Tony Romo Misses the Cut in His Latest Start on the All Pro Tour
On a night when NFL players were in the golf spotlight as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce upset Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in the eighth edition of The Match at the luxurious Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was 1,700 miles away grinding it out in an actual tournament in the small town of Metamora, Illinois.
Now, for starters, you’re likely asking yourself, “Where in the hell is Metamora, Illinois?” And the answer to that is about 15 miles outside Peoria, the home of Bradley University. And my hometown, I might add.
But the bigger question you’re likely asking is, “Why is Tony Romo in a small town in Illinois playing a golf tournament?” And the answer there is that the four-time Pro Bowler was taking yet another shot at a professional event, that being the Children’s Hospital of Illinois Open on the All Pro Tour.
For those unfamiliar with the APT, it’s essentially the biggest mini-tour in the United States. Since its inception in 1994, the APT has seen many of its former players go on to win on the PGA Tour, a list that includes Bubba Watson, Will Zalatoris, and the current No. 1 player in the world, Scottie Scheffler. During this 2022-23 PGA Tour season alone, more than 35 players once teed it up on the All Pro Tour.
So it’s the real deal, folks.
While the tour typically holds its events in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas, the APT ventured to Illinois for the first time this week for a 72-hole tourney at Metamora Fields Golf Club, a beautiful 7,100-plus-yard layout co-designed by five-time PGA Tour winner D.A. Weibring.
And the APT and Metamora Fields did it up right.
In addition to golf-related activities, which included junior clinics, the week included an incredible drone show as well as a concert headlined by country music superstar Mitchell Tenpenny.
And besides the official tourney itself, a Celebrity Pro-Am was held on both Monday and Tuesday and included the likes of three-time NBA champion and Peoria native Shaun Livingston, UFC fighter Dustin Jacoby, and, of course, Tony Romo.
While obviously nowhere near as high-profile, a certain Sportscasting writer from the area got the chance to tee it up on Monday and made a few birdies. (Big thanks to my pals at Sunset Hills Golf Course for hooking that up.)
But you didn’t come here to find out how I did in the Pro-Am, did you? You came to find out how Tony Romo fared in his third career start on the All Pro Tour. So let’s get to it.
Tony Romo missed the cut in his latest start on the All Pro Tour
In the opening round of the APT’s Children’s Hospital of Illinois Open, Tony Romo teed off in the final group of the afternoon wave and got his week going on the back nine of the par-71 layout at Metamora Fields.
He got off to a rough start, bogeying his first two holes, but got a shot back with a birdie at the par-5 12th. After two consecutive pars, the 43-year-old went bogey, birdie, bogey, birdie to close out his first nine with a 1-over 37.
Romo then went bogey-birdie yet again to kick off his back nine but got to red numbers with an eagle at the par-5 third. He then made two straight pars before his round was cut short after 14 holes due to inclement weather. Unfortunately, the CBS broadcaster couldn’t take that momentum into his final four holes on Friday morning as he made two bogeys to finish his first round at 1-over.
Round 1
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | OUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 |
| R1 Score | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 37 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 |
| R1 Score | 5 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 35 |
After a short break, Romo began his second round on the front side and got off to a much better start. Following a par on the first, he birdied the second to get back to even. He parred the next three holes and then birdied both the sixth and seventh to get to 2-under.
But once again, his round was halted due to poor weather, and it clearly affected him the rest of the way. Once play resumed, Romo simply couldn’t find the magic he had before the storm. After going out in 3-under 33, he limped home with a 4-over 40 on the back nine, giving him a 2-over 73 for the day and putting him at 3-over for the week.
While the second round didn’t officially end until Friday morning, Romo knew at the end of his round that he’d miss out on the final 36 holes as he was already a few shots below the projected cut line. He ultimately fell five shots short as 2-under was the magic number.
Former Oklahoma State star Hayden Wood led the way at the halfway mark at 14-under. And another Oklahoman, Charlie Saxon, who owns four victories on the PGA Tour China and fired a second-round 62, setting a new course record, was one back at 13-under.
Here’s how Romo’s second round played out.
Round 2
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | OUT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 35 |
| R2 Score | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 33 |
| Hole | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | IN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 |
| R2 Score | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 40 |
While obviously disappointed not to make the cut, he was in good spirits following his second round and stated how much he enjoyed the experience.
As the All Pro Tour has already committed to holding this event next year, Tony Romo has expressed his desire to return for another crack at Metamora Fields. He’ll just have to hope for some better weather.
