The Metropolitan; Vol. 7, No. 6

Volume 7; No. 6

September/October 2020

The Metropolitan AMATEUR GOLF ASSOCIATION

Westborough claims Cup

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INSIDE

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24 3. Rules/Numbers 4. Curt’s Corner 6. Sobbe Cup 8. Bogeyman 10. So. Illinois Amateur

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12. Supe’s On 14. Normandie Amateur 18. Amateur Series Finale 20. Mid-Amateur Junior Cup 24. Mark Reardon

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September/October 2020

By The Numbers

19

The number of years the estimable Curt Rohe has been a full-time employee of the MAGA. Curt became the MAGA executive director in 2008. That is the same year that Padraig Harrington won the British Open and PGA Championship back to back.

61

The number of magnolia trees that line famed Magnolia Lane, which leads from Washington Ave. to the clubhouse at Augusta National Golf Club. The trees date back to the 1850s and run for 330 yards up to Founders Circle.

Magnolia Lane was unpaved for the first decade and a half of the club’s existence, but was paved in 1947.

Caddie Error Competing in a Metropolitan Amateur Championship at, Andy Frost hopes to improve his chances by employing the Ol’ Bogeyman as his caddie. Not much a player, the Bogeyman has only limited knowledge of the duties of caddying. But his record previously caddying for the likes of Jim Holtgrieve and David Lucks is undeniable ... unaccomplished, but undeniable.

20.6

The percentage of increase n rounds of golf played during August, 2020, as compared to August, 2019.

According to Datatech, that equates to an increase of roughly 10 million rounds over 2019. There was a 13.9% increase in June, a 19.7% increase in July, which represents a three-month stretch of 27 million more rounds played over the same period last year.

Frost and his caddie run into a problem almost immediately. As Frost strokes a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole, the Bogeyman spots a beverage cart and walks across the green. The distracted caddie accidentally steps in the path and deflects Frost’s ball in motion. What is the ruling?

A. There is no penalty. Bogeyman apologizes for his carelessness, while Frost realizes he may have made a mistake with his choice of caddies.

44

The most PGA Tour wins by a player in his 30s, a mark held by Arnold Palmer. Ben Hogan ranks second with 43 wins in his 30s, while Jack Nicklaus had 38 and Sam Snead had 37. Tiger Woods, by the way, had 33 wins between ages 30-39.

B. There is a one-stroke penalty. Bogeyman apologizes, Frost realizes his horrible mistake and asks the Bogeyman to keep socially-distanced from the next 17 greens.

C. There is a two-stroke penalty. The Bogeyman apologizes, Frost chases his inept looper across the golf course with a 3-iron.

‘92

The year MAGA Advisory Committte chairman Scott Thomas captured the Missouri Amateur and was named the St. Louis PostDispatch Amateur of the Year.

Thomas beat Rollie Hurst on the second hole of a playoff - the 38th hole of the match-play final - at Country Club at The Legends.

Answer The correct answer is “A.” Under Rule 11.1, no penalty is incurred. The stroke does not count and the original ball or another ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated). That said, Frost does carry a 3-iron, just in case.

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Curt’s Corner

MAGA STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Curt Rohe - Executive Director

Curt Rohe - curt@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 (Local and Sectional) US Senior Open US Amateur US Mid-Amateur US Girls’ Junior Amateur US Women’s Mid-Amateur US Junior Amateur US Senior Amateur US Senior Women’s Amateur US Women’s Open US Amateur Four-Ball US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball

ADVISORY COMMITTEE Scott Thomas, Chairman Dustin Ashby Tom Barry Skip Berkmeyer Chris Kovach Ryan Eckelcamp Tom Portner Curt Rohe

2020 P.J. BOATWRIGHT INTERNS Chase Phillps Jacob Skudlarczyk Chase Holland

Greetings Members!

Well, the 2020 tournament season, in all its craziness is officially over! It certainly has been one of the most eventful seasons - if not the most eventful season - in my 20 years of tournament administration. From not knowing if we were going to have a season to going full speed ahead, this pandemic-strained year and tournament season has gone by in a flash.

As I have said all season, we are grateful we were able to conduct a competitive season. And we are most grateful for the cooperation of our Member Clubs, which allowed us to administer all of our championships, the Amateur Series and the one USGA qualifier we had this year.

