The medals and trophies for the finalists of the Western Amateur golf championship.

THE 121ST WSTERN AMATEUR has played out to an exciting finish at North Shore Country Club.

Kazuma Kobori of New Zealand made a 15 foot birdie putt on the 18th green to win the championship.

Kobori defeated Christiaan Mass of South Africa 1 Up.

So this was the first time two players of the southern hemisphere made it to the Western Amateur final.

BRENDAN VALDES Auburn University was the Medalist heading into the 16 player match play. But he promptly lost his first match in 19 holes to Carson Bacha.

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN the 2021 champion was a co-leader after the first cut at 36 holes. But Thorbjornsen was eliminated in his first match by Drew Goodman in a 20 hole match.

MORE WGA NEWS…

TRACE CROWE Won the NV5 Invitational at the Glen Club, being played in July for the first time. Crowe made par on the second playoff hole to defeat Patrick Fishburn.

But for more information on the Western Golf Association or Evan Scholars Foundation please visit WGAESF.org.

LIV GOLF is BACK at RICH HARVEST FARMS in Sugar Grove September 22-24-Cam  Smith looks to defend his title. Can Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces win the team championship again this year. 23,000 golf fans came out last year on Sunday to see the final round. Will you be one of them in 2023. Tickets are now available, please visit LIVGolf.com.

Golfersongolf.com is written by Rory Spears, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect- LinkedIn/FB/INSTA

  GOLFERS ON GOLF RADIO is on the air for Week-13 of the 2023 Golf Season. So check out all the golf news at 10 AM Saturday mornings on 750 AM WNDZ-Chicago.

THIS WEEKS guests include Mistwood Golf Club Director of Golf Andy Mickelson, a past Illinois PGA Section Champion. Carrie Williams Executive Director of the Illinois PGA.

CLICK HERE to hear this weeks edition of Golfers on Golf Radio.

Our guest was Andy Mickelson of the Mistwood Golf Club. Unfortunately Carrie William of the IPGA, had to cancel. Carrie will join the program next weekend.

There will be plenty of golf talk on other topics.

Thanks for listening Ed, Billy, Len and Rory.

Golfers on Golf Radio every Saturday morning at 10 AM on WNDZ-AM 750-Chicago. With the 2023 season running through September 23rd.

HERITAGE OAKS GOLF CLUB at 3535 Dundee Road in Northbrook is open for it’s second full season from renovation. The new clubhouse featuring the Acorn Grill, and two new simulators make Heritage Oaks a year-round destination. Trackman is a part of the driving range improvements that include a backside private hitting area for lessons and groups. So book your tee-time at Hertiageoaksgc.com or call (847)-291-2351. John Billiter head golf professional competed in this weeks Illinois Open at Flossmoor GC.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect at LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram

Vince India of Deerfield and the Korn Ferry Tour, won his second Illinois Open at Flossmoor Golf Club in a 3-hole playoff with Dylan Meyer. Photo by Nick Novelli.

VINCE INDIA has done it again, winning his second Illinois Open in a playoff with Dylan Meyer at the Flossmoor Golf Club.

India must love the par-5 18th hole at Flossmoor. Because it took a birdie on the tournaments final hole to get India into the playoff.

But then it was a birdie on the 18th hole again, on the third hole of the playoff, to win the title in a hard fought battle with the former University of Illinois standout.

India who now plays mostly on the Korn Ferry Tour, won the Illinois Open in 2018 at the Glen Club. India played there last weekend in the NV5 Invitational, making it seven straight days of competitive golf. But now India now plans a flight straight to Utah for this weeks Korn Ferry tournament. So should he make the cut, it will be 11 straight days of competitive golf.

The green of the par-4 16th hole at Flossmoor GC.

” I had to be really smart about where I hit my shots today,” said India. “They did a great job setting up the golf course this week. But for the most part, I played carefully, but I rolled the ball really well. So it was my putter that bailed me out this week.”

Both India and Meyer had chances to take over the playoff, but missed opportunities to do that. Meyer on the 16th hole, and India on the 17th hole.

