Team Tazwood wins third straight River River Men's competition, but loses future pro Mason Minkel
By Steve Stein
The first time. The third time. The last time.
Those cryptic sentences actually tell the story of Team Tazwood's 10-8 win over Team Peoria in the 34th annual River Cup Men's competition, held June 13 and 14 at Coyote Creek Golf Course in Bartonville.
First-year Team Tazwood captain Luke Gruden won in his debut leading the team from east of the Illinois River.
The victory was the third in a row for Team Tazwood, which recorded 10.5 to 7.5 wins over Team Peoria the previous two years at Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria in 2024 and Lick Creek Golf Course in Pekin in 2025.
Team Tazwood has now won seven times in nine years and leads the series 22-12.
The last time refers to Team Tazwood star Mason Minkel.
The 2026 River Cup marked the 23-year-old Pekin native's final golf tournament as an amateur before he turns professional.
It also was the last time he competed with his father Curt Minkel in the two-man best ball portion of the River Cup weekend.
Some gentle arm-twisting by Gruden early this year convinced Mason to play in the River Cup and make that tournament his amateur swan song.
Mason planned to turn pro after he graduated May 9 from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he was a key member of the Division I Rams men's golf team this season.
It was just a matter of when he'd take the plunge into pro golf.
"The River Cup weekend this year was bittersweet for me because I won't be able to team up with my dad anymore in the tournament," Mason said. "But there's no better time than now for me to turn pro."
River Cup President Matt Fahel has known Mason for a long time. Fahel called Mason a fine young man and great golfer during a tribute at the end of the post-tournament awards ceremony.
"I'm glad to see him go," joked Team Peoria captain Scot Frankenreider before several golfers from both teams came over to Mason, hugged him and wished him well.
Mason won his best ball and singles matches during his final River Cup weekend, key wins for Team Tazwood in a close competition.
His first tournament as a pro will be the All Pro Tour's OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Championship, which will be held June 24-27 at Metamora Fields and WeaverRidge golf clubs.
He next plans to compete in the John Deere Classic qualifier June 29 at the Pinnacle Country Club in Milan.
The John Deere tournament will be held July 2-5 at the TPC Deere Run course in the Quad Cities town of Silvis.
Gruden praised his victorious team for its resilience, especially with its backs to the wall, pointing as examples best ball comebacks by Carter Stevenson and Colin Kemp and Ryan Saurs and Jon Hauter to earn ties.
Mason Minkel gave kudos to Team Tazwood's Tyler Schneider, who won two of the last three holes to pull out a singles victory.
Frankenreider said the tournament this year "came down as usual to putts made and putts missed."
"Coyote Creek is the best test around, and the level of competition was unbelievable. Maybe as good it's ever been," he said. "What's great about this tournament is we're all enemies for two days, but good friends the rest of the year."
Frankenreider acknowledged the Team Peoria best ball team of Scott Phegley and Britt Bothast, who shot a 62 and could only tie Stevenson and Kemp.
"What else can you do?" Frankenreider said.
Asked to come back as Team Tazwood captain next year, Gruden said, "yes."
"I had a lot of fun," he said. "It was special to team up with some of the best golfers in the area who also are great teammates and great people."
Here are the results of the 2026 River Cup Men's competition matches:
JUNE 13
BEST BALL
-- Scot Frankenreider/Ryan Julius (Peoria) def. Tyler Schneider/Connor Watson 67-72.
-- Curt Minkel/Mason Minkel (Tazwood) def. John Ehrgott/Brien Davis 61-63.
-- Brian Draher/Jason Woll (Tazwood) def. Jeremy Ott/Andrew Wuethrich 66-75.
-- Carter Stevenson/Colin Kemp (Tazwood) tied Scott Phegley/Britt Bothast 62-62.
-- Austin Craig/Tim Sheppard (Tazwood) tied Steven Taylor/Ryan Brown 65-65.
-- Ryan Saurs/Jon Hauter (Tazwood) tied Quinn Cox/Jack Coulter 68-68.
DAY 1 SCORE: Tazwood 3 1/2, Peoria 2 1/2.
JUNE 14
SINGLES
-- Jon Hauter (Tazwood) def. Scot Frankenreider 7 and 6.
-- John Ehrgott (Peoria) def. Ryan Saurs 4 and 3.
-- Colin Kemp (Tazwood) def. Jack Coulter 2 and 1.
-- Quinn Cox (Peoria) def. Connor Watson 1-up.
-- Tyler Schneider (Tazwood) def. Ryan Julius 1-up.
-- Andrew Wuethrich (Peoria) def. Brian Draher 4 and 3.
-- Curt Minkel (Tazwood) vs. Ryan Brown halved.
-- Britt Bothast (Peoria) def. Tim Sheppard 2-up.
-- Carter Stevenson (Tazwood) def. Scott Phegley 6 and 5.
-- Jeremy Ott (Peoria) def. Jason Woll 3 and 2.
-- Austin Craig (Tazwood) def. Brien Davis 1-up.
-- Mason Minkel (Tazwood) def. Steven Taylor 4 and 3.
DAY 2 SCORE: Tazwood 6 1/2, Peoria 5 1/2.
