Defending champion Skip Berkmeyer, Chris Naegel share third at even par
Defending champion Skip Berkmeyer, Chris Naegel share third at even par
Darren Fletcher posted a final-round 71 for a 3-under par 207 to win the 2nd Annual Metropolitan Open by one shot over Tower Tee’s Bob Gaus (67-68-73-208) and three ahead of St. Louis mini-tour professional Chris Naegel (71-71-68-210) and Norwood Hills amateur Skip Berkmeyer (68-68-74-219).
Fletcher (65-71-71-207) made seven birdies in an opening round 65, but really won the tournament by being one of the few to avoid costly bogeys down the stretch. The Phoenix native captured the $6,000 first prize, the biggest of his pro career. The event, conducted by the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association, featured the top players from the MAGA and Gateway PGA as well as a handful of mini-tour professionals. The Open was sponsored by St. Albans Realty and co-sponsored by Midwest Bankcentre and Marcone, Inc.
Learn more about our title sponsor - St. Albans Realty
It was Friday the 13th during Round 2 of the 2nd annual Metropolitan Open. But for Saturday’s final round, it was No. 11 that proved unlucky for a couple of golfers at the Country Club of St. Albans.
The 492-yard 11th hole derailed Berkmeyer and one of the challengers, professional Mark Faulkner. Berkmeyer came to No. 11 holding a two-shot lead at 7-under par. He headed to the 12th tee playing the role of pursuer after a triple bogey. Faulkner, a club professional from Marion, Ill., made triple bogey at the same hole. Their troubles allowed Fletcher, a 25-year-old mini-tour pro from Phoenix, Ariz., and Gaus to move in front.
Gaus, however, slipped with consecutive bogeys at Nos. 13, 14 and 15. Still, he had good birdie chances at St. Albans’ final three holes, and needed only one of them to tie Fletcher. Gaus, who has already qualified for next month’s PGA Championship, laced a 6-iron to within 12 feet at the 480-yard final hole. The birdie effort broke sharply right at the cup, giving Fletcher his first significant win in a two-year pro career and his biggest payday at $6,000.
Fletcher, who learned about the Metropolitan Open from St. Louis-area golfer Shane Blankenship, held the first round lead and proved steady throughout the three-day event. Always within striking distance, he continued making pars down the stretch when other contenders lost shots on St. Albans’ demanding closing holes.
Most recently, Fletcher had been competing on the Gateway Tour in Arizona where entry fees are $1,200 an event and the course conditions are suspect. “St. Albans was phenomenal,” said Fletcher, who came to Missouri to attempt to qualify for an upcoming Nationwide Tour event in Springfield, Mo. “I’m used to desert golf where the greens are burned out. You bomb the driver on every hole and it comes down to a chipping and putting contest. This course made you hit every kind of shot.”
Berkmeyer seemingly had all of the shots working too, when he opened up a comfortable lead on the strength of a 3-under 32 on the front nine. After making birdies at Nos. 5-7, he was poised to repeat in the Metropolitan Open. “The course was too tough down the stretch to say it was over,” Berkmeyer said. “But if I had gotten through No. 11 with a par, man, I think maybe it was.”
Top rounds of the tournament (a - amateur)
Round 1: Darren Fletcher 65, Michael Wellington 66, Bob Gaus 67, a-Skip Berkmeyer 68, a-Jack Ehlers 68, Mark Faulkner 69, a-Tim Cochran 6, Brian Norman 69
Round 2: a-Matt Hines 65, Bob Gaus 68, a-Skip Berkmeyer 68, a-Brian Kennedy 68, Mark Faulkner 69
Round 3: a-Darren Lundgren 67, a-Bobby Caplin 68, Chris Naegel 68, a-Scott Langley 69, John Utley 69
2nd Metropolitan Open Championship
Presented by St. Albans Realty
Co-sponsored by Midwest Bankcentre and Marcone, Inc.