But on 18 it was India who hit the fairway and made it count. While Meyer’s drive landed in deep rough and then a greenside bunker. India got home in two shots, and lagged up for a tap-in birdie. Because that was enough to win, when Meyer’s birdie try, slide past the cup.

Quinn Clifford won the low-amateur award with -6 score for the tournament. Photo Nick Novelli.

Quinn Clifford (a) of Chicago was the low-amateur for the championship.

Clifford totaled a 6 under par score, two shots behind India and Meyer for third place. Clifford shot a 1 under par final round to clinch the low amateur award.

“I had a lot of fun this week,” said Clifford. “I came in with low expectations, which I have learned is the right way to approach golf. The golf course was phenomenal.”

Defending Champion David Perkins (East Peoria) and Luke Gannon rounded out the top five, by tying for third place with Clifford.

Varun Chopra had the low final round of the day a 5 under par (67) that moved him into 6th place. University of Illinois men’s golf coach Mike Small started the final round just one shot back of India and Meyer. But Small fell back with a 76 to tie with Kyle Donovan for the Low Illinois PGA Section professionals and T-13, and a 1 under score for the championship.

The location for the 2024 championship is still to be determined by the Illinois PGA. For more information on the Illinois PGA, please visit IPGA.com.

  HERITAGE OAKS GOLF CLUB at 3535 Dundee Road in Northbrook, is open for it’s second full season after renovation. Head professional John Billiter (M) heads up a full teaching and fitting staff-when you need new lessons or golf clubs. The range is now complete with Trackman technology to help you keep the numbers that effect your golf game. THE ACORN GRILL is now open daily with Taco specials on Tuesday, and Wings specials on Wednesday. So book tee times today (847)-291-235 HeritageoaksGC.com.

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect- LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram.

Former Illinois standout Dylan Meyer is tied for the lead at the Illinois Open.

36 DOWN 18 TO GO at the 74th Illinois Open.

Flossmoor Golf Club has held up, not yielding low scores, while playing under 7,000 yards.

But this classic design of 1899, with recent renovation work by architect Ray Hearn, is playing like a true champion.

Because the elevation changes, and speedy greens can challenge any player. But the rough has been strategically grown deep on some closing holes and short par-4 holes.

So the group at the top of the leaderboard are no strangers to local golf, or each other. Korn Ferry Tour player Vince India of Deerfield (Iowa) is at 6 under par, with former Illini star Dylan Meyer and Luke Gannon of Mahomet.

But Illinois golf coach Mike Small is now in the hunt and only 1 shot back. Small is bidding for his fifth Illinois Open title, which would tie Gary Pinns for the most Illinois Open wins ever.

INDIA A FORMER Illinois Open champion winning at the Glen Club in 2018, and now on the Korn Ferry Tour says, ” I didn’t feel great the way I was hitting the ball today. Because I was a little under the ball and was hitting hooks and blocks. But I got some birdie looks late and was able to make those putts.”

MEYER had chance to blow the championship away early in Round 2, after an eagle on the opening hole the par-5 first hole. But that gain was wiped out early with bogeys on holes 2 and 3. Meyer ended up losing the lead after a bogey on the par-4 17th hole. But a birdie on 18, put him back in a tie with Gannon and India, who had already finished.

“After the eagle I put myself ahead of pace,” Meyer said. “Then I made a couple of dumb bogeys early in the round that kind if stunted my momentum. I could not get it going today, but made a key birdie on 18.”

With a win, Meyer would become the first ever out-of-state resident to win the Illinois Open title.

GANNON shot a 5 under par 67 the lowest round of the day, which allowed him to move up 10 spots on the leaderboard.

“I played a lot better today mainly because I was driving the ball better,” said Gannon. “So I was able to keep hitting greens, and make some key putts.”

SMALL had a rough start with an early double-bogey and another bogey two holes later. But three late birdies on holes 13-15 and 16, left him one shot out of the lead.

The leaders tee off today at 11:00, and spectators are welcome to come out and watch the action, free of charge. So visit IPGA.com to follow the leaderboard as it updates score all during the round.