Against thewind BY BILL STEELE PHOTOS BY PETER WAGNER

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1 Against thewind Northwestern grad T.C. Ford, 22, battled a stiff wind, the inspired play of Hinsdale s Rob Grube AND a final-round charge by defending champ Todd Mitchell to take the 2004 Illinois State Amateur title at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana. BY BILL STEELE PHOTOS BY PETER WAGNER In tournament golf, where every stroke counts, there is perhaps no more fascinating curiosity than watching two evenly matched golfers paired together in the final group separate themselves from the field and veer off into match play. The demands of medal play suddenly become more personal, and from then on it becomes a contest of will. This year s Illinois State Amateur Championship, won by T.C. Ford of Evanston in a playoff against Rob Grube of Hinsdale, provided just such a confrontation. On the last day of the 72-hole event, held August 9-12 at the windswept Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana, both players were in the final pairing at 2-under after posting 71 and 69 the first two rounds. Their nearest competitor, Steven Ratay of Arlington Heights, was two shots back. But it didn t matter. From that moment on, it became a two-man tournament. Except for a dramatic last-minute charge by Todd Mitchell, the defending champion, Ford and Grube were never seriously challenged. Over their grueling 36-hole final round, which included a three-hole playoff in climate conditions more suitable for duck hunting than golf, they matched each other shot for shot in a duel that had all the intensity of a chess match. When the match was over, Ford a 22-year-old Northwestern University product who caddies at North Shore Country Club in Glenview had proven himself king of Stone Creek, and the master of his golfing castles. I always knew that I could do it, said Ford after receiving his trophy from the CDGA. I finally proved to myself I could handle the pressure when it counted the most. Ford s win may not have surprised anyone, especially in a field overloaded with young talent, but this year a considerable amount of pre-tournament anticipation surrounded Bloomington native Mitchell, 26, who was seeking a threepeat after winning at Cantigny Golf Club in 2002 and last year at Piper Glen Golf Club in Springfield. No player has ever won three Illinois State Amateurs in a row, and Stone Creek seemed a perfect fit for a big hitter like Mitchell. With wide open fairways and three long par 5s reachable in two, it bode well for him to dominate once again. When Mitchell jumped out of the box with a 3-under opening round of 68, the low score on a windy day, a historic finish seemed palpable. Only five other players had managed to break par, and Mitchell appeared to have decoded Stone Creek s greens, which were confounding most of the field. The problem wasn t their severity, but the wind. During the second round, gusts were measured up to 25 mph. Players found that on some holes, putts went faster uphill with the wind than downhill against the wind. For slow greens, they re hard to putt on, said one player who admitted threeputting from six feet three times during his second round. With the wind blowing in from the northwest, nearly every hole seemed against the wind or quartered by it, making club selection difficult. Many players found it hard to get the ball close to the hole. Wind was the factor in this State Am, said Jay Dempsey of Glencoe, last year s runner-up who finished tied for 13th at Stone Creek with a 6-over total of 290. It s the great equalizer on this course. Dempsey dug himself a hole with an opening round 78 and couldn t get out of it. He said he tried to fight the wind rather than ride it, and put guide swings on the ball. It s one of those courses that if you don t hit it solid, you re in trouble. Another player who battled the wind was Mitchell, who shot a disastrous 78 in his second round. Trying to protect his lead, he played not to give it away, rather 20 CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER

2 Windy conditions did not hinder champion T.C. Ford at the 2004 Illinois State Amateur. JULY/ AUGUST

eek GC Urbana, IL Par 71: 7,090 Yards FINISH PLAYER (HOMETOWN) 1-2-3-4 TOTAL 1 T.C. Ford* (Evanston) 69-71-70-72 282 Rob Grube* (Hinsdale) 71-69-70-72 282 3 Todd Mitchell* (Bloomington) 68-78-73-64 283 4 Steven Ratay* (Arlington Heights) 69-73-73-70 285 T5 B.

