Edwardsville pro Chris Brant captured the 9th Metropolitan Open Saturday at The Country Club of St. Albans. Starting the final round 3 shots back of three others, Brant closed strong with birdies on 14 and 16 to get to the clubhouse at 5-under and wait for the final groups to complete play.
Chris Thompson, playing in the final pairing with Jace Long, had polar opposite nines in the final round. Thompson made the turn with a 4-shot lead; however, bogeys at 11, 15 and 17 would bring him back to 5-under and tie Brant at the completion of play.
Thompson and Brant would go to Hole 15 for the third playoff in MAGA Open history, the first between two golf professionals. The playoff format called for a 4-hole aggregate score. Thompson would bogey the par 3 15th to fall behind one shot to Brant. After both making pars at 16 and 17, Brant would bogey the 18th to again tie Thompson.
The 480 yard par 4 18th on the Lewis & Clark course would be the stage for extra holes. Each would make par the first time around. Playing the 18th for the third time would prove to be the deciding hole. Thompson drove his ball in the hazard left and would take two shots to get out. Brant, finding the fairway with his drive, would hit his approach on the green and two putt for par and the victory.
His first professional victory, Brant commented on his win. “It means a lot, it’s nice to win for my first time and especially for it to come here in St. Louis…this is home for me. Nice to win at the Open Championship here, it’s a great field and great venue, a real test this week.”
With his victory, Brant adds his name to the James S. Manion Trophy and a $15,500 first place check.
9th Metropolitan Open Championship
Country Club of St. Albans – Lewis and Clark
Playoff
Brant – 3-4-4-5=16 (4-4)
Thompson – 4-4-4-4=16 (4-6)
Chris Thompson – 70-65-70–205
Chris Brant – 67-71-67–205
Chad Saladin – 68-68-70–206
Alex Cusumano (a) – 67-68-72–207
Mike Small – 70-70-68–208
Jace Long – 69-66-74–209
Charlie Harrison – 69-73-67–209
Phil Caravia (a) – 72-69-70–211
Mitchell Gregson – 70-73-69–212
Justin Regier – 69-70-73–212
Michael Davan – 73-68-72–213
Zechariah Potter – 68-74-71–213
Trevor Dodds – 71-71-71–213
Matt Miller – 69-71-73–213
Jordan Russell – 75-72-66–213
Tommy Schaff – 72-70-71–213
Kevin Kring – 72-72-70–214
Charlie Holland – 70-71-73–214
Brandon Holtz – 76-69-69–214
Daniel Zimmerman – 72-74-68–214
Skip Berkmeyer (a) – 72-71-72–215
Harry Higgs – 76-71-68–215
Jimmy Siegfried (a) – 74-71-71–216
Matthew Rau – 75-69-72–216
Jonathon Krick – 75-69-72–216
Barrett Kelpin – 68-71-78–217
Joseph Kinney – 74-72-72–218
Will Hogan – 74-72-72–218
Shawn Jasper – 76-71-71–218
Wils Hawn (a) – 74-72-73–219
Jack Ehlers – 74-72-73–219
Parker Lawrence (a) – 73-71-75–219
Derek Tolan – 69-75-75–219
Joe Migdal (a) – 74-72-74–220
Shane Blankenship – 75-69-76–220
Seth Smith (a) – 71-73-76–220
Thomas Buran – 77-70-73–220
Shawn Vanderwal – 73-72-76–221
Barrett Martens – 66-74-84–224
Jordan McLaurin – 72-74-78–224
Van Pierce (a) – 72-73-82–227
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