Just qualifying for the Sweet 16 at the Western Amateur is a great accomplishment, and Northbrook’s Nick Hardy and Arlington Heights’ Doug Ghim both did that on Thursday at Knollwood Club in Lake Forest. They were only bit players in the third and fourth round of the stroke play portion in the 114th playing of…
Tournament Reports
Ghim is in the hunt again in Western Am after 2 rounds
Doug Ghim lives in Arlington Heights but the Chicago area rarely gets a chance to see how good he is. Wednesday, though, was one of those days. Ghim started fast and finished strong to climb into a tie for second place after two rounds of the stroke play competition at the 114th Western Amateur at…
Sainz smashes Illinois Open scoring records in 5-stroke victory
Golf has been played in the Chicago area for 124 years, and – as far as local players go — there’s never been a two-week stretch quite like the one that ended with a rousing Illinois Open victory by Elgin’s Carlos Sainz Jr. on Wednesday. Those two weeks — in tournaments played on three courses…
Royal Fox was no problem for Sainz in Round 2 of Illinois Open
Usually a golfer makes his mark in the Illinois Open and uses it as a springboard to earn a regular spot on the PGA Tour. For Carlos Sainz, though, it’s been the other way around – at least for now. Sainz had a strong showing in the 2013 Illinois Open, losing the title to Joe…
Host pro Carroll shares lead after Round 1 of Illinois Open
The 67th Illinois Open had two co-leaders after Monday’s first round, and neither was exactly a surprise. Christian Heavens, a touring pro from Fairview Heights near St. Louis, had the best score in the seven state-wide qualifying rounds – an 8-under-par 64 at Effingham Country Club on June 24 – and that good play carried…
Cooke’s bid for a repeat is just one sidelight in Illinois Open
The UL International Crown may wrap up on Sunday, but there’s no break on the area tournament calendar. The 67th Illinois Open begins its three-day run on Monday at two St. Charles clubs, Royal Fox and Royal Hawk. Defending champion is Bolingbrook’s David Cooke, who posted the best 54-hole score (199) and best score in…
Winning the International Crown was huge for Team USA
It’s official. The United States is the best women’s golfing nation. The UL International Crown was created to determine that very thing, and Team USA was up to the challenge in the second playing of the event at the Merit Club. In 2014, the event’s inaugural year, the U.S. couldn’t survive the best ball matches…
Team USA needs a big day vs. Japan to survive in International Crown
Team USA remained in last place in four-team Pool B at the UL International Crown on Friday, but there’s still hope for the home team in this global team event that determines its champion on Sunday. Thursday’s first round of matches was a disaster, the U.S. going 0-2 against England. Friday’s second round showing against…
Hardy’s 28-under, 10-shot win is best in Illinois Amateur’s 86 years
No golfer in the 86-year history of the Illinois State Amateur came close to doing what Northbrook’s Nick Hardy did this week at St. Charles Country Club. A 64-65 finish during Thursday’s concluding double round enabled Hardy to post a 260 total for the event’s 72 holes. The tournament record had been 270 by Bob…
Illini’s Miller survives IWO duel with Badgers’ Ferrell
The 22nd Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open shaped up as a two-player duel between a pair of Big Ten players before Wednesday’s final round even began. Illinois’ Stephanie Miller and Wisconsin’ Brooke Ferrell owned a three-shot lead on the rest of the field entering the last 18 at Mistwood, in Romeoville, and they matched shots…