|
The Kansas Tour has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering value to its members, showcasing a prize purse that exceeds $1,900 for 60 participants, along with an additional $2,000 available in cash games. This reinforces its position as the premier Tour offering the most benefits to its members in the Kansas City area.
The Winterstone tournament reached its sellout capacity of 60 participants. While we eagerly await a tournament under sunny skies, we were fortunate that the rain cleared, resulting in an excellent day for the event.
The Championship Flight showcased Player of the Year JR Munson and Adam Trainor, who had previously faced off in a playoff during our last tournament. St. Louis member Chris Pestka made another appearance, initially holding a one-shot lead over Munson after four holes. However, by the turn, Munson had regained his lead by one stroke, with Trainor trailing three shots behind. Munson recorded three birdies on the back nine, finishing with a score of 33, which secured his fourth tournament victory of the season. We encourage all championship players to join us in the challenge to dethrone Munson, who remains undefeated this season with a record of 4 for 4 in tournament wins.
The A Flight featured 12 competitors, with six players positioned within three shots at the turn. Former green jacket winners Travis Bryant and Joel Brooks set the early pace at +3. The 2023 Player of the Year, Scott Rutherford, trailed by two shots, sharing the position with Kasey Tolle. New member Art Spelt made an impressive move by eagling the ninth hole, closing the gap to just one shot at the turn. Shawn Brandt also made a push, reducing the deficit to four shots by starting the back nine with a birdie. As the competition unfolded, Spelt birdied the 17th hole, taking a one-shot lead over Bryant with only the 18th hole remaining. The victory was ultimately secured when Bryant made a birdie, while Spelt's solitary bogey on the back nine proved to be the deciding factor.
The B Flight showcased intense competition, with seven out of the thirteen participants within three shots of the lead at the turn. Matt Jensen, representing the Arizona Tour, spearheaded the group with a front nine score of 41. Close behind were Ron Allen and Mike Sellers, both just one shot off the lead. Fred Moreno, also from the Arizona Tour, began the back nine with a birdie, elevating the AZ team to first and second place after ten holes. Ultimately, Sellers and Jensen advanced to a playoff, while Matt Carson and Dillon Rogers narrowly missed the playoff by a single shot. Mike Sellers secured his first victory of the year with a par on the first playoff hole.
The C Flight featured a notable roster of 21 competitors, with David King vying for his third consecutive title amidst numerous challengers throughout the week. At the turn, King and Brandon Love were locked in a tie for the lead, closely followed by Bob Murphy and Scott Miller, who were just one shot behind. Jesse Barton, Ray Krueger, and James Franklin were positioned two shots off the pace, aware that a strong performance on the back nine could reignite their chances of contention.
After Love experienced a triple bogey on the 10th hole, he rebounded impressively, securing birdies on the 11th and 14th holes to clinch his first victory of the year, finishing two shots ahead of Bob Murphy. James Franklin and Scott Miller tied for third place. Meanwhile, King faced difficulties on the back nine, ultimately finishing tied for fifth alongside Stephen Schultz, who also claimed the C Flight's long drive title. This leaves seven golfers tied with one win each in the C Flight standings.
Josh Ewing commenced the D Flight with remarkable performance, securing a birdie that afforded him a one-shot lead over Cliff Austin Jr. at the turn. Meanwhile, Brad Haeffner found himself trailing by three shots after an unfortunate triple bogey at the outset. Ewing sustained his momentum throughout the back nine, ultimately achieving his first victory of the season. Cliff Austin Jr. finished in second place, while Brad Haeffner claimed third, just one stroke behind. Additionally, Ewing distinguished himself by recording the only birdie in the D flight, tied in the Par 3 Challenge, and claimed D Flight long drive, earning over $150 in skins money as a result.
|