Amateur Series Fourth event is in the books!
14 USGA Events
U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying
Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association
Let the Playoffs Begin! 15 The Metro to the USGA
100 Hole Hike
We’re Raising funds for Youth On Course next month!
Check out the Local Golfers who made it to the national stage for USGA Events
24 Player of the Year Points
Check the POY Standings after August
WHAT WE DO:
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
Shogren Cup (Match Play PGA Pros vs. MAGA Amateurs)
Sobbe Cup
Mid-America Junior Cup
Amateur Series
ILLINOIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Southern Illinois Amateur
SIGA Championship
Tony Stevens Cup
QUALIFYING ROUNDS
Metropolitan Staff
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’s Corner
Curt Rohe - Executive Director
Hello members, golfers and readers! Happy almost fall...we are ready for fall golf, right?
Every year is a challenge in our region, the “transition zone” it is known as in the golf course maintenance world. I am not trying to steal any thunder from our area supers who you read later in the Sup’s On from our Mississippi Valley Golf Course Superintendents Association friends. There was a recent article in Turfnet that featured Joe Wachter, recently retired Glen Echo CC Superintendent, that talked about the struggles of this “transition zone”. I am linking it here and encourage you to take a read: Retired superintendents share their tough times and how they overcame them - Tufnet
I get around to courses all over the area conducting championships, qualifiers, etc. and every course I have been to, public and private, this season has had their challenges in one way or the other. Whether it was putting greens, collars, teeing areas or early on the winter kill in fairways it has been a really strange and tough season again for these superintendents. Why am I writing about this you may ask? Because I also see the criticism of courses on social media and frankly, it disgusts me. Until you know the situation of a course, the ins and outs of their struggles...let these guys do their job! I can with 100% assurance say they are doing everything in their power to provide you with the best conditions to enjoy this game.
With August we see a little reprieve and reach the downhill slide to the end of another season. The Amateur at Westwood was the peak, and yes it came with an amazing break in the weather. There is still a lot of golf to be played with the Sobbe Cup playoffs in full swing, amateur series to complete and a couple championships.
I have not talked or wrote much about Normandie here in my piece, but I encourage you to visit the Normandie Reimagined webpage linked here! With sod going down, greens being seeded holes are taking shape and we are updating constantly with drone video and pictures of progress!
As always, thank you for taking the time to read and good golfing into the fall! We will return to our bi-monthly issues into the fall through winter. Keep it in the short grass!
By The Numbers
303 - The OWGR ranking Bud Cauley owned when the 2025 season began. A PGA Tour journeyman and former Alabama standout, Cauley began the year on the outer banks of the golf world, buried after missing more than three years of competition because of injuries and complications stemming from a 2018 car accident. When he returned in 2024, it was without the form he once knew. But in 2025, he found himself with a T6 at THE PLAYERS and other significant top 10s. Cauley jumped to No. 55 in the FedExCup standings, and promises to keep rising in 2026.
5
- The number of players who qualified at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, Mo. for the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur. Sam Migdal shot a blistering 4-under par on a searinghot day to take medalist honors. Four players were tied at 3-under atop the leaderboard, including Brad Nurski, Justin Bryant, Brad Carpenter and Christopher Obert. All were headed to Troon Country Club on Sept. 13-18 in Scottsdale Ariz. for the 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. Scott Sullivan was the first alternate and Ryan Sullivan was the second alternate.
110
- Remember when driving a ball 300 yards was quite something? Consider that in 2010, only 12 players on the PGA Tour finished the season with driving distances off more than 300 yards. Robert Garrigus topped the list with an average of 315.5 yards. Well, in 2025 no less than 110 players exceeded the 300-yard mark in average driving distance. South African Aldrich Potgieter, a flexible 20 years of age, led the list with an average of 327.4 yards.
55
- The lowest round in golf in history, shot by Rhein Gibson on May 12, 2012 at River Oaks Golf Club in Edmond, Okla. Gibson set the world record with his 16-under round, which included 12 birdies and two eagles on the 6,698-yard par-71 course. Gibson’s score matched the 55 by Homero Blancas on a par-70 Texas course in 1962, but was better in its relationship to par. Gibson, an Australian native, was 26 years old at the time.
6
- Come October, it will be six years since Tiger Woods won the 2019 ZoZo Championship in Japan for his 82nd win, tying Sam Snead for the most wins in PGA Tour history Woods turns 50 in late December and has not played in a single event this year, as he recovers from surgery to repair an Achilles tendon in March. With his age and all of his injury issues, one has to wonder whether Woods will ever break the record for most PGA Tour wins, or even play in any more PGA Tour events. That said, 6-7 years between wins is not so long when one considers the longest period between PGA Tour wins is 15 years and 6 months. That was accomplished by Robert Gomez who, after winning the Nestle Invitational in 1990, waited all that time before winning the 2005 Valero Texas Open. This gap is also documented as 396 starts between victories. Woods has only 21 starts since his ZoZo win in 2019.
59
- The amazing number of birdies between PGA Tour birdie leader Harry Hall and second-place finisher Sam Burns. Hall made an astounding 429 birdies for the season, while Burns ended up with 377 circles. It should be noted that birdies aren’t everything. While Hall had four top 10s, he did not have a PGA Tour win in 2025. Likewise, Burns had six top 10s and no wins.
EDITOR
Caroline Buchan
Full Results
Photos
The 35th playing of the Metropolitan Amateur Championship has come to a close at Westwood Country Club. The championship started with 148 players, was cut to 42 players, and came down to one champion. This year’s field represented 44 clubs from across the Metropolitan area and had an age range of approximately 43 years. Five past champions returned to the competition this week and all five survived the cut. The players who made the cut were met with sunny skies, comfortable temperatures, and windy conditions for the Final Round. As we entered into the final day of championship play, Justin Bryant and Corey Choate were tied for the lead at five-under (-5) par. Bubba Chapman followed by Brad Carpenter sat behind the lead at three-under (-3) and two-under (-2) par, respectively. Play began at 7:00am with the final pairing taking the course at 10:23am.
In the third to last pairing, David Strickland of Tapawingo National Golf Club sat four off the lead. Strickland started the round strong with a bogey-free front nine that included three birdies. Making the turn, he was suddenly one stroke back and making a statement to the rest of the field. The back nine was not as kind to Strickland, and a bogey on the last had him finish with a total of three-under (-3) par. Though the leader in the clubhouse at that time, there were still strong competitors on the course behind him. Brad Carpenter of Franklin County Country Club and Bubba Chapman of Bellerive Country Club were paired just behind Strickland. The two fought throughout the round to stay in it. Double bogey for both on Hole 17, dropped Carpenter and Chapman back with no room left to make it up.
The final pairing saw Corey Choate challenge defending Champion, Justin Bryant. By the third hole, Corey Choate of The Legends Country Club had taken
the lead with a birdie. Justin Bryant of St. Louis Country Club got off to a slow start and was in trouble by the sixth hole. Bryant tried to hold on, but was unable to find the magic he had in the first round. Dropping back, Bryant finished the championship at two-under (-2) par. Choate also found some trouble on Hole 6, but pulled himself back together following a bogey there. From that point on, Choate made par after par to finish out the rest of the round bogey-free. With an even par round for the day, Corey Choate clenched the 35th Metropolitan Amateur Champion title at five-under (-5) par.
Consistency proved to be the winning factor in this edition of the Metropolitan Amateur. No players carded all three rounds under par. Corey Choate stayed calm, cool, and collected to be the only player to have all rounds come in at even par or better. In the final round, Joe Migdal of Persimmon Woods Golf Club returned the lowest round of the day at three-under par. Six players shot rounds of two-under par today, which included David Strickland, Andrew Rottschalk of the Metropolitan eClub, Sam Migdal of St. Louis Country Club, Jarrett James of the SIGA eClub, Jason White of Tapawingo National Golf Club, and Hudson Shy of Bogey Hills Country Club. These under par rounds helped move them up the leaderboard. For Rottschalk, it moved him into the top 5, and today’s round moved J. Migdal into the top ten.
At the conclusion of the 35th Metropolitan Amateur Championship, Corey Choate is the Champion lifting the Jim Tom Blair Trophy. David Strickland is the runner-up. The top 5 is completed as follows: Justin Bryant (-2), Brad Carpenter (-1), Andrew Rottschalk (E), Joseph Willliams (E), Drew Pranger (E), Chris Kovach (E), and Thomas Wuennenberg (E). Finishing out in the top 10 are Joe Migdal (+1), Conner McCall (+1), and Bubba Chapman (+1).
Brooke AT BANDON
Brooke Biermann, a recent graduate of Michigan State University and Metropolitan native, made the trip to Bandon Dunes for the 125th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship with hope to put together one last memorable amateur performance. Biermann comes from Wildwood, Missouri where her family holds membership at the Country Club of St. Albans. She has become an accomplished young golfer with dreams of a
The Round of 16 saw Brooke versus number 8 seed, Cindy Hsu of Chinese Taipei. For the front nine, Hsu kept control of the match despite Brooke’s efforts. Once again, Brooke found some wind on the back and would get the match back to square on Hole 17. Unable to determine a winner on 18, the girls would go into extra holes. This time, Brooke would close the deal on the 19th hole with a par.
match her on the next hole each time.
Brooke’s golf success began at a young age. Championing the Metropolitan Girls’ Junior Amateur in 2016 was just the beginning for her. She would go on to be a national qualifier for the Drive, Chip, and Putt in 2018, getting to make the trip down to Augusta Nationalwhere she won the Putt portion in the 14-15 age division. Brooke has since played in numerous national championships, including the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur, Girls’ Junior PGA Championship, U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Women’s Open, and
Brooke qualified for the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Kent Country Club in Grand Rapids, MI on June 30. This would be her third trip to this championship, having previously entered the field in 2022 and 2024. In both of her previous attempts, she failed to make the cut, but Brooke was determined to finally cross that line. She set a goal to make the cut and she did. With rounds of 70 and 72, Brooke ended stroke play in a tie for 33rd at twounder (-2) par. The cut line was made at oneover par and Brooke would securely make the cut to earn the 41st ranked spot in the match
Brooke’s route to the final was a long, hard fought road that began in the Round of 64 against Kelly Xu (No. 24) of Claremont, California. At only one point did Xu take the lead in this match, before Brooke finished it out by winning Hole 13 through 15 for a 3 & 2 victory.
