also re ceived fines. “I’m all for helping slow play, but putting those ladies on the clock with two holes left in trying to win a major seems like a good “read the room” situation, and don’t put them on the clock,” tweeted PGA Tour player Justin Thomas
- Provide the USGA Course/Slope Rating service to our Member Clubs
Amateur Four-Ball • U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball
Amateur Championship
Senior Amateur • U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur
Shogren Cup (Match Play PGA Pros vs. MAGA Amateurs)
9-Hole Championship • Mid-America Junior Cup
8 INSIDE THIS ISSUE 14. Amateur Series 16. Bogeyman 19. USGA Qualifiers 22. POY Standings 23. What’s Next for MAGA? 24. Normandie Update 3. Bio/Numbers 5. Celebrating 30! 6. Metropolitan Amaetur 8. Normandie Amateur 10. Supe’s On 12. Rules Center 2 3 Volume 9 | August 2022The Metropolitan 6 19 12 5
Women’s Open • U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
Junior Amateur Championship • Senior Amateur Championship
- The amount of dollars Bob Goalby won by finish ing first in the 1968 Masters Tournament. Just to show you how things have changed, Billy Casper wound up as the PGA Tour’s leading money winner in ’68, with his earnings of $205,169. Jack Nicklaus was next at $155,285, while Tom Weiskopf was third with $152,945. In contrast, the top-paid player in Major League Baseball in 1968 was Willie Mays, who made $125,000. Baseball would not reach the $200,000 salary plateau until 1973, when Dick Allen received that compensation level as a member of the Chicago White Sox. Now to add more contrast - in 2022, the top paid player in baseball is Max Scherzer, making $43.33 million this season. As of this writing, the leading money winner on the PGA TOUR for 2022 was Scottie Scheffler at just over $14 million.
U.S.
The Metropolitan
Jack TannerUnderwoodWeberling
Skip RyanChrisBerkmeyerKovachEckelcampTomPortnerCurtRohe
AugustGreetings!isalways
the peak of the season, specifically the Metropolitan Amateur Championship! Our flagship championship reaches the mountaintop of the championship season and we ease back down afterwards. Especially, this year as the Amateur was quite eventful with many first coming out of that week: 1) first time ever having a round cancelled for the day; 2) first time instituting two cuts, after Rounds 1 and 2; 3) first time even playing preferred lies (lift clean and place) and 4) crowning our first 3-time champion. It was a memorable week for so many reasons. But I must say thank you to Old Warson CC for its commitment to hosting a 54-hole championship...that was one first they did not want to be a part of!
Scott Engelbrecht, President/Treasurer
As we move toward the end of the season I want to touch on the several compliments and comments I have received from players this year on our social media presence, all positives that we have done a really great job again this year on all of our platforms. Caroline Buchan, our newest staffer, came aboard in mid-May into a firestorm of the season starting and has done a tremendous job. Thank you
Also with August is our last single month issue of the season. We transition into bi-monthly issues from here through next spring. We have some new features lined up and ideas to for some great content this winter, stay tuned and thank you as always for taking the time to read!
P.J. BOATWRIGHT INTERNS
Curt’s Corner
5
A Look Back on Our History
Furthermore, thank you to Tim Roethler and his crew for the work, and I mean WORK, to provide a championship test to the best players in the region. Thursday morning when the storm settled in, the creek and lake on 13 came out of their banks, I wasn’t sure there would be any golf played that week. However, in true championship fashion they ensure the players received the proper test to crown the most significant amateur title in our region. Again, thank you!
Back in 1992, the St Louis Metropolitan area was already a great spot for golf. With its abundance of courses - both private and public alike - there were golfers of plenty, and a need to showcase that talent. In 1991, The Metropolitan Amateur Championship was created to recognize the best amateur golfers in the area. It was through this championship that the needs of the golf courses and golfers in the area became apparent.
WithCaroline!August
In its first year, the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association conducted 4 events that are still on the schedule today: the Metropolitan Amateur Championship, the Metropolitan Women’s Amateur Championship, the Metropolitan Senior Amateur Championship, and the Normandie Amateur. As the association has grown, more championships have been added to fit the needs of area golfers. MAGA now conducts 12 championships as well as the Amateur Series. After joining with SIGA, MAGA assists in the conduction of the SIGA Championship and reintroduced the Southern Illinois Amateur in 2020. Each year, the USGA entrusts us to hold qualifiers for their national championships; in 2022, we conducted 10 USGA qualifiers.
It all started with the Metropolitan Amateur Championship, and has since evolved into an ever-growing organization, providing golf opportunities for golfers of all abilities. In 2000, MAGA added the Metropolitan Junior Amateur to its championship schedule. In 2006, Dick Shaiper and Tom O’Toole, Jr formed the Metropolitan Open Championship to identify the best golfer - pro and amateur - from the region. Since then, this vision has grown to be a top Open championship in the Midwest, attracting professional golfers from across the country. In 2016, the MAGA added the Amateur Series to the schedule, which allows golfers of different abilities, genders, and ages to compete in one day events at the same time throughout the season. The most recent addition for the MAGA is the 9-Hole Championship. Just in its third year, this championship separates itself from others by being a shorter competition, which can be great for those who may have busy schedules.
Caroline Buchan - caroline@metga.org
Tom Barry
Four men set out to provide the services needed in St Louis. Tom O’Toole, Jr, Jim Holtgrieve, Mike Corry, and Jim Tom Blair laid out the vision for the MAGA and presented their case to become licensed by the USGA. Officially forming and being licensed by the USGA, the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association was founded in 1992, becoming the only Allied Golf Association(AGA) to provide handicapping, course rating, Rules of Golf, and Rules of Amateur Status in the metropolitan region. In 2017, the MAGA joined forces with the Southern Illinois Golf Association(SIGA) to provide them with handicapping services and championship support.
Stan MickMikeKelliGrossmanKirchoffMarquartRickMeyer,Jr.JohnMooreWellington
THE CONTRIBUTINGMETROPOLITANWRITER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
At-Large Members
Parker Leavitt
Celebrating 30 Years!
John Bugh
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Finding ways to continue to grow the game is important, so in 2006, the Metropolitan Golf Foundation was established to help kids and programs for them to embrace the values of golf. In recent years, the Normandie Project was formed through the Metropolitan Golf Foundation to restore Normandie Golf Club, and bring opportunity to the community through golf.
Mike Marquart, Secretary
Congratulations to Drew Pranger on becoming one of those firsts, the 2016, 2018 and now 2022 amateur champion put his name on the Jim Tom Blair Trophy for the 3rd time in its 32 year history. Passing over Don Bliss, Toz Barry and Kyle Weldon as 2-time champs and making new history. Three rounds under par at Old Warson is unbe lievable playing any time and he put himself into company all alone.
Scott Thomas, Chairman
It has been a fantastic 30 years! It has been a real pleasure to serve the St Louis area in golf, and we will continue to do so.
Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
4
MAGA STAFF
Curt Rohe - Executive Director
Dan O’Neill
we said goodbye to 2 of our PJ Boatwright Interns as they returned to school, Parker Leavitt and Jack Underwood. Parker and Jack were great assets to the team this summer, both bringing a lot of energy to the staff. We wish them all the best as they continue their college education at Arizona State and Mizzou respectively this fall, thank you!
2022 EXECUTIVE BOARD Officers
A number of players commented on the difficulty of the course at Old Warson as well as the great condition that the course was in, a testament to the hard work put in by the grounds crew at Old Warson to get the course back in playing shape following the flooding Thursday morning. Tom O’Toole commended the club for their commitment to the Championship saying, “it was great to get that support from the staff and certainly from the membership as well.” He said Thursday morning when the course was covered in water the staff at Old Warson told him “we’re committed to the championship, we’re gonna play 54 holes.”
Drew Pranger won his third Metropolitan Amateur Championship Sunday shooting a 70, 69 and then 68 to finish at -6 during the Championship. Pranger is the first player ever to win three championships. The final round was action-packed with a tight and competitive field from the 1st all the way to the 18th tees.
