Salley in the news

Sauk Valley Media reports. . . September 13, 2018

WOMEN’S GOLF

Three local wrap up play at Sr. Amateur

Salley Wessels of Mount Morris fired an 84 on Thursday and finished at 250, good for a tie for 15th place, at the Illinois State Senior Women’s Amateur golf tournament at Metamora Fields Country Club.

Two Dixon golfers also competed in the tournament. Kristie Pultorak and Mimi Boysen each shot rounds of 89 on Thursday. Pultorak tired for 36th with a three-round total of 262, while Boysen finished five shots back in a tie for 43rd.

"WESSELS RETURNS"

From July 27, 2017 The Rockford Register Star, sports page...submitted by Lynne

"WESSELS RETURNS" By Matt Trowbridge 

"Thirteen-time champ Salley Wessels will return to the Women's City for the first time in several  years when play begins Saturday at Sandy Hollow. She almost pulled out until tourney officals changed it so the women tee off first in the second and third rounds, rather than last.

That enabled Wessels and several others to both play in the Women's City and in an annual Wessels play day in the afternoon on August 5th at Rockford Country Club in honor of her son Thad, who died seven years ago at age 40."

 

 

 

Sophomore sports photos

The caption of the photo doesn't tell the whole story. The night before our guys creamed Mt. Carrol, a town much closer to our size. And even so, the varsity did beat Dixon, after a record setting performance the night before against Mt. Carroll.



I don't have all the golf scores, but it looks like the Mounders did well against schools our own size, and the yearbook says the backbone of the team was Glen R., Dick M., Ken Z. and Dick Z. Norm G. and Jon M. played with the junior varsity.

Salley is back at it with the Senior Women's Amateur Championship

Story in the Rockford paper.

"URBANA — Salley Wessels of Mount Morris is one shot off the pace Tuesday after the first round of the 41st Illinois Senior Women’s Amateur Championship at Stone Creek Golf Club.

Wessels, an eight-time winner and defending champion, shot a 77, tying her with Colleen Dold of Decatur for fifth place. They trail the foursome of Carol Stack of Champaign, Laura Carson of Lake Bluff, Mo Sheehan of Grayslake and Roberta Sentel of Marion."

HT Murray

In the good old summer time

We were fortunate to have a community gym in Mt. Morris. The college gymnasium burned in the fire of Easter 1931. A new one was built in 1932 financed by contributions with the agreement that it would go to the town if the college closed. And it did after the 1931-32 school year when Mt. Morris College merged with Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana. The swimming pool provided some great times--as I recall a swim was 10 cents and you had to go through a foot bath. It seemed like a very old building when I learned to swim and passed the test in 1951--but it really wasn't. That's how kids see things.

That looks like Keith N. (class of 54) and Bill N. (class of 55) having a knock-em-off fight in the foreground, possibly our Dave B. in the back along the tile. Then in the bottom photo we have identification of two of the fine golfers, Dick and Dick in a Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament at the Sunset Golf Club, another fine athletic facility that set our town apart.

Class of 1957 is a winner

in more ways than one. . . Salley wins golf classic. . . dateline Mattoon,IL from the Rockford Register Friday, September 25"

“It is the 8th title for Wessels, who is also a 13 time Greater Rockford Women's Golf Classic champion. Wessels led the field by 3 strokes at the beginning of Thursdays final round and held on to the lead to claim the title on a rain-soaked course. The 40th annual women’s tournament featured a full field of 120 players."

Those of us that started golfing at around the same time (sometime in 7th or 8th grade) fell so far behind most of us just gave up the game! That does not alter the fact that we are enormously proud of Salley and judging from the buzz around town Friday so are a lot of town folk. I visited the Post Office, the grocery store and Senior Center for a flu shot and everyone was talking about it. It had a amazing ripple effect among those at the Senior Center. A real shot in the arm (pardon the pun). On a rainy day in late September it was a real spirit lifter. Thanks Salley for showing us the way to go.

Submitted by Lynne

Classmate makes us all proud

From Sept. 15 Rockford Star:

“Salley Wessels has won seven women’s Illinois Senior Amateur golf titles. No. 8 would be especially great for the defending champ because this year’s tournament is Tuesday through Thursday at Timber Pointe.

“You are so proud of the courses around here, it’s nice for other people to get to experience what you get to,” Wessels, a 13-time Rockford Women’s City champ, said. “It also helps you realize how lucky we are around here.” . . .

Wessels, 69, remains competitive against the over-50 crowd. She also qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur and will fly out immediately after Thursday’s final round. She will miss the first of two practice rounds at the U.S. senior to play in the Illinois Women’s Senior.

“I haven’t lost any distance yet,” Wessels said. “I still hit my 5-iron 160 yards. Of course, I still do some weight lifting, especially during the winter. I don’t want to think of it too much. It could be depressing.

“I don’t get into the age thing so much, but it makes me feel good that I can still play with them. It makes me realize how many new people come into the state senior when people reach the age limit. There isn’t any tournament I can play in any more where I’m the younger. If I’m going to play, I’ve got to be able to keep up.”

Murray T (class of 56) reported on the 22nd: Salley finished 5th out of 118 in the Women's Illinois Senior Amateur. She's now traveling to Tulsa, Ok to play in the USGA Women's Senior Amateur ( 9/20-9/25) which she qualified for in August.

The Golf team in 1957 and 2007

Yes, the class was able to put together a golf team for the Sunset Hills Golf Tournament. Of course, the only athlete in our class who has made news over the years was a girl, and we didn't even have competitive sports for women in Illinois in the 50s. So here's the golf team in 2007 with Greely, Dave, Salley, Dick and Glenn.

And here's Dick, Ken and Glenn in 1957. In addition to Greely, Glenn, Dick, and Ken, Norman Garrison (deceased) was also on the team, and Warren Burstrom was the coach that year, and Dave Henry before him.

Thanks to Nancy S. for the photo.