Country Club of St Albans - Lewis and Clark Course - Par 70/7,038 yards
(a - amateur)
Final Results
Darren Fletcher, Desert Mountain Golf Club - 65-71-71--207
Bob Gaus, Tower Tee Golf Center - 67-68-73--208
a-Skip Berkmeyer, Norwood Hills Country Club - 68-68-74--210
Chris Naegel, Meadowbrook Country Club - 71-71-68--210
a-Brian Kennedy, Norwood Hills Country Club - 73-68-70--211
a-Scott Langley, Pevely Farms Golf Club - 74-70-69--213
Michael Wellington, Pro Am Golf Center - 66-73-74--213
Mark Faulkner, Lake of Egypt Country Club - 69-69-75--213
a-Ted Moloney, Fox Run Golf Club - 70-70-74--214
a-Darren Lundgren, Fox Run Golf Club - 76-71-67--214
Mike Tucker, Bellerive Country Club - 72-70-73--215
a-Mitchell Gregson, Annbriar Golf Club - 71-71-73--215
a-Matt Hines, Fox Run Golf Club - 75-65-76--216
John Utley, Old Hawthorne Golf Club - 74-73-69--216
a-Bobby Caplin, Westwood Country Club - 72-76-68--216
a-Michael Garden, Country Club of St Albans - 72-71-74--217
a-Justin Bardgett, Meadowbrook Country Club - 72-72-73--217
Brian Norman, Crab Orchard Golf Club - 69-72-76--217
a-Collin Neeman, Old Hickory Golf Club - 72-75-71--218
Brett Moomey, Bellerive Country Club - 73-73-73--219
Brett Staskewicz, Westwood Country Club - 75-74-70--219
a-Scott Thomas, Meadowbrook Country Club - 70-72-78--220
a-Tim Cochran, Crescent Farms Golf Club - 69-75-76--220
a-Chris Dale, Aberdeen Golf Course - 71-74-75--220
a-Ricky Jones, Country Club of St Albans - 78-71-72--221
a-Ryan Franks, Westview Golf Course - 75-70-76--221
a-Zach Pranger, Glen Echo Country Club - 71-77-73--221
Mike Spaulding, Unaffiliated - 72-73-77--222
a-Ryan Weinhaus, Meadowbrook Country Club - 76-73-73--222
Steve Hausmann, Algonquin Golf Club - 74-75-74--223
a-Joe Molitor, Normandie Golf Club - 76-70-78--224
a-Scott Schleiffarth, Forest Hills Country Club - 73-76-75--224
a-Jack Ehlers, Winghaven Country Club - 68-78-80--226
a-Zach Guthrie, Westview Golf Course - 75-75-76--226
a-Luke Heyer, Triple A Golf Club - 76-72-79--227
Dave Levine, Berry Hill Golf Course - 71-74-82--227
Scott Worley, Four Seasons Country Club - 74-76-80--230
a-Justin Bryant, Bellerive Country Club - 78-72-80--230
Ty Zimmermann, Winghaven Country Club - 78-72-80--230
a-Patrick Riordan, Fox Run Golf Club - 77-73-83--233
Missed 36-Hole Cut
Larry Emery, Crab Orchard Golf Club - 75-76--151
a-Brian Hall, Persimmon Woods Golf Club - 76-75--151
a-Colin Corrigan, Aberdeen Golf Club - 73-78--151
a-Joe Behl, Fox Run Golf Club - 76-76--152
Brian Fogt, Bellerive Country Club - 74-78--152
a-David Marshall, Missouri Bluffs Golf Club - 76-76--152
a-Dustin Ashby, Winghaven Country Club - 75-77--152
a-Tyler Allen, Sunset Hills Country Club - 76-76--152
a-Jim Dunn, Gateway National Golf Links - 76-76--152
a-Robert Meeh, Persimmon Woods Golf Club - 78-74--152
a-Matt Scott, Annbriar Golf Course - 80-73--153
a-Robert Trittler, Persimmon Woods Golf Club - 77-76--153
a-Paul Neeman, Old Hickory Golf Club - 73-80--153
a-Steven Holtgrieve, Westborough Country Club - 77-76--153
a-David Johnson, Norwood Hills Country Club - 76-78--154