Final FlickrResultsPhotos
Drew Pranger claimed his 3rd Metropolitan Amateur Championship shooting -3 on the day and -6 on the Championship beating the runner-up Ryan Sullivan by three strokes. Pranger was the definition of consistent during the Championship shooting under par in all three rounds and posting at least two birdies in each round. Over the 54-hole Championship, Pranger shot an impressive 11 birdies compared to only 5 bogeys on the way to his victory. Pranger was also the only player to finish under par all three rounds of the Championship.
Pranger also commented on the difficulty of the course at Old Warson saying “this place is challenging, so shooting the scores I shot and playing and winning by three, it’s just gratifying for my own mindset.” While he did not look at the leaderboard throughout his round, he did say that “when I birdied 13, I got to -5… and -5 is pretty good” when asked if he started to realize he was going to win during his round.
In his remarks following the trophy presentation Pranger thanked the staff and members at Old Warson for making the tournament possible along with the staff at MAGA and said “It feels really great to be the first three-time champ.”
Pranger Makes History at Old Warson
“We’ve had so many good amateur players in this town for so long that no one else has won this three times” said Pranger when asked how he felt about his record third Metropolitan Amateur Championship, “it’s pretty gratifying I’m not gonna lie.” Pranger felt that it was easier to close this Championship out compared to his previous wins because of the lead he had managed to build going into the last few holes even though he was not aware he had a four-stroke lead until his caddy, Mike Wellington, told him on the 18th Tee Box.
Ryan Sullivan made a huge push in the final round climbing from 6th all the way up to first, posting four birdies on the front nine alone. Unfortunately, he was unable to stay hot on the back nine, where he bogeyed the 15th and 16th holes to fall to 2nd. Justin Bryant was also able to make a late push for the lead posting three birdies on his front nine to jump into a tie for 1st place. Bogeys on the back nine would also oust him from the top of the leaderboard where he would finish in a tie for 3rd with Shawn Jasper and Tyler Linenbroker.
The Metropolitan Volume 9 | August 2022 6 7
At one point in the final round the top five positions were only separated by two strokes, with more than six holes to play. Tyler Linenbroker had led the Championship through the 1st two rounds and while he was looking to maintain his lead Sunday, he was unable to hold on and fell into a tie for 3rd with Shawn Jasper and Justin Bryant.
Final FlickrResultsPhotos
Brian Lovett
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Birmingham
Tony Gumper
Beginning later this year, renovation of Normandie Golf Club will begin, marking this the last Normandie Amateur Championship on this course until project completion. We couldn’t have asked for a better farewell to this version of Normandie, and are looking forward to coming back when it is done.
Award-winning dining, a booming craft beer scene and exceptional year-round golf on courses along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail await you in Alabama. Plus, with Jerry Pate’s Kiva Dunes and Arnold Palmer’s Craft Farms in Gulf Shores, from the mountains to the coast you can take it all in. www.GolfAlabama.org
The weather conditions were favorable at 82° and sunny with a cool northerly breeze throughout the day.
What a weekend at the 36th Normandie Amateur! The Final Round of the Championship was one for the books. The first players teed off at 7:00am with the senior division leaders beginning their rounds at 9:30am and the open division leaders closing out the tee times at 10:30am. Going into the last round of the championship Tony Gumper was leading the field at eight-under par, while Brian Lovett led the senior division at three-under par.
The Senior Division wrapped up its championship weekend with a playoff. Brain Lovett, the Round One leader, had a few tough breaks which brought him to finish the championship at one-over (+1) par. Tony Nolfo came into the Final Round at three-over (+3) par, but was able to card a two-under (-2) par for the day to meet Lovett at one-over (+1) par. The two played the par four, First Hole, for the playoff. Lovett was able to capitalize off of a bad break for Nolfo around the green, winning the hole and making him the Senior Division Champion.