Next, came a tough battle against Olivia Duan (No. 56) of Cupertino, California in the Round of 32. Duan had the lead, but Brooke started to turn things around starting on Hole 9. Fighting for it, she was able to get the match tied on the 16th hole and keep it that way through 18. Neither competitor wanted to give in, leading the match to 22 holes before Brooke would come out on top.
After two back-to-back matches going into extra holes, Brooke was ready for a reprieve. Now in the quarterfinals, she faced Arianna Lau (No. 64) of Hong Kong China. Brooke took the lead on the first hole, trying to set the tone. By the end of 9, she was back down by one. Staying true to her prior rounds’ ways, Brooke made a comeback on the back nine to claim her place in the semifinals, 3 & 2.
The Semifinals was a home state match up. Brooke found herself taking on number 4 seed, Lyla Louderbaugh of Buffalo, Missouri. Once again, Brooke came out of the gate hot to win the first hole. From there, she maintained control for much of the match and even sat three up after 15 holes. Lounderbaugh put up a good fight and managed to tie the match up in the final three holes to really make things interesting for those watching from Missouri. Brooke entered her third match of extra holes of the week. It didn’t take long to determine the fate of this match though. Brooke successfully secured her place in the final with a par on the 19th hole. Meanwhile, the other semifinal match was also entering extra holes, marking only the third time in history that both matches required extra holes to decide the finalists.
After a good night’s rest, Brooke walked into the Final Match of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. In this 36-hole marathon, she would be faced with the number 11 seed Megha Ganne of Holmdel, New Jersey. No one had played more holes of golf to get to this point this year than Brooke. Ganne had won all of her matches without going into extra holes, until the semifinal. Brooke on the other hand, had completed 92 match play holes. All she needed to do was fight through one more day.
Things got off to a slow start for Brooke in the final. She found herself two down after three holes, but was not ready to make this easy for her competitor. She came back to win the next two holes to tie the match through Hole 5. Holes 7 and 8 saw Ganne one up and then the match tied back. If this was any indication of how the match would go, it was going to be a long day on the course. Towards the end of the first 18 holes, Ganne found some power and would end the first loop around the course 3 Up over Brooke. The pair took a break to freshen up and grab lunch before heading back out for the final 18 holes. Ganne once again won the first hole extending her lead to 4. Brooke pushed back hard, winning four holes in this final stretch of competition. With the four hole difference, it was hard to come back with Ganne ready to
Brooke would end the competition with a 4 & 3 loss, but can still hold her head high. She came into this week just wanting to make the cut. That she did. Brooke showed true grit and strength as she powered through 161 holes of competitive golf in 8 days - 36 stroke play and 125 match play. Any competitive golfer can tell you what a feat that is, especially in the windy conditions and course set up they faced each day. Brooke’s family was there to experience this week with her, and her dad, Bill, was on the bag for her all week. This was a special time for the Biermann family at Bandon Dunes. She came and she conquered, adding yet another milestone to her golf resume. Brooke Biermann at Bandon; what more needs to be said? Brooke returns home the 2025 U.S. Women’s Amateur Runner-Up, securing her place as one of the best female amateur golfers in the world.
SobbeCup Playoffs
The 32nd year of the Thomas O. Sobbe Cup is well underway. Fifty-one teams registered to compete this year and have completed the group stage of the competition. The top team from each of the 17 divisions moves on to the playoffs for the round of 16. With an extra team in the mix, the lowest two ranked teams have to playoff for the final spot in the knock-out stage.
The teams that earned the best winning record during the group stage and held the top spot in their division move on. The top teams are as follows: Division 1 - WingHaven Country Club (17.5pts), Division 2 - Crystal Highlands Golf Course (16.0pts), Division 3 - Forest Hills Country Club (14.5pts), Division 4 - Sunset Country Club (14.0pts), Division 5 - Spring Lake Country Club (16.5pts), Division 6 - Waterloo Country Club (16.5pts), Division 7 - Ruth Park Golf Course (12.0pts), Division 8 - Sunset Hills Country Club (13.5pts), Division 9 - St. Clair Country Club (11.0pts), Division 10 - Algonquin Golf Club (15.0pts), Division 11Whitmoor North (17.5pts), Division 12 - Old Hickory Golf Club I (17.5pts), Division 13 - Greenbriar Hills Country Club (14.0pts), Division 14 - Lake Forest Country Club I (15.0pts), Division 15 - Lake Forest Country Club II (11.0pts), Division 16 - Quincy Country Club (18.0pts), and Division 17 - Persimmon Woods Golf Club II (15.0pts).
