ED STEVENSON Executive Director of the DuPage County Forest Preserve District welcomes golfers back to the Preserve at Oak Meadows in Addison starting August 7th, for details on times and more please visit DuPagegolf.com. (R) The new Par 5, 5th hole. ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy

Mother nature added a change to the 87th Illinois State Amateur at the Calumet Country Club. It forced today’s 36 hole finish to be an 18 hole finish, after heavy storms again hit the area last night and caused a 4 1/2 hour weather delay.

In the end Patrick Flavin of Highwood came from four shots behind to over-take runner up Jordan Hahn of Spring Grove by 1 shot.

“This is always a highlight of the summer,” said Flavin. “I’ve come up short the last couple of years (finishing 6th both years), so to win, I can’t describe it. I have a few college wins and those were big for me, but winning the Illinois State Amateur is unbelievable, it’s definitely top of the list of my accomplishments.”

With only 18 holes to play instead of 36, Flavin came out of the blocks on the Donald Ross designed Calumet course. Flavin birdied the four of the first seven holes, and Hahn who a 9 under par 61 in round two, made bogey on the fourth hole. Quickly his four shot was gone, and Hahn was down a shot. But Hahn did birdie the Par 3 ninth hole and both players were tied headed for the back nine.

The Calumet Country Club

After both players equaled each other on holes 10-11-12, Flavin broke through on the par 5, 13th hole with a birdie, and then after Hahn made bogey, Flavin had a two shot lead.

Hahn then made bogey on the 14th hole, and suddenly Flavin lead by three shots with four holes to play. Both players matched each other with pars on holes 15 and 16.

Now up three shots with holes left to play, Flavin decided to make it interesting when he left his tee shot in the bunker on the par 3 hole. Hahn then drained a 25 foot birdie putt, and Flavin could not get up and down from the bunker, and the lead was back down to 1 shot, with one hole to play.

Patrick Flavin with the Illinois State Amateur trophy. Photo courtesy of CDGA

But from there the drama only picked up, as Hahn hit his drive on 18 right own the middle. Flavin found the left rough and had a few trees in the way to the 18th green. It was then that Flavin hit what he called the shot of the day, when he hooked a 6-Iron from 188 yards and made on to the green. Flavin was able to make his two putt par, and when Hahn could only do the same, Flavin was the 2017 champion.

“I hit the right shot at the right time,” said Flavin. “Jordan was hanging right with me so I’m thrilled I was able to pull that shot off.”

CDGA.org

Flavin who was the co-leader after round one after a 63, actually lost ground with an even par round of 70 in round two. Trent Wallace of Joliet and the Illinois State University golf team finished in a tie for third with Charlie Netzel of Western Springs and David Perkins of East Peoria who were all five shots behind Flavin. Past champions Todd Mitchell of Bloomington and Quinlan Prchal of Glenview tied for eighth place at even par. 2014 champion Raymond Knoll was 9 over par and finished in 29th place.

The low 20 finishers who were 3 over par or better, earned exemptions into the 2018 championship, that will be contested at the Bloomington Country Club.