Bleile wins 11th Eagle Creek title

NORWALK — It was a weekend to remember for 11-time Eagle Creek women's golf champion Nancy Bleile. She had been creeping up on a legend on the turf of the New State Road course, Betty McCarty, as far as club championships. McCarty retired with 11 championships. Bleile won her 11th on Sunday, winning it with a memorable eight-foot birdie putt on the first hole of sudden death against another former champion, Tacy McDonough. Both played the 36-hole event in 157 strokes, Bleile's cards showed 82-75 numbers and McDonough's 78-79. The third player in the flight, Andrea Risner, checked in with rounds of 87 and 76 for a 163. "I chased Tacy for two days," Bleile said. "It came down to catching her on the 36th hole of the tournament when she made bogey, while I made par. That made it a sudden death playoff, and I was fortunate enough to run in the putt for birdie and, I would have to say, win the most memorable title of my career. "My short game kept me in the hunt," Bleile added. "The younger women just blow it by me off the tee, so I have to try and make up for that with iron play and putting." The men's championship went to the steady-playing Dustin Lieber, who won for a fourth time. He had an easier time than his female counterpart. Lieber led by three strokes going into Sunday's 18 holes after firing a 70 in the heat on Saturday. He then closed the tournament out on Sunday with the only sub-70 score in the championship flight, a 68 for a 138 total and a seven-stroke win over Max Berry (73-72—145). Lieber won his third title in 2023, one that went to tournament-tested Rod Bordman, who won for the third time to go with many other high finishes in high-profile amateur events around the state. As for Bleile, she said she did not play well on Saturday. She trailed McDonough by four strokes at the start of Sunday's round. "I just kept moving along, getting a stroke back at a time," she said. "I then made the key putt for par on the 36th hole to finally pull even." She also pulled even with McCarty's 11 championships. "I will do my best to try and win No. 12," Bleile said. "I know it will be tough because of my age, but I lost to Andrea by 10 strokes last year, so one never knows." Meanwhile, the 31-year-old Lieber, one of the longest hitters in the history of the club, saw his game turn for the better over the last few weeks. "I started to play more, and that makes a difference," said the Master Club-fitter for PXG. "I knew my game was getting close when I threw a 64 at the guys a week ago." It could be said Lieber turned up the wick on Sunday when he turned a three-shot lead over both Berry and Craig Meyer after the Saturday 18 holes. That quickly put him up five shots after he eagled the opening hole on Sunday. Just to make sure, he birdied the last four holes coming home. The Men's A Flight title went to perennial champion John Ray. He won by three shots over veteran player Jim Mongiardo, 153 to 156. In B Flight, Ian Scheid was the winner with a 166 over the 36 holes. He won by two strokes over Mel Holida. In the Senior Men's Net Flight, Dave Skinn showed the way with a net 148 and a three-shot win over last year's champion, Russ Holmes. In the Women's Senior Net Flight, it was Kate Brutcher (70-67) winning over Doreen Hutt (74-70), with Kelly Smith finishing third (76-78) and Megan Lieber fourth (82-89). ---------------- 2025 Eagle Creek club championships MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT: Dustin Lieber 70-68—138, Max Berry 73-72—145, Ben Crawshaw 78-71—149, Craig Meyer73-78—151, Brian Schubert 75-76—151, Bill Terry 78-75—153, Roger Tolley 79-75—154, Rod Bordman78-77—155, Tom Hosang 77-81--158, Seth Gilbert 77-82—159, Rob Thompson 78-82—160, Ken Bleile 82-85—167, Trey Hallock 86-82—168, Mason Beatty 81-87—168, Scott Crooks 92-88—180.WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT: Nancy Bleile 82-75—157, Tacy McDonough 78-79—157 (Bleile wins in sudden death on first hole with a birdie) Andrea Risner 87-76—163.WOMEN'S NET SR. FLIGHT: Kate Brutcher 70-67, Doreen Hutt 74-70, Kelly Smith 76-78, Megan Lieber 82-89.MEN'S A FLIGHT: John Ray 72-81—153, Jim Mongiardo 78-78—156, Brian Guerrier 82-75—157, Taylor Holida 81-77—158, Noah Scheel 79-80—159, Alan Myers 80-84—164, Dale Weier 84-82—166, Tyler Scherger 85-82—167, Scott Slauterbeck 79-89—168, Chris Seitz 81-89—170, Patrick Meisner 81-89—170, Alberto Yoguez 84-86—170, Jeffrey Thomas 89-82—172.MEN'S B FLIGHT: Ian Scheid 83-83—166, Mel Holida 85-83—168, Jim Loughton 86-84—170, Tom Sharpnack 85-86—171, Jude Michel 89-93—172, Matt Schaffer 84-80—174, Doug Crooks 89-87—176, Jeff Risner 88-88—176, Dennis Schaffer 83-98—181, Mike Smith 96-88—184, Gary Eddy 97-90—187, David Boyd 93-106—199.MEN'S SR. NET FLIGHT: Dave Skinn 89-83 (79-77) 148, Russ Holmes 82-97 (68-83) 151, Mike Beveridge 91-95 (75-79) 154, Steve Schneider 81-83 (76-78) 154, Steve Schenko 90-79 (83-72) 156, Bill Alford 99-94 (82-77) 159.