We wrapped up the season the last weekend of October with the Mid-America Junior Cup. While we ended in a tie and Central Links Golf retained the Cup for another year, I could not have been more proud of our team. The eight young men and women who made up Team MAGA represented themselves beautifully and competed to their best ability.

I would bring that team back again and get after it in any competition, any time. They wanted it, fought for it, and showed great spirit and charatcer. This time, it just did not happen.

I am also grateful for the first season of the new World Handicap System. It has gone extremely smooth from my view and the changes put into place from the former system have been well received by the golfers and clubs we service in our region. Score posting will end November 14th and we will go into our inactive season until March 1, 2021.

As we approach the end of 2020, I just want to personally thank you - our members - for your continued support of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association! Whether you played in a MAGA championship or Amateur Series event, or you are a member through your club, you are supporting our efforts to bring the best events and provide the best amateur golf services in our region.

We will bring you one more 2020 edition at the end of the year, but thank you for taking a little time to read The Metropolitan.

And a last thank you to Dan O’Neill for bringing his talents to The Metropolitan.

THE METROPOLITAN EDITOR Dan O’Neill

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Player of the year standings

Men 1. Skip Berkmeyer 2. Chris Ferris 3. Ryan Sullivan 4. Ryan Eckelkamp 5. Chad niezing 6. Max Kreikemeier 7. Crimson callahan 8. Chris kovach 9. Curtis Brokenbow 10. Joe Migdal

Senior 1. Buddy Allen 2. Joseph Malench 3. David Pfeil 4. Brian Hall 5 . Brian Lovett 6. Tom Portner 7. Mike Quesenberry 8. Scott Horton 9. David Bremer 10. Mike Castellari

1,513.3 1,245 1,168.5 1,162.2 1,148.3 1.091.7.

937.5 869 833.7 693.2

1,430 1,226.7 800 650 612.5 570 427.5 417.5 415 387.5

No. 3 green, Old Warson Country Club

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Thomas O. Sobbe Cup Matches Westborough C.C. Singles

Match

Tapawingo National G.C.

Steve Stolz halved Ian Baker Jimmy Blais

< 5&4

Nathan McCutcheon

Sean Brennan

< 5&4

Four-Ball L. Drury/K. Stewart D. Casatt/S. Dioneda

< 2-up

David Strickland

< 1-up havled

W. Hawkins/R. Wampler W. Thurby/G. Huelsmann

The Legends C.C.

Match

Greenbriar Hills C.C.

Brian Schmersahl

2&1 >

Kevin Shapiro

David Pfeil

R. Berkmeyer

John Shields

Ryan Sullivan

2&1 >

< 5&4

< 4&2

Jeff Marquitz Matt Gindler

Ted Moloney

Justin Haupt

M. Odell/C. Cutting J. Sibert/M. Collins

< 1-up havled

B. Lane/B. Crtitzas S. Lafara/D. Gould

The Legends C.C.

Match

Westborough C.C.

6&5 >

Jimmy Blais

Matthew Odell

< 7&6

R. Berkmeyer

< 4&3

Brian Schmersahl

David Pfeil

J. Siebert/M. Collins C. Cutting/D. Fanger

1-up >

< 2&1 3&2 >

Steve Stolze

Sean Brennan Kevin Shapiro

D. Cassat/S. DionedaB. L. Drury/K. Stewart

* Westboroughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brennan def. The Legendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Berkmeyer in first hole of playoff.

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Westborough C.C teammates (L to R) Chris Stewart, Steve Stolze, David Cassat, Jimmy Bals, Kevin Shapiro, Steve Dioneda, Sean Brennan and Larry Drury celebrate a Sobbe Cup win.

Brennan clinches Cup Making its first trip to the Thomas O. Sobbe Cup playoffs, Westborough Country Club claimed the championship on Friday, Sept. 25 at Old Hickory Golf Club, defeating The Legends Country Club in dramatic style.

The two teams completed regular play in a 3-3 tie, which sent the outcome to a sudden-death playoff. With their team’s fortunes on the line, Westborough’s Sean Brennan and The Legends’ Skip Berkmeyer went to the 18th hole at Old Hickory to determine an outcome.

Brennan ended the standoff with a flair, rolling in a birdie putt from off the fringe to secure the Cup for the “Boys on Berry Road.”

To reach that triumphant afternoon, Westborough overcame Tapawingo National Golf Club 5-1 in the morning semfinals. Meanwhile, The Legends advanced with a 3 1/2-2 1/2 victory over Greenbriar Hills.

