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31st Metropolitan Women’s Amateur
Thirty-three women came together to participate in this year’s Metropolitan Women’s Amateur Championship. Westborough Country Club provided a tight track that challenged the ladies over the course of two days. The Championship Flight played using gross scores, while Flights A through C used net scores.
In the Championship Flight, McKenna Montgomery of Persimmon Woods Golf Club fired a one-under (-1) par to sit in the solo lead after Round 1. The round started off rough for Montgomery, a former Lindenwood University golfer, with two bogeys in the first three holes, but she fought back to earn five birdies throughout her round. Behind Montgomery at two-over (+2) par are Kathy Glennon of the Country Club of St. Albans and defending champion Gracie Piar of Spencer T. Olin Golf Course tied for second. Glennon also had a rough start to her round with a bogey on Hole 1, but pushing through an up-anddown round with three birdies, she finds herself within range. Piar, a California State UniversityNorthridge golfer, also had an up-and-down round starting with a bogey, but fighting back after each fall, she finished the day with a birdie and just three back of the lead. Sitting tied for fourth are Peyton Cusick of the Metropolitan eClub and Tina Jones of the Country Club of St. Albans at four-over (+4) par.
Going into Round 2, McKenna Montgomery sat at the top of the leaderboardwith a three-stroke lead. Montgomery is no stranger to the winners circle, and knows what it takes to finish out a championship. Her round did not have any particular trends of up or down, other than a stretch of pars between holes 8 and 14, but it was enough to hold on at the top. Montgomery did finish her round strong with a birdie on Hole 16, as well as Hole 18, to finish with a Round 2 score of 71, even (E) par, and a total of 141, one-under (-1) par. Gracie Piar began her day tied for second place at two-over par. Piar, the defending champion, was looking to improve upon her game to climb up the leaderboard and maintain the trophy for a second year. As the day went on, her game seemed to improve, having made two bogeys on the third and fourth holes and finishing strong with three birdies in the last five holes. Piar definitely put the heat on Montgomery by posting a Final Round score of 69, two-under (-2) par. This brought her total to 142, even (E) par, one shot back, and in the Runner-Up position. With Piar unable to overtake
Montgomery, Montgomery claimed the title of the 31st Metropolitan Women’s Amateur. Kathy Glennon of the also started the day tied for second place. Through nine holes, she still held on to that T-2 position, but fell just short on the back. A Final Round score of one-over (+1), 72, left her three strokes back in solo third place with a total of 145.
Margaret Farrell of Westborough Country Club let her familiarity of the course guide her through the first round. Farrell sits at the top of Flight A with a net score of two-under (-2) par. Behind her, is Trish Friley of Persimmon Woods Golf Club with a net score of three-over (+3) par to sit in second. In Flight B, Anne Moreland of Westborough Country Club also used her knowledge of the course to make her way to the top of the leaderboard with a net even (E) par. The second place position after Round 1 is held by Cynthia Rank of Old Warson Country Club at net three-over (+3) par. Debra McGinnis of Florissant Golf Club also fired a net score of two-under (-2) par to take the lead in Flight C. Carol Stampley of Whitmoor Country Club is following behind her at net one-over (+1) par in solo second.
In Flight A, Margaret Farrell’s strong Round 1 score of 69 put her above the competition. Farrell, playing her home course, continued to try to use her familiarity of the course to her advantage. Though she was unable to duplicate her score from the first day, Farrell put together a round of net three-over (+3) par, which brought her total to 143, or one-over (+1) par. Jeanne Place, also of Westborough Country Club, began the day in third place, but used her knowledge of the course to move up the leaderboard. After a Round 1 score of four-over (+4) par, Place improved her score and started chasing down Farrell by bringing in a Final Round score of one-under (-1) par, 70. Farrell’s score still held strong to stay on top and be declared the winner, while Place took home the runner-up award.
Flight B saw a change up the morning of Round 2, after the Round 1 leader, Anne Moreland, had to withdraw from the competition. This left the door open for others to move into that spot. With the removal of Moreland, Cynthia Rank became the new leader at three-over (+3) par. Rank doubled down and improved her score by onestroke to post a Round 2 score of two-Over (+2) par, 73, and take claim on the top spot. Mary Terwelp of Spring Lake Country Club was four-strokes behind Rank before the day started, but was unable to catch her. Putting together a Final Round score of 79, eight-over (+8) par, Terwelp finished as runner-up with a score of 157, while Rank would be flight winner.
In Flight C, Debra McGinnis held a three-stroke lead over her competitors after Round 1. McGinnis knew she would have to play well again to take home the hardware, and she delivered. Pulling out a score of 67, four-under (-4) par, in Round 2, McGinnis brought her championship total to a whopping 136, or six-under (-6) par. Carol Stampley sat in second place following the first round and decided to duplicate her performance. Stampley went back-to-back 72, finishing at two-over (+2) par for the championship. Unfortunately for Stampley, this was not enough to hold off Nancy Struckhoff of Ballwin Golf Club. Struckhoff woke up on the right side of the bed and came ready to put up a fight. She made her way around the course tallying up a score of four-under (-4) par for the day. This pushed Struckhoff ahead to stake claim on the runner-up position with a score of 142, even (E) par, just behind the Flight C winner McGinnis.
