Stilley, Flores, Portner, Allen, and Hagler Lead 101st SIGA Championship
West Frankfort, IL - The first round of the 101st SIGA Championship at Franklin County Country Club in West Frankfort, IL is in the books. The day started with some overcast skies and rainy weather threatening early, but it diverted to leave a beautiful sunny day. The SIGA Championship consists of four divisions: men, senior, women, and junior.
The junior division took the lead, hitting the course first. Carson Hagler of the SIGA eClub grabbed the lead today. A tumultuous front nine left Hagler wanting more, so he followed it with a bogey-free back nine to sit at three-over (+3) par. Zayn Knight of the USGA/MetAmateur GC is in second at seven -over (+7) par following the first round.
In the women’s division, Isa Flores of Old Hickory Golf Club earned a steady lead over her competitors. Despite starting her round with a bogey, Flores bounced back to gain three birdies on the front. Flores ended the round and sits on top at even (E) par and is looking to win back-to-back titles. Maria Kennard of the USGA/MetAmateur GC follows behind at five-over (+5) par and Josie Welch of the SIGA eClub follows at seven-over (+7) par.
The senior division went off third in the lineup today. Tom Portner of Green Hills Golf Club and Buddy Allen of Sugar Creek Golf Course leave the day tied. Portner, the defending champion, had an eventful back nine, including four birdies. Allen was one hole short of a bogey-free back nine. The pair are tied for the lead at one-over (+1) par. Brian Hall of Persimmon Woods Golf Club and Mike O’Neill of the Metropolitan eClub are close behind at four-over (+4) par.
The men closed out the field for the day. River Stilley of the SIGA eClub carded the lowest round of the day. Six birdies across the round brought Stilley to top the leaderboard at three-under (-3) par. Bryce Doughty of Benton Country Club and 2023 Champion fired a bogey-free back nine with three birdies to slide into the second place spot at two-under (-2) par. Aiden McFadden of the SIGA eClub, Drew Wielgus of the Metropolitan eClub, and Dominick Emig of Highland Country Club are not out of the running, finishing the day tied for third at one-under (-1) par. Tanner Bulejski of the Metropolitan eClub, Thomas Wuennenberg of Tapawingo National Golf Club, and Ryan Suhre of the Gateway PGA Jr Golf Club sit at even (E) par.
The final round will begin at 8:30am with the divisions going off in the same order they did today: junior, women, senior, and men.