The PGA Tour’s developmental circuit has gone by various names – Ben Hogan, Nationwide, Nike, Web.com — over its 32-year history, but the just-concluded Evans Scholars Invitational on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour was an event like no other. Chicago has hosted various events over the years, but local players never made the…
Author: lenz
Florida’s Palm-Aire course gets a `refreshing’ from a Midwest perspective
SARASOTA, FL. – Mike Benkusky had worked basically in the Midwest throughout his career as a golf course architect. That’s not surprising, given that he grew up in Iowa, did his college work at Iowa State and then entered the architectural world under the tutelage of long-time Chicago-based architect Bob Lohman. In 2005 Benkusky opened…
Meet the next induction class into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame
The next induction class into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame will be much different than the last one, which was enshrined in 2019. The next class celebrates the playing accomplishments of both the male and female stars. On the women’s side there was Bessie Anthony, who was one of the nation’s top stars in…
Evans Scholars tourney is loaded with Chicago golf stars
The Evans Scholars Invitational, the only pro tour event in the Chicago area this season, tees off on Thursday at The Glen Club, in Glenview. It’s an annual stop on the Korn Ferry Tour, which provides a direct path to golf’s premier circuit — the PGA Tour. Scottie Scheffler won the inaugural ESI at…
My reflections on the career of architect Arthur Hills
I wish I could say that I knew Arthur Hills better than I really did. Our only in-depth meeting came in 1993, when – as a Chicago golf columnist – I was invited to the Grand Opening of one of his designs, called The Thoroughbred in Rothbury, Mich. I do know Hills’ work quite…
From Dundee Crown to Kiawah: Roger Warren’s career in golf
Roger Warren’s career in golf started in 1986, when he took on a summer job at Village Links of Glen Ellyn. Now he’s the president of the Kiawah Island Resort, host of the 103rd PGA Championship which tees off on Thursday. Warren had college stints at both Northern Illinois and Western Illinois and was both a…
Ex-Illinois Amateur winner qualifies for his first PGA Championship
Twenty club professionals qualified for next week’s PGA Championship at South Carolina’s Kiawah course at a 312-player elimination last month in Florida. None of the qualifiers were members of the Illinois PGA session, but one of the 20 has deep Chicago area roots. Brad Marek came out of Hersey High School, in Arlington Heights,…
Illini golfers are awaiting another crack at that elusive NCAA title
Mike Small couldn’t compete in last week’s PGA Professionals Championship in Florida – which offers a spot in the field for the PGA Championship coming up in two weeks at Kiawah in South Carolina – for one good reason. He’s a college coach first and foremost and his Illinois team had to win the Big…
GOLF/TRAVEL NOTEBOOK: World’s Largest 19th Hole is back at World Am
The Myrtle Beach World Amateur – always one of my favorite tournaments of any year – is adding three new divisions for its 38th staging this year. There’ll also be 70 flights and $100,000 in prize money, and Southwest Airlines has added 10 new non-stop destinations to help players get there. That’s not the…
Ten finalists named for next Illinois Golf Hall of Fame induction class
The first stage for selection to the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame has been completed, and the 27 nominees have been whittled to 10. Among the finalists are three long-time club professionals – Doug Bauman, of Biltmore in North Barrington; Bruce Patterson, of Butler National in Oak Brook; and Tim O’Neal, of North Shore…