Volume 8 | No. 5
The Metropolitan
July 2021
The Metropolitan AMATEUR GOLF ASSOCIATION
31st Metropolitan Amateur Championship Preview (Pg. 6)
Ryan Penfield Feature (Pg. 18) 1
The Metropolitan
July 2021
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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6 3. Bio/Numbers 4. Curt’s Corner 5. Exposure Photo Recaps 6. Amateur Preview 8. Four-Ball Recap 10. Supe’s On
11. Players of the Year Standings
12. Bogeyman 14. Old Warson Announcement 15. SIGA Amateur Championship 16. U.S. Amateur Qualifiers 18. Ryan Penfield Feature 23. Nicklaus quote
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
MAGA
By The Numbers
31 - The number of consecutive holes Collin Morikawa played
without making a bogey as he came from behind to win the British
WHAT WE DO:
Open at Royal St. George’s. After making a bogey at No. 5 on Saturday,
- Provide the GHIN Handicap Service to 140+ Member Clubs under the World Handicap System
and a $2,070,000 winner’s check on Sunday. The streak represents the
July 17, Morikawa did not suffer another on his way to the clubhouse third longest bogey free sprint to close a major championship. Morikawa
- Conduct ten (10) Metropolitan Championships each season
made a similar run while in winning the 2020 PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park. On that occasion, he played the final 23 holes
- Conduct USGA Qualifying for nine (9) USGA Championships each season
without making a bogey. You have to give the 24-year old credit, when he wins, he goes out and wins.
- Conduct the Amateur Series of Events for golfers of all ages and abilities
100 - The number of years that have passed since St. Louis
- Provide the USGA Course/Slope Rating service to our Member Clubs
Country Club played host to the 1921 U.S. Amateur, the first time the championship was conducted west of the Mississippi River. Among the participants at SLCC was 19-year old Bobby Jones, who lost 2 and 1 in
- Regional authority on the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status
a quarterfinals match with Willie Hunter, an Englishman and winner of the British Amateur. Meanwhile, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion,
METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Charles “Chick” Evans, lost 5 and 4 in the semifinals to Jess Guilford.
Amateur Championship
Evans had defeated Francis Ouimet in the championship match a year
Old Warson Cup (Match Play Championship)
earlier at Engineers Country Club in Roslyn Harbor, N.Y. After beating
Shogren Cup (Match Play PGA Pros vs. MAGA Amateurs)
Evans to advance, Guilford went on to defeat Robert Gardner 7 and 6
Open Championship
and capture the title at SLCC.
Women’s Amateur Championship
2016 - The year Tom Fazio was brought in to make over
Junior Amateur Championship
Kasumigaseki Country Club in Japan, the host club of the 2021
Senior Amateur Championship
Olympics. Kasumigaseki officially opened in 1929 and the East Course
Metropolitan Cup Matches
was designed by C.H. Alison, who worked with noted architects Alister
Four-Ball Championship
MacKenzie and Harry Colt. One of the most prominent changes
9-Hole Championship
Fazio made, while he worked to extend the course to more than 7,400
Mid-America Junior Cup
yards, was to convert the layout from a two-green plan to a one-green blueprint. In golf-crazy Japan, where the climate can be extreme, it is common for golf courses to employ a two-green approach - one
USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS
green planted with grass to withstand cold weather, one with grass to
U.S. Open
accommodate hot weather. By eliminating the double greens, Fazio was
U.S. Senior Open
able to add 400 yards to the length of the course.
U.S. Women’s Open
9 - The number of birdies Christopher Ferris collected while shooting
U.S. Amateur U.S. Mid-Amateur
back-to-back 68s, finishing 6-under par and capturing the medalist
U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
honor at the U.S. Amateur Qualifying Tournament, July 5-6 at Aberdeen
U.S. Junior Amateur
Country Club. Max Kreikemeier (68-69) finished one stroke behind Ferris to earn one of the spots, and Zachary Shirley (67-71) was one
U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur
more shot back to claim the last of the three available starting times.
U.S. Amateur Four-Ball
Alex Locke and Yu Ta Tsai secured the alternate spots in a five-hole
U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball
playoff. The 149th U.S. Amateur is scheduled for Aug. 9-15 at Oakmont
U.S. Senior Amateur
Country Club, just outside of Pittsburgh. By the way, Aberdeen was one
U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur
of 102 U.S. Amateur Qualifying sites around the country.