Normandie Amateur
The Metropolitan 8
The most impressive moment of the day came from Spencer Mason, who sunk one in from the tee on the Par 4, 13th Hole. The distance from the tee to hole was about 318 yards with no vision of the green. An eye witness to this rare hole-in-one said the ball took one bounce in the fairway, onto the green, and rolled right in. When trying to communicate back to the tee that the ball had gone in, Mason thought the spectator was saying the ball had gone in the native area or out of bounds. Once figuring out what had really happened, he walked to the green to retrieve his ball in disbelief.
Tony Gumper’s day did not go quite like his first, starting with a bogey. He did not let this deter him, fighting the whole round to finish at one-over (+1) par for the day, and seven-under (-7) par for the championship. This score still held off all competitors and made Gumper the 36th Normandie Amateur Champion. Chris Kovach, Chad Niezing, Ryan Eckelkamp, and Curtis Brokenbrow came to the Final Round prepared to not let Gumper run away with the championship. After nine holes, Eckelkamp, Brokenbrow, and Niezing were sitting at four-under (-4) par, tied for second. Unfortunately for them, the back nine did not lend them the help needed to catch Gumper. Chris Kovach had a rough start to his round, but was able to battle back to post one-under (-1) par for the day, which brought him to five-under (-5) par for the championship and into second place.
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Mississippi Valley GCSA - Affiliate Liaison
Drew Keeven
While NorthBridge and Latitude 36 were entering the market, Dr. Wu and his team at OSU were working to create what they hoped to be an even stronger variety in terms of cold tolerance, drought resistance and wear tolerance. The result of all their hard work and determination is Tahoma 31 bermudagrass.
When people think of the United States Golf Association, they might think about all of the golf tournaments they put on throughout the year or maybe they think of it as the organization responsible for upholding the rules of golf. While both things are true, it is just scratching the surface in terms of what they do for the game of golf.
Supe’s On
One particular involvement that is rather important for people in my industry is the USGA’s dedication to turfgrass research. Over the last 100 years, the USGA has provided grants to various universities that total over $40 million. The research program can essentially be broken down into two larger categories: Integrated turfgrass management & genetics and breeding.
Tahoma 31
If you find yourself playing golf at Tower Tee, you’ll be able to see this new variety. If you’d like more information about Tahoma 31, they have several articles and testimonials on their website which can be found at tahoma31.com.
In recent years, an area of interest for the USGA that has gained a lot of attention is the development of new bermudagrass varieties. One of the main goals was to create and make commercially available a variety of bermudagrass that could withstand the cooler temperatures in our part of the country.
What is it and why might you hear about it?
In our area, Tahoma 31 has shown that it can withstand our winters and green up quickly in the springtime. Also, it recovers significantly faster than the zoysia we are used to seeing. All of these characteristics, along with its overall turf quality and playability, make for a compelling argument when considering it for a course in this area.
Drew Keeven Keeven Brothers Sod Farms MVGCSA Affiliate Liaison
The first glimpse of success for the USGA was a partnership with Oklahoma State University and their turfgrass breeder, Dr. Yanqi Wu, in 2010 when they released NorthBridge bermudagrass and Latitude 36 bermudagrass. They are both solid varieties that exhibit cold hardiness and wear tolerance which has made them a strong choice for sports field managers.
Volume 9 | August 2022
>On the line of play and is: -With two club-lengths of the putting green, and -Within two club-lengths of the ball
The Metropolitan
Dear John: There are several hole at Porto Cima that have sprinkler heads close to the putting green (see picture of front-right side of put ting green on the 15th hole). If I want to putt my ball from off the putting green, but it would have to roll over a sprinkler head, do I get free relief?
This edition of Rules Center features an excerpt from MAGA official John Thorman’s e-book, Let’s Get It Right.
Volume 9 | July 2022 12 13
Sprinkler Head on Line of Play
Immovable Obstruction Close to Putting Green (e.g. Sprinkler Head)
Some courses have sprinkler systems to help water and maintain greens, including Old Warson Country Club. During the Metropolitan Amateur, some players ran upon this problem of a sprinkler head in their line of play around the green. You may have been one of these players, or maybe it was your playing partner; or perhaps you didn’t come across this issue at all. But in the case that this does happen to you or your group one day, let’s see what your options are. Will you putt the ball or chip instead?
