Sunday, May 4, 2:30 p.m.
Berkmeyer wins his fourth Metropolitan
Match Play title at Old Warson Country Club;
Norwood golfer beats Brian Kennedy in successful defense
Skip Berkmeyer successfully defended his Metropolitan Match Play Championship, defeating Persimmon Woods’ Brian Kennedy 4 and 2 Sunday afternoon at Old Warson Country Club.
After trailing by a hole early in the championship, Berkmeyer assumed control in a four-hole swing midway through the front nine. It helped Berkmeyer to a 4-up lead at the turn.
Kennedy cut the deficit to 3-down with a difficult par save from well off the green at No. 10, and had a great opportunity to cut it to a two-hole deficit at 11 when Berkmeyer badly misplayed his shot from the middle of the fairway. However, Berkmeyer rallied for a bogey by making a four-foot putt and came away with a half when Kennedy could not convert a six-foot par putt.
Kennedy appeared to have the upper hand again at the par-5 12th when he hit his approach to within five
feet of the hole. But Berkmeyer rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt and Kennedy was unable to match birdie when his putt slid by the hole.
Berkmeyer advanced to the finals with a 4 and 3 win over Scott McClellan in the morning semifinals.
Kennedy ousted Fox Run’s Darren Lundgren 6 and 5 to earn his first trip to the finals in nearly a decade.
Sunday, May 4, 10:30 a.m.
Berkmeyer, Kennedy advance to finals
Defending champion Skip Berkmeyer advanced to take on Persimmon Woods’ Brian Kennedy in the finals of the 13th Metropolitan Match Play Championship, Sunday at Old Warson Country Club, starting at 11 a.m.
Berkmeyer ousted WingHaven’s Scott McClellan 3 and 2 in one semifinal while Kennedy, the 1999 Metropolitan Amateur champion, advanced to the championship match with a 6 and 5 win over Fox Run’s Darren Lundgren.
Saturday, May 3, 4:30 p.m.
Newcomer Scott McClellan advances
in first trip to Metropolitan Match Play
Defending champion Skip Berkmeyer took the sho
rt and long way back to the semifinals of the Metropolitan Match Play championship, Sunday at Old Warson Country Club. After making short work of Normandie's Joe Molitor 7 and 6, Berkmeyer squared off against close friend Scott Thomas in the day’s longest match in the quarterfinal round.
Berkmeyer advanced with a par at the match’s 21st hole, the par-4 18th at Old Warson, to put an end to a day dominated by cold temperatures, stiff and swirling winds at one of the country's toughest courses.
"I'm beat,” Berkmeyer said, a sentiment echoed by most of the players and officials in the event.
Berkmeyer meets WingHaven's Scott McClellan in Sunday's first semifinal. Fox Run's Darren Lundgren will take on Persimmon Woods' Brian Kennedy in the other semifinal. Winners advance to Sunday's championship match.
“I hit it so well all day, but I had eight three putts in my matches,” Berkmeyer said. “I think I need to go home and get a putting lesson from my wife (former Mizzou women's standout Jamie Tucker Berkmeyer).”
McClellan, a 39-year-old Account Manager for Savvis Communications, advanced to the semifinals in his first trip to the Metropolitan Match Play Championship. The former Hattiesburg (Miss.) City Amateur champion, will be vying for his first significant win since moving to St. Louis four years ago.
“I think I'm going to need some better weather,” McClellan said. “I about wore out my 3-wood and 58 degree wedge today.”
Though not as long as any of the other three semifinalists, McClellan managed to eliminate two Fox Run golfers – Matt Hines (1 up) and Buddy Allen (4 and 2) – with a laser-like short game. “I made a few bombs. I putted really well all day.”
Lundgren, the 2006 Metropolitan Amateur champion, survived two close matches – outlasting Missouri-St. Louis golfer Matt Rau 1 up in the first round, and coming from behind to edge Rau's college coach, Dustin Ashby, 1 up in the quarterfinals.
Kennedy, a 1999 Metropolitan Amateur champion, advanced to the semifinals with a pair of convincing wins – a 2 and 1 win over Gateway National's Phil Caravia and a 3 and 2 advance over Fox Run's Ted Moloney.
Special thanks to Old Warson Country Club
Host of the Match Play Championship for the past six years
The Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association wishes to thank the Members and Staff at Old Warson Country Club for their support and hospitality during the 13th playing of the Metropolitan Match Play Championship.
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MAGA President Stan Grossman presents the MAGA Certificate of Appreciation to
Old Warson Country Club
Head Golf Professional Garth Bayer
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