Shogren Cup Team Announced
St. Louis, MO - The 4th Annual Robert A. Shogren Cup is taking place at Greenbriar Hills Country Club May 19-20, where the Metropolitan Amateurs will take on the Gateway PGA Professionals. In a tight contention, the two sides battle in three format matches: four-ball, foursomes, and singles. Each team consists of 10 team members joined with 4 senior team members to make a total of 14 players on each side. All fourteen play in each round. In the inaugural playing of this competition, the Gateway PGA Professionals won by 2 points. This result was flipped the following year by the Amateurs, who won by 2 points before coming in hot last year to win in spectacular fashion by 8 points. This year the Amateurs are looking to continue on their winning streak.
Earning points over a two year period to qualify for a spot on the team, Team MAGA is shaping up. Out of 14 players, only 4 are rookies to the Shogren Cup, but show strong promise of being important additions to the team. Across the group, there are 9 clubs represented and one common goal. Let’s meet Team Metropolitan:
Tony Gumper - Captain Tony Gumper is the only player to go undefeated in the Shogren Cup. A strong player and force to be reckoned with in this competition, he sits with a perfect record of 6-0-0 from his two years of play. Gumper is a Metropolitan eClub member and has proven himself in both individual and team events across the region and state. In 2023, he qualified for and played in the U.S. Four-Ball with partner Ryan Eckelkamp.
Ryan Sullivan - Entering his fourth year on the Shogren Cup Team, Ryan Sullivan is ready to help the team to its third straight victory. Sullivan plays out of Tapawingo National Golf Club and he has a record of 5-2-2 in the Shogren Cup. With a winning record, Sullivan is sure to bring his experience to table and put up another fight.
Ryan Eckelkamp - Ryan Eckelkamp has played on the last two winning Shogren Cup teams. Eckelkamp’s record is 5-0-1 in this cup and he plays out of Franklin County Country Club. In 2023, he qualified for and played in the U.S. Four-Ball with partner Tony Gumper. Ryan is ready to keep the good record going and bring home another win for Team MAGA.
Chris Kovach - Chris Kovach most recently proved his match play ability by championing the Old Warson Cup this year. Kovach plays out of Old Hickory Golf Club and has experience in this event. Kovach comes into his fourth year on the team with a record of 4-5-0. Feeling confident with his game, Kovach will bring the heat for Team MAGA this year.
Max Kreikemeier - Max Kreikemeier is returning to the team after a year hiatus. He will be participating in his third cup. Kreikemeier plays out of Forest Hills Country Club and is experienced in match play, having won the Old Warson Cup in 2023. His Shogren Cup record is 3-2-1. Kreikemeier is sure to lend a helping hand to the team again this year.
Corey Choate - Coming in as a rookie to the Shogren Cup team Corey Choate is not afraid to step up to the plate. Choate plays at The Legends Country Club and has played in numerous Metropolitan events. He is always ready to put up a good round and will be an important addition to the team.
Jason White - Another rookie for the Team Metropolitan side is Jason White. White plays through Tapawingo National Golf Club and was one member of the Metropolitan Four-Ball winning team in 2023. With skill in a team setting, White is ready to lend his abilities to the team for the first time.
Zach Walsh - Zach Walsh is the third newcomer to the team this year. Walsh plays out of Forest Hills Country Club and has shown exactly what he can do over the last year. He was runner-up in the Metropolitan Amatuer Championship last summer and took Old Warson Cup Champion, Chris Kovach to the last hole in the Round of 16 before bowing out. Walsh is ready to bring his talent to the Shogren Cup as well.
Drew Pranger - One of the Captain Pick’s this year is Drew Pranger. Pranger has two Shogren Cups under his belt and knows how to handle match-play competitions. He is a former Old Warson Cup Champion and has a Shogren Cup record of 3-2-1. Pranger plays at Glen Echo Country Club and is ready for his third year on the team.
Tyler Linenbroker - The second Captain’s Pick this year is rookie Tyler Linenbroker. Over the last few years, Linenbroker has risen up in the Metropolitan golf scene. He was runner-up in the St. Louis District’s Griesedieck Championship in 2023. Linenbroker is another Forest Hills Country Club player and is ready to face the competition in the Shogren Cup.
Seniors:
Brian Lovett - Brian Lovett is the Senior Captain for Team MAGA this year. Lovett has played on the Shogren Cup team every year so far and holds a record of 3-5-1. He plays out of Bellerive Country Club and continues to be a force in competitive environments. He most recently kicked off the year with a win in the senior division of the East Side Amateur and was the 2023 Metropolitan Senior Amateur Championship runner-up. Lovett is ready to guide his team to victory again.
Paul Neeman - Starting his second year on Team MAGA is Paul Neeman. He got off to a rough beginning last year with three losses, but he is ready to bounce back with some wins this year. Neeman plays out of Persimmon Woods Golf Club and is the reigning Senior Amateur Champion. He made Captain Lovett playoff for the East Side Amateur win this past weekend. Neeman is ready for his second year and a second win to add to the record.
Buddy Allen - Entering his third year, Buddy Allen has only known victory with Team MAGA. Allen is a Metropolitan eClub member and has a Shogren Cup record of 2-3-1. Allen is the Senior Old Warson Cup runner-up in 2024 and continues to work on his game. Excited to be joining the team again this year, Allen is ready to once again bring home another win for MAGA.
David Bremer - The one Senior Captain’s Pick goes to David Bremer. He has played in the Shogren Cup once before, playing two matches to collect a record of one win and one loss. Bremer plays out of Persimmon Woods Golf Club and finished in third place at the 2023 Metropolitan Senior Amateur behind teammates Neeman and Lovett. Returning to the team after a year off, Bremer is ready to show what he’s got to win his matches.
The Gateway PGA has made their team selections to take on a strong Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association team. Round One matches will be set later this week and announced before the start of play on Sunday afternoon.
Team Gateway PGA: Adam Betz, Shane Blankenship, Jeff Field, Bob Gaus, Matt Gindler, Steve Hausmann, Sam Lee, Brett Moomey, Bobby Pavelonis, Ryan Roy, Blake Sharamitaro, Gideon Smith, Mike Tucker, and Jeff Whitfield