To Putt or Not to Putt John Thorman explains your decision making options:
The player has these extra options to take relief when such immovable obstructions are close to the putting green and on the line of play:
relief under this Local Rule if the player chooses a line of play that is clearly unreasonable.”
To Putt or Not to Putt.. see before. Your ball landed around the fringe, and you thought “oh that’s putt-able”. As you approach the green and your ball, you realize there is a sprinkler head between you and the hole. Now, with a sprinkler head in the way, your decision has gotten more complicated. Why would they put that there? It is getting in the way of your master plan to make par.
in closely mown areas. This Local Rule is rarely used on Midwestern courses.
Exeption - No Relief if Line of Play Clearly Unreaonable. There is no
Rules Center
Having said all of this, there is one situation where a player automatically gets line-of-play relief from a sprinkler head. That’s when the player’s ball lies on the putting green and the sprinkler head (on or off putting green) intervenes on his or her line of play. In such a case, the player may place (not drop) his ball at the nearest point of complete relief where there is no line-of-play interferance (usually on the putting green but sometimes in the general area).
“Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 16.1.
It is possible that you did not hit a bad shot or land in a terrible place, but suddenly you are met with an obsticle that you did not
Use of this Local Rule is at the discretion of the Committee. It may be restricted to specific holes, to balls lying only in closely mown areas, to specific obstructions, or to immovable obstructions
-->
Dear Texas Wedge: There is no free relief for line-of-play interferance from an immovable obstruction (e.g. sprinkler head), except when the ball is on the putting green (Rule 16.1a). However, some courses (e.g. Arizona, Florida, Ireland, Scotland) have aprons and false fronts that are so closely mown (grass cut to fairway height or less) that players routinely putt their ball from off the putting green. In such circumstances, Local Rule F-5 is often implemented. Here’s the wording:
- Texas Wedge
Ball in General Area: The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b if an immovable obstruction is:
Net Division - Thomas
The Amateur Series
#5
Amateur Series Standings
Open Division - Nick
Women’s Net Division - Alicia Anderson Senior Net Division - Gregg Johannes Super Senior Net Division - Stephen Weinstock
Event Glen Echo CC
Results: George Wooten Oslica Willis
MAGA conducted the fifth event in its Amateur Series at the Innsbrook Golf Resort. The hills and valleys of Innsbrook presented challenges for golfers on a course littered with water hazards and difficult fairways that have a habit of sending balls into the rough. The 13th hole at Innsbrook proved to be particularly difficult.
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The 13th hole is a par 5 with woods all along the right side of the fairway and water down the left, the hole also features a creek separating the green from the rest of the hole and forcing many golfers to lay up. Despite this, players were able to finish their rounds in under 4 ½ hours.
Results Open Division Women’s Net Division Senior Open Division Super Senior Open Division Net Division Senior Net Division Super Senior Net Division Name Chris Canfield Mike Bucchino John StephenJustinJustinDavisVogtZangMuenster Affiliation Old Hickory TheBallwinWhitmoorTheMetropolitanGCeClubFallsGCCCGCQuaryatCS Total Points 180180230235275330T5T54321 7 Divisions, 6 Events, 1 Great Series 54321 54321T3T321543215 T3T321512345 Name Mike Walton Colin EricMikeMatthewStolzeHuntMcKillipsFogleman Name James DanKevinJohnSchoonerOslicaFitzgeraldChastainOrtylAbegg Name David Rudd Bobby Wooten Mike ScottJamesQuesenberryStoreyHorton Name Alicia Anderson Carol Stampley Kay MaureenPamTiceLenhardDowling Name Gregg Johannes Vince PeterJoeDanielSchneiderDelaneyGolembeskiRobinson Name Stephen Weinstock Michael Drake John KingButchEppsCampbellEdmonston Affiliation Metropolitan eClub Metropolitan eClub Old Hickory Golf Club Country Club of St. Albans Metropolitan eClub Affiliation Metropolitan eClub Metropolitan eClub Bear Creek GC Sunset CC Sunset Hills CC Affiliation CC of St. Albans Crown Pointe GC Lake Forest G&CC Glen Echo CC Crescent Farms GC Affiliation STL WhitmoorWGA CC STL WGA STL WhitmoorWGA CC Affiliation Metropolitan eClub Old Hickory GC WGM GC Far Oaks MetropolitanGC eClub Affiliation Westwood MetropolitanMetropolitanMetropolitanMetropolitanCCeClubeClubeClubeClub Total Points 175190205240270 Total Points 210215360420450 Total Points 250290330340390 Total Points 190195195265320 Total Points 185195230380400 Total Points 190205205270325 For Full Standings Click Here Volume 9 | August 2022 Photos The Amateur Series will look forward to its sixth and final event before the Amateur Series Championship at Sunset Hills Country Club in Edwardsville, IL on Sept. 12.
