Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:13 PM CDT
Hellers win at home
By MIKE MONAHAN, Staff Writer
mmonahan@jg-tc.com
MATTOON -- Brothers Nick and Kris Heller used their home course to their advantage Tuesday as they won their respective age division in the Central Illinois Junior Golf Tour at the Mattoon Golf and Country Club.
Nick Heller, who is to be a senior at Mattoon, won the 16-18 age division with an 8-over-par 80, winning by four strokes over Eric Haughee of Oakland, who is a member of the Tri-County golf team and Dubuque University bound Kirk Kepley of Mattoon, who shot 84s. Haughee finished second on a scorecard playoff, using the back nine. Haughee shot a 40 on the back nine and Kepley had a 44.
Kris Heller won the 14-15 age division with an 84. Heller is to be a freshman at MHS and he won by one stroke over Robinson’s Brady Brown. Decatur’s Michael Clevenger was third with an 89.
Robinson’s Alex Brown won the 12-13 age group.
A total of 29 golfers participated in the meet, which was 13 more than participated at Robinson’s Quail Creek Country Club June 11.
Nick Heller finished fourth in the CIJGT championship last year and in the school year qualified for the IHSA Class 2A sectional where he shot an 85 at the Salem Country Club.
“At Robinson I shot a 79 and had a slow start there and picked it up,” said Nick Heller. “This one I was good at the beginning. I think the front side is a lot harder and I am proud of shooting a 38 on the front.”
Nick Heller, the defending champion in the 12-13 age group, birdied No. 8, a 540-yard par five.
“I cut the corner a little bit and went 360 off the drive,” said Nick Heller. “I had 180 left after that and I capitalized on that.”
The front nine measures 3,255 yards and has two par fives and five par four holes.
Nick Heller wasn’t too happy with his back nine
“I was everywhere on the back,” said Nick Heller. “I was left and right. It is a good thing to win it though.”
Nick Heller was coming off a 75 at the Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth in the Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Classic, which was the wining score and qualified him for the state finals at Lick Creek Golf Course in Pekin July 16-17.
While waiting Nick Heller said, “I am anxious to see how Scooter (Kris Heller) comes in. I know he started off well.”
Haughee had the best score on the back nine with a 40.
Kirs Heller had he best score on the front nine in his age division with a 5-over 41.
“It was a rough day,” said Kris Heller. “The pins are tucked nicely and I wasn’t striking the ball very well. I was scrambling on every hole. The greens were fast and hard.”
Still at the end of the day Kris Heller was happy with the victory.
“I was still happy to get first,” said Kris Heller. “I play here almost every day and that helps. This is a longer and tougher course than Robinson’s”
Kris Heller birdied No. 12, a 525-yard par five as well as No. 13, a 370-yard par four.
“It was great weather to play, but apparently everyone struggled a little bit today,” said Kris Heller. “They were not the best of scores.”
Mattoon’s Chris Havlik had the best back nine score of 41.
Brown had tied for second at Robinson last week.
“I did all right,” said Brown, who is going into the seventh grade and plans to be in the other tour stops. “I golfed here two days ago and it is a nice course. I had a few pars and a lot of bogies.”
The tours next stop is to take place at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Stones Throw Golf Club in Newton.
“I heard the greens were fast and firm and I guess it got windy out there and that can lead to higher scores,” said Craig Toler, CIJGT director. “Wind is golfers’ worst enemy. I would rather play in rain than wind any day.”
Central Illinois Junior Golf Tour at Mattoon Golf and Country Club
16-18
1. Nick Heller, Mattoon 38-42=80; 2. Eric Haughee, Oakland, 44-40=84; 3. Kirk Kepley, Mattoon 44-40=84; 4. Holly Shupe, Toledo 40-45=85; 5. Jared Paddick, Mount Carmel 45-43=88; 6. Stephen Powell, Effingham 46-46=92; 7. Nick Spaniol, Bloomington 47-46=93; 8. Lewis Martin, Effingham 54-45=99; 9. Garrett Goben, Charleston 52-50=102; 10. Jeremy Sparks, Mattoon 57-59=116; 11. Cole Hickenbottom, Lovington 60-70=130
14-15
1. Kris Heller, Mattoon 41-43=84; 2. Brady Brown, Robinson 39-46=85; 3. Michael Clevenger, Decatur 45-44=89; 4. Chris Havlik, Mattoon 49-41=90; 5. Brock Miller, Arcola 45-45=90; 6. Michael Koester, Effingham 46-46=92; 7. Brady Welsh, Robinson 48-46=94; 8. tie, Ian Freeman, Mount Zion 49-47=96; Wes Lindsey, Vandalia 49-47=96; 10. Warren Whithaus, Robinson 55-45=100; 11. Chase Myers, Decatur 52-53=105; 12. Andrew Smith, Sullivan 56-52=108; 13. Dustin Huffmeier, Greenville 58-54=112
12-13
1. Alex Brown, Robinson 53-56=109; 2. Brody Warren, Mattoon 64-61=125
Girls
1. Hannah Neal, Sullivan 60-57=117; 2. Savanah Myers, Decatur 59-59=118
College
Marissa Alexander, Mattoon 46-48=94
Central Illinois Junior Golf Tour at Robinson’s Quail Creek Country Club
16-18
1. N. Heller 79; 2. Paddick 81; 3. Travis Whithaus 83; 4. Shupe 86; 5. Kepley 92; 6. tie, Matt Wooley 94; Powell 94; 8. Tanner Neese 102
14-15
1. Welsh 76; 2. K. Heller 78; 3. Brown 79; 4. Whithaus 83; 5. Hoffmier 90
12-13
1. Dalton Anderson 94; 2. tie, Cordy Horn 108; A. Brown 108
Contact Mike Monahan at mmonahan@jg-tc.com or 238-6854.
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