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.…

Read More

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…

Read More

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…

Read More

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:

Read More

‘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…

Read More

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:

Read More

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…

Read More