The Final Days of Oak Meadows, play this weekend or Monday before the renovation work begins next week. DupageGolf.com. Next week, the Encomapss Championship at the North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Defending Champion and new U.S. Sr. Open Champion Jeff Maggert lead the field, Encompasschampionship.com for more information and or to buy tickets. Mt. Prospect Golf Club expected to reopen on August 1st, stay clicked in right here for details on opening day.                                                    _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

There is a new name at the Illinois PGA office, but it’s not totally new to everyone because she has worked there before.

She, is Carrie Williams who used to work at the Illinois PGA and then went on to run the Illinois Junior Golf Association.

But with the departure of the Michael Miller to Arizona, the post of Illinois PGA Executive Director was open. There were over 20 people applicants for the position, the first cut saw the list drop to eight and then four. When it was all said and done, the IPGA selection committee decided to bring back a familiar face and somebody who knew Illinois, the Illinois PGA, and Illinois golf in general, and that was Williams.

Carrie Williams is the new Executive Director of the Illinois PGA.

Williams is not new to the IPGA, as she has worked there before in another capacity. Later she went on to take over the Illinois Junior Golf Association (IJGA) as executive director.

Williams spent eight years at the IJGA, and she will take over at the IPGA in late August.

On Thursday afternoon she sent her resignation letter in to the IJGA, and with the support of the IJGA Board of Directors announced the Jordan Abdel-Haq will serve as the interim executive director at the IJGA.

Williams comes to the IPGA during a time of change. The IPGA front office had no changes over an 8 1/2 year period. Since October of last year, Miller and three other top staffers have departed. In addition the IPGA announced new changes in the format and the field of the Illinois Open, along with a venue change to Royal Melbourne golf Club in Long Grove, and the Hawthorn Woods Country Club in Hawthorn Woods. Both clubs are operated by the Northbrook based KemperSports Management.

The Illinois PGA is working with KSM on a new lease to keep their offices at the Glen Club in Glenview.

PPNC News. The PGA Professional National Championship was held this past week at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. The top 20 finishers do earn spots in the PGA Championship, which this year takes place at Whistling Straits Golf Club in Kohler/Haven Wisconsin. Unfortunately none of the IPGA professionals competing did finish in the top 20 places. University of Illinois Golf Coach Mike Small was the highest finisher, completing the four rounds in 9 over par. He missed making the PGA field by 5 shots.