When Pete Betzold won with a two under par score of 286, Beavercreek will host the Metropolitan Championship as Miami Valley Golf crowns its 104th champion and continues our oldest tradition.

The championship's roots stretch back 107 years to 1919, when Vincent Hilton defeated Walter Lamfersick, 8 & 7, in a 36-hole match at Dayton Country Club to become the first Metropolitan Champion. Since then, the event has served as the annual test to identify our champion amateur golfer.

Thirty years ago, following the formation of Miami Valley Golf, stewardship of the championship transitioned to Miami Valley Golf, and Greg Lawrence captured the inaugural title under the current 72-hole stroke play format whose first round was played at the newly opened Golf Club at Yankee Trace.

Today, competitors continue to chase the same prize that generations before them pursued: the opportunity to add their name to the historic Loving Cup first awarded more than a century ago.

This year's championship carries significant rewards beyond local prestige. The champion will earn an exemption into the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club, along with an exemption into the 2026 Ohio Amateur Championship at The Virtues Golf Club. The top three finishers and ties will also receive exemptions into Final Qualifying for the 2027 U.S. Amateur Championship.

A Young Field Chasing History

The 2026 field reflects the continued emergence of the next generation of amateur golfers, with an average age of just 23 years old.

Seventeen-year-old Jackson Faulkner enters as the youngest competitor in the championship, while fellow 17-year-old Matthew Kreusch will celebrate his 18th birthday later this fall. At the other end of the spectrum, David Mosley brings experience to the field at age 59.

Among the players expected to contend is Kreusch, who recently earned medalist honors in Ohio Amateur qualifying and captured the Ohio Junior Amateur Championship this past week. Brody Simms, runner-up in last year's Metropolitan Championship, returns seeking one better, while Ian Asch looks to build on his tie for third-place finish in 2025.

Past Champions Return

Only two former Metropolitan champions are in this year's field, a reflection of how many recent winners have moved on to professional golf following their victories.

Jeff Scohy, the 2010 champion at Windy Knoll Golf Club, returns seeking another title sixteen years after his victory. Joining him is Bryce Haney, who captured the championship in 2021 at The Golf Club at Yankee Trace.

The pair will provide a fitting bookend to Monday's opening round, teeing off together in the championship's final group at noon.

Notable Absences

Defending champion Ben Cors will not return to defend his title after turning professional in 2026. Cors set a championship scoring record last year at 23-under-par and has since posted three top-20 finishes on the Minor League Golf Tour.

Also absent is five-time Metropolitan Champion Pete Samborsky. The most accomplished players in championship history, Samborsky's absence highlights both the increasingly youthful composition of the field and the challenges presented by the event's Monday-through-Thursday championship schedule.

Championship Format

The course will play as a 6,932-yard par 72. Competition begins Monday morning at 7:30 a.m. when Adam Black strikes the opening tee shot of the championship.

After the first round, players will be re-paired based on score, with the highest scores teeing off first. Following 36 holes, the field will be reduced to the low 32 players and ties for the final two championship rounds.

As the championship enters its 104th playing, the opportunity remains the same as it was more than a century ago: earn a place in Miami Valley golf history and join the distinguished list of champions whose names are engraved on the Loving Cup.

For more information, visit the Metropolitan Website

Miami Valley Golf is a mission-driven 501 (c) 3 organization dedicated to uniting the community through foundational programs and initiatives. We support the game by providing handicapping services, course rating, and meaningful playing opportunities while championing philanthropic efforts like Youth on Course, High School Golf Stewardship, and Golf, My Future, My Game among many others. Our work focuses on advancing the game’s sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity, fostering wellness and community connection. As an Impact-First Charitable nonprofit, we are committed to transparency and ensuring golf’s enduring impact for current and future generations. For more, visit miamivalleygolf.org