BY: RORY SPEARS SR. WRITER & ASSISTANT EDITOR
CDGA.ORG
The Chicago District Golf Association has announced it’s tournament schedule for 2015. As the CDGA heads into it’s second century, it should be an exciting year.
“We have a great schedule lined up for 2015, including some changes and new events,” said director of rules & competitions Nick Scillia. “We would like to thank all the clubs that are hosting events, and we are looking forward to a great year.”
The 96th CDGA Amateur Championship returns to the Knollwood Club in Lake Forest for the ninth time, June 22-25. Knollwood, which has hosted championships like the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Mid-Amateur championships, last hosted the CDGA Am in 2001, when former PGA Tour pro and Illinois player Joe Affrunti won his second of-back-to back titles.
801 McHenry Road Buffalo Grove (847)-459-2321
The 1924 design was originally done by Harry Colt and Charles Alison. It was renovated by Keith Foster in 2009 and 2010. The golf course can now play at over 7,200 yards to test the area’s top players.
“We’re excited to be coming back to Knollwood,” Scillia said. “It’s a classic course, and they have lengthened and updated some holes since the last time they hosted the championship. It will be fun to see the District’s best players compete at such a great course.”
The 85th Illinois State Amateur will tee off at a new location in 2015, Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield. The course was designed by Hale Irwin and first opened for play in 1992, it served as the course for the area’s LPGA tour stop for 5 years. It is the sixth time the state amateur has been in the town of the state capitol.
“Panther Creek is a great tournament course,” Scillia said. “In addition to the LPGA event, it has hosted many local city events, it will be a good test for the top golfers in the state.”
From the upper deck of the Buffalo Grove Golf & Sports Dome
The CDGA Mid-Amateur event will have a format change in 2015. It will be played at Bowes Creek in Elgin from May 18th to May 20th. It will now be a match play championship in order to align with the other CDGA Championships.
Another change includes having the 14th CDGA Senior Amateur move from it’s traditional May dates, to the end of July 27-30 at the merit Club in Libertyville.
The biggest change will be the Better Ball of Pairs Series. In 2015 there will be a Better Ball Championship with four qualifiers and a Senior Better Ball Championship with two qualifiers.
The CDGA will help conduct three qualifiers for the U.S. Amateur, which will be played at Olympia Fields in August. They will be held July 6th at Ruth Lake, July 7th at Weibring Golf Club, July 9th at the Royal Country Club of Long Grove.
For more information on the CDGA 2015 tournament schedule, please visit online CDGA.org/tournaments. Questions email Scillia at nscillia@cdga.org.
The first event will be April 23rd at Coyote Creek in Bartonville, with a qualifier for the CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship.