U.S. Amateur Local Qualifying & U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying Results
Check out the Local Golfers who made it to the national stage for USGA Events
Year Points
Check the POY Standings after a busy July 8 9-Hole
7 walk away winners after a quick 9 around Ballwin
Provide GHIN Handicap Service to 140+ Member Clubs under the World Handicap System
Provide the USGA Course/Slope Rating service to our Member Clubs
Regional authority on the Rules of Golf and Amateur Status
Conduct twelve (12) Metropolitan Championships each season
Conduct USGA Qualifying for eight (8) USGA Championships each season
Conduct three (3) Championships in Illinois
Conduct the Amateur Series of Events for golfers of all ages and abilities
Executive Director
Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org
Director, Member Services
Caroline Buchan - caroline@metga.org
2025 PJ BOATWRIGHT INTERNS
Taitt Borucki
Gabby Dethrow
Drew Soetaert
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Officers
Scott Engelbrecht, President/Treasurer
Mike Marquart, Secretary
At Large Members
John Bugh
Stan Grossman
Rick Meyer, Jr
John Moore
Mick Wellington
Advisory Committee
Skip Berkmeyer
Chris Kovach
Ryan Eckelcamp
Tom Portner
Curt Rohe
THE METROPOLITAN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Dan O’Neill
MVGCSAA
Dr. Zach Cutler
John Thorman
Curt Rohe - Executive Director
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EDITOR
Caroline Buchan
As we wrapped up our 35th Amateur Championship this past weekend, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what this event means to me personally and to the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association.
Thirty-five years ago, the Metropolitan Amateur Championship was born out of a simple but important need: a golf championship in this region open to everyone—private club golfers, public facility golfers, and golfers of all backgrounds. At the time, the St. Louis District Championship was the Championship, but only available to private country club members. The inaugural Metropolitan Amateur Championship in 1991, held at The Country Club at the Legends, crowned Don Bliss (Norwood Hills CC) as champion, with one of the area’s best public players Terry Tessary (Arlington Golf Club) as runnerup.
The Amateur Championship is our pinnacle event—the Masters of the Metropolitan. It’s the foundation upon which our organization has been built over the past three and a half decades. Personally, Amateur week is the most exhausting and stressful stretch of the year, but also the most rewarding. Of the 35 Championships, I’ve been part of 26, and I remember those early years well. We relied heavily on the host club to set up tables, chairs, and have water available for players, and our “operations” consisted of a couple of lightweight canopies.
Fast forward to today, and our championship operations have evolved tremendously. Now, other than getting us a few carts in the morning, we handle almost everything ourselves. Our 16-foot Operations Trailer carries tents, tables, chairs, coolers, and much more. For this year’s Championship, Mother Nature treated us very well, but we were ready—with 145 cases of bottled water, 30 cases of Gatorade, and a trailer full of ice for the players. We’ve come a long way, and we’ll keep raising the bar each year, striving to make every championship better than the last.
I’m proud of my staff, our volunteer Rules Committee, the outside volunteers who helped with scoring, and the team at Westwood Country Club, who worked tirelessly with us to provide a first-class experience for our 156-player field. The greatest compliment I can receive from a host club when we leave, and came from Head Pro Daryl Hartig on Saturday: “You are welcome here anytime!”
Congratulations to Corey Choate on an exceptional performance to become our 35th Amateur Champion! Your name will now be etched on the Jim Tom Blair Trophy alongside legends like Jim Holtgrieve, Skip Berkmeyer, Tom Barry, Drew Pranger, and many more.
Thank you for reading—and as always, keep it in the short grass.
- The number of seconds the average shot is in the air at the 19th hole at Legend Golf Course in Pretoria, South Africa. The golf course features an 18 hole course, with each hole designed by a different PGA Tour player - including South African standouts such as Trevor Immelman and Retief Goosen. Upon completing the initial 18 holes, one heads to the Extreme 19th hole, a par 3 with a tee box located some 1,312 feet above the green on Hanglip Mountain. A helicopter takes you up to the spot where you put the ball in the air - for as long as 26 seconds - before it lands on the green, below, or thereabouts. The course is a popular “bucket-list” item for celebrities. Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman became one of the first to record a par on the Xtreme 19th
517
- As in yards, which represents the longest hole-inone ever recorded. The score was achieved on July 4, 2002 by Mike Crean, who used a driver to score golf’s version of a “one-timer” on the 517-yard par-5 ninth hole at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver, Colo. The thin air in the high altitude no doubt aided in the distance of the shot. Afterwards, Crean and his playing partners filed affidavits to verify the ace, which is officially recognized in the US Golf Register. While it is the longest recorded hole-in-one, it was not achieved during a professional tournament. That left the door open for Si Woo Kim, who set the record for the longest ace in a major championship at the 2024 British Open. His 252-yard shot dropped into the hole during the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. Kim also had a 238-yard hole-in-one at the 2024 British Open.
1
- Perhaps lost in the headlines of J.J. Spaun’s stunning U.S. Open win at Oakmont in June was the performance of Justin Hastings. He became the first player representing the Cayman Islands - which has only one public golf only course - to play in a U.S. Open. Hastings, who holds the career scoring record (71.48) at San Diego State, was the only one of 15 amateurs to make the cut at Oakmont, earning him low amateur honors and a return ticket to the
2026 U.S. Open.
14
- The astounding number of top-5 finishes Skip Berkmeyer has posted in the MAGA Amateur Championship. Berkmeyer won the championship in 2009 at Bellerive Country Club. He also has had five second-place finishes, most recently in 2018. Of course, when you are the MAGA Player of the Year 13 times, you do those kinds of things.
50
- Hard to believe, perhaps, but that’s what Tiger Woods turns on Dec. 30 this year. Woods has not competed in any PGA Tour events during 2025, due to a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered in March, which reportedly required surgery. Moreover, Woods is credited with playing only 13 events over the last five seasons, which includes five missed cuts and three withdrawals. Whether Woods competes in any PGA Tour events going forward remains to be seen, which brings the PGA Tour Champions into the picture. On the Champions - with the exception of majors - carts are allowed and tournaments are only three rounds long. And of course, the age requirement is 50.
17
- As in million, as in dollars, as in the payout for the 2025 British Open at Royal Portrush. The purse was the same amount that it was in 2024, which is the first time since 2012 that the major championship across the pond did not increase its purse from the previous year. As the total payouts remained the same, winner Scottie Scheffler received $3.1 million. Likewise, the payout for the U.S. Open at Oakmont also was unchanged from 2024.
5
- Based on course-level data for the 2025 season through the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, speed of play on the PGA Tour is improving. The median round time on the circuit this season is 4 hours and 46 minutes, which is an improvement of nearly five minutes compared to the median speed at this point last season. While that difference is in minutes compared to rounds lasting hours, the 2025 median totals represent the fastest such times since 2022.
The 33rd Metropolitan Women’s Amateur Championship at Greenbriar Hills Country Club is in the books. All players returned for a second day to try to get to the top. Ellen Port led the Championship with Kallie Harrison and Eva Brown following behind. In Flight A, Ginny Orthwein led the group, while Kay Tice led Flight B following the first round. Play began at 9:00am with the divisions going off in the order of Flight A, Flight B, and Championship.
Ginny Orthwein of St. Louis Country Club held her position on the leaderboard in the Final Round. Shooting just one stroke worse than her first round, Orthwein brought in a total of net eleven-over (+11) par and claimed the crystal for Flight A. Peggy Shamleffer of Annbriar Golf Course finished as runner-up at net fifteen-over (+15) par. Flight B was tightly contested between Erica Ely of Gateway National Golf Links and Kay Tice of St. Louis Women’s Golf Association. Both ladies bettered their scores from the first round to finish the day at net eighteen-over (+18) par. In a scorecard playoff, Ely would take home the hardware as champion and Tice would be runner-up.
Ellen Port of Sunset Country Club began the day with a two shot lead as she was in pursuit of her 17th Metropolitan Women’s Amateur title. Unwilling to give up or give way, Port came out with a bogey-free front nine. Finishing the day six-over par, Port concluded the championship at nine-over (+9) par to clinch her 17th title. The 2025 Metropolitan Girls’ Junior Amateur champion, Eva Brown of the Gateway PGA Jr Golf Club, bettered her score today by one stroke. Brown carded her first birdie of the week on Hole 17 today to bring in a total score of fifteen-over (+15) par. This placed Brown in the second slot on the leaderboard to walk away as runner-up. Kallie Harrison of Norwood Hills Country Club finished in third at sixteen-over (+16) par. Meera Upadhyay of Greenbriar Hills Country Club let her home course advantage lead her to the lowest round of the day at fourover par and moved up the leaderboard to end in fourth at eighteen-over (+18) par. Momo Kikuchi of The Quarry at Crystal Springs completed the top five at nineteen-over (+19) par.
