Aug. 14, 2008
WHEATON, Ill. -
The final day of the 78th annual Illinois State Amateur Championship took place Thursday with 36 holes scheduled for play at Cantigny Golf Course. Tommy Bliefnick had a strong showing and finished in 5th place, while fellow teammate Joe Emerich finished 26th overall.
Bliefnick started the day with a bogey on the par-4 first hole, then strung together seven-straight pars before a bogey at the par-4 ninth hole, making the turn with a 2-over par 38. On the back nine, he birdied the par-4 12th but bogeyed the par-3 17th for an even par back nine and a 2-over par 74.
The Decatur, Ill., native had an up-and-down second round with four birdies and five bogeys, shooting a 1-over par 73. Bliefnick bogeyed the par-4 fourth, but recovered nicely with back-to-back birdies on the par-4 sixth and par-5 seventh hole, however bogeyed the ninth for an even-par 36.
On the back nine, the junior had birdies on the par-4 10th and par-5 14th but bogeys on the 13th, 15th, and 17th for a 37 and a 1-over par 73. Bliefnick finished the tournament at even-par, seven back from the winner, Zach Barlow, at 7-under par.
Emerich started his day on the back nine and had five pars, three bogeys and one double bogey for a 5-over par 41. The junior settled down and had seven pars on the front nine along with two bogies on the par-4 fourth and par-5 ninth holes, shooting a 7-over par 79.
The Palatine, Ill., native played steady golf with seven pars and two bogeys on the par-4 10th and par-3 17th, for a 2-over par 38. On the front nine, Emerich had four bogeys, four pars and a birdie on the par-4 sixth for a round of 5-over par 77.
Will Cullen, Jeff Kellen and Drew North did not make the cut after two rounds, and did not play in Thursday's third and final round.
