Wrapping 2023 Tournaments in the AMA: Recent, Virtual & More
Word by Tom Loftus
The AMA season came and went like a bolt of lighting. In one big flash, we were suddenly through 17 in person putting events and 4 virtual scoring opportunities on the Putt18 mat and Walkabout Mini Golf VR. You can find a recap of the most recent tournaments and the results on the newest episode of the Puttcast.
We’re going to start with the most recent virtual tournament and work our way back through the big fall tournaments and a little further back as we missed recapping some tournaments starting in May. Each of the event names below is linked to their event section of the website. After each event has concluded, we add in full scoring results, a short recap, and any media captured from the competition. Okay, let’s jump right in!
Walkabout Mini Golf AMA Scoring Event | November 11 & 12 | Virtual
For our final point-scoring event of the 2023 season, Jorge Rimblas took the spot with a combined -44 on the easy and hard Tethys Station courses and won our 2nd AMA event on Walkabout Mini Golf VR
Mick Cullen (3rd) had the best member round on the easy course with a -25 while Shawn Brown (2nd) carded a group best -24 on the hard course
Our recap from the January event that Jorge won as well
Join the weekly league on Walkabout’s official Discord
Putt18 November AMA Scoring Event | November 5 - 11 | Virtual
Gary Shiff entered the final round on the final day of the competition needing a -9 to take 1st in the event. The best round any player had previously shot in this virtual event up to this point was a -8. Gary shot a world record-tying -18 to win. The image shows his final round of 54 which features an astonishing 8 eagles
Justin Seymour finished 2nd with a -14 after scoring a -2 for the final 3 holes
Tom Loftus and our first Putt18 scoring event winner David Gomm tied for 3rd place with each of them carding a -13 over 4 rounds.
7th Matterhorn International Pro-Am | September 17 | Connecticut
After 3 rounds, Justin Seymour and Dave Vayda tied at 116 and went to a sudden death playoff. On hole #5, Dave won with an ace.
With the win, Dave automatically qualified for the WMF World Adventure Golf Tour taking place in April 2024 in the Czech Republic
Caleb took 3rd with 119 and Highlighter broke a two-way tie for 4th by winning a sudden death tie-breaker against Randy Yal
Patrick Kavanagh took the top spot in the amateur division with a 124
Hole-by-hole scoring for all 47 competitors
2023 Miniest Mini Golf Open | September 17 - 24 | Minnesota
The championship on the 25th was preceded by a 7 day qualifying period where competitors attempted to make the top 25 under par in the pro division and top 6 amateur to play in the 2 round championship
Matt Roalstad became the 4th different winner of the Miniest Mini Golf Open with a 2-round score of 103
Owen Pendleton won the first amateur division title of the Miniest Mini Golf Open
Shawn Brown won an 8-person tie-breaker for most hole-in-ones
Several competitors traveled from Iowa, Illinois, and New Jersey
Hole-by-hole scoring for all 29 competitors
Putterz Course Championship | October 28 | Ohio
Kory Klotz repeated as the course champion after winning an 18-hole tiebreaker 30 to 37 against Jeff Studer. Both players were tied at 170 after 6 rounds.
Jon Lang won a 4-hole aggregate tie-breaker against Matt Male to take home 3rd place. Both players tied for the best round of the tournament with each of them carding a round of 25.
This was the first year this event was part of the AMA scoring schedule and the first Putt-Putt style course to be part of the AMA.
As of sharing this update, Putterz has been sold and it’s not certain whether the course will re-open
Branson Open & Show Me Putters Tour Championship | September 23 & October 21 | Missouri
Both events took play in Branson, Missour as part of the “Show Me” Putters tour
After 8 rounds, Jody Kimble and Jason VanBuskirk were tied at 279. In the 18-hole playoff, Jody Kimble shot a 30 to card the low round of the tournament and take home 1st place.
In the Show Me Putters Tour Championship, Don Louzader bested Jody Kimble by 6 strokes over 8 rounds to win the tour championship and win the overall Show Me Putters Tour for 2023
The Shack Mini Golf Tournament | August 26 | Pennslyvania
In the 2nd year of this new tournament, Scott Kline repeated with a 2-round 127
Kelsey Kline (2nd) shot a 130 & Aaron Kaminski (3rd) carded a 133
The amateur division winner was Tom Metzger with a single-round score of 70. Par for this course is a 77
This was the first year the Shack has been part of the AMA Schedule as a red point scoring tournament
15 pro and 7 amateur competitors
42nd Farmington Miniature Golf Tournament | August 20 Connecticut
In a field of 37 competitors, Scott Lagano came out on top with a 3-round 118. Aaron Kaminski finished 2nd with a 121
Josh Kestenbaum won a playoff for 3rd play with Matt Liles
Mandy Ranslow finished tied for 5th place with Trevor Mays
Kyle Courcy, Justin Seymour and Joey DiPrima tied for 7th
9th Maine Mini Golf Open | August 6 | Maine
Kyle Courcy won his first AMA tournament with a 113 over 3 rounds.
Justin Seymour finished in 2nd with a 119 after besting Kyle Labrecque in a tiebreaker.
Matt Liles and previous Maine Open winner Richard Patrie tied for 4th place
The Looniest Mini Golf Open | May 13 | Minnesota
AMA co-founder Pat Sheridan made his first trip to Minnesota a memorable one by winning the first-ever Looniest Mini Golf Open at the Loon’s Nest.
Shawn Brown won a 2nd place tie-breaker over Matt Roalstad after the two shot 129 over 3 rounds.
5th place finisher Erik Haselius tied the course record in his final round with a 37 including a 15 on the front 9.
Robin Schwartzman won 1st place in the amateur division.
A Couple of Putts hosted this tournament. It was both the first time hosting a tournament at The Loon’s Nest at Island Lake Golf as well as the first time they had an amateur division option.
Hole-By-Hole Scoring for all 15 competitors