At the conclusion of the 33rd Metropolitan Women’s Amateur, Ellen Port continues to make history with her 17th champion title. Ginny Orthwein is the Flight A champion and Erica Ely is the Flight B champion.
The qualifying round for the 35th Metropolitan Amateur Championship took place at Birch Creek Golf Club on Monday, July 14. The Metropolitan Amateur has a maximum field size of 156. 36 players were exempt into the field and 58 players were admitted straight into the championship field based on Handicap Index after the close of entries. This left 71 players to compete for 62 qualifying spots, along with 5 alternate positions. The weather was overcast and cool in the morning, but after a spot shower of rain, the temperature and humidity rose dramatically throughout the rest of the day.
The low score of the qualifier was Nick George of Persimmon Woods Golf Club. George carded a bogey-free three-under (-3) par and was the only player to finish under par. David Strickland of Tapawingo National Golf Club and Ted Moloney of Greenbriar Hills Country Club finished tied for 2nd with a score of even (E) par. The top 5 of the qualifier were rounded out by Nicholas Thompson of the Club at Castle Bluff, Remy Tyrrell of Sunset Hills Country Club, and Jairen Stroud of Salem Country Club at one-over (+1) par.
The cut line was drawn at fourteen-over (+14) par, but more golfers than room in the field sat at this mark. There was a 2-for-1 playoff for the last qualifying spot. Landon Sheppard of USGA/MetAmateur GC and Josh Hayes of Tapawingo National Golf Club both finished their rounds at fourteen-over, placing them at T62, but only one of them could end their day as a qualifier for the Metropolitan Amateur. They headed to Hole 1, a downhill par 4, to determine their fate. Landon came out on top by making par, while Josh settled for bogey and the 1st Alternate spot.
The remaining four qualifying spots were given to the next players on the leaderboard in order of score. Eric Fogleman is Alternate 2 and Lance Lavery is Alternate 3. Then there were a few players tied for the last two spots. Jeffrey Kissel claimed the 4th Alternate spot by being the only player present. The final alternate spot was given to Travis Parker through a lottery pull.
These 62 qualifiers will join the 94 golfers already in the field of 156 on July 31 for the 35th Metropolitan Amateur Championship at Westwood Country Club on July 31 through August 2.
It was a hot, sunny morning for the 9-Hole Championship at Ballwin Golf Course. Thirty-five golfers joined in the see who could play the best nine holes of golf. Players competed in both gross and net competition. Play began at 7:30am and concluded at 11:50am.
In the men’s division, Matthew Stiles of The Legends Country Club shot a fiery three-under (-3) par. Stiles accomplished this with four birdies during his round. Anay Saxena of the Gateway PGA Junior Golf Club finished in second at two-over (+2) par, followed by Michael DeVous at five-over (+5) par. When the Handicap Index was applied, Matt Brugner of the MAC Golf Club ended the day at net even (E) par to finish on top of the net leaderboard. Justin Zhang of Ballwin Golf Course is second on the net leaderboard at net one-over (+1) par, and Tony Arcese of the Metropolitan eClub is third at net one-over (+1) par after a scorecard playoff.
In the junior division, Luke Bucherich of the Metropolitan eClub threw together a round of sixover (+6) par to take home the trophy. As for the senior division, Curtis Miller of the Metropolitan eClub ended the day at six-over (+6) par to champion the division, while Chris Scaglione of the Metropolitan eClub was able to sit at the top of the net senior leaderboard at four-over (+4) par once handicaps were applied. In the Super Senior division, Steve Klopfer of the Metropolitan eClub finished on top with a score of two-over (+2) par. John Chastain of the Metropolitan eClub was second and Daniel Delaney of the Metropolitan eClub was third after a scorecard playoff at four-over (+4) par. After handicaps were applied, Michael Derbak of the Metropolitan eClub topped the super senior net leaderboard at net even (E) par. Curt Wooters of Grey Beard Golf Club was second at net one-over (+1) par and Matt Hall of the Metropolitan eClub was third at net three-over (+3) par.
t was a beautiful day at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course for the U.S. Amateur Local Qualifier. Temperatures were in the mid to upper 80s with sunny skies. A full field of 120 players signed up to test their hand in the hopes of moving on to the final stage of qualifying for the U.S. Amateur. The field was split into a morning and afternoon wave going off of holes 1 and 10. Play began at 7:30am. Players were vying for eleven qualifying spots and two alternate spots.
