Local Players Do Well at Battle at the Crossroads(UPDATE)

Local players did very well at the 2021 Battle at the Crossroads, held Saturday at Community Park in Effingham. 80 players from across central and southern Illinois turned out for the event, sponsored by Effingham Disc Golf Evangelists (EDGE). 

(MARK JONES)

Mark Jones of Effingham won the Open Division in a seven-hole playoff with Nate Heinold of Peoria suburban Washington, Illinois. Jones and Heinold each finished regulation at 20 under par. Heinold shot a 51 and 53, while Jones shot a 53 and 51. The two started the playoff at Hole 1 and Jones was finally able to gain the edge on Hole 7.

(ALEX SCHIMMELPFENNING)

Another local player, Alex Schimmelpfenning of Effingham, tied with Greg Freeman of Pekin at 18 under to tie for third place. Schimmelpfenning and Freeman each had rounds of 55 and 51. 

(TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR JOSEPH GARLAND)

Tournament Director Joseph Garland of Effingham finished fifth at 16 under, shooting rounds of 56 and 52. 

(BRANDON PUCKETT)

Effingham native Brandon Puckett of Indianapolis won the Advanced Division, shooting 16 under to defeat Brett Elam by one shot. Puckett had rounds of 53 and 55. Effingham's Andy Bergholzer tied for seventh in Advanced Division, shooting six under with rounds of 60 and 58. 

(COLE MINTERT)

The winning continued as Effingham native Cole Mintert, now of Mattoon, captured Intermediate Division honors by shooting 14 under with matching rounds of 55 and 55. Bob Feldhake finished second in Intermediate, going nine under with rounds of 60 and 55. Noah Lohman of Effingham finished fifth at one under with rounds of 63 and 60. Local players Ben Ruholl and Jacob Pruemer tied for eighth going four over, Ruholl with rounds of 66 and 62 and Pruemer with rounds of 64 and 64.

(ZEB BERRY)

Another local player won the Recreational Division, Zebadiah Berry, at four under with rounds of 60 and 60. Ben Feldhake finished tied for fourth at even par with rounds of 61 and 63. 

Todd "Hank" Holsapple of Salem won the Novice Division at five over, Big Country of Vandalia finished second, Kent Endebrock of Effingham finished fifth, Kyle Miller of Stewardson finished seventh, and Bradley Livingston of Effingham finished tied for ninth.

(AND WHY DIDN'T GREG INCLUDE OUR LOCAL MA 40 PLAYERS? WHO KNOWS? SHOUTOUT TO MARTY ELLISON AND GARY WELTON FOR FINISHING 2ND AND 3RD, MARTY WITH 57-60=117, AND GARY WITH A 56-62=118. SORRY GUYS)