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The centennial edition of the Peoria City Men's Golf Championship reached its climax on Sunday, delivering a champion whose quest for this particular trophy spanned decades. Britt Bothast, the No. 13 seed, clinched a 1-up victory over former professional Steve Taylor, the No. 3 seed, in a match that extended to the final hole.
Bothast, 35, described the win as deeply emotional, having grown up watching his father, Brian, compete in the tournament and having played in it himself since high school. "I've won all the others, but this is the one I could never get," he said, his voice reflecting the weight of the achievement. The victory was especially poignant given the recent passing of his grandmother, Donna Cox, on July 2. Bothast credited her presence throughout the day, noting that he and his mother had spoken about her the night before, feeling her guidance on the course.
The championship match was a test of resilience, with Bothast and Taylor battling through rain delays and a tie after 22 holes on Saturday. The final hole proved decisive: Bothast's errant tee shot landed near a creek, but he recovered with a remarkable second shot from 134 yards that cleared a tree and settled on the green. Taylor, who had a strong approach, missed his birdie putt, handing Bothast the title. "The shot around the tree, I give credit to my dad, he made us practice hitting out of trees when we were young," Bothast remarked.
Key Analysis
Bothast's path to the final included a pivotal 1-up win over four-time champion Rick Lehew, and he benefited from an upset that eliminated defending champion Scott Phegley. His opponent, Steve Taylor, brought a rich golfing background, having played on the Nationwide Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour) after a brief college career. The tournament's 100th edition also saw its championship match postponed by rain for the first time in at least 26 years, adding to the historic nature of the event. Bothast, a Peoria native and RiverCup Foundation board member, now joins the ranks of champions in a tournament he has long revered.
Originally reported by yahoo.