Ryan Collom, Country Club of St Albans - 75-79--154
a-Bernie McGuire, Country Club of St Albans - 77-77--154
Randy Rachell, Forest Hills Country Club - 78-77--155
a-Jonathan Prange, Bogey Hills Country Club - 79-76--155
a-Ryan Madison, The Orchards Golf Course - 73-82--155
a-Van Pierce, Country Club of St Albans - 77-78--155
Scott Marconi, Unaffiliated - 79-77--156
Robert Sedorcek, Country Club of St. Albans - 77-79--156
a-Ben Wood, Greenbriar Hills Country Club - 76-80--156
a-Doug Kreitner, Belk Park Golf Course - 81-75--156
a-Mike Lawton, The Links at Dardenne - 78-78--156
Bobby Pavelonis, Norwood Hills Country Club - 78-79--157
a-Tom Barry, Normandie Golf Club - 72-85--157
a-Chad Niezing, Forest Hills Country Club - 81-76--157
a-Matt Burke, Old Hickory Golf Club - 81-76--157
a-Brandon Hays, Bogey Hills Country Club - 84-73--157
a-Chris Kovach, Quail Creek Golf Club - 78-79--157
a-Scott Horton, Aberdeen Golf Club - 74-84--158
a-Chris Collins, Fox Run Golf Club - 86-72--158
a-Jake Niebrugge, Gateway National Golf Links - 78-80--158
a-Brian Dean, Gateway National Golf Links - 77-81--158
a-Matthew Rau, Quail Creek Golf Club - 79-79--158
a-Henry Horrell, Annbriar Golf Course - 81-77--158
Shane Blankenship, Franklin County Country Club - 77-82--159
a-Travis Sheehan, Country Club of St. Albans - 79-80--159
Walt Siemsglusz, Berry Hill Golf Course - 77-82--159
a-Brandon Youngs, Annbriar Golf Course - 79-81--160
a-Brian Sheehan, Country Club of St. Albans - 79-81--160
a-Scott McClellan, Winghaven Country Club - 83-78--161
a-Steve Wilson, Cardinal Creek Golf Course - 80-81--161
a-Kevin Mehlan, Far Oaks Golf Club - 81-80--161
a-Bryce Revling, Norwood Hills Country Club - 74-87--161
a-Sam Carlson, Persimmon Woods Golf Club - 79-83--162
a-Jonathan Pickett, Annbriar Golf Club - 85-77--162
a-Patrick Cohn, Norwood Hills Country Club - 78-84--162
Scott Brauer, Wolf Hollow Golf Club - 77-85--162
a-Doug Plowman, Wolf Hollow Golf Club - 81-81--162
a-Andy Smith, Normandie Golf Club - 79-83--162
a-Dave Wilkinson, The Crescent Farms Golf Club - 82-80--162
a-Brian Hill, Norwood Hills Country Club - 80-82--162
a-John Olsen, Normandie Golf Club - 79-84--163
a-Andy Ahlering, Bellerive Country Club - 82-81--163
a-Noel Fehr, Pevely Farms Golf Club - 83-81--164
a-Matt Leeker, Old Warson Country Club - 89-75--164
a-John Stika, Fox Run Golf Club - 80-84--164
a-Tom Pruden, Hidden Valley Country Club - 86-80--166
a-James Mitchell, Fox Run Golf Club - 79-87--166
a-Tim Leonard, Winghaven Country Club - 83-84--167
a-Sam Goulden, Wolf Hollow Golf Club - 90-78--168
a-David Archibald, Country Club of St Albans - 86-83--169
a-Kenny Jones, Annbriar Golf Course - 83-87--170
a-Nathan McCutcheon, Aberdeen Golf Course - 87-83--170
a-Johnny Pak, Persimmon Woods Golf Club - 85-86--171
a-Steve Johnson, The Missouri Bluffs GC - 85-86--171
a-John Whitaker, St. Peters Golf Course - 93-82--175
a-Scott Rush, Glen Echo Country Club - 87-91--178
a-Steven Hawkins, Belk Park Golf Course - 92-88--180
a-Patrick Ahlering, Bellerive Country Club - 89-93--182