The Metropolitan | Vol. 7 | No. 4

July 2020

The Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association

The Heat Is On! Player of the Year races take shape

The Metropolitan

July 2020

INSIDE

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3. Rules/Numbers 4. Curt’s Corner 5. In Memorium 6. Four-Ball finish 8. Bogeyman 10. POY Heats Up

12. Amateur Series 16. Guest Column 18. East Side Amateur 20. Supe’s On 22. SIGA Championship 28. Berkmeyer hat trick

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14 2

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July 2020

By The Numbers

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The number of playoff losses Kathy Whitworth absorbed in her career.

Whitworth is one of the all-time greats, with at least one win in 22 LPGA seasons. But if you got her into a playoff, you had a chance. Her overtime record was 6-20.

3,500

The number of calories Bryson DeChambeau consumes on a daily basis. The PGA Tour standout went from 195 pounds in late 2019 to some 240 pounds when the PGA Tour resumed play this summer. “I can eat whatever I want,” DeChambeau explained, and then ate the microphone. No, just kidding.

Lost and Found Competing in the 1996 Metropolitan Amateur at Bellerive, David Lucks loses his tee shot to the right on the par-4 11th and - with help from his caddy the Ol’ Bogeyman - cannot say for certain if the ball went in the penalty area. Lucks plays another ball from the tee under the proper rule, this time ripping it left and finding prime position in the fairway. But moments later, he finds his original ball outside the penalty area.

Under the Rules of Golf, what should he do?

1.50

The price of a pimento cheese or egg salad sandwich at Augusta National Golf Club during Masters week. The beloved April championship was postponed this year because of the pandemic, but a tentative re-schedule date of Nov. 12-15 remains in tact. .

The number of players who exceeded $1 million in earnings on the PGA Tour money list during the 2018-19 season.

Checking in at 120 was Aaron Baddeley, who made $1,005,982.

1. Employ the the mulligan he purchased at the MAGA scoring tent before the round and pronounce his second ball is in play.

2. Assess himself a two-stroke penalty and play his original ball, taking time to berate his caddy.

120

3. Invoke the “no-harm, no-foul” statute and instruct the Bogeyman to pick up the second ball. There is no penalty and his original ball is in play.

4. Go ahead and continue to play his second ball.

The orginal ball is lost under a penalty of stroke and distance.

66

The record for the lowest finalround score in the MAGA Amateur, carded by Brian Craig in the 2010 championship at Meadowbrook Country Club. The 5-under-par score included seven birdies and two bogeys, and wasn’t qiite good enough. Craig finished tied for second, one shot behind winner Eli Grant. Perhaps lightning will strike again in 2020, as the 30th playing of the championship is scheduled for Aug. 6-8, back at Meadowbrook.

Correct Answer The original ball is lost under penalty of stroke and distance - as per Rule 18.2 and the Definition of “Ball Lost or Out of Bounds.” Lucks should proceed according to No. 4, the correct answer. He should also fire his caddy, dismiss his chances of winning the championship and talk to an instructor about his inconsistent swing under the pressure of competition.

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July 2020

Curt’s Corner

MAGA STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Curt Rohe - Executive Director

Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org 2020 P.J. Boatwright Interns

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

Curt’s Corner Hello Members! While it seemed like we waited...and waited for the season to start last month, it has now flown by and here we are heading into August. We have been fortunate to not have any cancellations on our schedule but just postponements to date. July was again very busy with our Four-Ball Championship and East Side Amateur which both had record numbers of entries.

To end the month, I was down in Gallatin, TN assisting with the conduct of the 90th Ladies National Golf Association Amateur Championship. MAGA has now collaborated with the LNGA and is the administrative body of the organization here in St. Louis.

The LNGA conducts two national championships each season and MAGA is providing support and assistance to their Directors in the conduct of those championships. The Amateur in July had 144 of the best amateurs in the country, with several top collegiate players.