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
Curt’s Corner
MAGA STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Curt Rohe - Executive Director
Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org 2021 EXECUTIVE BOARD Officers Stan Grossman, President Scott Engelbrecht, Secretary/Treasurer At-Large Members Kelli Kirchoff Mike Marquart Rick Meyer, Jr. John Moore Mick Wellington ADVISORY COMMITTEE Scott Thomas, Chairman Dustin Ashby Tom Barry Skip Berkmeyer Chris Kovach Ryan Eckelcamp Tom Portner Curt Rohe DIRECTOR, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Will Redmond P.J. BOATWRIGHT INTERNS Mary O’Leary Steven Wendling John McCauliffe THE METROPOLITAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Greeting Members! August is here and the season continues to fly along uninterrupted and fast! I always look at this first week of August as the peak of the season, Metropolitan Amateur Championship week. This year we are so fortunate to be at St. Louis Country Club for the 31st edition of the region’s most significant amateur championship. St. Louis CC brought in 232 entries this year, a new record. The top amateurs from the region will vie to add their name to the coveted Jim Blair Trophy. St. Louis CC is quite possibly my favorite golf course to set up. While some may ask at only 6,600 yards and change, how can that be? The Macdonald-Raynor design is an architectural gem, the green complexes are simply amazing. In 2011, our 21st Amateur was conducted at St. Louis and 1-over par was the winning score by Ryan Penfield. There have been some changes to the course since 2011, in particular the Cape Hole, Hole 8 and a new tee on Hole 5 stretches it back to 547 yards. Other than that, the beauty of St. Louis CC is that it is relatively the same golf course Macdonald-Raynor laid out in 1913 and is still relevant today. It is going to be a great week, I encourage you to come out and watch the best amateurs in the region compete. For the ICYMI file, CC of St. Albans hosted the 91st LNGA Amateur Championship just over a week ago. MAGA is the AGA partner of the Ladies National Golf Association (LNGA) and we had a great week crowning a national champion at St. Albans. Lilly Thomas, from Arkansas and University of Tulsa, captured the title by birdieing the 18th in regulation and then again on the 1st Playoff hole. While August is the peak, the season is far from over. Sobbe Cup playoffs will begin very soon, Amateur Series is on the backside of the season, we have a handful of USGA qualifying rounds yet and wrap up with the Mid-America Cup in October. So while we have a ways to go, I want to say a quick thank you to my team who has done a great job this year, I really appreciate their efforts. As always, thank you for reading and keep ‘em straight!
Dan O’Neill
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
Exposure: Recaps Using Unique Photo Layouts Click on the photos below for our Exposure recaps from our events this season!
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
St. Louis Country Club to Host Region’s To
The Jim Tom Blair trophy on the tee at No. 3 at St. Louis CC
Ladue, MO - Saint Louis Country Club is set to host the 31st Metropolitan Amateur Championship from Thursday, August 5, to Saturday, August 7th. A talented field of 156 golfers representing 38 clubs across the Saint Louis metropolitan area are scheduled to tee it up for the coveted Jim Tom Blair trophy. The three-day championship will be 54-holes at stroke play. The field will be cut to low-40 scores and ties after 36 holes. In the event of a tie after 54 holes, the championship will be decided by a three-hole aggregate playoff. “We are thrilled to return to one of our region’s most historic clubs for the 31st Amateur Championship” said Executive Director, Curt Rohe. “While just under 6600 yards, St. Louis CC offers so many opportunities for course setup and offers a challenge to even the best amateurs. It will provide for a great 3-days of competition and whoever comes out on top on Saturday will have earned their spot on the Jim Tom Blair Trophy.” The Metropolitan Amateur Championship, first contested in 1991, is MAGA’s signature event every season and regularly attracts every level of amateur player from juniors, college players, mid-amateurs and seniors. This week will mark the second time Saint Louis Country Club has hosted MAGA’s amateur championship, having done so in 2011 when Ryan Penfield won the title. The USGA recognizes Saint Louis Country Club as one of the first 100 Clubs in America. It is no stranger to hosting major golf events, having hosted eight USGA Championships in its history, including the 1947 U.S. Open when Lew Worsham defeated Sam Snead in a playoff. “St. Louis Country Club is honored to host the Metropolitan Amateur Championship,” said Grant Masson, PGA. “St. Louis Country Club has a rich history hosting men’s and women’s professional and amateur golf tournaments. This classic Charles Blair McDonald course will offer a spectacular setting and a unique experience for the players and we look forward to a great tournament.” Out of 232 entries, 156 advanced to make the field at this year’s playing, including a handful of exempt players. Seven past champions will be in the field, starting with Ryan Penfield who won at Saint Louis Country Club ten years ago. Drew Pranger (2016, 2018), Shawn Jasper (2017), Skip Berkmeyer (2009), Brian Kennedy (1999), Brad Carpenter (2019), and Jimmy Siegfried (2015) are the other past champions in the field.