The morning wave took off and once all players were through nine holes, the leaderboard was tight. Tyler McNeive of Overland Park, KS came out with a bang, making eagle on the first hole. A bogey free front nine had McNeive make the turn at the top of the board at three-under par. With even par on the back, McNeive finished the day at three-under (-3) par and had to wait to see if he could be matched. Alexander Hogan of Leawood, KS sat in second after nine holes at two-under par. A rough back nine sent Hogan back down to one-over (+1) par, which would leave him just below the cut line.
Mateo Rascon of Burlington, IA, Mac Buckley of Greenwood Village, CO, Leo Wessel of Indianapolis, IN, Cooper Solberg of Memphis, TN, and Bennett Warren of Olathe, KS all made the turn at one-under par. Rascon fought for it on the back and was able to get to two-under (-2) par. Wessel was able to pull out another birdie on the back nine to join Rascon at two-under (-2) par. Buckley and Solberg did their best, but eventually dropped back to one-over (+1) par and just outside of the cut line. Warren made par on all but one hole, which left him to end the day at even (E) par and to wait to see if his score would be good enough to get in.
Edward Scott of Lemont, IL made the turn this morning at even par. Scott then started the back nine with a birdie followed by an eagle to finish the day at one-under (-1) par. Rob O’Regan of Northbrook, IL ended his first nine two-over par. With a comeback on the second nine, O’Regan entered the clubhouse at one-under (-1) par. Veikka Viskari of Columbia, MO sat one-over par after nine holes, but was able to shoot a bogey-free second nine to finish one-under (-1) par. Winburne Hughes of Memphis, TN kept his game even through his first nine. Hughes then pulled out two birdies in his last four holes to come in at two-under (-2) par.
The players from the morning wave then had to sit and wait it out to see if their scores would be good enough to move on.
Anson Munzlinger of Columbia, MO made the turn at even par. Munzlinger pulled together three birdies on the back nine to end
the day at two-under (-2) par. Connor Hamm of Macomb, IL played with Munzlinger and was one-over par after nine. With three birdies, Hamm moved up to one-under (-1) par and just in the projected cut line. Jake Marriott of Naples, FL shot even par through nine holes. Marriott made the turn and came back to the clubhouse with a total of one-under (-1) par. Jackson Overton of Indianola, IA was one-under through nine holes and added another in his last nine to finish the day at two-under (-2) par.
In the final few groups of the day, Henry Robards of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL was one-under at the turn. Holding on on the back nine, Robards ended the round at one-under (-1) par, which was looking like the number to be within the cut for a playoff. Spencer Turtz of Charlotte, NC was two-under after nine holes. Turtz had a tough final nine until the last two holes where he made birdie, followed by a hole out from the fairway for eagle on the final hole to end at two-under (-2) par. Owen Swearingen of Nevada, MO went off in the final group of the day and was even par at the end of his first nine holes. A bogey-free second nine with two birdies, squeezed Swearingen into securing a qualifying spot at two-under (-2) par.
The six players tied at one-under par were faced with a playoff for three qualifying spots. Edward Scott, Rob O’Regan, Veikka Viskari, Connor Hamm, Jake Marriott, and Henry Robards all set off down Hole 10 to playoff for a place in Final Qualifying. Viskari and Marriott each made birdie to claim the first two spots on the first playoff hole. Robards journey would end on the tenth green with a bogey. Then it left three for one spot. Next up would be Hole 11. Hamm made par, but it was not enough to continue forward in the playoff, making him the second alternate. The final two would turn to Hole 17, where O’Regan would make bogey to claim the final qualifying spot. Scott had a brutal lip-out for bogey that left him as the first alternate.
When all was said and done, one-under (-1) par or better was good enough to move on to final qualifying. Tyler McNieve is the qualifying medalist at three-under (-3) par. Firmly securing their spot at two-under (-2) par are Mateo Rascon, Leo Wessel, Winburne Hughes, Anson Munzlinger, Jackson Overton, Owen Swearingen, and Spencer Turtz. Earning their place through a playoff at oneunder (-1) par are Jake Marriott, Veikka Viskari, and Rob O’Regan. Edward Scott will be the first alternate and Connor Hamm will be the second alternate.
