Schrimper continues pro golf introduction at Greater Cedar Rapids Open

MARION – Throughout its history, the Greater Cedar Rapids Open golf tournament has proven to be a springboard to bigger days for both amateur and professional golfers.

Golfers such as Derek Lamely, George McNeill, Gary Christian and Cedar Rapids native Zach Johnson have all parlayed victories in the yearly tournament into professional tour success.

Former Linn-Mar prep and Mount Mercy golfer Ryan Schrimper – in his first year as a professional – is one of over 100 professional golfers hoping to chart their own course Thursday morning in the opening round of the 17th annual event at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion.

'Last year I just focused on being an amateur,” Schrimper said. 'Just trying to see how my game set up and get my game ready for professional this year. My main goal is making the cut.”

Schrimper – a 2014 first team all-conference golfer for the Mustangs and one of just two amateurs to make the cut in the event last year – begins his round at 1:40 p.m. on the 10th tee. He'll face off against a talented field that includes defending champion Mark Blakefield of Maysville, Ky., last year's runner-up Justin Bryant (St. Louis, Mo.) and Eric Stegers of Fisher, Ind., who placed second in last weekend's Waterloo Open.

The three-day tournament is free to the public. The first group tees off at 7:15 a.m. from No. 1. A $22,000 check awaits the winner.

'I look at Waterloo (Open) and Cedar Rapids and some of the guys that have won those,” said Sean McCarty, the head pro at Brown Deer Golf Course in Coralville. 'They have gone on to be successful on tour. ... Those guys have been out there, they've had a little bit of success. Obviously it's a good steppingstone for a lot of these guys still trying to make a living at it.”

McCarty – a regular tournament participant – tees off at 12:35 p.m. from the first tee. Both he and Schrimper spoke excitedly about Johnson's four-hole playoff victory in Monday's British Open. For a green professional like Schrimper, Johnson's ascension from an everyday golfer at Cedar Rapids Regis and Drake to a two-time PGA major championship winner provides encouragement.

'Kind of the blueprint that I'm following from him is just got to keep positive and don't give up,” Schrimper said. 'It took him until his upper 20's to make it on to the PGA Tour. He just kept at it and finally broke through. It just shows you, as long as you don't give up you can achieve your goals.”

Schrimper's goal of turning professional began in January with six events of the SwingThought.com Tour Florida Winter Series. While he was within a couple of shots of making the cut in two of the tournaments, Schrimper placed more of a premium on getting his feet wet as a professional.

'That's mainly why I did it was just to get really good experience for being a professional,” Schrimper said. 'Kind of seeing how it went and I took a lot of experience away from it.”

GREATER CEDAR RAPIDS OPEN

At Marion

(Hunters Ridge Golf Course)

l When: Thursday through Saturday, tee times start at 7:15 a.m.

l Where: Hunters Ridge Golf Course, Marion (par-72)

l Defending champion: Mark Blakefield, Maysville, Ky.

l Winner's share: $22,000

l Field: 132 professionals, senior professionals and amateurs.

l Golfers to watch: Blakefield (tees off at 7:30 a.m. Thursday), Brad Klapprott (7:40 a.m.), Dane Worley (8:35 a.m.), Sean McCarty (12:35 p.m.), Steven Ihm (12:40 p.m.), Luke Slaymaker (12:45 p.m.)

l Online: www.gcropen.com

l Comments: douglas.miles@thegazette.com