3 2004 Illinois State Amateur Championship August 9-12, 2004 Stone Creek GC Urbana, IL Par 71: 7,090 Yards FINISH PLAYER (HOMETOWN) TOTAL 1 T.C. Ford* (Evanston) Rob Grube* (Hinsdale) Todd Mitchell* (Bloomington) Steven Ratay* (Arlington Heights) T5 B.W. Bruce* (Marion) T5 Brian Carroll* (Crystal Lake) T5 Garrett Chaussard* (Champaign) T8 Jamie Hogan* (Rockford) T8 Matt Maskel* (Morris) T8 Kyle Vasel* (Greenville) T11 Steve Sawtell* (Northfield) T11 Denny Bull* (Fairbury) T13 Joe Demory* (Sterling) T13 Jay Dempsey* (Glencoe) T13 Ben Hermes* (Dixon) T13 Dave Ryan* (Springfield) T17 Bob Christensen (Aurora) T17 Michael Calkin (St. Charles) T17 Andy Pope (Glen Ellyn) T20 Kyle Hosick (Carmi) T20 Mark Esposito (Schaumburg) T22 Tim Sheppard (East Peoria) T22 Anthony Gillick (Arlington Heights) T22 Andy Gabelman (Barrington) T22 Brad Marek (Arlington Heights) T22 Ethan Roush (Decatur) T22 Bryan Rusin (Aurora) T28 John Finnin (Crete) T28 Craig McDonnell (Evergreen Park) T30 Brian Streeter (Chicago) T30 Buddy Wilkins (Glen Ellyn) T30 Tom Portner (Mt. Vernon) T30 Rob Bruce (River Forest) T34 Matt Miller (Bloomington) T34 Mike Henry (Bloomington) Andrew Shiels (Rockford) Matt Smith (Rockford) John Rueth (Waukegan) Tim Streng (Arlington Heights) Ed Whitaker (Pekin) Zac Zedrick (Danville) Ford won three-hole, total-score playoff (Ford, 10; Grube, 11). *Earned exemption into 2005 Illinois State Amateur. 22 CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER

than aggressive, and consequently made two double-bogeys and four bogeys. By the end of Wednesday s second round, a survival mentality had settled over the field.

But on Thursday morning, the wind uncharacteristically stopped blowing, and for awhile Stone Creek was vulnerable.

But he faltered when he reached the par-4 12th hole, making double-bogey. He hit his tee shot under one of the few trees on the course, and stumbled home with a 2-over 73.

1l, a 556- yard par 5, they began to distance themselves from the pack. Both birdied the hole to go 3-under, and on the par-4 14th, Ford went 1-up with another birdie.

4 than aggressive, and consequently made two double-bogeys and four bogeys. By the end of Wednesday s second round, a survival mentality had settled over the field. Only two players Ford and Grube were still under par. The expectation was that an even-par score would win. But on Thursday morning, the wind uncharacteristically stopped blowing, and for awhile Stone Creek was vulnerable. Mitchell seized the opportunity early, making three birdies on the front nine of his third round to get within six shots of Grube and Ford. But he faltered when he reached the par-4 12th hole, making double-bogey. He hit his tee shot under one of the few trees on the course, and stumbled home with a 2-over 73. Mitchell appeared to have squandered any chance of winning his third consecutive State Amateur. Meanwhile, Ford and Grube were playing consistent, steady golf. When they arrived at no. 1l, a 556- yard par 5, they began to distance themselves from the pack. Both birdied the hole to go 3-under, and on the par-4 14th, Ford went 1-up with another birdie. Both players went on to finish their rounds with 70 to stay tied at the top of a leaderboard that remained frozen. Kyle Vasel of Greenville was Ford and Grube s nearest challenger at even par, three shots back. At first glance, Grube and Ford appear almost interchangeable, a pair of young cookie-cutter golfers with college logos on their bags. Every year there s a new batch. But their golf games don t lie. At the ages of 19 and 22, respectively, they play at a level only a notch or two below many Tour players. Grube, who is entering his freshman year at Stanford University on a golf scholarship, possesses a superb golf swing. He wastes little time setting up to the ball, and then fires his right shoulder firmly through impact. The result is low, penetrating ball flight ideal for scoring in the wind. Ford, on the other hand, goes through a well-practiced pre-shot routine, bumping the club back very slowly on his takeaway, helping him sustain a smooth tempo throughout his swing. Despite their contrasting styles, both players maneuvered their golf balls Todd Mitchell, Illinois State Am champion, attempts to defend his title alongside caddie/father, Elston. around Stone Creek s bunker-studded layout nearly the same. Hole after hole, they found themselves in similar positions and predicaments. A typical example was the seventh hole, which played 175 yards in the final round. Both missed the green left. SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER

Ford and gallery watch as Rob Grube takes the tee during the playoff. Grube s lie was in the bunker, and Ford was just outside him in the rough.

