SCOTTIE SHEFFLER is your first winner of the Evans Scholars Invitational, at the Glen Club, on the Web.com Tour. This week the Web.com tour moves to Raleigh NC.              ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS. Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, Linkedin or Facebook. Talking with HOF Nominee Len Ziehm

ONE DOWN-hopefully many more to go.

The first Evans Scholars Invitational is in the books, and University of Texas Alum Scottie Sheffler wins it, after a two hole playoff.

Congrats to Sheffler, and Kudo’s to the Western Golf Association (WGA) for pulling it off. Hopefully the tournament made some money, and will help get a few more caddies off to college. As the WGA  trys to make it, 1,000 caddies a year in college on full tuition. The players I spoke with said, the tournament was much better, than many of the other Web.com events. More scoreboards, more volunteers, great food and better people. There was a fair amount of fan support. And the superintendent and his staff did a great job, especially because of all the rain during the four tournament days. Hopefully a few more fans, will make it out next year.

SO THE FIRST BIG golf tournament in town this summer is in the books, and what did we learn from it ?

Scottie Sheffler will move on to the next level of professional golf. And he will likely not be back next year, to defend his title at the ESI. Illinois Alum Nick Hardy’s game is rounding into shape, but Hardy has no status on any tour and really needs some tournaments to play in. Hardy has a letter into John Deere Classic Tournament Director Clair Peterson for a Sponsors Exemption, but doesn’t expect to a third one. Since Peterson was kind of enough to grant him two already. Maybe three strikes and your out (of exemptions) could be the rule here. Fingers crossed. Hardy is trying to Monday qualify today for Raleigh, and next Monday for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

REIGNING ILLINOIS OPEN CHAMPION Vince India has not slammed the door on coming back to the Glen Club in August, to defend his Illinois Open title. He is reviewing all the possiblities of trying to play, and still play the Web.com that week if he wants to. He is not trying to qualify for Pebble Beach.

Luke Guthrie is making some progress with his game finally, after what he calls a few year drought. Guthrie will try to qualify for the U.S. Open next Monday.

DYLAN MEYER and CHRIS WILSON both missed the cut at ESI after getting sponsors exemptions into the field. Meyer (U of I) is trying to right the ship after several missed cuts, and Wilson (NU) is still trying to get into events anywhere he can.

AFTER DOING OUR RADIO SHOW with industry consultant Bill Daniels a week back, on the proposed Jackson Park golf project, one that seemed to be on life support.

Maybe not. This past week after speaking with Mike Kesier, and Brian Hogan Co-Founder and Director of the Chicago Parks Golf Alliance, maybe the project has some life after all.

Keiser is hoping for some work to start this fall. The plan is to get five holes complete, to use a junior course. Until the remainder of the course is finished. There could be support from the new Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot. Always so important in Chicago to have city hall behind you.

Money still remains a key issue, and my talks with Keiser and Hogan did not shed any new light on where the $$$$ will come from. But it does appear the WGA is involved with the project, even more than orginally thought. But that’s probably a good idea, if there is ever to be a PGA Tour event on the site.

AT LEAST THEY GOT THERE. Congrats to the University of Illinois men’s golf team on making it to the NCAA National Championships in Arkansas. At the University of Arkansas’ golf course, The Blessings. I haven’t played there, so I checked the photo’s and hope to see more on TV this week. It seems to be a very nice golf course, but nothing that really knocked my socks off. The clubhouse and indoor practice area, look like the clubhouse building at Streamsong.

Mike Small’s guys ended up in 27th place place after 54 holes, and did not make the first cut. Which drops the field from 30 to 15 teams. Small had no seniors on this team, that still won the Big Ten Conference and the Myrtle Beach Regional. Not bad.

A CALL TO THE HALL..this Thursday final voting takes place for the 2019 Class, that will enter the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame. I’ll be there presenting on behalf of our BIG 3 partner Len Ziehm. Good luck to all the candidates.

TODAY’S DOWNPOUR is not what our courses needed. We had plenty of local courses that needed to cut the rough this past few days. So I hope, they got it done before this afternoon’s soaking came from the skies.

I HAVE A PILE of things in the Sunday Morning Short Game bin, I hope to get that out in a day or so. Back this week. RS

WEB.COM see the future stars of golf. THE ILLINOIS GOLF HALL OF FAME, sits inside the Glen Club. Fianl voting for the Class of 2019 is Thursday night. Who get’s in.  _____________________________________________________________________

Scottie Sheffler wins the first Evans Scholars invitational at the Glen Club

Scottie Sheffler is the first winner of the Evans Scholars Invitational at the Glen Club.

