The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
County's Lone Country Club-Rockin' In Hoopla & Hollers
by Dessa Rodeffer, Quill Publisher/Owner
Town's elephant
Takes a back seat
Oquawka will be singing a different song rather than "Norma Jean" after their favorite son, Todd Hamilton, cinched the British Open Championship on Sunday.
Signs are already going up, and the town's brochures will have to be reprinted and top billing given to the town's famous world champion golfer.
At least every-other home, whether a golf-fan or not, was no doubt tuned in to the final day at Troon, Scotland after Saturday's news that Todd was in the lead of the biggest tournament in the world.
Todd's dad, Kent Hamilton of Hamilton's Super Market in Oquawka was seated at his river-side home with TV front center and the Mississippi River in the background. The chugging barges and boats, even the Mississippi Queen would go unnoticed this weekend.
Kent was pacing the floor with two of his friends and several from the media nervously watching every stroke.
At the same time fans at the Hend-Co-Hills clubhouse outside of Biggsville, were pacing, sitting, and standing as they watched the gem that they had seen in the rough, outshine the world's best golfers to win the nationally famed British Open.
A Channel 6-TV newsman asked if anyone at the club knew Todd.
"Does anyone here know Todd? Heck, everyone here knows Todd. There's guys that still have their scorecards that played with Todd," Bill Brown of Carman said. As the crowd at Hend-Co Hills got larger and louder during the play-off with Ernie Els, Brown said, "Everyone in the area kept tabs on what Todd was doing. Not too many come out of high school and go into major sports."
Brown said Hamilton told how he really hadn't been playing that good this year but this course is like what he's use to playing on in Texas. Todd was disappointed in his game at the John Deere Classic last week, but this more than makes up for it."
Jim Stamp of Stronghurst played sports with his Kent and attended a couple of golf meets. "It's awesome! I've met pros, but no one who's done this. It's great:local boy makes good!"
A television interview with Todd interrupted.
"Just to get my GPA Tour card and get the monkey off my back allowed me a chance at my dreams," Hamilton said. "I play what I call ugly golf:I rely on my chipping and putting."
The commentator said, "The emotion in his eyes says it all:the relief. We're see you at St. Andrews."
Vince Roberts of West Burlington, IA came to golf at Hend-Co and was pulled into the clubhouse to watched Hamilton.
"I use to live three blocks from Kent and played golf with Todd. There was five of us and we kind of watched in awe. We kind of got thumped.
"On the #9 he played all four of us and hit over the green and made par."
Kendell Engen, Oquawka said Todd was two years ahead of him in school, and always knew his goal.
"I played golf with him last year when he was back from Japan on vacation at Sheaffers in Ft. Madison, IA. along with Wayne Lox, Jim Wright and Dave Larson. Todd had 5 under, a 68. I had a 78 and was happy.
Bryan Hubbard of Lomax, Hend-Co-Hills Manager said:
"British Open Champ!-I'm just tingling. It couldn't happen to a more deserving person. He's just a tremendous person.
At the Deere he was going under the ropes and walking with friends. He won their hearts.
After his British Open win, Todd's daughter and wife Jacque said they were nervous to watch him play today. Then Kaylee, on national TV, leaned in the microphone and said "18 was a stupid hole for dad!" Everyone laughed.
"His win was absolutely fantastic. Anyone you talk to says at any given moment he could win a tournament. His maturity, his game, his putting stroke is working.
"From tee to green all pros are pretty equal. The one who will win is the one who is chipping and putting well.
As far as at the clubhouse, Hubbard said players were in and out all day golfing, because of their nerves. They'd play two or three holes, then they'd come in. Some stayed the ride, some here for the first time ever and got caught up in it and stayed.
J.R. Cargill of rural Gladstone said, "I was so excited I could hardly breath. It' s so exciting to see him with a two stroke lead, to watch Ernie bogey the 17th and then Todd putts in for par. It let Todd go into the 18th with a 1 point lead.
"When Todd hit his tee shot, I said, Oh my, don't do this to us. We hung in there with him and went into the playoffs!
"He made par on the first two, the 3rd Ernie went for it. Todd stayed in his game and putts in for bogey.
"We're really proud. He's so professional, so humble. Like John Dailey, he's known for his own style of golf. Todd will be known for his ugly golf, but it gets the job done. He won the British Open.
Only 7 months on the tour and he is a contender for Rookie of the Year and for the Ryder Cup," Cargill said. "We'll see how the points accumulate.
It took time to groom his game, but you set your dream as a child and you go for it. As a child, Todd, with a short club came to Hend-Co dreaming he was playing the British Open.
Todd still holds the 9-hole record at Hend-Co of 8 under.
"He loves coming back: says the greens are as good as anywhere. I'll give Craig Rima greenskeeper, credit for that," Hubbard said. "One thing for sure, even with Todd's British Open he will never be boastful or egotistical."
Nephew Justin Chandler, UHS Senior said he will be watching him August 1st in a tournament for charity in Colorado with Grandma Jane. "It's all very exciting."
Friend Chris Stewart of Gladstone said, "Todd brings a lot of pride to this golf course and this community. It's something he's always wanted to do. I can't see him doing anything else."
The arms go up at Hend-Co-Hills Country Club Sunday afternoon where Todd spent most of his youth learning the game of golf. Many had golfed with him, some had met him, others golfed at the club and had heard the stories, but Sunday all inside the clubhouse shared the thrill of Hamilton's win at the British Open.
At his Oquawka home, Kent Hamilton celebrates with friend, Terri Rauhaus, of Burlington, IA, as his son, Todd Hamilton, wins the British Open July 18th.
Town's folk began dropping in to congratulate Kent, on Todd's win while he headed for quieter place to do phone interviews world-wide.
Jeremy Fisher of Oquawka, Ill., celebrates Sunday with fans as golfer Todd Hamilton sinks his final putt on the 18th hole to win the British Open Sunday at Hamilton's home course, Hend-Co Hills Golf Club in Biggsville, Ill. About 40 people watched at the club house as Hamilton won his first major tournament.
At Hend-Co-Hills, Bryce Brock, 14 accompanied by his dad Dale Brock of Monmouth, watched his idol fulfill his dream. Hamilton had met Bryce at the John Deere Classic.
Everyone Is Looking For A Quiet Place To Be Interviewed
Bryan Hubbard, Manager of Hend-Co-Hills Golf Club in Biggsville found it outside the clubhouse. In Oquawka, Hamilton's dad at his home found it inside his bathroom as he talks with the New York Times.