GODFREY - Alex Siatos won the Gold Medal Tournament in his first appearance at the event in August 2026 at Lockhaven Golf Club and Banquet Facility, claiming a title he had heard about growing up.
For Siatos, a former golf and baseball player at Alton High School, the victory carried personal significance.
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Siatos finished at 9 under par in the tournament. He said competing in the Gold Medal for the first time meant a lot to him after hearing about it for years from close friends.
Siatos' interest in golf began in eighth grade, when a couple of close friends introduced him to the sport. Siatos considered that a somewhat late start, but he quickly grew to love playing.
At Alton High, he enjoyed competing alongside his best friends and playing for Redbirds golf coach Dylan Dudley. Siatos said he learned a lot from his teammates and coach, including another Redbirds player, Sam Ottwell, whom he described as his best friend. Playing alongside Ottwell was especially meaningful to him.
Now a college golfer at Eastern Illinois University studying finance, Siatos said his team had played two tournaments and finished just above the middle of the field so far this season, so he has strong expectations for the rest of the fall of 2026. He saw the results as a sign the team was moving in the right direction. Siatos was Eastern Illinois' top finisher in September 2026 as the Panthers kicked off the season in the Iowa ANF Classic.
Siatos said he enjoys both practicing and competing. The Gold Medal Tournament is among the opportunities that fuel his enthusiasm for golf.
His longer-term focus remains on his college career and how much he can improve, and on having a strong 2026 fall for the Panthers golf squad.
