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And Then There Were Eight
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Updated: Sun 6/27/2010 1:24 am
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Springfield, MO - June 25 - Over 160 players qualified from one of six different sites across the state of Missouri for the chance to compete for the 2010 Missouri Amateur Championship. Of the 160+ that showed up on Monday at Twin Oaks Country Club in Springfield, MO, only 64 put the ball in the air on Thursday as the format shifted from stroke play to match play. And now, after two very long days of match play competition, the field has been whittled down to only eight who still have a shot at etching their name in Missouri golf history.
Among the eight finalists is a combination of youthful exuberance and proven excellence. Only one of the eight has been here before and done it. While three have been this far before and know the pain of not making it all the way. "Once you make it this far you can smell it," said 2-time champion Skip Berkmeyer who is among the eight who will return on Saturday morning. "Certainly when you make it this far everyone has the ability to win," yet it's Berkmeyer and only Berkmeyer who can speak to actually winning it among those remaining. At this point in the championship, it's as much a mental battle as a physical battle, "It's all a factor. For me personally the heat is going to be the biggest battle. I feel I have my game and I'm playing some of my best golf, so if I can stay upright I should be o.k" said Berkmeyer. Not only does Berkmeyer understand what it's like to win this championship, he also knows firsthand the pain of competing in the extreme heat. Just over a year ago, Berkmeyer was in position to qualify for the United States Amateur Public Links Championship and was forced to withdraw due to heat exhaustion.
One of the players hungry to make up for opportunities lost is also arguably the hottest player remaining in the field. Brad Nurski, of St. Joseph, MO had a shot to win the state's premier championship on home turf last year when the annual event was held at St. Joe Country Club. His week was cut short, eliminated during match play, never getting the chance to play on the weekend. After eight holes of his Sweet 16 round of matches today, it appeared as though Nurski was going to let another opportunity slip through this hands. But after an eagle on the par 4, 9th, holing out from 100 yards and birdie at 10 Nurski found himself digging out of a 4 down deficit against Andrew Luo. Nurski played holes 8 thru 18 in a total of 8 under par to ultimately win 1 up and punch his ticket to Saturday morning and the elite eight. "I've never putted like that for a stretch of holes that long before," said Nurski when asked if he had ever experienced a stretch of golf like what he enjoyed today under the intense conditions in which he was playing. Nurski needed only 12 putts on the back nine at Twin Oaks Country Club.
As the week began there were several hometown stories to follow. Past Champion and former Springfield native, Wayne Fredrick was in the field. As was Jay McBride, an outside service staff member at Twin Oaks Country Club, who posted a 64 during Tuesday stroke play qualifying. Travis Mitchell, Antonio Serrano and the list goes on and on were competing for the hometown crowd with aspirations of keeping the state amateur trophy in Springfield when the week ended on Sunday. As the dust settled and play concluded on Friday evening, only Kevin Kring remained to carry the torch of Springfield residents into the elite eight. Kring went extra holes to defeat University of Missouri golf, Will Harrold. Kring will face Brian Whittle of Golden City, MO on Saturday morning.
While Kring has now advanced as far as he's ever been in the Missouri Amateur, Whittle's experience gets him to the elite eight. But that's where Whittle's Missouri Amateur story has ended, most recently last year losing to eventual champion Skip Berkmeyer in the round of eight. Whittle defeated Clay Ederer 2&1 after trailing for most of the front nine of his Friday afternoon match. It's easy to understand the pressure on local player Kevin Kring, playing in front of his home crowd and all, but should Brian Whittle pull off the feat of winning the championship it might prompt a parade in the small town of Golden City, MO, "It's probably safe to say this would be the biggest golf accomplishment for someone from Golden City," said Whittle. "A lot of my friends play and keep track of how I do, so I'm sure they will be pretty excited for me going into tomorrow's match."
Jace Long and Matt Miller will meet in their elite eight match on Saturday morning and while the heat's been extreme and the players are understandably tired, these two must have had plans on Friday evening. Both players won 7&5 and spared themselves any unnecessary drama in the round of 16. Long's experienced the weekend of a Missouri Amateur before, advancing to the final four last year before losing to Justin Bardgett.
Jared Nash of Dixon, MO and Ryan Marks of Warrensburg are the other two players to fill out the elite eight. Marks, a University of Iowa sophomore will tee it up against Nurski in the elite eight. Nash gets the pleasure of meeting defending champion, Skip Berkmeyer tomorrow morning. Nash went 19 holes to defeat the last Springfield native besides Kring in the field in Mark Monroe in the round of 16.
Quarterfinal matches begin on Saturday morning at 8:30am.
Jace Long vs. Matt Miller - 8:30am
Kevin Kring vs. Brian Whittle - 8:39am
Brad Nurski vs. Ryan Marks - 8:48am
Jared Nash vs. Skip Berkmeyer - 8:57am
Several of the quarterfinalist's participated in an online chat upon the conclusion of their Friday afternoon matches. Go HERE to review the transcripts of these conversations.
Listen in to www.101espn.com on Saturday morning, 8am - 10am CST as The Back Nine radio show will be featuring the Missouri Amateur Championship including an interview with Executive Director, Scott Hovis.
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