Illinois golfers win Scottish tournament with hickory clubs

Golfers Cal Whitman of Rio and Jim McGraw of Woodhull captured the title at the Hole in One Club at Lothian Links 3-Day Pairs tournament in Scotland after posting the top score across three rounds of links golf.The victory came during the event played on three East Lothian courses, according to a community announcement.Whitman and McGraw, regular players at Galesburg's Bunker Links, competed in a field of 70 two-person teams and were the only participants dressed in period clothing while using hickory-shafted clubs.The tournament was held on the links courses at Craigielaw, Kilspindie and Gullane Golf Club, courses known for their coastal settings and traditional Scottish golf challenges.Rio and Woodhull golfers earn victoryWhitman and McGraw opened the competition with 42 Stableford points before adding rounds of 41 and 39 points. Their three-round total of 122 points secured the championship.The winning score finished 14 under par in the tournament standings.Graeme Cowie and Kai Evans of Royal Aberdeen Golf Club placed second with 118 points, four points behind the champions.Hickory golfers continue Scottish traditionWhitman and McGraw have supported Hole in One Club pairs events for more than five years, traveling from the United States to play classic links courses in Scotland and England, according to the announcement.Accompanied by Janet Whitman, who served as caddie and organizer during the event, the pair's victory highlighted the continuing popularity of hickory golf, a form of the game played with traditional equipment modeled after golf's early era.Scotland, often referred to as the home of golf, provided the setting for the three-day competition, which combined competitive play with social events and camaraderie among participants, according to the announcement.This story was produced by reporter Nida Tazeen, NTazeen@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Illinois golfers win Scottish tournament with hickory clubs