TOPEKA, Kan. – In a hotly contested championship match, Wichita State men's golfer Michael Winslow defeated Kansas Jayhawk Will King to win the 2024 Kansas Amateur title on Sunday afternoon at Topeka Country Club.
 
Winslow, a native of Overland Park, Kansas, took down six golfers to take the crown, including defeats of two-seed Alex Springer as well as the reigning Kansas Am Champion and Shocker teammate, Zach Sokolosky. Winslow avenged his defeat to Sokolosky in last year's championship match with a come-from-behind victory over his former teammate in this year's championship semifinal.
 
"This win is a testament to Mike's hard work and dedication to his craft," head men's golf coach Judd Easterling said. "He never loses faith in his game, and I am so proud of him and his results this week."
 
In the championship match between the Shocker and Jayhawk, King took and early lead after a win on the opening hole that he would maintain through the first 12 holes of play, before Winslow broke through with a win on hole 13 to tie the match. Winslow would snag his first lead of the day after a win on the next hole put him one up, but King would tie the match with a win on 15. The pair split the next two holes and tied on the 18th to remain tied up heading into the break.
 
Out of the break, it was Winslow who would strike midway through the second round, winning holes seven, eight, and nine to move to two up in the match with nine holes to go. Winslow would not relinquish his lead the rest of the way, and a tie on hole 17 ended the championship match with Winslow up by two holes with one to go, making him the 2024 Kansas Amateur Champion.
 
A Shocker has now won the Amateur event in back-to-back years and Winslow is the fourth Shocker since 2010 to win the event, joining Sokolosky last year, Gage Ihrig in 2017, and Hunter Sparks in 2011.
 
This past season, Winslow earned AAC All-Conference honors and finished a stellar fourth place as an individual at the 2024 AAC Championship.
 
Winslow will look to carry his strong finish last season and his Kansas Am Championship into a strong 2024-25 senior campaign.
 
"It's been such a good last couple summers for Mike," said Easterling. "He's notched two runner-up finishes to go with his win today and paired with his amazing conference finish, he's been using his momentum to get better and better." 
 
With the win at the Kansas Am, Winslow will now compete in the U.S. Amateur Championship, which begins on August 12 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.