| Forest Park Golf Course |
| St. Louis, MO, 63112 |
| March 6-7 2010 |
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| Director: Scott |
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Forest Park officially opened to the public on June 24, 1876. It is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. At 1,293 acres, it is approximately 500 acres larger than Central Park in New York. Although the Forest Park Golf Course was built in 1913 on the site of the 1904 World's Fair, today the Norman K. Probstein Community Golf Course and Youth Learning Center in Forest Park is all new. Stan Gentry, chief architect for Hale Irwin Golf Services Inc., was charged with taking one of the favorite golf courses in the area and reconfiguring the 27 holes as three nine-hole courses, which can be combined to be played as 18 holes, lending more variety and flexibility for golfers. All three courses have lush zoysia fairways and are par 35.
Thirty-one players set out for what would be a great weekend of golf at the always interesting St. Louis City Park venue. The players were treated to two days of 60 degree weather, and the park was full of people, golfers alike.
In the Boys 8-9 Division Brennan Dolnick of Town & Country, MO got off to a good start Saturday, firing an opening round of 86. Dolnick is proving to be one of the better 9 year olds in the Midwest, scoring an 87 Sunday for the win.
The Boys 10-11 Division had two phenomenal players competing against each other in what set up to be a two-day "match play" tournament. PJGT veteran Jake Eklund of Carterville, IL shot a stellar 78 in opening round. Crimson Callahan of St. Louis, made his PJGT debut, struggling with the putter Saturday to open with an 88. Eklund had a ten-shot lead to sleep on, but knew Callahan would be hunting for him on Sunday. Callahan cut the lead to five shots, but Eklund held on to win in a very competitive match as well as the 8-11 Weekend Medalist Award.
There were three great young players in the Boys 12-13 Division. John Edwards of Paducah, KY shot 78 Saturday, jumping out to a five-shot lead over Tyler Pearson of Richmond, IN. Landon Vaughan of McLeansboro, IL lurked close behind with a first-round 85. Sunday, Edwards was solid with another 78, to win with a total of 156. Pearson and Vaughan battled for second, with Pearson birdieing hole #17 to lead by one shot. Congrats to Landon for shooting 79 Sunday!
PJGT newcomer Jack Carter from New Albany, OH took Saturday medalist honors in the Boys 14-15 Division with a 77 in the opening round. Austin Piephoff of Chesterfield, MO battled Andrew Fogarty of St. Louis for second, as Carter ran away Sunday with a 74 for a two-day total of 151. Congrats to Jack on his FIRST PJGT win.
Nineteen players battled for honors in the very competitive Boys 16-19 Division. Seven players shot in the 70's Saturday, all within two shots of the lead. Josh Edison shot 73 Sunday to earn his spot in a first-place playoff against fellow Springfield, IL player, Robby Hill, who fired a tournament low 66 on Sunday. Hill won the playoff for his first PJGT win.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO BLAKE JENS, WHO CALLED A PENALTY ON HIMSELF FOR HAVING TOO MANY CLUBS IN THE BAG ON SATURDAY. INTEGRITY FIRST! WAY TO GO BLAKE.
Kelly Welker, Perryville, MO took first place in the Girls 12-14 Division, while Caroline Rouse continued to dominate the Girls 15-19 Division, winning every PJGT tournament she has entered so far. Thanks to the Welker cousins for great play, and OUTSTANDING sportsmanship on and off the golf course.