Sheffler came from six shots behind in the final round, to earn his first professional victory. Sheffler gets the first place check of $99,000 dollars, but it wasn’t easy. Because the win came in a two hole playoff with Marcelo Rozo.

Sheffler earned the win after making a 20 foot birdie putt.

Click here to hear the interview, with Evans Scholars invitational winner Scottie Sheffler.

Sheffler left the golf course down one shot. As he went insdie the Glen Club to grab a bite to eat, he saw that Rozo had made a bogey. Because he was now tied for the lead, Sheffler immediately went to get ready for a playoff, just in case. And it was a good thing he did, because 30 minutes later, that’s exactly where he was.

Both Sheffler and Rozo headed back to the par 5, 18th hole tee box. Both players then reached the green in three shots. Neither player had a short birdie putt. But Sheffler went first and left his putt short. Rozo then followed and did the same thing. With that it was back to the 18th hole tee box, for playoff hole number two.

Sheffler found the fairway with his second shot. Rozo was some 30 yards past Sheffler, but hit it left and up near a small tree. Sheffler found the green, and left himself a 30 foot birdie attempt. Rozo hit a great shot that ran across the corner of the green, before just inching it’s way into the rought behind the green.

Rozo then putted his ball, leaving it about 8 feet short of the cup. Sheffler then went for the win. Taking the break out of the putt, Sheffler ran his putt into the bottom of the cup for the win. Had he missed the putt, Sheffler might have had 10 feet coming back to the hole.

A nice gallery of about 300 people stuck around to watch the playoff.

Former University of Illinois golfer Luke Guthrie, finsihed two shots back in 4th place. Reigning Illinois Open Champion Vince India, closed with a 69, and tied for 19th place.

Another University of Illinois alum Nick Hardy, went after a final round low score to earn a spot in next weeks Web.com event in Raliegh North Carolina. Hardy shot a great 7 under par 65, to finish at 10 under par. But ended up in 27th place. So he was immediately headed to the airport, so he could try to Monday qualify for Raleigh.

Hardy spoke after his round, telling Golfers on Golf he “has no status” on any tour. So while his game is rounding into shape, he is having some trouble finding tournaments to play in. Hardy will try to qualify for the U.S. Open next Monday, June 3rd in Ohio. He is hoping to earn a sponsors exemption into the John Deere Classic in July.

THE EVANS SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL at the Glen Club final Round play tomorrow. Tee times 9-11 Am. Free Admission (R) Illini Alum Nick Hardy recaps his 1st round play. ______________________________________________________________________

Illinois Men’s team Golf Coach Mike Small

Illinois golf coach Mike Small knew he had a young team to assemble this year.

Small led his players to the Big Ten Championship, and advanced them to the NCAA National Championships after a first place finish at the regionals.

However the nationals are a different story, and Illinois is in 27th place, so they are struggling to make the 54 hole cut. Because only the top 15 schools will advance after 54 holes of play. The NCAA Men’s National Golf Championships are being played at the Blessings Golf Club, in Fayetteville Arkansas.

Illinois was 10 shots better in Round 2, than in Round 1. But they fell back three spots on the leaderboard. Oklahoma State at 2 under par, leads second place Stanford by 12 shots. Illinois will have to make up a minimum of 11 shots, to advance to the final round of stroke play.

Michael Feagles leads Illinois with rounds of 76-71 and is +3, for 36 holes on the par 72 golf course.

The Big Ten is lead by Ohio State, that is in a 3-way tie for seventh place. Ohio State and Illinois are the only Big Ten schools that qualfied for the national championships.

THE EVANS SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL all this weekend at the Glen Club. Web.com.

The Mt. Prospect Golf Club clubhouse

WEEK 9 of Golfers on Golf Radio returns to the tee, at 10 Am this morning. On “The Big” Am 750 WNDZ in Chicago.

Your hosts Ed Stevenson, Bill Berger and Rory Spears, bring you an hour of golf talk with a Chicago flavor to it.

This week John Cannon the president of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama, joins us to discuss a warm-weather destination to play golf. It’s something that Chicago golfers have wanted for a few months. And Mt. Prospect Golf Club Director of Golf Brett Barcel, returns to the show Barcel will review the Mt. Prospect Golf Club, and the current golf season.

