Locals fall short of match play at Missouri Amateur tourney

A bad start in the opening round of the 99th Missouri Amateur Championship golf tournament became even worse in the second round for a handful of local participants.

Ben Brumitt of Cape Girardeau led five area golfers with a 13-over-par 157 after the second day of play Wednesday at the Blue Hills Country Club in Kansas City.

No local entries advanced to the match-play portion of the tournament, which includes the top 64 scores in stroke play.

Brumitt, who carded a 77 in Tuesday's opening round, fell to 12 strokes behind the medalist, Bryan Norton of Mission Hills, Kan., who shot a 145. Norton had a three-stroke lead entering the day and edged Jeff Zimmerman of Excelsior Springs, Mo., by a stroke.

Former Southeast Missouri State golfer Kent Phillips of Cape shot a 78 on Wednesday to finish at 158, and Central graduate Todd Obergoenner recorded a 79 for a total of 161.

Cape's Cord Dombrowski, managing member of Dalhousie Golf Club, improved three strokes from the first round with an 84. Jackson graduate Blake McDowell shot an 85 to finish at 174.

The tournament concludes with a 36-hole final on Sunday.