CHAMPAIGN — A dramatic conclusion to the 2024 Twin City Golf Championship ended with another historic victory for David Keenan.
The Salt Fork product outlasted Dan Patkunas and Tim Hoss Jr. to claim his fourth straight win in the event after becoming the first competitor to win three straight Twin City tournaments in 2023.
David Keenan proudly holds the Twin City trophy after the former Salt Fork and Parkland standout won the tournament for a fourth year in a row on Sunday at Lincolnshire Fields Country Club in Champaign.
“Just having my daughter and wife here is amazing,” Keenan said. “This one was a little different, it was a little tighter down the stretch. A good friend of mine (Patkunas) played the round of the day and put a little pressure on me.”
Keenan was paired with Hoss, a six-time tournament winner, and David Deschler during the final round on Sunday at Lincolnshire Fields Country Club, carding a two-under 70 over the last 18 holes to finish the three-round tournament at 207, two strokes ahead of Patkunas and four in front of Hoss.
“I don’t necessarily play for the notoriety,” Keenan said. “But it’s cool when everyone is watching and you can do something for the crowd and get them going.”
Hoss tallied three birdies against two bogeys in the final nine holes of the championship flight, a stretch that Keenan opened with a bogey on the 10th hole.
But it was the former Parkland and Chicago State golfer that claimed the upper hand in the late stages, securing his record-extending win with a birdie on the 15th hole.
“I knew I was hitting it well so I had to just keep plugging away,” Keenan said. “I knew there were birdies to be made so I got one on 15 and just hit a lot of solid shots. … I know I’m playing well right now, so my confidence is high.”
Patkunas, meanwhile, unleashed a torrent of six birdies and an eagle during a seven-under 65 final round while playing two groups ahead of Keenan’s flight.
“Best round of golf I’ve played, honestly,” Patkunas said. “I was telling (Lyle Burns) who I played with, it was not only my low for the black tees but the blue tees, as well. It was just a really fun round to play.”
John Schumacher (150 in two rounds) was the tournament’s senior flight winner, with Brian McGill (152) winning the super senior division and Mackenzie McCoy (156) claiming the women’s championship.
Honor roll
The first Twin City tournament happened in 1929. All these years later, one of the area’s longest-running amateur golf tournaments is still going strong. Here’s a look at who’s won the event:
2024: David Keenan
2023: David Keenan
2022: David Keenan
2021: David Keenan
2019: Josh Anderson
2018: Varnu Chopra
2017: Tim Hoss Jr.
2016: Tim Hoss Jr.
2015: Jay Scott
2014: Clayton Parkhill
2013: CG Facer
2012: Tim Hoss Jr.
2011: Clayton Parkhill
2010: Clayton Parkhill
2009: Tim Hoss Jr.
2008: Clayton Parkhill
2007: Clayton Parkhill
2006: Tim Hoss Jr.
2005: Ronalde Johnson
2004: Clayton Parkhill
2003: Bill Hobbs
2002: Tim Hoss Jr.
2001: Jamie Fairbanks
2000: Jamie Fairbanks
1999: David Deschler
1998: John Thompson
1997: Jake Goldstein
1996: Barry Young
1995: Jake Goldstein
1994: Chip Costelo
1993: Jake Goldstein
1992: Jamie Fairbanks
1991: Jamie Fairbanks
1990: Rob Summers
1989: Jim Thompson
1988: Larry Merrick
1987: Jim Thompson
1986: Joe Burden
1985: Jim Thompson
1984: Joe Burden
1983: Joe Burden
1982: Dave Gardner
1981: Tom Parkhill
1980: Ford Bartholow
1979: Garry VanDenBerg
1978: Steve Spitler
1977: Chip Costelo
1976: Rick Lawrence
1975: Rick Lawrence
1974: Doug Mills
1973: Frank Keck
1972: Frank Keck
1971: Mike Toliuszis
1970: Mike Toliuszis
1969: Mike Thompson
1968: Ron Essenpreis
1967: Ron Essenpreis
1966: John Mulliken
1965: Frank Keck
1964: Ray Kimpel
1963: Mike Toliuszis
1962: John Mulliken
1961: Ray Kimpel
1960: Dick Essenpreis
1959: Cy Vaughn
1958: Dick Essenpreis
1957: Art Wyatt
1956: Cy Vaughn
1955: Frank Keck
1954: Dick Essenpreis
1953: Art Wyatt
1952: Dick Essenpreis
1951: Ray Kimpel
1950: Herb Patton
1949: Herb Patton
1948: John Hayes
1947: Bill Richart
1946: Bill Richart
1945: Cy Vaughn
1944: Bill Richart
1943: Cy Vaughn
1942: Cy Vaughn
1941: Don Dobbins
1940: Bill Richart
1939: Bill Richart
1938: Bob Metcalf
1937: Bill Percival
1936: Bill Percival
1935: Elton Hill
1934: G.A. Swenson
1933: Elton Hill
1932: Bill Percival
1931: Burnham Harris
1930: Bill Percival
1929: Burnham Harris
Joey Wright is a reporter covering prep and college sports for The News-Gazette and WDWS/WHMS/WKIO radio.