Discussion includes the wrap up of the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black, and more from the Evans Scholars Invitational at the Glen Club.

Golfers on Golf Radio Week 9 on the tee this morning at 10, on AM 750 WNDZ Join us.

NICK HARDY talks golf at the Evans Scholars Invitational at the Glen Club. Web.com     _____________________________________________________________________

The first Evans Scholars Invitational at the Glen Club.

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY…

The Second round of the Evans Scholars Invitational, was hampered by rain. As a result, the second round remains unfinished because of delays and finally darkness.

Rob Oppenheim is the leader in the clubhouse, after a second roun 7 under par 65. Oppenheim sits at 12 under par.

Vince Covello is two shots back, after he carded a 65 in round two.

Round two started slowly at the Glen Club, when overnight rains forced an expected two hour delay. Shortly into that delay, it was decided another 20 minutes would be needed, before play could begin.

Second round play lasted just under three hours, before lightning and approaching rain forces another delay. Play resumed 70 minutes later, and lasted until 8:12 Pm when darkness forced play to be called.

Morning flight players did complete round two, and so did some players in the afternoon flight. Round 2 will be restarted at 7:30 Am on Saturday morning. Once the cut is made, Round 3 will begin play at 10:30 Am. 66 players still need to complete Round 2.

The field will be trimmed to the low 65 players and ties, when Round 2 is finished.

Former University of Illinois standout Luke Guthrie is in fourth place, four shots back at 8 under par. Current Illinois Open Champion Vince India, is five shots back at 7 under par. India survived a situation on the 10th hole, when his approach shot landed in the high rough, right of the green. After a short ball search, India’s ball is found to be partially embeded on top of another ball. A lengthy delay followed, while multiple rules officials discussed the situation.

University of Illinois alum Nick Hardy is at 2 under par, and has 10 holes to play. While hardy should just make the cut. Partners Dylan Meyer (U of I) and Chris Wilson (NU), will need a few late birdies to stay all weekend.

This weeks purse is $550,000, with the winners share at $99,000. The current project cut line is at 2 under par.

    THE EVANS SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL at the Glen Club. Free Admission come see the future stars of tomorrow on the PGA Tour. ESInvitational.com Concludes on Sunday. ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. At Rich Harvest Farms, home of the 2019 Western Junior Golf Championships. June 17-20.

THE NEW WEB.COM Tournament the Evans Scholars Invitational (ESI), played it’s first round on what turned out to be a sunny, but windy day at the Glen Club.

When Day 1 was complete, Tyler McCumber had posted a 7 under par 65, and held a 2 shot lead over 3 players, including Deerfield native and reigning Illinois Open Champion, Vince India.

McCumber is the son of former Western Open Champion, and 10 time PGA Tour winner Mark McCumber. McCumber broke out quickly making birdies on three of the first five holes, and never looked back.

U of I alum and Northbrook Illinois native Nick Hardy, recalls his round play to the media, at the Glen Club.

India, the reigning Illinois Open Champion after winning at the Glen Club in 201. India told BIG 3 Partner Len Ziehm, he would play this week, and use it as his Illinois Open for 2019. And won’t likely play in this years Illinois Open, while playing on the Web.com Tour.

The Western Golf Association (WGA), gave four exemptions into the field this week. They included former University of Illinois players Nick Hardy (72-E), and Dylan Meyer ( 74 +2). Northwestern alum Chris Wilson ( 75 +3), and 2018 Western Amateur runner-up Davis Riley (72-E).

Click here to hear interviews with Chris Wilson, Dylan Meyer and Nick Hardy.

Former University of Illinois standout, and Web.com regular Luke Guthrie, was 3 shots off the lead at 4 under par.

NEWS and NOTES: Hardy told Golfers on Golf that he has applied for a sponsors exemption, for this years John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour. But after receiving two exemptions at the JDC in the past, Hardy is not hopeful to get a third.

Wilson Golf Staff professional Ricky Barnes was asked, if he plans to add the Wilson Golf Driver vs Driver 2 winner, the Cortex Driver to his bag. Barnes said he hasn’t had time to really test the club yet. But loves the new Wilson D7 Irons, in his bag.

Because the wind picked up by mid-day, pace-of-play really slowed to a crawl. The final groups of the morning session, took nearly 5 hours and 15 minutes to complete the round.