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Distance and deliberatio The Bogeyman Dan O’Neill - Editor I started getting out of bed this morning, but caught myself just in time.

I stopped, reached over to the nightstand, picked up my little green book and checked on the distance and slope my feet would need to negotiate to successfully land on the floor. Fortified with that information, I was able to go ahead and initiate my move to stand up.

Sound crazy? Not if you watched Bryson DeChambeau win the U.S. Open.

Interestingly enough, that victory became all about distance. One person proposes a narrative and it becomes gospel, proselytized and spread across all media platforms. So you already know the story - DeChambeau walloped Winged Foot with tape-measure blows.

But statistically, he wasn’t even the longest hitter in the championship.

According to the USGA stats, six players averaged more yardage off the tee. Much more germane than DeChambeau’s power off the tee was his power and precision from the rough. Forty-three percent of the fairways translated into 64 percent of the greens for “Bison.”

He won because he could hit approach shots a mile high and land them on Winged Foot’s wobbly greens, U.S. Open rough notwithstanding. He won with terrific putting and, most importantly, with unflappable composure.

Bobby Jones once said, “Nobody wins the U.S. Open, everybody else just loses it.”

DeChambeau never faltered mentally, while all those around him crumbled. It wasn’t unorthodox, it was classic.

But for the purposes of this narrative, it’s the manner in which DeChamslow won that bears further examination. Watching the finish at Mamaroneck was like watching a rush-hour bottleneck, like curing insomnia, like tracking the gestation period of an African elephant (22 months).

Not to pick on DeChambeau. He’s not the only sloth, just the most obvious. At Winged Foot, he was contending for a major championship, so some ponderation is understandable. But as a certain presidential candidate puts it, “C’mon man! Is it really necessary for you and your caddy to reference books and pause to do math - in front of a 10-foot putt? Would it be possible to give it a good look, from both ends if you like, and just roll it?

Again, the player is not so much to blame. There’s a lot of money on the 8

table. You push the envelope as far you’re allow only sport allowing itself to be overwhelmed wit at what’s happened to baseball.

Equations have taken over the game, created ever contact for launch angles, compromised eyeballs nonstop pitching changes. The radar gun is a maximize effort and detonate elbows. The statist Even the language has changed. You don’t thro “execute in the zone.” You don’t get a hold of on barrel out.”

If Pete Rose played today, he’d be known as “ Energy Exertion,” not “Charlie Hustle.” The sam golf. Swing speed, spin rates, loft angles, strokesAll of these things have a place, to be sure. Bu expression in the game that addresses the d analytics and application, and what happens whe . That is, “paralysis by analysis.”

In today’s game, the concept doesn’t just apply also applies to pace of play. Feel, instinct, dedu staples of golf, talents acquired through practi they are purchased at the pro shop, found in finders.

The mind was something to be kept unencumbe the range, latch on to a swing thought, and off stupid.

Now a PGA Tour player has to check his books the same. Now it’s a formula, to be considered, c Keep it simple stupid has become “take your tim What’s more, the surrender to analysis is dising one to consult these tools, but not seek advice fro What if the guy who created the yardage book advice? What if the guy who wrote the greens bo advice?

We could go on, but there is pace of play issues w Those who assessed DeChambeau’s win at Wing are predicting biblical episodes at Augusta. They i well to buy up more property and extend the fai Jones Expressway. They believe America’s Golf C thinking the greens might beg to differ.

But if this all about power and analytics, the po hire street artisans, install amusement rides and galleries … when there are galleries. Golf is goi keep people entertained.

Because let’s face it, the DeChambeau approach impressive … but only if you can stay awake lon

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September/October 2020

on dominate the game

wed. And golf is not the th analytics. Look

r-present shifts, sacrificed s for software and all powerful, as pitchers tics are mind-numbing. ow strikes anymore, you ne anymore, you “get the

“Mr. Charles Maximum me thing is happening to -gained, blah, blah, blah. ut there is a well-known delicate balance between en the balance is distorted

to the mental process, it uction … these were the ice and experience. Now greens books and range

ered. Find something on ff you go. Keep it simple,

s, and have his caddy do calculated and pondered me Einstein.” genuous. The rules allow om another player - huh? k plays golf? Is that not ook plays golf, is that not

with golf columns, as well. ged Foot as a power play insist members would do irways to I-20 and Bobby Course is defenseless - I’m

owers that be should also d shoot T-shirts into the ing to need something to

h to championship golf is ng enough to watch it.

