The momentum dramatically shifted against Blaine Buente going into the final hole of the Men's City golf tournament at Piper Glen Golf Club on Sunday.
No lead is ever safe.
Blaine Buente withstood Tyler Link’s late charge to escape with his second Men’s City golf title at Piper Glen Golf Club on Sunday. He previously won the tournament in 2022.
He shot 2-over 74 in the final round to ultimately finish with a four-day 6-under 282 total.
Buente had a four-stroke lead with three holes remaining until Link pared the deficit down to one with two straight birdies before reaching the par-4 No. 18 tee.
Buente’s tap-in bogey cemented a two-stroke victory after Link’s approach shot went awry, however.
“I felt like I played pretty well for the majority of the day,” said Buente, who was 1-under through the first nine. “Down the stretch it becomes a bit of a mental game and I definitely didn’t have that.
“I definitely didn’t play my best and I think Tyler played like he deserved to win today. That’s golf sometimes. I’ve been on the losing end of it and I’ve been on this end of it. It’s nice to come out on top. A win’s a win I guess.”
The 2017 Millikin University graduate surged ahead by six strokes after the first two rounds at Bunn and Lincoln Greens, shooting 6-under 66 in both rounds. He approached the final day ahead by three strokes over the runner-up Link and Tom Kucek.
Defending champion Peyton Woods and Bobby Sobieski tied for third place with a 2-under 286 total. Sean Berberet shot even-par for fifth place.
“It was more difficult this time around,” Buente said of his second title. “Honestly, I don’t play with the lead very well. I think coming from behind is a little bit easier. You can play aggressive and it was definitely a challenge to hold such a big lead because you want to kind of play conservative. But at the same time, there’s guys capable catching you out here if you make a few mistakes and that’s kind of what happened.”
Josie Lowder won the Women’s City tournament in June. She nicked defending five-time champion Karlie Schnepp by one stroke, ending with a 5-over 149 total at Bunn and Lincoln Greens.
The 2003 Petersburg PORTA graduate, who won the IHSA girls golf state title in 2001, previously won three consecutive Women’s City titles from 2004 to 2006.
Here’s a look at past Men’s and Women’s City champions:
Past Men’s City champions
- 2025 — Blaine Buente
- 2024 — Peyton Woods
- 2023 — Dain Richie
- 2022 — Blaine Buente
- 2021 — Jake Erickson
- 2020 — Jake Erickson
- 2019 — Scott Belcher
- 2018 — Ed Mabie
- 2017 — Jake Erickson
- 2016 — Jake Erickson
- 2015 — Jake Erickson
- 2014 — Josh Edison
- 2013 — Jake Erickson
- 2012 — Jake Erickson
- 2011 — Scott Teague
- 2010 — Dave Ryan
- 2009 — Tyler Link
- 2008 — Scott Belcher
- 2007 — Scott Teague
- 2006 — Scott Teague
- 2005 — Scott Teague
- 2004 — Brian Anderson
- 2003 — Brian Anderson
- 2002 — Dale Blankenship
- 2001 — Brian Anderson
- 2000 — Dave Ryan
- 1999 — Mark Beck
- 1998 — Jimmy Collins
- 1997 — Dale Blankenship
- 1996 — Dennis Duke
- 1995 — Rick Ciotti
- 1994 — Scott Teague
- 1993 — Rick Ciotti
- 1992 — George Logan
- 1991 — Rick Ciotti
- 1990 — Tony Saputo
- 1989 — Jerry Thomas
- 1988 — Dave Ward
- 1987 — Bill Shafer
- 1986 — Olie Fosdyck
- 1985 — Bill Shafer
- 1984 — J.C. Anderson
- 1983 — J.C. Anderson
