THE WHITE EAGLE GOLF CLUB is host to this years 71st Illinois Open August 3-5.      _____________________________________________________________________

Brandon Holtz with a 6 under par 66, is the first round leader by three shots.

The 71st Illinois Open has a familiar name at the top of the leader board.

Football helmet salesman Brandon Holtz out in the first group of the day with White Eagle Golf Club Director of Golf Curtis Malm, carded a 6 under par 66, and holds a three shot lead.

The 66 is a course record, but some are calling it a new course record, since it’s come after architect Todd Quitno’s recent renovation. Apparently unwilling to take Tiger Woods name out of the record books, it’s now being said that Woods still owns the old course record. Go figure.

“Setting the new course record is pretty sweet,” said Holtz. “The course is phenomenal and the greens are great. I had a couple of bad hits off the tee that left me in tough spots, but overall it was a good day.”

Holtz says he only plays in three events a year, since he quit playing professionally. So he really gears up for those three. Holtz is no stranger to everyone who plays the Illinois Open.

In 2017 Holtz was second, in 2018 Holtz was second again. In 2019 a great third round at the Glen Club pulled him up into a T-7 finish. This year he seems like a man on  mission to finally get the job done.

Malm had a birds-eye seat to Holtz’s round.

“He hit it great, 66 was about as bad as Holtz could have shot,” said Malm, who finished with a 1-over par 73. Malm who upgraded his title in the off-season from head professional at White Eagle, to Director of Golf admitted he hasn’t been playing competitively this summer.

Malm told Golfers on Golf that the right decision was made in not cancelling this years Illinois Open, even though the second course Stonebridge had to be dropped, and the field was sliced down to it’s old size of 156 players.

Brian Bullington and 2017 Illinois Open Champion Patrick Flavin are tied for second place after carding 3-under par 69’s.

Patrick Flavin hits his drive on the par 4, second hole, his 11th of the day at White Eagle Golf Club

Flavin was the Best-Man in his brothers wedding on Sunday night, in the suburbs of Columbus Ohio. He stayed more-or-less on his best behavior Sunday night, and set his alarm at 4 Am EST, to get up to drive to White Eagle for his 12:30 tee time. He arrived just less than two hours before teeing off. Flavin did some yoga drills to get ready to play before hitting balls and working on the putting green.

Click here to hear interviews with Curtis Malm and Patrick Flavin

Three players are tied for fourth at 2 under par. Overall 16 players broke par, many of them at just 1 under par. Medinah Country Club professional Travis Johns who is bidding for the career grand slam, after winning the IPGA Section Championship last August at Ruth Lake shot a 75 (+3).

Amateur William Gneiser the youngest player in the field at only 16 years old, and is the grandson of former Blackhawks great the late Stan Mikita, struggled to a 91. Mikita an avid golfer, played in the Illinois Open on multiple occasions in the 1970’s.

The cut will come after Round 2 on Tuesday, the low-50 and ties or anyone within 10 shots of the lead, gets to play Round 3 on Wednesday.

THE 120th WESTERN AMATEUR at Crooked Stick Golf Club-BRICKYARD CROSSING is now open until 500 week approaches. Tee times going quickly Brickyardcrossing.com ______________________________________________________________________

Pierceson Coody with the George R. Thorne Trophy after winning the 120th Western Amateur Championship at Crooked Stick.

Pierceson Coody birdied the first hole and never trailed, defeating Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 2 & 1 in the championship match in the 120th Western Amateur Championship at Pete Dye’s Crooked Stick Golf Club.

Coody the #16 ranked amateur in the world, is the grandson of 1971 Masters Champion Charles Coody. Coody is a junior at the University of Texas, with Neergaard-Petersen a junior at Oklahoma State.

Coody holed a 20 foot par putt on 17 to put some pressure on Neergaard, who needed to hole a five foot putt to halve the hole and move the match to 18. We he missed the putt the match and a long week of golf at Crooked Stick was over. In the morning semi-finals, Neergaard had to go 21 holes to eliminate World Amateur #2 Ricky Castillo the top remaining seed (#5) in the championship. Coody called the win, the “biggest of his career.” The 2021 Western Amateur moves back to Illinois and the Glen View Club, where the Western Amateur was first played.

THE GEORGE HOLLIDAY Memorial Junior Tournament is now accepting entries. One of the biggest and most premier junior tournaments in the Carolina’s will be played November 26-28, on three top level Myrtle Beach golf courses, designed by Arnold Palmer, Kings North, Kings West and South Creek. Fee is $185.00 and the field is capped at 160 players. More details by calling Myrtle Beach National at (843)-448-2308.

THREE MORE TOP LEVEL Myrtle Beach Courses have been named in America’s Top 100 Courses You can Play. At #50 Dunes Golf and Beach Club, by RT Jones Sr., at #62 is Caledonia Golf & Fish Club, and #95 another Mike Strantz design the True Blue Golf Club. Tee times at PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com

Golf 360 on NBC Sports Chicago tonight at 6 PM

The Golf 360 show returns for another edition tonight at 6 PM on NBC Sports Chicago.

The show hosted by former Chicago Bear Patrick Mannelly, and produced by “Links” Dave Lockhart, takes golfers not only around the Chicago area, but beyond.