EVAN SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL Teeing of tomorrow at the Glen Club. May 23-26. The cost is free to attend. ESInvitational.com/tickets. MIKE KEISER’S Sand Valley Golf Resort in Nekoosa Wisconsin, tee times and rooms are filling fast. See SandValley.com. ______________________________________________________________________

Putting for Birdie on Bandon Dunes. The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy and Linkedin or Facebook.

This weeks new area Web.com event is called the Evans Scholars Invitational (ESI), it got on to the tour’s schedule through the hard work of many.

Mainly those folks in the Western Golf Association (WGA). One of the many partners the WGA has enlisted to make this championship happen, is Chicago golf enthusiast Mike Keiser.

During the ESI pro-am on Wednesday, Golfers on Golf caught up with Keiser. The man who been termed a visionary, in the sport of golf.

Keiser’s golf projects include, the Dunes Club in New Buffalo Michigan, Bandon Dunes on the coast of Oregon, Sand Valley in Wisconsin, and Cabot Links in Canada. There are more, and one of them is closer to home. So we will cover that here shortly.

Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley by David Kidd

So the interview started with some thought about, Keiser’s involvement in helping tee-off the first ESI, this week at the Glen Club.

His help in getting the WGA towards it’s goal, of putting 1,000 Evans Scholars Caddies into colleges every year.

But no Keiser interview can be completed without covering, what’s happening at his golf properties listed above.

Because there is a new golf course in the works at Bandon Dunes. One that Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore are working on right now. Tom Doak is planning the fourth course at Sand Valley in Wisconsin. North of the border, plans are still going forward to make travel easier to Cabot Links.

There is another project on the drawing board for golf in Northern Oregon, and could have a very unique partner on board.

Mike Keiser (L) with architect Jim Urbina at the Dunes Club

Finally closer to home, the much talked about Jackson Park project. The questions there including the routing, the permitting, the where the money will come from. And since it’s Chicago, there is always a political side to everything.

Last week during Golfers on Golf Radio Am 750, golf industry analyst Bill Daniels was a guest on the show, to discuss progress, and or lack of it, on the Jackson Park-South Shore Golf Course renovations. It was suggested that it could be a project, and that the band the Talking Heads would call, “On the Road to Nowhere.”

But after speaking with Keiser today, that might not be the case.

Click here to hear our interview with Mike Keiser, that is spraying to several fairways in the world of golf.

Golfers on Golf Radio Radio Am 750 the Big WNDZ, will have continued discussion on these topics, Saturday morning between 10-11 AM.

Golfers on Golf Radio and and Golfersongolf.com, will have more stories all week from the first ESI, at the Glen Club.

THE EVANS SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL teeing of on Thursday at the Glen Club, free tickets when you go online to ESInvitational.com/tickets. The new web.com tournament runs Thursday to Sunday. Dylan Meyer and Vince Pellegrino on media day at the Glen.  ______________________________________________________________________

On the wall, in the hall. Of the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.

The Illinois Golf Hall of Fame, has announced the 12 finalists for the 2019 Class of the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.

“We can’t help but have an outstanding class with these nominees to select from,” said selection committee chair Tim Cronin. “Collectively, they’ve done everything worth doing in golf. It’s the strongest field in years.”

The final voting will be held next week on Thursday night May 30th, at the Glen Club home of the hall of fame. The field was reduced from 22 to the top ten and ties after first round voting. The voting panel has members of the Hall of Fame, and from various Illinois golf organizations.

The 12 finalists include.

Bessie Anthony- who played out of the Glen View Club in the early 1900’s, winning several top amateur titles.

Emil Esposito- An Illinois PGA professional for over 50 years, who won the Illinois Open in 1966 and 1974. Esposito was the 1979 Illinois PGA Section Champion.

Dr. Randy Kane-A turf quality manager for the CDGA, from 1985 through 2006.

William Langford After his playing days were over, Langford became a leading golf course architect. One of his distinguished courses is the Links Course at Lawsonia in Wisconsin.

Carol Mann-Learned her golf at Olympia Fields, and after turning professional went on to win 38 LPGA Tournaments. Including two major championships, one fo whichis was the 1965 U.S. Women’s Open.

Michael Miller-The long time Executive Director of the Illinois PGA, and helped create the Illinois PGA Foundation. Miller helped obtain exhibits for the Illinois Golf HOF.

Francis Peabody-who helped form the CDGA in the fall of 1914.

Garry Pinns-the only player to win the Illinois Open five times. It took Pinns three decades to accomplish the feat. He won the first of his titles in 1978 while still an amateur.

