The 2015 Sunice Golf Outerwear line, with the “Sport” pull over, to see the full line visit Sunice.com. The UL International Crown coming next July 19-24, Chicago’s premier professional event for 2016 visit ULCrown.com. The Walker Cup coming on September 12-13 from Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s, Team USA vs team GB & I. See USGA.org.   _____________________________________________________________________

   The 93rd Illinois PGA Section Championship from Medinah Country Club in Medinah Illinois. Final round play will be contested on Wednesday September 2nd, Mike Small is the defending champion.

The Gog Blog by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy, with the PGA Championship Wanamaker Trophy, at the PGA Museum in Port St. Lucie Florida.

The Merit Club’s Jim Billiter has already won the 2015 Illinois PGA Match Play Championship, now he is gunning for his second major of the year, the Illinois PGA Championship.

Billiter who started round 2 one shot behind leader Steve Orrick from the Country Club of Decatur, raced past Orrick and the rest of the field with a 5 under par 66 to hold a three shot lead over Matt Slowinski from Conway Farms.

Slowinski the leader in the clubhouse after the morning flight, shot a 2 under par 69 and sits at 5 under par.

Billiter started his round on backnine first, and went birdie-birdie-birdie to start his round, he ended his round with another birdie. While the match play championship is just that, and section championship is stroke play, that win will help Billiter because he knows he can now win section majors. Billiters wins over top players have him confident he can win again, but knows Slowinski will waiting to pass him if he doesn’t play well.

“Matt is great player and he can make a lot of birdies,” said Billiter.

Jim Billiter hits a tee shot in round 2 of the 93rd Illinois PGA Championship at Medinah, Billiters 2nd round 66 gave him a 3 shot lead heading into the final round.

Billiter admits his main goal this week at Medinah, was to make the top 8 and be able to qualify for the PPC (Professional Players Championship) in 2016. The top 8 finishers from the section and Mike Small will represent Illinois at the Turning Stone Resort, where the top 20 finishers will play the Centennial PGA Championship at Baltusrol Country Club in late July. Now he is adjusting his goal to win the championship.

For Slowinski, he is back in contention again after being the runner up at Medinah the last time the championship was held on the famed No.1 course. Slowinski has won the IPGA Match Play Championship and the season ending IPGA Players Championship, winning the section championship would give him three legs of the IPGA Career Grand Slam.

Orrick played a steady round of even par 71 to remain, in the hunt. twoplayers under par in round 1, Curtis Malm from White Eagle Country Club followed his 68 with a 78 and fell back, while the same hit Beverly Country Club’s John Varner who followed his 69 with a 76.

University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small who is attempting to win the championship for the 12th time, shot a 2 over par 73 and sits at 3 over par for the championship. Small is 11 shots behind Billiter and would need an extremely low round and some help from the leaders to win the title for the 12th time.

Biltmore Country Club’s Katie Pius has shot 72-74 and at 146 made the cut for the 5th time her sixth appearances is T-13. Pius needs to make up three shots and move into the top 8 places, to play in the PPC in 2016.

Medinah teaching professional Travis Johns, shot a 69 he says could have been lower, and would have been lower if not for bogeys on the last two holes. At 2 under par Johns is in fourth place, BJ Paul from Fresh Meadow GC is 5th at 1 under par. Five players are under par headed to the final round.

Frank Hohenadel from Westmoreland Country Club, who won the championship the last time it was played at Medinah in 2011, shot 67 on the strength of two-eagles. Hit sits T-6 at even par 142.

Click here to hear interviews with in order Matt Slowinski and Jim Billiter.

The cut fell at 153, or 11 over par and 61 players made the cut. Tee-times will start for the final round at 7:30 AM, with players teeing off of both tee boxes.

For more information on line visit IPGA.com