Reigning champion Justin Bryant (St. Louis Country Club) breezed into the semifinals needing only 26 holes to advance through match play at the 104th St. Louis District Golf Association Griesedieck Championship at Glen Echo Country Club on Saturday, July 22. Peter Weaver (Bellerive Country Club), Tyler Linenbroker (Forest Hills Country Club) and Logan Lowery (St. Clair Country Club) will join Bryant in the semifinals scheduled to tee off at 7 a.m. on Sunday, July 22.
Setting the stage for his run on Saturday, Bryant shot sizzling back-to-back 67s during stroke play qualifying on Thursday and Friday, July 20-21 to earn medalist honors for the second consecutive year. Bryant persevered through a 2-hour, 10-minute rain delay on Thursday that dumped 3/4” rain on the course, testing Superintendent’s Joe Wachter’s team, and they quickly restored the course to outstanding playing condition. The softened greens aided the competitors and led to better scores. 2020 champion Jason Landry (Greenbriar Hills Country Club) shot 69-67 to finish as runner-up.
Round of 16
The Round of 16 began on a cool, bright morning with Bryant routing #16 Patrick Riordan (Meadowbrook Country Club) 8 & 7. Meanwhile, Glen Echo standout Drew Pranger dispatched three-time past champion Chris Kovach (Old Hickory Golf Club) 9 & 8.
#4 Sam Migdal (Norwood Hills Country Club) defeated #13 Robert Trittler (Persimmon Woods Golf Club) 2-up, while #5 Weaver handled #12 Michael Becker (Glen Echo Country Club) 4 & 3.
#15 Rob Scherer (Lake Forest Golf & Country Club) upset Landry 1-up, and #7 Linenbroker defeated #10 Ben Gelven (Glen Echo Country Club) 2-up.
#3 Tony Gumper (Old Hickory Country Club) outlasted #14 Sean Brennan (Westborough Country Club) in 21 holes, and #11 Lowery won a back-and-forth battle with 2011 champion Alex Cusumano (Norwood Hills Country Club) 1-up.
Quarterfinals
As the afternoon warmed up for the Quarterfinal Round, Bryant stayed hot by winning five of the last seven holes played on the back nine to oust Pranger 4 & 2, and Weaver defeated Migdal 4 & 3.
Linenbroker rolled past veteran Rob Scherer 5 & 4.
After playing 21 holes in the morning, Gumper pushed Lowery to 20 holes before Lowery prevailed with a birdie on Hole #2.
Semifinals
In the semifinal round on Sunday morning, Bryant will square off against Weaver, while Linenbroker will take on Lowery. The championship match is slated for a noon tee time.
Established in 1901, Glen Echo is the oldest, continually running country club and golf course west of the Mississippi River. It is also the oldest, continuously operating Olympic venue in the world. Glen Echo opened to glowing reviews as the first, complete 18-hole golf course in St. Louis.