Thomas captures Little People’s title in style, Biggerstaff finishes with strong second round

Hannibal's Quinn Thomas stares down his iron shot during Wednesday's round in the boys 16-18 division of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships at Spring Lake Country Club. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Quinn Thomas all but had a Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships title wrapped up heading to the final hole on Wednesday.  He led by six shots at the time, but his style points put a cherry on top of a lopsided victory. The Hannibal High School graduate chipped in for birdie from just…

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Cross wins Little People’s championship on final hole, Quincy’s Novosel finishes tied for third

Brady Cross, of Lindenhurst, Ill., reacts to making his par putt on the 18th hole at Spring Lake Country Club on Wednesday to win the boys 14-15 division of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Brady Cross didn’t know exactly how many shots separated him and leader Anson Munzlinger heading to the final hole of the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships on Wednesday. “I had no idea,” Cross said. “I was just trying to play my best golf.” He trailed by one shot, but knew he had a…

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Photo gallery: Golfers tackle Spring Lake course during final round of Little People’s

The top six golfers in the boys 16-18 division of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships pose for a picture after receiving their awards Wednesday at Spring Lake Country Club. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Birdies weren’t overly abundant Wednesday at Spring Lake Country Club, but the level of play remained high and led to bunched leaderboards in the oldest boys divisions of the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey spent his day on the course and put together this photo gallery:

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Novosel’s confident, consistent approach allows him to sidestep tough start and stay in contention

Quincy's Ty Novosel lines up a putt during Tuesday's first round of the boys 14-15 division of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships at Spring Lake Country Club. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Ty Novosel didn’t flinch when things went awry. “Experience plays a big part in confidence,” Novosel said. “I was able to stay confident and hit some good shots.” That kept the Quincy High School sophomore in contention in the boys 14-15 division of the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships. Novosel, a two-time Little…

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Schuckman: Young golfers’ joy of making putts is something we should all embrace

Luka Kroeger, a 4-year-old Quincy golfer, shows his joy after finishing his final hole Tuesday on the first day of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — At its most fundamental level, the goal of golf is the same for a 5-year-old, a 75-year-old and everyone in between. Put the ball in the hole. The reaction to accomplishing that can be decidedly different however. Sometimes, it’s a fist pump and a Hallelujah. Other times, it’s an exasperated sigh or a…

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Photo gallery: First day of 51st Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships

Dash Sand, right, gives his dad a high-five after rolling in a putt on his final hole Tuesday in the boys 3-5 division of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Service Club’s initial adventure in being the host of the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships got off to a rousing beginning Tuesday morning at Westview Golf Course with the littlest of the Little People providing highlights galore. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent the morning darting around the course watching…

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Participation numbers up as Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships tee off under new leadership

The Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships are taking place this week at Westview Golf Course and Spring Lake Country Club. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — The Quincy Service Club has embraced the task of running the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships with gusto. “It’s stressful, but it’s exciting,” tournament director Mark Christensen said. This week’s 51st edition of the junior golf tournament will feature 284 golfers — a signifcant rise in participation from recent years when the field…

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Mattoon’s Powers awarded Maureen J. Garrity Scholarship for Women at Little People’s banquet

QUINCY — Blair Powers, a junior at Mattoon High School, is the 2024 recipient of the Maureen J. Garrity Scholarship for Women, was presented by the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships scholarship committee during Monday’s tournament banquet. The scholarship was established in honor of Garrity, a long-time volunteer for the Little People’s event, and aims…

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Schuckman: Ryan’s legacy is turning Little People’s into family outing, not just golf tourney

Nan Ryan, the executive director of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships since the event's inception in 1974, applauds the top finishers in the girls 12-13 division Wednesday at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Each hug said goodbye. For now, not forever. Each “thank you” was earned. Not just now, but over the course of forever. Each story came with a smile. Nan Ryan tried to relish them now, but she’ll hold onto them forever. The 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships wasn’t just a tournament.…

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Show me the way home: Hayes watches Eftink’s putt, then sinks his to cap LPGC championship

Quincy's Beau Eftink sizes up his putt on the par-5 17th hole during Wednesday's final round of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The way Braden Hayes read his putt, it could break either way. “From the downside, I saw it was going to go a little right,” he said. “From the top side, it was going to go left. So I was like, ‘What’s this going to do?’” Beau Eftink showed him. With a putt…

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Carthage’s Murphy builds ‘a little extra confidence’ with second-place finish at LPGC

Carthage's Nolan Murphy follows the flight of his tee shot on the par-3 ninth hole during Wednesday's final round of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Nolan Murphy didn’t worry about being on the leaderboard, even if it created a twinge of pressure going into the final round of the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships. “A little bit I guess,” Murphy said. “But I really didn’t have anything to lose because I’d never been there. Last year, I was…

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Photo gallery: Day 2 of Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships at Westview Golf Course

Nan Ryan, executive director of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships, places a medal around the neck of the one of the golfers during the ceremony for the top finishers in the boys 14-15 division Wednesday at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The second day of competitive play at the 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships brought about back-nine duels, new champions crowned and the end of another successful tournament. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman captured some of the on-course action in this photo gallery:

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‘It’s just a premier event’: Kroeger family celebrates 50th LPGC by introducing next generation to tournament play

Luke Kroeger, the 3-year-old son of Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships alum Brian Kroeger, hands his club to his dad during Tuesday's round at the Knights of Columbus Par-3 Course. | Addi Zanger photo

QUINCY — A beautiful, sunny, 80-degree morning provided the perfect backdrop for the start of the 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships at the Knights of Columbus Par-3 Course. For Brian Kroeger, it lso provided a sense of deja vu. Kroeger, a 32-year-old Quincy native, first played in the LPGC in the mid-1990s when…

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Photo gallery: Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships opening round at Westview

The Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships is celebrating its 50th year during this week's event at Westview Golf Course and the Knights of Columbus Par-3 Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships officially teed off at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday with 203 total golfers competing across 14 age divisions — seven each for boys and girls. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent time Tuesday at Westview Golf Course and put together this photo gallery:

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Murphy leads area golfers fighting for top spots at Little People’s Golf Championships

Carthage's Nolan Murphy sizes up a putt on his first hole Tuesday during the opening round of the Pepsi Little People's Golf Championships at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A handful of area golfers positioned themselves to chase top-five finishes — possibly even championships — after the first day of the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships at Westview Golf Course. Carthage’s Nolan Murphy is the closest to the top of the leaderboard, shooting a 4-over 75 on Tuesday to sit tied for…

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