RESULTS 36 HOLE STROKE PLAY JUNE 23-24
2015 Missouri Amateur Recap
The 108th Missouri Amateur Championship took place at the beautiful Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course in Hollister, Missouri June 23-28. 144 golfers took the field Tuesday morning, ready to make their mark in the history books as the next Missouri Amateur champion. Day 1 and Day 2 consisted of qualifying rounds for the players. The top 64 scores after two days of stroke play would advance to match play.
With an impressive 135 (-5) two day total, Brevin Giebler and Wayne Fredrick captured the low score medalist, earning them top seeds in the 64 man match play bracket. Wilson Sundvold from the University of Missouri, brought in a two day total of 136 (-4) and Preston Fleenor and Mitchell Mather carded a 138 (-2). A two day total of 150 was the cut line and as predicted, a playoff commenced. With seven players fighting for five spots, Ron Eilers, Patrick Britt, Greg Sanborn, Sam Holmes, Grant Johnson, Jeremy Reidelberger and Trevor Tannahill took the 1st tee (playoff hole) late Wednesday afternoon hoping to capture the final five spots of match play. After two holes, Sam Holmes and Trevor Tannahill failed to make the cut.
Thursday morning began our first round of match play. With clear skies and 90 degree weather, the field of 64 took the tee all determined to advance to the round of 32. Four matches required extra holes; Colby Yates and Sam Migdal went 21 holes before Yates won and Tim Holmes and Joe Midgal played 19 holes before Tim Holmes was claimed the victor. Grant Johnson, who secured the last playoff spot the night before, defeated Wayne Fredrick in 19 holes and Chase Hanna beat Chris Martin in 19 holes.
Friday morning kicked off our round of 32 followed by the round of 16 playing in the afternoon. With rain and lightning in the forecast, multiple rain delays caused our matches to be pushed back. After a two hour delay due to lightning, we sent our morning groups back onto the course to finish their rounds. Steve Groom, 2014 senior player of the year, defeated Tim Holmes in 20 holes, Connor Knabe and Mitch Rutledge battled out 25 holes of match play before Knabe won and Wilson Sundvold defeated Tanner Elder in 19 holes. Another rain delay in the afternoon postponed play, causing some of the sweet 16 matches to finish Saturday morning. All 8 match-ups took at least 16 holes to declare a winner and numerous matches went all 18 holes.
Quarterfinal matches began at 1:30 P.M. Saturday afternoon and consisted of Brevin Giebler of Cape Girardeau, Teddy Jones, Travis Mays and Alex Springer from the University of Central Missouri, Gabe Wheeler from Murray State University, Mitchell Mather and Joey Johnson from Missouri State University and Wilson Sundvold from the University of Missouri. By the end of Saturday, we had our semi-finalist. Two mules from Central Missouri would be battling two bears from Missouri State.
Sunday morning kicked off our Semi-final matches. Mitchell Mather defeated Teddy Jones in an impressive hard fought battle of 25 holes and Joey Johnson defeated Alex Springer 3 & 2. The stage was set, two Missouri State University teammates would matchup against each other in an 18 hole final for the 2015 Missouri Amateur Championship. This was Mitchell Mather’s first appearance in the Missouri Amateur finals, having made it to the Sweet 16 in 2014. This was not the case for his opponent Joey Johnson. Johnson was a two time defending champion of the Missouri Amateur, winning it in 2013 and 2014. Johnson was seeking something that had never been done in Missouri Amateur history, claiming a third consecutive title; 2013, 2014 and potentially 2015.
Mitchell Mather and Joey Johnson took the tee at 1:45 P.M. Sunday afternoon. The two knew this was no ordinary round of golf like they have played so many times at Missouri State golf practice. Each player knew what was at stake. Johnson was chasing history and Mather was seeking a first ever title. With nothing but confidence, Mather took the first tee Sunday afternoon and roped one down the middle of the fairway. With a great second shot, Mather found himself eight feet away putting for eagle. Mather eagled the par 5 first hole and never looked back. Throughout the match, Mather was never down or tied with Johnson. With the completion of each hole, Mather could see the championship getting closer and closer. After losing the 14th hole to a birdie, Mather and Johnson’s drives on 15 were side by side. Mather hit the center of the green and Johnson landed short. A putt and chip later, both were putting for par. Johnson missed his par putt and Mather sank the 5 foot par putt to win the match 4 & 3. Mitchell Mather of Lebanon, Mo was the new 2015 Missouri Amateur Champion.
The 2015 Missouri Amateur broke some historical records this week. Joey Johnson set the record for consecutive matches won with 17. His overall record in match play at the Missouri Amateur is 17-2. This was also the second time is Missouri Amateur history that we have had a 18 hole final due to weather. In 1970, Tom Watson defeated Jim Jackson 2 & 1 in 18 holes. For the first time in Missouri Amateur history had two college teammates played each other in the finals. Mitchell Mather and Joey Johnson are both seniors at Missouri State University and members of the Bears golf team. Thank you to Jack Garvin, Missouri Amateur historian for providing us with all the historical facts.
Written By: Cameron Backes
USGA P.J. Boatwright Intern
Missouri Golf Association