This year, the Amateur received exemptions for the Champion and Runner-Up(s) into the U.S. Women’s Amateur next week. It has been a great partnership allowing us to assist in a national amateur event.

We are excited to conduct our 30th Amateur Championship August 6-8 at Meadowbrook Country Club. This will be Meadowbrook’s third time hosting the region’s top amateurs to compete for the Jim Tom Blair Trophy. Meadowbrook hosted in 2000 and 2010 when Bob Beckmann and Eli Grant won the championship respectively.

Meadowbrook will join Norwood Hills CC as the only 3-time host of the Amateur.

Enjoy the July edition of The Metropolitan and thank you for reading, stay tuned for August and another busy month of championships!

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

THE METROPOLITAN EDITOR Dan O’Neill

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The Metropolitan

July 2020

In Memorium Scott Jerome Bess

( June 23, 1950 - June 4, 2020)

Scott Bess had a lot of things going for him as an outstanding golfer, but timing wasn’t always one of them. The Columbia, Mo. native happened to play much of his early career in the shadow of another notable player - Tom Watson.

“It seems like I was always going up against Watson,” Scott told the Post-Dispatch in August, 1989.

“If he would win, then the papers would make a big deal out of it. If I won, the story would be real small.”

Scott died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday morning, June 4, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Mary; son, Christopher (Joy); stepdaughter, Cara (Dallas) Christenson; grandchildren, Anna, Brooke, Jack, Bailey and Abbey; and a large group of cousins and friends.

While he never approached the notoriety Watson has enjoyed, Bess certainly established himself as one of the top amateurs and pros the state of Missouri ever has known. A 1968 graduate of Hickman High School, he won state golf titles in 1967, 68 and ’69. During the summer of ’69, Scott also won the Missouri Amateur, defeating Don Dupske 8-7 in the final match at Old Watson Country Club.

Watson was the two time reigning champion and stroke-play medalist in that championship. But Bess defeated the Kansas City star 1-up in the quarterfinals. In subsequent years, he twice fell to Watson in semifinal matches, as Watson won the title four times in five years.

A former Mizzou golfer and a long-time friend to Bess, Charlie Digges Jr. told the Columbia Missourian how much the ’69 state amateur championship meant to Scott. “It was a remarkable feat because Tom had won (two) state amateurs in a row. Nobody could beat him in the state and Scott ended up beating him on a very difficult course,” Diggs recalled.

After high school, Scott attended the University of Missouri, where he twice received all-conference recognition.

He led the team to second place in the Big Eight Championship in ’71 and ’72, and played in two NCAA Championships. Turning pro in ’73, Scott finished second at the Disney World Team event. He played on two winning U.S. PGA Cup teams (’86, ’88), accumulating a 7-1-1 individual record. He also played in 12 major championships, making the cut in the 1988 PGA Championship at Oak Tree as a club pro.

Scott was the Senior Gateway PGA Player of the year five times and remains the only Gateway PGA member to win both the section championship and the senior section championship in the same season (2004). In 2015, he was unanimously inducted into the Missouri Golf Hall of Fame.

In addition to his years of playing and teaching, Scott was a club designer and a tour representative for Cleveland, Odyssey and Callaway. When he wasn’t involved with golf, he was passionate about cars, including his red ’67 Camaro and “Old Blue,” his ’82 diesel Mercedes. He will be missed by many.

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July 2020

FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP FRA a NKLIN COUNTY CC PAR - 71-71-142

FOUR-BA

What could be better than a day ou your card? How about a 62?

After opening with a 64 at par-71 Fr Saturday, July 6, Bryan Bohme and A next day, shooting a 9-under 62 to c MAGA Four-Ball Championship.

