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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 connect Facebook and LinkedIn.
REPORTING FROM STONEBRIDGE COUNTRY CLUB-Aurora.
T-K Kelly holds the Illinois Open trophy after winning the 2021 championship by 3 shots. Photo by Nick Novelli.
WIRE-TO-WIRE is exactly how T-K Kelly did it for three days this week at the 2021 Illinois Open Championship. Kelly’s final round of 68 (-4) left him with a -17 (199) total for three days of work.
Luke Gannon went lower than Kelly in the final round, with a 5 under par 67. But it still left him 3 shots shy of Kelly.
While the margin to victory shrunk, the pressure on Kelly really never did. Kelly’s four shot lead was three, then four, then three again in the end. As a result Kelly never really needed to dodge the pressure bullet, from Gannon or anyone else.
“It feels amazing to win this tournament,” said Kelly. “I feel like I’ve put myself in contention a few times here and I was in contention the whole tournament last year. It’s fun to win one. Winning golf tournaments is never easy but it sure is a lot of fun when you put it together.”
But if anyone did hear the bugle blow, and yelled charge. It was Daniel Hudson who rose up for third place, with a final round -10 under par 62. Hudson then finished 10 under for the championship. Hudson’s round included one eagle, 10 birdies and two bogeys.
“It felt super good today,” said Hudson. “I had no idea about the course record so that’s obviously a great bonus. A low round like that is super fun. I think the toughest thing is when you get to a certain point you want to keep it going. But you don’t want to make decisions that will alter the progress of the round. But it was a great day.
With his 62, Hudson matched the Illinois Open final round score of 62, shot at Royal Melbourne in 2015. He also tied the Stonebridge course record, that had been held by Annika Sorenstam and Rosie Jones at the LPGA Kellog-Keebler Classic. Joe Jimenez also carded 62 at the Ameritech Senior Open, while Hale Irwin shot 63.
Hinsdale resident and University of Iowa men’s golf team member Mac McClear won the low-amateur award, with a final round of 70 and a 209 (-7) for the tournament.
“It was just the start I wanted today. I knew I had a lot of ground to makeup and it was probably not like I could do that,” said McClear. “I hit it pretty well on the front nine, but could not get the putts to fall. Being low-am is a good thing for me. I’m hoping next year I can make a run at the title.”
Kelly won the largest winner’s check in championship history at $25,080, with Gannon getting $14,765 and Hudson earning $9,029.
There is not site yet announced for the 2022 Illinois Open. But the next IPGA section major championship is the Section Championship starting August 23 at the Ivanhoe Club.