POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (June 3, 2025) – Landon Barks of Poplar Bluff claimed medalist honors at today’s Missouri Amateur Championship qualifier at Westwood Hills Country Club, firing a 6-under-par 65 to lead the field and earn one of nine qualifying spots.

Barks, a member at Westwood Hills who is set to graduate high school in 2027, recorded eight birdies during his standout round on his home course.

Four players tied for the second-lowest round of the day at 1-under 70: Kent Phillips (Cape Girardeau), Luke Lasley (Anna), Todd Obergoenner (Cape Girardeau) and Dylan Sitze (Dexter). The cut to qualify landed at 2-over 73.

Two Poplar Bluff players, Lawson Barks and Benjamin Miller, competed in a playoff for the final qualifying spot after each finished at 2-over. Lawson secured the final spot after the second playoff hole.

Miller earned first alternate honors. A separate playoff determined the second alternate, with Carsen Silliman (Jackson) edging out Tyler Norton (Poplar Bluff) on the first hole.

The Missouri Golf Association would like to thank the staff at Westwood Hills Country Club for hosting the event.

Congratulations to all of today’s qualifiers! We look forward to seeing them at the 118th Missouri Amateur Championship, scheduled for June 24–29 at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia.

View full results from the Westwood Hills qualifier here.

For more information about upcoming qualifiers and MGA events, visit www.mogolf.org or contact the MGA office at 573-636-8994.

###

ABOUT MGA: The Missouri Golf Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the best interests and true spirit of golf throughout the state of Missouri.

Founded in 1905 in St. Louis, the MGA was established to conduct the Missouri Amateur Championship, originally hosted by four founding clubs—St. Louis Country Club, Algonquin Golf Club, Glen Echo Golf Club, and Normandie Golf Club. In 1909, the invite-only championship expanded to Kansas City’s Evanston Club, and by 1911, the MGA became formally organized under Bonner Miller, its first Secretary and Executive Director. Since then, the MGA has grown to provide a variety of competitive tournaments, junior programs, and resources that support golfers of all ages and skill levels, continuing its mission to grow and enhance the game across Missouri.

Media Contact: 

Ella Fixsen 

Director of Marketing, Media & Communications

efixsen@mogolf.org