Sullivan Sails to East Side Amateur Win
Madison, IL - The 22nd East Side Amateur has concluded at Gateway National Golf Links. Today was another perfect day for golf with sunny skies and warm temperatures. Following Round 1, Ryan Sullivan led the pack at five-under (-5) par. Tony Gumper was three strokes behind at two-under (-2) par. In the senior division, David Strickland and Brian Lovett were tied at the top at two-under (-2) par.
Ryan Sullivan of Tapawingo National Golf Club and Tony Gumper of Normandie Golf Club teed off in the final group of the day. The pair were having a true battle between themselves throughout the day. Making the turn, Gumper had jumped into the lead with a bogey free four-under on the day that included an Eagle on hole six. Sullivan was fighting to stay in the game after returning a front nine of even par. However, things changed on the back nine. Sullivan pulled together a bogey free final nine and capped it off with a birdie on 18. He ended the day two-under par and the weekend at seven-under (-7) par to sit on top as champion. Gumper had a rough back nine and was soon fighting for a chance to stay a factor. Though unable to get back into range of Sullivan, he did add a second eagle to his card on 18 to end the championship at four-under (-4) par. The low round of the day belonged to Bubba Chapman of Bellerive Country Club. After a one-over par Round 1, Chapman rallied back for the second round and was one hole shy of a bogey-free day. With three birdies on the front and an eagle on Hole 10, Chapman leaped up the leaderboard to finish in a tie for second with Gumper at four-under (-4) par.
In the senior division, Buddy Allen of Sugar Creek Golf Course made some moves to claim the title. After Round 1, Allen sat at two-under par, just behind the leaders. A bogey free front nine and seven birdies across the round today helped him jump to finish the day with a round of four-under par. This brought his total to six-under (-6) par, letting Allen walk away with the win. The first round co-leader Brian Lovett of Bellerive Country Club came in with back-to-back rounds of two-under par. Though two good rounds for Lovett, it was only enough to finish the weekend in second at four-under (-4) par. Lovett’s Round 1 co-leader, David Strickland of Tapawingo National Golf Club, had an up and down day. Strickland was able to finish his day with a birdie on 18 to stay at two-under (-2) par for the championship and leave the weekend with a third place finish.
The 22nd East Side Amateur ended with Ryan Sullivan and Buddy Allen going home with the hardware, victorious.
