Who We Are

Founded in 1991, the Kansas Golf Foundation (KGF) is the only tax-exempt charitable foundation devoted to golf across the entire state.

The Mission of the Foundation is to Promote the Future and Preserve the History of Golf in Kansas.

What We Do

  • Kansas Junior Golf Scholarship & KWGA Memorial Scholarship – Award college scholarships to students who participated in junior golf in Kansas 
  • KS Junior & Women’s Golf Grants – Award grants to developing junior golf programs & women’s golf programs
  • KJGS Edge – Provide our scholars with networking opportunities & job placement assistance 
  • Kansas Golf Hall of Fame – Honor & remember the legends of KS golf
  • KS Junior Golf Network – Provide information on junior golf opportunities across the state

FAQ

Who runs the Foundation?

Our Trustees, Executive Director and other volunteers are people with a passion for golf from around the state.

What kind of charity is the KGF?

The KGF is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt educational foundation, and contributions are fully deductible in accordance with IRS Rules.

What does the KGF do?

We award 4 year college scholarships to deserving Kansans.

We grant funds to developing junior golf programs.

We inform and educate KS families on junior golf opportunities.

We honor outstanding Kansans for their accomplishments and contributions to the game of golf through the Hall of Fame.

What will my donation be used for?

All contributions are used to support the programs of the KGF.

Where can I learn more?

Contact the Foundation here.

Board of Trustees

Bryan Norton

Mission Hills – President

Bryan was born and raised in Salina, learning the game under the tutelage of Salina Country Club Golf Professional and Kansas Golf Hall of Fame member, Wally Beets. Bryan played golf at Oral Roberts University, contributing to a team that included four All-Americans players and finished 2nd in the NCAA in 1981. Bryan was twice a 2nd Team All-American, finished 4th individually in the 1980 NCAA Championship, and won his first Kansas Amateur Championship in 1980.

After college, Bryan played professionally for 10 years: five on the PGA European Tour, one year on the PGA Tour, one year on the Ben Hogan Tour (now the Nationwide Tour), and won the Kansas Open in 1984. After retiring from professional golf, Bryan settled in Kansas City, where he now works for Lockton Companies. A reinstated amateur, Bryan has continued to compete. He won the Kansas Amateur Championship twice more (2002 and 2010). In 2003 Bryan was runner-up in the US Mid-Amateur and earned stroke play medalist honors at the British Mid-Amateur. He led the Kansas team that won the USGA Men’s State Team Championship in 2010, and won the Kansas Senior Amateur Championship in 2010, 2011 and 2018.

Bryan was named to the Foundation Board of Trustees in 2008.

Jordan Boone

Wichita – Secretary/Treasurer

Jordan was born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas, where she started playing golf at a young age in the Brookridge Golf and Fitness junior golf program. Jordan played in multiple junior and KWGA tournaments across Kansas during high school. She earned her degree from Baker University in 2004, where she played varsity golf all four years, including playing in the NAIA National Championship her sophomore year.

Jordan and her husband, Will, own Wildcat Resources, Inc., a land and energy services company. While her two young daughters keep her busy most of the time, Jordan has enjoyed spending more time playing golf at Crestview Country Club, where she is an active member of the Women’s League.

Jordan is excited to be a part of the Kansas Golf Foundation and help give back to the junior golfers in Kansas.

Steve Sloan

Pittsburg – Vice President, Interim

Born and raised in Wichita, Steve learned to play golf through the Wichita Junior Golf Association’s junior golf program. After graduating from the University of Kansas, where he played golf for two years, Steve spent 11 years working for Koch Industries around the country. In 1995, he settled in Pittsburg, where he now leads Midwest Minerals, Inc., a family owned business involved in the aggregate and ready mixed concrete industry.

Steve remains an active and accomplished player, having won the Crestwood Country Club Championship seven times and the 2017 Kansas Senior Amateur Championship. He is also a member of Flint Hills National Golf Club and Wolf Creek Golf Links. “I’m delighted to serve on the Foundation Board of Trustees”, says Steve. “It gives me a chance to give something back to the game that has meant so much to me my entire life.” Steve and his wife, Becky, live in Pittsburg and have three children.

Cassie Lowell

Shawnee

Cassie Lowell is the Lead Assistant Golf Professional at Oakwood Country Club and a PGA Member. She was born and raised in Concordia, Kansas where she fell in love with the game of golf. Cassie was Varsity Golf Captain of her high school team, and in 2010 she received the Kansas Women’s Golf Association Scholarship.

She continued her golf career at Northwest Missouri State University. During her collegiate career, Cassie was MIAA Conference Champion, MIAA Player of the Year, MIAA Freshman of the Year, 4-time All MIAA, and 4-time NGCA All-Scholar Athlete.

