Posted Online: May 24, 2008 09:19PM

Wilkins leads hungry pack at QC Am golf tourney

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By Tom Johnston, tbone@qconline.com

As he searches for his fourth Quad City Amateur golf title since 1997, Chris Wilkins could be excused if he is checking his rear-view mirror a bit today – there is plenty of competition right on his tail.

Wilkins, QC am winner in 1997, 1999 and most recently in 2000, fired a bogey-less 2-under 70 at Davenport's Emeis Golf Course on Saturday. The Bettendorf resident holds a one-shot lead over Ryder Houck and a two-stroke advantage over Kevin Kilstrom. A very dangerous pack looms at 73, where defending Quad City Amateur Tour Player of the Year Ben Peters is joined by defending Am champ Brian Soucinek, Dusty Drenth and Chad McCarty. Adam Seitz, runner-up to Wilkins at last week's Hawthorn Ridge Am, is at 74, along with Mark Drenth and Travis England.

``I certainly can't look past Ben or Brian and certainly Chad,'' said Wilkins. ``A lot of those guys have reasonable opportunities to shoot low scores (today). I played with Ben (Saturday) and he wasn't the normal Ben. He came back to finish birdie-birdie, but he had four bogeys in a row. I'm sure I'll have to shoot the same or better to have a chance to win.''

Wins at Emeis are especially important for Wilkins, considering it was his home course through his younger years and also where former head pro Jim Hasley worked with him on his game.

``It's always been, as far as I'm concerned, the most important tournament to me,'' said Wilkins. ``That's a special place for me. Of course, it meant more when it had the exemption (into the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic) connected to it, but it's still important for me.''

Wilkins has played solid golf in the two Quad City Amateur Tour events this season. On Saturday, he reported he hit 16 greens in regulation as he birdied holes No. 12 and 9, finishing on the front side of the shotgun start made to accommodate the 141-player field.

``I just played steady,'' said Wilkins. ``I really didn't have a bunch of makable birdie putts.''