Robbie McEvers Golf Tournament

Held each year in July

In 1979, a nine-year-old golf lover named Robbie McEvers (left) lost his life to Leukemia. A golf tournament was played in his memory. Planned as a one-time-only event, the tournament was so popular it has continued for nearly three decades under the leadership of Robbie's parents, Ed & Jan McEvers.

After twenty years, the administrative team which had orchestrated the event announced the 1999 Robbie McEvers Tournament would be the last. The Kiwanis Club of Jacksonville stepped forward to assume full responsibility for this event. Kiwanis officially assumed the leadership role in 2000, the 21st annual tournament.

The event is staged in July at The Links and Nichols Park Golf Courses.

The Kiwanis McEvers Memorial is open to all young people through age 18. Thanks to tremendous community support, players participate at no cost and also enjoy complimentary hot dogs and soda.

Under the leadership of Kiwanians Kai Schnitker, Kurt Heller and veteran McEvers volunteer Brian Dawson, tournaments feature advance registration of over 200 youth.

Kiwanian Mike Oldenettel honors three McEvers winners.

Click HERE to view photos of
The 2008 Tournament Winners

CLICK ON ROBBIE'S PHOTO
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ROBBIE MCEVERS YOUTH GOLF TOURNAMENT
Young people ages 13-18 are assigned to play on The Links and players 5-12 tee off on the Nichols Park course. The players are split into age groups: eight and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15 and 16-18. After the first day of play, the boys in each age group are split into three flights based on their scores. Female participants are typically fewer in number and are not divided into flights. Plaques are presented to the top three participants in each flight of every age division based on their total scores for both Thursday and Friday rounds. In all, nearly 60 plaques are prepared for presentation to the winners. A tremendous number of volunteers is required. Among the assignments covered by Kiwanians are: scorekeepers who walk with the younger groups, registration workers, walking coordinators, first tee starters, score tallying, awards and results preparing, hot dog cookers, soda stand workers and troubleshooters. The tournament attracts players from all over the state of Illinois and even participants from Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Jacksonville area can look forward to many years of Kiwanis tournament sponsorship. In the years to come, many of the young people who now participate in this event will enter the adult world, join our Club and assume responsibility for promoting the Robbie McEvers Tournament in future years.
Young people ages 13-18 are assigned to play on The Links and players 5-12 tee off on the Nichols Park course. The players are split into age groups: eight and under, 9-10, 11-12, 13-15 and 16-18. After the first day of play, the boys in each age group are split into three flights based on their scores. Female participants are typically fewer in number and are not divided into flights. Plaques are presented to the top three participants in each flight of every age division based on their total scores for both Thursday and Friday rounds. In all, nearly 60 plaques are prepared for presentation to the winners. A tremendous number of volunteers is required. Among the assignments covered by Kiwanians are: scorekeepers who walk with the younger groups, registration workers, walking coordinators, first tee starters, score tallying, awards and results preparing, hot dog cookers, soda stand workers and troubleshooters. The tournament attracts players from all over the state of Illinois and even participants from Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin. The Jacksonville area can look forward to many years of Kiwanis tournament sponsorship. In the years to come, many of the young people who now participate in this event will enter the adult world, join our Club and assume responsibility for promoting the Robbie McEvers Tournament in future years.



PHOTOS FROM THE 2008 TOURNAMENT

(Click on link to view photo, hit browser's BACK button to return to this screen.)
Springfield's Nick Patton leads off McEvers 2008 with his drive on the first tee. Bryce Schnitker of Jacksonville prepares to hit the first shot of his 2008 Tournament. Richie Denisar of Jacksonville smashes a drive down the Nichols Park second fairway. Conner Ettridge of Chatham follwos the flight of his drive one Nichols No. 2. Andrea Libelin of Springfield drops a putt on the first Links hole. Sherman's Curtis Clark prepares to sent his next shot towards the Links No. 9 green. Cory Sims traveled from Athens to demonstrates his power putting prowess. Willa Phillips of Chatham cannot believe how great her shot to the Nichols No. 4 green is. Joe Buchheit of Florissant, MO, powers his drive down the number nine fairway on the Nichols Park course. Riley Keltner's last shot on Links #8 is for a nice par which will make her the pride of Belleville. Another Florissant, MO, resident Zach Schulz blasts his way clear of a bunker. Winchester's Chaning Davis takes dead aim at the green on Nichols No. 6 An errant shot into a low-lying tree keeps this foursome busy searching. The Links No. 14 green is the site for Brice Auxier's clutch putt. Kiwanian Brian Dawson updates the scoreboard as several interested parties look on. Chelsea Hadsall of Macomb sinks a fantastic putt on Links No. 2. Springfield's Maggie Ambrose sends her shot hurtling toward the Links No. 1 green. Morgan Alewelt of Rochester reacts to her narrowly-missed putt on Links No. 1. Reece Settles of Athens chips to a blind pin position on Nichols No. 8. Alex Brue of Springfield caps off the Nichols Park sixth hole with a great putt. Sevy McCoy of St. Charles, MO, follows through on his drive down the Links #14 fairway. Wes Oxley of Pittsfield blasts out of a sand trap on The Links No. 3. Springfield's Ryan Lex, Quincy's Nick Stratton, Pleasant Plains' Quenton Hooker and Macomb's Ryan Cody await their chance to tee off on Links No. 10. Ryan Hendrickson of springfield, Tyler Thorsen of Macomb and Zane Carmean of Chatham each eye the break of their putts on Links No. 10. Jacksonville's Cameron Morrison chips to the Links' 14th green. Samantha Pelc of Sherman watches her drive sail down the Links third fairway. Bobby Ellison of Chatham prepares his attack in the 14th hole on The Links. Kiwanians Andy Ezard cooks up hot dogs for all the participants. Mike Ludvigsen was one of many Kiwanians who manned the Soda Shack, handing out compimentary Pepsi products. Shaan Smith, Skip Bradshaw and Jared Maggart were among the fine cooks turning out hot dogs for our participants. Brian Dawson and John Heinzman were very busy tabulating scoresheets as the day progressed. Don Schmidt and Keith Bradbury enjoy a brief respite in their tournament duties. A group of players and family members relax at the clubhouse while waiting for the final tallies to be posted.