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
op Amateurs at 31st Metropolitan Amateur
Ryan Penfield 21st Metropolitan Amateur Champion
Holes 13 and 14 at St. Louis CC with downtown Clayton in the distance
Christopher Ferris, champion of the 30th Metropolitan Amateur Championship last year at Meadowbrook Country Club, is not in the field this year. The former UMSL player earned a spot in the field at next week’s 121st U.S. Amateur at Oakmont from MAGA’s qualifier at Aberdeen Golf Club in early July. Sam Migdal comes into the championship as the reigning Old Warson Cup winner, having bested the top 16 players from last year’s MAGA Player of the Year standings at Old Warson Country Club this past June in match play. The 2021 Missouri Amateur Champion, Curtis Brokenbrow, is in the field and will be in a group with two past champions in Skip Berkmeyer and Drew Pranger. 17 players who competed in the 21st Metropolitan Amateur Championship at St. Louis Country Club are back in the field ten years later at the same venue, including Chris Kovach and Jack Eisenbeis, who tied for third. Eisenbeis was one of just two players in the field to shoot in the 60s during the first two days of competition. St. Louis Country Club is a par-71 layout that will measure 6,536 yards for the championship. The course features five par 3s, nine par 4s, and four par 5s. Play begins at 7:15 a.m. off both No. 1 and No. 10 tees on Thursday and Friday, after which the field will be cut to low-40 scores and ties. Live scoring and groupings and starting times are available through Golf Genius with the GGID VQGGXQ. For updates throughout the championship, follow MAGA on Twitter @MetAmateurGA. CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE Monday, August 2 - Official Practice Round (8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. walking tee times) Thursday, August 5 - First Round Split Tee Times (7:15 a.m. first wave, 12:30 p.m. second wave) Friday, August 6 - Second Round Split Tee Times (7:15 a.m. first wave, 12:30 p.m. second wave) Saturday, August 7 - Final Round (7:15 a.m. off No. 1) 7
The Metropolitan
July 2021
Gumper and Sullivan Win Open Di
Brian Lovett and Buddy Allen
Ryan Sullivan and Tony Gumper
Washington, MO – Tony Gumper and Ryan Sullivan took home the title in the Open Division at the 12th Metropolitan Four-Ball Championship at Franklin County Country Club. The two-day event saw 44 teams compete in six divisions: Open, Net, Senior and Women’s. Senior and Women’s Divisions had gross and net flights. Gumper and Sullivan began the day one shot back of 18-hole leaders Brett Hulsey and Tanner McKinney. The two teams made up the final group on Monday and a back-and-forth battle on the back-nine came down to the final hole. A chip in for eagle on the par 4 9th by Sullivan cut the lead to just one stroke as the group made the turn. Hulsey and McKinney began the back-nine leading at 12-under. Both teams birdied the opening hole on the back. A par on No. 11 by Sullivan tied it up at 14-under, before he gave his team the lead with a birdie on the par 4 13th. Both teams birdied the par 5 15th and Gumper/Sullivan went to 16 with a one-shot lead. After a rocket off the tee, Hulsey stuck one close on the par 4 16th and tied it at 14-under with two to go. It came down to No. 18, and a clutch birdie by Tony Gumper, driving it to just under 80 yards from the hole and putting it within a foot on the approach, gave them the title by a stroke. “I had a couple close ones not go, so to get that one was great, it did help turn the tide,” Sullivan said of his eagle on No. 9. “Tony played awesome, hit it straight, putted phenomenally and had total control of his golf ball. I had a couple lucky shots, made a couple birdies, and it was just a great team effort.” Gumper and Sullivan shot 15-under over the two days of competition, going 64-63–127. “We played really well together, I had a little bad stretch on the back, played a couple over par but Ryan played a couple under and that’s part of the Four-Ball format,” Gumper said. “There’s a little bit of luck involved you have to pair it just right.”
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
ivision at Four-Ball Championship Brian Lovett and Buddy Allen ran away with the Senior Division Gross flight, winning by seven strokes. “We were just looking to kind of ham and egg it, and that’s exactly what we did,” Lovett said. “When he was out, I stepped up, and vice versa.” The team shot 13-under over the 36 holes, going 65-64–129. “I figured out early on the more I was in the hole the more putts he made and I loved that strategy,” Allen said. “We really didn’t struggle, it was tough reading the green sometimes, but we made quite a few putts. It was fun watching him play, he’s really playing well right now.” Stephen Muenster and Travis Kennedy took home the Net Division title, shooting 7-under over the two days (72-63– 135). Joe Malench and Kevin Geise won the Senior Net, going 65-66–131 (-11). In the Women’s Division, Karen Umbright and Tina Jones won the Gross, going 82-77–159. Sherri Brown and Carol Stampley won the Net shooting even par over the two rounds, 71-71–142.
