Mount Vernon standouts, Kring-led team win Junior Pro-Am

The Meek Chiropractic team of Preston Richardson, Lucas Ogden, Clayton Kiser and Dawson Meek -- with pro Kevin Kring -- won the B Division of the Betty and Bobby Allison's Junior Pro-Am on Thursday.
The Meek Chiropractic team of Preston Richardson, Lucas Ogden, Clayton Kiser and Dawson Meek — with pro Kevin Kring — won the B Division of the Betty and Bobby Allison’s Junior Pro-Am on Thursday at Rivercut Golf Course.

For years, 13-year-old Dawson Meek has grown up only hearing about Kevin Kring, the 2008 Central High School state golf champ who next week will play in the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper.

So imagine walking in Meek’s shoes on Thursday at Rivercut Golf Course, where he had the opportunity to play right alongside Kring in the Betty & Bobby Allison’s Junior Pro-Am.

“It was fun – like really fun. He is so good,” said a beaming Meek, who is about to begin eighth grade at Pershing Middle School. “His ball would go so high in the air whenever he hit — it was insane.”

Making memories on a sun-splashed day certainly became a focal point as a combined 64 high school and middle school golfers formed 17 teams and competed in the return of the Betty & Bobby Allison’s Junior Pro-Am.

The Ozark Electric team of Tripper Jensen, Ashley Childers, Kyle Milmouth and pro B.J. Pitzea won the A Division. Not pictured was Megan Poe.
The Ozark Electric team of Tripper Jensen, Ashley Childers, Kyle Milmouth and pro B.J. Pitzen won the A Division.

Ozark Electric, paired with pro golfer B.J. Pitzen, won the A Division by firing a combined 120. The team featured Mount Vernon’s college-bound seniors in Tripper Jensen (Missouri Southern), Ashley Childers (Missouri State) and Kyle Wilmouth. Pitzen shot a 65, while the team carded a 55.

“Pretty much every hole besides nine we did well on,” Jensen said. “It was good to get away from the stress (of readying for college). We all had a lot of fun.”

Meek Chiropractic, paired with Kring, won the B Division with a 120. The group included Meek, Lucas Ogden, Preston Richardson and Clayton Kaiser as the group fired a 65 while Kring finished with a 70.

The format was simple: Players used their best available drive, including the pro’s drive, and the amateurs scrambled. Team scores were the pro’s score and the team’s score.

Kring, expected to draw big crowds in the PCCC that plays Aug. 13-16 at Highland Springs Country Club, engaged in conversation with the middle schoolers throughout. He employed a neat strategy both to keep their attention and to maintain fun, even if there were wayward shots. And so the team played poker golf. The golfer with the best shot on each hole received a card, and a new shirt from Kring went to whoever held the best hand at the end of the round.

Kaiser took mental notes from Kring, who was recently awarded one of the PCCC’s four exemptions.

“He’s fun to watch,” said Kaiser, now only in his third year playing golf. “Whenever he addresses the ball, he has a routine. And I need to get one. He always comes back where he’s going to finish his back swing – and that’s one of my problems. I always get quick in my backswing. When I (eliminate it), that’s when I might get better.”

The Betty & Bobby Allison’s Junior Pro-Am marked the return of such an event after about an eight-year absence from the PCCC. Several youngsters expressed appreciation that it landed on the summer schedule.

Among them were Jackson Von Behren and Keaton Clark. Their Hutchison team, which included Jimmy Hutchison and Wes Humble, placed second in the A Division with a 128. They teamed with pro Mark Anderson.

“He helped us a lot with creating putts and always helped us when we asked for help,” said Behren, a Rogersville High School student.

Said Clark, “He had a funky lie next to a bunker where the ball was below his feet, and he was saying, ‘You’ve got to keep your shoulders parallel to the ground.

“Overall, it was fun,” Clark added. “Hopefully this is an annual thing.”

The day’s best round belonged to pro J.R. Reyes. He fired a nine-under-par 63 – that is 11 shots from the course record of 52, by the way – as he led the team of Cody Minor, John Haight and Jonathan Miller. They placed second in the B Division.

Betty & Bobby Allison’s Junior Pro-Am

Part of the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper

Thursday, Aug. 6 at Rivercut Golf Course

Format: Team scramble, add pro’s score

A Division winners

120 – B.J. Pitzen (65) & Ozark Electric team of Ashley Childers, Tripper Jensen, Kyle Wilmouth (55)

128 – Mark Baker (67) & Branson team of David Bennett, Jack Cathcart, Reed Parry, Cody Pate (61)

129 – Mark Anderson (67) & Hutchison team of Jimmy Hutchison, Jackson Von Behren, Wes Humble, Keaton Clark (62)

B Division winners

126 – Kevin Kring (70) & Meek Chiropractic team of Dawson Meek, Lucas Ogden, Preston Richardson, Clayton Kaiser (56)

126 – Travis Hampshire (63) & Seymour 2 team of Kymberlee Souder, Ellie Hagan, Aspen Williams, Brooklyn Williams (63)

140 – J.R. Reyes (73) & team of Cody Minor, John Gambon, Landon Haight, Johnathan Miller (67)

 

 

Springfield Advocates for Youth rescues troubled teens

Gary Camp of Springfield Advocates for Youth was the 2014 Judy Weekley Volunteer of the Year award winner.
Gary Camp of Springfield Advocates for Youth was the 2014 Judy Weekley Volunteer of the Year award winner.