FINAL SCORE: Tazwood 10, Peoria 8.
The first time. The third time. The last time.
Those cryptic sentences actually tell the story of Team Tazwood's 10-8 win over Team Peoria in the 34th annual River Cup Men's competition, held June 13 and 14 at Coyote Creek Golf Course in Bartonville.
First-year Team Tazwood captain Luke Gruden won in his debut leading the team from east of the Illinois River.
The victory was the third in a row for Team Tazwood, which recorded 10.5 to 7.5 wins over Team Peoria the previous two years at Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria in 2024 and Lick Creek Golf Course in Pekin in 2025.
Team Tazwood has now won seven times in nine years and leads the series 22-12.
The last time refers to Team Tazwood star Mason Minkel.
The 2026 River Cup marked the 23-year-old Pekin native's final golf tournament as an amateur before he turns professional.
It also was the last time he competed with his father Curt Minkel in the two-man best ball portion of the River Cup weekend.
Some gentle arm-twisting by Gruden early this year convinced Mason to play in the River Cup and make that tournament his amateur swan song.
Mason planned to turn pro after he graduated May 9 from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he was a key member of the Division I Rams men's golf team this season.
It was just a matter of when he'd take the plunge into pro golf.
"The River Cup weekend this year was bittersweet for me because I won't be able to team up with my dad anymore in the tournament," Mason said. "But there's no better time than now for me to turn pro."
River Cup President Matt Fahel has known Mason for a long time. Fahel called Mason a fine young man and great golfer during a tribute at the end of the post-tournament awards ceremony.
"I'm glad to see him go," joked Team Peoria captain Scot Frankenreider before several golfers from both teams came over to Mason, hugged him and wished him well.
Mason won his best ball and singles matches during his final River Cup weekend, key wins for Team Tazwood in a close competition.
His first tournament as a pro will be the All Pro Tour's OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Championship, which will be held June 24-27 at Metamora Fields and WeaverRidge golf clubs.
He next plans to compete in the John Deere Classic qualifier June 29 at the Pinnacle Country Club in Milan.
The John Deere tournament will be held July 2-5 at the TPC Deere Run course in the Quad Cities town of Silvis.
Gruden praised his victorious team for its resilience, especially with its backs to the wall, pointing as examples best ball comebacks by Carter Stevenson and Colin Kemp and Ryan Saurs and Jon Hauter to earn ties.
Mason Minkel gave kudos to Team Tazwood's Tyler Schneider, who won two of the last three holes to pull out a singles victory.
Frankenreider said the tournament this year "came down as usual to putts made and putts missed."
"Coyote Creek is the best test around, and the level of competition was unbelievable. Maybe as good it's ever been," he said. "What's great about this tournament is we're all enemies for two days, but good friends the rest of the year."
Frankenreider acknowledged the Team Peoria best ball team of Scott Phegley and Britt Bothast, who shot a 62 and could only tie Stevenson and Kemp.
"What else can you do?" Frankenreider said.
Asked to come back as Team Tazwood captain next year, Gruden said, "yes."
"I had a lot of fun," he said. "It was special to team up with some of the best golfers in the area who also are great teammates and great people."
Here are the results of the 2026 River Cup Men's competition matches:
JUNE 13
BEST BALL
-- Scot Frankenreider/Ryan Julius (Peoria) def. Tyler Schneider/Connor Watson 67-72.
-- Curt Minkel/Mason Minkel (Tazwood) def. John Ehrgott/Brien Davis 61-63.
-- Brian Draher/Jason Woll (Tazwood) def. Jeremy Ott/Andrew Wuethrich 66-75.
-- Carter Stevenson/Colin Kemp (Tazwood) tied Scott Phegley/Britt Bothast 62-62.
-- Austin Craig/Tim Sheppard (Tazwood) tied Steven Taylor/Ryan Brown 65-65.
-- Ryan Saurs/Jon Hauter (Tazwood) tied Quinn Cox/Jack Coulter 68-68.
DAY 1 SCORE: Tazwood 3 1/2, Peoria 2 1/2.
JUNE 14
SINGLES
-- Jon Hauter (Tazwood) def. Scot Frankenreider 7 and 6.
-- John Ehrgott (Peoria) def. Ryan Saurs 4 and 3.
-- Colin Kemp (Tazwood) def. Jack Coulter 2 and 1.
-- Quinn Cox (Peoria) def. Connor Watson 1-up.
-- Tyler Schneider (Tazwood) def. Ryan Julius 1-up.
-- Andrew Wuethrich (Peoria) def. Brian Draher 4 and 3.
-- Curt Minkel (Tazwood) vs. Ryan Brown halved.
-- Britt Bothast (Peoria) def. Tim Sheppard 2-up.
-- Carter Stevenson (Tazwood) def. Scott Phegley 6 and 5.
-- Jeremy Ott (Peoria) def. Jason Woll 3 and 2.
-- Austin Craig (Tazwood) def. Brien Davis 1-up.
-- Mason Minkel (Tazwood) def. Steven Taylor 4 and 3.
DAY 2 SCORE: Tazwood 6 1/2, Peoria 5 1/2.
FINAL SCORE: Tazwood 10, Peoria 8.