Golf: Thrice As Nice

The emotions overcame Andrew Mitchell as he held his third Benton Gold Cup in his hands.

Mitchell welled up with tears as he thanked his supporters - which was basically everyone there at Benton Country Club, member or not - after becoming the first-ever person in the 68-year history of the tournament to win three straight titles Sunday evening.

"Everybody out here is just awesome and so supportive," Mitchell said. "The third one is just as good as the first."

And he did it in style.

Mitchell, 22, followed his first-round 67 with an 8-under 64 in a foursome that included his Southern Illinois University coach, Justin Fetcho, and grizzled veterans Shayne Downen and Michael Fowler.

All four went into the second round with a share of the lead at 67, but Mitchell blistered the first loop of Benton Country Club with a 31 and put the stamp on it with a birdie on the par-3 No. 7/16 to go up three shots with two to play.

Mitchell used a pitching wedge to get within 10 feet and nailed the putt to bring a roar from the growing crowd of followers.

"Making that putt was pretty big," Mitchell said. "Three shots with two holes left is always pretty big."

Then on the next hole, Mitchell ended up next to some trees but punched onto the green and made par.

"That's probably what closed it out for me," Mitchell said.

Then he calmly two-putted on the final hole to a rousing ovation, followed by a long line of hugs and then the trophy and a hole flag, which brought Mitchell to tears as he mustered a thank you to the crowd.

"I kept my cool out there but being around everybody makes it tough," Mitchell said. "It makes it easier to know everybody is on my side. I felt like if I didn't win I would've let them down but I know they would've been proud of me, win or lose."

Fetcho and Downen both finished at 134 with matching rounds of 67. Fowler tied with SIU's Drew Novara for fourth at 135. Rounding out the top 10 were Josh Harp (137), Nate Sanders (138), Jared Harp (139), Zach Tate (139) and Jason Drew (140).

The second round of the other divisions were canceled due to Sunday morning's rainy weather. The winners were determined by Saturday's scores. Winning in A Flight was Chuck Thompson (70), while Mark Ridgeway won B Flight (73). Winner of C Flight was Mike Kerans (78) and D Flight winner was Travis Smith (82).