Super Senior Open Division - James
Senior Open Division - Bobby
Lee Trevino was in town last month to promote his participation in the Ascension Charity Classic. Trevino will be joining Nancy Lopez, Hale Irwin and St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube in an exhibition preceding the 54-hole championship, Sept. 9-11 at Norwood Hills Country Club.
“He sat down next to me and he said, ‘You don’t know how good you are, you can win anywhere.’ ” Trevino recalled. Now, rest assured, the “Merry Mex” never lacked for confidence. But hearing such encouragement from the best player in the game was chicken soup for Trevino’s soul. “It meant everything; I’ve never forgotten it,” Trevino added.
Then, at the 1971 Doral Eastern Open in early March, he got an unexpected visit from his celebrated nemesis, Jack Nicklaus, who approached Trevino in the locker room during tournament week.
For the second year in succession, Trevino took a lead into the final round and this time held it, edging Lu Liang-Huan by a shot to add a third Open to his improbable trifecta.
But Trevino intimated he never feared anyone. “I wasn’t intimidated too much with anybody,” Trevino said. “I learned a long time ago, if I looked at a golf course and I felt I could beat it, I played for a score, not for an individual. I can’t help what the individual does.
We’re now more than 50 years removed from Trevino’s remarkable run in 1971-72, when he collected 10 of his 29 wins on the PGA Tour circuit, three of his six major championships, and back-to-back British Open titles.
The duo played out a similar scenario in 1974. Trevino won the PGA Championship at Tanglewood Park in North Carolina while the previous year’s champ - Nicklaus - finished one shot back. In the end, Nicklaus was a runner up to Trevino four times major championships. That is, if not for the talkative Texan, Nicklaus would have won 22 majors instead of his record 18.
Trevino chuckled when he thought about that fact. It’s been a long time, but some things never get old.
the winning score was 6-under-par 278. Trevino carded it, holing out from off the green four times during the championship, including famously on the 17th hole of the final round. Nicklaus fell one shot shy.
The funny thing is, Trevino knew he was on to something special as the ’71 season began. He won three times in 1970, even captured the PGA Tour money title ($157,037), for the only time in his career. But after giving up the third-round lead in the U.S. Open, finishing with a final-round 77, he felt unfulfilled and unsure of himself.
those of you scoring at home, that’s three Opens in 20 days.
To a superior ball-striker like Trevino, more distance and better maneuverability were gold.
And off he went. He captured a memorable ’71 U.S. Open at Merion, cracking up Nicklaus on the first tee of a playoff by pulling a rubber snake out of the bag, then beating him in the 18-hole overtime. Two weeks later, Trevino won the Canadian Open and a week later, the British Open at Royal Birkdale. For
“Anytime I can reach all the par-5s, I’m a pretty dangerous guy,” Trevino recalled. “I can play the par-3s and the par-4s. My problem was playing against long hitters who could reach the par-5s in two, especially Nicklaus. He could reach all five (at Royal Birkdale), but that’s OK. I don’t mind that if I can reach them also.”
That set the table for 1972 at Muirfield. As the reigning champion of the PGA, Masters and U.S. Open, Nicklaus arrived in Scotland staring down a Grand Slam and carrying the “man to beat” label. The fact Nicklaus had won the previous gathering at Muirfield, staged in 1966, made him that much more formidable. In short, he was the height of his intimidating powers.