Travis Kennedy and Stephen Muenster
Joe Malench and Kevin Geise
Karen Umbright and Tina Jones
Sherri Brown and Carol Stampley 9
The Metropolitan
July 2021
Supe’s On Eric Bickel
Former Class A GCS
You’ve Got to Know When to Hold’em
MVGCS Affiliate Board Member
There is no better reward for a Superintendent than to achieve firm consistent playing surfaces. Slick greens, firm fairways, consistent rough and bunkers, manicured detail. Your golf course Superintendents hold playing conditions paramount. Their gratification is seeing the ball roll out from well-placed drives, watching a long putt trickle out to the hole with that last slowing rotation, watching the bump and run executed from a firm green surround like the architect intended. If Superintendents could dictate the weather they’d give you these type of conditions every day. This year the frequent heavy rainfall has been extremely limiting in this regard. Grounds crews don’t get those days back. Weeks were lost that would have been used for playing surface management. Poorly drained areas were hard hit and summer annuals like Nutsedge are having a banner year. Now that we are in the middle of the summer providing ideal conditions becomes increasingly difficult. Speaking as a past Superintendent, I can say with complete certainty that the months of July and August are the months that dictate your entire year. Maintaining playing conditions through a St. Louis summer is no joke. It can be as taxing on the grounds staff as a marathon and as stressful for the Superintendent as a never ending finals week. For a Superintendent the summer has no weekends, every day begins at 4:30 AM, and your family has succumbed to the fact that they won’t see you until September. I can recall sitting at my desk in January hashing out agronomic strategies, fertility programs, staffing levels, detailed schedules for surface management all hinged on the fulcrum of “getting through August”. I’d leverage all the science, tools, and technology at my disposal like an arsenal. By the 4th of July that calendar of well laid out plans was typically a chaotic mosaic of scratch outs, serpentine arrows, and notes of lessons learned for next winters’ war room plans. Mother Nature is the boss and she has a sick sense of humor. She throws something different every year; ice, hail, wind, monsoon seasons, droughts, 60 day heatwaves. Some years she skips entire seasons. Inevitably you adjust and a seasoned Superintendent’s management style becomes similar to a batters approach at the plate….fouling off everything they can waiting for that “meatball” thrown down the middle. That being said, when managing a golf course Superintendents always have to keep their guard up. This is especially true during St. Louis summers. Almost everything done to putting surfaces for firmness, speed, and grain induces stress on the plants. When soil temperatures are above 80 and dew points are hovering in the 70s, Bentgrass loses its ability to repair itself. Practices like vertical mowing, rolling, topdressing, growth regulators, height of cut, and irrigation all have to be implemented with caution or paused altogether. This time of year if you want good greens, in the words of Kenny Rogers “you’ve got to know when to hold’em and know when to fold’em” As stewards of the game we can all help out with summer course conditions and keeping moral up within the grounds staffs. Understand the impact we all have on course conditions. When you’re out playing this summer: • Be cognizant of what the grounds staff is doing. • Follow the cart traffic directions. • Be patient when the staff are hand watering greens. • Fix your ball marks and replace your divots. • Most importantly, don’t hesitate to express appreciation for their efforts. They are out there solely to provide you with the best playing experience they can. Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of the season.
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Player of the Year Points Standings
June 2021 July 2021
Presented by:
Name Curtis Brokenbrow Chad Niezing Christopher Ferris Sam Migdal Tony Gumper Max Kreikemeier Ryan Eckelkamp Peter Weaver Jason Landry Ryan Sullivan
Men’s Player of the Year
Affiliation No. Events No. Wins Total Pts The Quarry 3 1 1275 Metropolitan eClub 2 0 975 Aberdeen GC 0 0 940 Norwood Hills CC 2 1 932.5 Old Hickory GC 2 2 925 Forest Hills CC 1 0 832.5 Franklin County CC 3 0 727.5 Bellerive CC 0 0 595 Greenbriar Hills CC 2 0 480 Tapawingo National GC 3 1 437.5
Pts Behind 300 335 342.5 350 442.5 547.5 680 795 837.5
Full standings here Name Brian Lovett Buddy Allen Joe Malench Paul Neeman Joe Richardson Joe Timpone Kevin Giese David Bremer
Senior Men’s Player of the Year
Affiliation No. Events No. Wins Total Pts Pts Behind Bellerive CC 0 0 710 Metropolitan eClub 1 0 450 260 Metropolitan eClub 1 1 350 360 Persimmon Woods GC 1 0 267.5 442.5 Old Hickory GC 0 0 200 510 The Quarry 1 0 200 510 Metropolitan eClub 1 0 162.5 547.5 Persimmon Woods GC 1 0 132.5 577.5 Full standings here
Name
Women’s Player of the Year
Affiliation
No. Events No. Wins Total Pts Pts Behind McKenna Montgomery Persimmon Woods GC 1 1 1075 Kathy Glennon Country Club of St. Albans 1 0 750 325 Alyssa McMinn Far Oaks GC 1 0 525 550 Ellen Port Sunset CC 0 0 400 675 Melanie Wolf Bogey Hills CC 1 0 400 675 Madeline Larouere Metropolitan eClub 1 0 350 725 Full standings here 11
The Metropolitan
July 2021
The 30th annual, 31st Playing of the M Jesse Guilford captured the title.
