Fox Bend GC Open

Golf Channel AM Tour – Chicago South

Fox Bend Golf Club

May 27, 2012

The weather has not been kind to the Chicago area especially on weekends the day of tournaments for either the North or South Tours.  Finally we were treated to sunny and very warm temperatures.  Fox Bend Golf Club held an Illinois Open and a couple Illinois PGA events in past years and the Chicago South Golf Channel AM Tour was now making a visit to the course.  The staff was outstanding and the course was in great shape.  Along with warm conditions came better scoring with Jon Escondo turning in the low round of the day; 72 in the Championship Flight.

Championship Flight: Jon Escondo went out at one under par shooting a 35 and a three shot lead.  Jon closed out his day posting a 37 on the back for a final round of 72 to win by four shots over Raphael Fuchs who shot 38/38 for a round of 76.

Palmer Flight: Kirk Blakney followed up his 78 from Saturdays Chicago North Tour play with a 78 at Fox Bend giving him his third win and qualifying for the 2012 National Championship.  The Palmer Flight was very close after everyone cleared through nine with three strokes separating the low front nine of 40.  Kirk kicked it into high gear and posted one over par 37 on the back to win by three strokes.

Hogan Flight: Pete Kaufman turned in his third win winning an invite to the 2012 National Championship.  Matt Love and Jeff Bassett had a strong lead with front nine scores of 37 & 39 7 strokes ahead of Pete.  But an impressive or should I say outstanding two under par back nine catapulted Pete to take the Championship in the Hogan Flight.  Pete better his front nine score by ten strokes and held on toe beat DeREll Durr who shot a 79 to take sole possession of 2^nd place.

Sarazen Flight: Clay Koenig earned his first win as a Sarazen shooting a winning score of 82.  Clay has qualified for the 2012 National Championship many times over with multiple wins as a Jones, First Place win at a Major and flight promotion from Jones To Sarazen.  He took a two stroke lead to the final back nine against Richard Ross who posted a 40 but fell one shot of tying Clay.  John Kang of Ok/Tulsa Tour made a stop at the Chicao South Tour fresh off of his victory the day before in a Chicago North Tour event.  He wasn’t able to win back to back and finished in third with a final round of 86, four strokes back.

Jones Flight: Richard Ledbetter posted an exceptional score shooting 78.  His best round over the past couple years was an 88 which was until now the only round under 90.  Jim Gotschall, Mike Dyer and John Gerba were in pursuit but a pair of 39’s for a round of 78 was too much for the field to handle.

Snead Flight: John Pacheco took a three stroke into the back nine but faltered opening the door for Franklin Morris to make a move.  George Checks who was seven strokes back after nine didn’t seem like a threat but he turned in a 42 shooting a 92 to win second place money and fall one shot short of the lead.

Championship Flight (0 – 3.9)   73.1 / 130

72 Jon Escondo; Bloomingdale, IL - $60 Gift Card

76 Raphael Fuchs; Downers Grove, IL – no payout

81 Isaac Ingersoll; Coralville, IA – no payout

Palmer Flight 94-7.9)   71.3/126

78  Kirk Blakney; Joliet, IL - $100 Gift Card

81  Bill Schump; LaGrange, IL - $20 Gift Card

Hogan Flight (8 – 11.9)  71.3/126

78  Pete Kaufman; Bolingbrook, IL - $110 Gift Card

79  DeRell Durr; Lynwood, IL - $50 Gift Card

80 Jeff Bassett; Downers Grove, IL - $20 Gift Card

80  Matt Love; Arlington Heights – lost scorecard playoff for third place money

Sarazen Flight (12 – 15.9)   71.3/126

82  Clay Koenig; Forsyth, IL - $100 Gift Card

83  Richard Ross; Tinley Park, IL - $40 Gift Card

86  John King; Enid, OK – no payout

Jones Flight (16 – 19.9)  69.3/121

78  Richard Ledbetter; Chillicothe, IL - $120 Gift Card

83  Jim Gotschall; Bolingbrook, IL - $60 Gift Card

85  Mike Dyer; Plainfield, Il - $20 Gift Card

85  John Gerba; Whiting, IN – lost in scorecard playoff for prize money

Snead Flight (20 – up)  69.3/121

91  John Pacheco; Lombard, IL - $100 Gift Card

92 George Checks; Schaumburg, IL - $40 Gift Card

92  Franklin Morris; Bolingbrook, IL – lost in scorecard playoff for prize money

Stormy Weather for Odyssey Open

Odyssey CC, Tinley Park, IL – Golf Channel AM Tour (Chicago South) is surrounded by beautiful homes and offers a challenging 18 hole layout with great finishing holes starting as far back as hole #13.

The day started out promising with the first warm sunshine this year. The radar showed a severe storm was headed towards Odyssey Country Club with little chance of missing us. By the time the last group reached the 4^th hole; play halted due to high winds, rain and thunderstorms. With over an hour delay, the field headed out to complete their round only to play in very wet conditions with standing water throughout the course and on the greens. Hole number six had a three group pile up waiting for a staff member to arrive with a roller to clear the water which surrounded the cup in a 15 foot circle making it impossible to continue play.

