Author: Adam Frillman, Special to the MGA Updated: Thu 7/17/2008 10:18 am

Wednesday, July 16th
New Bloomfield, MO

Wednesday began the first 18 of 72 holes in the Missouri Stroke Play Championship at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club in New Bloomfield, Missouri.  One hundred and fourty-one of the states finest Amateur golfers teed it up to begin what they hope will be the first of four full rounds of golf.  "Four rounds of pure stroke play is a unique format for these players and provides them with a different challenge over three days," commended MGA Executive Director, Scott Hovis. 
This is the first time that Meadow Lake Acres has hosted one of the Missouri Golf Association Major Championships and the staff and members are anxious to see how the course holds up to the top players in the state.  While the course itself from tee to green does not provide an intimidating challenge, the crowned greens at Meadow Lake Acres can present a real test.  Hovis predicted that the winning score would be in the 8 to 10 under par range and after round one that looked to be in jeopardy as three players fired 4-under par, 68's and 18 players were in red figures.  Todd Obergoenner from Cape Girardeau is one of those at 4-under par after finishing his round, birdie, birdie, eagle.  Also at 4-under is Kyle Marcolla of Chillicothe and Mark Burlison of Frederick Town.  Sitting just one shot off the pace is Missouri Amateur Runner-Up, Skip Berkemeyer of St. Louis who actually dropped two shots in his final 5 holes, makeing 3 bogeys and one birdie to fall back to 3-under.

The temperatures are expected to rise on Thursday which could add to the test that the golf course is going to present and with 52 players at just two over par and better the quailifying score to make Friday's final 36 holes could be lower than initially projected.