WingHaven Country Club, O'Fallon MO - One of the area's top championship golf courses, WingHaven Country Club, has welcomed the state's top amateur golfers this week. Players from Kansas City to Joplin to Kirksville to Poplar Bluff to St. Louis to St. Joseph's, they come to earn the distinction as the state's top amateur golfer and on Sunday afternoon a new champion will be crowned.
A new champion will be crowned thanks in large part to one of WingHaven's very own, Kyle Jasper, who knocked of the defending champion Connor McHenry in what turned out to be Friday afternoon's feature match. McHenry and Jasper made the 7,230 yard Nicklaus Design look like a pitch and putt as they exchanged birdies throughout the entire match (
www.mogolf.org). McHenry started the match going birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie in route to a 3 up lead through 4 holes. Jasper answered with birdies on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th holes and a par on 9 to win making the turn with a 1-up lead over the defending champion. The two took a break from the birdie barrage at the 10th, both making par, and then both players jumped on the birdie train with 4's at the par 5, 11th hole. After the par 3 was halved with pars, Jasper hit the shot that ultimately defined the match on the par 4, 13th hole. Laying back considerably on the dog leg left par 4, Jasper hit a mid iron to 25 feet. McHenry, 2 down in the match, answered with a sharp short iron to six feet. Jasper proceeded to hole his 25 footer for birdie to which McHenry answered making his shorter birdie putt. Had Jasper not found a way to halve the par 4, 13th hole the match could have easily swung back to McHenry's favor. After another birdie at the par 3, 15th hole, Jasper was dormie, 3 up with 3 to play. After both players made par on the par 5, 16th hole, Jasper had officially pulled of the "Shocker" of the tournament, knocking off the defending champion and Junior at Wichita State University.
In what was slated to be the feature match on Friday afternoon, Skip Berkmeyer found himself against his nemesis and
mentor, Don Bliss. Bliss, a four time champion of the Missouri Amateur Match Play Championship and now a regular player in Senior events, had enjoyed the upper hand over the past several years against the area's top amateur golfer, Berkmeyer. While Berkmeyer has enjoyed the top spot on the St. Louis Amateur Rankings throughout most of the past decade, it was Bliss who paved the way before Berkmeyer emerged as a regular favorite. But on this day at WingHaven Country Club it was Berkmeyer who advanced to the elite eight and the earned the opportunity to face Kyle Jasper in one of Saturday morning's quarter final matches.
With the elimination of Don Bliss, Skip Berkmeyer became the veteran of the 8 remaining players in this years championship. As has been the case in recent years, collegiate players dominate this grueling test of golf's marathon. Players still competing have already played 36 holes of stroke play and then 54 holes (give or take a few) of match play with two more matches potentially on their schedule for Saturday and then the 36 hole final on Sunday. To say youth has its advantages would be a mild understatement, just ask Tom Barry and Don Bliss who both were eliminated on Friday afternoon after very good performances throughout the week. Barry was eliminated by University of Colorado golfer, Justin Bardgett. Bardgett will square off against fellow St. Louisan, Ben Wood (Miami, OH) who defeated University of Missouri golfer, Will Hogan in his Friday afternoon match.
In the upper half of the bracket, stroke play qualifying medalist
Drew Lethem will face Brad Nurski. Nurski defeated the Darren Lundgren 3 and 2 in the morning on Friday and then edged Mitchell Gregson 1up in 19 holes. Gregson and Lundgren were arguably two of the hottest St. Louis golfers coming into this week's event, finishing 2nd and 1st respectively in the recent playing of the East Side Amateur at Belk Park Golf Course.
The other two quarterfinal participants are Andrew Hatten and Matt Sullivan. The winner of Sullivan / Hatten quarterfinal will get the winner of Skip Berkmeyer and Kyle Jasper on Saturday afternoon.
Needless to say, if you are in the mood to watch some spectacular golf this weekend, the place to be is WingHaven Country Club. Set your alarm clocks early as play begins at 7:30am on Saturday morning.
Listen to interviews from the Missouri Amateur Championship
HERE
