WHITTINGTON -- Illinois Central College, still seeking its first win in its 10th tournament of the fall campaign, packed four players into the top six on Thursday’s leader board and will take a five-stroke advantage into the final 18 holes of the 14th annual Rend Lake College Invitational.
The frontrunners from East Peoria got 74s from Jon Manock (37-37) and Erik Rios (38-36) and 75s from Justin McKinley (38-37) and Nathan Brown (40-35) en route to their four-player composite of 298 over the par-72 Rend Lake Golf Course layout on a crisp day.
Second, behind the 37-36--73 score of freshman co-leader Justin Fetcho, is defending champion John A. Logan, always a contender but another non-winner to date. The Vols trail at 303, with Parkland College third at 311.
For the first time in recent memory, the host Warriors will not be playing in the final threesomes on Friday following what Coach Dave Smith described as a "terrible" 312, tied for fourth with Southwestern Illinois College in a 12-team field.
Two members of RLC’s second entry fired 77s, the same as the two best scorecards returned by A-Team Warrior participants, who have won three events in recent weeks and finished second twice.
"That’s about 20 shots over our average in qualifying on our home course. That’s terrible," admitted Smith, while conceding nothing down 14 with 18 holes remaining. "We could still turn it around. We’ve done it before."
Freshman Charlie Throgmorton (Paducah, KY / Heath High School) recorded a 38-39--77 and sophomore David Killion (Bloomington, IN / North) rallied for his 40-37--77 to lead the home squad. Two other freshmen completed the scoring for Rend Lake College’s best -- John Major (Hillsboro) posted nines of 39-39--78 and John Singleton (Liverpool, England) registered 38-42--80 -- with the 44-37--81 from freshman Brian Kuddes (Alton / Senior) the throwaway score.
Fetcho shares the overall lead with SWIC’s Kyle Lickenbrock, who carded 36-37--73. Fetcho was complemented by Logan teammates Sean McNemar at 37-39--76, Caleb Hughes at 37-40--77 and Tucker Bradshaw at 40-37--77. Vol Ben Brummit did not figure in the scoring with his 41-38--79.
The RLC "B" squad checked in at 321, good for seventh with only Danville Area (314) between them and their teammates. Sophomore Blaith Belangee (Fairfield) and freshman Cory Smith (Benton) tied with 77s, at 40-37 and 41-36, respectively. Freshman Derek McCammack had a 41-42--83, soph Hank Roan (West Frankfort) was at 43-41--84 and freshman Kyle Gehrig (Highland) was at 49-46--95.
Rend Lake College has won its tourney four times -- most recently in 2000 -- and Logan has two RLC Invite titles -- the first in 1990 and the most recent, in 2002.
The tournament is the final tuneup for the Region XXIV Tournament next week which will determine next spring’s qualifiers for the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II National Championships. Rend Lake College had captured eight straight Region XXIV crowns until Logan claimed the last two.
The Warriors have finished as high as second and third in the D-II Finals. Logan was fifth a year ago.
Lock Haven Golf Club in Alton will be the site for the regional showdown. The top two teams advance from the downstate regional to next spring’s NJCAA D-II Finals.
14th Annual REND LAKE COLLEGE INVITATIONAL
Rend Lake Golf Course ~ Whittington, IL / Par 72
Thursday-Friday, October 2-3
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Illinois Central College 298
2. John A. Logan College 303
3. Parkland College 311
4. REND LAKE COLLEGE 312
Southwestern Illinois College 312
6. Danville Area Community College 314
7. REND LAKE COLLEGE “B” 321
8. Kaskaskia College 322
9. Lincoln College 326
10. Lewis & Clark Community College 331
11. Springfield College 333
12. John Wood Community College 336
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1. Kyle Lickenbrock (SWIC) 36-37--73
Justin Fetcho (JALC) 37-36--73
3. Jon Manock (ICC) 37-37--74
Erik Rios (ICC) 38-36--74
5. Justin McKinley (ICC) 38-37--75
Nathan Brown (ICC) 40-35--75
REND LAKE COLLEGE INDIVIDUALS
Charlie Throgmorton, Fr. 38-39--77
David Killion, So. 40-37--77
John Major, Fr. 39-39--78
John Singleton, Fr. 38-42--80
Brian Kuddes, Fr. 44-37--81
REND LAKE COLLEGE “B” INDIVIDUALS
Blaith Belangee, So. 40-37--77
Cory Smith, Fr. 41-36--77
Derek McCammack, Fr. 41-42--83
Hank Roan, So. 43-41--84
Kyle Gehrig, Fr. 49-46--95
JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE INDIVIDUALS
1. Justin Fetchko, Fr. 37-36--73
Sean McNemar, So. 37-39--76
Caleb Hughes, Fr. 37-40--77
Tucker Bradshaw, So. 40-37--77
Ben Brumitt, So. 41-38--79