27th Old Warson Cup Field
St. Louis, MO - The Old Warson Cup is the annual Metropolitan match play event of the year, showcasing the previous year’s top performers. Players earn their way into the Old Warson Cup field by collecting enough points to finish in the top 16 - or 4 for seniors - of the player of the year rankings. This has become the marquee invitational event for the Metropolitan and another opportunity for the area’s top talent to prove they are one of the best by adding their name to the coveted trophy. The 2025 field is once again an incredibly strong group of individuals filled with champions and USGA qualifiers. Meet the 27th Old Warson Cup field:
Sam Migdal - Coming in as the top seed this year is three time Old Warson Cup Champion Sam Migdal and he is showing no signs of slowing down. Migdal was the 2024 Player of the Year and played in two USGA Championships last season - the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball where he made it to the Round of 32 and the U.S. Mid-Amateur. He also ended the year by qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. In last year’s Old Warson Cup, the St. Louis Country Club member was a semi-finalist, only missing out on the final match by losing 1 down. Proving his competitive strength in a match play setting and preparing for this event, he won his singles match at the Shogren Cup 6 & 5 last week. Though he has held this Cup before, Migdal is looking to make history as the first player to add his name to the Old Warson Cup a fourth time. Sam will take on Brad Carpenter (No. 16) in the first round.
Blake Skornia - The number two seed is Blake Skornia. This Old Warson Cup rookie and Algonquin Golf Club member is not afraid of the competition. Last summer, Skornia won the East Side Amateur and was a co-Low Amateur at the Metropolitan Open. He also qualified for match play at the Missouri Amateur. As part of the Metropolitan Shogren Cup team, Skornia started the year by getting in the mindset and gaining more experience for match play. As fresh competition, Skornia is hoping to make his mark in his debut as he takes on AJ Porter (No. 15) in round one.
Justin Bryant - Sitting in a comfortable spot as the third seed in Justin Bryant. Bryant is a competitive force and proves that time again. He is a two time Old Warson Cup Champion and has finished as runner-up the last two years. Bryant is the reigning Metropolitan Amateur Champion and plays out of St. Louis Country Club. With hopes to finally lift the trophy again to join the short list of players to win three times, Bryant will take on Tony Gumper (No. 14) in the Round of 16.
Ryan Eckelkamp - Coming in as the fourth seeded player is Ryan Eckelkamp. He is a member of Franklin County Country Club (MO) and is always working on his game. Last year he earned points in six events which helped him get this seed. Eckelkamp was runner-up in the Metropolitan Four-Ball and made it to the Round of 64 in the Missouri Amateur. He also finished T5 in the Missouri Mid-Amateur. He was a semifinalist in the Old Warson Cup in 2024, where he lost to eventual Champion Chris Kovach. Eckelkamp will start his competition against Jason Landry (No. 13) in the first round.
Chris Kovach - The defending champion is back in action again this year. Chris Kovach sits as the number 5 seeded player in this year’s competition. He practices out of Old Hickory Golf Club and put up a good showing in the Shogren Cup last week. He won all three of his matches, which gives him confidence coming into this Cup. Kovach is ready to run it back this year as he faces Sean Brennan (No. 12) in the first round.
Drew Pranger - A past champion of the Old Warson Cup, Drew Pranger enters as the sixth seed. Pranger, a Glen Echo Country Club member, was Champion in 2018 and made it to the quarterfinals last year. He had a successful run in the Metropolitan Amateur last year when he finished as co-runner-up with Max Kreikemeier. He also finished tied for 10th in the Missouri Stroke Play in the summer of 2024. Facing Ryan Schuenke (No. 11) in the Round of 16, Pranger is ready to take another stab at getting his name on the trophy once more.
Max Kreikemeier - Another former Old Warson Cup Champion, Max Kreikemeier begins the competition as the seventh seeded player. This Forest Hills Country Club member and former Missouri State University golfer, knows how to play. Kreikemeier was co-runner-up with Drew Pranger at the Metropolitan Amateur last summer. He also made it to the round of 64 in the Missouri Amateur and finished tied for 16th in the Missouri Stroke Play. In his first match of the weekend, Kreikemeier will take on Ryan Sullivan (No. 10).
Chad Niezing - The number 8 seed in this year’s Old Warson Cup is Chad Niezing. He is a member of Meadowbrook Country Club and is familiar with match play. Niezing ended last year’s Metropolitan Amateur in solo 4th, and the City Championship in a tie for 3rd. Like many of his teammates, he was undefeated in his Shogren Cup matches this year and is feeling confident in his match play mindset. Niezing will battle Tyler Linenbroker (No. 9) in the first round.
Tyler Linenbroker - Making a return to the Old Warson Cup is Tyler Linenbroker. He comes in as the ninth seed. Last year, this Forest Hills Country Club golfer finished as a co-Low Amateur in the Metropolitan Open. He also ended the Missouri Stroke play tied for 18th. Linenbroker tried his hand at qualifying for the U.S. Amateur and though he did not make it through to Final Qualifying, he was close by earning an alternate spot. Linenbroker is set to battle Chad Niezing (No. 8) in the Round of 16.
Ryan Sullivan - The tenth seed of this year’s match-up is Ryan Sullivan. Playing out of Tapawingo National Golf Club, he is still looking to break into the semifinals of this Cup. Sullivan finished tied for second in the East Side Amateur last summer and was the Metropolitan Four-Ball Champion with his partner AJ Porter. Sullivan will be faced with taking on Max Kreikemeier (No. 7) to start his Cup.
