Tournament Champions
View Tournament Results
The Central Illinois Amateur Players Tour headed to El Paso Golf Club on Saturday, October 24th for the Fall Kickoff at El Paso, a premier stop on the chapter’s schedule of Central Illinois amateur golf tournaments. A field of 37 players competed across five divisions, with two net games running alongside them, and players are flighted into divisions based on their APT Tournament Index.
El Paso Golf Club played to a par of 71, and it played firm and fast all day. That showed up most on the greens, where the common theme was simple: do not be above the hole. The surfaces were extremely slippery, and par was defended as much by the putting as by the length. The par-5 11th was the sternest hole on the property, surrendering a single eagle, no birdies at all, and playing nearly a shot and a half over par across the field. That lone eagle belonged to Brad Hicks, who got home in three where nobody else got home in four.
A chilly morning gave way to a beautiful, sunny afternoon, though the warming air did nothing to soften the greens for the later groups.
In Division 1, Dustin Finley of Ramsey, IL posted the low round of the day, a 2-over 73 that was the best number anyone turned in at El Paso. Finley went out in 2-under 33 with a birdie at the par-4 2nd and an eagle at the par-4 8th, and although he came home in 4-over 40, he birdied both the par-4 14th and the par-5 15th to settle matters. Phil Jordan of East Peoria took runner-up honors, and it was a two-man race deep into the round — Jordan was level with Finley through twelve holes before Finley pulled away over the closing stretch. Jordan’s round was built on patience, with 13 pars on the card and just two bogeys through a 1-over 36 on the outward half. Alex Cronin of Pekin finished in 3rd.
Division 2 produced the story of the day. John Courtney of Springfield, IL won for the very first time on tour, breaking through after three seasons as a member of the chapter. Courtney’s 10-over 81 came with 11 pars and only four bogeys, a 4-over 39 going out and a 6-over 42 coming home, and he did it from behind: Geno Woolsey of Mahomet was three clear of him after six holes before Courtney turned the division on its head over the middle stretch, leading by five after twelve and never giving it back. Woolsey and Reggie Livingston of Peoria shared 2nd at 12-over 83, with Livingston rounding out the money positions. Three players finished within two shots of the lead.
Division 3 belonged to Zachary Moore of Lincoln, IL, whose 11-over 82 was a round that got better as it went — out in 7-over 42, home in 4-over 40, with ten pars on the card. Moore had to answer where it mattered most, because Bradley Crawford of Bloomington led him by two after twelve holes and Jamison Boyd of Tuscola was a shot ahead after six. Boyd took 2nd at 13-over 84, grinding out an 8-over 43 start before a 5-over 41 inward half and an even-par finish over the last three. Crawford placed 3rd at 14-over 85, two shots further back.
Division 4 went to Mike Prince of Chatham, IL by seven strokes, his 15-over 86 built on even halves of 8-over 43 and 7-over 43. Prince led wire to wire, and the margin only grew: three clear after six, five after twelve, seven after fifteen. Timothy Hill of Decatur finished 2nd, with Edward Watkins of East Peoria and Robert Olsen of Ballwin, MO tied for 3rd.
In Division 5, Cody Bell of Pana, IL took home his first ever win, almost a year to the date from when he first joined the tour. Bell’s 26-over 97 was a two-shot victory, and it was not decided until the walk in — Keith Schumacher of Mason City was three strokes clear of him with three holes to play, and Myron Schroeder of Downs was level with him at that point. Bell closed it out. Schroeder took 2nd at 28-over 99 and Schumacher 3rd at 29-over 100.
The Mid-Am Net ended in a tie at the top. Prince and Thomas Margetich of Pekin both signed for net 2-over 73, sharing the points and the purse four clear of the field, with Prince completing the double-dip after his Division 4 win. Cody Bell and Jimmy Pulis of Pekin shared 3rd at net 6-over 77.
Senior Net went to Crawford, whose net 3-over 74 added a trophy to his Division 3 finish. Greg Mitchell of Findlay was 2nd at net 5-over 76 after leading by two through six holes, and Schumacher took 3rd at net 6-over 77.
Edward Watkins won closest to the pin on the par-3 9th, stuffing his tee shot to 9 feet 4 inches and earning a $370 prize for the effort.
Next up in the Central Illinois chapter — the Trick or Treat Classic at The Den on Saturday, October 31st. Space is limited and registration closes October 27th.
