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Champions Crowned at Big Cedar as the 2026 Independence Open Delivers Another Memorable Major
The Amateur Players Tour returned to Big Cedar Lodge over Independence Day weekend for one of the Tour’s premier National Major Championships, as nearly 200 players from chapters across the country gathered in the Missouri Ozarks to compete in the 2026 Independence Open.
The championship began Saturday at Ozarks National Golf Course, the acclaimed Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design that has earned recognition from both Golf Digest and Golfweek as one of the nation’s finest modern public golf courses. Players were tested by dramatic elevation changes, expansive vistas, strategic bunkering, and greens that demanded precision from the opening tee shot.
Sunday’s final round moved to Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course, Tom Fazio’s award-winning masterpiece at Big Cedar Lodge. Recognized as the No. 1 Public Golf Course in Missouri and consistently ranked among the Top 100 Public Golf Courses in America, Buffalo Ridge Springs provided a fitting stage for championship Sunday with its rolling Ozark terrain, limestone outcroppings, waterfalls, roaming bison, and one of the strongest finishing stretches on the Amateur Players Tour schedule.
Independence Open weekend has become one of the signature traditions on the Amateur Players Tour calendar. Beginning with Folds of Honor Friday at Mountain Top before transitioning into two championship rounds at Ozarks National and Buffalo Ridge Springs, the event combines world-class golf, patriotic celebration, and national competition unlike any other stop on Tour. With valuable Worldwide Golf National Player of the Year points on the line, every round carried added significance as players continued their pursuit of season-long honors.
Division 1
Chayton Jordan (St. Louis) delivered one of the most consistent performances of the weekend to capture the Division 1 championship. Jordan opened with a 71 at Ozarks National before following it with an even steadier 72 at Buffalo Ridge Springs, finishing at 1-over par (143) to secure a four-shot victory.
His brother, Jared Jordan (St. Louis) finished runner-up at 5-over, giving the St. Louis chapter an impressive one-two finish in the championship division. Taylor Gossett (Oklahoma City) claimed third after posting one of the division’s best rounds on Sunday, while Phil Pfeiffer (Myrtle Beach) and Kevin Stief (Kansas City) rounded out the top five.
Division 2
Daniel Black (St. Louis) continued his strong 2026 campaign by claiming the Division 2 title with rounds of 72-78 to finish at 8-over par (150).
Black held off a talented field that included current Worldwide Golf National Player of the Year leader Todd Feuerhaken (St. Louis), who made a Sunday charge with a 75 to finish just two shots back. Tom Lorenz (Tulsa) secured third at 11-over, while James Borzone (Northwest Arkansas) and Nathan Turner (Central Illinois) shared fourth.
The victory marked another significant result for the St. Louis chapter, which continued its outstanding season with multiple podium finishes throughout the weekend.
Division 3
Dalton Silas (Birmingham) added another major championship to an already impressive season, posting rounds of 78-79 to finish at 15-over par (157).
Silas remained composed across two demanding championship layouts to finish four shots ahead of Brandon Hale (Kansas City). Gerald Harsley (St. Louis) and Ralph Allen (St. Louis) tied for third, while fellow Birmingham member Greg Mason rounded out the top five.
The victory further established Birmingham as one of the Tour’s strongest chapters entering the final stretch of the season.
Division 4
Division 4 produced the defining moment of the championship.
After opening with an 87 at Ozarks National, Edward Pavese (Central Illinois) mounted an impressive comeback on Sunday, firing a career-low 79 at Buffalo Ridge Springs to erase the deficit and force a sudden-death playoff with Brian Sanders (Birmingham). Along the way, Pavese also recorded his first round in the 70s and his first even-par nine holes in APT competition.
Returning to Buffalo Ridge Springs’ opening hole, both players found the fairway off the tee and elected to lay up, leaving themselves approximately 100 yards into the green.
Playing first, Sanders hit his approach to roughly 30 feet below the hole. Pavese followed but pushed his approach into the greenside bunker, leaving himself with a difficult up-and-down to extend the playoff. After Pavese was unable to convert the par save, Sanders two-putted to secure the Division 4 championship and one of the biggest victories of his season.
Although Sanders claimed the title, Pavese’s final-round performance was one of the breakout stories of the weekend and showcased the determination that defines championship golf on the Amateur Players Tour.
Carl Elliston (Metro NY) finished third, while Marvin Christie (Tulsa) and Jason Walling (Indianapolis) completed the top five.
Division 5
Matt Salvo (Tulsa) captured the Division 5 championship after posting rounds of 90-91 to finish at 39-over par (181).
Abigail Brooks (Kentucky) finished just one stroke behind after an outstanding Sunday round, while Michael Elder (Denver) claimed third. Garye LaFevers (Phoenix) and Brian Cope (St. Louis) rounded out the top five.
Mid-Am Net
Dalton Silas (Birmingham) completed a remarkable weekend by adding the Mid-Am Net championship to his Division 3 victory. Silas posted rounds of 67-69 to finish at 6-under par (136), earning his second title of the weekend.
Ricky Muniz finished runner-up at 4-under, while Brian Cope (St. Louis) claimed third. Nathan Turner (Central Illinois) finished fourth, with Kevin Smith and Jesse VanVleet sharing fifth.
Senior Net
Fresh off his playoff victory in Division 4, Brian Sanders (Birmingham) added another trophy by winning the Senior Net championship with rounds of 68-66 to finish at 8-under par (134).
Brandon Hale (Kansas City) finished runner-up, while Edward Pavese (Central Illinois) continued his impressive championship with a third-place finish after posting the low final round in the division. Todd Feuerhaken (St. Louis) and Gerald Harsley (St. Louis) tied for fourth.
Worldwide Golf National Player of the Year Race Tightens
With one of the largest point opportunities remaining on the 2026 schedule, the Independence Open had a significant impact on the Worldwide Golf National Player of the Year standings. As the Tour heads into the final three National Majors of the season—Summer Stableford at Sequoyah National, The Donald Ross Memorial at French Lick, and Bear’s Best Atlanta—every point becomes increasingly valuable before the season culminates at the North American Championship.
In Division 1, Chayton Jordan’s victory added valuable momentum to his season, while John Masotti (Carolina Triad) continues to lead the Worldwide Golf National Player of the Year standings over Erik Benson (Atlanta) and Andrew Buse (Kentucky).
Division 2 leader Todd Feuerhaken (St. Louis) strengthened his position with another runner-up finish, while Daniel Black’s victory added another chapter to one of the season’s strongest division races.
Dalton Silas’ championship performance moved him closer to the top of the Division 3 standings, where Pat Ryan (Myrtle Beach) continues to hold the lead entering the final stretch.
Brian Sanders’ playoff victory provided a substantial boost in Division 4, where he continues to chase leaders David Dick (Myrtle Beach), James Plaire (Las Vegas), and Joey Fyall II (Carolina Triad) in one of the Tour’s tightest Worldwide Golf National Player of the Year races.
In Division 5, Matt Salvo’s major championship victory came at a critical point in the season as Garye LaFevers (Phoenix) continues to lead the national standings.
With only three National Majors remaining before the North American Championship, the race for the Worldwide Golf National Player of the Year title is far from decided. The Independence Open provided another reminder that every tournament, every finish, and every point will matter as the 2026 season enters its final chapter.
