Pete Krsnich survives playoff, advances at Kansas Amateur
Before Wednesday, Pete Krsnich would have pounced at the opportunity of a sudden-death playoff on his home course at Wichita Country Club to advance to match play in the 105th Kansas Amateur.
After double-bogeying his final hole to shoot a 6-over 77 for a 2-day score of 148, Krsnich wasn’t as thrilled to find himself in a 9-man playoff for the final two spots in the 64-man bracket.
“I had a really bad finish to my round after grinding all day, so I didn’t feel good at all,” Krsnich said. “I just had to forget about it.”
With the support of fellow members who stuck around until dusk to watch, Krsnich stuck a 9-iron to within five feet of the pin on the second playoff hole, the 152-yard, par 3 No. 11, and rolled in a birdie putt to snag the final seed in Thursday’s match play bracket.
“It was so much fun having everyone out here supporting me,” Krsnich said. “I actually kind of had a little dream that I would hit a hole-in-one. That would have been really cool. But I just hit it really solid, which is not what I did most of the day. It was good timing.”
Krsnich played for Kansas in his college days and since become one of the state’s top amateurs, calling Wichita Country Club his home since 2011. He finished runner-up at the 2004 Kansas Amateur.
But the 32-year-old Wichita native suffered through a nightmare round on Wednesday, failing to capitalize on a back nine that had been forgiving to many. Instead, Krsnich could not make enough putts, with six bogeys and a double.
After walking off the 18th green, Krsnich had to wait nervously for just under a hour to discover his fate. While his confidence was somewhat diminished, he did his best to refocus for the sudden-death playoff.
He was one of seven to par the par 4 No. 10, then joined Salina’s Andrew Manley as the only to birdie the second playoff hole.
Shortly after canning his final putt, Krsnich eagerly asked around which seed he would be assigned. When told he would be No. 64, a grin spread over his face as he said “Sammy.”
“Sammy” is Sam Stevens, the 20-year-old who set the course ablaze with a bogey-free, 36-hole total of 131 to snag the top overall seed by four strokes over a field of over 160 golfers.
“I’m definitely confident going into match play,” Stevens said. “It’s completely different than stroke play though, so you can never get too far ahead of yourself because things can change so quickly. It’s still a great position to be in and I feel like I’m playing pretty well.”
The two have history together, as Stevens was a member of Wichita Country Club during his youth along with Krsnich. Also, Krsnich was an assistant coach at Kapaun Mount Carmel when Stevens led the Crusaders to three state championships.
“He’s one of the greatest kids I’ve ever been around,” Krsnich said. “I can’t say enough good things about him. I’ve got two little boys and I would love for them to turn out like Sammy.”
It won’t be a typical 1 vs. 64 matchup and both said that their personal relationship won’t get in the way of what should be a competitive match at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.
“Once we shake hands on the first tee, it won’t matter,” Krsnich said. “After getting in a playoff, you can’t really be picky. I’m just glad that I’m playing again tomorrow.”
Notes — There are 14 golfers in the final 64 who make their home in Wichita, or the immediate surrounding area.… Conrad Roberts, who just graduated from Kansas, snagged the No. 2 seed, while Matt Green, a current K-State golfer, is the No. 3.… Defending champion Bryan Norton is the No. 13 seed, and the 2013 champion, Chase Hanna, is No. 6.… The field’s youngest golfer, 14-year-old Sion Audrain from Garden City, is through to Thursday after firing a 2-day score of 146 to finish with the No. 49 seed.
Sam Stevens, Wichita, 65-66—131.
Conrad Roberts, Lawrence, 69-66—135; Matt Green, Lenexa, 67-68—135.
Jack Courington, Wichita, 70-67—137; Jeff Bell, Wichita, 70-67—137; Chase Hanna, Leawood, 67-70—137; Travis Mays, Overland Park, 67-70—137.
Cameron Wiltse, Overland Park, 71-67—138; Alex Springer, Olathe, 69-69—138; Max Lazzo, Wichita, 67-71—138.
Andy Spencer, Prairie Village, 72-68—140; Gage Ihrig, Goodland, 72-68—140; Bryan Norton, Mission Hills, 71-69—140; Derek Harrison, Wellington, 70-70—140.
Bradley Lane, Lawrence, 74-67—141; Spencer Christian, Wichita, 73-68—141; Kade Brown, Oberlin, 71-70—141; Preston Fleenor, Mission Hills, 69-72—141; Henry Simpson, Mission Hills, 69-72—141; Grant Vollertsen, Garden City, 67-74—141.
