Gov. Jay Nixon addresses those attending the first-ever Golf Day at Jefferson City Country Club

Governor Jay Nixon helped tee off the first day of the Governor’s Conference on Tourism by proclaiming today as Missouri’s first-ever Golf Day, which is designed to highlight the economic impact that the game has on our state.

AUDIO: Gov. Jay Nixon on the impact of golf in Missouri (5:00)

The inaugural Missouri Golf Day Tournament, at Jefferson City Country Club, will direct all proceeds to the Gateway PGA Foundation, which works with underprivileged youth to develop their love of the game. Also in attendance was former Cardinal great Ozzie Smith, who is the president of the Gateway PGA Foundation.

AUDIO: Ozzie Smith’s brief comments on golf (1:00)

Missouri’s 352 courses help generate $613.8 million in revenue last year. That is according to a study done by SRI to discover the economic impact on golf in Missouri. Other key numbers from the study shows that golf revenues are roughly 75% of the revenues of all other major spectator sports combined, including football, baseball, hockey, auto racing, horse racing and soccer to name a few. Missouri’s golf industry supports nearly 21,000 jobs with a yearly income of $485 million.

Missouri will be on some of golf’s biggest stages in the coming years, at Bellerive Country Club in suburban St. Louis will host the 2013 Senior PGA and 2018 PGA Championship.

The 2011 Missouri Fore State Team prepares to meet Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma during August 2nd – 4th at Hardscrabble Country Club in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Kansas is the defending champion. Missouri’s last victory was in 2006 and holds a total of six victories since the “Ryder Cup style” Fore State Team Championship’s inception in 1995. This year’s team has some of the best chosen from the 2011 Missouri Women’s Amateur Championship field ready to bring the Fore State trophy back to Missouri. They are:

Ellen Port, St. Louis – Seven time Missouri Amateur Champion and nationally renowned amateur competitor

Catherine Dolan, St. Louis – 2011 Missouri Amateur Champion, recently returned from round of 16 showing at the US Women’s Amateur Publinks Championship

Kayla Eckelkamp, Washington – Maryville University senior just finished as runner up at the Missouri Women’s Amateur by shooting a course record 67.

Haelena Schwemmer, Dardenne Prairie – Evans Scholar heading for the University of Missouri this year.

Katrina Choate, Fenton – Drury University senior is a past Amateur Runner up and is an All American Scholar.

Alisha Matthews, St. Louis – Southern Illinois University senior with several top three finishes at the state Amateur and finished runner up in 2010.

Morgan Lamberson, Marshall – Drury University Sophomore and All American Scholar, past Junior Four State Championship member.

Meghan Mueller, Columbia – Rockbridge High School team leader, Tribune Female Athlete of the Year, past Junior Four State Championship team member.

McCall Christopher, Lee’s Summit – Indiana State University sophomore, was the 2010 MWGA Junior Champion and placed fourth this year at Bellerive.

Kristen Hamel, Chesterfield – William and Mary senior has a school record of 69 in the ECAC Championships

Catherine Dolan of Ballwin, MO has emerged the winner of the 73rd MWGA Women’s Amateur Championship shooting a final round 71. Defending Champion Ellen Port had a three shot lead going into the third round, but finished in third.

[Read more...]

Cooler temperatures were a welcome relief as scores improved during the second round of the MWGA Women’s Amateur Championship at Bellerive Country Club.

[Read more...]

Temperatures at Bellerive Country Club hovered at 97 as the MWGA Women’s Amateur Championship began it’s first round. Defending Champion Ellen Port has a two shot lead over last year’s runner up, Drury Senior Katrina Choate.

McCall Christopher of Indiana State is in third place with a 74. Kayla Eckelkamp of Maryville University shot a 75 to finish round one in fourth place. Missouri State University senior Catherine Dolan finished with a 77 to tie Kelli Kirchoff of Wentzville for fifth place.

Complete first round results