Cooper Schultz pulls away entering final round of Trans-Mississippi Amateur
Cooper Schultz (Ben Adelberg/Back of the Range Photo)
Cooper Schultz used his second straight round of 5-under 66 to get to 14-under and take a three-shot lead into the final round of the 2024 Trans-Mississippi Amateur Championship at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, Kan.
Schultz has shown incredible consistency, shooting rounds of 67-66-66 to get to 14-under and hold a share of the 36-hole lead and the solo 54-hole lead.
"It is just going to be about staying cool," Schultz told Ben Adelberg of Back of the Range about the final round. "I haven't held a 54-hole lead in a long time, so I am sure the nerves will be there, but I just have to go out and pretend I am two (shots) behind."
His third round 5-under 66 consisted of seven birdies and two bogeys.
Schultz has played well this summer thus far, earning medalist honors at the U.S. Open Local Qualifying and finishing in solo fourth place at the Dogwood Invitational. He is currently ranked No. 227 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings.
Jay Mendell is in solo second place at 11-under, and Charles Delong is in solo third place at 10-under. William Sides, Jack Barber, and Kristoffer Kuvaas are all T4 at 9-under.
The Trans-Mississippi Golf Association was officially organized on June 8, 1901, with the principal mission of advancing continuing interest in amateur golf. The first Trans-Mississippi Championship was held that year and has been held every year since, except for a three-year interruption during World War II. The championship is played at a different course each year, at sites near or west of the Mississippi River.
The list of past champions includes some of the biggest names in amateur and professional golf, including Jack Nicklaus (twice), Charlie Coe (four times), Deane Beman, Ben Crenshaw, George Archer, Gary Koch, Bob Tway, and Mark Brooks.
In 1987, the tournament field was restricted to mid-amateurs (those aged 25 and over). In 2009, two major changes were made: (i) the field was re-opened to players of all ages, and (ii) the format, which had been 36 holes of stroke play qualifying to determine a 64-player field for match play, was changed to 54 holes of stroke play. Since 2011, it has been a 72-hole stroke play championship.
ABOUT THE Trans-Miss Championship
The Trans-Miss is one of the oldest and
most storied golf tournaments in the United
States.
For 106 years the championship
was played in a match play format.
Past champions include Jack Nicklaus (1958
and 1959), Charles Coe (1947, 1949, 1952 and
1956), Deane Beman (1960), George Archer
(1963), Ben Crenshaw (1972), Gary Koch
(1973), Bob Tway (1978), Mark Brooks (1978)
and other professional tour notables. In
1987 the championship was changed to a mid-
amateur age requirement, and a senior division
was also added. Starting in 2010, the Trans-
Mississippi Championship, returned to its roots
as an
open amateur tournament, and immediately
established itself as a "must-play" among
top collegiate and mid-am players, while
changing to
a 72-hole stroke play format. The field size
starts at
144 players from Trans-
Mississippi Golf Association member clubs (or
players receiving a special invitation from the
Championship Committee). After 36 holes, a cut
is
made to the low 54 and ties who play the final
two
rounds.
View Complete Tournament Information