Mon, June 23: Clopton keeps UI title

SAVOY – One day after being swallowed up by the front nine at the University of Illinois Orange Course, Will Clopton exacted revenge.

The UI Open's defending champion toured the first nine holes – generally considered the toughest nine – in 5-under-par 31.

"If he shoots 31," first-day leader Craig Chaney said, "he deserves to win."

And that's what Clopton did, holding off Chaney for a 2-stroke victory and his second straight UI Open title. After an opening-round 73, Clopton added a 3-under 69 to finish at 142. Chaney put together rounds of 70 and 74 to finish second at 144.

"I'm pretty ecstatic right now," the 28-year-old Clopton said. "I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight."

Clopton's skills shone brightest on the front side, which yielded only one sub-par round on Saturday. And Sunday didn't hold much promise for Clopton, who missed a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 1.

"Then after I missed the green on No. 2, it was like, 'Here we go again,'" Clopton said.

He saved par. And then took off.

He sank a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 3 and parred No. 4.

That preceded a string of four straight birdies. And he made it look easy. His longest birdie putt was a 12-footer on No. 7.

"I was out of my mind, I guess," he said, smiling. "Everything was going right. The lowest I'd ever shot on the front nine was a 33."

By the time he made the turn, Clopton had turned the tournament upside down. He started the day in fifth place, 3 strokes behind Chaney. In nine holes, Clopton made up 7 strokes on Chaney and Illini junior Paul Wilkowski, 9 on Urbana's Joe Thompson and 10 strokes on Champaign's Creg McDonald.

In a two-hour span, the chaser became the chasee.

"Five-under is a great score on the front nine here," Chaney said. "The front nine's not easy."

The first-round leaders heated up on the back.

Chaney's only hiccup was a double bogey on No. 4, when he pounded his tee shot into the water. Two-over at the turn, Chaney played the backside at even-par.

"I'm fortunate to get second," he said.

Thompson, who started the day 1 stroke behind Chaney, carded eight pars and a birdie on the back nine. The three-time champion finished the tournament in third place at 71-75–146. With more cooperation from his putter, Thompson could have made it closer.

"I got everything I deserved," he said. "I just putted poorly."

He had 37 putts.

McDonald, tied with Thompson after 18 holes, concluded a long weekend with a 76, good for fourth place. After playing 36 holes Saturday – 18 as part of Champaign Country Club's championship – McDonald played another 36 on Sunday.

"I'm just tired," he said. "I had some big-time mental lapses."

As with playing partner Thompson, McDonald played the back nine at 1-under-par. But double bogeys on holes 4 and 9 put a serious crimp on his title hopes.

And Clopton's surge didn't help.

"That also contributed because we felt like we were so far back," Thompson said.

Wilkowski, 2 shots back at the start of the day, carded a 77 and finished in a three-way tie for fifth place at 149. He was joined by Mike Kiser (75-74) and Pat Keen (74-75).

In the first flight, Illini senior Jake Goldstein fired a 71 and finished at 149, edging Bruce McNary and Steve Spitler, each of whom also shot a 71 on Sunday.

Other flight winners: Second, Rick D. Wilson (81-73–154); third, Charles Heisner (84-76–160); fourth, Jason Anglin (87-82–169); fifth, Tom James (92-80–172); sixth, Doug Risken (97-89–186) and Dennis Williams (96-90–186).

Comments

Add a Comment