Ben Hogan’s “Power Golf ” was published in 1948. A 1949 article in Time Magazine revealed Hogan hit his driver 265 yards,which was considered long at the time. Golf today is a bit different. As of mid-October, more than 140 PGA Tour players averaged 300-plus yards in Driving Distance.

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Allenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sizzling finish secures

Alferman holds off Brokenbow

Open Division Player Gross Score Tommy Alferman 66-72-138 Curtis Brokenbow 67-72-139 Zakariya Butt 70-70-140 Alex Ciaramitaro 72-69-141 Kiel Viehl 71-72-143 Ryan Eckelkamp 72-72-144 Brad Hammond 76-70-146 Tanner Walton 76-70-146 Ryan Sullivan 76-70-146 Matt Hefley 75-71-146 Garrett Mott 74-72-146

*Tournament paid top eight finishers and ties, with first place getting $350.

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Buddy Allen fortified his pu Player of the Year honor wit Amateur on Sunday, Oct. 11 Vernon, Ill. Overtaking first-round lead 4-under-par 32 on the back and finishing with a final-ro 65-134 was four strokes clea Castellari began the final-ro carding an opening 3-under nine on Sunday opened the past. Castellari tried to reco on the back, but it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t en red-number finish. With his second.

In the regular division, Tom Sunday to capture the cham a 6-under 66, Alferman cov four bogeys on Sunday, incl reached the clubhouse with weekend.

Curtis Brokenbow,, who beg back, continued to press the par-3 11th sabatoged his ch and 17 to move to within a moments tense.

But Alferman made par and leaving himself one shot shy Zakariya Butt also was in th and 16 on Sunday was part the par-5 17th left Butt (70Ciramitaro had a final-roun

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Southern Illinois Senior crown

w, Butt to capture Open Division

ursuit of another MAGA Senior th a win at the Southern Illinois 1 at Green Hills Golf Club in Mt.

der Mike Castellari, Allen fired a kside, birdying the last three holes ound 65. His two-day total of 69ar of the field. ound with a one-stroke lead, after r 68. But three bogeys on the front e door for Allen, and he rushed over with two birdies and a 34 nough to keep pace with Allenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s s 68-70-138 total, Castellari was

mmy Alferman surived a see-saw mpionship. After opening with vered four more birdies with luding a bogey at No. 16, and h a par-72, finishing a 6-under 138

gan the final round one stroke e issue until a double-bogey on the hances. Still, Brokenbow birdied 15 stroke and make the concluding

d Brokenbow could only match, y. he mix, and with birdies at No. 14 of the lead. A double-bogey at -70-140) two shots in arears. Alex nd 69 to finish three shots back..â&#x20AC;?

Senior Division Player Gross Score Buddy Allen 69-65-134 Mike Castellari 68-70-138 Kyle Viehl

71-72-143 Joseph Malench 73-71-144 Anthony Brown 73-72-145 Tony Nolfo 73-73-146 Tom Portner 73-75-148 Brian Lovett 72-76-148 Greg Mazdra 78-73-151 David Johnson 72-79-151 *Tournament paid top five finisher, with first place getting $275.

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Supe’s On Rob Kick Superintendant Algonquin Golf Club The 2020 season has certainly proven to be a challenge for the golf industry. The golf shop staff has been charged with finding unique ways to engage players while maintaining social distancing. This has undoubtedly been difficult when your round is supposed to begin by being seated two to a cart.

Seven years ago when the Covid-19 outbreak began - my apologies - seven months ago when this virus took hold of the world - golf quickly became a safe haven for many.

The need to be outside and engaged with friends and family in a social setting was paramount. People who were accustomed to playing several times a week may have found themselves adding a round or two to their schedule, while some took up the game for the first time.

During the initial shelter-in-place order, Missouri courses were open for play. Quickly, rounds increased at many golf facilities, a good problem to have!

Pool noodles in most cups and a lack of touch points on the course became the norm, as well as one person to a cart while enjoying your time on the course. For the majority of players dealing with it, a few unorthodox golf norms were not a problem, given the circumstances. However it became exceedingly clear that one player to a cart could be a potential problem.

