Last week’s erf Open was a rousing success for champion Wyndham Clark, but not for Illinois-connected players. Only Adrien Dumont deChassart, who attended the University of Illinois, and Dylan Wu, a Northwestern alum, survived the 36-hole cut at Shinnecock Hills and neither was among the top 50 finishers.
Amateur competition within the Chicago area was another story. There were two spectacular performances within the area.
Campbell Ray — from Long Grove and Stevenson High School—won the Illinois girls qualifier for the Junior PGA Championship by a whopping 10 shots. She shot 69-72 at Kemper Lakes to earn the state’s lone spot in the Junior PGA Championship July 28-31 in Frisco, Texas.
Not only that, but Ray also committed to North Carolina-Asheville’s Division I program starting in the fall of 2027. Barrington’s Sam Uutala won the boys spot in the Junior PGA nationals.
Meanwhile Andrew Sciortino, an 18-year old from Brentwood, Tenn., captured the 108th Western Junior title by nine shots at Knollwood Club in Lake Forest. After posting 67-68 in the 36-hole final day his 7-under-par 277 was the lowest score since the prestigious tournament went to a 72-hole format in 1999.
Sciortino, who will begin his college career at Lipscomb, in Nashville, Tenn., joins a roster of Western Junior champions that includes Jim Furyk, Rickie Fowler and Colin Morikawa. Evanston’s Lester Low and Glen Ellyn’s Owen Conjaris were the best of the Chicago players, finishing in a tie for 16th.
ILLINOIS SR. OPEN – Illinois men’s coach Mike Small won for the fourth time in four years at Hawthorn Woods, shooting a 3-under 141 for 36 holes. Lakewood’s Doug Bauman, who climbed 25 spots on the leaderboard after his second round 68, was second and Park Ridge’s Rick Stewart and John Ehrgott of downstate Edwards, tied for third and shared low amateur honors.
The IPGA Senior Championship starts its two-day run on Monday (JUNE 29) at Flossmoor.
CDGA – The 106th Chicago District Amateur has two days of match play left at North Shore, in Glenview. The tourney began on Monday with a 36-hole session to determine 16 qualifiers for the match play portion of the event.
Quarterfinals and semifinal matches will be played today (WEDNESDAY) and the two survivors will battle for the title over 36 holes on Thursday.
JOHN DEERE CLASSIC – Illinois’ only annual PGA Tour stop is closing in. The July 2-5 event at TPC Deere Run in downstate Silvis will mark the tourney’s 55th annual playing. Brian Campbell is its defending champion, though the former Illinois star has missed the cut in his last three starts of this season.
Once again the JDC field is filled with promising young stars. Youngest is 19-year old Blades Brown, who earned special PGA Tour membership after getting four top-25 finishes in seven starts.
Luke Clanton, 24, and Michael Thorbjornsen, 24, tied for second in the JDC in 2024. Michael Brennan, 24, a sponsor exemption, made the cut at this year’s U.S. Open. Neil Shipley, 25, was the low amateur at the Masters and U.S. Open in 2024 and made the cut at Shinnecock Hills. South African Aldrich Potgieter, 21, almost won a PGA Tour event but lost to defending JDC champ Campbell in a playoff at the 2025 Mexico Open.
ILLINOIS OPEN: Registration has closed for the 77th annual event scheduled for Aug. 10-12 at Wynstone, in Barrington. The first of seven qualifying seasions in June 29 at Mistwood, in Romeoville, and the Last Chance qualifier is Aug. 5 at Countryside, in Mundelein.