Skip Berkmeyer knows all of the emotions that come along with losing the Missouri Amateur Championship. Playing in the finals for a fourth time, the 35-year-old St. Louis resident didn’t let another opportunity slip away.

Justin Bardgett and Berkmeyer completed the 36 holes of regulation Sunday at St. Joseph Country Club all square. Going to a playoff hole in a rematch of last year’s championship match, Berkmeyer stuck his short approach on No. 1 to 3 feet. Bardgett missed a 30-foot birdie try, and Berkmeyer controlled the nerves to make the winning putt and win 1-up after 37 holes.

Eleven years after his first Missouri Amateur title, he joined exclusive company as a repeat winner.

“I really didn’t want to be a three-time loser,” said Berkmeyer who lost the finals in 1997, won in 1998 and fell 8-and-6 to Bardgett in last year’s championship match.

“I’ve improved as a golfer in the last 10 years. I’ve gotten better, and I’ve had my chances,” he said. “I was hoping this way my opportunity.”

Both players held a lead of 2-up during the first 18 holes, but Berkmeyer lost his two-hole advantage on the backside.

Bardgett — a senior-to-be at the University of Colorado — won holes 11, 15 and 18 to take a 1-up lead entering the second half of the matchup. Berkmeyer wouldn’t lead again until a trio of three-putts from Bardgett on the back 9 opened the door for the veteran.

The third set of missed putts came at No. 15 and gave Berkmeyer a one-up lead going to 16.

After the players halved the par-3 16th, Berkmeyer made the two closing par 5s interesting by hitting both of his drives off of trees, and Bardgett took advantage with a 36-foot eagle putt from the front of the green at 17 to even the match.

But Berkmeyer made a scrambling birdie out of the timber at 18 with a 3-1/2-foot putt after Bardgett’s eagle try stayed high of the hole.

“All week those two tee shots are extremely uncomfortable for me,” Berkmeyer said. “When you have a 1-up lead and then even, they’re a little more uncomfortable. I was just trying to find a way to make a birdie.”

Both players took driver off the tee and ended up in the rough on the short par-4 first, which served as the opening playoff hole.

Bardgett played first, and his chip from right of the green sailed deep and all the way to the back edge of the green. Berkmeyer, playing from the left, dropped a lob wedge just 2 feet short of the middle back hole location.

Knowing he needed to make the long putt, Bardgett’s 30-foot attempt came up just inches short.

“I thought it had a chance the whole way, and then it just kind of dove off at the end,” he said. “A little more steam, and it probably would’ve been dead center.”

Berkmeyer took his time reading the short birdie attempt before making it dead center.

“I felt really good coming to 1 because I’ve played it well all week,” he said. “I birdied probably over half the times I played it. Thank God I had one more in me.”

With his wife expecting their second child and now squarely in his mid-30s, Berkmeyer relished the victory and his second Missouri Amateur title. He then gave credit to his youthful opponent and made a prediction.

“I don’t know how many more of these I’ll be able to play,” Berkmeyer said. “If he keeps playing in these, he’ll win it again.”

For Bardgett’s part, he hopes to turn pro after finishing out his last season of college eligibility. But the Chesterfield, Mo., native won’t rule out delaying his career move until after next June for another shot at one of his favorite tournaments.

Bardgett is 11-3 in match play in four tries at the Amateur.

“It’d be hard for me not to stay amateur for the summer, come back and try to win it again,” he said.

Assistant sports editor Ross Martin can be reached at rossmartin@npgco.com