Realistically, Mitch Oard isn’t after 13, he’s after 131.
Having missed last year’s City Golf Tournament caused by a conflict with the Indiana State Amateur, Oard came back this year, as he always does, going after the Qualifying Tournament record set by Ike Martin back in 1993.
There’s been a few 133s and a 132 since then, but the mark stands. Oard, a three-time champ and a member of the tourney’s hall of fame, has the game to go after it rather than simply worrying about making the cut. No matter what seed he’d earn for match play, he’d be a tough out.
“That’s part of something I look forward to (each year) is trying to get that number,” Oard said. “He’s had that for a really long time.”
Oard started off qualifying with a 67 and came back in 70 on Sunday, June 28 at muggy Cascades, good for a 5-under 137 and a seven-stroke win over Logan Vernon, to lead the effort to see if anyone can quell Jason Bannister’s four-year reign in the Men’s Championship flight. It was Oard’s first Qualifier title since 2015
“It’s pretty awesome,” Oard said. “Just glad to be able to come out here and play well.”
He had no problems seeing things through after sleeping on a four-shot lead. Martin, a 13-time City champ, was no doubt relieved while glancing at Oard’s scorecard on the 18th hole.
“The only thing I wanted to get today was 131 or better,” Oard said. “And it didn’t happen. But it was good to come out on top today.
“Logan started out hot. I think might have had four birdies in a row there on the Pine. He just made a couple of mistakes and I stayed steady.”
Keeping it on the fairway is paying off these days as the steady rainfall has made the rough, well, tough. He made it through the Quarry in 3-under after a 38 on the Pine.
“It’s tough out here when you don’t hit a green,” Oard said. “The rough’s pretty thick. Chips and short game’s tough and I’m pretty rusty on that. I’m not practicing a whole lot. But if I can get it on the green and putt I’ll be all right.”
The field was in for a bit of surprise when they arrived on Sunday to find they were starting on the longer Pine. In effect, playing the course ‘backward’ from the usual set up. It made for some interesting finishes on the tricky par-3 No. 9 hole, as it did back in 2020 when the new fairways were being planted.
“It’s a little different,” Oard said. “But it’s just fairways and greens out here.”
The top 15 qualified for match play when it begins on Saturday, July 11.
Vernon was a distance second at 71-73—144 while dealing with an injured back and breaking in a new driver this week.
“It was pretty tough,” Vernon said. “I tried to take a little bit of a break just to kind of rest up a little bit. But yeah, it was fun. I had a fun two rounds and feel like I played decent.”
Two Bloomington North golfers, Ryan Decker and Alex Freund, moved up the charts in the second round.
Decker, a rising sophomore, came back with an even-par 71 for a 145 to take third. He actually had more birdies in his first round 74, but scrambled better in Round 2, he said. It sets up an interesting opening round matchup with the oldest member of the field, Tim Gillespie, who is Senior eligible, having won the 2024 title, but wanted a crack at the Men’s field and qualified 13th.
Freund went from a 79 to a 72 to finish at 151 and take fifth behind Tyler Jordan (77-72—149). Sam Wise had a first-round 71 but fell to 80 and sixth at 151.
Zayne Dwigans (160) grabbed the last spot by one shot over Robert Wise and Jake Cunningham.
Bannister is the automatic No. 1 seed as the defending champ.
One last go in Seniors for EuDaly
Gary EuDaly doesn’t plan to go quietly.
Sure, at 67 he’s eligible to play in the Super Seniors, but he’s after one last Senior title. Like Oard, EuDaly has a specific number in mind: 5.
There’s a three-way tie at four for most Senior titles ever between EuDaly, George Finley and Bill Day. EuDaly’s last win came in 2020, with a runner-up finish in 2023.
“You just never know in this game,” EuDaly said. “I’m 67 and should be in the Super Seniors, but I don’t want to go to the Super Seniors and think, ‘If I had just stayed one more year, I could have got the fifth. I was just hoping to qualify. I’d never dreamt I’d medal.”
EuDaly saves his best for last, shooting 74-71—145, with the 71 giving him the tiebreaker over Brian Muehlhaus and Matt Till, who each shot 145s as well, but had higher second-round scores. It’s EuDaly’s fifth Senior qualifier title (most all time) and third in five years.
“Honestly, I struck the ball equally well both days, I just made more putts today,” EuDaly said. “I’ve been driving it really, really, really straight and hitting the hybrids pretty well. For me anymore, it just comes down to the putting. I either make them, or I don’t.”
Muehlhaus (72-73) didn’t know it, but he had the title in hand on the last hole, but sent his first two tee shots out of bounds on Quarry No. 9, letting EuDaly sneak in. Till was the first-round leader with a 69 and shot a 76 to close. EuDaly found ways to keep up with his younger foes.
“When you’re playing guys like Brian, he’s almost driving three or four of the par-4s, my wedge has to be better than his pitching,” EuDaly said. “My pitching has to be better than his chipping, because he’s so far out there. I can’t out-hit them, so I have to out-straight ’em.”
Brad Leach was fourth at 152 and Jim Alexander fifth at 156.
Chad Osborne will be back as the top seed to defend his title and faces Ken Wilson, who grabbed the 15th and last spot in the field.