Ryan Schuenke - Coming in as the 11th seeded player is Ryan Schuenke. He is ready to make it out of the Round of 16 in the Old Warson Cup and has shown that he knows how to handle match play with his quarterfinal appearance in the 2024 Missouri Amateur. This Quincy Country Club member was also runner-up in the Missouri Mid-Amateur last summer. Schuenke will take on the fight against Drew Pranger (No. 6) to kick off his weekend.
Sean Brennan - Joining the Old Warson Cup field for the first time is Sean Brennan. A Westborough Country Club member, he is looking forward to the challenge. Brennan participated in the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship last summer after qualifying as medalist at the St. Louis qualifier. He also finished tied for 6th in the East Side Amateur. As a rookie in this Cup, Brennan is hoping to put together an upset in his debut as he takes on defending Champion Chris Kovach (No. 6) in the Round of 16.
Jason Landry - A two time runner-up, Jason Landry is back again to try to get his hands on the Old Warson Cup. Starting the week as the lucky number 13th seed, he is ready for another chance. Last year, this Greenbriar Hills Country Club golfer made it to the quarterfinals. Landry went on last summer to finish tied for 6th in the East Side Amateur and then tied for 5th in the Metropolitan Amateur. Landry will begin his 2025 Cup by battling Ryan Eckelkamp (No. 4).
Tony Gumper - Coming in as the 14th seed is Tony Gumper. A golfer of Normandie Golf Club, Gumper is looking to make this his best performance in the Old Warson Cup yet. He finished as runner-up in both the City Championship and Metropolitan Four-Ball last year. He also qualified for match play in the Missouri Amateur. Gumper won his individual match in the Shogren Cup last week and will use that as motivation for this weekend. Facing some stiff competition, Gumper will battle two-time champion Justin Bryant (No. 3) in the Round of 16.
AJ Porter - Another rookie joins the field as AJ Porter sits in the 15th seeded position. Practicing out of WingHaven Country Club, he is excited to have a go at the Cup. Porter was Metropolitan Four-Ball Champion last fall with partner Ryan Sullivan. He also finished tied for 3rd in the 2024 City Championship. Ready to take on the fight, Porter is hoping to shake things up as he starts his Old Warson Cup journey against rookie Blake Skornia (No. 2).
Brad Carpenter - Rounding out the Old Warson Cup field is Brad Carpenter. A Franklin County Country Club (MO) member, he finished in the top 17 of each event he played last summer. Carpenter was tied for 3rd in the City Championship, tied for 6th in the Missouri Stroke Play, tied for 10th in the Missouri Mid-Amateur, and tied for 17th in the Metropolitan Amateur. As the 16th seed, Carpenter is looking to take down the number 1 seed, Sam Migdal in the first match of the Cup.
In its fourth year of play, the Senior Old Warson Cup sees two new and two returning faces join the field. All strong players with a competitive spirit make this division unpredictable. Meet the Senior Old Warson Cup players:
Skip Berkmeyer - Making his debut in the Senior Old Warson Cup, Skip Berkmeyer comes with quite a resume that could intimidate his opponents. Berkmeyer has won the open division five times - twice as the Taylor Cup and three times as the Old Warson Cup. He also has been runner-up in this Cup seven times. Berkmeyer entered the senior division just last year, and in his first swing as a senior, won the Metropolitan Senior Amateur. Adding to his resume, he won the Cassett Senior Championship and finished tied for fifth in the Metropolitan Amateur. Berkmeyer is looking to make more history by adding a Senior Old Warson Cup to his trophy cabinet, but first he will take on 2023 runner-up Paul Neeman (No. 4).
Buddy Allen - Starting the weekend as the number two seed is Buddy Allen. Playing out of Sugar Creek Golf Course, he is no stranger to the challenges of match play. Allen won the inaugural Senior Old Warson Cup and is looking for more. Last year Allen won the Metropolitan Senior Four-Ball and was the Senior Old Warson Cup runner-up. He finished tied for 3rd in the Senior East Side Amateur and tied for fourth in the City Championship and Missouri Senior Amateur. Hoping to make history as the first two-time Senior Old Warson Cup Champion, Allen will battle John Moore (No. 3) in the semifinals.
John Moore - Coming in as the third seeded player of the senior division, rookie John Moore is ready to go. Moore, who is a Metropolitan eClub member, had a successful summer last year. He was runner up in the Metropolitan Senior Amateur and finished tied for fourth in the Southern Illinois Senior Amateur. Moore also played in the Metropolitan Amateur, where he finished tied for 14th. As part of this year’s Shogren Cup team, Moore is hoping the match play experience he gained last week will help him play his way to victory as he takes on Buddy Allen (No. 2).
Paul Neeman - Wrapping up the Senior Old Warson Cup field is Paul Neeman. The 2023 runner-up is prepared to fight once more for the trophy. Playing out of Persimmon Woods Golf Club, Neeman also had an eventful summer last year. He was runner-up in the Metropolitan Four-Ball and the Senior East Side Amateur. Neeman did come out triumphant at the City Championship. Knowing he has a tough competitor in the first round of the Senior Old Warson Cup, Neeman is gearing up for a battle against the number one seed Skip Berkmeyer.
Old Warson Cup play will begin at 7:00am. Senior Old Warson Cup will begin at 12:30pm.
