Skip Gets It Done Again
Skip Berkmeyer (The Legends Country Club) managed some physical limitation and the challenges of the 33-player field to grab his second-consecutive Louis Cassett Trophy for the 2025 St. Louis District Golf Association Senior Championship at Winghaven Country Club on Wednesday, Aug. 27. Tim Eaton (Quincy Country Club) was steady with a pair of 73s to capture the Tony Miller Trophy for the Super Seniors tournament.
The championship is 36 hole stroke-play gross competitions for any district members at least 50 years old. Super-Senior division is at least 65 years old. The top five and ties of Seniors and top two and ties of Super-Seniors qualify for the Jim Jackson Invitational at Algonquin Country Club in October.
Somewhat compromised by an aching back, Berkmeyer carded back-to-back 72s for an even-par 144. “I’ve been fighting some injury with my back, was a little better today after some treatment,” Berkmeyer noted. “I was just trying to get it around, keep it in play, give myself opportunities and try not to make mistakes – not necessarily the most fun way to play. I played pretty conservatively and gave myself a chance.”
First round leader Dean Fitzpatrick (Greenbriar Hills Country Club) was the only player in the field under par at -1 at the end of play Wednesday with reigning champ Berkmeyer lurking one stroke back. Fitzpatrick continued to hold that one-stroke advantage until disaster struck on the back nine Wednesday with bogeys at 11 and 12, and a double on 13, opening the door for Berkmeyer.
David Pfeil (The Legends Country Club) finished one stroke back at one-over 145. Pfeil wouldn’t second guess or think of the what-ifs during two days of competition. “Every golfer can do better,” said Pfeil, who birdied holes 14 and 15 to pull within one. “You just gotta look at the positive things that happened. I got it close, so I was happy with the finish. He had to make the last putt, so that’s what you want.”
Berkmeyer acknowledged that Pfeil played well. “Made me think about it a little more,” said Berkmeyer, who didn’t hit his driver all day. “I didn’t know how I was going to hit it, whether it was going to come off solid or if it was going to come off with the yardage that I wanted, because I was hurting a little bit.”
David Bremer (Persimmon Woods Country Club) and Fitzpatrick tied for third at four-over 148.
It’s the fifth STLGA event that Berkmeyer has won in his illustrious career. He previously captured the STLDGA’s Men’s Championship, the Jim Jackson Invitational (2020) and the Bob Cochran Mid-Am (2023). He is the first competitor to claim all four titles.
In the Super Seniors field of 20 golfers, Tom Dean (Forest Hills Country Club) was 2-under par after 18 holes, but couldn’t maintain that advantage. After a birdie on the first hole Wednesday, Dean faded with six bogeys, including a double on the eighth hole to record a 5-over 77 and succumbed to Eaton’s steady play. Dean finished tied with Glen Hall (Winghaven Country Club) for runner-up at 3-over.
Keeping it simple worked for Dean. “I kept the driver in play and got it on the green with only two bogeys in two days,” said the 71-year-old Dean. “I really liked the golf course, just a fun course to play. There wasn’t a basic challenge to beat it, just keep it in the fairways and get it on the green.”
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