The Amateur Players Tour descended on West Lafayette, IN for the first ever APT University Series Event at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex, which hosts both the Ackerman-Allen and Kampen-Cosler courses. Both of these courses rank in the Top 15 Campus Courses in the United States according to a recent survey conducted by Golfweek Magazine. Like many college campuses, Birck Boilermaker was in a process of investing in their future, as a new practice facility for the golf team and new clubhouse were in the process of being built on an already beautiful campus.
In Division 1, no one seemed to be able to pull ahead on Day 1, as low scores would be the theme at the Ackerman-Allen Golf course. Matt Minder (St. Louis) and Tony Wise (Kentucky) went out early and posted rounds of 1-over par 73’s. RJ Foltz (Nashville) also began round 1 with a 73 going out late, but the overnight lead would belong to Nate McCutcheon (St. Louis), who would finish with an even-par 72 heading into the 2nd round at the more difficult Kampen-Cosler course. Sunday would be Tony Wise’s day, where he used birdies on 8 and 9 to get back to even for the day, then 2 more birdies on the back 9 to fire a 2-under par 70 to earn the victory in both the open and senior divisions! Matt Minder shot a 2nd round 78 to finish in 2nd place with a 2-day total of +7.
In Division 2, Marco Tallerico (St. Louis) came out hot at the gettable Ackerman-Allen course, shooting a first round 73 that featured 4 birdies on the back 9 to gain a 3-shot lead over Joshua Brooks (Kentucky) heading to the championship side of the Kampen-Cosler course. Tallerico’s lead would prove to be insurmountable as a 6-over 78 would enough to stave off a challenge from Joshua Brooks, who had the low round of the day with 77 to finish in 2nd place just 3 shots back. 3rd place went to Kent Van Cleve (St. Louis) and Michael Lingenfelter (St. Louis), who finished 12 off of the pace at +19. The top 5 was rounded out by Todd Hall (Indianapolis), who finished at a 2-day total of +20.
In Division 3, Mary Kolda (St. Louis) had the round of the day at the Ackerman-Allen course, firing a blistering 4-over par 76 to take the early lead over Randall Burton (Indianapolis) and Todd Feuerhaken (St. Louis). The Kampen-Cosler course proved to be a challenge on Sunday, with all the leaders shooting matching 14-over 86’s. Mary Kolda earns her first national major win with a 2-day total of 18-over par, with Randall Burton and Todd Feuerhaken tying for 2nd at +23. Ross Richardson (Indianapolis) shot an 11-over 83 to earn low round of the day and jump into a tie for 4th with Jesse Vanvleet (Kentucky) at +28. Mary Kolda went on to earn the senior division title as well, maxing out at the $1,000 USGA Max prize limit, while Randall Burton and Todd Feuerhaken tied for 2nd at +23.
In Division 4, Kyle Meadows (St. Louis), jumped out to an early lead with a solid round of 10-over par 82, with Shannon Sageser (Indianapolis) trailing closely behind with an +11 83. Sunday would belong to Indianapolis’s John Blackburn, who shot a blistering 79 on the difficult Kampen-Cosler course to secure a 6-shot victory at +23. Gregory Taggart (Indianapolis) finished in 2nd place at +29, while Kyle Meadows finished in 3rd at +31. Shannon Sageser finished in 4th place with +32, while Chris Louth (Columbus) rounded out the top-5 at 34-over par for the weekend. Gregory Taggart is your senior division champion with a 2-day total of 29-over par, with Shannon Sageser finishing in 2nd place with a total of +32.
In Division 5, Shawn Donahue (Central Illinois) kept the trend of low scores from the Ackerman-Allen course, firing an impressive 84 to take the first round lead over Craig Parks (Kentucky), who trailed by 3 after round 1 with an 87. Sunday would turn out to be Shawn Donahue’s day, firing at 25-over 97 to earn the 6-shot victory over Craig Parks. 3rd place belonged to Derek Stinefield (Columbus) who finished at +46, while Selena Droce (St. Louis) and Steve Michael (Columbus) rounded out the top 5 at +47. On the senior side, Craig Parks (Kentucky) earned the victory at +43 over Brian Mulchek (St. Louis).