Bauman & Bauman set scoring record to win the Merit Amateur

Riley Bauman and Greg Bauman of Crystal Lake, Ill. won the 17th Merit Amateur Invitational on Thursday, edging out former champions B.J. Bohne and John Wright by a single point at the Merit Club.

The Baumans, who finished seventh in their first appearance in the tournament last year, accumulated 27 points in the Stableford format, setting a tournament scoring record. The previous record of 25 points was set in 2012 by Brian Atkinson and Blake Johnson.

Scoring was low at the Merit Club, with four teams reaching the 20 point mark. The 54-hole event features two 27-hole days, with a best-ball for the first 18 holes and a two-player aggregate for the final 9 holes.

Bohne (Oak Brook, Ill.) and Wright (Aurora, Ill.) were aiming for their second Merit Amateur title, having won in 2011. They finished with 26 points, which would have won in every other year the tournament has been played.

Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park, Ill.) was trying to win a third Merit Amateur with a third different partner. He and John Ramsey (Glenview, Ill.) finished third with 24 points.

The Wisconsin-based team of Todd Schapp and John Staehler came in fourth with 20 points.

Ryan Anetsberger (Glan Ellyn, Ill.), who won last year's tournament with Jon Shaver, finished fifth with partner Andy Mack of Roselle, Ill. with 17 points. Former champions Steve Sawtell (Northfield, Ill.) and Michael Natale (Burr Ridge, Ill.) finished ninth with 14 points.

SENIOR DIVISION

Team Vernasco (Merit photo)

In the Senior Division, John Vernasco of Libertyville, Ill. and Steve Vernasco of Fort Wayne, Ind. racked up 35 points to win their second Merit Senior title in three years. It wasn't the dominating win that they had in 2017 when they put up 42 points, more than double the total of the runners-up, but it was impressive nonetheless as they won by seven points over Matt Horwitch and David Feder.

Michael McLoone and Mike Karney were third with 24 points, followed by Ryan Hill and Eric Joseph of Texas at 23.

Two-time champions Mark Esposito and Ted Zurkowski finished tenth with 6 points, while the defending champions Chris Beto and Jeff Holmgaard were 11th with 5 points.