Eckelkamp and Sullivan Lead 16th Metropolitan Four-Ball
Washington, MO - It was a beautiful day for Round 1 of the 16th Metropolitan Four-Ball Championship at Franklin County Country Club. Thirty-eight teams gathered to see who could be the best golfing duo in the area. The pairs competed in one of four divisions: open, net, senior open, and senior net. The open divisions played using their gross score, while the net divisions played using their handicaps. Today started with a shotgun start.
In the Open Division, the side of Ryan Eckelkamp and Ryan Sullivan ran away with the lead for much of the day. The pair carded seven birdies in the first ten holes. Eckelkamp and Sullivan finished out strong with three birdies in a row to enter the clubhouse in the lead at nine-under (-9) par. The side of Ryan Schuenke and Jason White came in late to make a run at the leaders. White and Schuenke birdied their last five holes to come in at six-under (-6) par. Sitting tied for third at two-under (-2) par are the sides of Raymund Golzales and Jeff Heanewinkel along with Nick George and Scott Kirchoff.
In the Senior Open Division, John Moore and David Pfeil lit up the front nine with five birdies. This brought the group into the clubhouse at six-under (-6) par. They hold a four stroke lead going into the final round. The sides of David Bremer and Paul Neeman, Didier Villard and Dustin Ashby, and Buddy Allen and Brian Hall are all tied for second at three-under (-3) par.
John Rosenbaum and Ryan Helfrich lead the Net Division after play today by a large margin. The pair shot a combined score of net five-under (-5) par. The side of Chad Menke and Dan Conoyer follow at net three-over (+3) par.
The Senior Net Division saw James Oslica and Kevin Ortyl take the lead. Oslica and Ortyl recorded a score of net seven-under (-7) par. Three sides kept the competition close. The sides of Terry Souchek and William Wunderlich, Curt Wooters and Matt Hall, David Otto and Michael Derbak sit just two strokes back at net five-under (-5) par.
All teams will return tomorrow for Round 2 to determine the champions.