![]() By Steve Stein To the victors go the spoils. Or in the case of the River Cup men's competition, a crystal trophy in the shape of cup. "I have the cup at home. It'll be there for about a month," said Austin Craig, captain of Team Tazwood, which defeated Team Peoria 10 1/2 to 7 1/2 last weekend at Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria. The win gave Team Tazwood a 20-12 lead over Team Peoria in the overall River Cup standings, and five victories in the last seven years. This was Craig's fifth year playing for Team Tazwood in the River Cup. It was the first time he served as the team's captain. "Being the captain is a whole different scenario than 'just' being on the team. I was constantly looking at the results app, checking out the scores," he said. "We didn't play our best Saturday, but I was confident we could pull out the win Sunday. It's very rare that the guys on our team don't play well two days in a row. I also liked the matchups Sunday. It was just a matter of us executing." Team Tazwood and Team Peoria were tied 3-3 after the best ball competition Saturday. So the championship came down to the 12 individual matches Sunday. One match finished in a draw. Team Tazwood went 7-4 in the other 11 individual matches. Carter Stevenson, DJ Norman, Tim Saurs, Ryan Cusack, Brian Draher, Tim Sheppard and Mason Minkel recorded the victories. At age 67, Saurs should have been playing in the River Cup seniors competition, for players ages 50 and older. After a couple years playing with the seniors, Saurs opted to play in the men's division so he could play with his son Ryan Saurs and he came through with a big win Sunday, defeating Illinois Central College golfer Quinn Cox 4 and 3. Ryan Saurs had the lone draw Sunday, tying with John Team Peoria's Ehrgott. Tim Saurs received a rousing ovation Sunday from the crowd of golfers and spectators that gathered for the awards ceremony as Team Tazwood posed for a team photo. He responded with a huge smile. Andrew Wuethrich, Brien Davis, Doug Middendorf and Steven Taylor won Sunday for Team Peoria. Wuethrich defeated Craig 7 and 6. "I have to hand to Andrew. He kicked my butt," Craig said. Team Peoria captain Britt Bothast, another first-year captain, also lost Sunday. He was defeated by Bradley University golfer Carter Stevenson in a close 1-up match. Craig praised Team Peoria, acknowledging the tough competition it provided, and said, "We know they're going to be hunting us down until next summer." River Cup Foundation President Matt Fahel thanked the family members and friends of the River Cup competitors for filling the golf course during the weekend and cheering on "the best golfers in the area." He also thanked Mt. Hawley club professional Dave Lundy, assistant professional Rico Scott, club superintendent Spencer Smith and the Mt. Hawley membership for their hard work preparing the course and gracious hospitality and allowing the River Cup to "add to the history of Mt. Hawley." Lundy, in turn, said Mt. Hawley was thrilled to host the River Cup, and he thanked the club's board and members for their support of the tournament. "I'm glad the area's best golfers had an opportunity to play our course," he said. Craig said the River Cup men's and senior competitors aren't just the area's best golfers. "Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties have as many good golfers as any three counties in Illinois," he said. Here are the results of the 2024 River Cup men's competition: SATURDAY BEST BALL (Par 71) -- Scott Phegley/Jake Schneider (Peoria) drew with Carter Stevenson/DJ Norman (65-65). -- Brian Draher/Jason Woll (Tazwood) def. Brien Davis/Steven Taylor (67-68). -- Andrew Wuethrich/Jeremy Ott (Peoria) def. Tim Saurs/Ryan Saurs (68-73). -- Curt Minkel/Mason Minkel (Tazwood) def. John Ehrgott/Quinn Cox (67-69). -- Britt Bothast/Ryan Brown (Peoria) drew with Tim Sheppard/Austin Craig (66-66). -- Scott Frankenreider/Doug Middendorf (Peoria) def. Jason Boeker/Ryan Cusack (67-71). Peoria 3, Tazwood 3. SUNDAY INDIVIDUAL MATCHES -- Andrew Wuethrich (Peoria) def. Austin Craig 7 and 6. -- Brien Davis (Peoria) def. Jason Boeker 4 and 2. -- Carter Stevenson (Tazwood) def. Britt Bothast 1-up. -- John Ehrgott (Peoria) drew with Ryan Saurs. -- DJ Norman (Tazwood) def. Scott Frankenreider 4 and 3. -- Tim Saurs (Tazwood) def. Quinn Cox 4 and 3. -- Doug Middendorf (Peoria) def. Jason Woll 3 and 1. -- Ryan Cusack (Tazwood) def. Jake Schneider 3 and 2. -- Brian Draher (Tazwood) def. Jeremy Ott 7 and 5. -- Tim Sheppard (Tazwood) def. Ryan Brown 2 and 1. -- Steven Taylor (Peoria) def. Curt Minkel 4 and 2. -- Mason Minkel (Tazwood) def. Scott Phegley 3 and 2. Tazwood 7.5 Peoria 4.5 FINAL SCORE TazWood- 10 1/2, Peoria 7 1/2. ![]() By Steve Stein There were two noteworthy achievements last weekend in the River Cup senior competition. Team Peoria extended its winning streak over Team Tazwood, winning 10-8 at Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria. Over the past 13 years, Team Peoria has lost only twice to Team Tazwood. Each loss was at Mt. Hawley. Team Peoria hadn't beaten Team Tazwood at Mt. Hawley since its hot streak began in 2012, but it ended that streak last weekend. "Barely," said Team Peoria captain Tim Walters. "I'm sure glad we had a cushion after Saturday." Team Peoria led Team Tazwood 4-2 after Saturday's best ball competition. Each team scored six points Sunday in the 12 singles matches. There were two draws, and Team Peoria and Team Tazwood golfers each won five matches. Now, on to the other achievement of the weekend. This was an individual achievement. Team Tazwood's Jim Mounce made a hole-in-one Saturday. It's believed to be only the third ace in the 32-year River Cup history, and the first one made in the senior competition in the 25 years it has been held. Jeff Ackerman and Chris Fort made aces in the past in the River Cup Men's competition. Mounce's perfect shot Saturday came on the ninth hole at Mt. Hawley, a 147-yard par-3. He used a 9-iron. "The green on No. 9 is on a hill. I knew I hit my shot right at the pin, but I didn't see it go in," Mounce said. "Matt Fahel (the River Cup Foundation President) and some other guys were up on the hill and starting yelling. That's when I knew I'd made a hole-in-one." This was Mounce's fourth hole-in-one, but first in a tournament. The 55-year-old El Paso resident has been playing golf since he was 14. All four of his aces have come in the last six years. The first one was at El Paso Golf Club. He had two holes-in-one within 13 days a year later at Pontiac Elks Country Club and a course in Atlanta, Ga. Aside from his hole-in-one, Mounce said he didn't play well Saturday. His team lost in a best ball match. "I wasn't in great form Saturday. I played better Sunday, " he said, referring to his win in a singles match. This was the third time Mounce played in the River Cup. Off the golf course, Mounce is the owner of Mounce Automotive, which has locations in El Paso and Lexington. Walters said he was proud of his Team Peoria golfers for pulling out the victory, but he also had praise for Team Tazwood. "(Team Tazwood's) Scott Belsly played very well in his first River Cup. So did Barry Neal," Walters said. "Team Tazwood is going to get stronger in the next few years when they get some guys who will be eligible to play in the seniors competition. We're going to need to get stronger, too." Walters beat Team Tazwood's Eric Dicks in their individual match Sunday in a battle between the two team captains. Here are the results of the 2024 River Cup senior competition: SATURDAY BEST BALL -- Mark Greskoviak/Jeff Ott (Peoria) def. Tom Kearfoot/Jim Mounce 2 and 1. -- Kevin Dixon/Tim Krause (Peoria) def. Darin Lowery/JD Nimrick 3 and 2. -- Scott Belsly/Josh Ellingson (Tazwood) def. Adam Angst/Rick Lehew 4 and 3. -- Jeff White/Bo Cleveland (Peoria) def. Mike Ghidina/Barry Neal 2 and 1. -- Pat Greenan/Dan Moran (Peoria) def. Ed Whitaker/Tim Taylor 2 and 1. -- Eric Dicks/Tom Oshinski (Tazwood) def. Tom Hammerton/Tim Walters 6 and 4. MATCH SCORE AFTER SATURDAY -- Peoria 4, Tazwood 2. SUNDAY INDIVIDUAL MATCHES -- Rick Lehew (Peoria) drew with Tom Kearfoot. -- Adam Angst (Peoria) def. Darin Lowery 4 and 3. -- Pat Greenan (Peoria) drew with JD Nimrick. -- Ed Whitaker (Tazwood) def. Dan Moran 1-up. -- Tim Taylor (Tazwood) def. Tim Krause 1-up. -- Kevin Dixon (Peoria) def. Josh Ellingson 8 and 7. -- Tim Walters (Peoria) def. Eric Dicks 4 and 3. -- Barry Neal (Tazwood) def. Tom Hammerton 1-up. -- Mark Greskoviak (Peoria) def. Tom Oshinski 3 and 1. -- Scott Belsly (Tazwood) def. Jeff Ott 5 and 4. -- Jim Mounce (Tazwood) def. Jeff White 4 and 3. -- Bo Cleveland (Peoria) def. Mike Ghidina 3 and 2. SUNDAY SCORE 6-6 FINAL SCORE -- Peoria 10, Tazwood 8. By Steve Stein
There are former professional golfers. Former and current collegiate golfers. Veteran golfers who have dominated the local golf scene for years. Two sets of fathers and sons. That's the 10,000-foot view of the Team Peoria and Team Tazwood teams that will duke it out this weekend in the Men's competition of the 32nd annual River Cup tournament at Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria. Team Tazwood leads Team Peoria 19-12 in the all-time series. But Team Peoria has beaten Team Tazwood twice in the past three years, including 10-8 last year at Coyote Creek Golf Club in Bartonville. A deep dive into this weekend's tournament pairings reveals some fascinating matches put together by first-year Captains Britt Bothast of Team Peoria and Austin Craig of Team Tazwood. Bothast and Craig agreed the best ball match Saturday between Team Peoria's Brien Davis and Steven Taylor and Team Tazwood's Brian Draher and Jason Woll could set the tone for the tournament. Those teams are arguably Team Peoria's and Team Tazwood's top best ball duos. Unless the match is a draw, either Team Peoria or Team Tazwood will gain a huge victory and the other team will absorb a tough loss. Davis/Taylor vs. Draher/Woll will tee off at 11:10 a.m., the second group to hit the course. "That's a crucial early match." Craig said. Team Tazwood's two father/son combinations -- Tim and Ryan Saurs and Curt and Mason Minkel -- will team up in best ball matches. Curt Minkel will be playing in the River Cup for the 28th time. Mason Minkel will be playing for the fifth time. For Tim and Ryan Saurs, it will be appearance No. 21. The Saurs will face Team Peoria's Andrew Wuethrich and Jeremy Ott. The Minkels will take on Team Peoria's John Ehrgott and Quinn Cox. Tee-off times are 11:20 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively. Tim Saurs is returning to the River Cup Men's competition after playing in the senior competition for a few years. It's a logical move. "Tim has been playing a lot of golf since he retired a couple years ago, and he's really playing well," Craig said. "Plus, I know he likes playing Mt. Hawley and it's a short course, so it fits his game." There are some big-time individual matches Sunday, too. If the championship comes down to the final two individual matches, each team will be confident about emerging victorious. Taylor will oppose Curt Minkel and Scott Phegley will face Mason Minkel. They'll tee off at 11:50 a.m. "That's quite a powerhouse foursome," Craig said. Earlier Sunday, each captain will have an important individual match. Craig will face Wuethrich at 11 a.m. in one of the kickoff individual matches and Bothast will take on Carter Stevenson at 11:10 a.m. "Hopefully, I'll get the point (for winning the match) and spend the rest of the day cheering on my team," Craig said. "I'm sure Britt feels the same way about his match." Indeed he does. Bothast said he's thrilled and honored to be a team captain. "After watching the River Cup several times when I was a kid, I really wanted to play in it," he said. I never dreamed I'd be a team captain." Three collegiate golfers who will be playing at Mt. Hawley this weekend recently played in national championships. Another