Aberdeen Primed to Host 29th Amateur Championship
First Public Venue to Host Amateur Since 2001
The 29th edition of the Metropolitan Amateur Championship will be conducted at Aberdeen Golf Club in Eureka August 1-3. This marks the first time since 2001, when the championship was played at Gateway National Golf Links, the regions most coveted amateur title will be played at a public venue.
“The Amateur began as the need for a golf championship in which private and public course players could compete against each other in this region in 1991,” stated Executive Director Curt Rohe. “We (MAGA) felt it was time to bring those roots back and conduct it on a public venue again. Aberdeen management Rockney Dollarhide and Greg Jansen, could not have been more welcoming and excited to have their golf course chosen to host this championship.”
Drew Pranger returns as the defending champion and look to accomplish something no other player in this region has done before and have his name etched onto the Jim Tom Blair Trophy for a record third time. Pranger, who won in 2016 on his home turf at Glen Echo, repeated the feat at The Country Club of St. Albans with a 2-under par performance over 54-holes. Pranger would go on to capture the 2018 Player of the Year.
“It’s always an honor to tee it up against St. Louis’ best…and to have a chance to be the first three-time champion makes it that much more awesome,” said 
Pranger. “Being the defending champion is always special, and I’m excited to put my best foot forward and hopefully will be competitive as the event reaches a fever pitch on Saturday. I appreciate the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association for always running a first class event, and cannot wait to get to compete on a wonderful Aberdeen golf course.”
Other past champions in the field this year include Skip Berkmeyer (2009), Jimmy Siegfried (2015) and Shawn Jasper (2017). Pranger would capture his second title by a shot over Berkmeyer and Crimson Callahan, our current Player of the Year points leader. While winning the title in 2009 at Bellerive, Berkmeyer has been Runner-up in the Amateur a record four (4) times.
This is one of the smallest fields the Amateur Championship will produce in its history. Ninety-eight golfers are scheduled to tee it up on the 7,108 yard, Par 71 links style setup in the Meramec R
iver bottoms of Eureka. Aberdeen has played host to several USGA qualifying rounds and MAGA championships since opening in 2001.
General Manger Greg Jansen commented on Aberdeen hosting the Amateur, “We are extremely honored and excited to be hosting the 29th Metropolitan Amateur Championship. Knowing that Aberdeen will be the 3rd public facility to host this great Championship makes it even more special. We are very much looking forward to having the regions best amateurs compete on the course we love so much.”
Live scoring updates will be provided throughout the championship online at METGA.ORG. Groupings and Starting Times for Rounds 1 and 2 are available on the website. After 36-holes of play Thursday and Friday, the field will be cut to the low 40 scores and ties for the final round Saturday. Click on the link below to access Groupings & Starting Times, Results, etc. for the championship.
29th METROPOLITAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
The Championship is free for the public to attend to see some of the best amateurs from the St. Louis Metropolitan region compete on one of St. Louis’s premier golf courses. If you should have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact Curt Rohe, Executive Director, via email at /Blog/aberdeen-primed-to-host-29th-amateur-championship or phone at (314) 567-MAGA.
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