KC/MN Tour Challenge Recap

Polk City, IA - The Tournament Club of Iowa was once again the host of the 2nd annual KC/MN Tour Challenge tournament. It was hot and humid and the course was in great shape despite lots of recent rain. 20 MN Tour members made the drive down I-35 to take on take on 17 from the KC Tour. They were welcomed by a friendly face as Deb Alexander assisted Delbert Kinchelow, KC Tour Director, with registration.

The event format randomly selects the scores of an equal number of players in each flight to determine the overall team score. No one knows whose scores will count until the tournament is over. Last year the margin of victory was a mere 12 strokes for the KC Tour. This year was similarly close. There was a 4 stroke advantage for KC when Champ and Palmer scores were posted. KCs lead grew to 12 after Hogan, Sr. Hogan and Sarazen because neither of our flight winners scores were counted by virtue of the random draw. The KC Tour Jones players posted some great scores that dropped MN another 14 shots and it was looking like back to back wins for KC but...the Snead flight had an even number of players from both Tours. All 8 scores would count. Low scores from Mike Miller, 90, and Paul Alexander, 91, along with good scores from Pete Rojas and Steve Oborn took 4 of the top 6 spots which more than made up the deficit to give MN a 19 shot victory.

A few of the MN Team members still left at the end. L-R, Paul Alexander, Jeff Loeffler, yours truly, Mike Miller, Bill Kelsey and Pete Rojas.

Not pictured, Steve Schubert, Anthony Hugelen, Matt Harter, Bryan Poetsch, Gary Braun, Dan Barrett, Larry Caldwell, Sean Passingham, Robert Gardner, Ed Favorite, Warren Ferber, George Hardgrove, Hobie VanValkenburg, and Steve Oborn.

 

MN Tour players also took home trophies in 4 of the 7 flight contests.

• Steve Schubert won the Championship flight on the first playoff hole.
  
• Anthony Hugelen continued his good form with another victory in the Hogan flight with a 79 while Bryan Poetsch finished 2nd with an 81.
• Ed Favorite lapped the field in Sarazen by 9 shots.
• Mike Miller won for the 6th time in 7 starts shooting 90, even after dunking one on the final hole, followed by Paul Alexander at 91 in Snead flight.

Thanks to all 20 players for making the trip. Thanks to Delbert Kinchelow for hosting another great event. He has already begun planning next years rubber match. Thanks to Deb Alexander for supporting him as well.