Stilley, Flores, Knight, and Allen Champion 101st SIGA Championship
West Frankfort, IL - The Final Round of the 101st SIGA Championship at Franklin County Country Club is officially complete. The day saw cloudy skies and play was suspended for an hour beginning at 2:00pm due to severe weather in the area. Following the first round, Carsen Hagler led the juniors, Isa Flores led the women, Tom Portner and Buddy Allen led the seniors, and River Stilley led the men.
The junior division went off first. Carsen Hagler of the SIGA eClub entered the last hole with a one-shot lead. Hagler made par and finished the championship at nine-over (+9) par. Zayn Knight of the USGA/MetAmateur GC was just one shot behind going into the final hole and made birdie to tie Hagler at the top at nine-over (+9) par. The pair then entered a playoff. Through the first hole and second hole, Hagler and Knight remained tied. They made their way down the third playoff hole, and Knight holed his chip shot to win. Zayn Knight walks away as the SIGA Junior Champion, leaving Carsen Hagler as runner-up.
The women’s division was next. Isa Flores of Old Hickory Golf Club entered the final round with a nice lead. Flores had an up and down round, but was able to maintain her lead. Carding a round of four-over (+4) par, Flores leaves for the second year in a row as the SIGA Women’s Champion. Frankie Nicholes of the USGA/MetAmateur GC finished the championship as runner-up with a total of ten-over (+10) par.
In the senior division, Tom Porter of Green Hills Golf Club and Buddy Allen of Sugar Creek Golf Course started out tied. A tough back nine for Portner knocked him down the board some. Allen was comfortable on top until a double bogey on the 18th pulled his score back to four-over (+4) par. Brain Hall of Persimmon Woods Golf Club had a better day today by shooting even par on the day. Hall would meet Allen at the top at four-over (+4) par. Allen and Hall then set off for a playoff. They began the playoff, but had to halt their competition when play was suspended due to lightning in the area. After the delay, they resumed the playoff, where Allen would come out triumphant on the 5th hole.
The men wrapped up the competition. River Stilley of the SIGA eClub began the day with a one stroke lead over Bryce Doughty of Benton Country Club. Throughout the day, the name on top continued to change. Aiden McFadden of the SIGA eClub had a moment on top after an eagle on Hole 10, but fell back down. A clutch birdie on 18 had McFadden finish at one-under (-1) par. Drew Wielgus of the Metropolitan eClub shot even par today to finish the championship at one-under (-1) par, which put him in the running. In the final few holes, it came down to Stilley and Doughty. Back to back bogeys on 16 and 17, dropped Stilley back two strokes behind Doughty. Stilley ends the championship at one-under (-1) par. As for Doughty, he made birdie on Holes 15 and 17 to jump ahead to three-under par. A rough final hole bumped Doughty back two strokes to finish at one-under (-1) par.
Drew Wielgus, River Stilley, Aiden McFadden, and Bryce Doughty all end the day at one-under (-1) par, tied at the top and forcing a playoff. The four went back to play Hole 18 again. As things progressed down the hole, the result was left to the final putt. Stilley sunk his putt for par after the rest settled for bogey, making him the 101st SIGA Champion.
At the end of the 101st SIGA Championship, Zayn Knight is the junior champion, Isa Flores is the women’s champion, Buddy Allen is the senior champion, and River Stilley is the men’s champion.