Round One Scoring for 13th Metro Open (06-06-2018)

Average Score for round one: 74.8

Despite a record breaking 62 (-9) by Justin Bryant and other low scores out there, only 22 of 155 golfers broke par on the 7,246 yard, par-71 layout for the first round.  The average score of 74.8 for the field was actually higher by nearly 1/2 a stroke versus last year's opening round.  

Wind conditions were rather benign all day, but as the greens firmed up well for the afternoon wave, scores were a bit higher than what was posted for the morning groups.

Brigman Takes 12th Open Title!

DJ Brigman (Albuquerque, NM) heard about the Metropolitan Open from his good friend and 2016 champion Dan Woltman who told him if he could fit it in his schedule he should go play.  While he never heard of St. Albans or where it even was, he is now quite familiar with the Lewis & Clark track in Franklin County.  Brigman birdied the 17th hole on Friday to get to 11-under for the championship and one back for the moment with 36-hole co-leader Brian Bullington.  Bullington, in the final pairing, missed the 17th green to the left and could not get up and down.

Brigman made par at 18 to post 11-under for the championship.  While Bullington hit a good drive down the left side, he would find the back bunker on the 486 yard finishing hole.  After blasting out he was left with 18 feet for par, but his putt slid by and Brigman was awarded the championship.

Brigman commented on the Open at St. Albans, “It’s a beautiful place, a gem of a course condition and the tournament is run exceptionally well.  You throw those all together and it makes for a great product.  I am excited to be champion!”  When asked about his scoring out at St. Albans he would say, “you have to get after it on the front 9, it’s the scoring 9.  The back 9 you just have to hang on, 14 may be one of the hardest par 5 driving holes I play all year and the finishing holes of 17 and 18 are terrific.”

For the victory Brigman takes home a paycheck of $25,000 and his name will go on the James S. Manion Trophy.  As for his future, he hopes this victory catapults his confidence for the rest of the season and he can use going into the rest of summer.
Brad Carpenter (Washington, MO) would earn Low Amateur honors with rounds of 71-69-79-219.

Bullington, Arman Lead 12th Open into Final Round

After 2 suspensions on Wednesday at St. Albans, the 12th Metropolitan Open has been playing catch up.  It almost did just that on Thursday after resuming play of Round 1 at 8:00a with Round 2 starting just after.  However, as darkness fell on the Lewis & Clark Course Paul Haley elected to come back Friday morning and has to get up and down on the 18th Hole for par to make the cut.  

Meanwhile, Brian Bullington (Frankfort, IL) and Nick Arman (Ellisville, MO) completed play of 36 holes tied at 9-under.  Arman completed his Round 2 in the dark.  Bullington, a second year professional who played at the University of Iowa is making his second visit to the Open.  He missed the cut in 2016, but has made up for that the last two days.  Bullington has blistered the front 9 at 11-under and commented on his play saying, “the back 9 here is tough.  These are great finishing holes and while I have hit the ball just as well the scoring results just have not been there.”  Bullington has had rounds of 65-68.  

Nick Arman, a local product who plays out of Forest Hills Country Club, also finds himself at 9-under after rounds of 68-65.  Arman was playing in the same group as Paul Haley mentioned above; however, elected to finish play on 18 knowing he had a late starting time for the Final Round.  
Brad Carpenter (Washington, MO) and Parker Goldman (St. Louis, MO) will be the only amateurs to survive the cut in the 12th Open.  Carpenter has had rounds of 71-69 for a 2-under total, while Goldman is surviving the cut right on the number at +1.  

Haley will complete play at 6:30a with the cut being finalized right after.  The Final Round will begin at 7:15a with the leaders going off at approximately 10:30a.  Find the full field result and the final round starting times, which will be updated as soon as possible in the morning, at the link below.  