The Bogeyman Dan O’Neill
(Editor’s note: This story appears courtesy of Morning Read (www. morningread.com) The 30th annual Metropolitan Amateur will be conducted Aug. 5-7 at St. Louis Country Club, the Good Lord willing and the virus don’t spike. Another way of putting it would be to say this will be the 31st playing of the championship. See how that works? That is, an event can’t have an “annual” date until it has taken place once before. The curveball reminds this scribe of another piece of terminology that drive him crazy, i.e. the term “defending champion.” For instance, Seth Fair captured the 2020 Metropolitan Open at Lake Forest Country Club. Fair returned to finish second in the 2021 championship in June. Did Fair’s failure to “defend” mean he relinquished his 2020 title. Of course not. Fair is and always will be the 2020 Metropolitan Open champion, no matter what happens this year. Yes, it’s a nitpick. But if you can’t pick a nit every once in a while, by God, what are we doing here? On whatever terms you choose, the Metropolitan Amateur at SLCC will be special. The spectacular golf course, designed by the legendary Charles Blair Macdonald, is a fitting place to toast a championship that began in 1991. And what a debut it was. Don Bliss, among the best St. Louis amateurs to ever put the ball in the air, was the first champion at Country Club of the Legends. The runner-up was Terry Tessary - a private course player and a public course player - what the Metropolitan was all about. Thirty years later, SLCC also is commemorating a rich piece of its history. Onehundred years ago the club played host to the 1921 U.S. Amateur, a championship that included Bobby Jones and reigning champion Charles “Chick” Evans in the field. Jones was eliminated in the quarterfinals and Evans in the semifinals, and
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Guilford didn’t win the event in 192 prevailed at The Country Club. But in ca Guilford is still the 1921 U.S. Amateur c
To be honest, the Bogeyman has a soft “Metro,” as the championship is widely k have a little scar tissue. To explain, as a y Post-Dispatch in 1995, he didn’t just c at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course, he parti
We all know that golf tournaments Louis summers are vulnerable to ho on Manchester Rd., it’s a given. But t championship took “sweltering” to a wh and humidity that week was paralyzin Casey Stengel said of Busch Stadium du well.”
Jim Holtgrieve was the “defending cham wore long pants on the first day of com a 1-over-par 73. The Bogeyman did no like Holtgrieve, toting his own luggage rectitude, volunteered to carry for Hol feature a heat index of 119 degrees
Out of empathy, Holtgrieve arrived the Ol’ Bogey wasn’t having it. “No, no,” said Give me everything you got.”
Meanwhile, other players huddled aroun an “over-under” of 14 holes on the loop
From that point, the memory gets a litt be a “good walk spoiled” became some feinting, requiring medical attention, as
Our threesome was holding its own “Bummer” Berry had irrepressible Don who was undeterred by a spat of heat Blosch, who had won the Metropolita earlier. “You can’t help but learn by bei Blosch, explaining her presence.
The Metropolitan
July 2021
Metropolitan Amateur Championship
22, when Jess Sweetser ase you were wondering, champion. Just sayin.’
spot in his heart for the known. In fact, he might young golf scribe for the cover the championship icipated in it … sort of.
conducted during St. ot weather. Like traffic that 54-hole heatstroke hole new level. The heat ng. And Spencer T., as uring the 1966 All-Star Game, “holds it
mpion” in ’95. A traditionalist, Holtgrieve mpetition, carried his own bag and shot ot feel it was right - a great champion e - and in an ill-considered moment of ltgrieve the next day, a day that would
e next morning with a lighter bag. But d the novice caddie. “I want the big boy.
nd the clubhouse and quickly established p. Smart money was on the under.
tle hazy. Because what was supposed to ething like a Bataan March. People were sking for priests.
