A guy named Thomas with the initials JT could well be a contender when the 126th U.S. Open tees off on Thursday at New York’s Shinnecock Hills course. The Chicago Adaptive Open already had a champion of that description when Jordan Thomas, a 37-year old Nashville, TN. resident, shot 70-69 in his two rounds…
Daily Herald Columns
Hardy makes it to the U.S. Open again
Northbrook’s Nick Hardy has had better seasons as a golf touring pro. The former Illinois star was a PGA Tour regular and even won a tournament – the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event in 2023 – but he’s struggled this season on the Korn Ferry Tour. Hardy, 30, survived the 36-hole cut…
Illinois State Women’s Amateur moves to Elgin CC
Very few of the big Illinois golf tournaments have undergone as many recent changes as the Illinois State Women’s Amateur. The downstate-based Illinois Women’s Golf Association conducted the tournament for 90 years, then passed it on to the Chicago District Golf Association in 2024. The tourney was played in a match play format through…
NCAA hopes are on the line for Illini, NU golfers
The national championships in Division I college golf are on the line the next two weeks, and — in these parts, at least – it’s all about Illinois and Northwestern. Coach Emily Fletcher’s NU women are the defending champion on the women’s side. They won their first title last year at Omni LaCosta Resort…
Svoboda gets his first big IPGA victory
The 108th PGA Championship – second of the year’s four major tournaments – tees off Thursday at Aronimink, in Pennsylvania, but the Illinois Section of the PGA crowned the first winner of its four majors last week and it was significant. Andy Svoboda was an immediate contender since joining the IPGA in 2024 after being…
Two-tourney week brings Illinois PGA players together
This week’s two PGA Tour stops are the final warmups for the year’s second major tournament – the PGA Championship. The top stars will be at the Truist Championship at Quail Valley, in Charlotte, N.C., which tees off on Thursday. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the runner-up in his last three tournaments, won’t be there…
Illinois prep champion tops U.S. Open local qualifier
Last week’s first of three Illinois local qualifiers for the U.S. Open hardly went according to form. Evanston amateur Lester Low, the reigning Illinois high school champion, posted the best score – a 7-under-par 65 at Stonewall Orchard, in Gurnee, and that was two strokes better than veteran tour player Andy Svoboda, the head…
Stonewall Orchard is an early host for U.S. Open local qualifiers
This month’s Masters was the first of the year’s four major championships and – with just a 91-player field – was the smallest of those events. The biggest of the majors is the U.S. Open which officially started on Monday (APRIL 20) with the first of 109 local qualifiers. Illinois will again have three…
Illini coach Mike Small takes a crack at the Senior PGA tourney
IN SELECT COMPANY: Illinois men’s coach Mike Small (right) was paired with two former major champions in the first round of the Senior PGA Championship. Henrik Stenson (left) won the 2016 British Open and John Daly captured titles in both the 1991 PGA Championship and 1995 British Open. Stenson shot 72, Daly 73 and…
Masters marks the real start of the golf season
Next week it’s on to Augusta, Ga., for the 90th Masters tournament. (Joy Sarver Photos) All the professional tours have been in full swing for several months, and so have most of the college teams. That said, golf excitement doesn’t really kick in until next week’s 90th playing of the Masters tournament. It’s…