Last week the Illinois State Women’s Amateur celebrated its 90th anniversary with one of its most interesting tournaments. Two past champions decided the title in sudden death and an up-and-coming star emerged, too. That’s the good news. Geneva’s Sarah Arnold couldn’t protect a 2-up lead in regulation play at The Grove, in Long Grove, but…
Daily Herald Columns
Illini alums come up big in Korn Ferry tourney
Michael Feagles, one of the University of Illinois’ stars of the recent past, shot the ninth sub-60 score in the history of the Korn Ferry Tour at last week’s BMW Charity Pro-Am but he wasn’t the Illini alum to win the tournament. Adrien Dumont de Chassart was – and it came in his first…
Golf `merger’ might bring peace, but it’ll take awhile
I had just begun a 10-hour drive back home to Sarasota when I got the word, via a phone call, of the “merger’’ between the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and the LIV Tour. I was shocked by the bombshell announcement, but just because of the timing. I expected some sort of a resolution…
Hardy, Streelman deliver with U.S. Open berths on the line
The “Longest Day in Golf’’ always produces plenty of drama, but this year’s – held on Monday – was particularly interesting. The ten 36-hole sectional qualifying tournaments held across the country sent four Chicago players to the 123rd U.S. Open, to be played June 15-18 at the Los Angeles Country Club. Those who made…
Switching to the claw has improved Luke Donald’s putting
Luke Donald, a golfing legend from his days at Northwestern, was the No. 1 player in the world for 56 weeks back in 2011 and 2012. Then, after battling back problems, his game suffered and he even had trouble getting into some tournaments. Now, though, Donald is Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. That’s made him…
PGA caddie switch; Illini advance in the NCAAs
The high drama at Sunday’s Charles Schwab Challenge on the PGA Tour centered on the eventual winner, Emiliano Grillo, and Adam Schenk, the loser in a two-hole playoff to Grillo in extra holes. David Cooke, a two-time Illinois Open champion from Bolingbrook, was part of the drama, too. He has been Schenk’s caddie –…
Lots of Illinois golfers could make it to the U.S. Open
It may seem weird, but golf’s second major championship of the year ended Sunday with Brooks Koepka’s victory in the PGA Championship after the third of the four majors was already – at least technically – well underway. The 123rd U.S. Open proper doesn’t begin its 72-hole run until June 15-18 but that tournament…
French has momentum going into PGA Championship
Club professionals rarely have an impact in the PGA Championship, but this week one might. Chris French, the head professional at Aldeen — a public course operated by the Rockford Park District — is certainly playing well enough going into the event that tees off on Thursday at Oak Hill in Rochester, N.Y. Only…
French is Illinois’ hope in the PGA Championship
Having an Illinois club professional in the PGA Championship is a rarity, but there will be one this year. Chris French of Rockford made it into the field for the year’s second major championship at Oak Hill, in Rochester, N.Y. from May 15-21. Though he works part of the year in California and spent…
Is an NCAA title next for the Illini men golfers?
Could this be the year that the University of Illinois men’s team finally wins the NCAA title? Illini coach Mike Small has had some powerhouse teams but this year’s version could be his best. The nation’s No. 3 ranked team captured the school’s eighth straight Big Ten championship (and 13th in 14 years) on…