St. Joseph Country Club welcomes strong field for Missouri Amateur Championship
June 11, 2009 - Jefferson City, MO - The Missouri Amateur Championship has a rich history, going back to its inaugural championship in 1905. As the top amateur golfers in the state of Missouri make their way to the site of the 2009 championship, they will be looking to join a select group of accomplished players to have captured the state's premier title at St. Joseph Country Club.
St. Joseph Country Club has played host the Missouri Amateur Championship seven times going back to 1914, with Alden Swift winning the title. In 1922 Dick Bockenkamp defeated Eddie Held in the final. Eddie Held later that year went on to become the first United States Amateur Public Links Champion.
1967 marked the introduction of a young Tom Watson to the Missouri Amateur Championship Final. Watson captured the Missouri State High School Individual championship in 1966 and 1967. He went on to win four Missouri Amateur Championships in 1967, 1968, 1970 and 1971. Scott Bess interrupted Watson's run of consecutive victories in 1969.
Past Champions of the Missouri Amateur Championship at St. Joseph Country Club also include Glen Oatman (1937), Warren Riepen (1948), Jim Jackson (1976), and Don Bliss (1988).
The field this year includes a total of 24 former Missouri Golf Association champions, including 13 former Missouri Amateur Championship winners. Defending champion, Justin Bardgett of the University of Colorado will be looking to become the first player to win back to back titles since Mark McBride won in 2000 and 2001.
Past Missouri Golf Association Champions in the field at St. Joseph Country Club
Don Bliss
Missouri Four Ball: 1992 (with Marty Sallaz), 1995 (with Craig Schnurbusch)
Missouri Mid Amateur: 1996, 1997
Missouri Senior Four Ball: 2002 & 2005 (with Jim Magruder), 2006 & 2007 (with Jim Colman)
Missouri Amateur: 1972, 1983, 1986, 1988
Marty Sallaz
Missouri Four Ball: 1992 (with Don Bliss)
Missouri Amateur: 1990
Ben Godwin
Missouri Four Ball: 1998 (with Bobby Godwin)
Missouri Amateur: 2003, 2006
Steve Groom
Missouri Four Ball: 2003 (with Paul Esposito)
Missouri Mid Amateur: 2001
Dustin Ashby
Missouri Four Ball: 2004 (with John Mikelonis)
Brad Nurski
Missouri Four Ball: 2006 (with Mark Korell)
Travis Mitchell
Missouri Four Ball: 2007 (with Tyler Stalker)
Tyler Stalker
Missouri Four Ball: 2007 (with Travis Mitchell)
Darren Lundgren
Missouri Four Ball: 2008 (with Justin Bardgett)
Missouri Stroke Play: 2008
Justin Bardgett
Missouri Stroke Play: 2008 (with Darren Lundgren)
Missouri Amateur: 2008
Clay Ederer
Missouri Junior Amateur: 2004
Kevin Kring
Missouri Junior Amateur: 2006
Alex Knoll
Missouri Junior Amateur: 2007
Ryan Marks
Missouri Junior Amateur: 2008
Kyle Marcolla
Missouri Junior Match Play: 2004
Will Hogan
Missouri Junior Match Play: 2006, 2007
Brian Steele
Missouri Junior Match Play: 2008
Rich Gleghorn
Missouri Mid Amateur: 1999
Missouri Senior Amateur: 2006
Missouri Senior Four Ball: 2003 (with Gary Frazier)
Wayne Fredrick
Missouri Mid Amateur: 2007
Missouri Stroke Play: 2001
Missouri Amateur: 1996
Brian Haskell
Missouri Mid Amateur: 2008
Jim Colman
Missouri Senior Amateur: 1998
Missouri Senior Four Ball: 2006 & 2007 (with Don Bliss)
Don Walsworth
Missouri Amateur: 1985
Skip Berkmeyer
Missouri Four Ball: 2000 & 2001 (with Bobby Godwin)
Missouri Mid Amateur: 2000, 2002, 2003
Missouri Amateur: 1999
Dale Kutz
Missouri Amateur: 1974