Lee Trevino: Play for Score
The Metropolitan 16 17
Dan O’Neill The Bogeyman
Trevino also acknowledged the help of a playoff rain delay, which softened the greens and leveled the playing field between the high-trajectory parachutes of Nicklaus and the low-flying approach shots of Trevino.
Meanwhile, in 1971, the British Open was conducted at Royal Birkdale, a course that featured five par-5s. But there was a quid pro quo. In ’71, players still were allowed to employ the “British ball,” a sphere that was 0.06 smaller in diameter to the USGA version. Small ball would be outlawed at the British Open starting in 1974, but until then, many players like Trevino chose to utilize the smaller ball in the championship, believing it provided a bit more distance and maneuverability in the wind.
“I didn’t play extremely well in 1969 and 1970,” Trevino said.“I kind of forgot that what got me there in the first place was hard work. So I started back working again really hard at my craft.”
“Nicklaus did the same thing. Nicklaus could actually look at the golf course and tell you almost to the stroke what was going to win that major Atchampionship.”Muirfieldin’72,
Volume 9 | August 2022
“Well, the U.S. Open was at Merion, and I knew a little something about Merion,” Trevino explained. “I had played there before. I knew it was not a big golf course, which I liked. It had two par-5s, and that was all, and it was par-70.”
He became the first to win the three national championships in the same year - a feat later equaled by Tiger Woods (2000). He also became Sports Illustrated magazine’s Player of the Year. No one could have seen that coming, right? He did.
Green Hills Golf Club
eClub
Greenview Golf Course
Greenview Golf Course eClub
USGA
Bryan Warren Alex ParkerJustinJimDanBrandonTonyBrendanAaronCiaramitaroJonesLusterNolfoBullardHaglarGiaconeRisterLawrence
McLeansboro Golf
2022 Championship Qualifying
Greenview Golf Course Metropolitan eClub Union County Country Club
Tom SanguokJohnTomDavidRobbieMikeJohnJosephMarkMikePortnerCastellariFeatherlingMalenchKueperO’NeillWrightGlassWrightEllisShin
SIGA UnioneClubCounty Country Club eClub eClub
on May
SIGA eClub
Metropolitan
Links No. Events 1101011011 No. Wins 0000000010 Total Points 350387.5400400437.5537.5537.55756501500 Pts Behind 11501112.5111011101062.5962.5962.5925850
SIGA
Competeing on September 10-15 at Erin Hills
SIGA GatewayeClubNational Golf
Green Hills Golf Club
Competeing 20-24, Player of the Year Standings
No. Events 10101111111 No. Wins 00000001000 Total Points 200200225275287.5325437.565082510251250 Pts Behind 105010501025975962.5925812.5600425225T10T10987654321123T4T46T7T7910
Name
Men’s POY
2023 at Kiawah Island Competeing on May 13-17, 2023 at The Home Course 18 SIGA
Senior Men’s POY
Course
SIGA MetropolitaneClub
Name
Affiliation
Click on the image for Full Results
SIGA eClub
SIGA eClub
The Metropolitan Volume 9 | August 2022 19
SIGA
Affiliation
Metropolitan eClub
SpringNorthLake
Bogey Hills CC
The TheAlgonquinFoxGreenbriarCCLegendsIIHillsCCIIRunGCIIWestboroughCCIGCQuarryGCGreenbriarHillsCCIFoxRunGCISpringLakeIBelleriveCCIITapawingoNationalGC Whitmoor CC BogeyNorthHills SpringAlgonquinGreenbriarCCHillsCCIIGCLakeITapawingoNationalGC14151631213121110987654 1115581414 *as of 9/6 Start planning your Fall Golf Vacation to Mississippi, Birthplace of America’s Music, with our handy Golf Package Guide. Play traditional course layouts and signature celebrity golf designs from the Mississippi Delta to Coastal Mississippi. Click on the cover for the full issue or visit www.GolfMississippi.org 21 GreenbriarHillsCCI 7
SobbeBracketCup
Whitmoor CC II
Quincy CC Sugar Creek GC Quincy CC
No. Events 2114334224 No. Wins 1000000121 Total Points 185200250255265370372.54105551150 Pts Behind 965950900895885780777.5740595 Name Ellen TinaMorganMomoKatrinaAveryBrookeMadelineMadisonGraciePortPiarDerousseLarouereBiermannMcLaughlinClarkKikuchiGindlerJones Affiliation Sunset
Bellerive Country Golf
Club
Meramec eClub
Club Glen Echo
The Quarry at
Springs
Persimmon Woods Golf Club Metropolitan eClub Metropolitan eClub
Club
Club
St.