n, mind you. Playing alongside, Dan nnie Meyer on the bag, a veteran caddie t. Lugging for David Rhoads was Jo D an Women’s Amateur just a few weeks ing around players of this caliber,” said
The only weak link in the group was yours truly, who actually was capable of being around players of that caliber and not learning a single thing. It may come as no surprise that Holtgrieve, a USGA champion and Walker Cupper, did not ask his caddie for much advice that day. And the only time the misplaced scribe veered out of his lane was on the 11th green when he blurted out, “It’s not going to go that far right, Jim.” Holtgrieve paused, reset, and hit the putt. It slid three feet wide of the hole - to the right. If looks could kill, his would still be doing hard time. Murder One. After a brutal up-and-down hike at 14, Bogeyman reached Defcon 1. He stopped sweating, had ringing in his ears and goosebumps on his arms. With four holes to go, he was seeing mermaids and palm trees off in the distance. Nonetheless, with some load-bearing help from Holtgrieve, he made it to the finish and watched his player birdie the final hole to turn in a 72 - one shot better than the day before. The next day - still seeing stars - the Bogeyman gave up the bag and went back to scribing for the final round. As it turned out, Holtgrieve didn’t “defend” his title. Craig Schnurbusch managed an incredible 5-under 67 on Saturday, coming from behind to win the fifth Metropolitan Amateur. For his part, Holtgrieve shot a 71 and finished five shots back. You can’t help but wonder what he might have shot had the Bogeyman made the loop.
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July 2021
Old Warson Country Club to Host 32nd Metropolitan Amateur Championship
Ladue, MO - The Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association (MAGA) is excited to announce Old Warson Country Club as the site for the 32nd Metropolitan Amateur Championship. The three-day competition will run August 4-6, 2022. “All of us at Old Warson are excited to host the region’s top amateurs next year for the 32nd Metropolitan Amateur Championship,” Steve Houg, PGA said. “We’ve had the honor of hosting MAGA’s match play championship, the Old Warson Cup, annually since 2003, and are excited to have a full field out here next August.” It will be the third time Old Warson Country Club has hosted the region’s most coveted amateur title. The first time it played host was in 1998, when David Estes shot even par to win. Most recently, Kyle Weldon won in 2012, shooting 6-under over the three days of competition. Old Warson Country Club will join Meadowbrook Country Club and Norwood Hills Country Club as the only three-time hosts of MAGA’s amateur championship.
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July 2021
Thornton Wins 97th SIGA Amateur Championship
Andrew Thornton SIU-Carbondale - Junior
Leroy Newton Ceremonial First Tee Shot
Marion, IL – Andrew Thornton took home the hardware at the 97th SIGA Amateur Championship. The twoday event took place at Kokopelli Golf Club in Marion, Illinois. It took one extra hole on Sunday, as Tommy Alferman birdied No. 18 to force a playoff. Thornton ended up making birdie for the second time on Sunday on the first playoff hole to capture the title. The rising junior at SIU-Carbondale went 2-over the two days of competition, shooting 73-71–144. He birdied No. 18 every time he played it, which ultimately gave him the victory. “I started off a little ropy here and there and was three back coming into today,” Thornton said. “I just thought, shoot around level par and see what happens and that’s what I did. I made the playoff and birdied the first which was nice. I came close back in Scotland at some good events but this one’s probably my best one today.” Ashleigh Reeves fired a 1-under 70 on Sunday to win the Women’s Championship by four strokes. The Lake of Egypt Country Club member went 11-over the two days, shooting 83-70–153. Joe Malench won the Senior Men’s Championship after a final round 73 (+2), marking his second win of the summer on the MAGA/SIGA schedule. Malench took home the Senior Division title at the East Side Amateur in May. The Metropolitan eClub member had a two-day total of 3-over (72-73–145). Robin Dodson was victorious in the Super Senior Men’s Championship at his home course after firing a 1-under 70 on Sunday. He finished the two days at 1-over, shooting 73-70–143. Kathleen Duncan won the Super Senior Women’s Championship, going 92-90–182. River Stilley ran away with the Junior Boy’s Championship this time around after winning in a playoff last year. Stilley went 72-73–145 over the two days of competition, finishing at 3-over. Sarah Capel took home the Junior Girl’s Championship after going 80-83–163 (+21). Ashley Hesler won the Men’s Net Championship, going 4-under (68-70–138). Kerry Hammond took home Women’s Net honors, shooting a 13-over (82-73–155). The longest running amateur tournament in Illinois got underway from Kokopelli Golf Club Saturday morning with a ceremonial first tee shot by longtime SIU-Carbondale men’s golf head coach and SIGA Hall of Fame member, Leroy Newton. Fitting that our Men’s Championship winner was a Saluki.
