Final Recap
HOLLISTER, Mo. (June 25, 2023) — Peter Weaver (St. Louis) adds his name to Missouri golf history and a pair of iconic trophies, taking home the 116th Missouri Amateur Championship with a 4 & 2 win at Payne’s Valley Golf Course in Hollister.
Weaver went 34 holes with opponent Michael Winslow (Overland Park), and held a steady lead for the majority of the match.
Weaver started the 36-hole match at a steady pace, sitting no less than tied with Winslow at any point during the match. He capitalized on a birdie on hole eight to put himself at a comfortable score of 3 up at the first turn. Weaver had complete control on the back nine, going as far as 5 up over Winslow on hole 14. He finished the first round of 18 at 3 up over Winslow. The playing field evened out after Winslow earned a birdie on hole 10, followed by a bogey from Weaver. However, Weaver took the lead again on hole 12 and held it until his final competition with Winslow for the day.
Weaver only needed to make par on hole 16 to secure the title and trophy, but instead sunk one in from 20 feet out to win the match and the Missouri Amateur Championship.
Weaver began the tournament strong, advancing out of stroke play as the No. 7 seed. He took his preceding matches 4 & 2 (round of 64), 3 & 2 (round of 32), 5 & 4 (round of 16) and 4 up (quarterfinal).
In the semifinal, Weaver battled 2022 Missouri Amateur Champion Chad Niezing (Manchester) through a full 18 holes. Weaver fell to one down after the 15th hole to Niezing, but came back to tie the match on hole 17. Weaver sank a putt for a birdie to secure the win and a trip to the championship match.
Weaver joins an impressive list of former Missouri Amateur Champions, including MGA president Wayne Fredrick, PGA Tour champion Tom Watson, and golf legend Payne Stewart, the namesake of Payne’s Valley.
The MGA would like to thank Payne’s Valley Golf Course and its staff for graciously hosting the 116th Missouri Amateur Championship.
Our next men’s event is the Stroke Play Championship at WingHaven Country Club in O’Fallon on July 17.
For all final results of the 116th Missouri Amateur Championship, visit this link: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/3969545
For more information on other MGA tournaments, visit www.mogolf.org or contact the MGA office at (573) 636-8994 or at mogolf@mogolf.org.
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Day 5 Recap
HOLLISTER, Mo. (June 24, 2023) — Only two players remain in the 116th Missouri Amateur Championship after competing in the quarterfinal and semifinal matches today at Payne’s Valley Golf Course.
Peter Weaver (St. Louis) finished strong in the quarterfinal match to beat his opponent Kanon Kendrick (Columbia) with a score of four up. He battled with his opponent, 2022 Missouri Amateur Champion Chad Niezing (Manchester) through a full 18 holes, ultimately winning one up in the semifinal matchup.
Weaver fell to one down after the 15th hole to Niezing, but came back to tie the match on hole 17 and level the playing field for the final challenge of the day. Weaver sank a putt for a birdie to secure the win and a trip to the championship match.
Weaver entered into match play as the No. 4 seed. He took his preceding matches 4 & 2 (round of 64), 3 & 2 (round of 32), 5 & 4 (round of 16) and 4 up (quarterfinal).
On the other side of the bracket, Michael Winslow (Overland Park) sat in control for most of his match against Zach Vandolah (Kansas City), earning a win at 2 & 1. Winslow went one up after making par on the third hole, as Vandolah putted for a bogey. Vandolah seemed to be puting up a fight as he went one up on hole 11, but a putt for par on hole 13 had Winslow in control for the rest of the match.
Winslow entered into match play as the No. 15 seed. He took his preceding matches 2 up (round of 64), 1 up (round of 32), 1 up (round of 16) and 4 & 3 (quarterfinal).
The championship match will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 25 with a 36-hole match format.
For more information on upcoming qualifiers or other MGA tournaments, visit www.mogolf.org or contact the MGA office at (573) 636-8994 or at mogolf@mogolf.org.
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Day 4 Recap
HOLLISTER, Mo. (June 23, 2023) — In the round of 32, a number of higher seeds fell in upsets at the 116th annual Missouri Amateur Championship at Payne’s Valley Golf Course in Hollister. No. 5 seed Andy Hennen (St. Louis), who plays collegiately for the University of Missouri – St. Louis, was part of this group, falling to No. 28 Adam Pfeiffer (Quincy) 3 & 2.
No. 24 seed Hunter Parrish (Columbia) beat out No. 9 Carl Miltun (Gilbert) with a score of 2 & 1, and No. 53 seed Kanon Kendrick (Columbia) pulled out a win over No. 21 seed Tony Gumper (St. Charles) with a score of 4 & 3.
The round of 16 this afternoon was no different, as five out of the eight matches resulted in upsets.
No. 64 seed Jeffrey Johnston (St. Joseph) pulled out in front of No.16 seed Jonathan Jordan (Rolla) early, walking away with a win at 5 & 4. No. 53 seed Kanon Kendrick pulled off his second upset of the day when he defeated No. 28 Adam Pfieffer with a score of 3 & 2. As the day winded down, No. 15 Michael Winslow (Overland Park), who plays collegiately at Wichita State University, overcame No. 2 Alex McCulla (Quincy), who competes collegiately at Illinois State, with a score of one up.
Quarterfinal matches will begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning with the semifinal rounds following in the afternoon.
