Rios wins Palmer Hills Amateur

By Aaron Graf, agraf@qconline.com

After shooting 72 in the Palmer Hills Amateur Saturday, Davenport native Greg Rios was able to make up lost ground Sunday to finish at 141, earning his second win of year in the National City Bank Amateur Golf Tournament.

The 37-year-old teacher and golf coach at Davenport West High School came from behind despite windy conditions. That came, in part, because of some consistent putting to post a 69, placing him ahead of second-place finishers Tom Miler and Kevin Kilstrom, each finishing at 142.

``I really had no idea where I stood while we were out there,'' Rios admitted. ``I put one in the water on 10 and figured I was pretty much out of it.''

Despite that setback, Rios was able to make up for the watery mishap by charging through the final eight holes. He birdied the 16th and 17th holes to keep himself what he thought was in contention, but actually was in the lead..

``I played with a pretty good group, and I knew a 69 might keep me in contention,'' Rios said,``I knew where Tom (Miler) was, but at the turn, he was up three and I was down three, so it didn't look to good.''

Miler said Rios' performance shouldn't come as much of a suprise.

``Greg's a good player,'' Miler said. ``He didn't let the trouble on 10 get to him and he got the bad stuff out of his mind. That let him make a lot good shots.''

The wrap-up of the Palmer Hills outing sends the the National City Tournament into the championship at Pinnacle Country Club on Sept. 11-12.