2022 Results

Jason Long opened his Longview Greens Mini Golf Course in 2016, and since then it has gotten a well deserved reputation as one of the finest mini golf courses in Texas.   Jason decided to have a state championship played at his course in 2021, and Lee Messinger was the first winner of the champions award, a beautiful custom made belt buckle!  

The 2022 championship was played on April 10th with unseasonably high winds blowing all through the competition, steady at 20 mph with gusts higher.  Jason had 41 players sign up for the event, with 15 of them being regular players on the Southwest Putting Tour.  

The course showed its teeth early as the pre tournament favorite, defending champ and winner of the warmup tournament on Saturday, Lee Messinger started with a 42 and never got untracked.  Mini golf legend Olivia Prokopova also started with a 42, as did her husband and great player Wade Sahmel, essentially getting too far back early.  Brice Bergesen and Rainey Statum were the first round leaders with one under par 35’s, two ahead of Mason Spradlin and Bryan Gentry.  Brice and Rainey shot 34 and 35 the second round to put a six shot gap from second place to Adam Sahmel, who was in at a strong 76 for third place.  

In the final round, Wade Sahmel shot his second straight 36 to be the early leader at 114.  His strong finish put him ahead of his wife Olivia and his brother Adam, who finished at 119.  The other Sahmel, Adam and Wade’s dad Alan, finished at 122.  Rainey got off to a slow start the final round making a 4 on the second hole, but Brice got on the bogey train and the conductor would not let him off, going 5 over after 6 holes.   Brice finished with a 42 and a 111 score, four behind Rainey’s very strong 107.   Rainey won $1000, the champions belt buckle and he and Brice split the $500 prize for most aces in 54 holes, they both had 8 aces.  The scores posted are just those of the SWPT players.  To see all the scores go to longviewgreens.com. 

The tournament was a great success, many new friends were made and everyone was looking forward to playing again next year, only with maybe a little less wind!!