Golf: Crystal Lake Central grad Greg Bauman wins McHenry County Amateur in playoff on 45-yard shot

McHENRY – Greg Bauman sized up a shot from about 45 yards on the par-5 No. 10 hole Saturday at McHenry Country Club. It was the Crystal Lake Central graduate’s 19th hole on the second, and final, day of the McHenry County Men’s Amateur tournament.

He and defending champion Steve Sawtell, 46, of Northfield, were in a sudden-death playoff after shooting 1-under-par 141s through 36 holes.

With his third shot on the playoff hole, Bauman knew he had to aim short of the green – based on the pin placement – and try to roll it up close.

“All I was really trying to do there was try and get between 7 and 10 feet to try to make birdie,” he said. “It somehow went in.”

Using a 54-degree wedge, Bauman holed the shot for an eagle. Sawtell had one last chance on a long-shot putt from across the green, but he couldn’t replicate Bauman’s magic.

“When I saw it disappear, it was a big relief,” Bauman said. “I kind of knew that it was over at that point, even though he still had a shot to hit.”

Bauman, 29, an analyst at a financial services company in Schaumburg who lives in Chicago, won his second McHenry County Amateur title after winning in 2006. The last time he won was his first time playing the event (participants must be 18 or older). The 2006 Central grad was fresh out of high school, heading off to golf at Northern Illinois that fall.

The playoff only happened for Bauman and Sawtell after a wild finish on the 17th and 18th. The pair played in the same foursome Saturday, with Sawtell one shot behind Bauman at the start.

After a 3-under 68 on Friday, Bauman was tied with Ron Waytula of McHenry and Tyler Bury of Lake in the Hills for the lead.

Bauman trailed Sawtell by a stroke heading into the par-5 17th. He rocketed his second shot close to the pin and

knocked in an easy eagle putt.

After a par by Sawtell, the script had flipped: Bauman led heading into No. 18.

On the par-3 18th, Bauman hit his first shot to about 20 feet from the hole but three-putted his way to bogey. Sawtell overcame a poor tee shot to save par with a putt from about 15 feet.

“I just hit a horrible shot that barely cleared the water, and I was in the hazard,” Sawtell said. “To get up and down from there was more than I could ask for. I felt grateful to be in the playoff.”

Meanwhile, Bauman experienced a different feeling.

“It was kind of embarrassing,” he said. “I was mad at myself. But you know what, if you would have told me that I was going to the playoff before 17, I would have taken it. I wasn’t too upset going into the playoff.”

When Bauman’s long-range pitch went in, Sawtell – already on the green – pulled the ball out of the hole and threw it across the course in mock frustration. With a smile across his face, he was far from upset.

“What can you do?” Sawtell said. “I hit two good shots just to the back fringe and he holed it out. Nothing I could do but try to make it.”

Joe Cermak of Mount Prospect finished third, two shots behind the leaders. Waytula finished fourth with an even-par 144. Bauman’s brother Riley Bauman took fifth with a 2-over 146. Bury finished tied for sixth at 5-over 147.

The tournament was broken into four flights after play Friday, with the winners and runners-up taking home trophies in each flight. Saturday was a day for playoffs: three of the four flights needed extra holes.