The selection process is over for the next induction class into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame and two of the six to made it were PGA Tour regulars after being early survivors of the qualifying school format.
Bob Zender came first. After winning the Illinois State Amateur three times and earning All-American status at Purdue Zender won the 1971 PGA Tour qualifying tournament and played on the circuit for a decade. During that time he found time to win three consecutive Illinois PGA Championships (1976-78) and match Ben Hogan’s course record of 62 at Chicago’s Ridgemoor Golf Club.
David Ogrin followed him after an amateur career highlighted by victories in both the Illinois Amateur and Illinois Open in 1980. The Waukegan product had more success on the PGA Tour than Zender did, notching 32 top-10 finishes and winning the 1996 Texas Open when he outdueled Tiger Woods down the stretch in Woods’ first professional season. Ogrin, now a successful golf instructor in Texas, also had a tie for 10th in the 1997 U.S. Open.
The 21st induction class will be added to the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame at The Glen Club in Glenview on Oct. 17.
Joining Zender and Ogrin will be Dan Dinelli, course superintendent at North Shore Country Club for 36 years and one of the nation’s leading turfgrass experts; Steve Skinner, chief executive officer at KemperSports who played a pivotal role in shaping modern facility management; Horace McDougal, a Chicago native and Northwestern golfer in 1923 who emerged a pioneer for racial integration in the sport; and Joe Roseman, whose contributions spanned course design and construction. Roseman designed courses across the Chicago area and built the first lighted par-3 course in the 1930s.
NCAA WRAPUP: Northwestern’s women won the NCAA title under the direction of coach Emily Fletcher in dramatic fashion, beating No. 1-ranked Stanford 3-2 in the final match after Stanford had won the stroke play portion by 27 shots.
The Illinois men finished 18th in stroke play and didn’t make it into the top 15 for the final round. Illini sophomore Max Herendeen, however, qualified for the final round as an individual not on a non-advancing team. He finished tied for 27th among 81 players.
Both Illinois teams announced major signings for next season. The men landed Dane Huddleston, a transfer from Utah State, and the women added Alexis Meyers, who led Glenbrook North to the last two state championships and was second as an individual. She also won the Illinois State Junior by seven strokes.
Huddleston, from Woodland, Wash., will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Illini. He won five tournaments including the Western Athletic Assn. title at Utah State this season.
HERE AND THERE: Illinois alum Nick Hardy had his best finish on the PGA Tour this season with a tie for 11th at last week’s Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas. That may have triggered a breakthrough for the 29-year old Northbrook product who has been struggling this season after joining the PGA Tour in 2018. He missed the cut in his first six starts and nine of his first time but now has played all four rounds in three of his last five.
Elmhurst’s Jordan Less became the first player to win titles in both the Chicago District Amateur (2019) and CDGA Mid-Amateur. Less played professionally for three seasons before regaining his amateur status. He won his Mid-Am at Kemper Lakes.
The 35th playing of the Thompson Cup matches, pitting the the top senior players from the Illinois PGA and Chicago District, will be held on Thursday (MAY 29) at Ridge, in Chicago.
The 23rd CDGA Senior Amateur begins its four-day run on Monday (JUNE 2) at Briar Ridge, in Schererville, Ind.
While there are no local players in the field, the U.S. Women’s Open will kick off its four-day run at Wisconsin’s Erin Hills on Thursday (MAY 29).