even when Mason’ s hooked drive into heavy grass on No. 14 could not be found. Mason overcame another errant drive when his second shot out of tall grass reached No. 15 and saved par.
Wheeler took his first lead of the day with a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 16 to set up a wild putting contest on the spectacular 198-yard par-3 17th. Wheeler left a 75-foot birdie putt 12 feet short and missed for only his second bogey of the day. Needing a par to tie, Mason also came up short on a 40-foot birdie attempt, missed the par attempt, and two more for a double bogey to fall two back.
The drama didn’ t end there. Binfield, a 2009 All-American who played several years on the PGA TOUR Canada and the Korn Ferry Tour before joining The Golf Stable in Prairie Village, KS, had run in four straight birdies( Nos. 12- 15) four groups earlier to finish at 7-under, just a shot back of Wheeler.
Ben Wheeler is embraced by his caddy and his father, Nicholaus Wheeler, after his 18-inch par putt clinched the 2016 Watson Challenge championship.( Photo by Alan Hoskins)
Special recognition goes to Megan Propeck( a), the lone woman playing in the Challenge. She sparkled, firing rounds of 71-73-75 – 219, finishing 34th, ahead of 17 other male amateurs and pros.
Short of the bunker on the 360-yard 12th hole, Ben Wheeler’ s chip shot to within inches of the cup for par proved pivotal in his one-shot win.( Photo by Alan Hoskins)
Only after checking a scoreboard coming off the 17th green did Wheeler realize his lead was not two shots and that he needed a par on the 456-yard 18th hole to win. Both Wheeler and Mason had second shots go long over the green, leaving Wheeler with a 15-yard chip shot from behind the green.
“ I have to say that chip was one of the best in my junior career,” said Wheeler, who rolled it to about 18 inches for a tap-in par, followed by a huge embrace from his caddy and father, Nicholaus Wheeler.“ I just felt so much gratitude and appreciation to be able to have the opportunity to win such a prestigious event.”
“ Give Ben credit, he had to make the shot, and he did it,” said Tom Watson.
The win added to an already awesome resume for Wheeler, who has committed to Iowa State this fall. In addition to winning this year’ s Kansas Junior by three shots at Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays, Wheeler led his Summit Christian Academy high school team to three Missouri high school championships. He’ s also been runner-up in the 2025 AJGA Roper Honda Junior, losing a 6-hole playoff; fired a course record 9-under par 63 in finishing second in the 2024 Kansas Junior Am; reached the round of 16 in the 2025 Kansas Amateur; qualified for the 2025 Junior PGA championship; and tied for 10th in the 2025 Watson Challenge.
Megan Propeck shot an opening round score of par 71. She was paired with two top pros( from left to right); Cameron Chhim( p) shot 74, Megan Propeck( a) shot 71, Luke Smith( p) shot 76, and Tom Watson, namesake of the Challenge.
( Photo by Central Links Golf)
Another winner: Shoal Creek Golf Club, the only public course to host the Watson Challenge.“ Very impressed by the course,” said Tom Watson.“ I’ ve never played the course, but I’ d like to. The greens and fairways were excellent. A great event and awesome tournament run as always by Doug Habel [ Executive Director of Central Links Golf ].”
The 20th annual Challenge will be next June at Milburn Country Club and will be the last.“ And I just might play,” said Watson. Let’ s hope.
Learn more about the Watson Challenge and its history of past champions at www. centrallinksgolf. org.
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