by Alan Hoskins
Add another chapter to the “Wild Finishes of the Wyandotte County Open Golf Tournament.”
Veteran Steve Groom won it but not before one of the most bizarre finishes in the 43-year history of Kansas City’s longest running tournament of its kind at Sunflower Hills Sunday.
Groom, defending champion Kevin Rome and 2013 champion Kyle Ritchie looked headed for a three-way playoff going into the final hole of the 36-hole tournament. Both Rome and Ritchie missed second shots just left of the green on the 361-yard closing hole but Ritchie chipped to within four feet; Rome to about 20 inches. Groom had a 22-foot birdie putt to win but left it four feet short to see who might blink.
Two did. Ritchie’s 4-footer caught the edge of the hole and then spun inches away. Groom knocked his in from about the same distance but Rome’s putt to tie spun 360 degrees around the hole.
“It horseshoed; it went all the way around,” groaned Rome, who also spun in disappointment. “Steve said he felt nervous on his putt. I felt confident, I just hit it a little too hard.”
“I’m the luckiest guy in Wyandotte County,” Groom said. “I’ve never won in a finish like that. I felt really bad (for Rome). I was not sure I was going to make mine.”
It was a record eighth WyCo championship for Groom but the first he’s played in since winning three in a row in 2006-2008.
“It’s always been my one of my favorite tournaments but every year it seemed like there’s been a conflict,” he said. One of Kansas City’s premier seniors, Groom has won Senior Player of the Year 19 times in the last 11 years including nine in Missouri, eight in Kansas and KCGA and KGA Player of the Year honors.
The tournament’s wild finish actually started on No. 14 when Groom’s second shot on the 480-yard hole lodged in the lip of a bunker.
“I had to try to hit it sideways but didn’t get the ball out of the bunker,” Groom said. His fourth shot sailed over the green and he needed to make a 12-foot putt for double bogey to stay within two shots of Rome. “That and a birdie on No. 12 were big,” he said.
Rome had a two-shot lead going into the 221-yard par 3 16th but his tee shot hooked far left down a hill and the ensuing double bogey enabled Ritchie and Groom to pull even.
Last year, Rome came out of the A flight to win and he almost did it again this year.
“Last year I didn’t expect to do anything and things fell my way,” said Rome, a 49-year-old employee of BPU. “This year and was six over par the last five holes and didn’t make a birdie.”
He did, however, win the A flight. Other flight winners included Tim Nick (B), Jerry Lamb (C), Andy Black (D) and Dan Burgess (E).
Aaron Uzelac, a two-time runnerup in the tourney, took a one-shot lead over Groom, Ritchie and Rome with a one-under par 71 Saturday and was right in the running until he double bogeyed No. 12 and then three-putted Nos. 14 and 15.
“Those killed me,” he said.
Just four strokes separated the top six finishers. Groom added a 78 to his opening par round for a 150 total with Ritchie and Rome one stroke back, Dale Nash and Brian Perdieu two shots back and Ritch Nigh and Uzelac fourth at 153.
Fast start carries Seber-Bradley to 11th women’s title
by Alan Hoskins
The WyCo men’s championship may have gone down to the final hole but Pat Seber-Bradley took all the drama out of the women’s 39th annual championship in a hurry.
Seber-Bradley won for a record 11th time with an opening round 84 that was six shots ahead of the field on the way to a 176 at Sunflower Hills Sunday. Brooklynn Lamberd, who is beginning her studies at Baker University this fall, was seven shots back in second with Donna Reid third at 187.
“Pat played extremely well Saturday,” said Reid, a past four-time champion. “She was never in trouble. It was like clockwork, fun to watch.”
“I did not have the same swing today and got in too many bunkers but I did play well Saturday,” agreed Seber-Bradley. “My approaches were really good and I only needed 26 putts. I just couldn’t miss.”
Even with 11 championships, Seber-Bradley said winning never gets old.
“I just love the competition and playing with Donna Reid and Brooklynn Lamberd was so much fun. Brooklynn is going to do well at Baker.”
A retired truck driver from BP Amoco, Seber-Bradley added the WyCo championship to both the Sunflower Hills and St. Andrews club championships, events she’s won each of the last two years.
Donna Nelson won the women’s B flight with Jane Lamb defeating Leslie Taylor on a scorecard playoff for second.
43rd Wyandotte County Open
Men
Championship – 1. Steve Groom, 150; 2. Kyle Ritchie, 151; 3. (tie) Dale Nash and Brian Perdieu, 152; 5. (tie) Aaron Uzelac and Ritch Nigh, 153).
A – 1. Kevin Rome, 151; 2. George Regam, 156; 3. Tim Skorija, 157; 4. Jerry Reid, 159; 5. (tie) Darrin Neal and Patrick Neal, 161.
B – 1. Tim Nick, 158; 2. Mike Klein, 159; 3. Ray Geisler, 161; 4. Brad Crosby, 162; 5. Rick Richardson, 163.
C – 1. Jerry Lamb, 165; 2. Bailey Dixon*, 167; 3. Terry Maskil, 167; 4. (Tie) Dan Maskil and Gary Burgess, 168.
D – 1. Andy Black, 165; 2. Alex Blancarte, 167; 3. Jerry Verbeck, 170; 4. Mike Super, 174; 5. David Gonzales, 175.
E – 1. Dan Burgess, 177; 2. Cody Carbajo, 182; 3. Jay Sutera, 185; 4. Len Zimmerman, 187; 5. Greg Schmidt, 191.
Women
A – 1. Par Seber-Bradley, 176; 2. Brooklynn Lamberd, 183; 3. Donna Reid, 187.
B – 1. Donna Nelson, 200; 2. Jane Lamb*, 206; 3. Leslie Taylor, 206.
Proximity prizes
Saturday – Closest to hole: Brian Shatto, No. 4; Robert Cochenour, No. 8; Easton Nigh, No. 13; David Gonzales, No. 16. Long putt No. 9, David Gonzales; Long drive No. 19, Andy Black.
Sunday – Closest to hole: Dave Grisso, No. 4; Brian Perdieu, No. 8; Steve Groom, No. 13; Brian Perdieu, No. 16. Long putt No. 9, Stuart Hunt; Long drive No. 10, Tim Hunt.
Kansas City’s longest putt – Michael Moore.