Palmyra’s Schuenke falls in quarterfinals at Missouri Amateur Championship

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — A sizzling start to Saturday’s round didn’t result in a stellar finish for Palmyra’s Ryan Schuenke at the 117th Missouri Amateur Championship at St. Joseph Country Club.

Despite winning three of the first five holes in his match against Mt. Vernon’s Presten Richardson in the morning quarterfinals, Schuenke lost five holes on the back nine, including the final two, as Richardson scored a 1-up victory.

Richardson then defeated Kansas City’s Easton Johnson 5 & 4 in the semifinals and will play for the amateur championship Sunday against St. Joseph’s Brad Nurski.

Schuenke, the former Quincy men’s city champion and multi-time Quincy Country Club champion, opened with birdies on the second and fifth holes to build a three-hole lead. Richardson won Nos. 6 and 7 before Schuenke came back with a birdie on the par-5 and a par on the par-3 ninth to take a 3-up lead to the back.

Richardson opened the back nine by winning the first three holes with three consecutive birdies. Schuenke took the lead back with a par on the par-4 15th. Both golfers bogeyed the par-3 16th, and Richardson made birdie on the par-5 17th to even the match.

Richardson made bogey and Schuenke made double bogey on the par-3 18th to decide the match.