FARMINGTON, Mo. (July 7, 2025) – The 2025 Missouri Junior Amateur Championship started today at Crown Pointe Golf Club, where the state’s top junior golfers teed off in the first of two rounds of stroke play qualifying. With a competitive field of 143 players, low scores rolled in throughout the day.
Betsy Mitchell (Kansas City, Class of 2029) fired a 4-under 68 to take the solo lead in the girls’ division. Mitchell, runner-up in this summer’s Junior Match Play Championship, made five birdies and just one bogey to post the low round of the day. Her steady performance separated her from a group of seasoned competitors early.
Morgan Withington (St. Louis, Class of 2025), who tied for second in this event last year and is committed to Sacred Heart University, sits in solo second at 2-under 70. Withington started hot—going 4-under through six holes—and tallied six birdies total despite a rough middle stretch.
Tied for third at 1-under 71 are KC Lenox (St. Peters, Class of 2025) and Addie Swan (Lee’s Summit, Class of 2025). Lenox, a Lindenwood University commit, was bogey-free on the front nine and carded three birdies. Swan played a consistent round with two birdies and just one bogey.
Avery Wells (Eldon, Class of 2025) and Kate Ryan (Columbia, Class of 2025) are tied for fifth after each posting a 1-over 73. Wells, who will play for Missouri Western State, recorded five birdies during her round. Ryan, a Coastal Carolina signee, played a clean back nine and finished with three birdies on the day.
In total, four girls finished under par in the opening round. With multiple past contenders, collegiate commits and rising juniors near the top of the leaderboard, the second round promises another exciting day of competition.
In the boys’ division, Anson Munzlinger (Columbia) surged into the solo lead after a 6-under 66, highlighted by six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 first hole. The Class of 2028 standout, who won this summer’s Junior Match Play Championship and reached the semifinals of the Missouri Amateur, turned in a flawless back nine to secure a one-shot advantage.
Tied for second at 5-under 67 are Ben Gelven (St. Louis), an Illinois Wesleyan commit, and Hayes McIntosh (Lee’s Summit), a member of the Class of 2028. Gelven racked up six birdies and just one bogey, while McIntosh delivered a bogey-free round that included an eagle on hole one.
Three players posted rounds of 4-under 68 to sit in a tie for fourth: Harper Ackermann (Webster Groves, Class of 2025), Chayton Jordan (Rolla, Class of 2025) and Hank Homsey (Overland Park, Class of 2027). Ackermann, last year’s Junior Amateur runner-up, reached 6-under through 14 holes before finishing with two late bogeys. Jordan, a Missouri S&T commit, made an eagle and six birdies in a solid showing. Homsey kept it clean with four birdies and an eagle on the par-5 fifth.
In total, 19 boys finished under par in the first round, setting up a highly competitive second day.
Tee times for Round 2 begin tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. Following the second round, a cut will be made to a determined percentage and ties in each division to set the field for Wednesday’s championship round.
The Missouri Golf Association would like to thank Crown Pointe Golf Club for its hospitality and support in hosting the Junior Amateur Championship.
Click here for full results and pairings for tomorrow.
For more information about the Junior Amateur Championship, visit www.mogolf.org or contact the MGA office at 573-636-8994.
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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.
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