Posted online: July 17, 2005 11:54 PM
Print publication date: July 18, 2005

South Dakotan goes wire-to-wire in pro division

By Tom Johnston, tjohnston@qconline.com

Photo: Gary Krambeck
Wil Collins of Rapid City, S.D., lets go with a long drive on the 10th tee Sunday during the Quad City Open at Glynns Creek Golf Course in Long Grove, Iowa.
More photos from this shoot

LONG GROVE, Iowa -- Technically, Wil Collins went wire-to-wire to win the inaugural Quad City Open golf tournament over the weekend at Glynns Creek Golf Course in Scott County Park.

He fired a six-birdie, one-bogey final round of 5-under 67 that led to a three-round total of 20-under 196 to top the 62-player field. His nearest competitors were Mark Rohde (197), Steve Thomas (199) and Rich Morris (199).

But the South Dakotan had to work a bit Sunday to pocket the $8,500 first-place check, thanks to playing partner Rohde, who returned to the Quad-Cities for more good golf fortune. Now 50, living in Marshalltown, Iowa, and readying for the Champions Tour qualifying school in November like Thomas, Rohde finished tied for 16th in the PGA Tour's Quad Cities Open in 1980. He cashed more in this trip ($4,000) than his first one ($3,100).

Rohde shot 29 the front nine and briefly took the lead from Collins. Finishing on the front nine Saturday, Rohde at one point played 13 holes on that side in 12-under par.

Collins, though, barely flinched.

"I just needed to stay patient," said the 26-year-old who won his second event this season, the first on the Grey Goose Gateway Tour in Arizona. "I hadn't been making a lot of putts and figured that, if it was meant to be, some putts would start going in."

They did. Not all of his big ones were for birdie, either. Maybe the biggest was a 6-foot par-saver on the par-3 16th as he parred his last three holes for the victory after birdies on 14 and 15.

Rohde was the talk of the final round for more than his golf. Originally signed up to play in the Professional Senior Division, he was allowed to ride a cart as is the norm for the over-50 set. But when only five pros signed up for that division, they were rolled into the pro division and still allowed to cart it against the mandated walkers. In 100-plus degree heat indices, some thought that was an unfair advantage on the 7,000-yard course.

"If you're in the Open Division, riding a cart out here as hot as it is, is really an advantage," said the 50-year-old Thomas. "It's like we're spotting you something. This is a hilly golf course, you have to walk, it's hot. ... My legs are like rubber right now. ... It was the tournament's decision, I just think it could have been a better decision."

Glynns Creek head professional John Valliere admitted he would do it differently, given the chance.

Still, the great golf should have been the story, especially Rohde's 7-under front nine that featured birdies on every hole but Nos. 3 and 4. That made Collins battle for his victory in the inaugural event that featured a $34,450 purse.

Rohde cooled off on the back nine, only getting birdie on par-4 12th before a bogey on No. 16. He remained on an even keel despite history -- and a tourney score of 59 -- looking him in the face.

"I just try not get ahead myself," Rohde said. "I used to and it cost me too much."