What we learned from the opening weekend of the 2025 Evansville Men's City Golf Tournament

EVANSVILLE — We could be witnessing a historic Romain Cadillac Evansville Men's City golf tournament.

The opening weekend is complete following the second round at Helfrich on Sunday, Aug. 3. An impressive 24 players are under par despite the cutline rising to 4-over. That’s by all measures a strong showing for one of the oldest City tournaments in the country.

What could push the 96th edition to a different level is the leader. Because this two-day start, specifically the round at Helfrich, had people talking. What we learned from the first two rounds before heading to Rolling Hills next weekend.

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Peyton Blackard delivered a major statement at Helfrich

What the defending city champion did on Sunday is why this year could be special.

Blackard posted a 9-under 62 at Helfrich to vault into the lead after the second round. The Gibson Southern graduate is five shots clear of the field at 14-under following one of the best individual rounds in city history.

It is the competition course record for Helfrich (previously 63 by Matt Monroe last year). Blackard may hold the two-day tournament low too, but this one is tougher to confirm. It does set him squarely in sight of the four-day record held by Dylan Meyer (19-under) in 2014.

To think he’s only a teenager.

“I gave myself a lot of good chances from the fairway,” Blackard said. “That’s all I told myself to do the last two days. Golf is just giving yourself chances. I just kept hitting good iron and wedge shots, one after the other.”

The incoming Notre Dame freshman quickly put the field at Helfrich on notice. Blackard recorded seven birdies and an eagle — he holed out from 95 yards on the par-four, ninth — in the first 13 holes. To think his day could have been better if not for a trio of missed putts inside eight feet over the final four holes.

Regardless of what could have been, this round cemented what others likely assumed prior to the tournament. Blackard is the one to beat. He is 12-under over his last 21 holes including a trio of birdies to finish day one at Fendrich. The defending champion only had one bogey across the opening weekend.

“I kind of built momentum from there,” Blackard said. “Sometimes, I struggle (at Helfrich) with uneven lies and not hitting good iron shots. I was just happy to see as many chances as I had and converting more than I had been recently.”

His attention turns to the final weekend at Rolling Hills and Evansville Country Club. Blackard has a similar plan to how he won this event last year: position golf. If he has a wedge or iron in his hands, the odds of repeating increase.

Blackard is saving those thoughts for another day. What did enter his mind following a record-breaking day at Helfrich was who wasn’t in attendance. Clint Keown passed away last September in a car accident — his friend, Matt Redd, was a passenger and subsequently hospitalized. The latter has since returned home but continues fight in recovery.

“This is one they would’ve really liked to see,” Blackard said. “This was a special round for them. They’ve both been great to me. It was a sad situation. Kind of playing for them this week."

Luke Johnston cemented a strong week across Indiana

The attention was deservedly on Blackard. What shouldn't be lost in the moment was another member of his group.

Luke Johnston fired a 5-under 66 at Helfrich and sits in second place at 9-under. The North graduate had six birdies and one bogey during his second round — an impressive day considering he had a front row seat to Blackard's record-setting performance.

But instead of chasing a number, Johnston remained focused on his own task. He birdied 15 and 17 to earn a spot in the final group at Rolling Hills. It continues a busy and impressive summer that began with a second-place finish at the IHSAA state championship in June.

"It was tough to stay in it today with Peyton firing birdies left and right," Johnston said. "For him shooting that low, I had a good attitude about it. I’m pretty competitive. I like to win and always trying to chase the leader. It teaches me to slow down. Take my time."

The entire week was eye opening from the incoming Ball State freshman. Johnston finished tied for 20th in the Junior PGA Championships at Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette. The field included many of the top players in the country. Including two practice rounds, Johnston played eight straight days of competitive golf.

It will take an equally strong second weekend to win. Johnston has still earned the right to remain in the conversation.

"It’s been a lot of fun," he said. "I’ve had some great groups. Yeah, it’s been a lot of golf but I enjoy golf."

Who made the cut in the 2025 Evansville Men's City Tournament?

Blackard has a five-shot cushion heading into the third round. But the final weekend of this tournament has proven to never favor any player. Who else put themselves in a position to contend at Rollings Hills and ECC?

Daymian Rij is third at 8-under following a 67 at Helfrich. The Gibson Southern grad had four birdies and, more importantly, zero bogeys to move into the final group. First-round leader Wade Worthington (71) is seven shots back in fourth at 7-under. Reid Lorey (67), Troy Wagner (68) and Cameron Weyer (70) are in fifth at 6-under.

Mark Wehner, Luke Price, Hank Schreiber, Chase Emge and Caleb Wassmer round out the top 10 at 5-under. Below is the entire top 40 and ties who made the cut:

Peyton Blackard (-14); Luke Johnston (-9); Daymian Rij (-8); Wade Worthington (-7); Cameron Weyer, Troy Wagner, Reid Lorey (-6); Mark Wehner, Luke Price, Hank Schreiber, Chase Emge, Caleb Wassmer (-5); David Mills, Matt Monroe, Brayden Lamborne (-4); Kaden Gengelbach, Logan Osborne, Spencer Wagner (-3); Treston Short, Zach Thomas (-2); Blake Merrill, Jacob Fleming, Ryan Chandler, Cade Schiff (-1); Lucas Ray (E); Alex Cook (+1); Carson Cook, Chip Tiemann, Steven Blake Ruckman, Eric Brinker, Thomas Broshears, Trevor Wagner (+2); Brandon Moore, Layne Cunningham, Dave Turpin, Walker Beck, Evan Bonnell (+3); Isaac Rohleder, Alex Turner, Chad Houchin, Drew Cahill (+4).

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: What we learned from opening weekend of the Evansville City Tournament