Michael Winslow (Central Links Golf Photo)
The 114th Kansas Amateur Match Play Championship was held July 16-21st at Topeka Country Club. The Championship began with a 36-hole stroke play, qualifying for the Round of 64 matches.
Micheal Winslow earned the title of Kansas Amateur Champion after 35 holes in the Final Round against Will King. Winslow finished 2up after 35 holes and was projected to shoot 73-67 in the Final Match. In Stroke Play Qualifying, Winslow shot 2-under with rounds of 70-70 to earn the tenth seed going into the Round of 64.
In the Round of 64, Winslow defeated Jack Bradbury 1up after 18 holes. In his second match, he won 3&2 against Jack Tarvin. During the Round of 16 Matches, Winslow played Jake Huffaker, winning the match 4&3.
In the Quarterfinals, Winslow played the two seed, Alex Springer, and won 5&4. Winslow played the Semifinals against Zach Sokolosky, the 2023 Kansas Amateur Champion. This was a rematch from the Final Match of the 2023 Kansas Amateur, where Winslow placed second. Winslow won the Semifinal Match 1up after 18 holes.
In the Final Match, Winslow played against Will King, the fifth seed. Both players are collegiate golfers in the state of Kansas. King, a part of the KU Men’s Golf Team, shot 5-under with rounds of 67-70 in the qualifying rounds earlier in the week. Winslow, a part of the Wichita State Men’s Golf Team, was tied with King after the first 18 of the 36-hole Final Match.
Both players won five holes to make the match even going into the final 18. Winslow heated up, winning the first hole of the second round. Winslow was 3up through 14, coming down to their final holes. King won the 16th hole to continue to push his way back. However, the players tied the 17th hole, ending the match at Winslow 2up over King.
Winslow’s victory also earned him an Exemption into the U.S. Amateur Championship in August.
“It’s huge to get in the U.S. Amateur; if you are playing Amateur golf, that’s the tournament everyone wants to be in. I can’t wait to get up to Hazeltine.” Winslow said.
ABOUT THE
Kansas Amateur
36 holes of individual stroke play qualifying to
determine low 64 players advancing to single
elimination match play bracket. Any player that is
not
exempt from regional qualifying must go through
one
of the five regional qualifying sites or the second
chance qualifier to advance to the championship.
Open
to any male amateur golfer with an active
USGA/GHIN
Handicap Index through a KGA member club.
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