Metropolitan Open Moves to New Date for 2017

 

12th Metropolitan Open Championship
The Country Club of St. Albans (Lewis & Clark Course)
June 14-16, 2017 

The 2016 Open was arguably the most successful Metropolitan Open to date.  It has the largest field ever with the most number of professionals competing, 105 in the 11-year history.  With the dates falling one week ahead of the Web.com event in Springfield, IL, the timing was right and the strongest professional field showed up to compete for the $25,000 first prize.

Mini-tour journeyman Dan Woltman captured the 2016 title on the Lewis & Clark Course.  Woltman started the final round at 10-under and a 4-shot advantage on 2015 champion Chris Brant and looked to have safe cushion toward the title.  However, a few stumbling blocks on Sunday and a 4-over 74 brought a few more people into the picture.  Even with a double bogey at the last hole Sunday, Woltman hung on for a 1 shot victory over 3 others.

Woltman would use his victory and the $25,000 first prize to springboard the rest of his summer and is exempt on the Web.com Tour for 2017.

MAGA Executive Director Curt Rohe commented on the Metropolitan Open, “We are excited to bring a 12th Open Championship to St. Albans this June.  With Plaza Motors as the presenting sponsor once again and the Open Committee working to provide a first-class experience for the players, we are ensured another very successful Open.  The golf course should be absolutely perfect with the new June date.”

The Country Club of St. Albans will be a busy spot in 2017, they are hosting the PGA Junior Championships, boys and girls in July, which also played a part in moving the date for 2017.  However, with the Web.com event in Springfield going back to June it was a great fit to move the Open ahead of that event once again.

St. Albans is fully committed to continuing to make the Metropolitan Open the premier Open event in the Midwest.  “On behalf of the Board of Directors, Members, and staff of The Country Club of St. Albans, we are looking forward to hosting the 12th Metropolitan Open Championship in 2017.  Last year’s field was the strongest yet and we are excited to host another fantastic field of Professionals and Top Amateurs.  Many thanks to Tom O’Toole, Curt Rohe, and the Metropolitan Open Committee for their leadership in making this event such a success.”

“As a life-long golfer, St. Louis Native, and PGA Professional, I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to support the great game of golf and doing my part to make this event a great success!” stated Morgan Gonzales, PGA General Manager, The Country Club of St. Albans

A full field will be 156 players, amateurs who are members of MAGA with a USGA handicap index of 1.4 or below are eligible and professionals from around the country will comprise the field.

The Open will kick-off on Tuesday afternoon with the Pro-Am.  This will be the fifth year of the Pro-Am and has become an excellent way to showcase some of the young professionals in the field and meet some of our great supporters of the Open.  The Pros will play for a skins pool where $1,000 will be up for grabs.

Skip Berkmeyer (The Legends CC) and Sam Migdal (Norwood Hills CC) tied for Low Amateur honors in 2016, with Alex Cusumano (Norwood Hills CC) be the only other amateur to survive the cut.  Migdal would go on to be named the 2016 Metropolitan Player of the Year.

Championship play will commence Wednesday with all competitors playing 36-holes Wednesday and Thursday before a cut to the Low 40 and ties is made for the Final Round Friday.  The Championship is FREE for spectators to come out and see one of the strongest fields to tee it up in St. Louis!

If you should have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Curt Rohe, Executive Director, via email at curt@metga.org or phone at (314) 567-MAGA.

Dan Woltman captures the 11th Metropolitan Open Title

Wins by 1 stroke with a 204 (-6) 54 hole score

Wins by 1 stroke with a 204 (-6) 54 hole score

from MAGA: 

Dan Woltman (Beaver Dam, WI) began the final round of the 11th Metropolitan Open Championship Presented by Plaza Motors with a 3 shot cushion at 10-under par.  His closest pursuer was 2014 Champion Chris Brant.  That lead would shrink to 2 during the round, but at the 17th Tee was up to 4 shots over a trio of others at -5.  That trio included Brett Paquet (Chandler, AZ) formerly of St. Charles who completed play much earlier with a 5-under 65in the final round.  Paquet stuck around for the afternoon to see where his 5-under total would settle in.

