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.
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)