OPEN

Bohme-Panter 126 Berkmeyer-Callahan 129 Gumper-Sullivan 130

OPEN NET

Rosenbaum-Helfrich 130 Smith-Morrison 131 Nealis-Nealis 133

Bohme and Panter began the Sunda the lead of Skip Berkmeyer and Crim nine birdies from Bohme boosted th round and the 16-under total worke meyer-Callahan.

“I think what worked was Bryan’s pu missed a putt outside 20-30 feet. I m along for the ride. It was fun to watc for sure.”

Bohme added: “I had to contribute.

Meanwhile, Mike Quesenberry team with the Senior Division. The pair o a 63 to post a 15-under-par 127, sev Michael Hollander.

SENIOR

Quesenberry-Todd 127 Hart-Hollander 134 Concagh-Diemer 139

SENIOR NET

Concagh-Diemer 133 Leonberger-Slantz 136

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July 2020

ALL FLOURISH

ut on the golf course and a 64 on

ranklin County Country Club on Austin Panter were even better the come from behind and capture the

Ryan Morrison

ay finale in a tie for second, behind mson Callahan (63-66-129). But he tandem during their sizzling final ed for a two-shot cushion over Berk-

Chase Haolland Photo

utter,” said Panter. “I don’t think he mean, he played great today, I was just ch and be part of Bryan’s team today, He made all the birdies yesterday.”

med with John Todd to run away opened with a 64 and followed with ven shots clear of the Gene Hart and

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July 2020

Golf don’t mean a thing if th The Bogeyman Dan O’Neill - Managing Editor

To certify 2020 as bizarre and unprcedented, the PGA Championship Aug. 6-9 at TC Harding Park. will be the first major of the year. Winter is spring, last is first, Strawberry Fields is the “A” side.

The PGA was “Glory’s last shot” for many years before moving up to second in the major championship batting order in 2019.

But with the Masters postponed, the U.S. Open postponed and the British Open cancelled, the PGA bats on your pandemic scorecard.

As always, picks must be made and favorites identified. Bryson DeChambeau and his “Kraken” drives will be high on the list.

Jon Rahm, who recently rose to No. 1 in the world rankings, bares watching. Suspects like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka will get their usual due.

And, as is always the case when he is in the field, Tiger Woods will be among them.

Of course, the 44-year old Woods can win. After all, he is the reigning Masters champion. As he demonstrated on television’s “The Match” in late May, he still has tons of ability.

Most importantly, from a techincal standpoint, he’s in the field. So, yes, he can win. Only those who are not in the field have no chance.

But the contrast between Woods’ made-for-TV performance and his tie for 40th at Memorial underlines one undeniable aspect of golf. That is, it don’t mean a thing if they don’t count the swings.

The golf Woods played alongside Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Phil Mickelson was competitive in the way your Saturday morning round with the fellas is competitive. A few laughs are had, bragging rights are claimed and in the end, no one has to sign a card.

In “The Match,” Woods played on his home course - The Medalist Golf Club in Florida. He played with buddies, played alternate shot, drove a cart, wore shorts. In the end, Brady had 8

to get some pants stitched, Charles Barkley had to eat cro but no one had to sign a card.

Afterward, the press raved about Woods. He didn’t favor h back. He didn’t miss a fairway. His move was silky smoot Yes, in his previous appearance, he shot a 77 at the Genes Invitational and complained of back issues. But that was the and now, in this fun-raising fundraiser, he‘s locked and loade But it wasn’t the real thing. They weren’t counting swings, th weren’t fitting a jacket and they weren’t handing out a troph After the successful charity event, Woods did not pl for seven weeks. When he did, based on that prime-tim performance, he was a “favorite” at Memorial, a championsh he has won five times previously. His dead last at the Genes was forgotten.

As it turned out Woods didn’t win at Memorial, didn’t conten Two of his rounds were 4-over-par 76s, including one o Friday when he had more back issues. His tie for 40th w 15 shots removed from the winner (Rahm). Woods has n played a competitive round since.

