Back-nine charge in final round lands Guthrie in runner-up spot at 75th Illinois Open

FLOSSMOOR, Ill. — Luke Guthrie mounted a charge only one golfer withstood, and it proved the 34-year-old Quincy native still has the game to compete.

Guthrie played the back nine of the Flossmoor Golf Club in 3-under 33 Wednesday afternoon, closing with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to post a 6-under 210 total and finish tied for second in the 75th Illinois Open.

Charlie Nikitas, of Glenview, Ill., won the championship with a 7-under 209, holding on despite playing the back nine in 3-over 39 and bogeying the 18th hole. Matthis Besard, a former University of Illinois golfer from Belgium, tied Guthrie at 6-under 210, shooting an even-par 36 on the final nine.,

Guthrie, who is a 2012 Illinois graduate and lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., was one of three players to card the lowest round of the day at 4-under 68. He had the lowest back nine score and made birdies on five of his final 10 holes.

After shooting rounds of 2-under 70 and even-par 72, Guthrie was tied for sixth and made the cut. Only the top 50 golfers and ties from a field of 156 players played the final round. Guthrie parred his first eight holes in the final round and found himself seven strokes out of the lead.

He birdied the par-5 ninth to jumpstart his charge. He made a birdie on the par-5 10th and followed it up with birdies on the par-3 13th and par-4 14th. A bogey on the 17th was erased with the birdie on the 18th.

This was Guthrie’s first appearance in the Illinois Open since 2010 when he finished second individually and was the low amateur. Guthrie has played in 106 PGA Tour events and 126 Korn Ferry Tour events since turning pro in 2012 and is working to regain status on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Quincy High School graduate Zach Burry, currently living in Appleton, Wis., also made the cut and finished tied for 22nd at 3-over 219. Burry shot a 1-over 73 in the final round. Burry, who is also an Illinois State University alum, currently holds status on PGA Tour Americas.