Club Glen Echo Golf Club
The Quarry at Crystal Greenbriar Hills Country
The Legends Country
Tapawingo National Golf Hickory Golf
Bellerive Country Club
Normandie Golf Club Louis Country
Crystal Springs
Persimmon Woods Golf Club Country PGA Jr Golf Club eClub Metropolitan eClub Country Club of St Albans
Metropolitan
Persimmon Woods Golf Club Metropolitan eClub
Lakes Golf Club Old Hickory Golf Club No. Events 2542224765 No. Wins 0000102011 Total Points 758.33793.33800834.178501026120014101444.171491 Pts Behind 773.67697.67691656.836414652918146.83 Name Buddy Allen Brian Lovett Paul BrianJackTomPatDavidTonyJosephNeemanMalenchNolfoBremerO’NeillBarryEisenbeisHall Affiliation Metropolitan
Club Aberdeen Golf Club No. Events 1110101110 No. Wins 0000000010 Total Points 3003253503503754004255257251295 Pts Behind 995970945945920895870770570T7T76543219101234567891012345678910 Amateur ChampionshipSeries Oct 17-18 OnlyInvitation
Club
Bellerive Country Club
Club Old
Whats Next for MAGA? Sept 10-11 Sept 23 Sept 27-28 Sept 12 Sept 9 AmateurMAGASeriesSouthern Illinois Amateur Sobbe Cup Final Four 30th Metropolitan Senior EventAmateur#6 - Sunset Hills CC Date Entries Close ClosedSeptClosed14 Event Championshipmetga.orgInformation Volume 9 | August 2022The Metropolitan 22 Player of the Year Points Standings Men’s POY Senior Men’s POY Women’s POY Name Chad JustinCoreyMichaelBradDrewPeterTonyRyanCurtisNiezingBrokenbrowSullivanGumperWeaverPrangerCarpenterBeckerChoateBryant Affiliation Metropolitan eClub
Club Gateway
Franklin County Country
The Metropolitan
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Photo by Jamar Church Pinkston
- Jack Nicklaus on his involvement in Normandie GC project
For more information on the Normandie Renovation Project and how you can help, visit https://www.metga.org/nicklaus-and-normandie or contact normandie@metga.org
Normandie Project Update: Normandie Golf Camp
Normandie has wrapped up its summer golf camp. The camp started with just a few kids on day one, and has grown since then. Every day, the kids have been able to grow and learn more about the game of golf. When they began, the kids had never held a golf club before, and now they can hit balls down a fairway. These kids have been able to learn the game and grow together. Through this initiative, we hope to continue to see the game grow. There should be no boundaries on golf, and the game should provide a space for community. The future of Normandie and the next generation of golf is on its way. This is what the Normandie Project is about, and it’s only the beginning.
“The appeal of this project to me was to be involved in an effort that could serve as a catalyst to change needed in our country today, beginning with parts of St. Louis thecommunityNormandieRestoringCounty.forainneedwillhavealong-lastingpositiveimpactonlivesofyouthinSt.Louis.”
Follow Us! Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, & YouTube GolfMetropolitanMetropolitan@MetAmateurGAAmateurGolfAssociationAmateurAssociationMAGA 11724 Lackland Industrial Dr St. Louis, MO 63146 Phone: 314.567.6262 Email: info@metga.org Web: metga.org 6No.|9Volume