Just like big-league baseball teams, children’s charities of the Ozarks employ staffs full of go-getters, and usually several emerge with so much energy for the job that it’s hard to ignore.

So when it comes to Springfield Advocates for Youth, you cannot miss Gary Camp. Or his wife, Gerrie, or Bob and Bonnie Samuels. And that’s a great thing.

This summer – like so many summers before – Camp and Co. have been out all over the Ozarks trying to sell tickets to the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper, a part of the PGA Tour’s annual Web.com Tour stop in Springfield.

The tournament has generated almost $12 million for children’s charities in its 25-year history – including a record $1 million-plus last year.

“It’s something to be proud of,” said Camp, named the winner of the Judy Weekley Volunteer of the Year Award in 2014. “When I sell a ticket, I tell them (its purpose), and they can’t believe it.”

The purpose being that the full amount of the $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket goes directly to each charity, while the ticket buyer is entered to win numerous prizes, including a 2015 Ford Mustang and $10,000. Thus, the PCCC is important for Springfield Advocates for Youth, which cares for troubled teens and steers them to become productive citizens.

More on SAY in a minute.

SUPPORTING THE PCCC = SUPPORTING CHARITIES

Buy a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket and all the money goes to your favorite charity -- and you also could win this 2015 Ford Mustang.
Buy a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket and all the money goes to your favorite charity — and you also could win this 2015 Ford Mustang.
  • HELP SPRINGFIELD ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH: To assist Springfield Advocates for Youth, the best way to help is through the PCCC. Call 417-837-3400.
  • FOR GOLF FANS, WIN PRIZES: The purchase of a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket serves as a four-day tournament pass, but that’s just a start. You’re also entered to win daily prizes during the tournament as well as grand prizes of $10,000 and a 2015 Ford Mustang.
  • TICKET REVENUE GOES WHERE: Contact the local charity of your choice such as SAY, simply because they receive revenue directly from those TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes tickets marked with their names.
  • BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS: Businesses can support the PCCC through various sponsorships, such as the daily newsletter, website or through several events such as a dozen Pro-Ams. Additionally, restaurants, clothing stores and entertainment stops and such are asked to donate a gift card with at least a $25 value in the name of your charity of choice to benefit them in the Golf Ball Charity Auction.
  • WHEN, WHERE: The tournament is Aug. 7-17 at Highland Springs Country Club, with the pros playing beginning Aug. 13. Contact the PCCC staff at 417-887-3400.

About Springfield Advocates for Youth

The charity has been around for about 25 years, with Camp involved during the past 20. Bob Samuels is the chairman.

SAY works with the state Department of Youth Services and its court-appointed teens who are placed in homes in Springfield. From there, the non-profit takes the lead. Its mission is simple: To offer high-risk area youth an opportunity to expand their horizons through educational and recreational programming and to enhance their self-development.

SAY serves about 36 high-risk youth who reside in three state-operated group homes. Depending on the program, the youths remain there from three to six months.

“Our intention is to keep one boy and get him on the right path,” Camp said, although success has stretches well beyond just one individual annually. “Our recidivism rate is the lowest in the nation.”

It’s no wonder Camp works tirelessly to sell PCCC tickets. The non-profit directs the money toward buying educational supplies, or helping teens earn a GED and buying their cap and gown for graduation. Beyond that, Springfield Advocates for Youth buys gas cards for families that live in poverty.

Additionally, the non-profit has helped steer teens toward a program at Ozarks Technical Community College in which the teens can learn valuable skills for the workforce.

All this while Springfield Advocates for Youth operates without a paid staff, meaning that any administrative costs go toward the mission.

Which is why you’ll see Camp always full of energy trying to sell the sweepstakes tickets.

In fact, he is the reigning winner of the Judy Weekley Volunteer of the Year Award, which is presented annually to a volunteer that exceeds all expectations and goes above and beyond what is asked of them. In addition to being SAY’s chief ticket seller, Gary serves as its Marshals Captain.

“The tournament has been a blessing,” Camp said. “It’s taken us from a real small point to a real good situation now. To me, there is no better fundraiser for children.”