Former NFL QB Tony Romo's golf career continues at this Illinois tournament
Tony Romo is scheduled to return for a third straight year to play in the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Championship field and in a pro-am event.
The NFL broadcast analyst for CBS and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback will be part of the pro-am at Metamora Fields Golf Club on Tuesday. He is also scheduled to visit the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois as part of his trip, according to OSF.
Romo, 45, played high school football in Wisconsin and college football at Eastern Illinois. He went undrafted in 2003, but ended up playing 13 seasons with the Cowboys before retiring in 2017. He now is the lead color analyst for CBS's NFL broadcasts, working with top play-by-play voice Jim Nantz.
What is the OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois Championship?
The tournament for professional players begins 7 a.m. Wednesday and runs through Saturday, with the first two rounds at Metamora Fields and WeaverRidge Golf Club. The final two rounds will be played at Metamora Fields. Spectators can attend all rounds at both courses for free.
The men's purse is an estimated $175,000, with $35,000 going to the winner, and the women's tournament total purse is estimated at $80,00,0 with $10,000 to the winner, according to the ATP and ANNIKA websites.
The tournament features a men's draw from the Men's All-Pro Tour, a circuit of rising young pro players. The women's side is the ANNIKA Tour, named in honor of legendary golfer Annika Sorenstam.
Who else is scheduled to play in the event?
Former Morton and University of Illinois star Tommy Kuhl is scheduled to play in the pro tournament. It's not known yet if he'll join Romo in the pro-am.
Former Metamora golfer and Germantown Hills native Ryan Ballard is in the draw, as is former Pekin golfer and Pekin resident Mason Minkel, playing under amateur status. Also in the draw are East Peoria and Illinois State golfer David Perkins and former Fieldcrest player and Minonk resident Clay Wells.
As of Friday, there are players in the women's draw from India, Myanmar, Mexico, Colombia, Paraguay, China, Canada, Australia, Germany, South Africa, France and all around the U.S.
The men's side is mostly players from around the U.S.
What are the APT and ANNIKA Tours?
The APT is a developmental level of the pro game that has produced PGA Tour winners Mark Hensby, J.L. Lewis, Tim Herron, Cameron Beckman, Bubba Watson, and Ryan Palmer, Scottie Scheffler, Hayden Buckley, Michael Arnaud, and 2021 Masters runner-up Will Zalatoris.
The ANNIKA Tour has seen Yealimi Noh, Matilda Castren, Gabby Then, Grace Kim, Sofia Garcia, Alexa Pano, Savannah Vilaubi and Riley Rennell all graduate to the LPGA Tour.
Dave Eminian is the Journal Star sports columnist, and covers Bradley men's basketball, the Rivermen and Chiefs. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. He can be reached at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Follow him on X.com @icetimecleve.
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