Ozark Turf Association Announces Their 2024 Meeting Schedule

The Ozark Board of Directors would like to announce the 2024 meeting schedule. We will be posting these events on the website calendar over the next few weeks with more details, costs, and recognizing our meeting partners who support these events. This support allows us to keep costs reasonable for our members to network with each other.  Mark your calendars, plan your work on your course around these dates and we hope to see as many of you attending as possible. 

January 18th – Education Day/Annual Meeting – Highland Springs Country Club, Springfield Missouri.  Providing .35 GCSAA education points, we have speakers and meet with our partner/vendors.  Lunch is included. 

 February 23rd  – Bowling Meeting – Enterprise Lanes, Springfield Missouri, annual 9 pin no tap event.  Prizes, lunch on your own.                                             

 March 26th – March Meeting – Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course, Springfield Missouri, education, lunch, and golf on a hidden Perry Maxwell designed gem.                                                         

April 25th – April Meeting – Schifferdecker Golf Course, Joplin Missouri, education, lunch, and golf on Route 66.  It celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2022.                          

 May 23rd – Scholarship and Research Outing – Silo Ridge Country Club, Bolivar Missouri.  Get your teams together and raise money for the OTA Scholarship and Research fund on one of Missouri’s favorite courses.  Lunch, golf, snacks after golf while waiting for results, with a raffle, chances for everyone to win!           

June 11th – June Meeting – Branson Hills Golf Club, Branson Missouri, play on one of the top 10 courses in Missouri that is open to public play.  Education, lunch, and golf.                                                                                                   

August 9th – Springfield Cardinals (requested date) Family Fun Night at the Springfield Cardinals, Baseball, Food, Drinks, and Fireworks, all for one ticket.  Maybe even some surprises? Rally Skunk made an appearance last year. (We requested this date, waiting for confirmation our second choice is Friday August 23rd).                                              

 August 27th – OTA Championship – The Golf Club at Deer Chas, Linn Creek, Missouri.  Head to the Lake and challenge for our annual OTA Championship, multiple flight winners.  For those that just enjoy networking and fun, scramble teams will have their own prize fund.                                                                    

October 8th and 9th – Border War – Hidden Valley Golf Links, Clever Missouri and Rivercut Golf Course, Springfield Missouri.  Help the Ozark Turf Association take back the trophy at the Border War event pitting the Kansas Superintendent Chapter vs. the OTA.  Horse Race to follow the first day of golf. Includes lunch and dinner on the first day.                                     

 December 7th – Christmas Party – Millwood Golf and Racquet Club, Ozark Missouri, enjoy dinner and drinks, and usually some fun games, while everyone catches up with the past season happenings.  Our spouse’s favorite event. 

Ozark Turf Association 2023 Christmas Party

The Ozark Turf Association held their 2023 Christmas Party, presented by Professional Turf Products at the Lodge of Four Seasons Resort.

Members and their guests dined on salads, sides and had their choice of three different entrees, Chicken Picatti, Atlantic Salmon with chive butter sauce, and Prime Rib. Desserts were also included.

After dinner, the group played bingo led by bingo master Katie “Clause” Armbruster, wife of Ledgestone golf course superintendent and OTA board member, Kolby Armbruster. Prizes were given for the winning bingo cards. Winners included: Matt Strong, VanWall Equipment, Host Adam Distler, golf course superintendent at the Lodge of Four Seasons Resort, Sarah Roach, wife of Eddie Roach Jr. CGCS, SiteOne Landscape supplies, Tyler Fishel, GreensPro, Kristina Fishel, Tyler’s wife, Maura Towse, wife of OTA President and Schifferdecker golf course superintendent, Maron Towse, Leesa Siems, wife of Barry Siems, Precision Turf Products and OTA board member, and Mark Slaughter, GreensPro, and OTA board member..

We thank Professional Turf Products, Brad Gray and Josh Thomas for sponsoring our party and Adam Distler and the Lodge of Four Seasons for hosting.

