THE GENERAL AT EAGLE RIDGE RESORT & SPA turns 25 on the 25th this month. So why not come up to Galena and enjoy the celebration. (R) Eagle Ridge owner Mark Klausner (L) & Director of Golf Mike Weiler (R) welcome everyone to enjoy Eagle Ridge. Learn more about what’s happening, a new spa and more online at EagleRidge.com.
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn or Facebook.
Chris Nieto holds the IPGA Section Match Play Trophy. Photo by Nick Novelli.
IT DIDN’T TAKE LONG.
Chris Nieto who just joined the Illinois PGA Section last November, won his first Illinois PGA Section major. The 2022 Illinois PGA Match Play Championship at the Elgin Country Club.
In the championship match Nieto defeated Brian Carroll of The Hawk Country Club, 2 & 1.
“I’m a little tired, this was a long week. I can’t remember the last time I’ve played this many holes,” said Nieto. “It was a little windy all week. But I spent some time in New Mexico this spring and it’s always windy there. So I got some good practice in while I was there. It was nice getting out this week and meeting some people and building some camaraderie with the guys. My mindset was through out the week was to never give up. It’s match play, so anything can happen. So you just have to keep fighting. I’ve been on the other side of some matches and you just have to know that you can always come back if you take it one shot at a time.”
While the championship match did not involve a comeback for Nieto, he did have to win three of his matches by virtue of the comeback. Which included rallying against Hinsdale Country Club’s Matt Slowinski, when he trailed four down with seven holes to play.
The championship match saw Nieto go 3 Up against Carroll after 10 holes. But then Carroll started his comeback with a birdie’s on 13 and 16 to close to within one. But the 17th hole was halved, setting up some drama on the 18th hole. Then Nieto might have hit his best shot of the week, stiffing a wedge to three feet. So after that putt was conceded, Nieto had his first IPGA Section major championship win.
TOURNAMENT NOTES: Elgin head golf professional Jonathan Duppler who won the championship in 2020, when it was last played at Elgin, lost in Round 2 to Jeff Kellen of Butler National.
Tim Puetz of Deer Park Golf Club defeated Skokie Country Club’s Garrett Chaussard in Round 1. It marked the first time in five years, Chaussard was not in the finals of the Match Play Championship.
WILDCAT ACADEMY professional Tim Streng, defeated IPGA Section Champion Andy Mickelson in one of the most exciting matches of the week. Estimated stroke play scores in the match, had Streng shooting a 60, with Mickelson carding a 62.
The Illinois Open is the next major, coming up in August at the White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville. So for more details see IPGA.com.