It was a partly cloudy to overcast day at Algonquin Golf Club for the U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier. Twenty-nine golfers came to throw their hat in the ring for the chance to play in this USGA championship. Play began at 8:00am. Two qualifying spots into the championship field were available.
Paul Neeman of St. Louis, MO came in with the low score of the day, keeping his game at bay as the day went on. Neeman went off in the first group of the day and was bogey free through seven holes. After ending his front nine on two bogeys, Neeman kicked off his back nine with a birdie on Hole 10. Heading into the final hole one-over, Neeman squeezed in one last birdie on the 18th to finish at even (E) par. He then had to wait to see what his competitors would do.
Ron Mangold of Pocahontas, AR started his day in the second group off this morning.
around, Mangold shot a bogey free back nine featuring one birdie on the 13th hole. This would bring Mangold into the clubhouse at one-over (+1) par.
As play continued into the afternoon and players continued to turn in scores, no one seemed to be able to catch Neeman and Mangold. Around 1:37pm lightning entered the area, suspending play. Luckily, the delay was not long with play resuming at approximately 2:09pm. Once all scores were in, three were tied at two-over (+2) par and just outside of the cut line. John Derrick of Waco, TX, Matt McGrath of Des Peres, MO, and Brett Allen of Columbia, MO would have to play off for the alternate spots. The playoff began on Hole 1, where Derrick would make bogey and be out of the playoff. McGrath and Allen continued on to Hole 18 for a second playoff hole. There, McGrath would claim the first alternate spot and Allen would settle for the second alternate
Paul Neeman enters the 70th U.S. Senior Amateur field as the qualifying medalist. Ron Mangold will join him in Texas as the second qualifier. Matt McGrath waits on the sideline as the first alternate and Brett Allen falls in line as the second alternate.
Sam Ottwell
~ Missed Cut (+5) ~ Alton, IL Harrison Zipfel ~ Missed Cut (+8) ~
Louis, MO Cole Packingham ~ Missed Cut (+15) ~
St. Louis, MO
the U.S. Open always has been a war between two philosophical worlds.
And last June’s edition at Oakmont Country Club was an example.
The United States Golf Association aspires to identify the best player in the world, at least for that week. It intends to protect the integrity of par. It means to test challengers in every way, both physically and mentally. And it makes no apologies for that mission. It is virtuous, honorable.
“It just puts so much pressure on every single part of your game constantly, whether it’s off the tee, whether it’s putting green, whether it’s around the greens or it’s the iron shots into the green,” Thomas Detry said recently.
The other side of the coin brings entertainment value into the conversation, a consideration that is undeniably important regarding the professional game. It suggests freight-paying fans and sponsors don’t necessarily enjoy watching the best players in the world clunk it around like co-workers at an office scramble.
This time around, it didn’t disappoint.
Dress Oakmont with a stout U.S. Open treatment and you have a lurking monster, brandishing fast and pitched greens, thick and gnarly rough and treacherous bunkers. Par rests easy, safe and secure. The partnership between the USGA and a classic golf course doesn’t need help when it comes to pushing every fiber of a player’s soul, But earlier this month, on Sunday at the 2025 U.S. Open, nature jumped in.
And in the end, the question of “fair” goes straight to the point. The USGA designs the test to be difficult, as mentioned, with no apologies, but the USGA can not control the weather. And once the weather influences the proceedings, the profile can change. Postponements or suspensions might be on the table, things become more complicated, more fluid. Fortunes of war.
Over the years, the USGA has straddled these two worlds well. It has made concessions to today’s longer game, made fairways a bit wider, made rough a tad more merciful and emphasized creativity around the greens over severity and forfeiture.
The set-up at Oakmont Country Club this summer was a nod to the penal past. A large part of the posture had to do with the existing golf course. Oakmont has a well-earned reputation as a bully, a difficult playing field that - under everyday conditions - beats down even the most skilled.
As crunch time arrived on Sunday, as contenders were making the final-round turn, Western Pennsylvania was soaked with a heavy rainstorm. The brutal test at Oakmont suddenly took on a water-logged character.
Players atop the leaderboard - like Sam Burns and Adam Scott - tumbled down. But others found a way to adapt and ascended. In the end, J.J. Spaun, who had a 5-over-par 40 on the front side - before the rain - closed with a 3-under 32 rush. Spaun birdied both 17 and 18 coming home, the latter with a 65-foot mic drop, and won the U.S. Open by two strokes.