Next year we will be at Millwood Golf and Racquet Club on December 7th, we hope to see everyone there.

Ivelisse Valentin OTA's Karl Anderson Legacy Award Recipient Completes Fall Semester

Ivelisse Valentin, recipient of the 2023-24 Karl Anderson Legacy Award completed her fall semester with a 3.2 GPA. Ivelisse is in her second year at Ozark Technical College and is majoring in Applied Science - Graphic Arts. The OTA congratulates Ivelisse on her achievement.  

Ivelisse is the stepdaughter of long time OTA member Chad Hoerschgen, Golf Course Superintendent at Millwood Golf and Racquet Club.

The Karl Anderson Legacy Scholarship is named for long time Ozark Turf Association member Karl Anderson who worked for many years as the golf course superintendent at Hickory Hills Country Club. He and his wife Patsy did not have children of their own, but strongly supported the association’s scholarship efforts. Karl lost his battle with brain cancer in May of 2018. The Karl Anderson Legacy Scholarship is open to the children and grandchildren of OTA members. Awards of $3,000 are given to recipients and funded by the OTA members through their annual scholarship and research outing held each year.

Hayden Camp - OTA Industry Scholarship Recipient Completes First Semester

Hayden Camp, the OTA Industry Scholarship Recipient completed his first semester at Baptist Bible College where he is majoring in Business. Hayden is also playing baseball for BBC.

Hayden has been working on the maintenance crew at Hidden Valley Golf Links for the past four seasons and continues to work around his school schedule.

We congratulate Hayden on his first semester accomplishments, and wish him the best in the spring semester.

Ozark Turf Association Member Achieves Class A

Paul Lewis, Golf Course Superintendent at L.A. Nickel Municipal Golf Course, Columbia Parks and Rec, in Columbia, Missouri, achieved Class A status last month with the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America (GCSAA). Paul was recognized in the October 2023 issue of Golf Course Mangement.

The Ozark Turf Association would like to congratulate Paul for reaching this milestone.

The definition of a Class A member is a golf industry professional; who possesses knowledge, skills and abilities through a combination of education, experience, professional development and environmental stewardship; and has met and continues to fulfill on-going Class A renewal requirements.

For members looking to earn Class A status, it consists of a combination of formal education, experience as a golf course superintendent, continuing education and providing proof of a valid pesticide license or passing the GCSAA IPM Exam. Class A membership demonstrates a personal commitment to lifelong learning, environmental stewardship and elevating the golf course management profession. It also shows employers that your achievements and competencies are documented and validated. For those looking to pursue Class A status, reach out to Randy Robinson, Central Field Representative at GCSAA.

OTA September Meeting Recap

The Ozark Turf Association had their September meeting presented by Professional Turf Products at Horton Smith Golf Course on September 21st.

They had an educational presentation with Caleb Sanders who is the Conservation Coordinator for the Springfield-Greene County Park Board, give his talk on Establishing a Warm Season Native Prairie. He was able to show the progress their plan has produced at Horton Smith Golf Course in the area of the old driving range between holes # 1 and 9. He was also able to show the process of starting a prairie on the upper portion of the area where they were starting that section over eradicating bermuda that had encroached. He presented a plan that other courses could follow and noted that in Missouri, facilities can apply for grants, such as, from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which has a EQIP, Conservation Innovation Grant, and the Missouri Department of Conservation has an Urban Cost Share, Community Conservation Grant.

After the presentation, attendees enjoyed Maple Bacon Cheeseburgers prepared in the Horton Smith snack bar.

While a few attendees had to depart after lunch, we did have 15 play golf afterwards with 3 teams of 5. The game consisted of two best balls per team with one being a special ball that had to be played by all team members once every five holes.