The teams were then ranked for the knockout stages based on the points they earned in their groups. Quincy Country Club put together an undefeated performance in the group stage to earn 18 points and claim the number one seed. Spring Lake Country Club also went undefeated in their group, but with only 16.5 points, they would have to settle for the second seed. Coming in as the bottom two seeds are St. Clair Country Club and Ruth Park Golf Course. St. Clair earned 11.0 points, while Ruth Park earned 12.0 points. These two teams had to face off in an extra match to determine who would get the final place in the Round of 16. Following the sudden death match, St. Clair Country Club came out on top to take the final spot.
Lake Forest Country Club is the only course that entered two teams to have both teams make it into the playoffs. Two-time defending champions, Glen Echo Country Club failed to make it into the playoffs this year, leaving the door open for a new champion this year.
The rest of the Round of 16 qualifiers stack up as follows:
The 100 Hole Hike is back in St. Louis this fall!
This is a fundraiser for Youth On Course to benefit local junior golfers so they may play rounds of golf for $5 or less at area courses. Youth On Course is a non-profit organization founded to help kids gain access to golf. The 100 Hole Hike is a fundraising event, where golfers will play 100 Holes of golf in 1 day to raise funds for Youth On Course. All proceeds from this hike will go directly to benefitting Metropolitan’s community of youth golfers.
How can you help?
Ways to Get Involved:
No. 16 - St. Clair CC
Ready to take on the Challenge? Sign Up to become a Hiker! You can complete the 100 holes as an individual or a team and raise funds for youth golf.
How It Works:
1. Sign Up to Be A Hiker
2. Raise Funds Before the Hike
3. Raise Funds During the Hike
4. Complete the 100 Holes
Not brave enough to particpate in the hike just yet? That’s OKAY!
We need people to Donate to our cause! Every Donation Counts and helps us reach our goal.
You can support a specific participating hiker or team to help them reach their individual goals, which will help us reach our Hike Goal!
Make My Donation! JOIN THE HIKE!
A torrential rain overnight led to the postponement of the Crescent Farms event in late July. It has since been rescheduled to the end of September to become the final event of the series. With this change Persimmon Woods moved up to the fourth event of the season. Players had a day of fantastic weather to enjoy a loop around the course. Dan Mallon had a great Monday highlighted by a Hole-In-One on the 5th hole! Congratulations Dan!
Amateur Series Standings
Jackson James Cochran David Ladd
Jacob Simmons
Justin Vogt
Wasmuth
Wooters Name
Denise Faus
Julie Derr
Nancy Struckhoff Maria Morrison Pam Lenhard
Ortyl
Wunderlich
U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier
The 44th U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier was a long day’s battle. Players had to face each other and the heat. With temperatures in the mid-90s and a feels like of 100 degrees, it was a scorching hot day at Dalhousie Golf Club. Five spots in the U.S. Mid-Amateur field were up for the taking along with two alternate spots.
The field was split into two waves going off of both Holes 1 and 10. The morning wave was looking to get off to a strong start, knowing the day was only going to get warmer. Once all scores from the morning were posted, the low score in the clubhouse was three-under (-3) par. Brad Carpenter of Dardenne Prairie, MO was the first to post this low round. His score was helped by five birdies and an eagle on Hole 15. Justin Bryant of St. Louis, MO followed Carpenter in in the next group. Bryant also posted a score of three-under with the help of five birdies. Christopher Obert of Springfield, MO was the third player to come in at this mark. He was the only player to make the cut with one bogey-free nine, which included three birdies.
As the afternoon was heating up, the leaderboard looked as though the players at two-under (-2) par may have a shot of getting in. Four players sat at this mark. Nick Mehigan of Austin, TX, Ryan Sullivan of Imperial, MO, Evan Holland of Arab, AL, and Bryce Voisin of Mechanicsburg, PA would have to sit and wait it out to see if they would have a chance to enter a playoff for a qualifying spot.
Then the afternoon groups took to the course. As the sun was beating down on the golfers, they knew they would have to shoot a low round to make it. Sam Migdal of St. Louis, MO came ready to play. Migdal carded the low round of the day of four-under (-4) par featuring five eagle to eclipse the leaderboard. Brad Nurski of St.
Joseph, MO came in behind Migdal on the opposite side of the course. Nurski became the fourth player to enter the clubhouse at three-under (-3) par which included three birdies and an eagle. The group behind Nurski saw the fifth three-under (-3) par round from Scott Sullivan of Blythewood, SC. Sullivan got there with six birdies on his card.
Once all scores had been posted, Sam Migdal would take the medalist honors at four-under (-4) par. Five players remained tied at three-under (-3) par with only four spots available. Brad Carpenter, Justin Bryant, Christopher Obert, Brad Nurski, and Scott Sullivan would head back to Hole 18 to playoff for the four spots. Simultaneously, a playoff for the second alternate would be held between the two players still present at twounder (-2) par, Ryan Sullivan and Bryce Voisin.