This weeks edition starts with a trip around Lake Michigan to the Jack Nicklaus designed Harbor Shores Golf Club. Follow the show on social media for news and a full schedule of episodes.

PINE MEADOW GOLF CLUB is hosting a “By Appointment Only” Taylor Made fitting day on Saturday August 22nd from 10 Am to 2 pm. To sign up call Pine Meadow at (847)-566-4653 (Golf).

SAND VALLEY DREAM GOLF-ready for a day trip of Dream Golf. Play at least 35 holes and enjoy lunch on the new food truck. Book your day at (888)-976-1435, and visit Sandvalley.com.

BLACKBERRY OAKS in Bristol is holding a 4-Person “Back to School” scramble on August 23rd. To sign up call Blackberry Oaks at (630)-553-7170, or visit BBO online at BlackberryOaks.com.

The Chicago District Golf Association-CDGA.org

Chadd Slutzky and partner John Ramsey won their second CDGA-Amateur Four Ball, in the event’s five year history.

“We’re glad to be back,” Slutzky said.

The championship was the first CDGA Championship of 2020, after several cancellations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

To win the title Slutzky and Ramsey had to go 20 holes with Andrew Vitt and Nick Smith, who held a three-up lead after 14 holes.

With the Slutzky led comeback on, a lightning warning caused a 26 minute delay. Bur Ramsey turned things on during the extra holes, and won the match with a 2-putt on the par 3 second playoff hole at the historic Donald Ross designed Skokie Country Club. The Illinois State Mid-Amateur comes up on the CDGA shortened schedule August 24-25.

The Gog Blog returns on tomorrow. RS

GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO (L-R) Rory Spears-Ed Stevenson-Bill Berger. With Len Ziehm our special guest host from PGA Village for Week 15.

Golfers on Golf Radio will be joined for the entire show by guest host and Illinois PGA Golf Hall of Fame inductee Len Ziehm, from LenZiehmongolf.com and the Daily Herald.

Golfers on Golf Radio is on WCPT Am 820, and WCPT820.com to listen live online. You can watch the show live on Facebook-WCPT page. Or use the Tune-In Radio App  Search Wcpt820. If you missed the show, you get a mulligan by visiting SoundCloud.com/Chicago’sprogressivetalk. Or watch the replay on WCPT facebook page.

Week 15 guests include Jon Parsons the GM of the Schaumburg Golf Club, that has just fully reopened from renovation. Curtis Malm the Director of Golf at the White Eagle Golf Club, home of this weeks Illinois Open Golf Championship.

We hear from World Amateur #2 Ricky Castillo at the Western Amateur, and Brickyard Crossing Director of Golf Jeff Williams, on the crazy year at the home of the Indianapolis 500.

Listen in, or listen back, it will be a great show. RS

THE 2020 WESTERN AMATEUR at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel Indiana. The course designed by Pete Dye, will host the semi-finals and championship match today.   _____________________________________________________________________

Ricky Castillo hits his drive on the 12th hole, in the Quarterfinals of the WGA Western Amateur. Andy Olgetree looks on.

Reporting from Carmel Indiana.

RICKY CASTILLO is moving on to the final four of the 118th Western Amateur.

Castillo at #5 is the highest seed remaining heading into the final day of play at Crooked Stick.

Medalist Angus Flanagan and runner-up Sam Bennett felt confident on Thursday night as the 1 and 2 seeds, that they had a great shot to win. By lunchtime on Friday they were on their way home, along with No. 3 seed Joseph Pagdin.

The Western Amateur flag on the 11th green.

The day belonged to Castillo the World rated No.2 Amateur. Both of his opponents made it tough on him.

First it was Harrison Ott who hails from Wisconsin, who make Castillo work all the way to the 17th green and 2 & 1 match in the morning.

In the quarterfinals Andy Olgetree from Mississippi, was done and beaten a few times and then he wasn’t.

Ogletree was 2 Down on the 11th hole when Castillo’s approach left just under 20 for birdie. With the heat on, Olgetree put his approach in the cup for an eagle two to bring the match within one hole.

With a birdie on 14, Castillo was again two up, but Ogletree’s birdie on 15 brought the match back to 1 Up for Castillo. Ogletree’s magic wasn’t done yet. On 17 hit tee shot found the green side pond. After a drop on the edge of the green, he rolled in a long 35 foot putt for par, Castillo matched it and the match went on to 18.

Ogletree’s drive on 18 was left of the fairway and down near the high grass, not far from Pete Dye’s back yard. But his approach shot found the left side of the green and funneled towards the hole. Castillo from the first cut of rough, airmailed the green from a flier lie. After Castillo chipped down to the 18th green, Ogletree rolled in his 15 foot birdie and the match went to the 19th hole.

Both players got up and down for par on 19, before Ogletree’s approach on 20 missed the green left. After a chip and two putts, his five was one shot worse than Castillo’s two putt par for the win. The last two holes brought out what fans there was for the biggest gallery of the day. 65 people not counting players and caddies saw the last two holes of this match of the day.

After his final match on Friday, Ricky Castillo spoke with Golfers on Golf.

Castillo plays Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen in Saturday mornings semi-finals. The other semi-final match is Pierceson Coody vs George Daungmanee who rallied from 5 down after six holes to win his quarterfinal match in 19 holes.

The 18 hole championship match is Saturday afternoon.