Making a Statement

Skip Berkmeyer Takes Medalist Honors At The U.S. Mid-Amateur
Total of 4 Missiourians make Match Play
River Hills, Wis. – Skip Berkmeyer, 34, of St. Louis, Mo., shot a 1-over-par 71 Sunday to earn stroke-play medalist honors with a 36-hole total of 2-under-par 138 at the U.S. Mid-Amateur at Milwaukee Country Club and Brown Deer Park Golf Course.
Berkmeyer, who played his round at the 7,004-yard, par-70 Milwaukee CC, edged Tim Mickelson, 31, of San Diego, Calif., by a stroke. Mickelson, the younger brother of PGA Tour pro Phil Mickelson, bogeyed his last two holes at Milwaukee CC to finish with an even-par 70 and a two-round total of 139.
“It’s great,” said Berkmeyer of being medalist. “To be the lowest guy in this big field is a pretty neat thing.”
The lowest 64 scorers advanced to match play Monday at Milwaukee CC. The championship is scheduled to run through Thursday, with the winner receiving a likely invitation to the 2009 Masters Tournament.
Also making Match play from Missouri are Brian Haskell of St. Joseph who is the 34th seed shooting a two day total of 145. The 18th seed also from St. Joseph is Brad Nurski, and the final player from Missouri to move on to match play is Ted Moloney of St. Louis and he is the 42nd seed.
Berkmeyer, who is playing in his fifth Mid-Amateur, has advanced further in match play with each succeeding year. His best finish was a third-round loss in last year’s Mid-Amateur at Bandon Dunes Resort in Bandon, Ore. He lost in the second round in 2006 and the first round in 2004. He also has played in seven U.S. Amateurs.
There are signs that Berkmeyer has what it takes to last longer this week than in the past. He was one of only six mid-amateurs to reach match play at last month’s U.S. Amateur. He also was runner-up at the 2008 Missouri State Amateur, an event he won in 1999.
“I’ve played well all summer, and I’m pretty pleased,” said Berkmeyer, who owns a trophy and awards shop with his father, Rick. “My game has gotten better as I’ve gotten older. Hopefully, it will get better this week.
“I feel now like I belong and I’m more comfortable out here,” Berkmeyer continued. “This is my favorite event. This is what I play for.”
His mother has enjoyed even more success at USGA championships to this point. Barbara, 64, was runner-up at the 2002 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur.

Coming to an End

This Tuesday and Wednesday is the last two Senior Series events before the Tour Championship in October. Tuesday afternoon we are heading to Osage National and Wednesday morning at Old Kinderhook. Both of these events are sold out and should be two great events on two wonderful golf courses. This Senior Series has really become bigger than I thought it would. We get more and more compliments on these events each time and it all comes from getting the opportunity to play top notch golf courses. Just last week the Seniors got to play Branson Creek and John Daly’s Murder Rock in Branson. Both courses were in fabulous condition and were great test for the players.

After these last two Senior Series events are over on Wednesday, then we will add up the points and see which top 16 players from each age division will move on to the Tour Championships at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club October 7th and 8th.

I would like to take this time now and Thank all the players that participated in the Senior Series this year and look forward to seeing you all again for the 2009 season.

Until I see you on the first tee

Scott