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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 on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Brian Carroll with the trophy after winning the 2022 IPGA Section Championship at Makray Memorial.
BRIAN CARROLL wins his first IPGA Major, the section championship at Makray Memorial, in a three-hole playoff over University of Illinois men’s golf coach Mike Small, who was bidding to the win the championship for his 15th time.
Carroll went birdie-par-birdie on the three playoff holes, while Small recorded three straight pars during the playoff session.
But things weren’t going so well for Carroll of the The Hawk Country Club at the turn. So you have heard the term before, it all starts up during the back nine on Sunday. But in this case, it’s the back-nine on Wednesday.
University of Illinois Men’s Golf Coach Mike Small putts for birdie on the second playoff hole against Brian Carroll.
Carroll made the turn at 1 under par, hoping to put up a 4 under par score on the back-nine. Which is no easy chore at Makray Memorial.
But Carroll even surprised himself a little, when he went 5 under par on the back nine. Carroll thought if he could post a low number, with several groups still on the golf course, anything could happen and it did.
Because Carroll (67), Small (68) and Roy Biancalana (69) were the only players to shoot under 70. Second round leader Kyle Donovan from Oak Park Country Club, shot in the 70’s for the first time in the championship finishing up with a 75.
Curtis Malm the new General Manager at the White Eagle Golf Club, who was looking to finish out a career Grand Slam in IPGA major championships. Shot an even par 71 to end up T-3. Defending champion Andy Mickelson mounted a brief charge, but fell back to an even par 71 and T-6 finish with Donovan.
There was one player that Carroll didn’t count out and that was Small. Small the 14 time winner of the tournament didn’t disappoint, mounting a late charge, that included a birdie on the 18th hole to force a playoff. Neither Carroll or Small had won a playoff in IPGA play, so something had to give.
Too much sand-was a problem for defending champion Andy Mickelson of Mistwood Golf Club.
Carroll hit the fairway and the green on the 16th hole, serving as playoff hole #1. Small pushed his drive into the right rough and his approach came up just short.
But Small’s chip from down in the front gulley, almost went in the hole stopping less than two feet short of the cup resulting in an easy par putt.
But Carroll drained his birdie putt from 10 feet to take a one-shot lead.
The par-3 17th saw both players hit front the of the green. But the problem was a back-left pin placement. Carroll’s attempt to duplicate his 70 foot birdie putt on the hole during regulation, rolled 5 feet past the cup. Small about 15 feet closer than Carroll, then had a birdie putt to tie the playoff. But Small’s putt broke-off and went five past the hole.
Both players made par, so it was on to the par-5 18th hole. Carroll hit the fairway, and Small was just barely into the right rough with their tee shots. Small’s approach landed in the right greenside bunker. But then Carroll hit the same bunker with his approach shot.
Small playing first hit his bunker shot to 18 feet, with Carroll then putting his bunker shot to 10 feet. After Small missed his birdie putt, Carroll made his putt to win the championship and his first Illinois PGA major championship. Which ended a string of second place finishes for Carroll in various Illinois PGA major’s.
CLICK HERE to hear the interview with champion Brian Carroll of The Fox Country Club.
The following players also qualified for the national club professional championship in 2023, to be held in New Mexico.
Carroll, Jeff Kellen of Butler National Golf Club, Malm, Biancalana of Blackberry Oaks Golf Course, Mickelson and frank Hohenadel of Mistwood Golf Club, Donovan, Matt Rion of Briarwood Country Club and Kevin Flack of the Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club.
Earning alternate spots were in order, Eric Hoff Bryn Mawr Country Club, Chris French Aldeen Golf Club, Steve Gillie of Stonebridge Country Club, John Billiter of the Heritage Oaks Golf Club.
AFTER ROUND 1 Golfers on Golf spoke with IPGA board or committee members Andy Mickelson and Curtis Malm, both about their play in the tournament. But also about the golf business in Illinois, and the competition participation levels in the IPGA. This years field was the smallest in years for the section championship.
CLICK HERE to here the interviews with Mickelson and Malm.
IPGA Executive Director Carrie Williams has agreed to offer more on the business side and competition side of the Illinois PGA in an upcoming interview. That interview will be posted here after being conducted.
But to view more photo’s of the champion, visit Rory Spears on Facebook and or GogBlogGuy-Rory Spears on Twitter.