The collegiate golf season reaches its climax in the next three weeks, and it could go down as one for ages as far as Illinois schools are concerned. Both the men’s and women’s teams at Northwestern qualified for the NCAA tournament and the Illinois men’s squad looms as one of the favorites for the national…
Daily Herald Columns
Illini, NU golfers are NCAA-bound again — as Big 10 champions
This is getting to be old hat. The University of Illinois men and Northwestern women are heading back to next month’s NCAA tournaments as Big Ten champions. Coach Mike Small’s Illini and Emily Fletcher’s Wildcats defended their titles last weekend on Indiana courses. Illinois ruled for the seventh time in eight seasons and NU, which…
Mistwood pros celebrate clubhouse opening with another victory
How much better can things get at Mistwood? This was a big week at the Romeoville course, if for no other reason than owner Jim McWethy is hosting a week of special events to celebrate the grand opening of his spectacular new clubhouse. Opening of the 27,000 square foot clubhouse, which includes McWethy Tavern and…
International Crown needed Webb to play at Merit Club
The UL International Crown, the biggest event on the Chicago golf calendar this season, lucked out when it reached its first qualifying deadline last week in the midst of Masters hoopla world-wide. In announcing the eight countries to qualify for the July 19-24 global team event at the Merit Club it was significant that Australia…
This Masters will be good — but won’t match the epic of 30 years ago
This week marks the 80th playing of the Masters tournament and the 30th anniversary of Jack Nicklaus’ last championship. His win in 1986 was also the first Masters that I covered from Augusta National, and I doubt there’ll ever be another one like it. Nicklaus, who has accurately called the Masters “the championship of nothing,’’…
A busy year already, but Streelman can finally focus on the Masters
Next week’s Masters tournament may be the first highlight event of the year for most golfers, but not for Kevin Streelman. The only Chicago area player to qualify for the Masters has had an eventful year already. Most of it has been good – but not all. Streelman returns to the PGA Tour for this…
Golf Show triggers IPGA announcement on new Illinois Open sites
Weather notwithstanding, you know the local golf season can’t be far away when the Chicago Golf Show is on the horizon. The show started on a small scale 33 years ago, an experimental venture by the Illinois PGA at Harper College in Palatine. It has grown into the largest consumer golf show in the country….
This Florida course sure knows how to attract golfers
WINTER PARK, FLORIDA – A big reason for scheduling a round at Winter Pines Golf Club is that it is – at least arguably – the busiest course in Florida. Given the reported 1,500-plus courses in the Sunshine State – and particularly the array of good ones in the Orlando area – that’s saying something….
Lehman’s radical new Florida course is one of a kind
OCALA, Florida – The ingenuity of golf course architects never ceases to amaze me, but Tom Lehman – a player first and designer a distant second – has outdone all his architectural counterparts for the time being. Lehman — a two-time major championship winner, former Ryder Cup captain and a regular on the Champions Tour…
Chicago Golf Club gets first U.S. Senior Women’s Open
America’s first 18-hole course is back on the U.S. Golf Assn. tournament schedule — and as the site of its newest national championship to boot. Chicago Golf Club, in Wheaton, was named Saturday as the first site of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open. It’ll be played July 12-15, 2018. The USGA has been pressured to…