After graduating from Northwest, she completed an internship with the Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA, leading her to pursue PGA Membership. Prior to working at Oakwood, she was an Assistant Professional at Hallbrook Country Club. Along with her PGA Membership, Cassie has certifications in US Kids Level 2, Operation 36, TPI Level 1 and 2 Junior.

Golf is and always has been her passion and she looks forward to helping more people learn and fall in love with the game.

Jeff Burey

Overland Park

Jeff is serving his second term on the Kansas Golf Foundation Board of Trustees and he has been in the golf business since 1974. Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, Jeff’s golf career began at Wee Burn CC in Darien, Connecticut and at John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, Florida. He served as Head Golf Professional at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club for almost four years, followed by 26 years as General Manager/Golf Director at Wolf Creek Golf Club in Olathe, and two years as General Manager of Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson. He is President and operator of Twin Oaks Golf Complex Inc. in Eudora. Jeff is a “Life” member of the PGA of America and a member of the Midwest PGA Section “Hall of Fame”.

Since 2010, Jeff has focused his time and energy on projects to grow the game of golf and, in particular, introducing youngsters to the game. He is a Certified Trainer for SNAG (Starting New At Golf), a program that makes it fun and rewarding for kids and grownups to learn and play the game. Jeff manages the Foundation’s Golf in School program, traveling throughout the State of Kansas to introduce SNAG to School Districts, Physical Education teachers and provide training.

Jeff and his wife, Cathy, have three grown children and eight grandchildren. Jeff’s passions include golf history and architecture, all sports, most of all, college basketball.

Mandy Cundy

Maize   

Mandy and her husband, Meurig Cundy, own the local youth golf franchise of TGA Golf of Central Kansas as well as the indoor golf facility, Golf-In.  Mandy is passionate about teaching and exposing juniors to the game of golf and is currently doing this by helping to organize after-school enrichment programs at local schools, coaching classes to school-aged students, and volunteering at youth events.  She is excited to be on the board and to help grow awareness of junior golf in the state of Kansas!

Mandy grew up in Dodge City, Kansas and was actively involved in the junior golf program there, as well as frequently playing with her dad out on the course.  Mandy played varsity golf in high school and then attended the University of Kansas for her undergraduate and graduate degrees.  She continues to play for fun and loves the life-long sport of golf. Mandy and Meurig live in Maize, KS with their daughter, Olive.

Chris Hamman

Wichita

Originally from Overbrook, KS, Chris played his junior golf in Topeka where he was the Topeka City Junior champion.  He also won the Kansas State 4A High School individual title in 1980 and went on to play golf at the University of Kansas from 1980-1984.

After college, Chris moved to Wichita where he worked for Koch Industries for 28 years in various commercial and leadership positions.  In 2012,  Chris founded and started up his own business, Sticks 96 Golf, in Wichita.  Sticks 96 has been honored as a Top 100 Clubfitter in the United States numerous times by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine.  After selling the business in mid-2022, Chris continues as a certified putting instructor providing putting lessons, putting technology and coaching with his business Putt 29 Golf.

A life-long golfer, Chris joined the KGF Board of Trustees in Fall, 2022.   “I am honored to serve on the Board of Trustees and give back to the game that has given me so much”.  Chris and his wife Tammy reside in Wichita with their two puppies and are members at Crestview Country Club.  In his spare time, Chris enjoys playing golf, traveling with Tammy and spending time with his grandchildren.

Meghan Houtsma

Syracuse

Meghan Houtsma was born and raised in Syracuse, Kansas.  She was introduced to golf by her parents at the age of five and it became a pivotal part of her life.  

Meghan was the first official recruit for the women’s golf team at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas.  There she played the No. 1 position for Coach Karen Exon and lettered all four years while serving as the team captain from 2000 to 2002.  She placed first or second in well over 20 individual tournaments.  She was the conference/regional champion three years and was runner-up in 2000.  She earned the right to participate in four national NAIA tournaments where she had finishes of 32nd,  2nd, 12th, and 10th and was named an All-American her sophomore, junior and senior years. She was also named as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete twice.  For her achievements, Meghan was inducted into the Baker University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.

After receiving her degree from Baker, she went on to graduate with honors with a law degree from the Washburn University School of Law.

Meghan worked for 10 years as staff attorney for Syracuse Dairy, LLC, the business owned by her husband, Jay. In 2016, she was appointed District Magistrate Judge for Hamilton County, Kansas and held the position until stepping down in 2019.  She continues to serve as Municipal Judge for the city of Syracuse.  She has served on a number of different boards, including the Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Syracuse, the Groundwater Management District No. 3 and the Syracuse Youth Athletic Association.

Meghan and Jay were married in 2005 and together have two children, Alexander and Ethan.  She also has two step-children, Juliana and Nic.

