Old Hickory Golf Club’s team of Kyle Williams (P), Joe Richardson (Rep), Dan Emrick and Will Rowe Superintendent) shot 10-under par 132 to grab the St. Louis District Golf Association’s (STLDGA) Roy Wilson District Challenge at Franklin County Country Club (FCCC) on Thursday, April 30. Glorious spring conditions heralded FCCC’s inaugural event as the STLDGA’s newest member Club.
The Challenge features a team from each District Club to promote and support the STLDGA championship season. Two best balls with 80% of handicaps. The teams consist of the golf professional, golf course superintendent, district representative and a board member from each respective club.
Old Hickory Golf Professional Williams, along with Richardson, Emrick and Rowe, Old Hickory superintendent, were six under par through nine holes and added four more birdies to their total on the back nine to hold off any challenges from the 23-team field.
The Legends Country Club’s Golf Professional Brian Schmersahl, Sean Flower, Michael Meade and Jake Willis, Legends superintendent, were 3-under through nine, and were hot on the back nine at 5-under, but couldn’t quite catch the leaders as they finished at 8-under par 134.
Sunset Country Club’s Golf Professional Ryan Johnson, Andrew Belsky, Ken Allgeyer and Joe Lucas finished in a three-way tie for third at 6-under 136 with Winghaven Country Club’s Golf Professional Clayton Morrow, Scott McClellan, Didier Villard and superintendent Andy Burley, and Bogey Hills Country Club’s Golf Professional Ryan Roy, Jeffrey Nigel Alan Honerkamp and superintendent Chad Fetter. Bogey Hills’ team only trailed by a stroke through nine holes, but couldn’t put together a strong stretch run to catch the eventual champions.
Playing under the Stableford system, Persimmon Woods Golf Professional Eric Retzlaff topped his peers at 36 points, while Quincy Country Club Golf Professional Gideon Smith was runner-up with 35. Retzlaff was the most consistent performer among the professionals as he compiled 18 points on both the front and back nines. Smith came oh-so-close to matching Retzlaff, but totaled 17 on the front nine before he also added 18 on the back.Forest Hills Country Club’s JT Tierney, St. Clair Country Club’s Dennis Biedenstein and Green Briar Hills Country Club’s Matt Gindler each totaled 32.
Also playing individually under the Stableford system, the superintendents saw Wihitmoor Country Club’s Andrew Watts prevail with 36 points. Watts emulated Retzlaff by totaling 18 points on both the front and back nines. Winghaven Country Club’s Andy Burley was runner-up at 32 points. Bellerive Country Club’s Nick White and and Norwood Hills Country Club’s Mike Null tied for third with 31 points.
In 2025, the Algonquin Golf Club team captured the Challenge trophy for the third time by shooting a 12 under par 130. The team consisted of Golf Professional Brett Moomey, District Rep Shawn Jasper, Board Member David Neuner Jr and Superintendent Mitch Null.
Established in 1924 in the Ozark foothills just south of Washington, Mo. in Krakow, Franklin County Country Club has long set the standard in Franklin County as the place to belong for a country club experience.