Obviously, with a finite amount of carts at each respective facility, the first step may have been to bring in some extras, especially on days where expected play would outpace the available carts. Golf shop staffs seamlessly handled this issue, as they do most issues, and carts were available for all. The second issue with extra carts was a little more hidden, and has been a topic of discussion within superintendent circles recently. That is, the issue of traffic!

Superintendents and their staffs do a great job of providing exceptional playing surfaces under increasingly difficult environmental conditions around the St. Louis area. Each year it seems there is a different challenge. Excessive rain, drought conditions, too hot, too cold … you get the point.

However, one thing doesn’t change as rapidly as the weather and that is traffic. Golf facilities tend to do similar rounds of golf each season. This number may go up or down de12

Cart traffi during th pending on the weather, but even if a facility were to do 2,000 more rounds year over year, the increase to traffic would ultimately equate to, at most, about 1000 more carts on the property for the year.

I think now it’s becoming clear the direction I’m going with this - .enter 2020.

Rounds were up at many area courses, WAY up. This is a good problem to have. More players is a good sign and keeps the revenue stream fluid. Even during a pandemic with limited services, we would all agree keeping the facility use up is vital.

Here’s the rub.

Having one rider to a cart has presented some unforeseen issues with regards to course maintenance. Nothing necessarily catastrophic or world ending, but... We have some tired zoysia fairways in St. Louis, and many area fairways need a break from the action.

Off season traffic on zoysia often can compound issues with fairways. For example, maybe your course of choice has several tree lined fairways and can become slightly thin as the season comes to anend. The shade may present a bit of an issue for the superintendent and staff for optimum zoysia performance. Most likely, you as a player may not even notice the issue, but I assure you, it is there.

This year, like compound interest gone wrong, the problems may have been exacerbated by high cart usage. Many area courses have witnessed up to 175% increase in cart usage due to one simple fact everyone has been riding solo.

Eight tires on a given hole have now become 16, and most of this extra traffic is focused into ingress and egress areas, creating excess wear and tear on the tender fall zoysia.

Even the grass can’t escape the Covid.

Look out your kitchen window tonight. Do you have a dog?

Do you have a fence? Does your dog run back and forth up and down the fence line creating a thin bare trail in your yard? If you answer yes to these questions, think of what your yard would look like with another dog and a threelegged chicken running around back there. It wouldn’t be pretty.

Moral of the story folks is that several area courses restrict

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September/October 2020

ffic has been challenging is unconventional year

Algonquin Golf Club was founded in 1899 and has been at its present location on Berry Rd. since 1903. It was redesigned by distinguished architect Brian Silva in the 1990s. Cart traffic has been heavy for clubs this year, but some still like to walk.

carts in the off-season. Some restrict carts on an as-needed basis, some restrict carts every day.

Superintendents at each area course have to make tough decisions regarding the property they manage, none of them are taken lightly, and almost every decision is made with the balance of player experience and course conditioning in mind. The excessive wear and tear caused by the enormous increase in cart usage this year has given many area superintendents yet another challenge, and it comes in the form of a question. Do we reduce cart traffic during the off-season to allow zoysia some time to recover, so that it will again be green and lush and ready for the 2021 season?

I suspect the answer may be a resounding “yes.” I would

ask everyone reading to understand this… like this entire dumpster fire of a year has presented challenges in every aspect of our lives, it has caused problems in ways no one ever dreamed.

Even our grasses have been affected. Should you find yourself on a property where carts are restricted on a beautiful unseasonably warm November day, especially during the off-season, please note this is similar to a vaccine or a least a method of treatment for our zoysia fairways.

Well done fairways. You had an extremely busy year and deserve a little time off for all of you efforts.

Thanks for reading and continue to be safe and enjoy the great game of golf!

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34th No Chris Ferris

Open Division Player Gross Score

Chris Ferris 67-68-135 Nick Hedberg 74-63-137 Tony Gumper 73-66-139 Anthony Ruthey 72-68-140 Drew Pranger 71-69-140 Alex Locke 71-69-140 Curtis Brokenbow 69-71-140

Senior Division Player Gross Score Joe Malench David Pfeil Scott Horton Brian Lovett Gene Hart

Joe Malench

70-72-142 72-73-145 75-75-150 78-74-152 75-77-152

Earlier this summer, with the future of N Up stepped Glen Echo Country Club, the And it only gave Glen Echo the opportun It also gave Chris Ferris a bit of a home-fi Glen Echo home as their practice course.