Woltman who had been steady for the entire day ran into some trouble on the 17th and bogeyed, but retain a 3-shot lead heading to the Country Club of St. Albans signature finishing hole.  Did the nerves finally get to Woltman a bit?  His drive found the fairway bunker and ultimately his only double bogey over 54-holes would finish with a 4-over 74 and a one shot victory in the 11th Metropolitan Open!

MAGA's Curt Rohe to be Interviewed about the Coming Metro Open

Curt Rohe, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association (MAGA)

Curt Rohe, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association (MAGA)

Be sure to catch the MAGA's Curt Rohe on the radio airwaves concerning the upcoming Metropolitan Open Championship this weekend.

Thursday, July 9th at 10:30AM on Frank Cusumano's Press Box radio show (AM 920)

Thursday, July 9th at 7:30PM on The Fairways and Greens Radio Program (AM 550)

$25,000 First Prize

PROFESSIONALS WILL PLAY FOR $25,000 FIRST PRIZE

The Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association (MAGA) is set to conduct the 10th Metropolitan Open Championship at The Country Club of St. Albans next week on the Lewis & Clark Course. With the bunker renovation complete and a few design changes in effect, the golf course is prime to again test the areas top amateurs and Professionals from 17 states, 2 Canadian provinces and an Australian.

Maybe the most exciting part of the 10th Open is the first place prize of $25,000 will be awarded on Sunday to the champion. Curt Rohe, Executive Director of MAGA stated, “The commitment of The Country Club of St. Albans to provide a marvelous test of golf, to conduct the Pro-Am, the volunteers from the CCSA membership to assist with scoring is instrumental in bringing in some of the countries top young professionals and allow us to provide the $25,000 first place prize in 2015!”

Local professional Chris Brant captured his first professional victory in a thrilling 6-hole playoff over Chris Thompson. Brant commented on his victory, “It was an honor to win my first professional event at the 2014 MAGA Open. The support from Plaza motors/MAGA staff, the immaculate and challenging Lewis and Clark course, and strong field make the event one of the best we play all year. I cannot wait to come back and defend in 2015.” Brant is in the field next week to defend his title.

Jim Nienhaus, General Chairman of the Open commented on St. Albans commitment to the Metropolitan Open,  ”The increased purse is another indication of the commitment The Country Club of St. Albans has to hold a professional golf championship at the highest level.  The club, has completed a comprehensive renovation project inside and out, but the major golf course/bunker renovation is probably the most exciting.”

Also highlighting the 2015 Open will be an all-walking event. In an effort to create a more professional atmosphere the change to an all-walking championship has been implemented.

The Champion will also have his name etched onto the James S. Manion Trophy. The Manion Trophy was donated by Jimmy Manion to honor his father, one of the St. Louis areas greatest amateur golfers. The trophy remains on display at The Country Club of St. Albans throughout the year.

The Open will kick-off on Thursday afternoon with the Pro-Am. This will be the fourth year of the Pro-Am and has become an excellent way to showcase some of the young professionals in the field and meet some of our great supporters of the Open. The Pros will play for a skins pool where $1,000 will be up for grabs.

Alex Cusumano had a very impressive championship in 2014 and would finish as Low Amateur for the second consecutive year, alone in 4th place. 2014 MAGA Player of the Year, Phil Caravia also had a strong Open with a top-10 finish.

Championship play will commence Friday with all competitors playing 36-holes Friday and Saturday before a cut to the Low 40 and ties is made for the Final Round Sunday. The Championship is FREE for spectators to come out and see professional golf in St. Louis!

For all Starting Times and LIVE Scoring of the 10th Open, visit the Plaza Motors Scoreboard found at METGA.ORG. Any further questions, please contact Curt Rohe at curt@metga.org or (314) 567-MAGA.