He weill be back for the PGA at Harding Park, with a bac marked “Fragile,” and the momentum of four competiti rounds in the last six months, and finishes of 68th and T40 his last two PGA Tour events.

Notwithstanding, he will be discussed as “one to watch.” H is, after all Tiger Woods, one of the greatest ever, a standa he established, a standard by which he lives. Comes with th territory, he knows that.

There is a bigger point, a point with which those who pl competitive golf are familiar, one that separates perceptio from reality.

Relaxed “among friends,” with nothing to lose, is not the sam as teeing it up in a championship. How many times have yo gone to the range and striped it, only to stink it up on th course? How many times have you had a terrific recreation round, only to melt down in a club championship?

Like Jack Nicklaus was, Tiger Woods always will be a threat Augusta because he knows how to play that course - the sam one they play every year. But Woods is not who he was in 200 when he beat John Daly in a playoff at Harding Park. And h 11 years removed from going 5-0 at Harding Park in the 200 President’s Cup. If he stays healthy, if conditions are favorabl if the pandemic don’t rise, he can win. He’s Tiger Woods.

But please don’t tell me how good he looked in shorts.

The Metropolitan

July 2020

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PGA of America Photo

The PGA Championship is to be the first major championship contested in 2020, set for Aug. 6-9 at TPC Harrdingt Park, a municipal golf course in the southwestern section of San Francisco.

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July 2020

Men

Senior

1. Skip Berkmeyer 1,135 2. Ryan Eckelkamp 1,052.2 3. Ryan Sullivan 947.5 4. Max Kreikemeier 791.7 5. Crimson Callahan 700 6. Joe Migdal 689.2 7. Chad Niezing 465.83 8. Jason Landry 428.33 9. Reilly Ahearn 425 10. Alex Ciaramitaro 390

1. John Todd 2. Joseph Malench 3. Mike Quesenberry T4. Michael Hollander T4 . Gene Hart 6. David Pfeil T7. Donald Casey T7. Sean Conagh T7. David Diemer 10. Jack Eisenbeis

315 300 250 200 200 155 150 150 150 132.5

As summer sizzles, Player of t

With a number of July events conducted by both the Metropolitan A more to come in the weeks ahead - the MAGA Player With his terrific final day, 36-hole performance in the MGA Stroke P Skip Berkmeyer surged to the top of the standings in the Men’s categor points. Ryan Sullivan is third, or less than 200 point Berkmeyer has been the MAGA Player of the Year 1 On the Senior side, the race is even tighter. John Todd has a slight 15Quesenberry. The standings are based on performances in sanctioned exceptional finishes at national o

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July 2020

the Year standings tighten up

Amateur Golf Association and the Missouri Golf Association - and r of the Years standings have started taking shape.

Play Championship - including a 6-under-par 63 over the final 18 ry. Berkmeyer has a lead over Ryan Eckelkamp of just more than 82 ts back with a number of events still to be played.

11 times since the inception of the honor in 2001.

-point advantage over Joe Malench. Another 50 points back is Mike d MAGA, MGA, St. Louis District amd USGA championships, and or international competitions.

Chase Holland Photo 11

The Metropolitan

July 2020

Amateur Series #3 St. Peter’s Golf Club - Par 70 - July 20 The MAGA Amateur Series was full steam - or should we say “steamy - ahead in July, as two tournaments took place at member clubs. On July 13, Persimmon Woods played host to the combatants, who competed over five divisions. Colin Stolze fired a 2-over-par 73 to capture the Open category, while David Rudd carded a 1-over

71 take the Senior honors. A week later, on Monday, July 20, the gang gathered at St. Peter’s Golf Club for Amateur Series #3. Once again, 2 over par did the trick for Stolze, who shot a 72 on the par-70 layout. Mike Quesenberry paced the Senior resulkts with a 77. Rudd (78) just missed another win, finishing one back