That said, Ferris, the recent Metropolitan Normandie Amateur Open Division cham closed things out with a final-round 68 fo times during the Metropolitan a few wee Ferris got off to a slow start during Sund holding off a remarkable charge by Nick that left him at 5-under 137. Hedberg’s b In the Senior Division, Joe Malench had 2020 season. Malench’s final-round 72 ca

ormandie at Glen Echo

Normandie Golf Club unknown, it was decided to conduct the 34th playing of the Normandie Amateur regardless. e perfect pinch-hitter. After all, the two clubs are the two oldest in St. Louis, and among the oldest in the country. nity to show off both its stewardship and its marvelous golf course. field advantage, given Ferris and his UMSL teammates - among the top NCAA D-II teams in the country - call . n Amateur champion, doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need much advantage. He continued a terrific late-season run by capturing the mpionship on the Sept. 12-13 weekend at Glen Echo. Ferris took a first-round lead with his 4-under-par 67, then or a 7-under 135 total. His Saturday 67 included a hole-out for birdie on his final hole - something he did four eks earlier at Meadowbrook. dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s final round, bogeying No. 3. But he bounced back with authority and finished the day with his 3-under 68, Hedberg for a two-shot victory. Hedberg had the round of the tournament on Sunday, a carding an 8-under 63 bogey-tee trip included six birdies and an eagle. Tony Gumper (139) shot a final-round 66 to finish third. the only subpar round of the championship, an opening 1-under 70, and went on to capture his second win of the arried him to a three-shot win over David Pfeil, who was at 72-73-145. Scott Horton was third with 75-75-150.

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September/Octobeer

Sunset Hills Country Cl Amateur Series # 6 Sept. 11. 2020

Open Alex Stojanovic 79 Jeffrey Kissel 79 Mike Lawton 81 Mike Allgeier 81

Open Net Kyle Fuehne 70 Justin Zhang 72 Eric Fogleman 74

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Senior Open David Rudd 73 Steve Tetrault 76 David Tucker 77

Senior Ne John Epps John Schranc William Abanat

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September/October 2020

lub

et Super Senior Net 69 Russell Hollenbeck 70 ck 74 Rick Darrow 72 thie 77 King Edmonston 74

John “Catfish” Kueper follows his shot at Franklin County Country Club. A fews day later, Kueper won the Super Senior Division of the City Championship.

Chase Holland Photo

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Amateur Series Champion The Metropolitan

September/Octobeer

The Quarry at Crystal Springs Oct. 3-4, 2020

Open Eric Fogleman 84-75 S. Rommerskirchen 78-81 Michael Alleier 87-79 Alek Stojanavic 82-86 Colin Hall 85-95

Open Net 159 159 166 168 180

John Davis Kyle Fuehne Nicholas Geiger Will Roestel Dwayne Leslie

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79-76 76-79 77-83 77-85 82-84

Senio 155 155 160 162 166

David Rudd Tina Jones M. Quesenberry W. Winderlich Terry Souchek

nship

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or Open 73-78 78-77 78-71 79-85 82-85

September/October 2020

Super Senior Net

Senior Net 151 155 159 164 167

Dave Verhulst Bill Slantz Vince Schneider John Schranck William Abanathe

71-75 70-80 73-79 77-77 78-84

146 150 152 154 162

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Kevin Ortyl Bill Braun King Edmonston Richard Cobb Rick Darrow

71-76 80-69 76-73 77-76 73-81

147 149 149 153 154

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September/Octobeer

CLG rallies to retain Cup Perhaps the most famous Ryder Cup in history took place at Medinah Country Club in 2012. The Europeans trailed Team USA 10-6 going into the final round of singles play. The “Fat Lady” wasn’t singing, but she was humming a tune. Incredibly, on the road, the Europeans rallied to earn 8 1/2 points on that final Sunday and secure the Cup. Fast forward to the 2020 Mid-America Junior Cup at Lake Forest Country Club on Oct. 24-25. The Central Links Golf team (Kansas City region) came into the final day of singles matches on Sunday, Oct. 25, needing to rally in its opponent’s backyard.

OK, it wasn’t a huge deficit CLG faced, as it entered the final day trailing 4 1/2-3 1/2, needing 4 1/2 of the 8 points available. But if this comeback lacked the scope of the 2012 Ryder Cup, it didn’t lack the drama. With the competition going all the way down to the final hole of the final match still on the course, the visitors got what they needed.

