Gilmore Wins, But Monk Steals the Spotlight at Donatos

Presented by Donatos Pizza | Sponsored by Haywood Golf

Reynoldsburg, OH — If pizza is the food of the people, then The Donatos Shootout was a full-course feast for the DGA Tour faithful. Held at Blacklick Woods and fueled by a pre-round delivery of small pizzas and cookies courtesy of Donatos, the fifth stop on the Tour offered up no shortage of drama, controversy, and career-best performances.

And yet, somehow, it ended with more questions than answers.

THE (UNWITNESSED?) WINNER

Harry Gilmore didn’t play with the field Saturday. He teed off earlier in the week due to a scheduling conflict, playing his round solo. What he returned with was a pristine scorecard and a jaw-dropping total: 76 gross, -10 net — a round that would go on to win the event by five full strokes. Gilmore recorded 2 birdies (a season high), 10 pars (another season high), and only 6 bogeys. He shot even par on the front nine, a level of play that had many wondering if they'd been too quick to dismiss him in past weeks.

But with no playing partners to verify the feat, league voices have grown loud. Some shouted “sandbagger!” Others cried “scandal!” Gilmore, for his part, brushed off the noise. “Fake media,” he muttered after the round. “They’ll always paint me as the villain.”

Still, there’s no denying the numbers — or the hardware. Love it or hate it, Harry Gilmore is now a two-time event winner on the DGA Tour.

THE PEOPLE’S CHAMP

Trevor Monk didn’t win The Donatos Shootout, but he might have won the hearts of the entire league. Facing rain, wind, and a soaked course that turned the back nine into a boggy battlefield, Monk shot a career-best 75 — not just on Tour, but in his life. Gross +3, Net -5, with a 4-birdie barrage that began on hole 7 and didn’t let up until 12.

“Best round I’ve had with the driver,” Monk said post-round. “Everything went pretty well after that too. Still not enough.”

That “not enough” stings. Many believe Monk’s round — played in full league conditions — should have stood as the rightful winner. The chant of “Justice for Monk” echoed in the group chat all weekend. Whether it changes anything is unlikely, but it’s clear: Monk’s presence on this tour is now undeniable.

CONSISTENCY IS KING

In third place, Jack Spence delivered one of the quietest and cleanest rounds of the day — 77 gross, E net, with 11 pars and no doubles or triples. After weeks of whispers suggesting he couldn’t win under the current handicap system, Spence fired back with poise, precision, and a top-three finish.

This is Spence’s second round in the 70s and a season-best finish. With each event, he’s inching closer to his second win. Don’t sleep on him heading into the playoff push.

THE MID-PACK BATTLES

Mike McGuire continues to turn heads with his short-game creativity and high-loft club obsession. Still waiting on his 9-wood and 11-wood to arrive, McGuire grinded through a rough front nine (51) before storming back with a 42 on the back. He even dropped a birdie on 17 to cap off a 93 gross (+6 net) performance good enough for 4th place — and all while distributing pizzas to the field. Legend.

Auston Sorg tied Mike at net +6, recording another top-5 finish on the season. His front nine (46) was marred by early mistakes, but his back nine (42) was one of the day’s cleanest. There’s a steadiness to Sorg’s game that continues to yield results, despite the constant roller coaster he rides.

LOWER ON THE BOARD, BUT NOT OUT OF THE STORY

Gianni Young came in 6th with a 93 gross, net +7, despite carding only 2 pars. He leaned heavily on his scrambling, notching a season-high 12 bogeys, and only 36 putts. Add in 2 penalties and a less-than-stellar 4/18 GIR, and this was a round defined by survival. Still, Gianni has consistently hovered mid-pack all season — and you get the sense a breakthrough is coming.

Seth Paszke finished 7th, but showed signs of life with the putter. After back-to-back rounds with over 40 putts, he dropped that number to 37, showing a clear improvement in touch. His 95 (+23 gross, +8 net) isn’t going on the fridge, but the journey toward a complete game seems to be underway.

A ROUGH ONE FOR THE BOTTOM OF THE PACK

Shea McGuire posted a season-worst 93 (net +11), a round that included 5 doubles and a lot of “what-could-have-beens.” He did, however, escape the round without smashing any windows — a moral victory. And hey, at least there was free pizza.

Then there’s Dylan Sharp, who might still be out there looking for the two balls he lost in the creek on the same hole. His 105 (+33 gross, +16 net) was a nightmare from start to finish. Sharp had 5 triple bogeys (a season high), and his only highlights were 2 pars that offered brief glimmers of hope. The road back to breaking 100 starts again… next round.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Donatos Shootout may go down as the most controversial event of the season. Whether Gilmore’s solo round was a triumph or a technicality will continue to divide players. But one thing is clear — Trevor Monk’s 75 raised the bar, and Jack Spence is knocking on the door.

As the playoff picture starts to take shape, the DGA Tour’s biggest personalities and strongest performances are colliding — and the next stop promises even more fireworks.

Stay tuned.

The DGA Tour is proudly sponsored by Haywood Golf.

The Donatos Shootout was presented by Donatos Pizza.