Four Tied at the Top After Round 1 of the 36th Metropolitan Amateur
St. Albans, MO - It was a picture perfect day for Round 1 of the 36th Metropolitan Amateur Championship at the Country Club of St. Albans. Sunny skies and warm temperatures were prevalent for most of the day with an overcast sky for part of the afternoon. A full field of 156 golfers signed up to play this year’s championship The field was split into a morning and afternoon wave with golfers starting on both Hole 1 and Hole 10.The course played to a par 71
The morning saw some solid play from its golfers. Ryan Sullivan of Tapawingo National Golf Club kicked off his round on Hole 10. Sullivan opened his round with a birdie and proceeded to card a bogey free five-under on his first nine holes. Two birdies and two bogeys on his back nine left Sullivan to finish the day at five-under (-5) par and the leader in the clubhouse. Brad Carpenter of Franklin County Country Club also had a successful day. Despite bookends of bogeys on Hole 2 and Hole 18 on the card, the 2019 Champion had seven birdies on his middle 15 holes. Coming in at five-under (-5) par, Carpenter sits tied for the lead with Sullivan.
Hudson Shy of Bogey Hills Country Club was the next morning player to come in high on the leaderboard. Shy had an up and down round, experiencing it all. With a double bogey and few bogeys on the card, his round was highlighted by six birdies and an eagle on Hole 5. Shy finished the day at two-under (-2) par. Andrew Rottschalk of the Metropolitan eClub was even par making the turn after starting on ten. Rottschalk had a bogey free two-under front nine to tie Shy.
The afternoon wave knew the stakes that were set. Jarrett James of the SIGA eClub started on Hole 10. James made the turn one-under then kicked into drive. A bogey free four-under on the last nine holes saw James tie the lead at five-under (-5) par. Justin Bryant of St. Louis Country Club also began his day on Hole 10. Steadily, the 2024 champion, made his way around with a bogey free five-under (-5) par to once again find himself tied at the top.
Conner McCall of Vandalia Country Club was another Hole 10 starter today. The day started rough for McCall with a double bogey, but he finished the day without another blemish on the card. Five birdies later, McCall ended the day three-under (-3) par and sitting in solo fifth. This pushed Shy and Rottschalk to a tie for sixth.
The top 10 following Round 1 is completed by Keenan Flemming of the Metropolitan eClub, 2009 Champion Skip Berkemeyer of The Legends Country Club, defending champion Corey Choate of The Legends Country Club, and Alex Siatos of the USGA/MetAmateur GC, all tied for eighth at one-under (-1) par. Ryan Keller of the Metropolitan eClub, Harper Ackermann of the Metropolitan eClub, and Chris King of Lake Forest Country Club come in at even (E) par.
All players will return tomorrow to play Round 2. At the conclusion of the second round, the field will be cut to the low 40 and ties.