There was the usual moaning and groaning in some corners, as individual players and fans alike suggested the conditions made the competition unfair. Understandable.
Until that Sunday, few had ever heard of Spaun, whose victory was his first major championship and only his second PGA Tour win. On the contrary, everybody has heard of Scott, who was gunning for his second major and first since winning the 2013 Masters. A U.S. Open title for Scott, at the age of 44, would have been quite the story.
Fans love a good story - that’s entertainment.
But in the end, the 2025 national championship at Oakmont was memorable, which every U.S. Open edition should aspire to be. In the end, the 2025 edition had its signature moment - Spaun’s birdie bomb on the 72nd green - the kind of moment great major championships can claim.
There are factors like television contracts and schedules, player schedules, fans and parking situations, transportation contracts, club considerations … a lot of things to juggle as you consider the proper course of action. And the USGA, for all those cold capital letters, is an association of human beings. One of them, maybe a few of them, must weigh all the factors and decide the course of action.
Fallibility is part of the deal, but you live with the consequences. Calling the signals after the fact is an easy way to quarterback.
Fair? When has golf ever been “fair.” I doubt anyone who has teed it up could provide an example. And for that matter, when has life ever been fair? As someone once said, “Life is unfair, but that’s no reason to give up on it.”
Spaun didn’t give up on it. He found a way and prevailed. That’s kind of what the U.S. Open is all about.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a competitive player, golf fitness isn’t just a trend— it’s a game-changer. Focused training tailored to golf helps players swing better, move more efficiently, and avoid the injuries that can sideline progress.
1. Injury Prevention
Incorporating golf fitness doesn’t mean becoming a bodybuilder. It means moving better, swinging safer, and unlocking your full potential on the course. A well-structured program—ideally guided by a golf fitness specialist or TPIcertified trainer—can help you:
• Prevent common golf injuries
• Add distance off the tee
• Improve consistency and longevity in the game
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Golf involves repetitive motion, rotational torque, and sustained posture. Without proper conditioning, players risk:
• Lower back pain - the most common golf-related injury
• Shoulder and elbow injuries – often caused by poor mechanics and muscle imbalances
• Hip and knee strain – linked to limited mobility and lack of core strength
Golf fitness strengthens key muscle groups, improves flexibility, and enhances joint stability—reducing wear and tear.
2. Enhanced Performance
A body trained for golf leads to measurable gains on the course:
• Increased swing speed from better power generation through hips and core
• Improved balance and coordination for consistent ball striking
• Greater endurance to stay sharp from the first tee to the 18th green
Targeted fitness routines improve mobility, stability, and functional strength—directly translating to a more efficient, powerful, and repeatable swing.
Dr. Zach Cutler, DC Owner of Golf and Training Institute; Sports Chiropractor; Titleist Performance Institute Specialist
Nick White Bellerive Country Club
We’ve all heard and have been told of countless ways to repair a ball mark properly on a putting green. Recently, however, I came across a method on social media this year that I believe takes the crown. This is the one that claims to be “The Augusta Method” and goes even further to claim it’s why their greens stay blemish free (I have some other ideas on that).
I’ve never played Augusta National, much less with the pros, but I’ll take their word for it. So I gave this method a try the last year or so, and I believe it is THE best way to repair a ball mark. It goes as follows:
Insert a single-pronged ball mark tool (or I prefer a tee!) right in the middle of the ball mark. Swirl it around lightly in a circular motion , no need to go crazy, but enough to give you a hole to work with.
Now, push the grass in from the outside-in, filling in the pitch mark. No need to pull, rip or tear any roots or grass. The tee you used to loosen things up gives you enough room to work the ball mark back to the same level. I prefer to just use my thumb for this part.
Lastly, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, use your putter to pat down the ball mark so its level. This is very important, so that when the mowers come through the next morning, they do not grab the turf and tear it... making the ball mark bigger.
And there you have it! Super simple, and super impressive. Now time to teach your friends!
Rory McIlroy was hoping to find another major championship win this is year at The Open on his home turf. While that may not have happened, he did find himself in a moment of what some might call pure unexpected luck, magic, and talent.
On the 11th hole at Royal Portrush, McIlroy’s tee shot came to rest right of the fairway in the rough. Lucky for him it was an area that spectators had trudged through, trampling down the grass. McIlroy identified his ball, went through his preparations, stepped up, and fired a shot at the green. The ball came out and flew to its resting place just short of the green in the fairway.