The second alternate playoff took place on Hole 1. Ryan Sullivan made birdie to claim the second alternate spot. Meanwhile, the playoff for the qualifying spots was in action on Hole 18. Brad Nurski made eagle to claim one of the qualifying spots, leaving four to fight for three spots. The rest of the players made par and moved on to a second playoff hole. The group turned to Hole 1. This is where things would be settled. Brad Carpenter, Justin Bryant, and Christopher Obert all made par. Scott Sullivan would make bogey and settle for the second alternate spot.
Sam Migdal, Brad Nurski, Brad Carpenter, Justin Bryant, and Christopher Obert are all headed to Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, Arizona for the 44th U.S. MidAmateur Championship. Scott Sullivan is the first alternate and Ryan Sullivan is the second alternate.
Final Results
U.S. Women’s Amateur
Brooke Biermann ~ RUNNER-UP ~ Bandon Dunes
Wildwood, MO
U.S. Senior Amateur
Mia Rallo ~ Missed Cut (+16) ~ Bandon Dunes
Wentzville, MO
x
The Bogeyman
Thereis no record to suggest Helen Keller ever played golf. She enjoyed swimming, sailing, horseback riding and other activities. But golf was not among them.
It’s All About what you can feel
Still, if she was alive, she might have delivered a keynote address at the Metropolitan Amateur championship dinner on July 29 at Deer Creek Club. For the former champions who gathered in a galvanizing evening of fellowship and camaraderie, she went yard.
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched,” Keller once said. “They must be felt with the heart.”
For those who compete on the fields of golf, that sentiment cuts right to the chase. For those who put themselves out there, who accept the risks in pursuit of the rewards, who experience both the depths and the heights, the best and most beautiful things about the game can’t be seen or even touched.
They are felt.
Such is the case for the 35th MAGA Amateur champion Corey Choate; such is the case for those who preceded him, who gathered on a Tuesday evening at Deer Creek to toast each other and honor the championship that has brought them together.
The Champions Dinner celebrated the beautiful thing that took place some 35 years ago, when the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association was in its infancy. Some of the men who formed it, believed in it, supported and nurtured it were there.
They represented every aspect of the game of golf - public, private, accomplished, pedestrian (yours truly) and most of all, persistent. They were all part of it; they could all feel it.
“This is what I love about this game,” said Tom Barry. “Just look around, the people who are here, the stories that are told. We all share a common thing - a respect, an appreciation, a love for the game and what it takes to play it.”
In some ways, Barry represents the essence of this tee-togreen version of the MAGA movement, the culture that was conceived and coddled these years ago. He’s a guy who grew up playing at Normandie - a public golf course, a family tradition, a neighborhood joint.
He won the sixth playing of the Metropolitan Amateur, conducted at Bellerive Country Club, one of the shining jewels of the private club community, and the epicenter of championship golf in this town.
He shot a final-round 70 to outlast the others, with Blake Hull (Brett’s brother) on the bag and with most of the Barry family in tow. When it was done, his hands visibly were shaking as he handed in his scorecard. It was equal parts excitement and disbelief.
And as he accepted the Jim Tom Blair Trophy, “Toz” startled the Bellerive members on hand with one of the great lines in championship history, typically irreverent and perfectly timed.
“I just want to thank Bellerive Country Club for the honorary membership that comes with this, and I can’t wait to use it,” Barry said.
Those who got the joke laughed out loud, those who didn’t nervously searched for clarity. Public-private humor at its best.
Then Barry set aside the stand-up to offer an even-more memorable thought, one that captures what the MAGA had in mind when it invited St. Louis golf to compete under one roof.
“This is for public players, all the guys at Normandie,” Barry added, standing on Bellerive’s majestic veranda. “And it’s for my family. I don’t even think I know how much it means to me right now. It’s going to take time to soak in.”
Thirty years later, it’s still soaking. “All of this just means so much to me,” Barry said, as he took in the scene at Deer Creek Club last month. “It’s really special.”
The sound you heard from that statement was the hammer
hitting the nail on the head, and nutting it. When a new association broke with the rank and file and introduced its all-encompassing championship 35 years ago, it did so to provide a regulatory and promotional body for all St. Louis amateurs. The goal was to open the door to all comers, to present championships as they are supposed to be presented … to give players something special.
The birth of a golf association is not seamless. There were awkward, turbulent, contentious moments. The path was filled with potholes, dire challenges, hostilities and harsh feelings. An upset apple cart makes a mess, not easily cleaned up. But those who were committed shouldered the backlash, weathered the storms and pressed on.
Some 35 years later, on an evening at Deer Creek Club, they looked at how far things had come. They looked at the distinguished and diverse gathering of champions, and the level of prestige and credibility for which the MAGA now stands.
“Everything we did in this association, starting with this (Metropolitan) championship, was about how we delivered and executed,” said Tom O’Toole Jr., the former USGA president and driving force behind the MAGA formation. “What we did, we did for the players.”
Mind you, not so much for what they see as members of the golf association, not so much for what they can touch. Where the Metropolitan Amateur is concerned - as well as its championship siblings - it’s all about what you can feel.
