The star of last year’s Chicago golf season is about to strike again. While University of Illinois friends Nick Hardy and Dylan Meyer opted to turn pro as soon as the NCAA tournament ended in June, Highwoods’ Patrick Flavin decided to wait a while. Now it’s his turn to take the spotlight. Last year Flavin,…
Daily Herald Columns
Conway Farms pro carries Chicago hopes in U.S. Senior Women’s Open
The only Chicago area qualifier for the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Chicago Golf Club is also the youngest in the 120-player field. Gurnee’s Jamie Fischer, who got in through the sectional qualifying round at Conway Farms, in Lake Forest, turned 50 on May 13. Fischer grew up in Ohio and qualified for three…
Ex-Illini Dylan Meyer is this JDC’s sponsor exemption to watch
This is an ideal time for the top college golf stars to get a jump-start on their professional careers, and Illinois’ Dylan Meyer has already done just that. After four years of stardom for the Illini Meyer made his professional debut at the U.S. Open. After surviving sectional qualifying he finished in a tie for…
Ryu-Henderson shootout in final round will start early at Kemper Lakes
An imposing weather forecast for Sunday will create a viewers’ headache for the climax to the 64th KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and that’s a shame. The expected duel for the title between Korean So Yeon Ryu and Canadian Brooke Henderson should be a dandy, based on how both performed in Saturday’s third round. Normally players…
First round at Kemper Lakes proves a walk in the park
There are four players named Park on the Ladies PGA tour roster, and they’re all good. The best known in Inbee Park, three-time winner of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the current No. 1-ranked player in the Rolex World Rankings. Hee Young Park has won twice on the circuit and Jane Park calls Chicago…
Inbee Park benefits from a lighter tournament schedule
The world’s No. 1-ranked woman’s golfer has barely played half the tournaments as her leading rivals have, but don’t worry about Korean Inbee Park heading into Thursday’s start of the 64th KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Park has played in only nine tournaments this season, and that was by design. At 29 she’s learned that her…
Jutanugarn says Kemper Lakes has harder course than Olympia Fields
How time flies. In 2011 Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn won the U.S. Junior Girls tournament at Olympia Fields. Now she’s one of the very best players in women’s golf with a No. 2 world ranking, winner of nine LPGA tournaments the champion in two majors including this year’s U.S. Women’s Open. Olympia wasn’t so kind to…
Kemper Lakes hosted one Chicago tournament that Annika DIDN’T win
Kemper Lakes has a rich history for hosting men’s tournaments. With the women it’s a little different. This week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is by far the club’s biggest ever. The only one that comes close was 26 years ago when Kemper was still a public facility. In 1992 the U.S. Women’s Amateur was played…
Women’s PGA at Kemper Lakes will be a wide-open affair
Golf’s only major championship presently scheduled at a Chicago area course tees off next week when the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship comes to Kemper Lakes in Kildeer. The event, one of five majors on the Ladies PGA Tour, was played at Olympia Fields last year with Danielle Kang the champion. Based on what’s been happening…
Ghim, Lumsden, Meyer have a great opportunity at the U.S. Open
The 118th U.S. Open tees off on Thursday at New York’s Shinnecock Hills course with the usual representation of Chicago players among the 156 starters. This year it’s a little different, however, because two of local hopefuls are amateurs. For Arlington resident Doug Ghim it’ll be his last event before turning pro. He got into…