For final results from today, visit: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/3969545For more information on upcoming qualifiers or other MGA tournaments, visit www.mogolf.org or contact the MGA office at (573) 636-8994 or at mogolf@mogolf.org.
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Day 3 Recap
HOLLISTER, Mo. (June 22, 2023) — The player field at the 116th Missouri Amateur Championship has been narrowed down to 32 following the first day of match play at Payne’s Valley Golf Course in Hollister.
After earning the final spot in the match play round in a playoff earlier this morning, No. 64 seeded Jeffrey Johnston (St. Joseph) closed his round with an upset victory. He beat the No. 1 seeded Cade Uhlenhake (Lenexa) in extra holes to continue on to the round of 32.
At the close of competition, seven other underdogs took victories, including No. 58 seed Ryan Walsh (Chesterfield) upsetting the No. 7 seed and three-time Missouri Amateur Champion Brad Nurski (St. Joseph). His win puts him into a showdown with No. 39 seeded Presten Richardson (Mt. Vernon), who also claimed an upset win over No. 26 seeded Hank Lierz (St. Joseph) today.
The final spot in Friday morning’s play was given to 2023 NAIA Champion Easton Johnson (Kansas City), who plays for The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, California, after a showdown with Gage Brauns (Columbia) in extra holes.
Friday’s round of 32 begins at 8 a.m. and will be followed immediately by round-of-16 matches in the afternoon.
For final results from today, visit: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/3969545
For more information on upcoming qualifiers or other MGA tournaments, visit www.mogolf.org or contact the MGA office at (573) 636-8994 or at mogolf@mogolf.org.
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Day 2 Recap
HOLLISTER, Mo. (June 21, 2023) – Cade Uhlenhake (Lenexa) leads the field at the 116th Missouri Amateur Championship at Payne’s Valley Golf Course in Hollister after two rounds of stroke play, earning him medalist status. Uhlenhake shot five under par Tuesday and five under par today to shoot a total of 10 under par, 134, earning the first-place seed going into match play.
He will be followed in the 64-player field in the first round of matches by Alex McCulla (Quincy) who sits at nine under par after the first two rounds of stroke play. McCulla competes collegiately for Illinois State. He also shot the lowest score of the day at The Falls Golf Club qualifier in O’Fallon earlier this season.
Twenty eight golfers ended the stroke play portion at Payne’s Valley Golf Course under par. The cut is set at six over par, 150, to cut the field down to its 64 match play qualifiers.
Following the second round, 10 players competed for the last two spots: Fabian Oechsle (St. Charles), Jared Jordan (Rolla), Sean Minor (Columbia), Jeffrey Johnston (St. Joseph), Gaite Brauns (Fayette), Ryan Schuenke (Palmyra), Kory Franks (Lake Ozark), Tyler Comeford (Glen Carbon), Elijah Shirley (High Ridge) and Thomas Wuennenberg (St. Louis). With the sun setting at 8:35 p.m., the competing golfers only made it through one playoff hole before returning to the clubhouse. The playoff will continue at 7:30 a.m. on hole 16 tomorrow morning.
The first round of match play will begin at 8:00 a.m. All golfers will tee off on hole one. If needed, a hole-by-hole playoff will follow directly after the group has finished their round. The field will be cut in half after each round until we have crowned a 116th Missouri Amateur Champion.
To view final results from day two, visit: https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/3969545
For more information on the 116th Missouri Amateur Championship, visit www.mogolf.org or contact the MGA office at (573) 636-8994 or at mogolf@mogolf.org.
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Day 1 Recap
HOLLISTER, Mo. (June 20, 2023) — After the first day of competition at the 116th Missouri Amateur Championship at Payne’s Valley Golf Course in Hollister, 32 players sit under par with Easton Johnson (Kansas City) and Max Kreikemeier (Chesterfield) tied for the lead at seven under par, 65, in Round 1.
Johnson, who plays collegiately at The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, California, and Kreikmeier, who competes for Missouri State, will head into the second round of stroke play with just a one-shot lead. Johnson made one eagle, seven birdies and just two bogeys during his first round. Kreikmeier made eight birdies and only one bogey during his first round. The two headed into the clubhouse with a score of 65, seven under par.
Tied for third are Peter Weaver (St. Louis) and Andy Hennen (St. Louis). Both shot six under par, 66.
Round 2 will begin with staggered starts, with groups teeing off from hole one. Tee times will range from 7:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Tomorrow is the final round of stroke play. The low 64 scorers will head into match play on Thursday. If needed, a playoff will follow directly after the last group has finished their round.
For final results from day one, visit: www.golfgenius.com/pages/3969545
For more information on upcoming qualifiers or other MGA tournaments, visit www.mogolf.org or contact the MGA office at (573) 636-8994 or at mogolf@mogolf.org.
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ABOUT MGA: The Missouri Golf Association is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to promote the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf throughout the State of Missouri.
The Missouri Golf Association was started in St. Louis in 1905 to run the Amateur Championship. Four founding clubs would be the ones in existence in St. Louis in those early years – St. Louis Country Club, Algonquin Golf Club, Glen Echo Golf Club and Normandie Golf Club. Four years later, the invite-only Missouri Amateur was held in Kansas City at Evanston Club. 1911 marked the real organization of the MGA with Bonner Miller as Secretary and Executive Director. Ever since then, the MGA has striven to provide tournaments and spaces for Missouri golfers to sharpen their skills and enjoy the game.
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