The 4 Pillars of Golf Performance: Play The Game You Love, Longer,
Better, and Pain-Free
Golf is more than just a game—it’s a movement sport that requires your body to work as one efficient system. To play the game you love, longer, better, and pain-free, it’s essential to understand the four physical pillars that fuel an efficient, powerful golf swing: mobility, stability, strength, and power. Add in proper nutrition, and you’ve got the foundation for both performance and longevity.
Nutrition: The Silent Partner in Performance
Fueling your body properly plays a massive role in weight management, energy, and recovery. Lean proteins repair muscle, healthy fats reduce inflammation, and complex carbs provide lasting energy. Hydration is equally critical—dehydration leads to fatigue and poor focus, which can cost you strokes on the back nine.
How It All Comes Together:
• Longevity: A body built on mobility, stability, strength, and power lasts longer on the course and in life.
• Distance: More efficient movement and explosive power translate to longer drives.
• Pain-Free Golf: Stability and strength protect joints and muscles from common golf injuries.
• Weight Management: Proper training and nutrition help shed extra pounds, reducing stress on joints and boosting endurance.
By focusing on these five key areas, you don’t just improve your game— you invest in your health, so you can enjoy golf for decades to come.
1. Mobility
Mobility is your body’s ability to move through a full range of motion. Without it, compensations creep in—leading to swing flaws and potential injury. Think of hip rotation for a smooth backswing or shoulder mobility for a full follow-through. The more mobile your joints, the easier it is to generate clubhead speed while protecting your body.
2. Stability
Mobility without stability is like driving a car with loose steering. Stability provides control, allowing you to transfer energy efficiently from the ground through your body to the club. A stable core and lower body anchor your swing, reduce stress on the spine, and keep you balanced from the first tee to the 18th green.
3.
Strength
Strength is the engine behind consistency and distance. Strong muscles protect joints, support posture, and reduce fatigue during long rounds. Building strength in key areas—hips, glutes, core, and shoulders—helps golfers create repeatable swings while lowering the risk of pain or overuse injuries.
4.
Power
Power is where strength meets speed. In golf, this translates to more distance without sacrificing accuracy. By training explosive movements, golfers can increase clubhead speed and ball flight while avoiding the strain that comes from simply “swinging harder.”
Dr. Zach Cutler, DC Owner of Golf and Training Institute; Sports Chiropractor; Titleist Performance Institute Specialist
Sup’s On:
Carter DeMay
Forest Hills Country Club
The year that has been 2025 has been an interesting and challenging year for the Greater St. Louis region and its turf managers. We had one of the coldest, harshest winters we’ve had in almost 20 years, with many golf courses worried about the viability of their warm season grasses as the approach spring green up. Believe it or not, I think most were pleasantly surprised with the outcome as spring approached.
With the spring season came an extended period of slightly below average temperatures and just rain. Rain, rain, and more rain that didn’t seem to turn off until, well, it turned off. At Forest Hills Country Club our weather station data shows that we have received just .5” of rain since July 30th. That is well over a month as it is Labor Day as I write this article. Along with the beginning and middle of this drought period came very high temperatures in conjunction with higher humidity and high dew points.
The month of August in particular was a month that gave no reprieve, and in all honesty rarely does, but the extent of combinations of temperature, humidity and dew points we had during this month made for a trifecta of challenges. Dew point matters in the sense that it is the measure at which temperature the water vapor in the air turns to liquid. The higher the dew point, I.E. 75-80
Summer Weather Stress on Turfgrass
degrees, the more “miserable” it can feel outside. When dew points reach that type of threshold the sweat our bodies produce has a harder time evaporating, which is how our bodies cool us off. The same came be said for the turfgrasses we were growing during this period. The plants use a process called transpiration to do a lot, but an important part is the movement of water via roots in the soil to the leaves of the plant, to then evaporate and help cool the plant. During the high temperature, humidity and dew point combinations we had in the middle of this summer, just like our human bodies, the plant was ineffective at times with its transpiration process.
During these moments moisture management becomes key. Not too much water, but not too little. We want water in the soil available to the plant but it can’t be in over abundance otherwise there are negative effects. Moisture meters of many kinds are out on the market for us turf managers, and I believe most of us are in use of them. These tools give us data points and data markers to hit and not exceed in these very difficult moments and allow us to maintain a level of success in managing our cool season putting surfaces.
This 2025 year, to steal Chad Fetter’s title from the April edition of this newsletter, has been a Perfect Storm from beginning to almost the end. Let’s all hope this fall and early winter are kind to us all as we go out to enjoy the playing surfaces us turf managers love to put together for you.
Rules Center
Okay to Rake Bunker? Sand Trapped
Kevin Roy was in contention at the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run when his ball found the greenside bunker on the 11th hole. He entered the bunker, hit his shot, and watched it hit the lip and roll back down to him. This is where the controversy came in.
Roy’s caddie then picked up the rake and raked the bunker from the previous stroke. He smoothed out the footprints Roy had made from that stroke. For those watching from home, they were clearly concerned as to if this was a legal action. According to viewers this rake was a little too close for comfort in terms of affecting the next stroke. On television, the position of the ball was not that far from the position of the footprints that were raked.
