Photo furnished
National Drive Chip and Putt Competitors (left to right) Jordan Bardfield of Mt. Zion, Lane Ludwig of Effingham and Brett Bushue of Sullivan.

•June 22, 2016•

The first leg of local qualifying for the 2017 Drive, Chip & Putt Championship was held Friday, June 17 at Effingham Country Club. Brett Bushue of Sullivan won first place overall in the 10-11 year old age group; Kate Bushue won first place in the 7-9 year old age group.

A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States

Photo furnished
Girls’ National Drive Chip and Putt competitors (left to right) Frank Chieppa who is employed with the PGA of America as Regional Manager of Player Development, Makenna Mayhood of Effingham, Kate Bushue of Sullivan and Elizabeth Hirtzel of Effingham.

Golf Association and The PGA of America, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. Participants who advance through local, sub-regional and regional qualifying in each age/gender category earn a place in the National Finals, which is conducted at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live by Golf Channel.

Photo furnished
Pictured above is the 10U after winning the championship in Terre Haute. Front Row L-R: Breanna Gray-Decatur, Charley Condill-Arthur, Bailey Bennett-Bethany, Alaina Moore-Sullivan, Ayla Condill-Arthur, Mackenzie Condill-Arthur, Kacie Sisk-Arcola, Reese Nichols-Findlay . Middle Row L-R: Ella Kinkelaar-Mode , Alisha Frederick-Arthur, Kailee Otto-Arthur, Kaitlyn Drew-Villa Grove, Kayla Schnippel-Mt. Zion. Back Row L-R: Coaches Kurt Schnippel, Wes Frederick, Dru Bennett and Ginny Condill.

•June 15, 2016•

The Mo-Co Rush 10U completed their fall and winter seasons with a record of 23-5 and has continued their winning ways to start the spring/summer season, going 28-2 to bring their record to 51-7 overall. In nine tournaments they have four second place and five first place finishes.

Their most recent tournament saw them go 9-0 in three days at the Terre Haute Memorial Weekend Blowout.

Leading the way at the plate so far this season are Kayla Schnippel (.509 avg, four HR, 61 RBI), Kailee Otto (.456. avg), Charley Condill (.436 avg, 50 RBI), Alisha Frederick (.414 avg) and Kaitlyn Drew (.409 avg, 4 HR). Four pitchers have shared time on the mound for the 10U this season: Kaitlyn Drew (21-5, 1.82 era, 214 Ks), Kayla Schnippel (13-1, 4.85 era), Bailey Bennett (9-0, 2.31 era) and Alisha Frederick (8-1, 3.87 era). Read More

•June 8, 2016•

Amanda McClain, a Sullivan-Okaw Valley track standout, was featured on the Illinois State Redbird women’s 4x400 relay team at the NCAA West Regionals.

The team finished 19th in 3:38.26, just .06 off the school record.

McClain is a freshman at Normal and finished 24th in the long jump at 19-2 and 3/4 feet.