Team 2 with OTA President Maron Towse, golf course superintendent at Schifferdecker Golf Course, Ty Lewis, superintendent/general manager at Mountain View Municipal Golf Course, Dan Kersting, golf course superintendent at Rivercut Golf Course, Clayton Otting, assistant superintendent at Ledgestone Country Club, and Dustin Irvine with GreensPro was a strong team taking first place with a 2 best ball score of 146.

Second place went to the Carthage Municipal Golf Course team + one. It consisted of Matt Strong, territory manager with VanWall Equipment, Cody Gray golf course suprintendent, Ryan McInerney assistant superintendent, and crew members Dave Adams and Gary Springer who shot 157.

Proximity winners were:

• Hole # 3 sponsored by Advanced Turf Solutions - Mark Slaughter - Greenspro

• Hole # 6 sponsored by Brandt - Matt Strong - VanWall Equipment

• Hole # 8 sponsored by FMC - Dan Kersting - Rivercut Golf Course

• Hole # 10 sponsored by GreensPro - Mark Slaughter - GreensPro (we’ll send him a 1099 for that one).

• Hole # 12 sponsored by Ozark Turf Association - Ty Lewis - Mt. View Golf Course.

Thanks go to everyone who attended the meeting, Caleb Sanders and Greg McComas who work together to create the warm season prairie and gave the presentation, Horton Smith Golf Course staff for preparing and hosting the event, and Professional Turf Products for hosting the meeting along with proximity sponsors, Advanced Turf Solutions, Brandt, FMC, and GreensPro.

Strong Wins Ozark Turf Association Championship

Matt Strong, territory manager for VanWall Golf Equipment shot a 75, to win the Ozark Turf Assocation championship presented by Clear Creek Golf Car and Utility Vehicles, our Club Car dealer, held at Highland Springs Country Club, home of the Korn Ferry Price Cutter Charity Championship.

We had a tie for second place with 81’s with Dustin Irvine of GreensPro winning the scorecard playoff over Gavin Arnold, assistant superintendent at Highland Springs Country Club. OTA President Maron Towse, golf course superintendent at Schifferdecker Golf Course placed fourth.

In the A flight, Melvin Waldron III, CGCS, golf course superintendent at Horton Smith Golf Course won that flight in a scorecard playoff, with Kolby Armbruster, superintendent at Ledgestone Country Club placing second. Russel Cole territory manager for Kansas Golf and Turf Equipment came in third, with Travis Thompson, assistant superintendent at Margaritaville Resorts finished in fourth place.

Because I was too busy spending my winnings, I had misplaced our results sheet while trying on a new hat, thanks for those that helped remind me of the results. We did have a couple of proximity winners and scramble teams want to remain anonymous and the teams from the IRS in reporting their winnings.

Proximity sponsors were:

• Hole 4 sponsored by FMC was won by Derek Edwards, field manager of the Springfield Cardinals.

• Hole 6 was sponsored by GreensPro

• Hole 13 was sponsored by Ermisch Golf Design

• Hole 15 was sponsored by Brandt

We also had two scramble teams win prizes, with five teams playing for the fun and comradery.

Thanks go again to Clear Creek Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles and Club Car for being sponsors of the event, VanWall Equipment for sponsoring lunch, FMC, GreensPro, Ermisch Golf Design and Brandt for sponsoring proximities, Highland Springs Country Club superintendent Jonathan Prange, CGCS, his team and the many other staff members from pro shop and kitchen staff for making the day so enjoyable. Also, thanks to our members who came out to enjoy the day.

OTA Family Fun Night

Ozark Turf Association members and their families enjoyed our annual Family Fun Night, sponsored by Syngenta, at the Springfield Cardinals, AA affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

We were treated to bonus baseball as we had a double header caused by the rainout of the Wednesday night game. We enjoyed the traditional baseball food like hot dogs and brats, along with our members favorite, chicken fingers. We also had snacks like nachos with queso and other fixings, along with popcorn and cookies. Soda, water and adult beverages helped wash down the food.