collegiate golfer had a breakout freshman season. Mason Minkel helped West Florida reach the match play quarterfinals in the NCAA Division II tournament. West Florida lost to West Texas A&M, but Minkel shot 73 and won his match by one stroke. Team Peoria's DJ Norman and Cox were on the Illinois Central College team that placed ninth of 22 teams at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II tournament. Stevenson was Bradley's top golfer as a freshman. He tied for eighth place In the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. Here are the Men's River Cup matchups this weekend: SATURDAY'S MATCHES June 8, 2024 Mt. Hawley CC BEST BALL STROKE PLAY 11:00 a.m. -- Scott Phegley/Jake Schneider (Peoria) vs. Carter Stevenson/DJ Norman (Tazwood) 11:10 a.m. -- Brien Davis/Steven Taylor (Peoria) vs. Brian Draher/Jason Woll (Tazwood) 11:20 a.m. -- Andrew Wuethrich/Jeremy Ott (Peoria) vs. Tim Saurs/Ryan Saurs (Tazwood) 11:30 a.m. -- John Ehrgott/Quinn Cox (Peoria) vs. Curt Minkel/Mason Minkel (Tazwood) 11:40 a.m. -- Britt Bothast/Ryan Brown (Peoria) vs. Tim Sheppard/Austin Craig (Tazwood) 11:50 a.m. -- Scott Frankenreider/Doug Middendorf (Peoria) vs. Jason Boeker/Ryan Cusack (Tazwood) SUNDAY'S MATCHES June 9, 2024 Mt. Hawley CC INDIVIDUAL MATCH PLAY 11:00 a.m. -- Andrew Wuethrich vs. Austin Craig; Brien Davis vs. Jason Boeker 11:10 a.m. -- Britt Bothast vs. Carter Stevenson; John Ehrgott vs. Ryan Saurs 11:20 a.m. -- Scott Frankenreider vs. DJ Norman; Quinn Cox vs. Tim Saurs 11:30 a.m. -- Doug Middendorf vs. Jason Woll; Jake Schneider vs. Ryan Cusack 11:40 a.m. -- Jeremy Ott vs. Brian Draher; Ryan Brown vs. Tim Sheppard 11:50 a.m. -- Steven Taylor vs. Curt Minkel; Scott Phegley vs. Mason Minkel ![]() By Steve Stein Team Peoria has found success in the River Cup Senior competition the past several years. The folks from west of the Illinois River have lost only twice to Team Tazwood since 2012. Will it be more the same this year? On paper, Team Peoria is the favorite to win again this weekend at Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria because of its home course and River Cup experience advantages. But there's a cloud that casts a shadow on that prediction. Team Peoria has faced Team Tazwood twice at Mt. Hawley since 2012, in 2012 and 2017. Team Tazwood won both times, its only two victories in the 12-year stretch. "Sure, we're favored on paper to win again, but that's no guarantee, " said Team Peoria Captain Tim Walters, who has been at the helm of the team since 2012 except for one year when Pat Greenan assumed the Captaincy. Team Peoria is a veteran River Cup team. Tim Krause is the lone River Cup newcomer among the 12 team members. Meanwhile, Team Tazwood's Scott Belsly, Mike Ghidina, Daren Lowery, Barry Neal and Tim Taylor, nearly half the team, will be playing in their first River Cup. Team Tazwood lost one of its River Cup veterans and top players when Tim Saurs opted to play this year in the River Cup Men's competition with his son Ryan. Walters and Team Tazwood Senior Captain Eric Dicks have set up some interesting matches this weekend. Team Peoria's Mark Greskoviak and Jeff Ott will face Team Tazwood's Tom Kearfott and Jim Mounce in the 10 a.m. Saturday best ball kickoff match. "These guys are arguably each team's top best ball team," Walters said. One of the kickoff individual match play matches at 10 a.m. Sunday is Team Peoria's Rick Lehew vs. Kearfott. "Rick and Tom have had great individual matches the past two years," Walters said. "They had a draw two years ago and Rick won 1-up last year." Walters strategically placed Team Peoria's Jeff White and Bo Cleveland in the final two individual matches Sunday, teeing off at 10:50 a.m. "Jeff and Bo play in a popular men's league Sunday morning at Mt. Hawley," Walters said. "I wanted to give the other guys in the league an opportunity to watch Jeff and Bo play in the River Cup. There should be a big gallery for their matches." Another interesting match Sunday