Tyler Cummins, Lawrence, 73-69—142; Trent Evans, Edmond, Okla., 72-70—142; Ryan Argotsinger, Lee’s Summit, Mo., 71-71—142; Benjamin Hargrave, Salina, 72-70—142; Jonathan May, Wichita, 72-70—142; Turner Wintz, Hutchinson, 71-71—142; Ronnie McHenry, Topeka, 70-72—142; Craig Howell, Bel Aire, 67-75—142.
Andrew Beckler, Topeka, 71-72—14; Kit Grove, Lawrence, 74-69—143; Tracy Chamberlin, Wichita, 74-69—143; Ben Maskus, Shawnee, 72-71—143.
Trent Brown, Andover, 74-70—144; Cole Dillon, 73-71—144; Steve Groom, Raytown, Mo., 71-73—144.
Treg Fawl, McPherson, 76-69—145; Caleb Haight, Wichita, 71-74—145; Blake Allen, Lenexa, 70-75—145; TJ Vilkanskas, Manhattan, 75-70—145; Don Kuehn, Kansas City, Mo., 73-72—145; Seth Bryan, Winfield, 72-73—145; Alex Higgs, Overland Park, 71-74—145; Charlie Rinehart, Kansas City, 70-75—145.
Chris McGown, Burlington, 76-70—146; Griffin Mott, Stilwell, 74-72—146; Zac Burton, Manhattan, 73-73—146; Connor Knabe, Leawood, 76-70—146; Sam Wempe, Meriden, 74-72—146; Sion Audrain, Garden City, 74-72—146; Tyler Chapman, Wichita, 74-72—146; Colby Yates, Tonganoxie, 73-73—146.
Jared Burns, Wichita, 76-71—147; Nick Long, Pittsburg, 76-71—147; Ben Fernandez, Southlake, Texas, 75-72—147; Tavin Dugan, Holton, 75-72—147; Mark Jolliffe, Wichita, 74-73—147; Eric Pahls, Kansas City, 74-73—147; Grant Grego, Lee’s Summit, Mo., 72-75—147; Chase Lucas, Mission Hills, 71-76—147; Andrew King, Junction City, 71-76—147; Jack Rickabaugh, Garnett, 71-76—147; Trevor Tannahill, Overland Park, 71-76—147.
Pete Krsnich, Wichita, 71-77—148; Drew Sandburg, Tonganoxie, 76-72—148; Trevor Torgerson, Buhler, 74-74—148; Andrew Manley, Salina, 73-75—148; Kelly Brown, Oberlin, 77-71—148; Alec Heinen, Edmond, Okla., 76-72—148; Skyler Tebo, Ellis, 76-72—148; Sean Thayer, Garden City, 74-74—148; Sean Robertson, Salina, 72-76—148.
John Bailey, Nashville, Tenn., 78-71—149; Daniel Gaspar, Garden City, 76-73—149; Matthew Wells, Wichita, 75-74—149; Max Stucky Halley, Topeka, 75-74—149; Whit Kilgroe, Eastborough, 75-74—149; Adam Bahner, Edmond, Okla., 73-76—149; Taylor Larsen, Garden City, 72-77—149.
Austin Shanks, Wichita, 78-72—150; Cory Jensen, Hanover, 77-73—150; Tristan Abts, Eudora, 76-74—150; Keith King, Ottawa, 76-74—150; Brian Peck, Wellington, 75-75—150; Worth Blackman, Mission Hills, 75-75—150; Luke Gannon, Bel Aire, 75-75—150; Benjamin Fair, Manhattan, 75-75—150; Robby Hughey, Overland Park, 74-76—150; Hunter Earnhart, Ottawa, 74-76—150; Lane Pauls, Newton, 74-76—150.
Richard Hairgrove, Lenexa, 79-72—151; Jordan Roberts, Manhattan, 77-74—151; Gary Lucas, Topeka, 77-74—151; Zachary Spencer, Olathe, 77-74—151; Ben Hadden, Shawnee, 76-75—151; Justin Churchill, Olathe, 76-75—151; Shawn Audrain, Garden City, 75-76—151; Christian Bickley, Overland Park, 74-77—151; Zach Sokolosky, Wichita, 74-77—151; Andrew Fain, Overland Park, 73-78—151.
Lukas McCalla, Topeka, 83-69—152; Randy Vautravers, Andover, 81-71—152; Garret Allen, Lenexa, 79-73—152; Jordan Hecker, Russell, 77-75—152; Brent Millikan, Overland Park, 77-75—152; Matt Percy, Iola, 76-76—152; Corey Novascone, Wichita, 76-76—152; Chase Coble, Emporia, 75-77—152; Grady Millikan, Wichita, 75-77—152; Shayne Allan, Johannesburg, South Africa, 74-78—152.
