Posted
online: June 13, 2005 1:33 AM
Print publication date: June 12, 2005
Staff report,
Coming off of a disappointing day on Saturday, golfer Tom Miler's goal was just to improve.
The Kewanee native achieved his goal and more shooting a four-under par 68 to take the victory at his home course in the National City Bank Amateur Tour Midland Amatuer on Sunday.
"I hit the ball a lot better (today)," said Miler. "I probably hit the first 12, so I didn't have to do much scrambling."
After shooting an even-par 72 at the Midland Amateur on Saturday, the local boy made good, responding with a 68 to come from behind to win the tournament.
"I didn't really know what kind of score it would take to win it," said Miler. "It's not like I woke up in the morning and said `I have to shoot a 68 to win," because I'm not that good."
Miler wasn't shooting for a low score, but he was shooting for redemption after what he called a tough Day One.
"I made a few mistakes yesterday that I was not happy with," he said. "I play this course all the time, so I felt I should have done better."
Besides having the home course advantage, Miler also thought that the weather and course may have helped him as well.
"The wind wasn't blowing early as much as yesterday, so that helped a lot," he said. "The pins were also key. They were a lot tougher today. You had to hit the ball pretty good just to get it there, and I was able to."
The Kewanee golfer beat Kevin Kilmstrom by one stroke and was four better than Tyler Pitlick and Dan Fisher.
Miler's performance was his second of the young Amateur season.
"I haven't played on the tour in nearly a month," he said. "I played at Hawthorn Ridge earlier in the season, and I didn't play very well.
The way I got started yesterday, I thought `Here I go again,' but I was able to hit some good shots and make pretty good putts for birdies."