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July 2020

Open

Colin Stolze 72 Steven Rommerskirchen 73 Michael Allgeier 75

Open Net

Justin Zhang 74 Carter Alexander 75 John Davis 78

Senior Open

Mike Quesenberry 77 David Rudd 78 Michael Mervis 81

Senior Net

John Schranck 73 Wayne Moore 76 John Epps 76

Super Senior Net:

Kevin Ortyl 73 J Thompson 74 Stephen Weinstock 75

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June 2020

Amateur Series #2 Persimmon Woods - Par 71 - July 13

Open

Colin Stolze 73 Tom Buffington 74 Alan Stojanovic 78

William Wunderlich

O

Ky Dwa Sc

The Metropolitan

Open Net

yle Fuehne 70 ayne Leslie 73 cott Pierce 75

June 2020

Chase Holland Photos

Senior Open

David Rudd 72 Mike Quesenberry 72 Ollie Crow 78 James Story 78 William Wunderlich 78

Senior Net

Bill Stanz 65 John Epps 71 John Schranck 74

Super Senior Net Don Humphrey 69 Bill Braun 70 Rick Darrow 70

Kyle Fuehne

The Metropolitan

July 2020

Guest Columnist Skip Berkmeyer

In tough

(Note: Skip Berkmeyer, an 11-time MAGA Player of the Year, has qualified for 31 USGA ch

In some way or another, for most Americans, the Coronavirus and 2020 has been a challenge. In golf, and in my 46 seen this kind of upheaval ever. A lot of people in America are hurting but like most things, I try and keep the glass We have so many important things to consider in this country, in this fight and this struggle to get along. I encoura and see the light that it can bring.

The First Tee organization has nine core values that teach kids and adults about golf. Honesty, Integrity, Sports Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy and Judgement - these core values are everything golf stands fo This isn’t a tagline, it should be the living, breathing ingredients of the game, every single roun I think many of these values can be summed up with one phrase: “Golf is a game about people and rela The first time I heard this phrase was from my idol and friend, Jim Holtgrieve, at a press conference for the Walke just captained the 2011 U.S. Walker Cup team in Scotland, a team that was full of future PGA stars. It was perhaps t in history going into the competition. And as history shows, it lost 14 -12.

So in 2013, Jim had a whole lot riding when he was selected to return as the U.S. captain. At that famous Q and A w Golf Links, he was asked about winning and losing the Walker Cup, and he politely suggested that golf wasn’t abou explained it was about the competition and about the relationships you develop in this game that last a lifetime. Th taking Captain Holtgrieve to task, saying he didn’t care if they won or lost, and criticizing his ability to lead young only ones who thought maybe Jim was off his rocker.

I was playing lots of national amateur golf at the time. I was asked by many what Jim meant, and if he really cared The situation went on for a while, but was all quickly forgotten when Jim’s team dominated the 2013 Walker C “controversial” sentiment wasn’t lost on me. What “golf ” has meant to me, why the game is special, became in My story in golf is one that has been characterized by countless blessing and good luck. I was a “Norwood Hills cou loving and wonderful parents who introduced me to the game. I wasn’t especially aware of it while growing up, bu only giving me the knowledge to play, but giving me life lessons I could use forever.

Of course, there were times I didn’t understand it, times I felt I was being forced and times I wavered with my confid bait was cast. I was swimming in the pond waiting to be caught, and it didn’t take long to for me to get hooke But mostly, I loved to play with the guys at Norwood, who ranged in age from 18 to 75. They took me in, showed trouble and pushed my game to new heights. Most important, they were my friends.

I learned shots and thought processes from state champions like David Estes, Don Bliss, Scott Thomas and Bob B and others, I learned how to get it around the course with funky swings and very little talent. I also learned about th bad habits, crutches, even things that could ruin your life. I was in the Master Class of Golf, and it was exhilarating relationships just like it, all over the United States.

