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Wind, Drama, and Record Crowds: Coyote Creek Delivers a Memorable Start to APT Central Illinois Summer Season
The 2025 summer season for the APT Central Illinois chapter teed off in spectacular fashion at Coyote Creek Golf Club in Bartonville, IL, with a record-breaking 73 players battling the elements and each other. Early morning chills gave way to a warm, sunny afternoon near 75 degrees, but the real story of the day was the relentless wind — a steady 20 mph, gusting as high as 35 mph, that turned each shot into a true adventure.
In Division 1, the crowd watched in awe as Shane Thompson launched out of the gates with four birdies over his first five holes, taming the whipping winds like a seasoned pro. However, even Shane wasn’t immune to the course’s bite, stumbling late on the front nine with a bogey, a double, and a triple. Demonstrating incredible resilience, he steadied himself over the final stretch, playing the last eight holes at just +1 to post a winning score of 77, securing a gritty three-shot victory over newcomer Wesley Dazey.
Division 2 was a rollercoaster. Reggie Livingston and Daryl Wolff (visiting from Iowa) dazzled early, with Reggie turning at -1 and Daryl sitting at even par after nine holes. But the brutal back nine — made tougher by relentless crosswinds — saw both leaders tumble, each posting 45s on the way in. Their faltering opened the door for RJ Trimpe, a new face who kept his head down and stayed consistent. RJ’s steady 38 on the back propelled him past the leaders, clinching the title with a well-earned 77.
In Division 3, the largest D3 field in Central Illinois history (27 players) delivered fireworks, but it was a familiar name atop the board. John Blackburn (Indianapolis chapter) took control early, playing the first five holes in even par and posting a front-nine 40 to build a commanding lead. Even a triple bogey on the 10th couldn’t derail him, as he coasted to an 83 and a four-shot win over veterans Jason Holden and Chris Whitley.
The winds of change swept through Division 4, where a host of newcomers to the tour vied for the crown. In the end, it was Bradley Crawford who stood tall. Holding a narrow one-shot lead at the turn over Dewey Wills, Bradley showed maturity beyond his APT experience. Four pars in a critical six-hole stretch on the back nine helped him pull away, firing an 89 to win by four shots.
Division 5 delivered perhaps the most dramatic finish of the day. Myron Schroeder, the division’s winningest player over the past year, looked poised for yet another victory, sharing the lead after 14 holes. But the brutal closing stretch at Coyote Creek took its toll. Myron played the final four holes in +7, while Billy Brickley stumbled in at +5. Jim Seibert (St. Louis chapter) seized the moment, closing strong and posting a 96 to snatch victory by a single shot.
Meanwhile, the Senior Net division provided heart-pounding excitement. Daryl Wolff posted a net-74 and nervously waited as John Blackburn came down the stretch. Blackburn needed par on the 18th to force a playoff — and he delivered. However, in the playoff on the downwind, drivable first hole, disaster struck. John’s tee shot sailed out of bounds, handing the title to a steady Daryl Wolff after a routine two-putt par.
The players competed for a purse of $4,545, with Mike Wisdom earning the biggest single prize of the day — a $730 payout for winning the Closest to the Pin contest.
After an epic opening day, the tour now takes a short break before returning to action at Mattoon Golf and Country Club on Monday, May 19.
