Hot at the end

Eighteen holes just wasn’t enough to decide the winner of the 16- to 18-year-old boys’ championship flight Friday at the Robbie McEvers Memorial Golf Tournament at The Links and Nichols Park golf courses in Jacksonville.

Jacksonville’s Nick Cisne and Springfield’s George Tate went into a sudden-death playoff after Cisne shot the best round of the two-day event, a 1-under 71, to catch Tate.

Cisne made birdie on the final two holes to force the playoff.

“I really didn’t think I was hitting it very well, I was just getting up and down,” he said. “I got hot at the end.”

In the playoff, Cisne put his drive in the fairway, about 75 yards from the pin, then landed his approach about eight feet away from the hole.

“I was pretty nervous and all, but I was trying not to think about it too much and just play a good hole,” Cisne said.

The recent Jacksonville High School graduate then made the birdie putt to win his first McEvers title in a championship flight.

“I was ecstatic,” Cisne said. “I was happy.”

Cisne plans to play in the Jacksonville City Tournament, which is also held at The Links, next weekend. The Jacksonville golfer said his stellar play this week should help him in the JCT.

“I feel like I have a good chance, if I play well like I did today,” Cisne said. “But I’m going to have to play that well four days in a row.”

Tate took second place in the boys’ 16-18 championship flight, and Jacksonville’s John Honnen, the leader after 18 holes, finished third.

Jacksonville’s Justin Coop won the 16-18 boys’ A flight, and South Roxana’s Ethan Guss took first in the 16-18 boys’ B flight.

In the 16-18 girls’ championship flight, Macomb’s Chelsea Hadsall improved on her lead to win by eight strokes. Rushville’s Katie Boyd finished second, and Sherman’s Samantha Pelc was third.

“I tripled 17, which didn’t help, and I missed a couple putts I should have made for par,” said Boyd, who was only four strokes behind Hadsall after the front nine Friday. “But it was a good time. I love this tournament. I’ve played in it since I was 7, and this is my last year.”

Springfield’s Ben Patton won the 13-15 boys’ championship flight after shooting an even-par 72. Granite City’s Brett Denap was second and Glenarm’s Zane Carmean was third. Camp Point’s Alexander Walter finished first in the 13-15 boys’ A flight, and Jacksonville’s Cameron Morrison won the 13-15 boys’ B flight.

“It always feels really good to be on top,” said Patton. “You just feel like you really accomplished something.”

Cantrall’s Julia Browning finished first in the 13-15 girls’ championship flight, while Bluffs’ Kaitlyn Frye finished second and Sherman’s Lexie Emerson finished third on a scorecard playoff.

Ethan Brue, of Chandlerville, took first in the 11-12 boys’ championship flight, edging Springfield’s Nick Patton by just one stroke. Springfield’s Gabriel Urbance finished third.

Springfield’s Griffin Kopecky finished first in the 11-12 boys’ A flight, while Springfield’s T.J. Mathiot won the 11-12 boys’ B flight.

Springfield’s Hayley Reed won the 11-12 girls’ flight by one stroke over Athens’ Caitlin Sims. Springfield’s Michelle Clark finished third.

Jarom Hutson, of Chillicothe, was the winner in the 9-10 boys’ championship flight, while a pair of Jacksonville natives finished second and third. Payton Gordley finished seven strokes behind Hutson, while Riley Dugan finished nine back.

A pair of Rushville golfers won the 9-10 boys’ A and B flights. Ryan Settles took the A flight and Chad Edwards won the B flight. Settles won by three strokes and Edwards won by four.

Chandlerville’s Alex Brue won the 9-10 girls’ flight, finishing ahead of two Springfield players: Lauren Carter and McKenna Mathiot.

Murrayville’s Noah Robinson won the 8 & Under boys’ flight by 10 strokes, ahead of Clinton’s Chase Reynolds and Jacksonville’s Cole Williams, who won on a scorecard playoff.

“It just makes me feel really happy,” Robinson said.

In the 8 & Under girls’ flight, Jacksonville’s Sarah May, who on Thursday said she wanted to “win the whole thing,” did just that, winning by 11 strokes over Springfield’s Anna Carter and Litchfield’s Brielle Marten.

This year’s McEvers Tournament attracted 237 players, several of which traveled long distances to play. The tournament will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year

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