​Team Peoria wins the 25th Senior Championship; Tazwood's Jim Mounce makes a hole-in-one

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.

---