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Mount Vernon, IL - It was a beautiful day in Mount Vernon for the Southern Illinois Amateur at Green Hills Golf Club. This championship has three divisions: open, senior, and new in 2026, super senior. The open division plays 36 holes, while the senior and super senior divisions play 27 holes. The course plays to a par 71.

 

The open division led the way. After the first round, Bryan Warren of McLeansboro Golf Course and Jarrett James of Chester Country Club were tied at the top at three-under (-3) par. James was bogey-free the entire round, while Warren was bogey-free on the back. Nick Tannahill of the Metropolitan eClub sat one back at two-under (-2) par. 

 

After a quick lunch, play resumed for Round 2. Warren went on a run in the second round, carding 7 birdies. James had a slower start to the second round, but an eagle and 4 birdies helped him contend with Warren. Through 16, the pair were tied at seven-under. A birdie on 17 pushed Warren ahead to finish at eight-under (-8) par. A bogey on the last for James left him to fall back to six-under (-6) par for the championship. Warren walks away victorious with the lowest total score in recent championship history. 

 

Brandon Bullard of Apple Creek Golf Club was third at two-over (+2) par. Tony Gumper of Normandie Golf Club and Scott Kirchoff of Persimmon Woods Golf Club completed the top five at three-over (+3) par. 

 

In the senior division, Tom Sinak of Meadowbrook Country Club led the pack through 18 holes at even (E). Buddy Allen of Sugar Creek Golf Course was close behind at one-over (+1) par through 18, while four were tied at two-over par. Sinak continued on his path to conclude the day at even (E) par. David Strickland of Tapawingo National Golf Club was one of the four tied at two-over through 18. With four birdies on the final nine, Strickland swooped with a final nine three-under to finish the day at one-under (-1) par and move ahead of Sinak. Allen seven pars and then birdied Hole 8 to be one back. He was unable to find one more birdie on the last and would end tied with Sinak at even (E) par. 

 

Last were the super seniors. After the first 18 holes, John Ellis of the SIGA eClub led at three-over (+3) par, followed by George Zwilling of Lawrence County Country Club at seven-over (+7) par. On the final nine, Ellis held strong with a score of two-over to finish the day five-over (+5) par and take the title. Doug Banks of Tapawingo National Golf Club finished in second at twelve-over (+12) par. 

 

At the conclusion of the Southern Illinois Amateur, Bryan Warren, David Strickland, and John Ellis walked away as champions in their respective divisions.