- 1982 — J.C. Anderson
- 1981 — Jerry Thomas
- 1980 — Mark Hofstetter
- 1979 — Bret Voisin
- 1978 — Lance Morrison
- 1977 — Mark Hofstetter
- 1976 — Rick Haegele
- 1975 — John Phillips
- 1974 — Steve Taylor
- 1973 — John Phillips
- 1972 — Vito Saputo
- 1971 — Norm Rodier
- 1970 — Jerry Thomas
- 1969 — Dave Hazlett
- 1968 — John Phillips
- 1967 — Bill Carson
- 1966 — John Phillips
- 1965 — Norm Rodier
- 1964 — Bill Carson
- 1963 — Norm Rodier
- 1962 — Dale Schofield
- 1961 — Dale Schofield
- 1960 — Dale Schofield
- 1959 — Dale Schofield
- 1958 — Dale Schofield
- 1957 — Bobby Charlton
- 1956 — Jim Townsend
- 1955 — Bobby Charlton
- 1954 — Jack Coyle
- 1953 — Jack Coyle
- 1952 — Johnny Knight
- 1951 — Johnny Knight
- 1950 — Johnny Knight
- 1949 — Bobby Charlton
- 1948 — Jack Coyle
- 1947 — Bobby Charlton
- 1946 — Noonie Pease
- 1945 — Noonie Pease
- 1944 — Eddie Charlton
- 1943 — Eddie Charlton
- 1942 — Bill McKenzie
- 1941 — Bobby Charlton
- 1940 — Bill McKenzie
- 1939 — Kearin Slowe
- 1938 — Ray Whipple
- 1937 — Bobby Charlton
- 1936 — John Dipple
- 1935 — Eddie Charlton
- 1934 — Bud Maddox
- 1933 — Noonie Pease
- 1932 — Eddie Charlton
- 1931 — John Watson
- 1930 — Noah Dixon
- 1929 — Les Whipple
- 1928 — Eddie Charlton
- 1927 — Noah Dixon
- 1926 — Eddie Charlton
- 1925 — George Bunn Jr.
- 1924 — Noah Dixon
- 1923 — Douglas Cadawallader
- 1922 — Noah Dixon
- 1921 — Douglas Cadawallader
- 1920 — Noah Dixon
- 1919 — Henry Abels
Past Women’s City champions
- 2025 — Josie Lowder
- 2024 — Karlie Schnepp
- 2023 — Karlie Schnepp
- 2022 — Karlie Schnepp
- 2021 — Karlie Schnepp
- 2020 — Madison Humke
- 2019 — Faith Davis
- 2018 — Karlie Schnepp
- 2017 — Caitlin Sims
- 2016 — Caitlin Sims
- 2015 — Abby Vorreyer
- 2014 — Abby Vorreyer
- 2013 — No tournament
- 2012 — Jocelyn Matsen
- 2011 — Hannah Bachman
- 2010 — Hannah Bachman
- 2009 — Hannah Bachman
- 2008 — Hannah Bachman
- 2007 — Michelle Anderson
- 2006 — Josie Lowder
- 2005 — Josie Lowder
- 2004 — Josie Lowder
- 2003 — Nichole Inkel Bennett
- 2002 — Nichole Inkel Bennett
- 2001 — Laura Patrick
- 2000 — Jennifer Shutt
- 1999 — Laura Patrick
- 1998 — Jamie Smith
- 1997 — Laura Patrick
- 1996 — Sheila Stults
- 1995 — Myona Thoron
- 1994 — Laura Patrick
- 1993 — Heather Buraski
- 1992 — Nichole Inkel
- 1991 — Nichole Williams
- 1990 — Mindy Bono
- 1989 — Mindy Bono
- 1988 — Mindy Bono
- 1987 — Tracy Tate
- 1986 — Tracy Tate
- 1985 — Tracy Tate
- 1984 — Molly Cody
- 1983 — Tracy Tate
- 1982 — Tracy Tate
- 1981 — Tracy Tate
- 1980 — Tracy Tate
- 1979 — Jane Murphy
- 1978 — Barb Turnbull
- 1977 — Sarah LeVeque
- 1976 — Sarah LeVeque
- 1975 — Judi Meador
- 1974 — Sarah LeVeque
- 1973 — Kate McNamara
- 1972 — Kate O'Keefe
- 1971 — Rosie Hagan
- 1970 — Bernadette Nolan
- 1969 — Judi Meador
- 1968 — Judi Meador
- 1967 — Kate O'Keefe
- 1966 — Judi Meador
- 1965 — Judi Meador
- 1964 — Judi Meador
- 1963 — Judi Meador
- 1962 — Judi Meador
- 1961 — Judi Meador
- 1960 — Julia Rowland
- 1959 — Judi McCarty
- 1958 — Judi McCarty
- 1957 — Judy Allan
- 1956 — Dolores Schofield
- 1955 — Dolores Schofield
- 1954 — Dolores Lehr
- 1953 — No individual winner
- 1952 — No tourney
- 1951 — Marjorie Huegel
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Blaine Buente wins 2025 Men's City golf tournament in Springfield
Category: General Sports
