Bill Welt
Springfield State Journal- Register
Video: Vanderbilt OL Cooper Starks talks North Mac youth football camp
North Mac grad Cooper Starks, an offensive lineman at Vanderbilt University, discusses return at youth football camp July 10-11.
No lead is ever safe.
Blaine Buente withstood Tyler Link’s late charge to escape with his second Men’s City golf title at Piper Glen Golf Club on Sunday. He previously won the tournament in 2022.
He shot 2-over 74 in the final round to ultimately finish with a four-day 6-under 282 total.
Buente had a four-stroke lead with three holes remaining until Link pared the deficit down to one with two straight birdies before reaching the par-4 No. 18 tee.
Buente’s tap-in bogey cemented a two-stroke victory after Link’s approach shot went awry, however.
“I felt like I played pretty well for the majority of the day,” said Buente, who was 1-under through the first nine. “Down the stretch it becomes a bit of a mental game and I definitely didn’t have that.
“I definitely didn’t play my best and I think Tyler played like he deserved to win today. That’s golf sometimes. I’ve been on the losing end of it and I’ve been on this end of it. It’s nice to come out on top. A win’s a win I guess.”
The 2017 Millikin University graduate surged ahead by six strokes after the first two rounds at Bunn and Lincoln Greens, shooting 6-under 66 in both rounds. He approached the final day ahead by three strokes over the runner-up Link and Tom Kucek.
Defending champion Peyton Woods and Bobby Sobieski tied for third place with a 2-under 286 total. Sean Berberet shot even-par for fifth place.
“It was more difficult this time around,” Buente said of his second title. “Honestly, I don’t play with the lead very well. I think coming from behind is a little bit easier. You can play aggressive and it was definitely a challenge to hold such a big lead because you want to kind of play conservative. But at the same time, there’s guys capable catching you out here if you make a few mistakes and that’s kind of what happened.”
Josie Lowder won the Women’s City tournament in June. She nicked defending five-time champion Karlie Schnepp by one stroke, ending with a 5-over 149 total at Bunn and Lincoln Greens.
The 2003 Petersburg PORTA graduate, who won the IHSA girls golf state title in 2001, previously won three consecutive Women’s City titles from 2004 to 2006.
Here’s a look at past Men’s and Women’s City champions:
Past Men’s City champions 2025 — Blaine Buente 2024 — Peyton Woods 2023 — Dain Richie 2022 — Blaine Buente 2021 — Jake Erickson 2020 — Jake Erickson 2019 — Scott Belcher 2018 — Ed Mabie 2017 — Jake Erickson 2016 — Jake Erickson 2015 — Jake Erickson 2014 — Josh Edison 2013 — Jake Erickson 2012 — Jake Erickson 2011 — Scott Teague 2010 — Dave Ryan 2009 — Tyler Link 2008 — Scott Belcher 2007 — Scott Teague 2006 — Scott Teague 2005 — Scott Teague 2004 — Brian Anderson 2003 — Brian Anderson 2002 — Dale Blankenship 2001 — Brian Anderson 2000 — Dave Ryan 1999 — Mark Beck 1998 — Jimmy Collins 1997 — Dale Blankenship 1996 — Dennis Duke 1995 — Rick Ciotti 1994 — Scott