2008 Metropolitan
Mid-America Junior Cup Team
Joe Migdal, senior DeSmet Jesuit
Ballwin's Joe Migdal parred the second playoff hole to edge Chesterfield's Adam Welch for the overall title of the 9th Metropolitan Junior Amateur Championship at Forest Park. Each golfer completed the 36-hole competition at 3-over 143. Migdal is a senior at DeSmet Jesuit High School.
Adam Welch, junior CBC
Chesterfield’s Adam Welch closed with an even par 70 at Forest Hills to qualify for the 61st U.S. Junior Amateur. Welch shot 79-70-149 to finish second. His final round included an ace at Forest Hills’ 16th hole. Welch is one of two members of this year’s squad who competed last year at Loch Lloyd in Belton, Mo.
Shaina Rennegarbe, senior Okawville (Ill.) High
Okawville’s Shaina Rennegarbe placed fifth in the Illinois Junior Amateur Championship, and then won the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association’s Junior Amateur at Forest Park. She placed fourth at last year's Illinois 2007 Class A State Golf Tournament, leading her team to a fifth place finish. She added a third place finish at the Illinois high school state tournament in October, which included a final-round 72.
Molly Edwards, senior Whitfield
St. Charles’ Molly Edwards finished second in the 2008 Metropolitan Junior Amateur at Forest Park. The Whitfield High senior fired rounds of 80-80-160 to finish second to Shaina Rennegarbe. Edwards was a runner-up to Catherine Dolan in 2007. Molly plays on the Whitfield boys golf team.
Ben Crancer, freshman Kirkwood
Kirkwood’s Ben Crancer qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur as a 15-year-old, firing rounds of 75-76-151 at Forest Hills. At the nationals at Shoal Creek Golf Club in Birmingham, Ala., Crancer showed the poise of a veteran by firing rounds of 73-77-150, advancing to match play in his first national experience.
Bryce Dolan, freshman St. Francis Borgia (Washington, Mo.)
Washington’s Bryce Dolan won the Metropolitan Junior Boys 14-15 title in July at Forest Park Golf Course, firing rounds of 74-78-152 to win by a stroke over Teddy Jones. Dolan won the 12-13 title the previous year at Fox Run.
Haelena Schwemmer, sophomore Barat Academy
The 14-year-old sophomore at Barat Academy in O’Fallon, Haelena Schwemmer finished 24th in the Missouri High School state championship last fall as a freshman. Last summer, Schwemmer won three Gateway Junior PGA events as well as the 14-15 girls’ title at the Missouri Women’s Golf Association Junior Championship. Haelena finished fourth at the Class 1A state championship this week.
CAPTION: Molly Edwards putts in foursomes action at the 10th
Mid-America Junior Cup matches. Looking on are the
KCGA's Ryan Zech (in blue) and MAGA's Adam Welch.
Sami Khan, sophomore Visitation Academy
Sami Khan, 15, has twice won the Tour Championship for her age division in Gateway PGA Jr. She made a serious splash at the 2007 MSHSAA Class 1 tournament as a freshman. Her opening-round 73 (including a front nine of 3-under-par 33) propelled her to a sixth place finish, and helped Visitation to a second-place team finish. Khan was part of the MAGA squad that retained the Mid-America Cup last year at Loch Lloyd. Recently she fired a 77 at Normandie to medal at the 2008 River Challenge featuring high school teams from both Missouri and Illinois. Khan recently was co-medalist in her District championship. Sami finished 11th individually and helped the Vivettes to a convincing 55-stroke win in the Class 1A state championship Oct. 21.
CAPTION: Sami Khan putts as partner Ben Crancer (right) and KCGA
opponents Katie Morel and Jackson Foth watch.
2008 Kansas City Golf Association Team
Henry Simpson, freshman Shawnee Mission East
The 15-year-old plays out of Kansas City Country Club. Henry has been very active on the Kansas Junior Golf Association tour and KC Junior Tour. Henry placed 3rd in the Midwest PGA Junior Qualifier with a two day score of 154; 5th in his age group at the Kansas Junior Am Championship with a three day score of 231; 1st in two Kansas Junior Golf Association regional events with scores of 76 and 72; and 3rd in his age group at the KS Junior Team Championship with a two day total of 153. Henry is the three time and current Junior Club Champion at KCCC.
