Quincy’s Pfeiffer, Palmyra’s Schuenke advance in match play at Missouri Amateur Championship

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Quincy’s Adam Pfeiffer and Palmyra’s Ryan Schuenke powered their way into the round of 32 at the Missouri Amateur Championship with stellar play down the stretch.

Hannibal’s Quinn Thomas fell just short of doing the same thing.

Pfeiffer and Schuenke closed out their match-play victories by winning their final holes and remain in contention from a field that began with 144 golfers. Meanwhile, Thomas won two of his final three holes to forge a tie before losing in extra holes.

All three local golfers qualified for match play after tying for 15th in the 36-hole stroke play portion of the championship.

Pfeiffer defeated Caleb Carter of St. Joseph, Mo., 4 & 2 with a back-nine blitz. Pfeiffer, the eight-time Quincy city champion, was 2-up after the front nine and won the 10th hole before Carter won back-to-back holes. Pfeiffer responded by winning three consecutive holes with a birdie sandwiched between two pars to close out the match after the 16th hole.

Schuenke beat Tyler Lansford of Joplin, Mo., 2-up with steady play on the back nine. Schuenke led by two holes before Lansford won the par-5 eighth with a birdie and the par-3 ninth with a par to even the match. On the back nine, Schuenke birdied the par-3 13th and closed out the match with a birdie on the par-5 17th.

Thomas lost in 19 holes to Hank Lierz of Overland Park, Kan., after rallying to force extra holes. Thomas made the turn at 2-up, but Lierz won four of the first six holes on the back nine. Thomas responded with a par on the par-3 16th and birdie on the par-5 17th to win both holes and even the match. Lierz parred the first extra hole to win the match.

Pfeiffer and Schuenke are scheduled to tee off at 9:03 a.m. and 9:21 a.m., respectively, in their round of 32 matches Friday.