Some might say he could’ve hit a better shot, but he had a valid reason for missing short... there was a second ball! Buried underneath McIlroy’s ball was another that had clearly been lost before - and possibly for a while. Before hitting his stroke, nobody knew the ball was there. It wasn’t until he had made the stroke at his own ball that it popped out of the ground and landed at his feet.
McIlroy picked the ball up and laughed before tossing it aside. As he walked back to the fairway to continue play, he looked at Bones and asked if he had ever seen that before. How much of a role that second ball played on the result of that shot is unclear, but nevertheless was an interesting additive factor.
I know what you are thinking. Isn’t there a penalty for hitting a wrong ball? In a case where you play a ball that is not yours, yes, there is. But when you accidentally - or even knowingly - hit a ball that is not yours, but continue play of the hole with your own ball, there is NO penalty. The key to this is that you must not have an intent to play that ball (or have malicious intent to hinder your opponent’s lie). If you see a stray ball and you hit it off to the side or back over to the driving range with no intent for that ball to be in play or serve as practice for the hole, you are safe. If you have no knowledge of the ball being there, you are safe. But if you see it and play it as if it is your ball in play on the hole, then there will be some cause for issue.
For Rory, he was cleared of any penalty because he a) had no prior knowledge that the second ball was there, b) had no intention of playing that ball, and c) was continuing the hole with his original ball. So what happens if you KNOW there is a stray ball touching yours?
Dear John: I was playing the par-4 5th hole on The Quarry at Crystal Springs course (Maryland Heights, Missouri). My drive bounced a few feet into the native grass (general area on the right-hand side of the hole. Interestingly, I found my ball sitting on a stray ball. The grass was thick and gnarly, so I decided to take lateral unplayable ball relief into the short rough rather than play the ball as it lies. Did I have any other options?
--Twogether
Dear ParSighted: Such an interesting situation! In addition to playing the ball as it lies or taking unplayable ball relief, the player may first take movable obstruction relief and then evaluate their options. The essential question is whether the player should proceed under Rule 15.2a (1), removing the stray ball and replacing their original ball in the high grass if it moves, or proceed under Rule 15. 2a2), lifting their ball and perhaps taking free relief in the short rough (Rule 15.2a(2)). The answer depends on whether the player’s ball is touching both the course and the stray ball or whether it is completely on the stray ball (not touching the course).
In this instance, as the balls are nestled in grass, the player’s ball is partially supported by the grass and Rule 15.2a(1) applies. The player may remove the movable obstruction (stray ball) without penalty. If their ball moves in the process, it must be replaced on the original spot (estimated if unknown) as provided in Rule 14.2. If the ball does not stay on the original spot, the player must try replacing it a second time, and if the ball still doesn’t stay on that spot, replace the ball by placing it on the nearest spot, no nearer the hole in the general area, where it will stay at rest (Rule 14.2e).
Having taken relief, the player has a new situation. They must accept the resulting conditions affecting the stroke, whether they have been improved or worsened (Rules 8.1b(3) and 8.1d(2)). As before, in the general area, the player must play the ball as it lies or take unplayable ball relief. Having taken relief, the player has a new situation.
We are well into the Metropolitan Golf Season. As players hit the course to compete, they have been earning Player of the Year points. Each year, we award the Player of the Year to the top golfer for the Men, Women, Senior Men, SIGA Men, and SIGA Senior Men. Standings are as of July 31.
Ryan
Chad Niezing
Corey Choate
Justin Bryant
Sam Migdal
Joe Migdal
Skip Berkmeyer
Colin Pini
Bubba Chapman
Tom Portner
Buddy Allen
Brian Hall
Mike O’Neill
Doug Hardacre
Jeff Green
Senior POY
To see which events are eligible for points, click here.
