The grass is always greener on their side of the fence.
Jason Bannister and Brad Scroggins practically live on the golf course, though it’s working more than playing these days. Bannister keeps things humming at Rolling Meadows under superintendent Steve Stanger while Scroggins is the man in charge of the grass at Cascades, site of this weekend’s City Golf Tournament finals.
“This course sets up for match play really well,” Bannister said. “Brad’s got the golf course in fantastic condition, so huge props to him.”
Props, but no giving in to the other.
It’s their chance to ‘mow’ down the other as Bannister seeks a rare fourth straight title while the 12th seeded Scroggins looks to pull another big upset after his first run to the Men’s Championship flight final four. They’ll go head-to-head when the semifinals tee off at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 12.
“I got a bunch of texts (Saturday night), ‘Congrats on the win,'” Scroggins said. “Gotta keep grinding representing Cascades. Me, Brad (McLaughlin) and Daniel (Melwid) are kind of representing (Cascades). It’s fun because Jason works at Meadows, and he comes over here and it’s his tournament.
“His name’s on it right now, three in row, so let’s go at that guy. I’m looking forward to it, but it’s the same mentality I’ve had every time. I’m playing the better seed; I’m Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Purdue.”
The other semi pits two guys who have never been this far but were supposed to be this year in No. 2 Robert Wise and No. 3 Simon Deliyannis. A 36-hole final is set for Sunday, also at 7:30. Scroggins would be thrilled to be part another long day on his home course.
“I work a lot out here,” Scroggins said. “I knew where my game was. I play with these guys a lot and just have fun. So come out here and whatever happened, have fun. I was going to take it on chin if I lost, and if I won, I was going to do it humbly.”
At the same time, he got excited after a couple of big shots he needed to post a 2 and 1 win in his opener and a 1 up win in the quarterfinals over Owen Valley’s Jake Cunningham.
“That chip in (Saturday) on 5 and the chip in on 14 (Sunday) really just, I was actin’ the fool,” Scroggins said. “I’m like, ‘All right let’s go. Recharge.’ Because I hit a wall there. It’s hot. We’re used to the heat, but seven days in a row working and then coming out here, it was a mental challenge.”
Bannister will present another with his persistent consistency. He seldom hands a hole to his opponent; they have to be taken from him. He’s found the sweet spot between going after wins and birdies and not taking silly chances to do so.
“It’s picking a conservative target and putting an aggressive swing on it,” Bannister said. “Just knowing when I can kind of push the envelope a little bit and when it’s time to put one in the fairway and apply pressure. That’s kind of the mindset.”
That almost forces Scroggins into a position to keep things as clean as possible.
“I’m keeping the driver in play more,” he said. “At one time, it was just left, left, left. I had a few of them (Sunday), but thankfully, I hit a fence and some other things, which helped keep it in play. I’ll never take down those fences.”
The short game is where Bannister would like to see improvement on his end, knowing the margins get narrower as the tourney goes on.
“I need to get the putter to heat up a little bit more, but we’re working on it,” Bannister said.
In 97 years, no one besides 11-time champ Phil Talbot — back when wood balls were in play and steel shafted clubs were a novelty — has won more than three straight match play titles in the City Tournament. That’s where Bannister is headed, but staying in the moment this weekend is the only way he’ll get there.
“I really like the history of this tournament, and since I’ve been playing it, I’ve learned a lot more about it,” Bannister said. “Being able to have the opportunity to be a part of it is pretty special.”
Surprise winner ahead in Seniors
The numbers add up, to 34. That’s the combination of seeds left in the Senior Championship flight with only one former champ left.
That would be seventh seed Matt Till, who has been in this position before. Till was a sixth seed when he made a run to the title in 2022, the highest since Ike Martin found a way as the 13th seed in 2019, when the second round of the City Qualifier was rained out like it was this year.
Till’s semifinal opponent is Charles Osborne, a 14th seed in his first Championship flight final four.