When Ford and Grube reached the back nine, it appeared that no one in the field would catch them. Enter Todd Mitchell.

Starting his afternoon round six strokes behind Grube and Ford, he birdied three of the last four holes to shoot a course record-tying 7-under 64 and finish at 1-under.

Ford and Grube strode to the 18th green tied at 2-under, and both made their pars to force a threehole aggregate playoff as Mitchell stood greenside.

On the first playoff hole, Ford sank an uphill eight-footer to make birdie, and Grube missed his 18-foot downhill putt. Both players hit wayward drives on the next hole, but made par.

After his win, Ford was both elated and relieved, and took his victory as a sign that he is ready to take the leap to golf s highest level: the PGA Tour.

5 Ford and gallery watch as Rob Grube takes the tee during the playoff. Grube s lie was in the bunker, and Ford was just outside him in the rough. Both had little green to work with, yet managed to hit lovely, delicate shots with spin to within five feet to save par. On they went. When Ford and Grube reached the back nine, it appeared that no one in the field would catch them. Enter Todd Mitchell. Just when he needed it, he summoned his best golf, and nearly pulled off a miracle. Starting his afternoon round six strokes behind Grube and Ford, he birdied three of the last four holes to shoot a course record-tying 7-under 64 and finish at 1-under. Brian Carroll of Crystal Lake also shot 64 in the afternoon. But it was not to be. Ford and Grube strode to the 18th green tied at 2-under, and both made their pars to force a threehole aggregate playoff as Mitchell stood greenside. The last State Am playoff took place in 1982, when Jerry Haas won at the Country Club of Peoria. I have no regrets, said Mitchell afterwards. I learned a lot from this tournament. On the first playoff hole, Ford sank an uphill eight-footer to make birdie, and Grube missed his 18-foot downhill putt. Both players hit wayward drives on the next hole, but made par. Tension mounted on the final hole, the long par-3 third, but Grube could not best Ford, who hit a solid 3-iron into the wind and made par. The tournament was over. After his win, Ford was both elated and relieved, and took his victory as a sign that he is ready to take the leap to golf s highest level: the PGA Tour. I think the playoff happened for a reason, Ford said. I did everything I wanted to do under pressure. It definitely reaffirmed my feeling that I can play at that level. Ford says he would like to attend Q-School OPERATED BY With breathtaking lakefront views like this, it s easy to see what makes Lake Lawn Resort one of the Midwest s premiere lakeside golf destinations. Just over an hour s drive from Chicagoland, the resort highlights an 18-hole course fringed by Lake Delavan s beautiful shores and dense forests. And with a wide variety of spacious rooms, lofts and suites, you ll soon see why serious golfers return year after year to Lake Lawn Resort. Group outings are always outstanding, with a knowledgeable and courteous staff to assist you. Call today for groups up to 150. Delavan, Wisconsin lakelawnresort.com LAKE or your travel professional 24 CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER

C. is the hardest-working player I ve ever worked with, says Pat Goss, Northwestern s golf coach. He has a true underlying desire to be a great player. He puts in the effort to match it.

6 in the fall if he can raise the money, and hopes he can find a sponsor in the meantime. Only persistence and constant application will tell if Ford has what it takes to make it on Tour, but according to many who know him, his perseverance is what sets him apart from his peers. By far, T.C. is the hardest-working player I ve ever worked with, says Pat Goss, Northwestern s golf coach. He has a true underlying desire to be a great player. He puts in the effort to match it. Ford, a former Scholar All-American who graduated from Northwestern in the spring, says he loves to practice. So much so that he makes little distinction between new balls and practice balls. At the State Amateur, he arrived with a shag bag that had only 10 balls, all with Northwestern logos on them. These balls he played in tournament. He lost four of them. I always kind of use balls until they die, he said with a sheepish grin. That s dedication. Bill Steele is a freelance writer from Urbana who has covered golf topics for a variety of regional and national golf publications. Ford and Grube walk down the first fairway at Stone Creek. SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER

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