Rain Stayed Away, Migdal Won The Day
Sam Migdal (Norwood Hills Country Club) birdied three of the last four holes to capture the 2024 Bob Cochran Mid-Am at Bogey Hills Country Club on Monday, May 13. In the one-day, 36-hole event, the Central Missouri University alum finished even, slipping past runner-up Paul Neeman (Persimmon Woods Golf Club) by a stroke. Keith Hanson (Westborough Country Club) claimed the Net Division title.
Migdal walked away with the inaugural Dennis P. Walters Trophy, which was presented by Walters’ daughter, Angel Walters-Likens, who talked about the significance of the trophy honoring her father. “To those who knew him, the game of golf was a huge part of his life, especially in St. Louis,” she said. “He would do whatever he could to help all the districts. He always tried to provide a golf course to accommodate the districts, and I’m trying to continue that tradition.”
Migdal was in the hunt from the beginning as he strung together four birdies in five holes (holes 8, 9, 10 and 12) during the morning on the opening 18. Nevertheless, Neeman had a two-stroke lead as they headed into the final nine holes. After an hour-long rain shower that slightly slowed play, Migdal reheated with birdies on holes 15, 16 and 17 to grab the title.
“I didn’t play that great when it was raining, but when it stopped is when I went on a run again,” Migdal said. “I just tried to stick it out, because I figured everyone would be struggling.”
This was the first time that the Cochran was played over 36 holes on one day. “I wouldn’t say I’m used to it, but in college, I usually played better on the 36-hole days, just because you can kind of get in a groove,” Migdal said.
Migdal and Neeman were paired together, but neither completely understood that they were battling for the championship down to the final putt. “I wasn’t really looking at the scoreboard,” Migdal said. “Until I made that three-birdie run, I thought he was a little ahead of me. Again like in college, we never knew where we were, you finished the round and found out you won … it’s probably better for me that way!”
Chris Kovach (Old Hickory Golf Club) finished third at +3. Zach Decker (Sunset Country Club) and Dan Emrick (Old Hickory Golf Club) tied for fourth at +5.
The Cochran is open to any district member who is at least 25 years old. The top five finishers qualified for the Jim Jackson Invitational to be held at Algonquin Country Club in October.
Earlier in the afternoon, Hanson recovered from a near disastrous opening hole to claim the Net Division title as the only competitor in the 18-player field to finish under par with a 69 for 18 holes.
“I five-putted No. 1, which was the 10th hole,” Hanson said. “After that, it was fire the middle of the green and stay below the hole … that’s what got me in trouble on No. 1, because I was above the hole twice and putted off the green twice … stay below the hole, two-putt and move on to the next hole.”
Hanson found the speed of the greens challenging, “How slippery the greens are above the hole makes it incredibly difficult – always staying below the hole and knowing how the wind is blowing, so that you’re always in position.”
With the heavy rains that the St. Louis Metro area has endured the past few weeks, Hanson was enthusiastic about the course’s condition, “This is the driest course I’ve played on in four or five weeks, so it wasn’t an issue at all.”
Hanson held off Bogey Hills veterans Bob Cissell and Joseph Stoll, who carded scores of 71 and 72, respectively.
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