How 10 Peoria-area golfers finished at the Illinois State Amateur Championships
Pekin golfer Mason Minkel finished in a tie for fourth at the 92nd Illinois State Amateur Championship this week at Bloomington Country Club.
Minkel was one of 10 players from the Peoria area to compete in the four-round event, and the highest finisher. Michael Mounce of El Paso was the only other area player to make the cut. Because of their top-20 finish, both players earned exemptions into the State Am next year at Urbana's Atkins Golf Club.
Minkel, a 2021 graduate of Pekin now at Heartland, shot a 1-under-par 279 to tie for fourth, 10 shots behind champion Mac McClear, a University of Iowa golfer from Hinsdale (11-under 269).
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They were just two of five players to finish under par along with T.J. Barger of Bloomington (6-under 274), Tyler Isenhart of Geneva (3-under 277) and Marcus Smith of Rockford (1-under 279).
Minkel is the son of former State Am champion Curtis Minkel, who won in 2002.
"It's amazing, honestly," Mason told CDGA.com after the first day. "He was actually here today watching, he's just kind of a little bit jealous that he wasn't playing, but he enjoys it too."
Mounce shot a 1-over 287 to tie for 19th among the 36 players who made the two-round cut. His week included a second-round eagle on the par-5 14th hole.
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Peoria-area players at the 2023 Illinois State Amateur Championship
t-4. Mason Minkel, Pekin 68-68-69-73—279
t19. Michael Mounce, El Paso 68-71-77-71—287
MC Scot Frankenreider, Peoria 79-69—148
MC Mason Kimberley, Princeton 75-73—148
MC Andrew Wuethrich, Peoria 78-73—151
MC Weston Walker, Peoria 77-76—153
MC Ryan Cusack, Germantown Hills 74-79—153
MC Branden Mounce, El Paso 80-74—154
MC Tim Sheppard, East Peoria 78-76—154
MC Jason Boeker Morton 83-75—158
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 2023 Illinois State Amateur Championship: How Peoria golfers finished