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Three Punch Their Tickets to 121st U.S. Amateur at Oakmont
July 2021
Max Kreikemeier, Christopher Ferris, Zach Shirley
Eureka, MO – Three players advanced to the 121st U.S. Amateur on Tuesday, July 6, through qualifying at Aberdeen Golf Club in Eureka. Christopher Ferris fired a 3-under 68 for the second straight day to earn medalist honors while claiming the first qualifying spot. Ferris, whose home course is Aberdeen, knew how to navigate the links course, carding nine birdies, tied for the tournament lead, and just three bogeys through the 36 holes. The UMSL graduate was 4-under when he made the turn Tuesday. A birdie on No. 14 coming in ultimately gave him Low Scorer. “I did a good job of keeping it in play and giving myself some good looks for birdie,” Ferris said. “When I was in trouble, I was able to get myself out, staying away from double and triples the last two days. Home course, so I knew these greens and I just executed.” Max Kreikemeier claimed the second qualifying spot after going 5-under (68-69) the two days of competition. The rising junior at Missouri State made the turn at 1-over, but a strong back nine, carding three birdies and no bogeys his last nine holes, moved him into the second qualifying spot. “I kept it in play for a good part of the tournament,” Kreikemeier said. “I think I hit 15 greens and 11 fairways, just giving myself chances for birdie. I just gave myself chance to make par every hole.” Third and final qualifying spot went to 18-hole leader Zach Shirley. The rising sophomore at Lyon College had a little home field advantage since he works in the golf shop just up the road from Aberdeen at Pevely Farms. Shirley carded the low round of the day the first 18, carding a bogey-free 4-under 67. He followed that up with an even par round today and claimed the third and final qualifying spot by a stroke. Key birdies on No. 16 and 17 coming in moved him just inside the cut line. “I was pretty comfortable, my iron play was great and that’s because I practice on some crazy lies here all the time,” Shirley said. “I felt good coming into this tournament and I was excited to lead after the first day. Today was a little bit harder with the swing not being there sometimes but I got through it.” Alex Locke claimed the first alternate spot after a five-hole playoff. Yu Ta Tsai is the second alternate. The 121st playing of the U.S. Amateur Championship will take place August 9-15 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Longue Vue Club will serve as co-host for stroke play.
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July 2021
Ball in the golf bag in the cart! This edition of Rules Quiz features an excerpt from MAGA official John Thorman’s e-book, Let’s Get It Right.
Dear John: At the Metropolitan Four-Ball Championship (Franklin County CC), while watching players putt on the 15th hole, I heard a thud and turned around to glimpse a ball bouncing into a parked cart and nestling on top of the clubs in a golf bag. It was a drive from the 17th tee! Now what? -- LuckyBounce Dear LuckyBounce: Although this is a unique event, the Rules have a ready answer. The player gets free relief for a ball at rest on a movable obstruction (Rule 15.2a(2)). The cart was left stationary until the player arrived to assess the situation. Everyone marveled at the outcome. Of course, the player opted for free relief. The spot on the cart path directly below the ball was marked with a tee (reference point for relief) and the cart was moved. The relief area around the reference point (one clublength measured with a driver, no nearer the hole), encompassed the cart path and a small wedge of rough in front of the path. Dropping on the cement and potentially taking free cart path relief (Rule 16.1b) was an option, but the player elected to drop in the wedge of rough. Having properly dropped in the grass, cart path relief was again available (for interference with stance), but the player decided to play the ball as it lay. By the way, he parred the hole!
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
Ten Years After Win, Penfield Makes H Ryan Penfield will make his return to St. Louis Country Club this week, ten years after his win at the 21st Metropolitan Amateur Championship. Penfield, who had just graduated from UMSL, caddied at St. Louis Country Club that summer leading up to the amateur in August of 2011. Knowing the course paid its dividends, Penfield stormed out of the gates carding five birdies his first 18 holes. He would shoot a 2-under 69 and grab the solo lead. A 1-under 70 in the second round put him in the final group on Saturday with Skip Berkmeyer, who had won the amateur two years prior at Bellerive Country Club. The final 18 got off to a rough start for Penfield, who had four bogeys his first ten holes. Berkmeyer gained the lead with an eagle before the turn. “Both Skip and I got off to a slow start and I had a weird section there early,” Penfield said. “I had a 3-putt for bogey on No. 4, was on in two shots on No. 5 and three-putted for par. I couldn’t cash in.” Berkmeyer bogeyed No. 11, showing signs of the trouble that was to come for the 2009 champion. He would add three more bogeys down the stretch, and Penfield had his championship moment on the 15th. A 494-yard par 5 with the pin in the back, Penfield’s second shot landed perfectly on the top ridge for an easy birdie. Penfield bogeyed No. 17, but a routine par on the 18th green had him one shot better than Ben Crancer in the end, whose final round 4-under 67 shot him up the leaderboard. The final round was anything but routine for Penfield, who recalls the pairing with Skip Berkmeyer as the key down the stretch, not because of the golf pedigree, but because of the words of encouragement offered. “The thing I remember most about being paired with Skip is, as we were coming down the last four, he was too far back to win and he had some nice words of encouragement for me,” Penfield said. “It was nice to be paired with someone who wants to win, but someone who also recognizes that when it’s not his day, he thinks maybe I can give this young guy some words of wisdom.”
