Junior Amateur at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex
Missouri Golf Association held their Junior Amateur at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, MO on July 6-7. As this is the second year MGA has had a female division we have seen significant growth in women’s golf. With the entire field totaling well over 150 junior players there was bound to be a great golf competition in every division. We saw many rounds under par during the duration. The 36 hole golf course was ideal for our many divisions. All female divisions and 12-13 boy division played the Outlaw golf course while the 14-18 boy division played the Posse Golf Course.
The Outlaw golf course challenged the 12-13 year old boys and 12-18 year old females with its length. Kory Franks of Jefferson City had no problems in scoring well with the lengthy golf course. Franks was the only boy to shoot in the 70’s both days making him the 12-13 Junior Amateur Champion. Clayton Voss of Washington, MO finished three strokes behind leader Franks with 158. Tanner Smith received third with his birdie on hole 10 in a score card playoff over fellow competitor Pierce Moling from Kearney, MO.
Alison Kruse of Overland Park, KS ran away with the championship in the 16-18 year old female division carding a solid 149. She scored ten strokes better than runner up finisher Caroline Rouse from St. Louis. Third place went to Joni Purvis of Camdenton, MO shooting a two day total of 163. In the 12-13 female division first went to Mariah Peters of Blue Springs with a 189, followed by Taylor Black of Warrensburg carding 199, then Jenna Kosmatka of Jefferson City with 225. The 14-15 year old division was small with only two competitors; first place went to Megan Keck and runner up to Patricia De Castro. Both competitors improved by ten strokes on the second day.
In the boys 14-18 division we saw a deep field. After day one 23 scores sat at par or better. Day 1 leader of the boys overall division went to Brandon Straeb from Clarkson Valley. Straeb shot a career best tournament round in hopes to duplicate it on day 2. Straeb had the field by two strokes with his carded 67. After Straeb it was all neck and neck including five 69’s, four 70’s and 71’s, and nine at 72 (even par). In the 14-15 division Donald Stimble of Shell Knob held onto the led by one stroke with a 70 followed by Mitchell Mather from Lebanon carding a 71. The two young competitors were not only in the running for champion of the 14-15 year old division but also the overall 14-18 division with their under par rounds.
Donald Stimble from Shell Knob was able to hold on to the lead for the 14-15 year old division by just one stroke. He shot a two day total of 143. The runner up trophy had to be settled by a score card playoff. There was a three way tie between Austin Lowe, Mitchell Mather of Lebanon, and Danny Summers of Mission Hills, KS. Austin Lowe of Kansas City tied the low for the day in the 14-15 division, carding a two under par, 70 and won the score card playoff to receive the title of Junior Amateur Runner-up. Mitchell Mather received third place.
Luckily the rain stayed away on day 1 of the championship. Day 2 we were not as lucky with the weather. All of the divisions were complete before the storm except for the 16-18 boys. We had an hour delay; as we resent them out - we knew we were pushing dark. As our last group was putting on 18 green there was little to no day light left. 2010 Junior Match Play Champion, Jacob Fair finished the tournament at a tie for 11th. Fair had a tough first day but had a solid day 2 carding a two under par and 2 day total of 144. Ben Crancer of Kirkwood, MO, 2009 14-15 Junior Amateur Champion also tied for 11th, shooting even par both days. Ryan Zech 2009 overall Junior Amateur Champion of Kearney, MO played solid shooting 72-69 totaling 141 and tied for fifth place.
When all the scores came in we found a three way tie for runner up. Once again we resorted to a score card playoff in the 14-18 overall division with all players shooting a two day total of 140. Kyle Weldon of Des Peres received runner up, third place went to Ian Boat of Leawood, KS, and then fourth went to Joey Johnson from Ozark, MO. As for the champion, he stood four strokes better then the runner up. With the hour long weather delay, it did not stop Hunter Lewis of Lawson, MO from shooting tournament low of 66 and a two day total of 136. As Lewis has played many MGA tournaments in his junior years he told us this Junior Amateur would be his last. Lewis ended his junior career in the best way. Lewis plans on attending University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg this fall and will join 2010 Missouri Amateur Runner-up and 2009 Stroke play champion, Matt Miller.
Hunter Lewis 2010 Missouri Junior Amateur Champion
Congratulations to all participants.
Junior Amateur Information Page
