1960 NW Copper Oaks Circle, Blue Springs, MO 64015
Email: midwest@pgahq.com Website: Midwest Office: (816) 229-6565
Click here to view Midwest PGA Section's Staff Listing
Click here to view Midwest PGA Section's Board of Directors
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The Toyota 36-Hole Stroke Play Championship at Sycamore Ridge Golf Club turned out to be a true test of resilience. Despite a grueling two-hour weather delay and relentless, bustling winds, Trey McCrae braved the elements to capture the champion's title. Due to severe weather, the tournament was ultimately shortened to a gritty 27-hole format. Representing Twin Hills Golf & Country Club, McCrae carded a 1-under par overall, securing his hard-fought victory by a narrow margin over runners-up Robert Russell and Chris Mabry.
The Midwest PGA extends a massive thank you to our presenting sponsor, the KC Area Toyota Dealers, for their generous and continued dedication to local golf. Special gratitude also goes to our outstanding host facility, Sycamore Ridge Golf Club, for keeping the course in championship condition, as well as to our supporting sponsors, Levelwear, Icon Wallets, and StrackaLine.
The 2026 36-Hole Four-Ball Championship at Silo Ridge Golf & Country Club came right down to the wire this year, resulting in an exciting tie at the top of the leaderboard. Larry Hadden (Shawnee G&CC) and Jeremy Dear shared the prestigious title with Marcus Erkel (Emporia GC) and Taylor Griffith (Twin Hills G&CC) after both powerhouse teams finished the tournament at an impressive 13-under par.
Hadden and Dear set the pace early, firing a 64 in the opening round and remaining steady with a 67 in the final round to stay out in front. However, Griffith and Erkel mounted a massive second-round charge, carding a tournament-low 65 to erase a two-shot deficit and earn their share of the victory.
The MWPGA extends a sincere thank you to our supporting sponsors: John McMillan with Antigua for his continued commitment to the section, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka for sponsoring the Holes of the Week.
It was an incredibly competitive day on the course for Pro Open #2, culminating in a dramatic three-way split for the top spot. Congratulations to Sean Dougherty, Jeff Sedorcek, and Heeil Yang, who all posted an impressive score of 68 (3-under par) to share the tournament title.
We want to extend our appreciation to our host facility, Lake Quivira, for providing a fantastic venue and a challenging test for all of our players. We are also incredibly excited to have the support of our presenting sponsor, Experience Ireland Golf and Travel. Finally, an additional thank you goes out to our supporting sponsor, Todd Field with Waggle, for his continued commitment and support of the MWPGA.
Golf is often celebrated as a game of precision and patience, but for military veterans in our region, it has become a powerful vehicle for community, healing, and renewed purpose. The Midwest PGA’s commitment to our nation’s heroes has reached inspiring new milestones through the continuous expansion of the flagship PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program and its thriving follow-up initiative, the Midwest Grads.
The spring season has been an incredibly active and rewarding period for the PGA REACH Midwest Foundation. Across the section, dedicated PGA Professionals successfully wrapped up eight distinct PGA HOPE series. These developmental clinics introduce golf to veterans and active-duty military personnel as a form of physical, mental, and emotional therapy. Notably, this spring marked a historic milestone for our section with our first-ever all-female PGA HOPE series, which proudly welcomed 14 participants into the program.
While the final graduation numbers for this spring's cohorts are still being finalized, the energy on the driving ranges and practice greens has been nothing short of phenomenal. Each series provided participants with the foundational skills of the game, completely free of charge, under the expert guidance of certified PGA instructors. More importantly, it gave them a supportive environment to rediscover the unique camaraderie and structure often missed after transitioning out of military service.
A common challenge for any introductory sports program is maintaining momentum once the initial classes conclude. That is where the Midwest Grads program steps in, ensuring that the bonds formed during PGA HOPE transition into lifelong connections. To keep graduates engaged and swinging throughout the winter months, the section hosted two dedicated Midwest Grads leagues at the PGA Superstore.
Spanning four weeks each, these indoor leagues offered an ideal blend of friendly competition and social interaction. For veterans looking to build confidence, the state-of-the-art simulator environment provided a relaxed, weather-proof setting to hone their new skills, stay connected with fellow graduates, and keep the game integrated into their weekly routines.
The leagues are just one piece of the puzzle. Midwest PGA Professionals are providing instruction and Midwest golf facilities are partnering with the PGA REACH Midwest Foundation to host monthly golf experiences. There is a balance of on-the-course and off-the-course activities to foster greater camaraderie. These gatherings ensure that no graduate feels left behind after their formal classes wrap up.
By blending structured play days with a robust camaraderie mission, PGA REACH Midwest and its partners are fulfilling a vital mission: ensuring that golf isn’t just a game these veterans learned for six weeks, but a community they belong to for a lifetime.
Of course, expanding the reach of these impactful programs requires strong community backing. The Midwest PGA and PGA REACH Midwest extend a huge thank you to both the Kansas City Area Toyota Dealers and the David Woods Kemper Veterans Foundation for their continued support of this life-changing program. Their generous commitment ensures that our section can continue to serve local veterans, providing them with the resources, instruction, and community they deserve long after their military service concludes.
