KANSAS CITY (June 18, 2026) – Missouri Golf’s oldest championship returns to one of its most historic host sites next week as 144 of the state’s top amateur golfers prepare to compete in the 119th Missouri Amateur Championship at Milburn Country Club in Kansas City. Competition begins with a practice round on June 22 and is followed by six days of championship play from June 23-28.
The 119th Missouri Amateur Championship returns to Milburn Country Club, which will host the championship for the sixth time in its history. Founded in 1917 and designed by renowned architect William B. Langford, Milburn Country Club has been a fixture of championship golf in the Kansas City area for more than a century. Throughout its history, Milburn has hosted numerous prestigious events including the Kansas City Open, PGA events, U.S. Open Qualifying, U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying, the Kansas City Masters, the Missouri Amateur Championship, and The Watson Challenge. Milburn’s history with the Missouri Amateur Championship, combined with its extensive championship resume, makes it one of the premier venues to host Missouri Golf’s oldest championship.
The championship will be contested on a par-72 layout measuring 6,971 yards and will feature a unique combination of stroke play and match play. All 144 competitors will begin the championship with 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying on June 23 and 24. Following qualifying, the field will be reduced to the low 64 players who will advance to match play. Five rounds of match play will determine the champion, culminating in a 36-hole championship match on June 28.
The championship field features a blend of seasoned veterans, accomplished champions and rising stars from across the region. A total of 121 players earned their place through qualifying while 23 players received exemptions into the championship. More than one-third of the field (36%) currently competes at the collegiate level.
Defending champion Chad Niezing of Manchester returns in search of his third Missouri Amateur title and second consecutive championship. Niezing, a graduate of Marquette University and Missouri State University, captured the 2025 Missouri Amateur Championship at The Club at Old Hawthorne and previously claimed the title in 2022.
Among the players expected to contend is four-time Missouri Amateur champion Brad Nurski of St. Joseph, who enters the championship seeking a fifth title. Nurski’s victories in 2010, 2017, 2018 and 2024 have established him as one of the most accomplished players in modern Missouri Amateur history.
The field also includes five former Missouri Amateur champions representing nine combined titles. Alongside Niezing and Nurski, former champions Sam Migdal of St. Louis, Matt Murray of Overland Park and Wayne Fredrick of Springfield will tee it up at Milburn. Several former runners-up are also in the field, including Hunter Parrish of Columbia, Brian Haskell of St. Joseph, Migdal, Niezing and Nurski.
Fans should also keep an eye on several emerging players looking to make their mark on Missouri’s premier amateur championship. Leawood’s Brady Rapp enters the week after a top six finish at the 2025 Missouri Amateur and a third place showing at the Kansas City Amateur. Columbia’s Anson Munzlinger, the 2025 Missouri Junior Match Play Champion and owner of a World Amateur Golf Ranking of 763, will look to continue his rise among the state’s elite amateurs. Poplar Bluff’s Landon Barks arrives as the reigning 2026 Missouri Junior Match Play Champion, while St. Louis’ Harrison Zipfel, an Illinois commit, continues to establish himself as one of the top young players in the region.
The championship field spans nearly five decades in age, from 16-year-old Bryce Shoults of Rogersville, the youngest competitor in the field, to 64-year-old Wayne Fredrick of Springfield, the oldest player in the championship.
In addition to earning the title of Missouri Amateur Champion, the winner will receive an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship, scheduled for August 10-16 at Merion Golf Club and Philadelphia Country Club in Pennsylvania.
Schedule of Events
Monday, June 22 – Practice Round
Tuesday, June 23 – First Round Stroke Play Qualifying
Wednesday, June 24 – Second Round Stroke Play Qualifying
Thursday, June 25 – Round of 64 Matches
Friday, June 26 – Round of 32 and Round of 16 Matches
Saturday, June 27 – Quarterfinal and Semifinal Matches
Sunday, June 28 – 36-Hole Championship Match
One week, 144 players and countless storylines will ultimately lead to one champion adding their name to the same trophy that has been lifted by Missouri golf legends such as Tom Watson and Payne Stewart. As the championship returns to Milburn Country Club for the sixth time, another chapter will be written in the history of Missouri’s oldest championship.
First round tee times as well as pairings can be found here. Live scoring will be available throughout the week at mogolf.org and across Missouri Golf social media channels.
Missouri Golf would like to say a special thank you to Milburn Country Club and its members for hosting the 119th Missouri Amateur Championship.
For more information about the 119th Missouri Amateur Championship visit mogolf.org or call the office at 573-636-8994.
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About Missouri Golf
Missouri Golf is the official governing body for amateur golf in Missouri. Founded in 1903, Missouri Golf is dedicated to promoting and protecting the game of golf in Missouri through championship competitions, handicapping services, course rating, junior golf programs, and various educational initiatives. MO Golf serves thousands of golfers across the state and is committed to ensuring that golf remains accessible, enjoyable, and thriving for generations to come. For more information, visit mogolf.org.
