Seventeen-year-old Hudson Shy (Bogey Hills Country Club) fired a competitive course record 10-under par 61 in the opening round and ran away from the field to claim the James Millard Holtgrieve Trophy at the St. Louis District Golf Association’s (STLGA) 41st annual Jim Jackson Invitational at Algonquin Golf Club on Sunday, Oct. 11 in suburban Glendale, Mo. Shy finished at 11-under for a six stroke edge over runner-up Joe Migdal (Old Hickory Golf Club) in gloriously sunny, warm fall conditions.
Shy, who won consecutive STLDGA Hardin Junior Championships in 2024 and 2025, sent an early message to the 33-player field in Saturday’s opening round with five birdies on the front nine including consecutive birdies on Hole Nos. 5-8. He followed that with six more birdies on the back nine including back-to-back birds on Hole Nos. 12-13 and 15-16.
“I hit a lot of really good wedges, got a few putts to drop, putter got hot and I played well,” explained Shy, who is in his senior year at St. Charles West High School.
Shy had entered that elusive and cherished place that all athletes strive to attain: The Zone. “I was focused throughout the round,” he said. “It was a lot of fun.”
Chad Niezing (Meadowbrook Country Club) was trailing by six shots with a 4-under 67 as he tried to keep pace with four birdies on the back nine of round one, but Shy was resistant to any kind of threat. Niezing eventually finished third at 3-under 139.
With that healthy lead, Shy entered Sunday just trying to stay within his process. “Commanding my targets, commanding my shots and let everything take care of itself,” he simply said.
Shy played steadily through the final round, pushing to 12 under through four holes. After bogeys on Hole Nos. 11 and 14, he responded with birdies on Hole Nos. 15 and 16 to once again reach 12-under. A bogey on 18 left him at 11-under 131 and safely holding the trophy. Shy is also the youngest winner of the Jackson to add to his record setting weekend.
Migdal shot Sunday’s low round at 4-under, finishing at 5-under 137. STLDGA legend Skip Berkmeyer (The Legends Country Club) shot 70s on both days to finish fourth at 2-under 140.
The championship is open to district members who qualified in district events throughout the year, past champions and the club champion from each member club in the 36 hole stroke-play championship.
In 2025, Algonquin Golf Club’s Shawn Jasper roared back to shade Bubba Chapman in a one hole playoff to claim the inaugural James Millard Holtgrieve Trophy. Jasper didn’t participate in this year’s event.
