Bloomington City Golf: Combs makes 1st Seniors final; rematch set for Super Seniors

While the Gillespie boys ended their squabble on 15, Charles Combs and defending champ Jim Alexander took their punch and counter punch contest to the 18th.

All even at the turn, Combs won 10, Alexander 13, Combs the 14th, Alexander the 15th and finally Combs the 16th to go 1 up. They halved 17 leaving a duel on the 18th that Combs won to make it to his first-ever City Golf Tournament Senior Championship flight final.

He'll have a 36-hole battle with Tim Gillespie, the 2022 runner-up, on Sunday, starting at 7:38. Combs had played in the tourney for the better part of 40 years, but this is his first opportunity to win a Championship flight title.

"Exciting," he said. "But this is by far the best I've ever done. I'm playing pretty good."

But he left the door open for just a second on 18 when he miss-hit his second shot in the fairway, leaving a lengthy wedge to the pin, which was in the back of the green. Alexander's drive had found trees on the right, but he rolled his second shot to the fringe, forcing another counter punch from Combs.

He delivered with a shot that settled inside three feet. Alexander's long putt left a 10 footer and when he missed that one, it was over.

"I was just wanting to hit it on the green and make him make par," Combs said. "It turned out good."

The 'curse' continues in the Seniors as no one has been able to repeat since Bob Hasty, who spent his Saturday as a caddie for Men's finalist Chris Williams, in 2012-13.

Tim Gillespie got the better of his younger brother Troy, making a return to the tourney after a long absence, with a 4 and 3 win.

Super Senior rematch

The names are the same but they have differing views on Sunday's 18-hole final.

In the past several years, when the tourney was reduced to two weekends, it meant playing the 36-hole finals in one day instead of two. Defending champ Rory Brown liked that format, while Dan Neubecker was happy to see it reduced by half even if it means less room for error.

"I don't like it," said Brown, dismissing any concerns about the heat. "I like 36. It's been like that for years."

Brown beat Neubecker 7 and 6 in last year's final.

"For me, I wouldn't mind playing 36 if it was in two days," Neubecker said. "Thirty-six in one day is just too much for me, so I'm happy that it's only 18."

The semifinals saw Brown have a tough time shaking off 13th seeded Roger Rainbolt, chipping in on 13 to go up four and then hanging on for a 2 and 1 win.

"Neither one of us played that great but I played just a little bit better," Brown said. "I'm going to have to play a lot better tomorrow. I can't make that many mistakes tomorrow.

"I played great all week in league. I came out yesterday afternoon and played great and today, I don't know. Something was different."

In the other semi, Neubecker beat Mike Vernon 4 and 3, and hopes his experience in last year's finale will be helpful in the rematch.

"I played OK on the front," Neubecker said. "I was even par on the front and 2-under on the back when I was finished. The whole group seemed to struggle on the first nine. Nobody seemed to want to win."

BLOOMINGTON CITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

PHIL TALBOT MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP — [1] Jason Bannister d. [5] Brad McLaughlin, 5 and 4; [2] Chris Williams d. [6] Logan Vernon, 1 up.

PAUL GRAY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP — {4] Charles Combs d. [1] Jim Alexander, 1 up; [2] Tim Gillespie d. [6] Troy Gillespie, 4 and 3.

ROSH RUSH SUPER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP — [1] Rory Brown d. [13] Roger Rainbolt, 2 and 1; [2] Dan Neubecker d. [3] Mike Vernon, 4 and 3.

MEN'S REGULAR — First flight: [5] Matt Newman d. [8] Alex Freund, 5 and 4; [3] Robert Wise d. [2] Tony Arnett, 3 and 2. Second flight: [8] Chris Stedman d [4] Brian Wise, 2 and 1; [2] Andrew Conder d. [6] Jeremy Wise, 1 up. Third flight — [4] Devin Potts d. [1] Russ Wilke, 2 and 1; [2] Alex Bruce d. [3] Tyler Baker, 4 and 3. Fourth flight: [8] Graham Freund d. [5] Kyle McWhorter, 2 and 1; [7] Bobby Duvall d. [3] Jim Bothwell, 3 and 2. Fifth flight: [4] Shaun Arvin d. [1] Brandon Chambers, 7 and 6; [2] Ander Sorensen d. [3] Matt Fischer, forfeit.

SENIOR REGULAR — First flight: [1] Ross Grimes d. [5] Jeff Huntoon, 5 and 3; [3] Burke Geene d. [2] Rock Scheid, 19 holes. Second flight: [5] Drew Antilla d. [1] Rick Scherer, 19 holes; [3] Jay Freund d. [2] Ramesh Venkataraman, 6 and 5. Third flight: [1] Jon Hunt d. [4] Randy Wells, 4 and 3; [2] Victor Niezrecki d. [3] Rex Boonyobhas, 3 and 2.

SUPER SENIOR REGULAR — First flight: [1] Mick Renneisen d. [4] Steve McDonald, 19 holes; [6] John Cantwell d. [2] Mike Thomas, 5 and 4. Second flight: [1] Mark Deal d. [5] Jan Bond, 6 and 5; [3] Rand McKamey d. [2] Steve Layman, 3 and 2.

SUNDAY TEE TIMES

PHIL TALBOT MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP (36 holes), 7:30 a.m. — [1] Jason Bannister vs. [2] Chris Williams.

PAUL GRAY SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP (36 holes), 7:38 — [2] Tim Gillespie vs. [4] Charles Combs.

ROSS RUSH SUPER SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP (18 holes), 7:46 — [1] Rory Brown vs. [2] Dan Neubecker.

MEN'S REGULAR (18 holes) — First flight, 7:54: [3] Robert Wise vs. [5] Matt Newman. Second flight, 8:02: [2] Andrew Conder vs. [8] Chris Stedman; Third flight, 8:10: [2] Alex Bruce vs. [4] Devin Potts. Fourth flight, 8:18: [7] Bobby Duvall vs. [8] Graham Freund. Fifth flight, 8:26: [2] Ander Sorensen vs. [4] Shaun Arvin.

SENIOR REGULAR (18 holes) — First flight: [1] Ross Grimes vs. [3] Burke Geene; Second flight, 8:42: [3] Jay Freund vs. [5] Drew Antilla; Third fight, 8:50: [1] Jon Hunt vs. [2] Victor Nierzrecki.

SUPER SENIOR REGULAR (18 holes) — First flight, 8:58: [1] Mick Renneisen vs. [6] John Canterll; Second flight, 9:06: [1] Mark Deal vs. [3] Rand McKamey.