Youth is served

The men's Lincoln Highway tournament has thrived on tradition for 85 years. The tourney consists of nearly the same group of teams that dreamed up the concept in the Nachusa Tavern in 1923. The best-against-bogey scoring system, which awards players a plus for beating a hole's designated score or a minus for going over, remains. This weekend the event even returns to the course where the first Lincoln Highway was held, at what is now called Timber Creek Golf Club in Dixon. Timber Creek's team, however, has shed one of its long-standing traditions. In the past, players had to be at least 18 years old to play for the club in the Lincoln Highway. Starting this year, the club decided to throw that rule away. "There were reasons that the rule had been in place, but I think times have changed a little bit," said Bob Venier, a Lincoln Highway veteran. "What it has done is allowed us to plug in a couple of pretty good young golfers, which will hopefully make us more competitive than we have been in the last few years." The new blood entering the ranks of the Timber Creek team are familiar names on the Sauk Valley golf scene. Chris Kuecker, 18, and Joel Kipping, 17, were two cogs in Dixon High School's NCIC Reagan championship team and Freeport Regional championship team last fall. Kuecker, who graduated in May, would have been eligible to play this year under the old rule. He has been waiting for his chance to take a crack at the Lincoln Highway and put Timber Creek back near the top of the standings. "I think the tradition of this tournament is what makes you want to be able to play in it," Kuecker said. "It's scoring system is different, which makes it an interesting experience." Kuecker will attend the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he will major in journalism. He is undecided about whether he will walk onto the golf team. "I'll see when I get there," Kuecker said. "At this point, I am ready to focus on academics." Kipping, who has a year left at Dixon, sees the tournament as a chance to test his game against different opponents. "The big thing is that I'll be playing against mainly adults out there," Kipping said. "That's different from what I am used to. I am just going to go out there and give it my best and hopefully come in with a good score for the team." Kipping and Kuecker are not the only Dukes in the tournament. Sophomore Mitch Homb will compete against his comrades as member of Shady Oaks out of Amboy. Timber Creek finished last, at minus-61, at Rochelle Country Club last year. That's a far cry from history. Timber Creek, whose last win came in 1999, holds the record for most Lincoln Highway victories at 28. Defending champ Kishwaukee has 27. Clinton is the next closest club at 12, but no longer plays in the tournament. "That's one of things about playing with this team," Kuecker said, "they've done so well in the past. You sit in the clubhouse and see the plaques and trophies from 1920s and so on and you want to add to that." Best-against-bogey scoring: Players are awarded a plus for beating designated score for hole, nothing for matching it and a minus for going over. The pluses and minuses are totaled for a players score then combined with other club members for a team score. * Unlike the Women's Lincoln Highway, the men determine a medalist by par score. Chris Kuecker file Age: 18 High School: Dixon, class of '08 College: University of Missouri, Columbia Major: Journalism FYI: Captain of golf and basketball teams at Dixon High School. ... Advanced to state golf meet last season. ... Might walk on to college golf team. Joel Kipping file Age: 17 High School: Dixon Year: Senior FYI: One of the top golfers on Dixon's conference and regional championship teams last fall. ... Youngest player on Timber Creek's Lincoln Highway team.