KC Golf News
Nothing Quite Like Winning at Home for Joe Winslow
2024 Watson Challenge champ ’ s 5-under par 30 jolts strong field .
Words and Photography by Alan Hoskins , Feature Writer
Joe Winslow has literally played and won in golf tournaments all over the world . But there ’ s nothing quite like winning at home . With his fiancé , brother , sister , parents , former classmates , and friends looking on , Winslow turned the 2024 Watson Challenge into the “ Joe Winslow Show ” at Mission Hills Country Club June 6-8 .
“ One of the best feelings in the world , for sure ,” said Winslow . “ It was great , especially with all my family here and the field we had . I loved it .”
No one in a field that included the champions of the last six Watson Challenges could make a run at Winslow , who finished five shots in front and 6-under par with rounds of 70-67-67-204 . Pro Ben Hadden , the only other challenger to finish under par , finished second at 209 , with 2022 champion Davis Cooper and Charlie Hiller tying for third at 210 . Jackson Foth , a Lake Quivira member , was the low amateur at 211 . Foth gave the professional game a shot before regaining amateur status a couple of years ago .
Winslow was flawless on the pivotal front nine , knocking in a threefoot putt for birdie at No . 2 and following with 12 and 15-footers for birdies at Nos . 4 and 5 . The eagle on the 515-yard 18th hole came on a monster drive , 8-iron and 15-foot putt . “ The first two days , I thought I putted okay , but I felt I was due for a good putting day ,” said Winslow . “ And it happened .”
Winslow
Winslow totally blocked behind a huge bush and a tree forcing him a layup to the rough fronting the green .
Tom Watson presents the 2024 Watson Challenge Champion Joe Winslow with the trophy . Winslow shot 6-under par with rounds of 70-67-67-204 winning by five shots .
One shot back entering the final round , the former St . Thomas Aquinas high school state champion needed only two holes to take the lead , and once in front , it was Katy bar the door . Three birdies in the first five holes and an eagle on the par-5 8th punctuated a sizzling round of 5-under par 30 and a whopping six-shot lead .
Winslow made an incredible par save on the 341-yard 15th . A pushed drive left him totally blocked behind a huge bush and a tree ( photo above ). It took a layup to the rough fronting of the green and a six-foot putt to save par . His only flaw came on No . 17 , a double bogey when his driver slipped out of his hand .
Equally impressive to his putting was Winslow ’ s length off the tee . At 6-foot 5 , he drove the 327-yard 13th hole and two-putted for birdie and had drives that nearly reached Nos . 4 , 9 , 12 , and 15 , all of which
20 July 2024 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE