Missouri Mid-Amateur champion Ryan Eckelcamp (C)
with Chris Kovach and Chad Niezing (MGA photo)

Eckelcamp started the day in a tie for the lead with Eric Ecker (Springfield, MO) after both players opened the tournament with four-under-par 68s on Saturday.

Ecker fell away early, losing three shots in the first three holes. Defending champion Chad Niezing (Manchester, MO) also lost ground, having started one shot back but making bogey on the first two holes.

But Eckelcamp didn't have any breathing room, as Chris Kovach (St. Louis, MO) was drawing closer on his way to the low round of the tournament. Kovach started the day four shots back at even par, but put together a six-birdie round against a single bogey for a five-under 67, posting a target score of five under par 139.

A bogey on the 12th dropped Eckelcamp to five under, but two holes later he started a run that would lock up the tournament, making three straight birdies from 14 to 16, and giving him a three shot lead with two to go. A bogey on the 18th produced the final margin of two shots.

Niezing closed with a 71 to finish third at four-under 140, with Ecker (73) fourth at three-under 141.

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