ARLINGTON LAKES REOPENS on July 1st from their 13 month Mike Benkusky renovation of the golf course, and come see the improvements in and around the clubhouse. Visit AHPD.org or call (847)-577-3030 to book your tee times today. The Titleist 716 AP1 and AP2 Irons by Titleist, get more for your game, see Titleist.com.       _____________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy. In the Sunice Typhoon Jacket, and Sand Valley Cap.

The Illinois PGA professionals ended up with another hard fought day at the Oak Park Country Club, in their annual battle with the best amateur golfers the Chicago District Golf Association can put together.

But this year in the 55th battle of the Radix Cup Matches, the professionals made a late charge to hold off and then defeat the amateurs by a score of 11-7.

It was only the 7th time the professionals have won the Radix Cup since 2000.

The Radix Cup on display at Oak Park Country Club

The first match out saw a birdie and eagle parade between professionals Curtis Malm and Travis Johns, and the amateur team of Illinois Open Champion David Cooke and recent NCAA Regional champion, Ohio States T-K Kelly.

Cook and Kelly had two eagles and host of birdies but it wasn’t enough to hold off the professionals, who made 16 birdies of their own in route to a 2-1 win.

Click here to hear interviews with professionals Curtis Malm, Travis Johns and amateurs David Cooke and T-K Kelly.

Match 2 saw host professional Frank Bruno and Steve Orrick fight to a 1 1/2-1 1/2 point draw, that left the professional holding a 1 point lead after two matches.

Match 3 saw Alex Burge and John Ehrgott rally the amateurs with a 2-1 win over professionals Brian Brodell and Jim Billiter. Now with half of the six matches complete the score was tied at 4 1/2 for each team.

Kyle Bauer of the Glenview Club rolls in a birdie on the Par 3, 17th hole for the professionals.

Match 4 turned out to be the match that set the tone for the final score. Kyle Bauer who won the first IPGA major championship of the year, the Match Play Championship at Kemper Lakes along with partner Connie Demattia swept the amateur team of Blake Johnson and Andrew Price 3-0. this put the professionals up 7 1/2 to 4 1/2.

Match 5 sealed the win for the professionals win Scott Baines and Garrett Chaussard defeated Dave Ryan and Kevin Economos 2-1. With the win the professionals had a 4 point lead with only 3 points remaining on the golf course.

Match 6 between professionals David Paeglow and Matt Slowinski, and amateurs Derek Meinhart and Todd Mitchell was halved at 1 1/2 points per side. leaving the final score at 11  for the IPGA Professionals and 7 for the CDGA Amateurs.

The captains were Chris Gumbach for the IPGA professionals, and Keith Frankland for the CDGA amateurs.

The professionals in spite of their struggles since 2000, have now won 3 of the last 4 Radix Cup matches.