Gone in 60 strokes: McCulla sets new record at Westview Golf Course by shooting 11-under

Alex McCulla and Jack Leffers signed their scoreboard following Thursday's round at Westview Golf Course in which McCulla broke the course record with an 11-under 60. | Submitted photo

QUINCY — David Hutson and Luke Siebers were met with a challenge when they joined a pair of their former Quincy Notre Dame golf teammates for the final nine holes of what turned out to be a record-setting round Thursday. Just don’t kill the vibe. Truth be told, they probably enhanced it. When they arrived…

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O’Connell’s round of 59 shot in 1975 remains lowest score ever posted on any Westview layout

A scrapbook page shows stories that appeared in Golf Digest and Golf Magazine about the round of 11-under 59 Mike O'Connell shot at Westview Golf Course in 1975. | Submitted by Jane O'Connell

QUINCY — Alex McCulla knew his record-setting round needed to be signed for and verified. So after his foursome that included former Quincy Notre Dame golf teammates Jack Leffers, David Hutson and Luke Siebers completed their round Thursday afternoon, they went to the clubhouse so there’d be witnesses. McCulla, the reigning Quincy men’s city champion…

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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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Photo gallery: Low scores highlight final day of Quincy Men’s City Golf Championship

Parker Freiburg tees off on the 16th hole Sunday at Westview Golf Course. Freiburg shot a 4-under 67 and finished third in the Quincy Men's City Golf Championship. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Alex McCulla began his weekend by shooting a 6-under 30 on the front nine at Westview Golf Course and ended it by rolling in birdie putts on two of the final three holes to win the Quincy Men’s City Golf Championship with a 13-under 129 total. Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman spent…

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Beau knows: Up-and-down for par on No. 18 caps impressive regional round by QND sophomore

Quincy Notre Dame sophomore Beau Eftink sizes up his putt on the par-3 ninth hole Wedesday during the Class 1A QND Regional at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The number of strokes Beau Eftink needed to get up and down from behind the 18th green was going to determine just how pleased he would be with his final score. The moment he hit his chip shot from above the green’s collar, the Quincy Notre Dame sophomore golfer felt a twinge of…

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Photo gallery: Westview Golf Course plays host to Class 1A Quincy Notre Dame boys regional

Quincy Notre Dame's Michael Venvertloh hits out of the bunker on the 10th hole at Westview Golf Course on Wednesday during the Class 1A QND Regional. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Beau Eftink went low, the Quincy Notre Dame boys golf team took advantage of playing on its home course and three teams that had been in the mix all season advanced to the Class 1A Auburn Sectional at Edgewood Golf Course. It turned out to be a remarkable day at Westview Golf Course.…

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Photo gallery: Chargers’ Bruns takes medalist honors, QND boys win Weibring Invitational

Illini West's Nick Bruns hits his second shot on the par-4 12th hole Thursday during the D.A. Weibring Invitational at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The lid-lifter on the high school boys golf season took place Thursday at Westview Golf Course with a mix of what area coaches expected — quality shots, wayward bounces and the ups and downs associated with any round on the prep scene. Illini West senior Nick Bruns took medalist honors, shooting a 2-over…

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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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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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McCulla’s charge to city golf crown ends in record-setting fashion as he breaks scoring mark

Alex McCulla, right, celebrates with his caddie Tyler Bertram after winning the Quincy Men's City Golf Championship on Sunday at Westview Golf Course with a record-setting score of 12-under 130. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — The way the late Sunday afternoon sunlight fell through the trees created a spotlight for Alex McCulla to stand in as he was handed the Quincy Men’s City Golf Championship trophy following some of the most dominant play in tournament history. Then his father, Mike, and sister, Alaina, joined him for a family…

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Photo gallery: McCulla returns in time to snare crown at city golf championships

Alex McCulla, center, poses for a family photo with his sister, Alaina, and his father, Mike, after winning his second Quincy Men's City Golf Championship on Sunday at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — After the Illinois State University men’s golf team finished playing in the NCAA regional in Bath, Mich., McCulla first made it back to Bloomington-Normal and then navigated his way home to Westview Golf Course in time to play in the Quincy Men’s City Golf Championship. From there, he simply dominated, winning his second…

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Photo gallery: West Central Conference boys golf tournament at Westview Golf Course

From left to right, Quincy Notre Dame's Konnor Craven, Liberty's Blake Arnold and Illini West's Nolan Deitrich walk up the 16th fairway during the West Central Conference boys golf tournament Wednesday at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Take a look at the action from the West Central Conference boys golf tournament, held Wednesday afternoon at Westview Golf Course, through the camera lens of Muddy River Sports Editor Matt Schuckman:

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Liberty’s Arnold tops field at season-opening D.A. Weibring Invitational

Liberty senior Blake Arnold follows his approach shot to the par-4 seventh hole during Thursday's D.A. Weibring Invitational at Westview Golf Course. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — If Blake Arnold can replicate the back nine of his first event of the prep golf season, it could turn out to be a banner senior season. The Liberty golfer posted a 2-under 33 on the back nine Thursday at Westview Golf Course, allowing him to card an even-par 71 and earn individual…

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Crim: Obert’s feat of aces in back-to-back rounds defies golf’s already long odds

Tom Obert poses with the seven golf balls he has kept from making holes-in-one, the last two of which came in back-to-back rounds at Westview Golf Course. Submitted photo

QUINCY — Tom Obert continues to defy the odds on the golf course. The 66-year-old Quincy man scored holes-in-one in back-to-back rounds May 8 and 10 at Westview Golf Course and narrowly missed a third a day later. They were the sixth and seventh aces he has recorded in the last dozen years, which, in…

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How the West won: Barry product makes critical putts, holds off talented field to win city golf title

Rilee West follows his tee shot on the 17th hole at Westview Golf Course during Sunday's second round of the Quincy Men's City Golf Championship. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — As the size of the gallery grew on the back nine of Sunday’s Quincy Men’s City Golf Championship at Westview Golf Course, the same question was being asked over and over. Who is Rilee West? The answer is clear now. He is a champion. A Barry resident who spent his freshman year of…

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Verifiable proof: Haxel uses FaceTime call to find witness for his unique hole-in-one

Blaise Haxel poses by the tee marker for a par-4 13th hole at Westview Golf Course after making a hole-in-one with his yellow Titleist. Submitted photo

QUINCY — Caylin Haxel missed the chance Wednesday to witness one of the more unique moments in her husband’s highlight-filled golf career. So George Schrage got the call instead. After using his driver to clear the trees that create a right dogleg on the par-4 13th hole at Westview Golf Course, Blaise Haxel figured his…

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Blue Devils show poise in face of struggles during 72nd Quincy Invitational

Quincy High School's Brady Walker lines up his putt on the 11th green during Saturday's Quincy Invitational at Westview Golf Course. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Hope does more than float. It evaporates if you’re not careful. The Quincy High School golfers sensed that happening as the opening holes of Saturday’s 72nd Quincy Invitational proved treacherous. Yet, their experience, resolve and sticktoitiveness allowed the Blue Devils to shrug off the struggles and make a bid for a trophy. They…

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