Allison Forristal, junior Olathe East
The 16-year-old junior plays out of Overland Park Golf Club. Allison recently shot a 74 for medalist honors at the 6A Regional. She is looking to improve on her ninth place finish as a Freshman and fourth place finish as a Sophomore next week at the Kansas 6A-5A State Tournament. She finished first in four of the five events she played in the KC Junior Tour this summer.
Morgan Cross, sophomore Blue Valley
Morgan Cross, 15, plays out of Brookridge Golf & Country Club. She finished in a tie for 10th place this summer in the Inaugural Kansas City Women’s Amateur and won two events on the KC Junior Tour. Last year she finished in 14th place at the Kansas 6A-5A State Tournament and recently finished second at her regional to again qualify for the State Tournament.
Katie Morel, sophomore Blue Valley Northwest
Katie Morel, 15, of Overland Park, Kan., plays out of Ironhorse Golf Club. This summer Katie won the Midwest Section PGA qualifier 13-15 age group competing with golfers from Missouri and Kansas. She also won the Overland Park Vinzant/Cosnotti tournament by firing a 70 her first day receiving medalist honors and then also winning the 18 hole girls division as well as the championship flight. She led the KC Junior Tour points rankings for the 13-15 age division. Last year Katie finished sixth at Regionals and 21st at the State Championships as a freshman.
CAPTION: KCGA's Ian Boat consults with Rules Official Dan LeGear regarding a drop during foursomes matches at the 10th Mid-America Junior Cup. Boat's teammate, Gianna Misenhelter, looks on.
Ian Boat, junior Shawnee Mission East
Ian Boat, 16, of Leawood, Kan., plays on the Shawnee Mission East Varsity golf team. Ian was nominated for the Harry C. Divine award based on his second place finish in the point standing in the KC Junior Tour. Ian is currently employed as a bag boy at Milburn Country Club.
Jackson Foth, freshman Shawnee Mission Northwest
Jackson Foth, 14, plays out of Lake Quivira, Kan. This past summer Jackson medalled at the KJGA State Team Championship in the 14-15 division and placed third among all high school players. He is a 3-time Midwest Junior Golf Tour “player of the year” and recently won their tournament at Dub’s Dread by shooting 70–66 for an 8-under 136, the lowest 36 hole total ever on that tour. Jackson currently carries a +1.9 handicap and is looking forward to his first season of high school golf.
Ryan Zech, 16, finished 10th at state, helping Kearney win its first state championship. This past summer he won four of five KC Junior Tour events he entered. He also won the AJGA Lockton/Capitol Federal Kansas City Junior at Oakwood Country Club. Ryan won the 14-15 age group at the Missouri Junior Amateur and qualified for the Big '"I" National Championship and the Junior PGA Championship.
Gianna Misenhelter, junior St. Thomas Aquinas
Gianna Misenhelter, 16, of Overland Park, Kan., plays out of St. Andrews Golf Club. This summer, Gianna won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links qualifier at Swope Memorial Golf Course. She played in the Duramed Futures Tour Mercedes Benz Championship in May at Leawood South Country Club, and competed in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public links tournament in Erin Hills, Wis. She also competed in the 2008 U.S. Girls Junior Championship in Hartford Conn., and ended the summer playing in the 2008 PGA Junior Championship in Maineville, Ohio. In 2007, as a sophomore, Gianna went undefeated in all 10 high school tournaments and won the 6a-5a Kansas Girls State tournament.
The winning KCGA team accepts the Mid-America Junior Cup from MAGA President Stan Grossman. From left to right: Ryan Zech, Henry Simpson, Allison Forristal, Jackson Foth, Gianna Misenhelter, Ian Boat, Morgan Cross and Katie Morel.