Feature Story
Michael Winslow
Sweeps Kansas & KC Golf Amateurs
Aquinas grad ’ s 64 overcomes six-shot deficit to win KC Amateur
by Alan Hoskins , feature writer
Tied for 21st place and six strokes back of Easton Johnson going into the final 18 holes , Winslow put nine birdies and an 8-under par 64 on the board for a two-shot win in the Kansas City Amateur tourney played at one of Kansas City ’ s most challenging courses , The Golf Club at Creekmoor .
“ It was the best round of my career , definitely ,” said the 21-yearold senior at Wichita State , who missed only two greens and needed just 28 putts . The win earned Winslow a berth in the U . S . Amateur played at famed Hazeltine in Minnesota , where rounds of 71 and 73 left him two shots short of making the cut of 64 players from a field of 312 amateurs . “ A great experience ; something every amateur has circled .”
The win also ended a long drought for Winslow . At age 15 , he won the Kansas Junior Amateur and competed in the U . S . Junior Amateur at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey . Fully qualified for AJGA play , membership took him to numerous golf tournaments across the nation . “ I was very competitive but never broke into the win column until this summer .”
That came in the 114th Kansas Amateur at Topeka Country Club July 16-21 . Seeded No . 10 after back-to-back qualifying rounds of one under 70 , Winslow took a one-shot lead into the 18th hole for a 1-up win over Jack Bradbury in a difficult opening round match . He followed up by ousting Jack Tarvin 3 & 2 , Jake Huffaker 4 & 3 , and former Watson Challenge champion and No . 2 seed Alex Springer 5 & 4 .
It was a summer Michael Winslow will never forget –– a summer that will be forever documented in the history of Kansas amateur golf . Not only did he win the prestigious 2024 Kansas Amateur tournament , but Winslow followed up two weeks later by winning the Kansas City Amateur ( photo above ) with the biggest comeback in tournament history . A 2021 St . Thomas Aquinas grad , Winslow is the first to sweep both events in the same year since PGA TOUR Star Gary Woodland in 2005 .
That set up a dramatic semifinal re-match of the 2023 Kansas Amateur championship final won 1-up by defending champion Zach Sokolosky , Winslow ’ s longtime friend and teammate at Wichita State . “ I think I had a little bit of a chip on my shoulder after the previous year ,” admitted Winslow . “ It ’ s tough playing a good friend .”
It ’ s even tougher when you ’ re three shots back with five holes to go . However , a couple of pars and a birdie at No . 16 got Winslow even and set up the putt of the tournament . “ About a 35-footer across the green at No . 17 to go one up , and we both birdied the last hole ,” Winslow remembers vividly .
16 October 2024 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE