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Mac McClear holds the Louis L. Emmerson trophy after winning the 2022 Illinois State Amateur. Photo Courtesy of the CDGA.
WIRE-TO-WIRE
That’s how Hinsdale resident Mac McClear won his first Illinois State Amateur championship at the Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette.
McClear a senior at the University of Iowa, defeated University of Illinois senior Tommy Kuhl by three shots.
McClear entered the tournament wanting to badly win the state amateur. In 2016 as a sixteen year-old, McClear missed the cut. But faired better in 2021 when he lost in a playoff for title at Mistwood. When it was over McClear (-5) called the win “special, and something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, so it’s good to finally get it done.”
After making the 36-hole cut, with the lead, McClear headed out in Thursday’s first of Two 18 hole rounds with a 68. But University of Illinois senior Tommy Kuhl of Morton was still lurking after his third round of 68.
But during the final round McClear started the first 9, with a score of 40. So with Kuhn putting up a 35, McClear’s lead was gone. McClear said,” things got a little off the rails there.”
So over the course of the back-nine, McClear’s lead grew to six shots over Kuhl. But then disaster struck McClear on the par-4 16th hole, when his thinned drive landed in a fairway bunker. But that wasn’t all, when his next shot trying to escape the bunker hit the lip and ended back at his feet. Then toss in a pulled approach-chunked wedge shot, and before McClear knew it he had made a triple-bogey 7.
But then your throw in a birdie by Kuhl, and the six shot lead is now two shots with two holes to play. McClear needed an up and down on 17 for par. But when Kuhl made double bogey on 18, McClear was able to coast-in with a three-shot win.
The second place finish was the best finish for Kuhl, who now has five-top 20 finishes in the State Illinois Amateur. Kuhl said, ” I wanted this tournament, it was one of my goals.”
McClear and Kuhl were the only under par players, when the 72 holes were complete. Next years championship is at the Bloomington Country Club. So for more details please visit CDGA.org.