Rule 12.2b states that a player can rake the bunker to care for the course before playing, so long as you are not testing the bunker or improving the conditions for your next stroke. This includes a player’s lie, area of intended stance, area of intended swing, or line of play. So, the people of the world argued that raking the bunker would have affected the next shot - possibly for intended stance due to the closeness of the ball.
Roy responded to the internet hagglers, stating that the TV made the footprint look much closer to the ball than it was. It is also noted that Roy did call over a Rules Official before allowing his caddie to rake the area. They agreed that the footprint was not in the way of playing the next shot and could therefore be raked. Despite what the online critics think they saw or how they feel it should have gone, Roy played within his bounds with the approval of the Rules Official present.
Would you have let your buddy rake this? I’m sure it would have been a big discussion in most groups. When trying to determine a solution make sure you check off all of the boxes for non-affected areas: lie of the ball, intended stance, intended swing, and line of play.
- John explains more on Raking Bunkers -->
Dear John: My second shot on the par-4 9th hole landed in the deep right-front bunker. The bunker shot didn’t go very well. I double-hit the ball after which it bounced directly off the front wall of the bunker hitting my foot (no chance to get out of the way), and then deflected into a heel print. My buddies (really helpful if you know what I mean) said I should play my ball as it lies. I still managed to get out of the bunker with my next shot and two-putted. We figured that I had six talent strokes but didn’t know how many penalty strokes to count. How bad was it?
--TheyCallMeLucky
Dear TheyCallMeLucky: I’ll bet your friends were very sympathetic... after they stopped laughing. I’ll also bet that you used nice words to express your feelings. How bad was it? No penalty strokes! There is no penalty for accidentally hitting the ball multiple times; only the stroke counts (Rule 10.la). Likewise, there is no penalty if player’s ball motion hits the player, any other player, caddie, any of their equipment, any other person, or outside influence (Rule 11.la). There is one exception - the specific instance where a player makes a stroke on the putting green and hits another player’s ball at rest on the putting green in stroke play (two-stroke penalty; Exception to Rule 11.la). Also, your friends were right about playing the ball as it lies in the heel print.
Dear John: So, we were playing the par-3 3rd hole at Porto Cima. The hole location is on the far right-hand side of the putting green. A player hits his ball from the left-hand side bunker, across the green, and into the front-right bunker. Is he now prohibited from raking his footprints in the left-hand side bunker, since that might constitute testing the condition of a bunker before playing his next shot from the front-right bunker?
--MrSandman
Dear MrSandman: Maybe it’s a good thing the front-right bunker was there so that the player’s ball didn’t race into the red penalty area! Before 2012, your point would have been well taken. The player would have been penalized for testing the condition of a bunker while their ball lay in another bunker. The Rules no longer punish golfers for raking bunkers solely to care for the course - so long as the player does not improve their lie, areas of stance and swing, or line of play in doing so (Rule 12.2b(1)). Further, once the player’s ball is out of the bunker, they may rake that bunker without restriction (Rule 12.2b(3)). This saves the golfer time going back to smooth the bunker (assuming they would go back) and promotes good course etiquette for the following groups (Have you ever found your ball in a heel print in a bunker?).
This Rule change was prompted by a Stuart Cink incident during the third round of the 2008 Zurich Open of New Orleans. His ball was in grass just outside a fairway bunker. With his stance in the bunker, he subsequently played a 185-yard shot into a greenside bunker. His caddie dutifully raked Cink’s footprints in the fairway bunker (player is responsible for caddie’s actions). Cink didn’t realize the breach for “testing the condition of a hazard when his ball lies in a similar hazard” until Zach Johnson mentioned it to him the next day. Cink hadn’t included the two-stroke penalty in his score, so was disqualified for an incorrect scorecard - turning in a score lower than what he shot (remember this was 2008). Interestingly, the PGA would have fined Cink if he or his caddie hadn’t gone back to rake the bunker. If he had gone back, that might have been considered unduly delaying play. In the meantime, a player in the following group could have hit a ball into one of Cinks footprints. The USGA and ReA said the Rule wasn’t intended to prohibit good course etiquette in such situations, so the Rule was modified.
Player of the Year Standings
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 August 31.