CLG’s Ian McCrary edged MAGA’s Blake Skornia 1-up to capture a full point from the final match, securing an 8-8 tie for CLG and allowing the vistors to retain the Cup in the 22nd playing of the competition. The overall series results has MAGA and CLG each with 9 victories and 4 ties.

The Ryder Cup-style competition features foursomes and four-ball rounds on Saturday, with eight concluding singles matches on Sunday. The teams consist of players from two age brackets - 16 and older and 13-15.

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Mid-America Cup Lake Forest Country Club

Foursomes

MAGA Catherine Cronin-Harper Ackerman 1-up > Rylie Andrews-Bubba Chapman halved Drew Nienhaus-Ryan Walsh < 3&2 Brooke Biermann-Blake Skornia 4&3 >

Four-ball

MAGA Catherine Cronin-Rylie Andrews 2&1 > Harper Ackerman-Bubba Chapman < 3&2 Drew Nienhaus-Brooke Biermann < 2&1 Ryan Walsh-Blake Skornia < 2&1

Singles

MAGA Harper Ackerman 3&1 > Bubba Chapman halved Ryan Andrews < 2-up Catherine Cronin 6&5 > Brooke Bierman 4&3 > Drew Nienhaus < 7&6 Blake Skornia 1-up > Ryan Walsh < 4&2 21

CLG Maya McVey-Chance Rinkol Hillary Currier Myles Tarvin Libby Green-Michael Winslow Julia Misemer-Ian McCrary CLG Hillary Currier-Maya McVey Chance Rinkol-Myles Tarvin Libby Green-Julia Misemer M. Winslow-Ian McCrary CLG Myles Tarvin Chance Rinkol Maya McVey Hillary Currie Julia Misemer Libby Green Ian McCrary Michael Winslow

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September/Octobeer

â&#x20AC;&#x153;N ever is w huma

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No-one will ever have golf under his thumb. No round will be so good it could not have been better. Perhaps this why golf is the greatest of games. You are not playing a an adversary; you are playing a game. You are playing old man par.â&#x20AC;?

- Bobby Jones

Taylor Wood hits an approach shot at Joachim Golf Club in Herculaneum.

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Crazy about golf - fo Guest Column Mark Reardon (Editor’s note: Mark Reardon is the host of “The Mark Reardon Show” on KMOX NewsRadio 1120 from 2 -5 p.m.weekdays ... and a self-professed golf nut.)

I’m getting better!!!

I made the mistake of uttering those words about my golf game to a lot of people this past summer. You see, I’ve really only been back in the game for about 3 1/2 years. I didn’t grow up playing golf. I remember my Dad had an old set up clubs and would occasionally play in a work “outing.”

When I was younger I never knew what that meant. So, as I allegedly transformed into an adult during the 1980’s, I was a HUGE fan of the game on television. I just didn’t play.

During a radio stint in Milwaukee about 20 years ago, my friend Bob, who I bonded with over Springsteen music and concerts, asked if I was a golfer. I told him I had never even picked up a club - never!

Bob was a pretty generous guy and upon hearing that, he surprised me with golf lessons. I jumped in head first. I took a few lessons, started hitting balls at the range and before you knew it I was obsessed. In Milwaukee County, there was a vast array of pretty decent courses and as a county resident you could enjoy steep discounts. Truth be told, as a radio guy you also get invited to play a lot of free golf. It was amazing.

The PGA Tournament came to Whistling Straits in 2004 and the majesty and beauty of that property north of Milwaukee gave me more inspiration to obsess over golf. But here’s the problem - I was all arms. I never really understood the mechanics of the golf swing. I lost a lot of balls, swore a lot of words and never broke 100.

I was not getting better.

When I moved back to St. Louis in 2006, I was still playing. But I also was becoming a relatively serious cyclist. Yes - one of those annoying, spandexwearing bikers who hog the road. The weekend rides were 3-4 hours at a time.

There’s no way you can be on the bike and play golf at the same time … at least, not without getting a divorce.

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After a 60-mile ride one Saturday in Ap friends if he was going to ride the next d golf.” My response was, “I want to play g I have not been back on a serious bike r mountain bike a few times for a spin ar daughter. But outside of that, since that put my butt on a bicycle seat.

