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THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS-Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or friend him on Facebook or LinkedIn. Wearing the new Sqairz Golf Shoes.
THIS WEEKS CRAZY SCHEDULE for the Illinois PGA Senior professionals leaves some questions to answer.
The week started with the Illinois PGA Senior Players Championship at Twin Orchard Country Club in Long Grove on Monday and Tuesday, won by Black Sheep Club’s Kevin Healy.
Healy was the only player under par, and played great golf in windy conditions, in a round that was delayed by a frost delay.
Yes, it’s that time of year here in Illinois, and sad to say that Mother Nature is starting to close the door on a wild-ride golf season. Here’s hoping for some warm days through late October and November.
But back to our Illinois PGA Senior Professionals, who got a tough schedule handed to them, in what is a big week.
When the dust settled, or wind finally died-down yesterday, only Blackberry Oaks professional Roy Biancalana was left standing.
Biancalana who ended up as the 2020 Illinois PGA Senior Player of the Year-runner up, to Kishwaukee Country Club’s David Paeglow, came up 2 shots short of making it to Tulsa Oklahoma in May of 2021, to play in the Kitchen-Aid Senior PGA Championship.
MAYBE-JUST MAYBE if Biancalana had an easier week, he could have punched a ticket to Tulsa.
I’m not sure anybody is at fault here, but making the Illinois senior pro’s have to play 2 competitive rounds of golf on Monday and Tuesday. Race from Twin Orchard to O’Hare on Tuesday afternoon, arrive in Florida close to Midnight, then race to the PGA Golf Club on Wednesday morning for crazy Covid testing, might be asking a little too much.
In fact the PGA of America after testing the pro’s playing the Senior PGA Club Professional Championship on Wednesday morning, told the Illinois PGA pro’s they could not practice on the course or use the practice area’s until the results of their Covid tests could be proved as negative. Those results came in about 7 PM that night, too late to get a practice round or a bucket of balls in before teeing off in the CPC on Thursday morning. Extremely UNFAIR.
After no practice in Florida, the Illinois PGA professionals had to start the championship on Thursday, and try to play well enough to last 4 straight days. Play 6 rounds in 7 days and in between, fly close to a 1,000 miles, and deal with the 1 hour time change. In spite of all this the 10 IPGA senior professionals played pretty good, even if they missed the 36 hole or 54 hole cut. On Saturday afternoon in very windy conditions, Paeglow was at even par and only 10 holes from making the 54 hole cut, and being in position to earn a spot in Tulsa. Then he made a Quadruple-bogey on his 9th hole, and the last nine holes were a struggle as well. With that, Paeglow was done on Saturday night after missing the 54-hole cut.
University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small knew he could not catch Paeglow for Player of the Year, so he pulled out of the IPGA Sr. Players Championship and flew to Florida early. He got his Covid-testing done on Tuesday and practiced at the PGA Golf Club in Florida on Wednesday.
Round 1 on Thursday Small opened Eagle-Birdie and was 3 under through 2. A start every golfer would love to have. But he made only birdie the last 16 holes and finished at 1 under par. Small was T-27 after Round 1. Before Round 2, Small had to WD from the championship. Small got sick from what’s believed to be food poisoning, ending his week in Port St. Lucie earlier than he planned on.
Biancalana didn’t have it easy either. The airlines lost his laptop computer, and his rental car broke down after leaving the airport, forcing him to call-in for a different car, and at last word Biancalana is still trying to get his laptop back. Biancalana finally got to sleep well after Midnight, before dragging himself to Covid testing first thing on Wednesday morning.
I know it was tough to schedule the events that were played this year, a lot of people worked very hard to make them happen. Just next year I hope all of the local PGA professionals get dealt a better schedule heading into the Senior PGA Club professional Championship. All the players in the field, deserve an equally fair chance to compete.
I’ll HAVE more this week in fact all 3 parts of the Tour Edge Hot Launch Series 521 club rollout, stay clicked in.
This week, a quick visit to the Wisconsin Dells is on tap. Stay tuned for our story on the area. During my golf rounds there, I’ll be checking out the new heavy traction Sqairz Golf Shoes.
The weather is changing, get out and play while you still can. Don’t forget to listen on the Ziehm and Spears Podcast Series, that was posted on Saturday.
The Gog Blog returns tomorrow. RS