One for the ages: Peoria golfer, 89, shoots round of 72
Shooting one's age is a golfer's dream. Ralph Sleeper of Peoria may have shot himself into the Guinness Book of World Records.
In February, Sleeper, who was 89, scored 17 strokes below his age when he shot a 72 at the Westbrook Village Golf Club Lakes Course.
“It was one of those days where everything was going well,” he said.
Shooting 17 below age ties the recognized Guinness record, held by two golfers who also were 89. James D. Morton shot a 72 at Valleybrook Golf and Country Club in Tennessee in April 2001. Keith Plowman carded a 72 at Maungakiekie Golf Club in Auckland, New Zealand, in November 2007.
Brad Sleeper, Ralph's son, submitted an application to Guinness World Records, but hasn't heard back from the organization yet. The key in the process is verifying the score.
Ralph Sleeper, who turned 90 in July, didn’t have the benefit of playing golf in school when he was growing up in Mankato, Minn. He started playing at age 32 while working as a highway engineer, and he’s remained competitive ever since by practicing four times a week at regulation courses and playing in tournaments.
Sleeper carries a 9 handicap, indicating that most of his rounds are in the 7981 range. He also had two holes-in-one this year, bringing his lifetime total to 15.
Sleeper said his weakness is putting, but a putt for that 72 capped his best round of golf.
“I realized (I shot 72) because of the other guys I was playing with,” he said. “… They just asked me what I eat and what I do. But I don’t really do anything different from anyone else.”
Golfing success runs in the family. Mark Sleeper, another one of Ralph's sons, shot at his age with a 63 in August.
Unlike his father, Mark played golf in high school and for Minnesota State University. Sometimes father and son would walk onto the golf course at 7 a.m. and go home at 7 p.m. when they lived in Minnesota.
These days, Mark practices in Surprise about four times a week – just like his father.
“I still have a long way to go to catch up to my dad,” Mark said.
Matthew Bain contributed to this story.