To explain, I’m either an “all-in” or “allspent hundreds (ok, thousands) of dolla ment and hit thousands of balls at the r videos and books, taken lessons from g and Craig Story. And I’ve even called m being the instigator of this addiction.

At the same time, I’ve tried to pay my lo help of his mother, I bought my little br of Eastern MO a set of starter clubs. He As unsettling and discouraging as 2020 has been encouraging for my golf game derstand what a real swing feels like. I’v ball and for the first time, I’m compress from 100-plus to shooting two rounds t about that …

As soon as I had a great round at Tapaw it all went downhill. You could have pla for a good portion of the round, you mi That’s golf, it’s humbling. As soon as you progress, you shoot a 94 and run out of When that happened, I quickly declared hit more balls at the range and played m were back on track. Now I’m worried.

It’s the end of the season, and while I’ll play a winter round when temperatures the spring. In these anxious times, Golf not think about pandemics, politics, an For those who don’t play the game, it do Why in the world would anyone put the frustrating, difficult game? Why would F-bombs, yell at yourself and get all wou golf?

Why? … Why? … Why? I think it’s because I’ve convinced myse

The Metropolitan

September/October 2020

or better and worse

pril of 2017, I asked one of my cycling day. He replied “Nope, I’m playing golf!” ride since. Oh, I’ve jumped on my round the neighborhood with my t April day 3 1/2 years ago, I have not

-out” guy. There is no in-between. I’ve ars on awesome new clubs and equiprange. I’ve studied the game with great local instructors like Adam Betz my friend Bob and cussed him out for

ove of the game forward. With the rother from Big Brothers Big Sisters e’s loving it so far.

0 has been - for the entire planet - it e. For the first time, I feel like I unve finally started hitting down on the sing the golf ball. My scoring has gone this summer under 85. Yeah, and

wingo in September - carding an 83 ayed with me the very next week and ight have thought I was a beginner. u convince yourself you’re making f balls. d an emergency. I took more lessons, more rounds where it appeared things

still visit the range and occasionally s allow, things will be on hold until f has been that one place I can go and nd the other stresses of life. oesn’t make sense. emselves through the torture of this you want to go out, drop a bunch of und up in knots over a bad round of

elf that … I’m getting better!!!

A round of of golf I will never forget: “The Wizard” Ozzie Smith and”The Hacker” Mark Reardon at Bellerive Country Club.

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PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARDS RECEPTION BOGEY HILLS COUNTRY CLUB 6 P.M. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2, 2020 The Metropolitan Golf Association will recognize and honor the 2020 MAGA Men’s, Senior Men’s, Women’s and Senior Women’s Players of the Year.

More details coming soon at www. metga.org.

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The Metropolitan

September/October 2020

Area players capture 2021 Four-Ball spots As the season wound down, MAGA had the opportunity to generate a positive outlook going forward for several area amateurs.

The association conducted the 2021 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying on Sept. 28 at Crown Pointe Golf Club. Forty-six men and women competed for spots in their respective

Brooke Biermann and Julia Misemer.

championships, which will be conducted next spring.

Among the women’, Brooke Biermann and Julia Misemer survived a three-way playoff to earn the lone qualifying berth available.

The tandem of Biermann/Misemer finished the day at 3-under par to tie the the teams of Ellen Port/Lara Tennant and Drew Nienhaus/Nicole Rallo.

Biermann/Misemer then made par on the second playoff hole to capture the qualifying spot.

The other pairs went on to play five playoff holes before deciding the alternate places, with Port/Tennant securing 1st Alternate. The 2021 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship will be played at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, TX. On the men’s side, two spots were on the line, and the duo of Tony Gumper and Ryan Eckelkamp shot

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Tony Gumper and Ryan Eckelkamp.

8-under 63 to earn medalist honors and a trip to Chambers Bay for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. One shot back, Michael Noe and Trent Alexander from Alabama finished 7 under to earn the second spot. A three-way tie at 6 under played off for the alternate places and the team of Blair Web-Mac Fiely (Indana) grabbed the 1st Alternate, while brothers Sam and Joe Migdal secured the 2nd Alternate designation.

The Metropolitan

September/Octobeer

Ahead of the curve

Re-live your favorite moments in St. Louis sports history with Dan O’Neill and his captiving new books. Available at area book stores and book purchasing websites. “Go crazy!” and lift Lord Stanley’s Cup in the comfort of your own home.

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