Sarah Hyten
Isabella Buckley Affiliation
Chad Niezing
Corey Choate
Ryan Sullivan
Justin Bryant
Sam Migdal
Brad Carpenter Adam Pfeiffer
Joe Migdal
Chris Kovach
David Strickland
Brian
Tom Portner
Buddy Allen
Brian Hall
Doug Hardacre
Jeff Green
To see which events are eligible for points, click here. SIGA
The Standard Portland Classic
Akie Iwai
CPKC Women’s Open
Brooke M. Henderson
FM Championship
Miranda Wang
AIG Women’s Open
Miyu Yamashita
PIF London Championship
Laura Fuenfstueck
Hills Open
Meja Ortengren
Four Winds Invitational
Leah John
Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic
Erika Hara
Dream First Bank Charity Classic
Yana Wilson
World of Golf
Wyndham Championship
Cameron Young
FedEx St. Jude Championship
Justin Rose
BMW Championship
Scottie Scheffler
Tour Championship
Tommy Fleetwood
Nexo Championship
Grant Forrest
Danish Golf Championship
Marco Penge
Betfred British Masters
Alex Noren
Omega European Masters
Thriston Lawrence
Utah Championship
Julian Suri
Pinnacle Bank Championship
Christo Lamprecht
Albertsons Boise Open
Emilio Gonzalez
Farmfoods Scottish Challenge
Daniel Young
Irish Challenge
Oihan Guillamoundeguy
Vierumaki Finnish Challenge
David Law
The Duth Futures
Filippo Celli
PNG Open
Cory Crawford
PGA NT Championship
Andrew Martin
PNG Women’s Open
Amelia Mehmet Grohn
Dormy Open
Anders Emil Ejlersen
Boeing Classic
Steve Allen
Rogers Charity Classic
Richard Green
The Ally Challenge
Stewart Cink
LIV Golf Chicago
Dean Burmester
LIV Golf Indianapolis
Sebastian Munoz
LIV Golf Michigan
Legion XIII
Greater Toledo Classic
Angela Stanford
U.S. Senior Women’s Open
Becky Morgan
G4D Betfred British Masters
BioSteel Championship
Michael Brennan
Manitoba Open
Theo Humphrey
CRMC Championship
Michael Brennan
Daniel Slabbert
Up Next for the Metro Deadlines
Southern Illinois Amateur Green Hills GC
Amateur Series #6 Annbriar GC September 7
Amateur Series #4(rescheduled)
Metropolitan Four-Ball
Keeping Up with the USGA
U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship Medal Named
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (Aug. 9, 2025) - The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced the medal presented each year to the U.S. Women’s Amateur champion will be renamed and redesigned to honor golf legend JoAnne Carner in recognition of her remarkable golf career, which includes eight USGA championship victories, the most by any female golfer.
September 14
September 3 Crescent Farms GC
Franklin County CC
September Schedule
Metropolitan Senior Amateur
Amateur Series #6
Sept 9-10
Southern Illinois Amateur Sept 15
WingHaven CC
Franklin County CC Annbriar GC
Sept 22
The gold medal in its current form, which has not had a formal name prior, dates back to 1977. Beginning with the 126th U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn., next August, each champion will receive the JoAnne Carner Medal along with the Robert Cox Trophy.
“JoAnne’s storied career as a USGA champion is a testament to her relentless passion for the game,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “Naming the U.S. Women’s Amateur Medal after her is a small tribute to her legacy. We are proud to celebrate her accomplishments and longstanding commitment to golf in a way that will allow for continued recognition and inspiration for generations to come.”
Carner was the first player in history to win three different USGA titles, the U.S. Girls’ Junior, the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Open. She earned her first USGA victory in the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 1956, followed by the U.S. Women’s Amateur five times in 1957, 1960, 1962, 1966 and 1968, before turning professional in 1970 at the age of 30. During her professional run, Carner captured two U.S. Women’s Open titles, starting in 1971 with a win at Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pa., and adding a second victory in 1976 at Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa. At the 2021 U.S. Senior Women’s Open, JoAnne made history as the oldest golfer at the time to play in a USGA Championship at the age of 82 and has played in every iteration of the championship since.
Joining only a handful of golf’s greats, JoAnne received the USGA’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, in 1981, and shortly
after, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and LPGA Hall of Fame in 1982. JoAnne will become the third golfer to have a USGA championship medal named after her, preceded by Jack Nicklaus in 2012 for the U.S. Open gold medal, and by Mickey Wright in 2020 for the U.S. Women’s Open gold medal. The newly designed JoAnne Carner Medal depicts an iconic swing photo from her 1966 U.S. Women’s Amateur win.
“For over 70 years, the USGA has played an active part in my life,” said Carner. “From winning my first USGA championship, the U.S. Girls’ Junior in 1956, to competing in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open more than six decades later, being able to hoist a USGA trophy on eight occasions is an experience unlike anything else. The USGA has always represented the pinnacle of the game — the toughest tests, the most demanding setups and the most iconic courses. That’s what makes winning a USGA championship so meaningful — it’s the highest accomplishment in golf.”
During her time on the LPGA Tour, JoAnne recorded 43 wins, earning her LPGA Rookie of the Year honors in 1970 at age 31, followed by Player of the Year in 1974, 1981 and 1982, and the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average in 1974, 1975, 1981, 1982 and 1983. Carner also captained the United States in the 1994 Solheim Cup, leading the team to a 13-7 victory over Europe. As an amateur, Carner earned her first LPGA Tour victory at the 1969 Burdine’s Invitational, won a national collegiate title while playing for Arizona State University, and was a fourtime member of the United States Curtis Cup team.
It has been a busy month at Normandie Golf Course! Holes 1, 9, and 18 have had sod layed, and green seeding on these holes plus the practice green has begun. Cart paths have been started. Work to sod Hole 17 is in progress and will be complete soon. The clubhouse has officially been torn down to make way for the steps toward a new structure. Things are moving fast and taking shape at Normandie Golf Club!
“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
