Team Peoria is as hot as the weather as it beats Team Tazwood in the 25th annual Junior River Cup

By Steve Stein

Team Peoria defeated Team Tazwood 11-7 last weekend in the 25th annual Junior River Cup golf competition, cutting Team Tazwood's lead in the series to 17-8.

But everyone left Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria a winner late Sunday afternoon after Team Peoria was presented the championship trophy. 

The team captains. The golfers. The spectators. The caddies. The tournament officials. All winners. All agreed Mt. Hawley was a wonderful host and the course was presented beautifully.

Each endured hot, muggy weather Saturday and Sunday to play or witness two great days of golf that featured several close matches, clutch shots, and exemplary sportsmanship.

"I played in the Junior River Cup when I was a kid. It was great to see another generation of golfers do that and compete so hard. There was a high level of talent out there," said Team Peoria captain Patrick Hogan, who filled in for longtime captain Daniel Young, who was out of town. 

"I'm especially proud of the kids on my team who found a way to win while not playing their best golf," Hogan said. "And several of our guys did a great job finishing. A lot of matches came down to the final holes."

One of the close matches was the last one Sunday. Team Peoria's Brock Brown made a long birdie putt on the 17th hole to tie his individual match against Team Tazwood's Connor Watson. Both golfers then birdied the 18th hole.

Team Tazwood captain Gregg Guenther said the golfers on both teams "all won by qualifying to compete in this tournament. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone will do this fall on their school's team."

Guenther said his Team Tazwood golfers played as well as they could, but Team Peoria was just too good.

Guenther also said he was delighted to see so many former Junior River Cup golfers return to the tournament to work as caddies this year.

"More than usual," he said. "That says something about how much they enjoyed playing in the tournament."

River Cup Foundation President Matt Fahel said he was humbled by the number of parents, grandparents, other family members and spectators who came out to watch the matches on such hot days. "It makes what we do worthwhile,"

Team Peoria and Team Tazwood each had 12 golfers on its roster, four in the under-15 age group and eight in the 16-18 age group. 

Each golfer had a story to tell. Here are Luke Johnson and Cooper Hansen's stories.

Johnson won his best ball match Saturday and individual match Sunday to help Team Peoria win the championship.

The Dunlap High School junior golfer lost both of his Junior River Cup matches last year. He said he used the match play experience he gained playing in the 2023 Junior River Cup and the two defeats as motivation this year.

Sage advice from Hogan and Johnson's family members was another weapon in Johnson's arsenal. They all told him to have a short memory during his matches.

Johnson put the advice to good use in his individual match Sunday vs. Team Tazwood's Owen Adams.

"I was 2-down after two holes," he said. "But I said to myself, 'That's done,' and moved on."

Johnson ended up winning the match 4 and 2.

Hansen played golf for three years at Delavan High School, helping the Panthers win three consecutive Tomahawk Conference championships. He'll be playing his fall for the men's golf team at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg.

Hansen didn't win either of his Junior River Cup matches (one draw and one loss) and Team Tazwood didn't win the championship, but those were the only downers of the weekend for him.

"Delavan's golf team doesn't play the big schools in the area like the schools in the Mid-Illini Conference. I showed (in the Junior River Cup) that I can compete with the big dogs," Hansen said. "Plus, this tournament was great preparation for college golf."

Hansen was in the last group Saturday, which meant the entire gallery and many of the golfers surrounded the 18th hole green to watch the conclusion of his best ball match.

"I felt a little pressure. But that was good," Hansen said.

His 15-foot putt for par on the 17th hole put his best ball team 1-up and secured at least a tie for the match. The match ended up in a draw. 

Here are the results of the matches in the 25th annual Junior River Cup:

SATURDAY AUGUST 3RD RESULTS
BEST BALL MATCHES

 AGES 15-UNDER
-- Jacob Shelby-Shane Cunningham (P) draw with Will Brown-Paxten Heinold.
-- Colin Kemp-Court Bohanan (T) def. Nick Herget-Crew Fortin 2 and 1.
AGES 16-18
-- Brock Brown-Jack Coulter (P) def. Owen Adams-Jacob Anderson 6 and 5.
-- Tanner Wake-Drew Gama (P) def. Luke Martin-Jack Lehman 1-up.
-- Nolan Eccles-Luke Johnson (P) def. Connor Watson-Nick Unes 3 and 2.
-- Chris Drake-Bennett Toews (P) draw with Gavin Schreurs-Cooper Hansen.

SATURDAY TEAM SCORE
-- Peoria 4, Tazwood 2.

SUNDAY AUGUST 4TH RESULTS
INDIVIDUAL MATCHES

AGES 15-UNDER
-- Jacob Shelby (P) draw with Paxten Heinold
-- Will Brown (T) def. Shane Cunningham 2 and 1.
-- Nick Herget (P) def. Court Bohanan 3 and 1.
-- Crew Fortin (P) def. Colin Kemp 4 and 2.

AGES 16-18
-- Tanner Wake (P) def. Luke Martin 5 and 4.
-- Jack Lehman (T) def. Chris Drake 3 and 2.
-- Jacob Anderson (T) def. Bennett Toews 5 and 3.
-- Luke Johnson (P) def. Owen Adams 4 and 2.
-- Drew Gama (P) def. Cooper Hansen 4 and 3.
-- Nick Unes (T) def. Jack Coulter 2 and 1.
-- Nolan Eccles (P) def. Gavin Schreurs 3 and 2.
-- Brock Brown (P) draw with Connor Watson.

SUNDAY TEAM SCORE
-- Peoria 7, Tazwood 5.


FINAL SCORE
-- Peoria 11, Tazwood 7.

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