During the second game, the OTA was represented by Katie, wife of Ledgestone Country Club Superintendent Kolby Armbruster and Paige, fiancé of Clayton Oetting. one of the assistants at Ledgestone participated in a between inning games, the Teddy Bear toss. They came away winners.

We had Hammons Field managers and OTA members Derrick Edwards and Nathan Straight visit us in the Home Plate party deck before having to return to the field to chase a skunk who had wondered into center field.

The night was capped off with the traditional Friday Night fireworks. We had a great turnout and the families always like taking advantage of the few times we all get together. We look forward to scheduling this event for next season.

Highland Springs Country Club Host 34th Price Cutter Championship

Ozark Turf Association member Jonathan Prange, CGCS and his staff including OTA members Gavin Arnold, Chase Shippley, and David Edie and a host of OTA volunteers worked to prepare the golf course for the 34th Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper, part of the Korn Ferry Tour.

The event started in 1990 as the Greater Ozark Open in the inaugural season of the Ben Hogan Tour and is one of the few events still on the tour and at the same location for all 34 tournaments.

Thanks go to all the OTA vendors who provided meals for the crew and also helped in preparing the golf course.

The winner was Coody Pierceson with a final score of 25 under par.

The Highland Springs crew, and OTA volunteers look forward to next year’s event. We will post the dates once they are announced by the PGA Tour.

SiteOne Announces New Business Development Manager - Golf For Our Area

OTA Gold Partner SiteOne has announced Eddie Roach Jr. CGCS is the new Business Development Manager - Golf for SiteOne Landscape Supply. He will be covering the Eastern Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri territories. 

Eddie has worked in the golf industry for 25 years and has been a golf course superintendent at courses in both Oklahoma and Missouri for the past 13 years. He is looking forward to working with members of the OTA by offering their extensive portfolio of product lines, plant and hardscape materials, and irrigation products.

Eddie was a recent OTA member who was serving on the board of directors. before moving back to Oklahoma. He is looking to getting back to attending meetings and events, seeing old friends and meeting new members.

Eddie’s contact information is:

Email: eroach@siteone.com

Cell:918-264-2971

Schifferdecker Golf Course Host 75th Ozark Amateur

Schifferdecker Golf Course in Joplin hosted the 75th Ozark Amateur last weekend. Taylor Lansford won the event with a 10 under score of 132, firing rounds of 67 and 65. First round leader Tragdon McCrae finished 3 shots behind with a score of 135, shooting rounds of 66 and 69.

Ozark Turf Association President Maron Towse, Golf Course Superintendent at Schifferdecker and his crew prepared the course for this special anniversary event. Congratulations to everyone involved.

OTA Receives Donation from FMC

FMC held many initiatives at the 2023 GCSAA Conference and Show that Ozark Turf Association members participated in. As a result, the OTA received a donation check of $893 dollars, through “FMC’s Give Back to Local Chapters Program”. The board has voted to use that donation towards our annual education meeting in January of 2024. Education chairman Jonathan Prange CGCS, notes this money will enable the event to bring in topnotch speakers for our members. This money will be added to FMC’s sponsorship of our education meeting lunch, with VanWall Equipment being the sponsor of the meeting. OTA members should watch for the future annoucement of our speakers, who are confirmed, we are just waiting on their topics and travel plans to make that announcement.

The OTA members who took part in the events were Justin Thomas, Golf Course Superintendent at Top of the Rock, OTA President Maron Towse, Golf Course Superintendent at Schifferdecker Golf Course, Jonathan Prange CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent at Highland Springs Country Club, Gavin Arnold and Chase Shipley, assistants at Highland Springs Country Club, Tyler Scroggins, Golf Course Superintendent at Holiday Island Country Club and his assistant, David Treat, and OTA Secretary/Treasurer, Melvin Waldron III, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent at Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield - Greene County Park Board.

The Ozark Turf Association is grateful for this donation and other support from FMC that allows us to provide education and networking opportunities for our members.

