The sixth annual Sunflower Hickory event was contested on April 25 at its new location – the St. Andrews Golf Course in Overland Park, Kan. Twelve two-person teams (24 players) participated in the 18-hole match play event, which attracted players from Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Texas and Colorado.
In this early season low key scramble event, team match winners receive a gold medal, while the defeated default to silver. Our match winners are Dave Hansen (Iowa) and Kirk Watson (Iowa); Tad Stanbury (Mo.) and Garret Smith (Mo.); Bob Bjerke (Texas) and Paul Bjerke (Colo.); Chris Conklin (Kan.) and Tim Heddon (Iowa); Bill Reed (Iowa) and Mike Needleman (Kan.); and Tracey Joneson (Ark.) and Scot Belt (Ark.) who battled Ted and Morgan Hanson (Iowa) in the tightest match of the day ending in a tie at the end of play. The Morgans were awarded the gold as a result of scorecard play off at hole No. 14, the No. 2 handicap hole at St. Andrews.
The players at the 2026 Kansas City Sunflower Match Play competition.