THE ILLINOIS PGA SECTION wins the 59th Radix Cup at the Oak Park Country Club in River Grove, over the Chicago District Amateur Team (CDGA) by a score of 11 to 7.    _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf.

THE RADIX CUP & the Radix Cup players glassware (L)-Scorecard from Oak Park CC.

THE ILLINOIS PGA PROFESSIONALS have retained the cup. The Radix Cup that is, with a 11-7 victory over the Chicago District Golf Associations amateur team.

The Radix Cup is named in honor of the late Harry Radix and Oak Park member, and recent inductee into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame. But the day started slowly for both teams. Because just before the start of play. A 45 minute lightning delay hung over the historic Donald Ross designed Oak Park Country Club.

But when all six of the matches were complete. The Illinois PGA professionals had increased their lead in the all-time series to 36-20-2.

” I can’t give enough credit to our professionals. They dug deep on the finishing holes of the front nine to get back into it,” said team captain Chris Gumbach (River Forest Country Club). ” But then on the back nine, they turned the matches in our favor, which lead to victory today.”

OAK PARK host golf professional Carson Solien helped earn 2.5 points out of a possible 3, with partner Jim Billiter (Ivanhoe Club). ” It’s always a treat to have my fellow professionals out for this event and host some great amateur players here at Oak Park Country Club” said Solien. “So it’s nice to have all the guys out to show them how great our course is.”

Because there is a possible 3 points per team in each match, both teams can score points. So there is one point available for each nine holes of play. But then another point for winning the entire match.

The match final results were as follows.

MATCH 1, Tied between Frank Hohenadel and fellow Mistwood Golf Club professional Andy Mickelson, against James Morton and Tim Sheppard. 1 1/2 to 1 1/2

MATCH 2 Won by IPGA professionals Curtis Malm (White Eagle) and Travis Johns (Medinah) over John Ramsey and Chadd Slutzky 2 1/2 to 1/2

MATCH 3 Won by CDGA Amateurs Jordan Less and Charlie Nikitas. Over Garrett Chaussard (Skokie CC) and Jeff Kellen (Butler National) 2.1/2 to 1/2.

MATCH 4 Tied between professionals Andrew Godfrey (White Pines GC) and Tim Streng, and Brian Hickey and Mike McCormick. 1 1/2 to 1 1/2.

MATCH 5 Won by CDGA Amateurs Tommy Dunsire and Ethan Farnam. Over Brian Carroll and Chris Green 2 and 1.

MATCH 6 Won by IPGA Professionals Jim Billiter and Carson Solien over CDGA Amateurs Mike Henry and Logan Stauffer 2 and 1.

So with the win the Illinois PGA professionals kept the Radix Cup, won back in 2019. Because the Radix Cup was not held in 2020, due to Covid-19. But over the last 18 years, each side has now won the cup nine times.

For further details please visit IPGA.com and or CDGA.org. But for more photo’s, see Rory Spears on Facebook, or do visit GogBlogGuy-Rory Spears on Twitter.