Teague 1993 — Rick Ciotti 1992 — George Logan 1991 — Rick Ciotti 1990 — Tony Saputo 1989 — Jerry Thomas 1988 — Dave Ward 1987 — Bill Shafer 1986 — Olie Fosdyck 1985 — Bill Shafer 1984 — J.C. Anderson 1983 — J.C. Anderson 1982 — J.C. Anderson 1981 — Jerry Thomas 1980 — Mark Hofstetter 1979 — Bret Voisin 1978 — Lance Morrison 1977 — Mark Hofstetter 1976 — Rick Haegele 1975 — John Phillips 1974 — Steve Taylor 1973 — John Phillips 1972 — Vito Saputo 1971 — Norm Rodier 1970 — Jerry Thomas 1969 — Dave Hazlett 1968 — John Phillips 1967 — Bill Carson 1966 — John Phillips 1965 — Norm Rodier 1964 — Bill Carson 1963 — Norm Rodier 1962 — Dale Schofield 1961 — Dale Schofield 1960 — Dale Schofield 1959 — Dale Schofield 1958 — Dale Schofield 1957 — Bobby Charlton 1956 — Jim Townsend 1955 — Bobby Charlton 1954 — Jack Coyle 1953 — Jack Coyle 1952 — Johnny Knight 1951 — Johnny Knight 1950 — Johnny Knight 1949 — Bobby Charlton 1948 — Jack Coyle 1947 — Bobby Charlton 1946 — Noonie Pease 1945 — Noonie Pease 1944 — Eddie Charlton 1943 — Eddie Charlton 1942 — Bill McKenzie 1941 — Bobby Charlton 1940 — Bill McKenzie 1939 — Kearin Slowe 1938 — Ray Whipple 1937 — Bobby Charlton 1936 — John Dipple 1935 — Eddie Charlton 1934 — Bud Maddox 1933 — Noonie Pease 1932 — Eddie Charlton 1931 — John Watson 1930 — Noah Dixon 1929 — Les Whipple 1928 — Eddie Charlton 1927 — Noah Dixon 1926 — Eddie Charlton 1925 — George Bunn Jr. 1924 — Noah Dixon 1923 — Douglas Cadawallader 1922 — Noah Dixon 1921 — Douglas Cadawallader 1920 — Noah Dixon 1919 — Henry Abels Past Women’s City champions 2025 — Josie Lowder 2024 — Karlie Schnepp 2023 — Karlie Schnepp 2022 — Karlie Schnepp 2021 — Karlie Schnepp 2020 — Madison Humke 2019 — Faith Davis 2018 — Karlie Schnepp 2017 — Caitlin Sims 2016 — Caitlin Sims 2015 — Abby Vorreyer 2014 — Abby Vorreyer 2013 — No tournament 2012 — Jocelyn Matsen 2011 — Hannah Bachman 2010 — Hannah Bachman 2009 — Hannah Bachman 2008 — Hannah Bachman 2007 — Michelle Anderson 2006 — Josie Lowder 2005 — Josie Lowder 2004 — Josie Lowder 2003 — Nichole Inkel Bennett 2002 — Nichole Inkel Bennett 2001 — Laura Patrick 2000 — Jennifer Shutt 1999 — Laura Patrick 1998 — Jamie Smith 1997 — Laura Patrick 1996 — Sheila Stults 1995 — Myona Thoron 1994 — Laura Patrick 1993 — Heather Buraski 1992 — Nichole Inkel 1991 — Nichole Williams 1990 — Mindy Bono 1989 — Mindy Bono 1988 — Mindy Bono 1987 — Tracy Tate 1986 — Tracy Tate 1985 — Tracy Tate 1984 — Molly Cody 1983 — Tracy Tate 1982 — Tracy Tate 1981 — Tracy Tate 1980 — Tracy Tate 1979 — Jane Murphy 1978 — Barb Turnbull 1977 — Sarah LeVeque 1976 — Sarah LeVeque 1975 — Judi Meador 1974 — Sarah LeVeque 1973 — Kate McNamara 1972 — Kate O’Keefe 1971 — Rosie Hagan 1970 — Bernadette Nolan 1969 — Judi Meador 1968 — Judi Meador 1967 — Kate O’Keefe 1966 — Judi Meador 1965 — Judi Meador 1964 — Judi Meador 1963 — Judi Meador 1962 — Judi Meador 1961 — Judi Meador 1960 — Julia Rowland 1959 — Judi McCarty 1958 — Judi McCarty 1957 — Judy Allan 1956 — Dolores Schofield 1955 — Dolores Schofield 1954 — Dolores Lehr 1953 — No individual winner 1952 — No tourney 1951 — Marjorie Huegel
