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| 2010 St. Louis Publinx Open Results |
May 02, 2010 |
Berkmeyer edges teen amateur to win Publinx Open
By Bill Hester
SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH
05/03/2010
Ryan Haxel was elated with the 68 he scored Sunday at the 51st St. Louis Publinx Open at the Norman K. Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park.
But the 16-year-old amateur was just as happy that he beat the professional in his group, who also happens to be his father. Nash Haxel, the head professional at Glen Echo Country Club, shot a 71.
"I like my score in the tournament," said Ryan, a sophomore at Westminster Christian Academy. "But it's also nice to beat Dad. It's the first time I have done so in a competitive tournament."
Ryan Haxel, who teed off at 6:17 a.m., birdied the final two holes to take an early lead into the clubhouse. His score held until Skip Berkmeyer shot a 66 to win.
Haxel tied for second with David Strickland, who also shot a 68.
"I struck the ball the best I have all year," said Haxel, who shot a 78 in last year's Publinx. "I worked a lot on my short game and it paid off today. I birdied those last two holes from about 100 yards."
Ryan's round impressed his father.
"Ryan was unbelievable from tee to green," Nash Haxel said. "He could have easily shot a 65 today. He had a couple of three-putts and several lip-outs as well."
Berkmeyer, who was the Publinx amateur champion in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2009, had a steady round with one bogey. He only had two birdies until he birdied the final three holes, all par-4s.
"I consider this tournament like our opening day of the season," Berkmeyer said. "It's not only a tournament but also an event. I enjoy playing with my friends and I was happy with the way I played. I kept the ball in play and was able to hang in there and then had the good finish."
Mike Suhre continued his dominance of the professional division. The pro at Oak Brook Golf Club in Edwardsville won the Publinx for the fifth time in the past six years with a score of 69.
"I really love playing this course and in this tournament," said Suhre, who won in 2001 and 2002. "I've played with the same group of guys for the last six years or so, and it is a lot of fun. I am very comfortable playing this course."
Suhre survived his first penalty stroke ever in the tournament when he hit his second shot on the par-4 seventh hole in the water. It resulted in his second consecutive bogey, the only blemishes on his round, which featured three birdies.
Glenn Paulus won the senior division, shooting a round of 71.
Click Here For 2010 Publinx Open Resuts (PDF)
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