Last year the Illinois PGA’s newest big thing was the addition of a season-long team competition that was well received by section members. This year’s newest big thing is more far-reaching.
The Illinois PGA Open Series tees off on Monday at White Eagle, in Naperville. That’ll be the first of six one-day tournaments that are open to IPGA professionals (members and associates), amateurs with a handicap index under 10.0 and other professionals that are at least 18 years old. Players under 18 may be accepted, too, but must submit a playing resume first.
It’s a unique format that has been long in the planning stages.
“We have been talking internally, and branching out to more of our staff,’’ said Andy Mickelson, the IPGA tournament chairman, director of golf at Mistwood in Romeville and the section vice president. “We went to the CDGA (Chicago District Golf Association) to get their blessing. It’ll be good for tournament golf in Illinois. We think it’ll be a big hit.’’
The Series won’t conflict with the IPGA stroke play events. Handicaps won’t be used in the competition and there’ll be sponsors for each event. The entry target for each event is 90 players.
In addition to club pros the White Eagle event includes Mike Small, the University of Illinois men’s coach; Vince India, a two-time Illinois Open champion who has been a regular on the Korn Ferry Tour; and Sarah Arnold, a two-time champion in the Illinois Women’s State Amateur.
Mickelson expects prize money for the pros will probably be in the “low four figures for the winner.’’ Amateur prizes will be in the form of gift cards. Entry fee in the first event was $225. Some of Chicago’s top courses will be hosting Series events. Flossmoor will host on May 21, Hinsdale on June 9, Elgin on July 14, Aurora on July 28 and Bill Valley on Oct. 8.
Players can walk or ride in the events. They’ll be assigned to play separate tees based on age and/or gender.
HERE AND THERE: Chicago products Nick Hardy and Doug Ghim get back in action on the PGA Tour on Thursday in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Hardy and Davis Riley won the circuit’s lone team event in 2023 and will play together again. Ghim’s partner is Johan Kim. Luke Donald is paired with Camilo Villegas and Illinois alum Thomas Detry with Robert McIntyre.
Illinois’ second-oldest golf course, Rock Island Arsenal, will re-open as a nine holer after being closed since 2018.
Chicago’s first U.S. Open local qualifier is today at Stonewall Orchard. The first U.S. Senior Open qualifier is Tuesday (APRIL 29) at Kankakee Elks.
Vernon Hills will hold the grand opening of its new short game facility –The Back Nine at the Muny—on Tuesday.
The University of Illinois men’s team, coming off a third-place finish in the Boilermaker Invitational at Purdue, will seek its 14th Big Ten title in 16 years when the three-day league tourney tees off Friday at Baltimore Country Club.
Jay Sigel, one of the world’s best amateurs in the post World War II era, has passed away at age 81, a victim of pancreatic cancer. Sigel won one of his most notable titles in 1984 at North Shore Country Club when he defeated Chris Perry 8 and 7 in the final of the U.S. Amateur. That made Sigel the eighth player to win the U.S. Amateur in back-to-back years.
Tickets to the LIV Golf League’s Chicago tourney Aug. 8-10 at Bolingbrook Golf Club are now on sale.