Kyle Hawk

McPherson

NEW TRUSTEE – Welcome to the Board, Kyle!   Bio coming soon.

Craig Jorgensen

Lenexa

Craig owned an American Family insurance agency in Lenexa for 45 years before retiring in 2016 so that he can be more active in golf and giving back to the game and playing golf with his family. Craig is serving his second term on the Kansas Golf Foundation board, having served from 2006 – 2011, and he has been an Advisory Director since 2011. Craig has also previously served as a Director of the Kansas Golf Association.

Craig feels that giving back to the game is very important to players, clubs and courses alike to grow the game for the future. Craig and his wife Sandy are South Dakota natives and have lived in Kansas since 1974. They will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary this year with a great golf trip. Craig and Sandy have two married daughters and four wonderful grandchildren – all golfers who learned the game using SNAG (Starting New at Golf) equipment.

Craig loves all aspects of golf and currently participates in Junior Golf with the grandkids, club and area competitions, golf destination travel and course evaluations. The best part of all of this is the wonderful people Craig and Sandy have met because of the game.

Daran Neuschafer

Salina

Daran Neuschafer, is a native of Salina, KS who began his career with American Family Insurance in 1995. His agency has expanded with locations in both Salina and Kansas City, KS. He is a member of the American Family Insurance All-American Hall of Fame and currently serves as the Kansas delegate on the National Agency Advisor group at American Family.

A longtime community volunteer who has served on countless boards and organizations, Neuschafer currently serves as a board member of The Plains State Bank, Salina Police Department Excellence Foundation, KSU-Salina Dean’s Advisory board, Kansas State University Foundation Board of Trustees. He also is a founding member and current Fundraising Chair of the Saline County Back to School Fair which is now in its 21st year of providing backpacks full of free school supplies for school children in need. Neuschafer has past served his community as President of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, Board Chair of the Salina Airport Authority, President of Salina Noon Rotary Club, and President of Salina Country Club Board of Directors, in addition to serving on the boards for Salina Child Care Association, Salina Community Theater, Saline County Golf Association, Salina Regional Health Center Foundation, and The Volunteer Connection.

He is married to Kendra (Varner), a third-grade teacher at Meadowlark Ridge Elementary in Salina, and they together have a daughter Kaitlyn Dobratz (Matt), a school social worker in the Kansas City area, and a son, Brayden, who studying at Kansas State University.  In his free time, Daran enjoys golf, wine, and supporting K-State athletics.

Park Urlich

Overland Park

Park joined the KGF Board in 2022, bringing his passion for the game and strong network within the industry. At the age of 13, he began playing competitively through the KGA and KCGA. He played college golf at UMKC. Through the years, he has enjoyed competing in Central Links events, including a 2020 Kansas Amateur victory. His personal favorite highlights were winning the Kansas Four-Ball with PGA Tour player Harry Higgs in 2011, and the Heart of America Four-Ball Championship with Davis Cooper in 2020.

Park is a KC native and currently lives in Overland Park with his wife Becky and kid’s Evelyn and Anderson. He is a Wealth Manager for Ameriprise. As a member of the Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate, Flint Hills National, and the Dormie Network, he has enjoyed growing and learning the game within Kansas/Kansas City and is excited to contribute to the Foundation, community, and future of the game.

Mark Welker

Kansas City

NEW TRUSTEE 2023 – Welcome to the Board, Mark!   Bio coming soon.

Wendi Brandt, PGA

Olathe – Executive Director

Wendi joined the Kansas Golf Foundation in 2022. She has taken over the role of Executive Director, effective February 2024. Born and raised in Kansas, Wendi has been involved with sports all her life. She took up golf in her early 20’s and decided to make it her career. She is a PGA golf professional and worked in the industry for over 20 years. She attended the University of Kansas with a Bachelor Degree in Public Administration.

Wendi came to the Foundation after working many years at Mission Hills Country Club (KS) and the last three years at Central Links Golf. At Central Links Golf she was the Director of Women’s Championships & Member Services.

Wendi has a son who lives in Liberty, MO with his family and she lives in Olathe with her husband, and two dogs. They are members at Lake Quivira Country Club.

Read Press Release

Friends of the Foundation

Mark Browne, Kansas City

Somanath Chilikuri, Overland Park

Matt Gogel, Mission Hills

Tony Gogel, Leawood

Frank Kirk, Prairie Village

Kyle Kremers, Shawnee

Jacob Liles, Wichita

Rob Phipps, Olathe

Eric Sexton, Wichita

Steve Stoffregen, Andover

Candy Tai, Overland Park

Sean Thayer, Garden City

 

Executive Director Emeritus

Phil Miller, 2003-2020