Mitchell's three-peat caps stellar summer

BENTON - It might be a while before anyone wins four straight Benton Gold Cup trophies. If Andrew Mitchell has his way, it won't be him.

"The plan is to turn pro," Mitchell said after completing the first three-peat in the golf tournament's 68-year history Sunday. "But if something happens and I don't, then yeah, I'll come back."

Mitchell got emotional after his big win at Benton Country Club, where everyone was supporting the 22-year-old who has one semester left at Southern Illinois University.

The Benton native also got emotional after his first win in 2013, when he had to erase a six-shot deficit on the back nine of the final round and win a playoff. And again in 2014, when he shot a tournament record round of 61 in the Saturday round.

"I've played in a lot of tournaments and never shed a tear once," Mitchell said. "And three years in a row I win this tournament and I cry every time like a little baby."

Mitchell made it look easy even with his SIU coach, Justin Fetcho, and veterans Shayne Downen and Michael Fowler in his final pairing after each shot 67 to tie for the lead Saturday.

Downen curled in a ridiculous putt early and Fetcho and Fowler made late charges, but Mitchell made clutch shot after clutch shot.

"I shot pretty well on the front and still only had a one-shot lead," Mitchell said. "Shayne and Mike played great and Fetcho had a little trouble with his putter or he would've been right there. Those guys definitely made me earn it for sure. Fetcho tried to make a run ... he made a comeback and I definitely had to earn every bit of it."

Was it weird playing with his college coach?

"No," Mitchell said. "We played together at Mt. Vernon earlier this year and now that he's not my coach any more we've got a good friendship. It's not as weird as you'd think."

Fetcho was the first to shake Mitchell's hand after he became the fourth three-time winner in the Benton Gold Cup's history, joining Pursie Pipes, Jan Jansco Jr., John Given and Tom Portner in that short list.

But he's the first to win three straight times in what is purportedly the longest running amateur golf tournament in the state. And the three-peat was certainly on his mind.

"I thought about it a lot," he admitted. "Probably ever since last year at this time."

Mitchell's plan to turn pro comes on the heels of a stellar summer in which he won the Irvin Cobb Championship at Paducah's Paxton Park earlier this month. But another Gold Cup was the perfect capper.

"I've had a pretty good summer," Mitchell said. " won at Green Hills and then got second at the SIGA. I won the Cobb and now this. It's the cherry on top as far as the summer goes."