McEVERS MOMENTS

Caitlin Sims of Athens scored a rare hole-in-one to highlight the 2008 tournament. She aced the 62-yard 7th hole on the Nichols Park Course. Here she is congratulated by Tournament Founders Ed & Jan McEvers.


Click on photo to view larger image. During this event's 28th year in 2007, one of the greatest thrills for us was to see youngsters like Nicholas Morton playing in our tournament, supported by his father, Jeff, who played the McEvers himself as a young man. Starting at age 12, for six years Jeff traveled from Quincy, Illinois, to participate in this event. Now he enjoys bringing Nicholas to Jacksonville from their home near St. Louis, Missoiuri, so his son can also enjoy being a part of this unique experience.



Click on photos to view larger images. In 2005 the Jacksonville Kiwanis Club constructed the new Robbie McEvers Bridge over the creek across the first fairway at Nichols Park. Top: Project Chairman Mike Coop speaks during the dedication ceremonies held during the McEvers Tournament. Bottom: Jan & Ed McEvers lead a procession across the bridge to conclude the ceremonies. Kiwanian Steve Hembrough provided landscaping for the project.



Springfield's Jordan Cox is congratulated by Tournament Founder Ed McEvers. In 2004, Jordan scored only the second hole in one ever recorded at the McEvers Tournament. He aced the par 3 eighth hole on The Links.



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Springfield's Nick Patton leads off McEvers 2008 with his drive on the first tee.	Bryce Schnitker of Jacksonville prepares to hit the first shot of his 2008 Tournament.
Richie Denisar of Jacksonville smashes a drive down the Nichols Park second fairway.	Conner Ettridge of Chatham follwos the flight of his drive one Nichols No. 2.
Andrea Libelin of Springfield drops a putt on the first Links hole.	Sherman's Curtis Clark prepares to sent his next shot towards the Links No. 9 green.
Cory Sims traveled from Athens to demonstrates his power putting prowess.	Willa Phillips of Chatham cannot believe how great her shot to the Nichols No. 4 green is.
Joe Buchheit of Florissant, MO, powers his drive down the number nine fairway on the Nichols Park course.	Riley Keltner's last shot on Links #8 is for a nice par which will make her the pride of Belleville.
Another Florissant, MO, resident Zach Schulz blasts his way clear of a bunker.	Winchester's Chaning Davis takes dead aim at the green on Nichols No. 6
An errant shot into a low-lying tree keeps this foursome busy searching.	The Links No. 14 green is the site for Brice Auxier's clutch putt.
Kiwanian Brian Dawson updates the scoreboard as several interested parties look on.	Chelsea Hadsall of Macomb sinks a fantastic putt on Links No. 2.
Springfield's Maggie Ambrose sends her shot hurtling toward the Links No. 1 green.	Morgan Alewelt of Rochester reacts to her narrowly-missed putt on Links No. 1.
Reece Settles of Athens chips to a blind pin position on Nichols No. 8.	Alex Brue of Springfield caps off the Nichols Park sixth hole with a great putt.
Sevy McCoy of St. Charles, MO, follows through on his drive down the Links #14 fairway.	Wes Oxley of Pittsfield blasts out of a sand trap on The Links No. 3.
Springfield's Ryan Lex, Quincy's Nick Stratton, Pleasant Plains' Quenton Hooker and Macomb's Ryan Cody await their chance to tee off on Links No. 10.	Ryan Hendrickson of springfield, Tyler Thorsen of Macomb and Zane Carmean of Chatham each eye the break of their putts on Links No. 10.
Jacksonville's Cameron Morrison chips to the Links' 14th green.	Samantha Pelc of Sherman watches her drive sail down the Links third fairway.
Bobby Ellison of Chatham prepares his attack in the 14th hole on The Links.	Kiwanians Andy Ezard cooks up hot dogs for all the participants.
Mike Ludvigsen was one of many Kiwanians who manned the Soda Shack, handing out compimentary Pepsi products.	Shaan Smith, Skip Bradshaw and Jared Maggart were among the fine cooks turning out hot dogs for our participants.
Brian Dawson and John Heinzman were very busy tabulating scoresheets as the day progressed.	Don Schmidt and Keith Bradbury enjoy a brief respite in their tournament duties.
A group of players and family members relax at the clubhouse while waiting for the final tallies to be posted.