Poplar Bluff's Vernon places 3rd at MGA Senior Amateur Championship

FILE PHOTO

MISSION HILLS, Kan. — Poplar Bluff’s Jimmy Vernon finished third at the 33rd MGA Senior Amateur Championship on Wednesday while John Shock tied for ninth and Brad Thielemier tied for 15th.

David Rismiller of Kansas City won the two-day tournament at Mission Hills Country Club with an even-par 140 that featured a final-round 69. Harry Roberts of St. Joseph was second at 2-over 142.

Vernon started the second round a shot behind the first-round leaders, Rismiller, Roberts and Tim Holmes of Springfield.

Vernon started his round Wednesday with a double bogey before birdies on two of his next three holes. He made the turn a 1-over for the day after a bogey on the par-3 seventh then had two more with another on 15.

In the first round Tuesday, Vernon made the turn at 1-under after three straight birdies starting on the par-3 seventh. After consecutive bogeys starting on No. 11, Vernon had a pair of pars before birdies on the par-4 15th and 16th. He ran into trouble on the final hole to finish at 2-over 72.

Shock followed up a first-round 77 that feature one birdie and 10 pars with birdies on three of his first four holes in the second round. He made the turn 2-under for the day but was 2-over before a birdie on the par-4 16th and finished at 72 for a 149.

Thielemier had 14 pars for a first-round 76 and nine with three birdies for a 75 in the second round to finish at 151.

Bobby Godwin shot 155 to tie for 29th following up an 81 with a 74 that featured two birdies to make the turn at 2-under.

Troy Bell of Jackson tied for 42nd at 159 with a second-round 79.

Don Kuehn of Kanas City won the Super Senior title, open to players 65 and older, at 6-over 146.