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St. Louis, MO - In a few short days, 156 of the area's best golfers will gather at Bellerive Country Club to decide who will be crowned the new champion. Bellerive is a course with immense history and depth, and is sure to show its prowess once again for the 34th Metropolitan Amateur Championship. 
 

Bellerive Country Club is no stranger to championship golf, but it took a moment for the course to get to where it is today. Beginning as a nine hole course in 1897, Bellerive was located in North St. Louis with 166 members. Thirteen years later, the membership incorporated as Bellerive Country Club and Robert Foulis designed the “new Bellerive” in Normandy. 1955 came along and the membership decided after 50 years that they were ready for change. Enlisting architect Robert Trent Jones, Sr, the “Green Monster of Ladue” was created right where we know the course today and opened in 1960. This new course design in its new location would only be the beginning for the legacy of Bellerive Country Club. 

 

In 1965, Bellerive opened its gates to the United States Golf Association as they held the 65th U.S. Open Championship. Bellerive became the “youngest” course to host the U.S. Open with just five years under its belt since opening in this location. This playing of the championship proved to be something special as Gary Player won in a playoff to complete his career grand slam. It took sixteen years, but Bellerive was back in the national spotlight again for the inaugural U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. Once again the course saw a special win as St. Louis native, Jim Holtgrieve, hoisted the trophy. In 1992, the PGA of America joined in the action by holding the PGA Championship. Marking the second Major to grace the fairways, Nick Price would be victorious for his first major title. 2001 was turning the page to an international stage with the American Express World Golf Championship, but following the aftermath of 9/11, the event was canceled. It was not long before Major Championship golf was back, and this time the seniors made their way to Bellerive. The club hosted the 25th U.S. Senior Open Championship in 2004, where Peter Jacobsen claimed his first major victory. 

 

Following this run, the course underwent a year-long renovation led by Rees Jones - son of Robert Trent Jones, Sr. - before reopening in 2006. With coveted championship history to its name and a new life breathed into its fairways, it is no surprise that the professionals would be back. The 2008 BMW Championship would make its way to Bellerive Country Club and feature Camilo Villegas’ first career tour victory. Now, with its continued impact, the PGA of America would host two championships within a five year span. First, in 2013 the 74th Senior PGA Championship was held, making Bellerive the first club to host all four United States men’s Major Championships (not including the Masters). Then, came the excitement of the 100th PGA Championship in 2018. For a second time Bellerive was hosting this championship, and was on full display on televisions across the country as we watched Brooks Koepka take home the trophy. In the wake of this championship, it has been a more quiet six years for the club, but have no fear, championship golf is returning with the BMW Championship in 2026 and then the Presidents Cup in 2030. 

 

As we look back on the many incredible and notable names that have graced the fairways of Bellerive Country Club, it is time for the local amateurs to have their shot at making their own history. Bellerive has been generous in hosting Metropolitan Championships in the past, holding the Metropolitan Junior Amateur in 2003, as well as the Metropolitan Amateur in 1996 and again in 2009. The 1996 championship was won by Tom Barry, and in 2009, Skip Berkmeyer etched his name on the Jim Tom Blair trophy. Now, fourteen years down the road, 156 candidates are looking to do the same. 

 

There are seven former champions vying for the win again in this year’s field. With reigning Champion, Peter Weaver, not defending his title, the trophy is anyone’s for the taking. In this 34th playing of the Metropolitan Amateur Championship, the response and strength of the field has hit a new level. In a record breaking registration period, we had 241 registrants at the time the entries closed. Fifty-three players received exemptions into the field, while the 188 remaining players had to participate in a qualifier for their spots. Following the qualifier held on July 11, the field was officially set with 103 players added to the roster. Across the field there are 45 Metropolitan Member Clubs represented. The average age is 29 years old and the average handicap index is +0.83. 

