SPEED UP YOUR GAME, play Arlington Lakes Golf Club on Wilke Road in Arlington Hts., 3-6-9 hole and 18 loops now available, see AHPD.org/ALGC or call 847-577-3030. The Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open comes to Mistwood GC next week July 18-20, ladies are you signed up and in the field yet, contact Mistwood at (815)-254-3333.           ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by Rory Spears, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy and around Mistwood GC next week for the Phil Kosin Illinois Women’s Open.

The 86th Illinois State Amateur tee’s off next week at the St. Charles Country Club from July 19-21. the field will be 136 of the top amateur players in Illinois.

St. Charles Country Club is a classic style golf course designed by the famed golf architect Tom Bendelow.

After 36 holes, the field will be trimmed to the low 35 players and ties, and that field will play 36 holes on the final day.

Tee-K Keely of Wheaton returns as defending champion, last year was Kelly’s second Illinois Amateur win, after first winning the title in 2013. Last year Kelly defeated Conor Dore in a 3-hole aggregate playoff. Kelly had to make up two shots in the final five holes to be in the playoff.

The CDGA will operate the championship.

Nick Hardy was just one shot out of the playoff last year that determined the champion, and he finished third. In 2014 he finished second after losing in a playoff to champion Raymond Knoll, who will return to the amateur again this year. Knoll had a final round course-record 63 last year, that moved him into a T-6th place.

Todd Mitchell who won the championship in back-to-back year in 2002 and 2003. He has finished in the Top 10 in 10 of his 11 appearences in the tournament.

Conor Dore of Chicago returns after losing to Kelly in a playoff last year for the title, Dore a sophomore at SIU-Edwardsville played in every round for Cougars last year.

St. Charles is hosting it’s second Illinois State Amateur, the last being held in the final days of World War II in June of 1945. The course is described by it’s head professional Jim Sutherland as, “pretty narrow fairways, lot of trees, and small greens.”

The championship which is stroke play since 1963, will be played at a par of 72 and the yardage will be 6,926 yards. Sutherland feels the course will play shorter, since the dry summer has left the fairways firm and fast.

The Par 5, 18th hole plays at 527 yards, there is water down the right side of the fairway and near the green, for those looking to get home in two shots. It sets up for a great finish.

Spectators are welcome and admission and parking are free.