Midwest Cup: Tournament Host Missouri Blows Away the Field
10/7/2018 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: SentryWorld Golf Course
The tournament hosts blow open a close contest in the unique event featuring 10-man teams from across the Midwest
SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. (October 7, 2018) - Team Missouri broke open a close contest on the final day of the Midwest Cup, shooting a remarkable 8 under in the final round to prevail by 39 shots at the Club at Porto Cima.
The host team took a seven-shot lead over Illinois into the final round, which in the unique best-7-scores-out-of-10-players format is a very small advantage. But the ensuing Show-Me State avalanche left the field behind, with all seven counting scores at 73 or lower.
Brad Nurski rebounded from a poor second round to lead Missouri with the low round of the tournament, a 6-under 66 that included 7 birdies. Hunter Parrish added a 69, and Chad Niezing overcame a slow start to get into the red with a 1-under 71.
Skip Berkmeyer and Wayne Fredrick recorded 72s for the hosts, while Sam Migdal and Steve Groom shot 73s.
Missouri finished the tournament at 12-over 1524. Their final-round 496 was the low round of the tournament by 14 shots.
Illinois finished a distant second at 1563, with Kansas third, Nebraska fourth and Iowa fifth.
With his final-round 66, Nurski captured the individual championship by three shots over his teammate Migdal, with a three-round total of 3-under 213. It was Nurski's third win in the event, having previously won in 2014 and 2015.
John Ehrgott of Illinois finished third, Niezing fourth, and Parrish tied fifth with Tony Albano, Jr. of Illinois.
Missouri took low senior individual honors as well, with Groom and Fredrick tied at 8-over 224.
DAY TWO RECAP
Team Missouri shot an 11-over 515 to overtake Illinois and take a seven-shot lead into the final round of the Midwest Cup at the Club at Porto Cima.
The Midwest Cup is a team competition among 10-man teams representing states in the Midwest U.S. Each day, the top seven scores count toward the team score.
The tournament hosts began the day three shots behind Illinois but made their move on the 8th and 9th holes, where the seven counting scorers racked up nine birdies. Their counting scores ranged from 71 to 77, with 2016 Missouri Amateur champion Sam Migdal leading the way with a 1-under 71. Migdal moved into a tie for the individual lead with John Ehrgott of Illinois at 1-under 143.
Missouri was able to take the lead despite their low round-one scorer, three-time state champion Brad Nurski, stumbling to a 78 on Saturday. Nurski fell into a tie for 4th individually.
Skip Berkmeyer rebounded from a poor first round to record an even-par 72.
Illinois could not maintain the pace they set in the first round, shooting a 24-over-par 525. On Friday their highest counting score was a 75, but on Saturday they had four counting scores above that figure, having to count a 76, two 77s and a 78.
Ehrgott had the low round of the day, a 2-under 70 that featured five birdies in the middle of his round, including three in a row to close out his front nine.
Kansas is a further nine shots back of Illinois, with Nebraska fourth and Iowa fifth.
DAY ONE RECAP
Team Illinois took the first-round lead at the 2018 Midwest Cup, shooting a 6-over 510 score in the unique team format and building a three-shot lead over the tournament host Missouri at the Club at Porto Cima.
The Midwest Cup is a team competition among 10-man teams representing states in the Midwest U.S. Each day, the top seven scores count toward the team score, making team depth paramount.
Illinois showed off their depth on Friday. Their seven counting scores ranged from 71 to 75, and after making the turn at 11 over, they went 5 under as a team on the back nine. Michael Fastert and Tony Albano, Jr. led the way with 1-under 71s that put them tied for second individually.
Missouri was led by Brad Nurski, the back-to-back reigning state amateur champion and runner-up in last month's Crump Cup. Nurski had seven birdies en route to a 3-under 69.
How deep are the Show-Me Staters? Three-time state amateur champ and U.S. Am match play qualifier Skip Berkmeyer wasn't a counter and Missouri still sits in second, just three shots back. Their counting scores ranged from Nurski's 69 to 77.
Kansas is another 15 shots back in third, followed by Nebraska and Iowa.
Tracy Chamberlin of Kansas and Wayne Fredrick of Missouri are the low seniors with rounds of even-par 72.
Players are invited to play in the Midwest Cup based on performance in their respective state golf association events throughout the season.
The second round will be played at Porto Cima on Saturday, with the final round on Sunday.
About the Midwest Cup
The Midwest Cup is an eight-state team golf tournament (consisting of 10-players on each team) with the individual stroke- play champion recognized. States involved: Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, South Dakota & Missouri. The...
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners
Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Inside Gil Hanse’s Restoration of Baltusrol’s Upper Course: A Return to Tillinghast’s
Dec 11, 2025Renowned architect Gil Hanse reveals how he brought Baltusrol’s Upper Course back to life by honoring A.W. Tillinghast’s original