After two incredible days of golf, McKenna Montgomery finds herself hoisting the Jayne M. Watson Trophy for a third time. This makes Montgomery only the second player to have won the championship three times. It also makes her the second most winning champion of the Metropolitan Women’s Amateur behind Ellen Port, who has won a remarkable sixteen times. Margaret Farrell, Cynthia Rank, and Debra McGinnis all find themselves going home after these two days of golf with new hardware for their shelves from their respective divisions.
Full Results
2023 marked the 99th year of the Southern Illinois Amateur Championship, held at Green Hills Golf Club. The event took place July 15th and 16th, with a field of 67 players. The first morning started out with overcast skies and a few sprinkles, but as the day went on, the weather progressed into a sunny afternoon. Starting at 7:30am, players made their way around the course and completed the day by 3:31pm.
In the Men’s Division, eleven players finished at par or better for Round 1. Aaron Coon of Kokopelli Golf Club and Jarrett James of the SIGA eClub top the leaderboard at three-under (-3) par. Following closely behind them, Dan Hagler of Crab Orchard Golf Club, Bryce Doughty of the SIGA eClub, and Bryan Warren of McLeansboro Golf Course sit tied for third at two-under (-2) par. The shot of the day came from Garrett Mott of the SIGA eClub when he sunk one into the hole on the par-three, Hole 7, for an ace.
There are five participants in the Women’s Division. Ally Suhre of the Gateway PGA Jr Golf Club brought in the lowest score in the division at five-over (+5) par. Not far behind was Emma Hill of the Metropolitan eClub at six-over (+6) par. Sitting in third was Ashleigh Reeves of Franklin County Country Club at eight-over (+8) par.
Next came in the Senior Division, where Joseph Malench of the Metropolitan eClub brought in the only score under par in the group of one-under (-1) par. Malench started out hot with three birdies in the first four holes. Hot on his heels are three players tied for second at even (E) par. David Pfeil of The Legends Country Club, Tom Portner of Green Hills Golf Club, and Mike Castellari of Metropolitan eClub all kept themselves from finishing over par and just one back of the lead. In the Super Senior Division, four players battled it out to sit at the top of the leaderboard. Barry Dalmasso of the SIGA eClub out played his competitors by finishing with a score of three-under (-3) par. Doug Hardacre of Franklin County Country Club sat in second place at five-over (+5) par.
The Boys’ Division rounded out the day. Trey Roessler of Annbriar Golf Course finished the day on top of the leaderboard at one-over (+1) par. Sitting behind him was Riley Knobeloch of the USGA/MetAmateur GC in solo second at six-over (+6) par.
The Final Round of the SIGA Championship at Green Hills Golf Club was an eventful day of golf. Starting at 7:30 in the morning with the Women’s Division and closing out tee times with the Men’s Division, all players made their way around the course by 3:00pm.
With the Women going off first, they were able to finish early. Never looking back, Emma Hill of the Metropolitan eClub birdied Hole 9 followed by a bogey-free back nine with five birdies. This brought Hill to three-under (-3) par for the day and three-over (+3) par for the championship to top the leaderboard. Ally Suhre of the Gateway PGA Jr Golf Club improved her score from Round 1 to Round 2 by four strokes. Suhre finished the day at one-over (+1) par and the tournament at six-over (+6) par to finish tied for second behind Hill. Ashleigh Reeves of Franklin County Country Club put together the only other round under par in this division. Reeves was tied with Hill through Hole 13, but a bad Hole 14 dropped her back. A birdie on Hole 18 brought Reeves to two-under (-2) par for the day and tied with Suhre for second at six-over (+6) par.
The Senior Men’s Division continued their fight for the top today. Joseph Malench of the Metropolitan eClub duplicated his performance from Round 1 by bringing in another score of one-under (-1) par. Malench finished his round strong with a birdie on Hole 18, bringing his championship total to two-under (-2) par and sitting comfortably in the lead. David Pfeil of The Legends Country Club and Tom Portner of Green Hills Golf Club started the day tied for second, and ended the day tied for second. Pfeil and Portner remained neck and neck all day, finishing with a score of two-over (+2) par.
In the Super Senior Division, Barry Dalmasso of the SIGA eClub pulled out a second round under par to finish with a hefty lead. Dalmasso shot one-under (-1) par for the day, which brought his total to three-under (-3) par and provided him the win. Sitting eight-strokes back, Doug Hardacre of Franklin County Country Club carded the second round under par in the division. Hardacre shot one-under (-1) par, finishing the championship at four-over (+4) par.
Following behind the Super Seniors were the Junior Boys. Trey Roessler of Annbriar Golf Course walked away with the hardware in the Junior Division. Roessler finished the day six-over (+6) par and the championship seven-over (+7) par. Coming in the clubhouse in solo second was Riley Knobeloch of the USGA/MetAmateurGC with a total score of sixteen-over (+16) par.
Closing out the day with the Men’s Division, things came down to the wire. The leaderboard remained tight throughout the day with six people remaining at even par or better. Bryce Doughty of the SIGA eClub decided he liked his score from day one and did it again. Carding five birdies, Doughty shot two-under (-2) par for the day, which brought his total to four-under (-4) par to win the championship. Bryan Warren of McLeansboro Golf Course tried to take down Doughty, but two rough holes on the back nine dropped his round down to even (E) par. Warren finished the championship in solo second at two-under (-2) par. Brandon Bullard of Green Hills Golf Club sat in solo third place at one-under (-1) par. Coming in tied for fourth at even (E) par were Fabian Oechsle of Bogey Hills Country Club, Kyler Spencer of Nashville Golf Club, and Jarrett James of the SIGA eClub.