Bob Bezek, Ottawa, 81-72—153; Derek Lehman, Hutchinson, 80-73—153; Tanner Roney, Salina, 79-74—153; Collin Herron, Lawrence, 78-75—153; William Honnold, Mission Hills, 77-76—153; Carter Towey, Wichita, 77-76—153; Matthew Quandt, Shawnee, 77-76—153; Ryan Kellenbarger, Wichita, 77-76—153.
Ritch Nigh, Kansas City, 80-74—154; Adam McNeil, Wichita, 80-74—154; Trevor Bauer, Wichita, 79-75—154; Landon Fox, Winfield, 79-75—154; Narito Mendez, Lawrence, 79-75—154; Ian Trebilcock, Wichita, 77-77—154; Christian Ghilardi, Lenexa, 76-78—154.
Trevor Johanson, Maize, 80-75—155; Dominic Lara, El Dorado, 79-76—155; Kaelan Hackenburg, Wichita, 79-76—155; John Alefs, Wichita, 79-76—155; Joe Gorenc, Pittsburg, 78-77—155; Kaden Macha, Iola, 77-78—155.
Colton Massey, Larned, 81-75—156; Michael Kerns, Wichita, 81-75—156; Jace Larson, Dodge City, 80-76—156; Brett Miller, Butler, Mo., 78-78—156; Montana Fasching, Kansas City, 78-78—156; Carlos Prieto, Garden City, 78-78—156.
Mike Caster, Wichita, 81-77—158; Ed Walsworth, Fairway, 80-78—158.
Brent Mertz, Overland Park, 77-82—159; Juan Ollarzabal, Garden City, 78-81—159.
Eric Larson, Leawood, 84-76—160; Peyton Austin, Derby, 77-83—160; Doug Kaup, Phillipsburg, 82-79—161; Parker Austin, Derby, 85-77—162; Chris Paperi, Overland Park, 83-79—162; Cooper Steiner, Wichita, 84-79—163; Darren Copp, Wichita, 81-82—163; Hunter Dedloff, Lawrence, 81-82—163; Austin Krewson, Welch, Okla., 81-82—163; Justice Valdivia, Topeka, 82-82—164; Dan Simons Jr., Lawrence, 84-81—165; Pierce Moling, Kearney, Mo., 82-83—165; Logan Durst, Garden City, 82-84—166; Jeff Schauner, Wichita, 75-WD.
Match Play Pairings
1. Sam Stevens vs. 64. Pete Krsnich, 7:30 a.m.; 32. Ben Maskus vs. 33. Trent Brown, 7:40; 16. Henry Simpson vs. 49. Sion Audrain, 7:50; 17. Spencer Christian vs. 48. Connor Knabe, 8; 8. Cameron Wiltse vs. Ben Fernandez, 8:10; 25. Ronnie McHenry vs. TJ Vilkanskas, 8:20; 9. Alex Springer vs. 56. Chase Lucas, 8:30; 24. Jonathan May vs. 41. Don Kuehn, 8:40; 4. Jeff Bell vs. 61. Tavin Dugan, 8:50; 29. Andrew Beckler vs. 36. Treg Fawl, 9; 13. Bryan Norton vs. 52. Nick Long, 9:10; 20. Bradley Lane vs. 45. Chris McGown, 9:20; 5. Jack Courington vs. 60. Andrew King, 9:30; 28. Ryan Argotsinger vs. Blake Allen, 9:40; 12. Gage Ihrig vs. 53. Mark Jolliffe, 9:50; 21. Benjamin Hargrave vs. 44. Zac Burton, 10; 2. Conrad Roberts vs. 63. Andrew Manley, 10:10; 31. Kit Grove vs. 34. Cole Dillon, 10:20; 15. Preston Fleenor vs. 50. Colby Yates, 10:30; 18. Kade Brown vs. 47. Tyler Chapman, 10:40; 7. Travis Mays vs. 58. Eric Pahls, 10:50; 26. Trent Evans vs. 39. Charlie Rinehart, 11; 10. Max Lazzo vs. 55. Trevor Tannahill, 11:10; 23. Turner Wintz vs. 42. Alex Higgs, 11:20; 3. Matt Green vs. 62. Jack Rickabaugh, 11:30; 30. Tracy Chamberlin vs. 35. Steve Groom, 11:40; 14. Derek Harrison vs. 51. Sam Wempe, 11:50; 19. Grant Vollertsen vs. 46. Griffin Mott, 12 p.m.; 6. Chase Hanna vs. 59. Jared Burns, 12:10; 27. Tyler Cummins vs. 38. Caleb Haight, 12:20; 11. Andy Spencer vs. 54. Grant Grego, 12:30; 22. Craig Howell vs. 43. Seth Bryan, 12:40.
This story was originally published July 22, 2015 at 10:48 PM with the headline "Pete Krsnich survives playoff, advances at Kansas Amateur."