The Illinois contingent in the 156-man field for this week’s U.S. Open at The Country Club, in Brookline, Mass., tripled in the last week. Only Adrien Dumont de Chassart, the Belgium-born standout for the University of Illinois, qualified during regulation play in “Golf’s Longest Day,’’ the nation-wide 36-hole series of sectional qualifiers for the Open….
Author: lenz
Tornado fails to stop the fun at Michigan’s Gaylord Golf Mecca
GAYLORD, Michigan – This might well turn out to be the best feel good story in golf in 2022. Gaylord, a town of 4,200 residents, and the small towns surrounding it have long been on the cutting edge of golf marketing. Led by executive director Paul Beachnau, the Gaylord Golf Mecca was created in 1987…
Illini golfer is only local player to qualify for the U.S. Open
This week’s “Longest Day in Golf’’ was an especially long one for 20 Chicago-connected players who had hopes of qualifying for the 122nd U.S. Open. Only one made it through Monday’s 10 sectional qualifiers. Belgium’s Adrien Dumont de Chassart, the star of the University Illinois team, squeezed in thanks to a solid second round in…
Three stops to remember at Myrtle Beach courses
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – This South Carolina golf hotbed has been at least an annual stop for the last 13 years, but our latest visit was different than all the others. Our travel writing itinerary called for stops at three courses – one on the south side of town (Caledonia), one centrally located (World Tour…
`The Longest Day in Golf’ is approaching for U.S. Open hopefuls
`The Longest Day in Golf’ is fast approaching for U.S. Open hopefuls. The golf focus for this week could be on the PGA Tour’s Memorial tournament in Ohio or the U.S. Women’s Open in North Carolina. For Chicago followers, though, it should be on Monday’s U.S. Open sectional eliminations. They will determine the last…
Beware of those innovative new bunkers at North Carolina’s Talamore
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – The most famous of the 51 courses in the golf mecca called Pinehurst area is Pinehurst No. 2, recently named an anchor site for the U.S. Open by the U.S. Golf Association. This week the area will also host the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles, and many more big events…
Five former Illinois Open champions seek Korn Ferry Tour title
How difficult is it to get on the PGA Tour? Just ask Vince India or Brad Hopfinger. They grew up in the Chicago suburbs, were stars at the University of Iowa together and among the select group of 10 players with wins in both the Illinois State Amateur and Illinois Open. Both were early…
Shipnuck’s “Phil” puts Mickelson’s career in perspective
Having worked in the golf media for over 50 years, I know most of the people who have written books on the sport. I haven’t met Alan Shipnuck, author of the just-released “Phil,’’ which bills itself as “the rip-roaring and unofficial biography of golf’s most colorful superstar.’’ This book has gotten immediate buzz because of…
Streelman wants to be a factor at another PGA Championship
Last year’s PGA Championship at Kiawah, in South Carolina, will be remembered historically for Phil Mickelson becoming, at 50, the oldest winner of a major championship. It’ll be memorable for Kevin Streelman, as well. Chicago’s most prominent PGA Tour member finished in a nine-way tie for eighth place, his first top-10 finish in 26 appearances…
Illini men take three-tourney winning streak into NCAA regional
The University of Illinois men’s team earned its 15th straight appearance in NCAA regional play, which starts on Monday. That was no surprise after the Illini won their seventh straight Big Ten title and 12th in the last 13 years last week, extending a run of three straight tournament titles. Now things get more difficult. …