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The stage was set for another exciting day of golf as players took on Sand Creek Station Golf Course for the Sliced Golf Cup. The summer heat was in full force, adding another challenge to an already demanding course where every shot required focus and patience. One of the biggest tests came at Hole 10, appropriately known as “The Beast,” where the difficult par 5 challenged players as they began the back nine. Before recapping the action, we’d like to thank the entire Sand Creek Station staff for their outstanding hospitality and hard work, along with Sliced Golf for their support of the tournament and the Kansas Golfweek Amateur Tour. Their efforts helped make the Sliced Golf Cup another memorable stop on the 2026 season.
Champ Flight
Champ Flight delivered a true head-to-head battle between Matthew Thorman and JR Munson, with neither player able to create lasting separation. Thorman opened with a birdie on hole 1 and carried a two-shot advantage into the turn after a 37. Both players answered with birdies on hole 11. Munson held a one-shot edge through hole 14, but Thorman responded at the critical moment, birdieing hole 15 to pull even before moving back in front on hole 16. From there, Thorman never surrendered the advantage, extending his lead to two on hole 17 and matching Munson on the final hole to close with a 76 and a two-shot victory.
A Flight
A Flight turned into a back-nine showdown between Brandon Gilpin and Wayne Ryan after the two matched each other nearly shot-for-shot through the opening seven holes. Ryan finally broke the deadlock on hole 8 and made the turn with a 39, holding a two-shot advantage over Gilpin. Gilpin began steadily cutting into the deficit, drawing within one stroke after hole 13 before pulling even on hole 14 with a birdie. That proved to be the turning point. Gilpin moved ahead for good on hole 15 and continued creating separation down the stretch. Gilpin stayed composed over the closing holes to post an 81, completing the comeback and securing a four-shot victory over Ryan. After trailing by five early on the back nine, Gilpin's determined charge and timely birdie helped turn the championship in his favor and deliver an impressive A Flight victory.
B Flight
B Flight featured several early momentum swings before Brandon Hale took control and held off a determined late challenge from Matt Jensen. Steve Kowalski briefly moved in front onto the 2nd hole before Tim Greenwood emerged from a crowded leaderboard and built the advantage through the middle of the opening nine. Hale made his move on the 7th hole, jumping into the outright lead and making the turn at 44, one stroke ahead of Kowalski. Hale maintained his advantage through the early back nine, but Jensen refused to go away and pulled even after the 14th hole with a timely birdie, setting up a five-hole sprint to the finish. Hale immediately answered, regaining the lead on his 15th hole and carrying a one-shot advantage to the 18th hole. With the title still within reach, Hale delivered his biggest shot of the day, closing with a birdie on his last hole to finish at 86 and secure a two-stroke victory over Jensen. After weathering an early-changing leaderboard and a back-nine charge, Hale's response under pressure—and championship-clinching birdie at the last—provided a fitting finish to an exciting B Flight victory.
C Flight
C Flight produced a wire-to-wire battle that stayed undecided until the final hole. Clint Carter grabbed the early advantage and controlled the leaderboard through much of the opening stretch, but Alex Blancarte—sparked by a birdie on the opening par-3—pulled even on his 7th hole and moved ahead on his 8th hole, making the turn with a 38 and a three-shot lead over Carter. The pressure intensified on the back nine as Carter briefly drew even after his 11th hole, while Kathy Haeffner steadily worked her way into the picture. Blancarte reclaimed the outright lead on the 12th hole, but Haeffner continued closing the gap and finally pulled even after the 16th hole. Blancarte answered at the perfect moment, regaining a one-shot advantage and claimed the C Flight title with an 87, just one ahead of Haeffner.
D Flight
D Flight delivered a dramatic back-nine turnaround, as Rex Robinson overcame an early deficit to capture the title with an 89, three shots clear of Randal Rosenbaum. Mike Sypher controlled much of the opening nine, taking the outright lead on Hole 2 and making the turn at 47, one stroke ahead of Robinson and Brad Haeffner at 48. The tournament changed quickly after the turn. Robinson pulled even with Sypher on their 10th hole, but Haeffner surged into contention with a birdie on their 11th hole and took the outright lead after 12 holes. Robinson refused to let him get away, drawing even again after 13 holes. Rosenbaum then mounted a late charge of his own, highlighted by a birdie on their 15th hole, and then entered the final hole with just one stroke behind Robinson. With the title hanging in the balance, Robinson closed out a hard-earned three-shot victory. After multiple lead changes and a tense closing stretch, Robinson's resilience on the back nine proved decisive as he emerged as the D Flight winner.
Another memorable stop on the Kansas Golfweek Amateur Tour. Between the summer heat, the challenge of “The Beast,” and exciting battles across every Flight, the Sliced Golf Cup at Sand Creek Station delivered a true championship test. Congratulations to all of our Flight winners, and thank you to every player, sponsor, and staff member who helped make the day a success. We’ll see everyone at the next stop!
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