Mintert Wins Division Title at Illinois Amateur Championships

Effingham native Cole Mintert captured first place in the Intermediate Division at the 8th Annual Illinois Amateur Disc Golf Championships. The three-round tournament was played Saturday and Sunday in the Pekin area and was sponsored by Plastic Addicts.

Mintert, who now lives in Mattoon, finished at +3 209 with rounds of 68, 54, and 87. The third round was 27 holes; the first two rounds were each 18 holes.

Mintert was tied for sixth after the first round at +5, then shot -1 in the second round to move up to second place overall. He then shot another -1 to claim the win.

Hadley Majors of Effingham finished tied for 26th place at +22. Majors shot a 75 in the first round then improved dramatically in the second round with a 55 before firing a 98 in the longer third round.

There were 40 players in the Intermediate Division.

The top flight was the Advanced Division, where 72 players competed.

Effingham's Joseph Garland finished fifth with a -13 198 total. Garland was tied for 15th at -2 after a 58 in the first round, then shot -1 62 in the second round to move up to a tie for sixth place.

The third round was a different story. Garland fired a -10 78, including birdies on eight of his last 11 holes to finish the tournament two shots off the lead.

Also in the Advanced Division, Mark Jones of Effingham finished tied for 21st at +1 212. Jones shot a 61 in each of his first two rounds, then shot a 90 on the long third round.

Also in Advanced, Andy Burgholzer of Effingham finished 65th at +17 228. Burgholzer went 63 and 69 for his first two rounds, before shooting a 96 on the third round.

In the Recreational Division, Ben Ruholl of Effingham finished 12th, going 72 and 61 in his first two rounds before shooting a 97 in the 27-hole final round to finish +24.

Zebediah Berry of Effingham finished tied for 17th in Recreational, shooting 76 and 62 in the first two rounds before finishing with a 95, ending the tournament at +27.

Ben Keller of Effingham in Recreational finished tied for 19th, going 76 and 57 in first two rounds before a 101 in the long third round to finish +28.

On Friday, several of the local players played a 27-hole flex tournament at the McNaughton course in Pekin, where the third round of the weekend tournament was played.

In the Advanced Division, Mark Jones tied for top honors at -9 79. 

Joseph Garland finished fifth with a -6 82. 

In the Intermediate Division, Cole Mintert again finished on top with a -4 84.

Hadley Majors finished ninth with a +13 101. 

In the Recreational Division, Zebediah Berry tied for 11th with a +13 101.