Belcher wins SCT

When Scott Belcher went into a sudden-death playoff Sunday at the Springfield City Tournament at Piper Glen Golf Club, his opponent was a familiar one.

Belcher and his roommate, Josh Langer, were tied after four rounds Sunday as Belcher scrambled to shoot a 3-over-par 75. Belcher was 6-over at one point during his final round but finished the last three holes with an eagle, a birdie and a par to force the extra hole.

“I had the lead going into the round, but by the end I was actually happy to be in a playoff,” Belcher said.

Belcher recorded a par on the first playoff hole, while his roommate, a former UIS teammate, made bogey, giving the Jacksonville native a win at the SCT.

“I’m stoked and excited that I can win a tournament like that,” Belcher said. “Overall, it hasn’t really hit me, but I’m sure it will eventually. I’m just exited. I beat a lot of people.”

Belcher, a 2005 graduate of Jacksonville High School, was able to play in the tournament because he attends the University of Illinois at Springfield and lives in Springfield.

Belcher finished second at the 2007 Jacksonville City Tournament. He’ll play in the Illinois State Amateur Championship at Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton beginning Tuesday.

“I was excited,” Belcher said of his SCT win. “It’s good motivation going into the State Am, winning a tournament right before it. It feels good. I finally won a big tournament. It just feels good.”