The Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open will tee off on Monday July 27th, with Round 2 on the 28th and the final round on Wednesday the 29th. Admission and parking are free, Emily Collins is the defending champion. See Mistwoodgc.com for more details. The Mt. Prospect Golf Club reopens from renovation on Saturday August 1st, call the pro shop at 847-259-4200 for details on the opening day outing. The Western Amateur will be played from August 4-8 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Championship match tee’s off about noon on Saturday the 8th. Thewesternamateur.com for more details.        ——————————————————————————————————————–

    The Gog Blog by Rory Spears (near the 9th green at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club home of the 2018 U.S. Open) Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

TEE-K-KELLY WINS HIS SECOND ILLINOIS STATE AMATEUR TITLE

(SPRINGFIELD IL.)

Tee-K Kelly who is heading into his final season on the Ohio State University Golf Team, is the Illinois State Amateur Champion for the second time in three years.

Much like he did two years ago in winning his first title, Kelly trailed headed for the back-nine on Thursday but make up ground and entered a playoff with Conor Dore. The playoff was a three-hole aggregate system format, and three straight pars netted Kelly the win.

Kelly is the first two-time winner of the state amateur since Todd Mitchell won back-to-back in 2002 and 2003.

“The win means a lot to me, because I know not many people can call themselves the State Amateur champion, and fewer people can call themselves a multiple winner of the State-am,” Kelly said after learning he was only the 15th player in the history of the state amateur to win multiple times. “Golf in Illinois and amateur golf in Illinois means a lot to me. Myself and all the kids I have grown up with, my generation of players, are really strong in Illinois. In the ra we are in right now, it means a lot to win it twice.”

Kelly in the next-to-last group trailed by two shots with just six holes holes to play, but made two birdies to close ground. Kelly had an 8 foot par putt on 18 that would have won the title for him right there, but he missed the putt. Kelly then won the playoff by two strokes.

Dore who just 18, is headed to SIU-Edwardsville to continue his golf there. “I knew I would have to play my best golf this week to win,” said Dore. “I didn’t have my best game this week, but I was up there, so I know I can win when I’m not at my best.”

In round three, past champion Raymond Knoll of Naperville, shot the men’s course record at Panther Creek with an 8 under par 63. Knoll scored a double-eagle 2 on the par 5, 15th hole. Knoll holed a 3-wood from 270 yards. Knoll ended up in 6th place.

2014 runner up Nick Hardy finished in third place one shot out of the playoff after a final round 65.

The 86th Illinois State Amateur will be played at the St. Charles Country Club in July of 2016.