The Amundi Evian Championship
Grace Kim
John Deere Classic
Brian Campbell
ISCO Championship
William Mouw
Barracuda Championship
Ryan Gerard
3M Open
Kurt Kitayama
ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open
Lottie Woad
KPMG Women’s Irish Open
Lottie Woad
The Ascendant presented by Blue
Neal Shipley
Hartford HealthCare Women’s Championship
Gina Kim
Casella Golf Championship
Briana Chacon
Greater Toledo Classic
Mia Hammond(a)
Genesis Scottish Open
Chris Gotterup
The Open Championship
Scottie Scheffler
BMW International Open
Daniel Brown
DICK’S Open
Steve Allen
ISPS HANDA Senior Open
Padraig Harrington
Interwetten Open
Maximilian Steinlechner
D+D REAL Czech Challenge
David Law
German Challenge powered by VcG
JC Ritchie
Talor
LIV Golf UK by
Joaquin Niemann
Price Cutter
Charity Championship
Chandler Blanchet
NV5 Invitational
Johnny Keefer
Explore NB Open
David Perkins
Bromont Open presented by Desjardins
Dillon Stewart
Commissionaires Ottawa Open
Brett White
LPGA Legends Weekend
Maria McBride
Amateur Series #5 Persimmon Woods GC August 17
Southern Illinois Amateur Green Hills GC
Ahead of National Intern Day on July 31, the USGA is sharing the organization’s 2025 investment into the future of golf leadership, shedding light on an emerging workforce that is both highly skilled and uniquely equipped to support the game’s growth.
In 2025, the USGA funded more than 370 interns – a number that exceeds the USGA’s current fulltime workforce of 361 – reflecting the organization’s continual focus on career development. That annual investment exceeded $2 million again this year.
“The rising number of applications to our internships goes hand-in-hand with golf’s increase in popularity,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan. “More and more people are falling in love with the game and are interested in careers in golf.”
Amateur Series #6 Annbriar GC September 7
Amateur Series #4(rescheduled) U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Metropolitan Senior Amateur September 3 August 13 August 27 Crescent Farms GC Forest Hills CC WingHaven CC
U.S. Mid-Amateur August 18 September 14
Amateur Amateur Series #5 August 25 Westwood CC Persimmon Woods GC Greenbriar Hills CC July 31-Aug 2
Facts and insights behind the 2025 USGA intern class:
• A record-high 215 Boatwright interns were hired across the USGA’s network of 57 AGAs in 2025. The USGA’s longest-running internship program, dedicated to cultivating the next generation of golf administrators, extends to every state and can last from 3-12 months.
• The USGA’s Pathways Internship Program received a record 750 applications from an international pool in 2025, marking a highly competitive process to fill the final 24 spots for the immersive 10-day learning experience at the U.S. Open Championship.
• The USGA hired 10 Green Section interns this year, tapping into post-undergraduatelevel students from programs committed to agronomic research and advancing the science and sustainability of golf courses.
• More than 100 USGA seasonal interns were hired to gain valuable experience in fields such as ticketing, hospitality, merchandising, marketing, communications, and championship operations.
• There are more than 3,000 Boatwright alumni; 38 percent of AGA staff members and 33 percent of AGA executive directors are former Boatwright interns. (Including the Metropolitan’s Curt & Caroline!)
• Candidates interested in working in golf bring a wide variety of skill sets. This year’s pool of interns majored in fields such as economics, architecture, plant science, kinesiology and business administration.
• Boatwright alumni are employed across golf and sports organizations, including the PGA Tour, Boston Celtics, Golfweek, the USGA and organizations supporting the 2028 Olympic Games.
• Many USGA interns volunteer their time outside of their internships and schoolwork, as coaches for their local First Tee and LPGA/ USGA Girls Golf chapters, Special Olympics, youth sports programs and other community charities.
• The majority of USGA interns play or participate in sports and fitness activities including lacrosse, skiing, basketball, hockey, soccer, hiking, pickleball and others.
• The 2025 Boatwright class also features Evans Scholar Allison Heniff and Francis Ouimet Scholarship recipient Peter Delmonico.
Beyond the statistics, USGA interns introduce new ways of working and thinking to advance the game, while continuing to widen the workforce pool as the golf industry continues to expand.
Metropolitan Boatwright Interns - Taitt, Gabby, and Drewspent National Intern Day working hard at the 35th Metropolitan Amateur Championship!
The first batch of sod has BEEN LAYED! We are excited to finally have some green on the ground as Hole 18 has been completed from tee to green. Tee boxes, rough, and fairways of the holes will be sodded, while greens are being seeded. This is the step we have all been waiting for. When things are all dirt, it can be hard to see the progress from the outside, but with grass the changes and strides are more visable. This vision is coming to life and we can’t wait to see each hole be reborn! Click Below to see the videos and pictures. Check back often for more visual updates!
“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 Reimagined