As the groups began to pile into the scoring area, another system headed our way and dumped some more rain and tornado like winds with lightening. The groups continued on in the conditions believing the lightening was not near enough but it was the winds that caused the most concern. All the groups made it in with a few players calling it quits because along with their round, the conditions only made their tournament even more frustrating.



Championship Flight: Jon Escondo and Rob Merritt were locked up in a two man battle both posting a 38 after nine holes. Both players traded blows through fourteen holes with Rob Merritt holding a one stroke lead as the pair were headed down the stretch of the last four holes which were no bargain; especially with the conditions as they were. Jon closed out the final four holes shooting even par to post a 79 and win by three strokes.



Palmer Flight: Kirk Blakney joined the tour not too long ago and has sent a message that he is the guy to beat on the South Tour winning for the second time in only his first three events on tour. When he made the turn, he had a one stroke lead over veteran John Mauck who posted a 39 on the front and two strokes over veteran Jon Hasman. During the rain delay, Garrett Patten bumped his head hard on a concrete stairway with concerns of his ability to continue his round. Garrett posted a 44 on the front and a 39 to take over 2^nd place losing to Kirk by two strokes.



Hogan Flight: Mark Titone is fresh off of his win the day before in a Chicago North Tour event at Glen Flora CC and posted a better number on a tougher track shooting 81 to win by 4 strokes. Matt Love turned in a front nine forty tied with Mark but wasn’t able to get back on track shooting a 47 to fall to 6^th. Rick Wilson stayed steady but wasn’t able to put together a run to give Mark a battle.



Sarazen Flight: Kevin Holland won by 6 strokes but as the Hogan group made the turn, Kevin Holland, Richard Ross and Jason Nardi were all tied at 43. Kevin stepped up his game a closed out the others posting a 39 on the back shooting an 82 to win the Sarazen Flight.



Jones Flight: Bryan Tyman cruised to victory posting an impressive 39 on the front and 44 on the back for a round of 83 and an 11 stroke win over the field of four. John Gerba, Nomie Namie and Jason Ray all posted a 94 for a three way tie for second place.



Snead Flight: Martin Yoemans had a one stroke lead after nine but surrendered the lead to Mike Kelly and John Pacheco who both shot 95 to make a repeat appearance in a sudden death playoff. Mike Kelly beat John the day before at Glen Flora when John missed a crucial putt to extend the playoff only to miss giving Mike the win. Due to dangerous weather conditions and very high winds, the playoff was delayed for over an hour. Mike and John headed to the 9^th hole with Tour Director John Downey to battle again for the win.

It appeared Mike Kelly was positioned to win his second tournament in as many days when John Pacheco hit his drive into the right hazard. By the time all shots were made leaving both players putting for a 7, it was Mike Kelly who missed a 2 ½ footer to half the hole and extend the playoff. It would have been easy for John to concede with mike only 40 yards off the green, but a third shot mishit and the fourth not reaching the green was the open John needed.

TOP FINISHERS & PAYOUTS:

CHAMPIONSHIP

79 – Jon Escondo ($40 & Trophy)

PALMER

81 – Kirk Blakney ($110 & Trophy)

83 – Garrett Patten ($50)

85 – John Mauck ($20)

HOGAN

81 - Mark Titone ($110 & Trophy)

85* Rick Wilson ($50) won in scorecard playoff over Mike Lee

SARAZEN

82 – Kevin Holland ($110 & Trophy)

88 – Richard Ross ($50)

89 – Jason Nardi ($20)

JONES

83 – Bryan Tyman ($80 & Trophy)

SNEAD

95* John Pacheco ($125 & Trophy) won in playoff over Mike Kelly

95* Mike Kelly ($65)

97 – Ben Bevill ($30) won tie for third place money in scorecard playoff over Martin Yoemans



50/50 Raffle Drawing ($216 Total; $108 to the Winner)

Ben Bevill ($108)

SKINS:

Championship/Palmer Flight:

$27 – Jon Escondo, Rob Merritt, Garrett Patten

Hogan/Sarazen Flight:

$64 – Jeff Bassett

$32 – DeRell Durr, Rick Wilson, Mark Titone

Jones/Snead Flight:

$28 – John Gerba

$15 – Bryan Tyman, Mike Mudjer, Mike Kelly, Marty Bevill,

Brian Booker, Martin Yoemans, Ben Bevill

Closest to the Pin:

$88 - #2 – Mike Kelly; #7 Dan White; #15 Bryan Tyman; #17 Rob Merritt

Strong Field at Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow served up a solid field with Brooks Biggs (Championship Flight) who just joined the tour this year playing in his first local tournament; fresh off of his Major Championship win at Lake in the Ozarks.  Clay Koenig (Jones Flight) who has won 6 of the 9 events he has entered since the start of the 2012 season back in October of 2011 and also won the Jones Flight at Lake in the Ozarks.  Pat Polzin (Championship Flight), two time National Champion in the Palmer Flight has once again been promoted to the Championship Flight.  The weather was the best since the season started back up and the rain held off for all but a few groups, but playing conditions were good for the 44 man field.