Payne's Valley Hosts the 116th Missouri Amateur Championship

Payne’s Valley the Big Cedar Golf Course designed by Tiger Woods, hosted the 116th Missouri Amateur Championship.

The week started with two days of stroke play to find the 64 golfers who would then switch to a match play format. Cade Uhlenhake was the medalist from the stroke play portion of the Championship firing 5 under each day, with his pair of 67’s he headed into match play shooting 10 under 134. The cut portion to get into match play was at six over 150, where 10 players had to battle for the last two spots in Match Play.

Four rounds of Match Play left Peter Weaver battling Michael Winslow for the scheduled 36 hole final match. Peter Wever emerged victorious with a 4 & 2 win as the final lasted 34 holes. Congratulations to Peter.

Congratulations go also to our Ozark Turf Association members who helped produce the great conditions for the event. Jeff Steen, CGCS - VP of Golf, Steve Johnson CGCS - Director of Golf Maintenance, Ryan Wilkinson, golf course superintendent, and Clint McKee, Equipment Manager, along with the help of their teams supported the event.

(Photos courtesy of the Missouri Golf Association, and thank you for recognizing the maintenance staff)

OTA June Meeting Recap

The June 14th meeting hosted by Hidden Valley Golf Links and sponsored by SiteOne Golf and Landscape Supply, was well attended. Our speaker Jonathan Prange, CGCS, Superintendent at Highland Springs Country Club talked about setting up aperies. Jon started it as a hobby when he was in Arkansas, he continued it at his new home here in Missouri and they have also started hives at Highland Springs. A good reminder for those volunteering for the Price Cutter Championship, as the bees like to swarm around sweet drinks.

Lunch was catered in from Flat Creek Restaurant in Republic, the BBQ pulled pork was good and the chicken tenders were great, they included sides of baked beans and mac and cheese. Unfortunately, Flat Creek felt our location was a little far to include their famous catfish on the lunch menu.

After lunch the group enjoyed 18 holes of golf. We played our own ball and had prizes in three flights.

In the Championship flight placing first after a scorecard playoff, was Dusten “Duck” Buckner, using his local knowledge, shot a 76. Duck in the assistant superintendent at Hidden Valley and probably put the pins in his favorite spots. Also shooting 76 was Russell Cole, territory manager for Kansas Golf and Turf, he took second place. Coming in third place with a 77 winning a scorecard playoff was Barry Siems, owner of Precision Turf Products.

In the first flight, coming in first with a score of 80, was Andrew Jones territory manager for SiteOne. In second place also using his local knowledge was Hidden Valley Superintendent, Adam Camp with a score of 82. In third place also using local knowledge from all the rounds he has played there was Mark Slaughter of GreensPro, who had an 83. Adam and Mark must have had a side match going, their group had to play an emergency nine holes after prizes were handed out.

In second flight, coming in first with a score of 95, was Jon Prange, CGCS winning a scorecard playoff with second place Chad Short, Mt. Vernon Golf Course Manager. Third place with a 96 was Austen Gearheart, territory manager for Advanced Turf Products.

Proximity winners were as follows:

Hole # 3 sponsored by Brandt - Adam Camp, this was probably the one pin placed by Adam, it held up to the onslaught of all the other groups including the Buckner group who were the last ones to play the hole. We must of put too much pressure on them, as they were aware that Adam did have the closest to the pin but couldn’t knock his name off the card.

Hole # 5 sponsored by SiteOne - Barry Siems

Hole # 11 sponsored by GreensPro - Russell Cole

Hole # 16 sponsored by VanWall Equipment - Melvin Waldron III, CGCS, Superintendent at Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield-Greene County Park Board.

Thanks again to everyone who attended, Adam, Duck and all the staff at Hidden Valley for hosting us, SiteOne for sponsoring the meeting, Flat Creek Restaurant - Republic for lunch, proximity sponsors Brandt, SiteOne, GreensPro and VanWall.

