12-time winner takes on defending champ in Super Seniors while a 7th seed faces 9th seed in the Seniors' 36-hole final
Ike Martin is back in the finals of the Bloomington City Golf Tournament for the 17th time, though he wasn't sure his body could make that happen this year.
The tourney he's been a part of for the past six decades was just the medicine he needed
"I haven't played (well) until the tournament started," Martin said. "It just made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I've played extremely well for the last month, so I've got one more to go."
His decisive 4 and 3 win over two-time winner Rory Brown at Cascades on Saturday, July 12 in the semifinals did the trick and he'll face Dan Neubecker, who held off Dick Meacham, 2 and 1. They'll tee off for 18 more Sunday in the Super Seniors final at 7:46 a.m. Martin is tough to beat in the finals, where he's lost just four times.
"It'll be a good match," Martin said. "He's a very good chipper and putter. I got to play much better than I did today. I've got to make some birdies, but I didn't have very many birdie chances.
"I made some good three-footers to halve some holes, but Rory didn't play good at all. Rory didn't play Rory's game. That's just what happens sometimes."
Martin's last title came in the Super Seniors in 2021 and the last time he took on a defending champ was in 2017 when he took down Steve Hinds for the Senior title. His 17th final ties the mark set by Phil Talbot from 1930-50 before the Senior and Super Senior divisions were started.
His back is feeling much better after he underwent surgery in December. Then, a week before the Qualifying Tournament, he had a hand worked on and played with bigger grips.
Neubecker is on his own hot streak making the finals for the third year in a row. Meacham was just one back before a bad tee shot lost No. 16.
"Just hanging in there today," he said. "I had so many opportunities that I didn't capitalize on. Dick played good. He was 1-under after nine, I was 2-under after nine. But we both kind of lost it the last three or four holes."
Seniors: Split decision for Osbornes
Chad's in, Charles is out.
The Osborne twins had hoped to be on opposite sides in the Senior final, instead Chad will have Charles in his corner when he takes on Matt Till in the finals on Sunday. It's a somewhat unexpected pairing that will tee off in the 36-hole final at 7:38 a.m., with Till the seventh seed and Chad the ninth.
Till's last finals appearance came when he won the Seniors title in 2022 over Tim Gillespie in a rainy final. Chad last made the finals in the Men's Championship flight in 2013, losing to Mitch Oard.
Till was in a tussle with Charles Osborne, even at the turn before coming up with a big approach shot on 16 to go two up, en route to a 3 and 1 win.
"That was a great match," Till said. "I don't think we had more than one hole separating us until No. 16. It was back and forth the whole day and Charles really played well."
Till wasn't able to defend his title in 2023 due to a prior commitment and was dumped in the first round last year, so he's eager to take a shot at another City title.
"Pretty pumped up about it," Till said.
Chad Osborne was on a roll early, taking a three-up lead by the turn and putting Darren Fuller away, 6 and 4.
"Just played solid all day," Osborne said. "Hit some putts early, tried to give it back, but just stayed on top."
BLOOMINGTON CITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
Saturday's results
PHIL TALBOTT MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP: [1] Jason Bannister d. [12] Brad Scroggins, 6 and 5; [3\ Simon Deliyannis d. [2] Robert Wise, 3 and 2.
PAUL GRAY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: [9] Chad Osborne d. [4] Darren Fuller, 6 and 4; [7] Matt Till vs. [14] Charles Osborne, 3 and 1.
ROSS RUSH SUPER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: [1] Dan Neubecker d. [5] Dick Meacham, 2 and 1; [2] Ike Martin d. [3] Rory Brown, 4 and 3.
JANE FODDRILL WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP: [1] Missy Ringler d. [4] Kate Johnson 3 and 2; [3] Mira Bruce d. [2] Lisa Wise, 5 and 4.
MEN'S REGULAR
First flight: [8] Carter Cheaney d. [4] JT Storm, 4 and 3; [2] Jesse Hernandez d. [3] Andrew Conder, 4 and 3. Second flight: [4] Sam Wise d. [1] Alex Bruce, 9 and 7; [7] Jeremy Wise d. [6] Hank Ripley, 1 up. Third flight: [1] James Richardson d. [5] Young Oh, 5 and 4; [2] Chris Stedman d. [3] Bryan Fyalkowski, 1 up. Fourth flight: [1] Clayton Spinks d. [4] Bobby Duvall, 19 holes; [2] Matt Wilson d. [6] Jarrett Wise, 6 and 5.
SENIOR REGULAR
First flight: [5] Jay Freund d. [1] Mike Bruce, 2 and 1; [2] Brad Leach d. [3] Rick Scheid, 5 and 4. Second flight: [4] Matt Grubb d. [1] Barry King, 2 and 1; [2] Jon Hunt d. [6] Mike Vernon, Jr. 8 and 7.
SUPER SENIOR REGULAR
First flight: [5] Steve Sims d. [1] Steve McDonald, by forfeit; [2] Mike Thomas d. [6] Jim Shea, 5 and 4. Second flight: [1] Gary Walters d. [5] Jan Bond, 2 and 1; [2] Brian Werth d. [6] Charlie Gill, 2 and 1. Third flight: [1] Steve Englert d. [4] Mike Smith, 2 and 1; [2] Tom Dukes d. [3] Rickey Rogers, 7 and 5.
Sunday tee times
PHIL TALBOT MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP: 7:30 a.m.: [1] Jason Bannister vs. [3] Simon Deliyannis, 36 holes
PAUL GRAY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:38 a.m.: [7] Matt Till vs. [9] Chad Osborne, 36 holes.
ROSS RUSH SUPER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:46 a.m.: [1] Dan Neubecker vs. [2] Ike Martin, 18 holes.
JANE FODDRILL WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:54 a.m.: [1] Missy Ringler vs. [3] Mira Bruce, 18 holes.
MEN'S REGULAR—First flight, 8:02 a.m.: [2] Jesse Hernandez vs. [8] Carter Cheaney. Second flight, 8:10: [4] Sam Wise vs.[7] Jeremy Wise. Third flight, 8:18: [1] James Richardson vs. [2] Chris Stedman. Fourth flight, 8:26: [1] Clayton Spinks vs. [2] Matt Wilson.
SENIOR REGULAR — First flight, 8:34 a.m.: [2] Brad Leach vs. [5] Jay Freund, Second flight, 8:42: [2] Jon Hunt vs. [4] Matt Grubb.
SUPER SENIOR REGULAR — First flight, 8:50 a.m.: [2] Mike Thomas vs. [5] Steve Sims; Second flight, 8:58: [1] Gary Walters vs. [2] Brian Werth. Third flight, 9:06: [1] Steve Englert vs. [2] Tom Dukes.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: City Golf Seniors: Super Senior Ike Martin marches into 17th final
Category: General Sports