Championship Flight:

 

Brooks Biggs – Champion: A very close finish with only 4 strokes separating first from last in the five man field.  With a one under par after 5 holes, it appeared that Brooks would cruse to victory but 6 of the next 7 holes before getting back on track.  Found another birdie hole but closed out his round with a bogey and a round of 78 to win by two strokes over Bradley Belcaster and Brooks Biggs.

Palmer Flight:

 

Mike Anderson – Champion:  started his front nine with a 45 6 strokes out of the lead as they made the turn to Bill Gomez who posted a 39 on the front.  Don O’Neil went out with a 40 only one stroke back.  When the group made their way through the back nine were Mike Anderson and Jeff Kinney making the charge.   Mike Anderson fired a 37 for a final round of 82 and winning by one stroke over Bill Gomez and Jeff Kinney.  

Hogan Flight:

 

Matt Love – Champion: It was a four man race as the Hogan Flight made the turn with Pete Kaufman leading the way by two strokes.  In hot pursuit were Matt Love, DeRell Durr and Korey Bollnow as they made their way around the back nine.  Pete followed up his 40 on the front with a 41 on the back for an 81 but it was Matt Love who turned in a outstanding round on the back shooting a 38  for an 80 and winning by one over last week’s champion, Pete Kaufman.

Sr. Hogan Flight:

 

Mike Mullikin – Champion: Ron Ludwigson  went out in 38 and had a 4 stroke lead as he headed to the inward nine which proved to be the toughest of the nines for all groups posting a 52 and falling out of contention.  Mike Mullikin went out in 42 and kept his game together on the inward nine shooting a 43 for an 85.  Mark Titone posted a 47 on the front and put on a charge on the back shooting a 40 falling 2 strokes back of Mike and gong from last to second due to his solid play on the inward nine.

Sarazen Flight:

 

Tom Ward – Champion: Tom got off to a great start shooting 41 on the front to lead Dennis Whiton by 2 strokes.  There were some charges on the back nine but not enough to catch the hot hand of Tom Ward who came in with a 42 for a winning score of 83 and finished with an 8 stroke lead over the field.  Steve Downey and Andrew O’Neil made the strongest move of the group.  Three player’s tied for second with a round of 91; Steve Downey, Andrew O’Neil, Dennis Whiton.

Jones Flight:

 

Clay Koenig – Champion: Clay Koenig has been the hottest Jones Player with 6 wins including a recent major at Lake of the Ozarks in MO.  The Jones player’s will no longer have to compete against Clay because as of May 1^st his tour index updated to a 15.6 and he has graduated to the Sarazen Flight.  Four of the 6 players in the field were within a few stroke s of one another with Clay and Joe Coffey both out in 45 and 3 strokes ahead of the field.  Joe was in the group ahead of Clay Koenig and neither knew how well the other was playing especially on the back nine.  Joe was in the house with an 86 and the leading score thus far.  Clay posted his round of 86 and the pair were headed out for a sudden death playoff.  It was Clay Koenig the veteran besting Joe for his third win in a row.

Snead Flight:

 

Benjermen Bevill – Champion: Ben posted an outward nine score of 46 only two strokes ahead of Gerry DiBenedetti who posted a 48.  Gerry struggled on the back nine while Benjermen remained steady posting a 48 on the back for a winning score of 94 and an eight stroke lead over Gerry DiBenedetti and his Father Marty Bevill both shooting 102.

Golf Galaxy Gift Card Winnings:

Championship Flight: Brooks Biggs (78) $100

Palmer Flight:  Mike Anderson (82)        $110

                                Jeff Kinney (83)                $50

Hogan Flight:     Matt Love (80)                  $110

                                Pete Kaufman (81)          $50

                                Korey Bollnow (84)          $20                                        

Sr. Hogan Flight:  Mike Mullikin (85)        $100

Sarazen Flight: Tom Ward (83)                  $130

                                Steve Downey (91)         $70

                                Andrew O’Neil (91)         $40

                                Dennis Whiton (91)         $20

Jones Flight:      Clay Koenig (86)                $90

                                Joe Coffey (86)                 $30

Snead Flight:     Benjermen Bevill (94)    $125

                                Marty Bevill (102)             $65

                                Gerry DiBenedetti (102)  $30

OPTIONAL GAMES

Closest to the Pin:

#4           Brad Belcaster   $120

#6           Clay Koenig         $120

#12         Mike Anderson  $120

#14         Kirk Blakney       $120

SKINS:

Championship/Palmer Flight SKINS

$36 – Don O’Neil

$18 – Brooks Biggs, Bradley Belcaster, Pat Polzin, Joe Escondo

Hogan/Sr. Hogan Flight SKINS

$110 – Ron Ludwigson

$50 – Rick Wilson

Sarazen Flight SKINS

$43 – Richard Ross, Jason Nardi, Andrew O’Neil

Jones/Snead Flight SKINS

$40 – Clay Koenig

$20 – Joe Coffey, John Gerba, Bryan Tyman, Mike Mudjer, Benjermen Bevill

50/50 Raffle

$93 – Bryan Tyman