Eckelkamp & Moore Claim Southern Illinois Amateur Wins
Mount Vernon, IL - It started as a beautiful day at Green Hills Golf Club for the Southern Illinois Amateur. There were two divisions with the open division playing 36 holes and the senior division playing 27 holes. The day started with sunny skies and as rainy weather approached the area in the afternoon, the wind picked up some. The afternoon saw overcast skies, but the rain held off until play was over.
Twenty-seven golfers entered the open division in the hopes of getting their name added to the trophy. After the first 18 holes, Jason White of Tapawingo National Golf Club led the championship at four-under (-4) par. Bogey free front nine helped get White to the top. Mike Speicher of Cardinal Creek Golf Course, Tony Gumper of Normandie Golf Club, and Jairen Stroud of Salem Country Club were all following behind in a tie for second at one-over (+1) par. Patrick Britt of Norwood Hills Country Club followed suit at two-over (+2) par. Sitting seven off the lead at three-over (+3) par were Ryan Sullivan of Tapawingo National Golf Club, Sam Beggs of the Metropolitan eClub, and Bryan Warren of McLeansboro Golf course.
After finishing the first round and grabbing a quick bite to eat, the players were back out on the course for the second round. Things got shaken up during Round 2. Leader, Jason White, finished with a total of one-over (+1) par. Ryan Sullivan shot a second round under par to finish at two-over (+2) par. Ryan Eckelkamp of Franklin County Country Club started the second round at four-over par. Eckelkamp fired a second round of four-under (-4) par to eclipse the leader and take home the trophy at even (E) par.
Fourteen golfers played in the senior division. Matt Reynolds of Green Hills Golf Club took the lead after the first 18 holes. Reynolds carded an eagle on Hole 17 to get to two-under (-2) par. Brian Hall of Persimmon Woods Golf Club sat not far behind at one-under (-1) par. Following in a tie for third were John Moore of the Metropolitan eClub and Justin Kreid of the MVGSA Golf Club at even (E) par. David Strickland of Tapawingo National Golf Club started out his round hot, carding a birdie, ace, and birdie in the first three holes. Strickland would end up at two-over par after 18.
The seniors went back out for nine more holes. John Moore swooped in with a second round of one-under par to move up the board. Moore would finish on top at one-under (-1) par. Brian Hall and Matt Reynolds would finish tied for second at even (E) par.
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