The Chilly Mist of Glen Flora CC Championship

Waukegan, IL – Golf Channel AM Tour (Chicago North) returned to Glen Flora Country Club where the Tour Players competed on the same course as legends Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player once competed in a Match Play event where Gary Player took home the $50,000 Prize in 1963. 

Once again the weather which looked promising earlier in the week dished up some chilly damp conditions with an irritating mist that hung around for about an hour or two.  The Sun made an attempt to break through but just couldn’t break through the thick clouds. 

The greens were aerated a couple weeks earlier and did not get back into shape due to the chilly conditions that greeted Chicago over the past 3 weeks.  The course was in good shape and we are still waiting for sunny skies and warm temperatures.  The low round of the day was turned in by Jim O’Connor (Championship Flight) with a 74.  Though there were some good scores on this short Par 70 course, there was still enough trouble to give player’s fits and post high scores.

Championship Flight: Curt Langille (Milw. Tour) returned to defend his title but Jim O’Connor (Chicago North) spoiled his effort by posting a 74 to win by two strokes.  A member of Glen Flora, Mark Palmer was unable to put anything together to fend off outsiders from winning at his club.

Palmer Flight:  Jeff Kinney returned to defend his title and posted a 76 which would have won the tournament but due to a 2 stroke penalty issued to his group for slow play, he ended in a tie for 1^st with John Mauck who shot a 78.  John was unable to compete in a sudden death playoff due to personal plans and forfeited first place giving Jeff Kinney the victory.

Senior Palmer:  Mark Fugett was not in the field to defend his title which left the Sr. Palmer flight up for grabs.  Tom Joy posted an 82 to win by 2 strokes over Mike Anderson. 

Hogan Flight:  Last year’s Champion John Williams did not return to defend his title giving the field an opportunity to crown a new champion.  Mark Titone was promoted to the Hogan Flight because of his improved play.   Mark posted a practice round 80 a few days earlier and followed that up with an 83 to win by three strokes over Mike Lee.

Sarazen Flight:  John Bauer was promoted to Hogan flight and not able to defend his title, didn’t make the trip.  Clay Koenig (Chicago South) was in the field and has won 6 of his last 8 tournaments including a Major at Lakes of the Ozark in Missouri.  He was the one to beat but the tree lined course was not kind to Clay and finished 6^th in the seven player field.  The seven player field consisted of six new members with Andrew O’Neil posting a 90 to win by two strokes over Willem Mijnarends.

Senior Sarazen:   Steve Downey beat last year Rookie Mark Titone in a sudden death playoff and when his round was over, he didn’t think his 87 would hold up.  Eddie Stephens turned in an 87 to find himself in a tie for first with Steve Downey.  James Dicks fell one stroke back but made a good run shooting a 42 on the back nine to close the gap.  Once again Steve Downey took home the hardware when he beat Eddie on the first playoff hole just as he had done in 2011.

Jones Flight:  Mike Argyrakis has been playing pretty steady golf and fresh off of a victory the week prior at Prairie Isle playing in horrible conditions.  Gigi Leonard who is a Rookie on tour had a 4 stroke lead heading into the back nine but ran into a bit of trouble posting a 53 to surrender the lead and fall five strokes back of Mike giving him his first back to back win.

Snead Flight:  Mike Kelly has made a lot of improvements since joining the tour in 2011.  Of his last six tournaments, Mike has finished in the top four 5 of six times with two victories.  He turned in a 93 to finish tie for first with John Pacheco.  Mike posted his second victory winning in sudden death over John Pacheco

TOP FINISHERS & PAYOUTS:

CHAMPIONSHIP

74   Jim O’Connor ($100 & Trophy)

76  Curt Langille ($40)

PALMER

78* Jeff Kinney ($110 & Trophy) Won Playoff when John Mauck was unable to compete

78* John Mauck ($50)

79  Bill Sullivan ($20)

SENIOR PLAMER

82  Tom Joy ($90 & Trophy)

84  Mike Anderson ($30)

HOGAN

83  Mark Titone ($125 & Trophy)

86  Mike Lee ($65)

88  Doug Williams ($30)

SARAZEN

90  Andrew O’Neil ($100 & Trophy)

92  Willem Mijnarends ($40)

SENIOR SARAZEN

87* Steve Downey ($110 & trophy) won on first hole of playoff over Eddie Stephens

87* Eddie Stephens ($50)

88  James Dicks ($20)

JONES

93  Mike Argyrakis ($80 & Trophy)

SNEAD

93* Mike Kelly ($110 & Trophy) won in playoff over John Pacheco

93* John Pacheco ($50)

50/50 Raffle Drawing  ($350 Total; $175 to the Winner)

Dan Mueller ($175)

SKINS:

Championship/Palmer Flight:

$30 - Curt Langille, Jim O’Connor, Jerry Chianelli, Garrett Patten

$15 - Eric Swanson, Jeff Kinney, Bill Sullivan

Hogan Flight:

$45 – Mike Lee, Anthony Williams

Sarazen/Sr. Sarazen Flight:

$50 – Steve Downey, James Dicks, Eddie Stephens

Jones/Snead Flight:

$40 – John Pacheco, Mike Kelly

$20 – Gigi Leonard

Closest to the Pin:

$102 – Steve Downey (Hole #2), Eddie Stephens (Hole #6), Jim O’Connor (Hole #11),

             Dan Mueller (Hole #18)