GODFREY — Alton native Sam Otwell erased a six-shot deficit after the opening day to win the 2026 Greater Godfrey Open at Rolling Hills Golf Course this summer, finishing at 11 under par.
Otwell, a sophomore on Illinois State University’s golf team, followed a 3-under first round with an 8-under second round to complete the comeback. The victory came with friends in the final pairing and familiar faces from the Alton-area golf community around him.
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He said he loves playing on the golf team at Illinois State University.
"It is amazing here," he said. "We are a very competitive team; we have amazing practice facilities. We are back to back conference champions. Our guys on the team are split between American and international players. Knowing guys from different cultures has also been a great experience."
Otwell said winning the Godfrey Open was particularly enjoyable because of the comeback and the opportunity to spend time with friends.
The Missouri Valley Conference’s Freshman of the Year last year, Otwell posted a 74.3 stroke average across 29 rounds in his debut season at Illinois State. He is majoring in finance.
Otwell also credited his Alton High School golf coach, Dylan Dudley, with helping build a close-knit team and giving players opportunities to compete.
Though golf is an individual sport, Otwell said the high school experience emphasized teamwork.
"The bus rides, shared meals and time spent with teammates at Alton High helped form friendships that have continued beyond high school," he said.
Coach Dudley knew how to help a team work together, Otwell said, describing his time playing for the coach as “an amazing experience.”
