St. Louis, MO – June 25 – The first two rounds are in the books at the 107th playing of the Missouri Amateur Championship. 64 players will now turn their focus away from the stroke play format they’ve played the first two rounds to match play in pursuit of Missouri’s top amateur title.
Defending Champion, Joey Johnson is clearly intent on hanging on to his distinction at the current Missouri Amateur Champion. Johnson won medalist honors after posting rounds of 64-71 to earn the #1 seed. Johnson will have to wait to see who is first round opponent will be, as 12 players will tee it up Thursday morning to fill the one spot remaining in the field of 64.
Norwood Hills Country is a golf course where home course knowledge could play a big factor in deciding this year’s winner. Complicated green structures with multiple contours caused players trouble over the first two rounds. As expected, the field of 64 is littered with current of former Norwood Hills Country Club Members among those still in pursuit of this year’s championship.
Now that the bracket of 64 is determined, it’s time to weed through current or potential match ups to keep an eye on.
Newly inducted Hall of Fame Member, Don Bliss is determined to add to his already amazing career resume. Bliss posted a two round total of 147 to earn the 45th seed and will face Tanner Elder of Jefferson City, MO in Round 1. Should Bliss advance, there’s a chance he could face a fellow over 50 member in Steve Groom of Raytown, MO. Groom will have to deal with Ballwin, MO native, Sam Migdal in the Round of 64.
Past Norwood Hills Country Club, Club Champion, Patrick Britt rolled through the stroke play qualifying Tuesday and Wednesday with a two day total of 141. Britt will face Bob Hanneken of Fenton, MO. Hanneken is a past East Side Amateur and Publinx Champion.
While not a member at Norwood Hills CC, Ted Moloney is familiar with the golf course and has the game suited to play well on this layout. Accuracy off the tee is at a premium and while Moloney isn’t the longest off the tee, he’s as steady as they come tee to green. Moloney will play Bellerive Country Club Member, Brian Lovett on Thursday morning.
St. Louis’ top amateur, Skip Berkmeyer, played alongside Joey Johnson Tuesday and Wednesday and kept pace quite well posting 139 for the stroke play portion of the competition. Berkmeyer will play Blake Windsor of Kansas City, MO. Berkmeyer faces a difficult potential Round of 32 matchup against Norwood Hills Member, Phil Caravia. Caravia first plays Alex Doneff of St. Louis, MO.
Should Berkmeyer or Caravia advance into the Sweet 16, it’s possible they will be presented a rematch of past Old Warson Cup Match Play contests. Alex Cusumano has been one of the hottest players in St. Louis the past year or so and if able to get past Joe Molitor and then the winner of Dan Emrick / Taylor Cox he’ll be waiting for Berkmeyer or Caravia on Friday afternoon.
Another Norwood Hills Member and player to watch this week is John Anderson Anderson posted rounds of 75-69 to earn the 26th seed and fill play James Sucharski of Hillsboro, MO. Anderson’s 75 was a bit misleading as he tallied 4 birdies on the front nine before catching the bogey train making 6 consecutive bogeys on the back nine. Anderson’s 69 on Wednesday was a leisurely walk in the park and could have easily been much lower.
Follow all the action at this week’s Missouri Amateur Championship – HERE.
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