Harry Radix-An avid golf fan who helped create the Radix Cup matches. A yearly event that features top Illinois PGA Section professionals and CDGA amateur players, in matches contested at Oak Park Country Club.

Dave Ryan-A top amateur golfer who won the USGA 2016 Senior Amateur Championship. He has won the Illinois Senior Amateur four times.

Len Ziehm-who along with professional Emil Esposito, are the two living legends who have donated over 50 years to the golf industry in Illinois. Ziehm spent many of years at the Sun-Times, before retiring and going on to work at the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights. Len still writes for Lenziehmongolf.com, the CDGA Magazine, Chicagoland Golf and the Morning Read.

GolfersonGolf.com will post those elected to the Class of 2019 as soon as they are known, after voting concludes.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or Linkedin and Facebook.

THE 1ST EVANS SCHOLARS INVITATIONAL-on the tee this week at The Glen Club.     _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS. Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Above the first tee at Bethpage Black.

GOLF IS BACK. So is Brooks Koepka the main driving force in golf today.

When Jim Nantz of CBS called out the golf media this past week, for not giving Koepka the credit he deserved. One wondered what it would take to get things back on track.

A 2-shot win for Koepka’s fourth major championship in 23 months is what it took. By doing so, Koepka became the first player in golf history to hold, two PGA and U.S Open titles at the same time.

Well Koepka’s finish in terrible windy conditions wasn’t solid, his start the first two days was as good as it gets. Koepka held the biggest 36 hole lead in championship history, and in the end, only Dustin Johnson mounts a charge that could have dashed Koepka’s bid to win a second Wanamaker Trophy.

Nick Faldo nailed it on the head, when he said on Saturday that Woods showed up unprepared to tackle a tough Bethpage Black Golf Course. Woods was nine back after Round 1, and 17 shots in back of Koepka after 36 holes. Because Woods was +5 he missed the cut by a shot, and golf was back on track for an exciting weekend. Analyst Brandel Chamblee picked Woods to win, and wished he hadn’t. Calling Woods both foggy and showing up unprepared to play.

While Nantz mentioned Woods 4-times in the first 30 minutes on Saturday, and should have been given a 2-shot penalty right there. He righted the ship as the third round progressed, with Faldo bringing some real doses of reality. Reality was the golf media having to shift gears and start giving Koepka a serious look. It was amazing how many of the media thought golf was in a great place with Woods win in Augusta. They thought people would flock to play golf, and start buying new golf balls and shirts. I didn’t believe that for a minute. That golf boom around the Chicago area didn’t happen. The weather has played havoc on our golf season so far this year, and Woods win couldn’t or didn’t change anything.

By Sunday however, CBS was looking for some drama, and got it as Koepka struggled getting home during his walk through the “Back 9 on Sunday”. The sad part is that the CBS crew was almost cheering as Koepka made four bogeys in four holes, and his lead over Johnson shrunk to one. They wanted drama and not a Koepka landslide victory. But once Johnson made bogey on holes 16 and 17, Koepka had all the space he needed. So CBS moved on to crowning Koepka as the new force in golf.

When it ended, golf had gotten the new superstar it was looking for. A player that will have people playing the game of golf, and wanting to see more. Galleries were huge all weekend long, even without Woods. It didn’t matter who was playing, New York fans turned out in force.

Did the PGA Championship garner the attention with it’s move to May. It’s hard to say. The NHL and NBA playoffs are still going on, and the Preakness was running. What may have been a saving grace, is the Eastern Conference Finals wrapped up early, and the Kentucky Derby winner Country House wasn’t running at Pimlico.

One thing for sure. I expect both Johnson and Koepka to be running strong at Pebble Beach, and there could be quite a rematch in the making. The U.S. Open has some serious drama heating up. A new war by the shore. Johnson has played great at Pebble Beach in the past, including win’s during the PGA Tour event there. Johnson, Koepka and maybe even “Lefty Phil” should be in the mix come Father’s Day Sunday next month.

THE MEDIA hook up with 2018 John Deere Classic Champion Michael Kim today at TPC Deere Run. I’ll have some preview later in the week. The Gog Blog is back this week, the 1st Evans Scholars Invitational tee’s off on Thursday at the Glen Club. The admission is free, come out and support golf and the caddies of the Evans Scholars.

THE RAIN NEEDS TO GO. I saw and heard there are some courses that really need to cut the grass, lets save the U.S. Open rough for Pebble Beach.

Little-by-little it’s warming into golf season. Go play. My new clubs are here. I’m ready. RS