So in 2020, the world has gone nuts. Between the pandemic, the rioting, the protests … we sometimes don’t know certain, from day to day. I say let’s look to golf, and look to our golf relationships. Make a call to an old friend you years. Call your group of guys and go on a road trip for a great social distance day outside. Or just play a round Jim Holtgrieve was right. Golf is about relationships, because without them what do you have I would say not much at all.

16

h times, lean on golf

hampionships.)

6 years of life we haven’t s half-to-all-the-way full. age people to look to golf

smanship, Respect, or on an everyday basis. nd. ationships.” er Cup in 2013. Jim had the most decorated team

with the media at National ut winning or losing. He The media had a field day g men. They weren’t the

about the competition.

Cup. However, Jim’s nfinitely more clear. untry club brat,” with two ut my parents were not

dence and ability. But the ed. I loved all of it. me the ropes, gave me

Beckmann. From them hings that could become g. Even today, I still have

w what to do or what is u haven’t played with in and enjoy the game. e?

The Metropolitan

July 2020

Eagle land

By Dan O’Neill

Problems, adversity, challenges? None of it is new to Jakub Eklund, who had his senior gol season wiped out by the Covid-19 pandemic spring.

The Carbondale, Ill. native knew exactly how respond. Rather than turn pro right away, he return to Kansas State for a senior season do over. So when Eklund stumbled late in the fi round of the East Side Amateur on July 12 at Gateway National Golf Links, he didn’t pani responded.

Heading for the clubhouse with a three-shot and four holes to play, Eklund had a hiccup a No. 15, hitting an errant shot and swallowin double-bogey. By the time he reached the fin hole of the championship, the 545-yard par18, Eklund was in a tie at 6-under with Pfeiff and just one stroke ahead of Joe Migdal.

Open Division

1 Jakub Eklund (67-67) 134 T2 Adam Peiffer (70-66) 136 T2 Joe Migdal (68-68) 136 T4 Curtis Brokenbrow (72-66) 1 T4 Chad Niezing (70-68) 138 6 Alex Ciaramitaro (71-68) 13 T7 Ryan Eckelkamp (73-69) 14 T7 Tommy Alferman (69-73) 14 T9 Gage Brauns ((73-70) 143 T9 Jack Patterson (70-73) 14

Jakub Ehlundl.

Chase Holland Photos

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July 2020

ds East Side for Eklund

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4 6 6 138 8 39 42 42 3 43

12 Academic team three times during his KState career. The East Side Amateur was his first tournament since March, and appeared to be a momentum-builder as he prepares to return to school. “Just to get back into some competitive rounds and finally get a win … absolutely,” he said.

“I was playing with somebody who was only one behind me (Migdal),” Eklund said. “And I saw (when I was) on 17 that somebody was only one back on 18. And 18, playing downwind, was a very birdie-able hole today.

“So I knew there was a good chance that both he and my playing partner were going to at least make birdie. So I figured I had to make birdie, if not eagle to seal the deal.”

Then again, as if to demonstrate how fleeting momentum can be in golf, Eklund missed the cut at the 114th Southern Amateur in Carrolllton, Tex. the following week.

Playing one hole ahead, Pfeiffer indeed birdied No. 18 to get to 6-under, pulling even with Eklund, one pace ahead of Migdal (5-under).

Moments later, Eklund watched Migdal hit a magnificent second shot from the 18th fairway, landing 10 feet shy of the hole for an eagle opportunity.

In the Senior Division at Gateway, Joseph Malench shot a final-round 69 to force a playoff with Brian Lovett at 1-over 143. Malench made par on the first playoff hole to capture the championship. David Pfeil was third at 3-over, Buddy Allen (5-over) was next, followed by John Todd (6-over), Tom Barry (7-over) and Jack Eisenbeis (7-over).

Problems, adversity, challenges … Eklund responded.

