TJ Baker wins his fourth Aldeen Cup Championship

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The name TJ Baker is showing up all over the wooden base of the beautiful glass Aldeen Cup Trophy. Baker won his fourth Aldeen Cup Championship in five years on Sunday at the Aldeen Golf Club.

Baker delivered to great shots on the 18th hole to edge his good friend Luke Lofgren of the Quad Cities by one stroke. Baker hit a long drive off the tee box in the par-5 18th hole. His second shot landed 89 yards away from the hole. He hit a beautiful wedge shot with his third shot that hit about 95 yards deep and then rolled back within eight feet of the hole. He then drained the putt to secure a one-stroke win.

This 18th hole is pretty, pretty special to me. I’ve been here, lucky to be here quite a few times. You know, one of my favorites,” said Baker. “I hit a good wedge shot here, and, it spun back about ten feet. And all I was thinking about was draping it over the front edge and went in.”

Baker and Lofgren, a senior golfer at Western Illinois University, were tied through 14 holes at 4-under-par. Lofgren briefly took a one-stroke lead after 16, but his tee shot on 17 went out-of-bounds allowing Baker to tie the tournament up again heading to the 18th tee box.

Baker’s other Aldeen Cup victories came in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Robert Dofflemyer won it last year. Baker just finished up his college golfing career at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

Eva Greenberg shot an incredible round of 66 Sunday to surpass her sister Ella for the championship in the Women’s Flight at -4. John Robertson won the senior flight at +5.

For highlights, watch the media player above.

Men’s Championship Flight (top finishers)

1. TJ Baker 69-70 -5
2. Luke Lofgren 68-72 -4
3. Robert Dofflemyer 71-70 -3
4. Danny Gorman 70-74 E
   T5. Corey Konieczki 71-74 +1
   T5. Matt LaMarca 73-72 +1
5. Eric Klutke 70-76 +2
6. Cody Rhymer 72-78 +6
   T9. Bennett Baker 71-80 +7
   T9. Bayden Hubacher 74-77 +7

Men’s Senior Flight (top finishers)

1. John Robertson 78-71 +5
2. Ron Reece Jr. 80-73 +9
3. Jeff Holmgaard 76-79 +11
4. Brian Silvers 71-85 +13
5. Greg Gargani 74-83 +13

Women’s Flight (top finishers)

1. Eva Greenberg 74-66 -4
2. Ella Greenberg 68-75 -1
3. Maeve McDougal 88-76 +20
4. Ceilia Turner 90-89 +35
5. Brooke Bolan 90-98 +44

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