Hopefully we will see many of you at the Price Cutter Charity Championship helping prepare the course for the Korn Ferry Event, there is still time to sign up. If not there we look forward to seeing everyone at our family fun night at the Springfield Cardinals on Friday August 11th sponsored by Syngenta.

GreenSight Agronomics Joins the OTA

GreenSight Agronomics, providers of technology for golf courses, which includes aerial drone imaging along with TurfCloud, a cloud-based service to help monitor and manage data collection, along with analysis and other agronomic and management tools, has joined the Ozark Turf Association as a vendor partner for 2023.

We welcome GreenSight’s support that allows us to offer networking and educational opportunities to our members. Please thank regional representative Zach Severns the next time you see him.

OTA Members Prepare Courses for MGA Events

Many of our Ozark Turf Association Members have been preparing their golf courses for Missouri Golf Association events so far this year.

It started in April with Chad Hoerschgen at Millwood Golf and Racquet Club and Jon Prange, CGCS at Highland Springs Country Club hosted the MGA Senior Series.

In May, the MGA returned to Millwood for their Senior Fourball Championship.

In June, Dan Kersting and crew at Rivercut Golf Course, hosted one of the Missouri Amateur qualifying tournaments. Also the MGA vistied another Springfield-Greene County Park Board Course, for their Jr. Match Play Championship, held at the Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course, prepared by Scott Welsh and his staff.

For results of any of these events, visit the Missouri Golf Association website:Missouri Golf Association | Official Website of the Missouri Golf Association (mogolf.org)

As the season progresses, we will continue to spotlight where our members are providing championship conditions for various tournaments. Members, please share your tournaments so we can recognize everyone’s efforts.

Reinders Joins the Ozark Turf Association

Reinders joins the Ozark Turf Association as a vendor member for 2023. They also sponsored a team for this year’s Scholarship and Research event.

Reinders support allows the OTA to provide education and network opportunities for our members. Please thank Eric Pickrell next time you see him.

OTA Scholarship and Research Fundraiser a Success

The Ozark Turf Association Scholarship and Research Fundraiser hosted by Silo Ridge Country Club was a success. With a record number of participants, (101), we were able to raise over $7,000 dollars, with $6,000 earmarked for scholarships and the rest for funding OTA’s portion of the University of Arkansas research project that the OTA and other GCSAA affiliated chapters are supporting through the GCSAA Chapter Cooperative Research Program.

The weather was perfect as was the golf course, prepared by OTA member, golf course superintendent, Ronnie Harman and his crew. The traditional taco bar lunch with cookies and hors d’oeuvre served as scores were being tallied, was sponsored by Syngenta.

We would like to thank all of the following partners for sponsoring teams and tee signs.

Midwest Turf                                                 Precision Turf Products

Syngenta (2 teams)                                         SiteOne                                              

PBI Gordon                                                   Turfwerks                                                     

BASF                                                              Corteva

Knox Fertilizer                                              Advanced Turf Solutions

GreensPro                                                      Professional Turf Products       

envu                                                                The Andersons                                             

Kansas Golf and Turf                                   FMC (2 teams)

VanWall                                                          Nufarm

Reinders                                                         Redexim Turf Equipment

Clear Creek Golf Car and Utility Vehicles

Team winners were as followed:

First place in first flight, with a score of 55 and winning in a scorecard playoff was the Precision Turf Products team, consisting of Barry Siems, owner of Precision Turf Products, Mike Irvine, Golf Facility Manager for Springfield-Greene County Parks, Scott Welsh, Golf Superintendent, Bill and Payne Stewart Golf Course, and Josh Black, GM/Pro at Hail Ridge Golf Course.

Second place in first flight, also with a 55 was the VanWall team, consisting of Matt Strong, regional sales VanWall, Ryan McInerney, assistant superintendent at Carthage Golf Course, Tristen Donald, assistant superintendent at Old Kinderhook, and Hayden Eichelberger, superintendent at California Country Club.

