KC/MN Challenge Recap

POLK CITY - it was hot and humid but perfect for a day of golf. 22 MN Tour members made the trip down to the Des Moines area to play the Tournament Club of Iowa, an Arnold Palmer Signature course. There were 7 flights and the KC/MN Challenge Trophy at stake. They secured wins in 6 of the flights and kept a firm grasp on the Challenge trophy, winning by 16 strokes.

Let me first start by apologizing to those of you who have not been receiving the tournament recaps. I found a glitch in our mail system that I have corrected.

Chad Onstot posted the low round of the day at 73 in Championship flight. A lone bogey on the front left him 3 shots clear of Jack Buan who had 3 birdies in the first 5 holes. The 10th gave both players trouble. Chad bounced back with birdie on 11 and followed that with birdies on 14 and 18. Jack made eagle on 13 and another birdie on 17.  Chad's 6 shot victory is his 1st on Tour. 

Palmer flight is the only flight a MN Tour member didn't win. Steve Schubert took the early lead with a birdie on 1. A bogey on 6 brought him back to even par. Andy Bradshaw of the KC Tour was one better at 1 under with a birdie on 8. The back side was not as easy as all players shot in the 40s. Steve added a birdie on 13 but it wasn't enough to catch Andy who posted at 76.

Larry Caldwell also like the front side alot more than the back . A birdie and 3 bogeys gave him a 4 shot lead after nine holes. He gave 2 back on 10 and 2 more on 13 before steadying the ship with a birdie on 14 and 2 more pars. His 45 was good enough for a 3 shot win, his 3rd of the season in Hogan making him Nationals qualified.

The Sarazen flight leaderboard would lead you to believe MN didn't win but the leader was a guest playing in the event from KC. Steve Buan carded a 39 front with a birdie on 3. The back was 10 shots tougher where he managed a 49 to post an 88. This was Steve's first win of the season. David Slininger made a run at Steve with a 43 on the back with a birdie on 16 to post at 90.

Another stark difference between front and back was seen in Sr. Sarazen. Ed Favorite was 1 under through 5 with birdies on 1 and 4 to card a 39 front side. A stretch of 23 strokes on the first 3 holes of the inward nine saw his 5 shot lead dwindle to 1 but 2 over on the last 6 secured the 5 shot victory, His 2nd of the season.

Paul Alexander has punched hit ticket to Sr. Nationals with a 3rd win of the season, his 2nd in Jones. He led by 4 after 9 holes over Hobie VanValkenburg. Hobie made a run at him on the back but fell 2 short. 

Pete Rojas of Snead flight had a nightmare start going 8 over on the first 2 holes but then made par on 5 of the last 7 to turn with a 7 shot lead. He added a par and a birdie on the back to hold of KC Tour member Paul Barnett and win by 2 for his 1st win of the season.



Mr. Alexander also took home a bit of cash after winning $155 in the 50/50 raffle. Our season total now stands at 1,340. Thank you for supporting Feherty's Troops First Foundation.

Thanks to all who made the trip. Special thanks to Delbert and Dierdra Kinchlow, KC Director, and our very own Deb Alexander for running another great tournament.