The 22-year old stepped up to his second shot at 18 and landed it 15 feet from the flag to give himself an eagle chance. And putting first, he didn’t flinch. Eklund leapfrogged Pfeiffer and took the tournament out of Migdal’s hands by burying the putt to seal the win at 8-under.

Senior Division 1 Joseph Malench (74-69) 143 (p) 2 Brian Lovett (71-72) 143 3 David Pfeil (73-72) 145 4 Buddy Allen (77-70) 147 5 John Todd (75-73) 148 T7 Tom Barry (73-76) 7 149 T7 Jack Eisenbeis (73-76) 149 9 David Bremer (74-77) 151 T11 David Lucks (76-77) 153 T11 Dan Kelley (76-77) 153

Pfeiffer, who fired a final-round 66, and Migdal tied for second at 6-under, while Curtis Brokenbrow and Chad Niezing shared fourth at 4-under. Alex Ciaramitaro (3-under) was the only other player to finish under par.

Eklund was a three-time all-state player at Carterville High, and has been named to the all-Big

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July 2020

Supe’s On Rob Schaff The Falls Golf Club I have a lot of options to talk about as a superintendent in St. Louis. This time of year everything things seems to be going against you. Staffs get thin when the high school and college kids go back to school and it’s hard to get

Poa annua but the rea

everything done. This comes after dealing with the heat of the summer and the pressures of all the play that we continue to get at a record pace. So bear with us because we all know what has to get done it’s just sometimes we

The picturesque waterfall and pond near No. 14 is something to behold at at The Falls Golf Club in O’Fallon, Mo.

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July 2020

on greens gets the publicity, al damage lies in the turfgrass don’t have the time, equipment, or the money to make everything look like the Masters. As past president of the MVGCSAA I know every course is different and trust me, all the area superintendents are doing their best to keep everything looking as nice as they can.

In the fall and spring everybody has seen greens with Poa annua. I just want to give you a little information on a problem that has been around since I was born and will continue to be a problem well into the future. It drives superintendents crazy.

It is identified as the most troublesome weed in managed turfgrass systems throughout the United States. Annual bluegrass (Poa annua) impacts most turfgrass areas, from sod farms to golf courses and often causes economic losses.

It is a problem so widespread that its presence has been observed on all continents, including Antarctica, although it is most prominent in temperate climates.

Annual bluegrass has high levels of genetic diversity and can rapidly adapt to different climates and management practices, making it extremely difficult to control. Current management practices rely heavily on herbicides in all major turf areas (golf, sod production, athletic fields, and residential lawns).

Each plant can spread thousands of seeds, unlike any other weed we deal with. When they get tracked around from mowers, golfers shoes or just the wind, it gets mind blowing.

We spend thousands of dollars trying to manage it but there is still no great way to keep it out. Annual bluegrass has been shown to quickly develop resistance to herbicides. So when a company developes a herbicide that works pretty good it can quickly develop a resistance to it and then you start all over again.

Companies want a chemical they can sell and make money and if it stops working in a couple of years they don’t make up on their investment. Recently, 17 university scientists have embarked on a $5.7 million dollar project to limit the impact of of annual bluegrass. Hopefully

they come up with something that will help all superintendents across the country. In my opinion we will still be doing the same practices 10 years down the road, but there is always hope.

Continue to enjoy the great game of golf, no matter how good you are. Remember it doesn’t matter what your score is as long as you can sit back at the end of the day and say, “I really had a good time today.”

Thanks

Bluegrass poa annua dots this otherwise perfect stretch of turf. The weed drives superintendents crazy in St. Louis and elsewhere.

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The Metropolitan

July 2020

96th Southern Illinois Golf Championships

No shortage of heat, dramatic Things got hot and sticky during the 96th Southern Illinois Golf Association Championships at Franklin County Country Club - literally and figuratively.

In literal terms, the temperatures for the final round of the championships on Sunday, July 19 reached into the mid-90s with heat indexes in the 100s. In figurative terms, Aaron Jones birdied four of the first eight holes he played to come from behind and win the Men’s Division.