Meanwhile, fourth-seed Darren Fuller is playing on the final weekend for the first time as well, but he’s been on a roll, winning his opener 5 and 4 and the quarterfinal 6 and 5. He takes on No. 9 Chad Osborne, who made to three final fours on the Men’s side in 2013, ’14 and ’19.
The Osborne twins’ objective is to force their second City Tournament meeting. Chad knocked out Charles in the first round in 2019, 3 and 2.
They’ll tee off at 7:40 with a 36-hole final awaiting on Sunday.
Super Seniors royalty
It’s an all-star field of former champions in the 7:50 slot led by 12-time winner Ike Martin, who last won the division in 2021. He advanced quickly with a 5 and 4 win last week in the quarterfinals.
His opponent is Rory Brown, who has been on a tear lately, making it to three straight finals, winning his first City Championship flight titles in 2022 and ’23. Martin had a 68 in qualifying while Brown shot a 69 and followed with wins of 5 and 3 and 3 and 2.
Still around to defend his title is Dan Neubecker, who survived a scare in his opener against Mike Vernon and is seeking a third straight appearance in the finals. Fifth seed Dick Meacham stands in the way. He was a Senior champ in 2014.
The finals on Sunday will be only 18 holes.
Women’s bracket is back
Missy Ringler has qualified for every Women’s final that has taken place since 2011, and she’ll be the favorite as the top seed again this time when the foursome tees off at 9:40.
There has been just one Women’s bracket (in 2019) in the past seven years due to lack of interest as a rule was instituted there must be at least four entrants to hold the competition.
Ringler will start off against North golfer Kate Johnson, while Lisa Wise takes on another Cougar, Mira Bruce.
BLOOMINGTON CITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
Saturday tee times
PHIL TALBOT MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:30 a.m.: [1] Jason Bannister vs. [12] Brad Scroggins; [2] Robert Wise vs. [3] Simon Deliyannis.
PAUL GRAY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:40 a.m.: [4] Darren Fuller vs. [9] Chad Osborne; [7] Matt Till vs. [14] Charles Osborne.
ROSS RUSH SUPER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP, 7:50 a.m.: [1] Dan Neubecker vs. [5] Dick Meacham; [2] Ike Martin vs. [3] Rory Brown.
MEN’S REGULAR — First flight, 8:00 a.m.: [4] JT Storm vs. [8] Carter Cheaney; [2] Jesse Hernandez vs. [3] Andrew Conder. Second flight, 8:10: [1] Alex Bruce vs. [4] Sam Wise; [6] Henry Ripley vs. [7] Jeremy Wise. Third flight, 8:20: [1] James Richardson vs. [5] Young Oh; [2] Chris Stedman vs. [3] Bryan Fyalkowski. Fourth flight, 8:30: [1] Clayton Spinks vs. [4] Bobby Duvall; [2] Matt Wilson vs. [6] Jarrett Wise.
SENIOR REGULAR — First flight, 8:50 a.m.: [1] Mike Bruce vs. [5] Jay Freund; [2] Brad Leach vs. [3] Rick Scheid. Second flight, 9:00: [1] Barry King vs. [4] Matt Grubb; [2] Jon Hunt vs. [6] Mike Vernon, Jr.
SUPER SENIOR REGULAR — First flight, 9:10 a.m.: [1] Steve McDonald vs. [5] Steve Sims; [2] Mike Thomas vs. [6] Jim Shea. Second flight, 9:20: [1] Gary Walters vs. [5] Jan Bond; [2] Brian Werth vs. [6] Charlie Gill. Third flight, 9:30: [1] Steve Englert vs. [4] Mike Smith; [2] Tom Dukes vs. [3] Rickey Rogers.
WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP, 9:40 a.m.: [1] Missy Ringler vs. [4] Kate Johnson; [2] Lisa Wise vs. [3] Mira Bruce.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: City Golf finals: Underdog Brad Scroggins ready to defend his turf in Men’s semifinals
Reporting by Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
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