The Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open is next week July 27-28-29 at the Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, see Mistwoodgc.com for more details, free admission and parking. The Mt. Prospect Golf Club reopens from renovation on Saturday August 1st, with a special grand opening shotgun outing. Call the pro shop at (847)-259-4200 for more details, there is a second grand opening outing on Sunday August 3rd. With Golfers on Golf Radio live from the clubhouse that day. Thewesternamateur.com is your place to find out all the information on the upcoming Western Amateur to be played August 4-8 at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. the championship match will tee off on the 8th around noon-time. Defending Champion Beau Hossler is in the field.                                _____________________________________________________________________

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy With the Illinois Open Trophy at the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame in Glenview.

Amateur David Cooke recently of Lisle, and formerly of Bolingbrook, when he is not golfing for the North Carolina State Golf Team, is the new Illinois Open Champion.

Cooke shot a lights out 9 under par 63 on the Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove, to finish at 16 under par. That was good enough to beat Deerfield native and Web.com tour player Vince India by 5 shots.

Cooke had a great round, that ended with a birdie on 18, that was after his bogey on 17 brought some interesting moments. Trying to get home on the par 5 17th in two shots, his second shot flew the green and missed hitting Illinois PGA Section President  and rules official Jim Opp in the head by inches, and a local golf reporter by about 2 feet. It bounced once on the grass before hitting the cart path and ending up in the bushes, leaving Cooke no play. One drop later, he was on the green with his par putt just missing wide right. After India made birdie the lead was four. But India could only par 18, while Cooke made another birdie to close out his day.

David Cooke with the Illinois Open Trophy. Photo Courtesy of IPGA and Nick Novelli.

Matt Miller of Bloomington shot a 7 under par 65 to make a charge, he ended up at 10 under par. But then he was involved in something that he probably didn’t want to be.

Miller accidentally put down a four on playing partner Rich Dukelow’s card for the 18th hole, when Dukelow made 5. Dukelow compounded the error by not checking the card closely and signed for it. Moments later while checking scoring on his phone, Dukelow knew there was a mistake, and brought it to the attention of the scorers. But since he had left the scoring area, he was DQ’d. A costly DQ it was for Dukelow a professional at Medinah Country Club, who lost some $5,166 dollars. “But I cant be a cheater,” Dukelow told the media afterwards.

For Cooke winning the Illinois Open was a special moment. His younger brother Chad died in a pick up basketball game just two days before Christmas last year from a heart issue. But David’s older brother jay flew in from South Carolina to be on the bag, and a great combination they made. Cooke will return to the Wolfpack for his senior season this fall.

Illinois Sophomore Nick Hardy posted another 66 at Royal Melbourne, this time good for 6 under par, unlike the 5 under par it was on Monday, with the first hole going back to par 5, after being a par 4 on Monday. But it still left him far behind Cooke and two shots behind his coach at Illinois Mike Small, who shot a final round 68 to finish the tournament at 4 under par.

Click here to hear interviews with David Cooke and Vince India, starting with Cooke explaining his situation on the 17th hole, where he avoided additional penalty shots that came into question.

Opp said in his post round speech, that the championship will be held back again at the same two courses, Royal Melbourne and Hawthorn Woods. But that remains to be seen, stay clicked in.