Third place in first flight, with a score of 58, was the envu team, with Wes Kleffner, with envu, Kolby Armbruster, golf superintendent Ledgestone Country Club, Justin Thomas, (no, not that JT), superintendent at Top of The Rock, Big Cedar Lodge, and Craig Linson.

Hitting the sweet spot of second flight with all winning teams shooting 62, in first place was the Advanced Turf Solutions team of Austen Gearhart, territory manager for ATS, Maron Towes, superintendent at Schifferdecker Golf Course, Aaron Borland, current OTA Champion, and Eric Campbell.

Second place in second flight, taking advantage of home knowledge was the Silo Ridge team of superintendent Ronnie Harman and crew members Andy Routh, Derek Kelly, and Darrel Cloyd.

Third place in second flight was the Professional Turf Products team, which was basically the Lake Valley Golf Club team, with Brad Gray with Professional Turf Products, Brad Seidt golf course superintendent, Dale Harrison and Chris Smith, assistants, all at Lake Valley Golf Club.

The third flight teams had a score of 64 with first place going to the FMC Team 1 with Nathan Strait field operations coordinator with the Springfield Cardinals, Jeremy Thomas, superintendent at Indian Tree Golf Course, Cody Gray, superintendent at Carthage Golf Course, and Conner Antonetti, assistant superintendent, Hickory Hills Country Club.

Second place third flight was the Syngenta 1 team, of Paul Carlson, Syngenta represenitive, Ty Lewis, superintendent/GM at Mt. View Golf Course, Brian Bauer, superintendentn at Windmill Ridge Golf Course, and Travis Thompson, assistant superintendent at Margaritaville Resort

Third place in third flight, was FMC team 2 with Rob Ritchey with ATS, Matt Overton, superintendent and Joey Roberts, assitant superintendent at Holiday Hills Golf Club and Tony Tetrino.

Proximity winners were:

Closest to the Pin # 2 - Sponsored by Greens Pro - Justin Thomas

Closest to the Pin # 5 - Sponsored by SiteOne - Scott Welsh

Closest to the Pin # 11 - Sponsored by Cortiva - Loren Bernstein

Closest to the Pin # 17 - Sponsored by VanWall - Tyler Scroggins

Longest Drive # 7 - Sponsored by FMC - Hayden Eichelberger

Again, we thank Silo Ridge Country Club for being a wonderful host, all our sponsors who without their support we would not have a successful event, and to all our golfers who spend a day away from their facilities to support this worthy cause.

VanWall Renews their 2023 Gold Partnership

Van Wall Golf, distributers of John Deere equipment have renewed their Gold Partner for 2023. They have been long time Gold Partners.

Van Wall will also be our 2024 Education/Annual Meeting Partner and the lunch partner at this year’s OTA Golf Championships.

Along with those partnerships, VanWall also sponsored proximity prizes for the Scholarship and Research outing and the June monthly meeting.

We thank VanWall for making possible education and networking opportunities for our members.

Please thank Matt Strong, Golf and Turf Territory Manager the next time you see him.

Former Karl Anderson Legacy Scholarship Winner Graduates

Congratulations to former Karl Anderson Legacy Scholarship winner, Maycee Fishel who recently graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Recently Maycee completed a yearlong marketing internship at O’Reilly Auto Parts corporate office in Springfield MO. She is now working full time with O’Reilly as an email marketing specialist.

Maycee is the daughter of Christina and Tyler Fishel, Tyler is a long time OTA member with GreensPro, suppliers of turf products. Maycee, is a 2019 graduate of Marshfield High School, Mayce also spent some time working in the golf business taking care of carts at Whispering Oaks Golf Course where OTA Member Kevin Taylor is the Golf Course Superintendent.

The Ozark Turf Association congratulations Maycee on her great accomplishment and we’re proud to have played a small part, supporting her in achieving her goals. We thank all of our members and vendor partners for their support for our scholarship and research fundraising efforts every year that makes these scholarships possible.