Godsey Champions the 20th Metropolitan Open Presented by Hogan
Lake St. Louis, MO - The 20th Metropolitan Open Presented by Hogan began three days ago with 133 players representing 25 states and 2 countries outside of the United States. Forty-six golfers made the cut following the second round with scores of even (E) par or better. The final round did not disappoint, with a stacked leaderboard that continued to change as the day went on. Michael Brennan sat on top after both the first and second rounds, and entered the third with the hopes of closing it out. At the beginning of the day, eleven players were within six strokes of the lead, ready to strike. Play began at Lake Forest Country Club at 7:00am with the final pairing teeing off at 10:40am.
Carr Vernon of Poplar Bluff, MO entered the final round in a tie for tenth at five-under par. Giving it his best shot, Vernon carded the lowest round of the week with a score of eight-under (-8) par. Vernon’s bogey-free round catapulted him up the leaderboard and into the lead at thirteen-under (-13) par. Ryan Cole of Glen Allen, VA was just a few groups behind Vernon and made a run for it today. Though he was always just shy of eclipsing his competitors, Cole’s four-under final round pushed him up the board as a threat as the day went on. Cole ended the day tied for fifth at eleven-under (-1) par. Mac McClear of Hinsdale, IL started off sitting just one back of the lead at ten-under. McClear had a strong start with a bogey-free front nine, including three birdies. There were a few missteps on the back nine, but McClear kept it together to add a three-under par round to his total. This had McClear join Vernon at the top of the leaderboard, and the pair to face a potential playoff.
The final pairing of the day saw Michael Brennan of Leesburg, VA and Conner Godsey of Ponte Vedra Beach, FL reach for the finish line. Michael Brennan began the day on top at eleven-under par. Brennan made par on the first six holes of the day before finding a birdie on the seventh. A bogey on the twelfth hole dropped him back to where he began the day. As his competitors began making moves, the pressure rose to dig deep. With two people already in the clubhouse two strokes ahead as he walked on the 18th green, Brennan rolled his putt in for eagle to work his way into the playoff at thirteen-under (-13) par. Conner Godsey sat at ten-under when the day began. Godsey was bogey-free through fifteen holes with three birdies. The sixteenth hole almost ruined Godsey’s chances when he made a double bogey, but he finished out strong with back-to-back birdies on the last two holes. The birdie putt on 18 placed Godsey back at thirteen-under (-13) par for the week and into the playoff.
Carr Vernon, Mac McClear. Michael Brennan, and Conner Godsey ended the third round tied at the top of the leaderboard at thirteen-under (-13) par, forcing a playoff to determine a champion. The playoff was a three hole aggregate, where the player with the lowest score after the three holes would win. Holes 16, 17, and 18 were chosen for this. On the sixteenth hole and the first of three playoff holes, Brennan, Vernon, and McClear all made par. Godsey, pushing aside and flipping the script from earlier, rolled a long putt in for birdie to turn the heat on for his competitors. Then, the drivable 17th opened the door for more action. All four players went for the green, but only Vernon’s ball landed and held on. Vernon narrowly missed his putt and settled for a birdie. McClear hit from just off the green and followed it up by making his putt for birdie. Brennan and Godsey made par.
Entering the final aggregate playoff hole, Godsey, McClear and Vernon were all one-under. The four made their way up the 18th. Tensions were high as they walked onto the green, each knowing what was on the line. Vernon, McClear, and Godsey all made par. Brennan had a putt for eagle that was left just short and left him with a tap-in for birdie. All players were one-under at the conclusion of the aggregate playoff and were now faced with a sudden death playoff. They returned to the 18th tee to play it again and see who could close it out. Godsey watched as his competitors missed their chances at birdie. He then stepped up to his ball and rolled it in for birdie to claim the title after 58 holes of golf.
36 amateurs joined the field this year to see if they could hang with the pros. Only two survived the cut. Corey Choate of Eureka, MO started the day at one-under par. A tough third round, left Choate to finish at one-over (+1) par. Ryan Sullivan of Imperial, MO began the day at even par after submitting two rounds of 72. Sullivan fought for it today, as he experienced highs and lows. He endured bogeys, a double bogey, pars, birdies, and an eagle today for a full golf day’s work. Sullivan pulled out his first round under par of the week to finish at one-under (-1) par and take home the Low Amateur honors.
After three long days of highly competitive golf, Conner Godsey is the 20th Metropolitan Open Presented by Hogan Champion. Carr Vernon, Mac McClear, and Michael Brennan finish as co-runner-ups and Ryan Sullivan is the Low Amateur.