involves each team's captain. Walters will face Dicks at 10:30 a.m. Walters said he can't take credit for Team Peoria's success in the Senior Competition over the past decade plus. And he thinks Team Peoria's perennial dominance is in danger. "Our winning streak isn't about the Captain. It's more about the great players on our team," he said. "Team Tazwood is going to get stronger soon. They've got some very good golfers who will be eligible to play with the seniors (age 50 and older) in the next three or four years." Dicks, who is in his third year as the Team Tazwood Captain, isn't thinking about the future. He said his team is ready for this year's competition. "The River Cup seniors competition is more laid back than the men's competition, but it's competitive," he said. "Everyone wants to win, but we want to have fun, too. I tried to put together our match play teams with guys who normally play and hang out together." Team Peoria beat Team Tazwood 10.5 to 7.5 last year in the Senior competition at Coyote Creek Golf Club in Bartonville. Team Tazwood led 3.5 to 2.5 after the Saturday best ball matches. Team Peoria won eight of the 12 individual matches Sunday to pull out the win. Here are the Senior River Cup matchups this weekend at Mt. Hawley Country Club: SATURDAY'S MATCHES-June 8, 2024 BEST BALL MATCH PLAY 10:00 a.m. -- Mark Greskoviak/Jeff Ott (Peoria) vs. Tom Kearfott/Jim Mounce (Tazwood) 10:10 a.m. -- Kevin Dixon/Tim Krause (Peoria) vs. Daren Lowery/JD Nimrick (Tazwood) 10:20 a.m. -- Adam Angst/Rick Lehew (Peoria) vs. Scott Belsly/Josh Ellingson (Tazwood) 10:30 a.m. -- Jeff White/Bo Cleveland (Peoria) vs. Mike Ghidina/Barry Neal (Tazwood) 10:40 a.m. -- Pat Greenan/Dan Moran (Peoria) vs. Ed Whitaker/Tim Taylor (Tazwood) 10:50 a.m. -- Tom Hammerton/Tim Walters (Peoria) vs. Eric Dicks/Tom Oshinski (Tazwood) SUNDAY'S MATCHES-June 9,2024 INDIVIDUAL MATCH PLAY 10:00 a.m. -- Rick Lehew vs. Tom Kearfott; Adam Angst vs. Daren Lowery 10:10 a.m. -- Pat Greenan vs. JD Nimrick; Dan Moran vs. Ed Whitaker 10:20 a.m. -- Tim Krause vs. Tim Taylor; Kevin Dixon vs. Josh Ellingson 10:30 a.m. -- Tim Walters vs. Eric Dicks; Tom Hammerton vs. Barry Neal 10:40 a.m. -- Mark Greskoviak vs. Tom Oshinski; Jeff Ott vs. Scott Belsly 10:50 a.m. -- Jeff White vs. Jim Mounce; Bo Cleveland vs. Mike Ghidina ![]() It's River Cup Week! The annual River Cup competition between Tazewell and Peoria counties in Central Illinois will take place at Mt. Hawley CC and is set to be an exciting event this year. This storied rivalry features teams from each side of the Illinois River battling for local golfing supremacy. The pairings will be posted later this week no later than Thursday. After pairings are posted, also look for a preview from local sportswriter Steve Stein, who will also be exclusively covering the event. Updates will be posted on River Cup social media (Facebook and Twitter) as well as the River Cup blog page.In the men's division, players from both sides of the river will face off in best ball medal play on Saturday and singles match play on Sunday. Captains Britt Bothast (Peoria) and Austin Craig (Tazwood) will lead their teams into competition, promising an intense and competitive atmosphere. The senior division will also feature strong matchups, led by captains Eric Dicks (Tazwood) and Tim Walters (Peoria). These experienced players bring a wealth of skill and strategy, ensuring that every match is keenly contested. The River Cup is not just a display of golfing prowess but also a celebration of community and sportsmanship. As these teams vie for the coveted title, spectators can look forward to a series of thrilling and closely-fought matches. Play will begin Saturday morning at 10 am. There is no admission fee for spectators, and the public is welcome to attend the matches. Stay tuned for pairings and tee times later this week! Live scoring will be posted at www.rivercup.com once the competition starts. |
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