Penfield, who played golf at UMSL from 2007-2011, was named GLVC Golfer of the Month in March of his senior year.
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
His Return to Saint Louis Country Club
Penfield had four top-5 finishes in nine events his senior year, including a win at the Drury/Pasta House Invitational
After the amateur win, Penfield moved to Madison, Wisconsin for a job with Humana on the commercial insurance side. Now, he lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his fiancé Lisa while working for the same company. Penfield, who plays out of Big Spring Country Club, says his golf schedule is not as busy as it was ten years ago, that he tries to play in three to four amateur events a summer along with the local USGA qualifiers. One thing he never misses every summer is the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball qualifier. Penfield and his former college teammate, Matt Rau, have been a team since their UMSL days. When St. Louis Country Club was announced as the site for the 31st playing of the amateur, Penfield’s college coach, Troy Halterman, reached out and kicked the idea around of him coming back to compete. As a past champion, Penfield is exempt to play in the event each year. “The conversation started really early, which was perfect,” Penfield said. “I was able to put it on the calendar before any vacations were set and make a reunion out of it.” The summer has been more of the same golf-wise for Penfield leading up to the amateur. One thing he is looking forward to about playing this year: no expectations. “I haven’t done anything outside of the norm,” Penfield said. “One thing I like about coming back this year, there are no expectations. I know those guys in the field that are total studs, but potentially that can really make it. Without expectations and knowing the golf course, I’ll enjoy the rounds and see how the scores come out. There won’t be any pressure to win. Usually, you perform your best under those circumstances.” There won’t be a practice round for Penfield. He’ll drive in Wednesday, meet his uncle for dinner, and hit the course Thursday morning. Penfield is paired with two past champions in Jimmy Siegfried (2015) and Brian Kennedy (1999) for rounds one and two. The group goes off Thursday morning at 8:54 a.m. off No. 10, and Friday afternoon at 2:09 p.m. off No. 1. 19
The Metropolitan
July 2021
2021 MAGA Ch
Championship Location
East Side Amateur
Gateway N
Robert A. Shogren Cup
Bellerive
Old Warson Cup
Old Warso
Women’s Championship
St. Clair C
Open Championship
Lake Fore
9-Hole Championship
Ballwin G
Junior Championship
Normand
Four-Ball Championship
Franklin
Amateur Championship
St. Louis C
Normandie Amateur
Normand
Senior Championship
Sunset CC
Southern Illinois Amateur
Green Hil
Thomas O. Sobbe Cup Final Algonquin
Mid-America Junior Cup
Kansas C
MAGA Cham
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
hampionships
Date Entries Close
National GL May 15-16
CC
May 5
May 23-24
Invitational
on CC
June 5-6
Invitational
CC
June 7-8
May 26
est CC
June 17-19
June 7
GC
June 26
June 16
die GC
June 28-29
June 16
County CC July 11-12
June 30
CC
Aug. 5-7
July 21
die GC
Aug. 21-22
Aug. 11
C
Aug. 24-25
Aug. 11
lls GC
Sept. 11-12
Sept. 6
n
Sept. 24
City, Mo.
TBD
mpionships
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
2021 USGA Qua
Qualifier Locatio
U.S. Women’s Open
Old Hic
U.S. Open
Spence
U.S. Girl’s Junior Ama.
The Le
U.S. Junior Amateur
The Le
U.S. Amateur
Aberde
U.S. Senior Amateur
Quincy
U.S. Senior Women’s Am.
Quincy
U.S. Mid-Amateur
Kokop
‘22 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball CC of S
USGA Qualif
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
alifying Rounds
on
Date
ckory GC
April 28
Entry Close April 14
er T. Olin GC May 10
April 21
egends CC
June 14
May 19
egends CC
June 14
May 26
eeon GC
July 5-6
June 23
y CC
Aug. 9
July 14
y CC
Aug. 9
July 14
pelli GC
Aug. 16
Aug. 4
St. Albans
Aug. 30
Aug. 11
fying Rounds
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The Metropolitan
July 2021
2021 Amateur Series
Tournament
Date
Winghaven CC Woods Fort GC
May 20
Annbriar GC
June 24
Birch Creek GC
July 29
Persimmon Woods
Aug. 16
Sunset Hills CC
Sept. 20
The Quarry GC
Oct. 11-12
MAGA Amateur Series
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May 3
The Metropolitan
July 2021
“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 County. Restoring Normandie for a community in need will have a long-lasting positive impact on the lives of youth in St. Louis.” .
- Jack Nicklaus on his involvement in Normandie GC project
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