 

The seven past champions in the field are Robert Beckmann (2000), Skip Berkmeyer (2009), Ryan Penfield (2011), Kyle Weldon (2012, 2013), Jimmy Siegfried (2015), Drew Pranger (2016, 2018, 2022), and Brad Carpenter (2019). Berkmeyer has a strong golf history alongside his Metropolitan Amateur win with five Old Warson Cup titles, a Metropolitan Open title, and numerous player of the year titles. This year is a special return to the championship for Berkmeyer as his 2009 win occurred the last time Bellerive hosted the championship. Pranger holds the record for the number of most Metropolitan Amateur wins at three, while Weldon is one of two champions to win in consecutive years. 

 

Also making a return to the field this year are the co-runner-ups from 2023, Zach Walsh and Thomas Wuennenberg. Zach Walsh has already proven himself this summer by winning the St. Louis District’s Griesedieck Men’s Championship. Walsh is also a former Metropolitan Junior Amateur Champion and set new Metropolitan Amateur Championship records last year for lowest second round score at six-under par and lowest first 36 holes score at 134. Current Metropolitan Player of the Year leaderboard leader, Blake Skornia, has joined the Amateur field. Skornia is looking to put a cap on his summer after winning the East Side Amateur followed by earning the Co-Low Amateur Honors at the Metropolitan Open. Joining him in the field is his Metropolitan Open Co-Low Amateur Honoree, Tyler Linenbroker. 

 

The Old Warson Cup is a time honored tradition for the Metropolitan, and there are six champions, as well as all three senior champions in this year’s Amateur field. Those six include Skip Berkmeyer (5x), Justin Bryant (2x), Sam Migdal (3x), Drew Pranger, Max Kreikemeier, and reigning champion, Chris Kovach. After kicking off his summer with the win at Old Warson, Kovach has continued to work on his game and found himself in a runner-up position at the St. Louis District’s Griesedieck Men’s Championship. Justin Bryant fought his way into the final match of the Old Warson Cup this year to finish as runner-up for the second year in a row. Migdal set a new low round record for the Metropolitan Amateur last year with a first round score of seven-under par. He also participated in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship earlier this year with his brother Joe Migdal, who is also in the field this week. 

 

The senior Old Warson Cup champions joining the field are Brian Lovett, Buddy Allen, and reigning champion, Brian Hall. Lovett captured the senior East Side Amateur title at the beginning of the summer and will hold a strong knowledge of this Championship site, as Bellerive is his home course. Hall made a splash in last year’s Metropolitan Amateur with one of the second lowest second round scores of four-under par. Joining these three in the field is reigning Metropolitan Senior Amateur Champion, Paul Neeman.

 

Included in the 2024 field are five prior Metropolitan Junior Amateur Champions. Bubba Chapman, John Guerra, Zach Walsh, and Justin Bryant are all looking to join Jimmy Siegfried in the exclusive club of championing both the Metropolitan Junior Amateur and Amateur Championships. Chapman, one year removed from his Junior win, looks forward to a home club advantage in this year’s Championship. Rising golfers, Trigg Lindahl and Dominic Mazzola made names for themselves as they brought in the lowest scores of the Metropolitan Amateur qualifying round at four-under par. Lindahl will be joining the field just over a week after his debut in the U.S. Junior Amateur. 

 

Four Bellerive members are stepping out for their chance at victory in this year’s Championship. Hoping their home club expertise guides them to a win are Bubba Chapman, Brian Lovett, Gordon Walker, and Thomas Weaver. Players from around the area are not afraid and are ready to take down these four on their home soil. Forest Hills Country Club has the most members competing in the field with 10 members, while there are 45 public - or club unaffiliated - golfers ready to show what they’ve got on this private track. Without a defending Champion, the title is truly anyone’s for the taking. 

 

With the history and accolades around Bellerive Country Club, players are excited to put their skills to the test like all of the distinguished names that have strode across the grounds before them. When Bellerive calls, you answer, and now it is time to face the path ahead. With three rounds and 156 of the area’s best players on a nationally acclaimed course, anything can happen. At the 18th green, the Jim Tom Blair Trophy awaits its 34th victor. 

 

Full Championship Field
Groupings and Start Times
Player of the Year Standings