Photo of Justin Bryant courtesy of the St. Louis District Golf Association
Justin Bryant captured his first Griesedieck Championship by winning the St. Louis District Golf Association’s top event in July.
Bryant, who played in college at Wake Forest and in high school at MICDS, defeated Shawn Jasper, 5 and 3, at the Country Club of St. Albans in the 103rd playing of the tournament. (Jasper himself played in college at Missouri and in high school at Francis Howell.)
Both Bryant and Jasper were formerly professional players before returning to amateur status.
“I have known Shawn for a while and played with him a few times over the years,” Bryant says. “I knew it was going to be a tough match because Shawn is a great player. I was really pleased with how I played.”
In the semifinals, Bryant defeated Peter Weaver, 2 up. Jasper got past Drew Pranger, 4 and 3.
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“It is really cool to see how long the tournament has been conducted and to see the names that have won the trophy,” Bryant says. “I immediately thought of my [three] boys, who would be very excited because it is a very big trophy.”
The 10th annual Griesedieck Championship will be played at Glen Echo Country Club next summer.
In other golf news
Faith Belmear became the Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion
Faith Belmear became the 84th Missouri Women’s Amateur Champion, winning the tournament at Norwood Hills Country Club with a 6-under-207 finish. Belmear is from Owasso, Oklahoma, and plays collegiately for Missouri State. Belmear also qualified for the United States Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay Golf Club in Seattle.
Wildwood native Brooke Biermann also played in the U.S. Women’s Amateur. The Lafayette graduate shot a 152 on rounds of 76-76. She plays golf at Michigan State.
Photo of Faith Belmear courtesy of the Missouri Golf Association
Trip Sanfelippo plays in the U.S. Junior Amateur
Trip Sanfelippo played in the U.S. Junior Amateur but did not make the cut at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon. The recent Lafayette graduate and Wildwood native shot rounds of 78 and 80, for a 158. The cut for match play came at 1-over-par 144.
“I feel like I prepared well, but sometimes it just doesn’t go your way out there,” Sanfelippo reflects. “I learned a ton from playing in the tournament and will always remember it. I definitely feel like I am a better player than I was before I competed in the event. It was incredible and hopefully will not be my last USGA championship.”
Photo courtesy of Trip Sanfelippo
Hannah Mottert gives impressive showing at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship
Hannah Mottert, a sophomore at Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, competed in the recent U.S. Kids Golf World Championship at the historic Pinehurst Golf Course in North Carolina. Her impressive showing at the big tournament included rounds of 92, 84 and 76, for a three-day total of 252.
Francis Howell coach Jason Ruth is excited about what Mottert can do this fall for the Vikings.
“This is going to be her bridge year, where she closes the gap on those who have bested her,” Ruth says. “She has worked very hard all summer. Her swing is the best I’ve seen it, and her equipment is now what a golfer of her caliber needs to have in the bag. Time will tell, but I’d just like one thing from her this season: the same level of humility and grace as she leads the Vikings [with], accompanied by a heap of other great talent within our program, to many top finishes.”
Photo courtesy of Hannah Mottert
Warren Mayes
Warren Mayes writes about the local golf scene for the Ladue News and his motto is you can't birdie them all unless you birdie No. 1.