Neubecker claims another title
Dan Neubecker has been a top contender for the past five years in the Super Senior Championship flight and that run will continue after his 70-72—142 earned a one-shot win over Rory Brown (71-72), with another former champ Bob Hasty, back in the field this year, shooting 71-73—144 in a tight finish.
“It was a struggle to get the ball in the hole today,” Neubecker said. “I didn’t make a birdie until 17. Fortunately, Rory doubled that hole, otherwise, he was right there with me.
“I was rolling it good, but just lip out, burning the edges all day long. I hope that means they’re coming later.”
Neubecker has made the finals three years in a row (falling to Ike Martin in last year’s finals, 2 and 1) and looks on pace to make it four, something last done by the late Rick Miracle in 2016-19.
“Generally, I don’t beat myself,” Neubecker said. “I’m pretty consistent. Days when my putts go in, I score a lot better.”
Joe Beane catapulted himself into fourth with a 1-under 70 and a 149 total to tie with Mike Vernon (73-76—149) to round out the top five.
Still time to sign up
There’s still time to sign up for the regular, Junior and Women’s flights with the deadline for registration and getting in a qualifying round at Cascades set for July 1. The tournament is open to all golfers from Monroe and adjoining counties.
The Junior and Women’s flights will need at least four players to hold the event.
Entry fee is $25 but free for juniors.
BLOOMINGTON CITY QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
Top 15 in each field qualify for Championship Flights
MEN’S — Mitch Oard 67-70—137; Logan Vernon 71-73—144; Ryan Decker 74-71—145; Tyler Jordan 77-72—149; Alec Freund 79-72—151; Sam Wise 71-80—151; Daniel Melwid 75-78—153; Brayden Bunger 73-80—153; Tony Arnett 74-81—155; Jeff Nelson 82-75—157; Zach Sykes 80-77—157; Jim Southern 77-81—158; Tim Gillespie 78-80—158; Brad Scroggins 76-82—158; Zayne Dwigans 79-81—160. Did not qualify: Robert Wise 84-77—161; Jake Cunningham 78-83—161; Young Oh 85-82—167; James Richardson 87-81—168; Dayton Gobert 92-78—170; Bryan Fyalkowski 86-84—170; Gerald Sloan 88-83—171; Jackson Storm 86-85—171; Jeremy Wise 82-90—172.
SENIORS — Gary EuDaly 74-71—145; Brian Muehlhaus 72-73—145; Matt Till 69-76—145; Brad Leach 76-76—152; Jim Alexander 76-80—156; Chris Stedman 79-78—157; Lance Ringler 74-83—157; Charles Combs 78-81—159; Chuck Vernon 80-80—160; Bill Kelson 81-80—161; Mike Bruce 83-86—169; Jason Storm 90-82—172; Ross Grimes 86-86—172; Thomas Gillespie 82-90—172; Ken Wilson 83-91—174. Did not qualify: Dan Smith 92-85—177; Brian Wise 92-86—178; Ed Huff 91-90—181.
SUPER SENIORS — Dan Neubecker 70-72—142; Rory Brown 71-72—143; Bob Hasty 71-73—144; Joe Beane 79-70—149; Mike Vernon 73-76—149; John Kaser 77-75—152; Steve Hinds 78-76—154; Burke Geene 75-79—154; David Devitt 80-77—157; Gary Blackwell 73-84—157; Robin Harper 76-82—158; Paul Toddy 83-79—162; Mike Thomas 80-82—162; Marty Hutsell 81-88—169; Phil McCann 87-87—174. Did not qualify: Brian Werth 87-90—177; Brett Daniels 87-93—180; Sam Janaraweragul 89-95—184; Jan Bond 88-97—185.
CITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
First-round pairings (Saturday, July 11)
MEN’S
[1] Jason Bannister vs. [16] Zayne Dwigans; [8] Daniel Melwid vs. [9] Brayden Bunger; [4] Ryan Decker vs. [13] Tim Gillespie. [5] Tyler Jordan vs. [12] Zach Sykes.
[2] Mitch Oard vs. [15] Brad Scroggins; [7] Sam Wise vs. [10] Tony Arnett. [3] Logan Vernon vs. [14] Jim Southern; [6] Alec Freund vs. [11] Jeff Nelson.
SENIORS
[1] Chad Osborne vs. [16] Ken Wilson; [8] Lance Ringler vs. [9] Charles Combs. [4] Matt Till vs. [13] Jason Storm; [5] Brad Leach vs. [12] Mike Bruce.
[2] Gary EuDaly vs. [15] Thomas Gillespie; [7] Chris Stedman vs. [10] Chuck Vernon. [3] Brian Muehlhaus vs. [14] Ross Grimes; [6] Jim Alexander vs. [11] Bill Kelson.
SUPER SENIORS
[1] Ike Martin vs. [16] Phil McCann; [8] Steve Hinds vs. [9] Burke Geene. [4] Bob Hasty vs. [13] Paul Toddy; [5] Joe Beane vs. [12] Robin Harper.
[2] Dan Neubecker vs. [15} Marty Hutsell; [7] John Kaser vs. [10] David Devitt; [3[ Rory Brown vs. [14] Mike Thomas; [6] Mike Vernon vs. [11] Gary Blackwell.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Record is safe, but Mitch Oard back on top at City Golf Qualifier
Reporting by Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
