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Madison, IL - It was another beautiful day for the final round of the 23rd East Side Amateur at Gateway National Golf Links. Players returned with the hopes of walking away with the first individual title of the 2026 Metropolitan season. A mix of clouds and sun greeted the players, making for a pleasant day on the course. Coming into the second round, Conner McCall led the open division, Brian Hall led the senior division, and Jim Dunn led the super senior division. All three were looking to stay on top, but they knew there was some tough competition close behind.

The first group to complete their championship was the super senior division. The super senior division was a new addition this year. Jim Dunn of Norwood Hills Country Club came into the round at four-over par. Dunn started his final round out strong, making four pars and a birdie in the first five holes. Things got shaky after that, but Dunn had set himself up well enough in the first round that he was able to maintain the lead. Dunn became the first East Side Amateur Super Senior Champion at ten-over (+10) par. Barry Yehling of Gateway National Golf Links had the second best round of the day in this division. Yehling used his knowledge of the course to minimize damage and improve upon his score from the first round. With a total of thirteen-over (+13) par, Yehling was the runner up. The round of the day for the super seniors came from the third place finisher, Mike O’Neill of the Metropolitan eClub who shot a second round one-over par featuring five birdies to end with a total of fifteen-over (+15) par.  

Next up was the senior division. Brian Hall of Persimmon Woods Golf Club was looking strong after the front nine. He fired a bogey free two-under on the front, but things got strained on the back. Hall had to fight for it and hope that all of his competitors were having to do the same. Luckily for him, his competitors were also battling around the course. Hall shot a second round of three-over par. Coupled with his first round score of even par, Hall closed things out to take home the title at three-over (+3) par. Buddy Allen of Sugar Creek Golf Course was the defending champion of this division. He had an up and down day, starting and ending with a birdie. Allen ended the championship as runner-up at five-over (+5) par. Paul Neeman of Persimmon Woods Golf Club and Brandon Auld of the USGA/MetAmateur GC finished tied for third at six-over (+6) par.  

Finally, it came down to the open division. Coming into the final round, there was not much wiggle room at the top of the leaderboard. Conner McCall knew that he would have to bring his best if he wanted to hold off his competitors. McCall was smooth sailing through the 12th hole with no bogeys and four birdies. He did have two bogeys, but held steady to finish a second consecutive day two-under par. McCall defeated the competition with a total of four-under (-4) par to claim the East Side Amateur title. Thomas Wuennenberg of Tapawingo National Golf Club was hanging in with McCall through the front nine, carding a bogey free front with two birdies. Eventually Wuennenberg would drop back a little to finish the championship at even (E) par. Last year’s champion, Ryan Sullivan of Tapawingo National Golf Club stayed calm in Round 2 to finish in third at one-over (+1) par.  

At the close of the season’s opening championship, Conner McCall, Brian Hall, and Jim Dunn walk away with the crystal.