Wright wins state links title at Foxford Hills
After spending most of the back nine trying to figure where he stood in the final group and field as a whole, Aurora’s John Wright took matters into his own hands, carding the low round of the tournament, a one-under 71, to win the 20th Illinois State Public Links Championship at Foxford Hills Golf Club in Cary.
Monday’s victory is Wright’s third in the event, having previously won across town at Chalet Hills in 2000 and at Oak Grove in ‘08.
“I hit the ball solid all day and played well, but, I made the mistake of asking on 17 where I stood,” Wright said. “I made my worst swing of the day on 18, but ended up being able to get up and down to save par.”
First-round co-leader Dave Ryan of Taylorville carded a 74 to finish tied for second with Thomas O’Bryan of Aurora and Palatine’s Chadd Slutzky, who matched Wright’s 71 on Tuesday for low round of the event. The trio finished two strokes behind Wright with a cumulative score of 146.
Ryan’s fellow co-leader after 18 holes, 17-year old Nick Robles of Crystal Lake, shot a final round 77 in the day’s last group to finish tied for fifth.
The victory makes Wright only the second player to ever win the State Public Links more than twice, joining Naperville’s Mark Esposito, who won the event in 1998, 2003, ‘04 and ‘07. The four-time champion was forced to withdraw early in Monday’s opening round due to injury.
“It’s such a treat to win this event and a great way to start the year,” Wright added.
Wright will have only a short time to celebrate the victory, as he turns around to play an event this weekend and U.S. Open Local Qualifying on Monday before facing off with 79 of the state’s best mid-amateurs in the 19th Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship at Flossmoor Country Club on May 10-11.
Illinois State Public Links Championship
Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Ill., 6816 yards, par-72
Final Results:
1 John Wright (Aurora) 73-71-144
2 Chadd Slutzky (Palatine) 75-71-146
Thomas O’Bryan (Aurora) 74-72-146
Dave Ryan (Taylorville) 72-74-146
5 Wes Zartman (Elmhurst) 74-75-149
Nick Robles (Crystal Lake) 72-77-149
7 Ryan Miller (Naperville) 78-72-150
8 Joe White (Waukegan) 76-75-151
9 Bryan Rusin (Chicago) 78-74-152
Tom Miler (Kewanee) 77-75-152
Tim Sheppard (East Peoria) 77-75-152
12 Brian Bullington (Frankfort) 78-75-153
Kyle Slechta (Berwyn) 77-76-153
14 Chris Beto (Rockford) 79-75-154
15 Scott Cahill (Carpentersville) 73-82-155
16 Omari Whitmore (Evanston) 79-79-158
17 Craig Martin (Joliet) 75-85-160
18 Kevin Becker (Northbrook) 79-82-161
19 Matt Shipley (Naperville) 79-84-163
20 Brendan Santi (Highland Park) 78-91-169
Bruce Jacobson (South Elgin) 75-WD