Blackstone GC in Marengo offers a little bit of everything: trees, heather, water, bunkers well placed and tiered greens. The day started out with a rain delay and a sudden change of conditions created havoc for the tour director and staff as they scrambled to button things down.
The tournament was in a lightening delay and would eventually start 40 minutes past the scheduled starting time. Believing the worst was past, the staff set up the course. Without warning, the winds kicked up to over 50 mph and the tournament tent was seen gliding across the pond like a wind sail. A few small trees and brush prevented the tent from flying down the par five 9th hole.
When the tournament finally got underway, the skies cleared and the competitor’s were able to complete their round without any further delays. Cart Paths only made for a long round and if a player hit their shot away from the cart path, they found themselves walking some distances to get to their ball.
Despite the conditions, it didn’t stop Dane Yarnell from posting the best round on tour this year with a three under par, 69. Tom Joy posted one of his best rounds in the Hogan Flight with a 74. The greens were soft allowing players to fire at the pins and get very little roll, however the soft fairways made the course play longer because balls were pretty much stopping where they landed and in a lot of cases plugged.
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT:
Dane Yarnell closed the door early starting his day by birdying the first three holes. He went on to shoot 7 birdies along with a double bogey and two bogies to shoot the best round on tour this year; 69. Dane is planning to represent the Chicago North Tour at National’s and is working hard on his game and preparing for the National Championship in September.
PALMER FLIGHT:
Chuck Malik returned after his outstanding round at Whisper Creek where he shot 71 to compete at Blackstone. Blackstone plays tougher and especially with the soft conditions, longer. Chuck posted and 80 to win by 6 in a very small Palmer Field. Going into the 9th hole, he was only 1 over par but the tough par 5 ninth hole gave him some fits and he posted a 9 shooting a 41 on the front. He rebound and played the back in 39 shooting a winning score of 80.
HOGAN FLIGHT:
Tom Joy had struggled with his game but finally put things together and posted his best round shooting 74. Mike Coble was in the group behind Tom and posted a good front nine himself; shooting a 39 to match the front nine with Tom. It isn’t that Mike Coble lost due to a rough back nine; it was that Tom Joy shot lights out to win. Tom posted a one under par 35 to go with his 39 for a round of 74. Blackstone is a tough track but Tom Joy tamed it this day.
SARAZEN FLIGHT:
John Shemitis is on fire. Fresh off his win on Saturday at hawk’s View in lake Geneva on the Milwaukee Tour, he headed south to compete in the Chicago North Tour event at Blackstone. John only had a 3 stroke lead headed to the back over Nicholas Lanas and four strokes over Eric Purcell, Tim Schabb and five strokes over Frank Kaldis. With nine holes to play, there was plenty opportunity for anyone to catch John. He did open the door with a double bogey on the tenth, birdied 11 but then double bogey on the par five 12th. No one was able to capitalize and John went on to win his 2nd tournament this past weekend.
SR. SARAZEN FLIGHT:
There is a fierce battle in the Sr. Sarazen flight for the top two money spots. Steve Downey surrendered the money lead to Mark Titone who finished 2nd behind Bill Neiert who is making a charge of his own. James Smith was also in the field but finished three strokes out of the lead. Bill Neiert posted an 84 to win by two over mark Titone and 3 over James Smith and Mark Giebelhausen. James Smith had the front nine lead but it was the back nine that prevented him from earning his first win in Chicago. Bill Neiert posted a 4 over par back nine which was the difference over the rest of the field.
JONES FLIGHT:
James Francey is beginning to find his game as he wins for the second this year. More importantly he posted one of his best rounds shooting an 87 which was only three strokes ahead of Jorge Arteta and four over Eddie Stephens. The Jones Flight was packed with some tough players making it one of the most competitive fields of the day.
SNEAD FLIGHT:
Richard Kopec finally hoisted the trophy and was all smiles posting a 93 to win the Snead Flight. Mike Mudjer was only 3strokes back going into the back nine. He was unable to get anything going and Richard was well in control of the tournament. Richard opened the door on the 9th hole taking an 11 on the par 4 eleventh par 4. Richard managed to hang on and win by three strokes.
Championship Flight
69 | Dane Yarnell | $60 Gift Card and Trophy |
Palmer Flight
80 | Chuck Malik | $60 Gift Card & Trophy |
Hogan Flight
74 | Tom Joy | $100 Gift Card & Trophy |
81 | Mike Coble | $40 Gift Card |
Sarazen Flight
87 | John Shemitis | $100 Gift Card & Trophy |
91 | Nicholas Lanas | $40 Gift Card |
91 | Eric Purcell | $20 Gift Card |
Sr. Sarazen Flight
84 | Bill Neiert | $100 Gift Card & Trophy |
86 | Mark Titone | $40 Gift Card |
87 | Mark Giebelhausen | $20 Gift Card |
Jones Flight
87 | James Francey | $125 Gift Card & Trophy |
90 | Jorge Arteta | $70 Gift Card |
91 | Eddie Stephens | $25 Gift Card |
Snead Flight
93 | Richard Kopec | $100 Gift Card & Trophy |