Jones began the final round two shots off the lead but made quick work of the gap as he rallied with a 4-under-par 67 to reach 3-under for the championship. He edged Zach Williams (1-under) by two to take home the $325 first place prize.

Ashleigh Reeves (+5) followed a 1-over 72 on with a Sunday 75 and captured the women’s championship by five shots. Marianna Lewis (+10) was second after shooting 75-77 over the weekend. A final round 2-under 69 catapulted David Glass to victory senior men’s championship.

Sarah Capel and Paige Compardo entered the final round tied for the lead of the junior girls championship, and remained neck and neck down the stretch on Sunday. But the championship flipped on the final hole, as Capel made par to finish at 6 over, while Compardo suffered a double-bogey, finishing 7 over and one stroke back.

In another dramatic conclusion, River Stilley beat Carter Goebel in a playoff to secure the junior boys championship. Both finished regulation at 4 over.

Kerry Hammond (+10) held on to a five-shot lead to beat Peggy Malott (+13) for the women’s net championship. Bill Hutchison secured the super senior men’s championship with a score of (72-73) 3 over.

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July 2020

cs during SIGA final rounds

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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July 2020

96th SIGA Ch

Franklin County

Par 71-7

Men Aaron Jones 139 Zach Williams 141 Riley Klingelber 142 Michael Fowler 142 T.J. Broy 144

Women Ashleigh Reeves 147 Marianna Lewis 152 Barbara Dunston 158 Chris Grant 177 Sue Houseworth 177

Junior

River Stille Carter Go Blaze Great Zach Th Kenri Gris

Senior David Glass 140 John Ellis 142 Mike Castellari 143 David Speicher 147 Don Williams 148

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July 2020

hampionships

y Country Club

71-142

Super Senior Bill Hutchison 145 Alan Diedrick 154 Leo Hefner 163

Junior Girls Sarah Capel 148 Paige Compardo 149 Madison McClusky 166

r Boys

ey 146 (p) oebel 146 thouse 169 hies 175 sham 176

Women Net Kerry Hammond 152 Peggy Malott 155

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Open Joe Migdal 71-66 - 137 (p) Chris Dale 69-68 - 137 Ryan Sullivan 67-70 - 137 Chad Niezing 72-67 - 139 Mark Schulte Jr. 71-68 - 139 Patrick Riordan 71-68 - 139

Senior Donald Casey 70-71 - 141 Jospeh Malench 70-71 - 141 Jack Eisenbeis 68-74 - 142 Skip Wilson 65-77 - 142 David Pfeil 73-70 - 143 Scott Horton 73-70 - 143

Super Senior John Kueper 68-69-137 Robert Trittler 72-68 - 138 David Lucks 72-77 - 149 Michael Whitaker 74-79 - 153 Schooner Fitzgerald 78-78 - 156 David Lough 80-78 - 158

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City Championship

The Metropolitan

July 2020

July 25-26/Norman K. Probstein at Forest Park/Par 70

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July 2020

Berkmeyer secures Stroke Play hat trick Like the rest of us, Skip Berkmeyer gets older. But he also seems to get better.

Our 46-year old guest columnist this month, Berkmeyer followed a 2-under-par 69 on the West course with a 6-under 63 on the East in the 36-hole final at Norwood Hills, clinching his third Missouri Golf Association Stroke Play Championship on July 24. Berkmeyer also won the championship in 2016 and 2013.

The Cure!

Finding it difficult to live with the lonely isolation of the pandemic? Re-live some of the greatest moments in St. Louis sports history with former PostDispatch sportswriter Dan O’Neill and his captiving new books.

Both editions are available at area book stores or through online book purchasing websites. You won’t have to worry about social distancing, you’ll be “Go crazy!” and lift Lord Stanley’s Cup in the comfort of your own home.

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