THE PRESERVE AT OAK MEADOWS OPENS TOMORROW AUGUST 7TH for public play. On left possible new clubhouse designs from architect Dan Wohlfeil, on right the seventh hole on the Preserve, built on the alley of the old third hole. DuPagegolf.com.     ______________________________________________________________________

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content. Follow Rory across the bridge at the Preserve at Oak Meadows, and on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter @GogBlogGuy.

THE 68TH ILLINOIS OPEN tee’s off tomorrow at two clubs in Chicago’s north suburban area.

First up is the Glen Club in Glenview, and second is the return of the Briarwood Country Club in Deerfield that played host to the State of Illinois’ Open Championship in May of 1966. That saw Emil Esposito now a 51 year golf professional in the Illinois PGA Section come away with the title in a playoff, when he 1-putted from 3 feet to win his first of two titles in the state open.

The field of 268 players will begin play tomorrow morning at the Glen Club or Briarwood, then play the other course on Tuesday, the field is then expected to be cut to the low 70 and ties. The remaining players will play the third and final round at the Glen Club.

Defending Champion Carlos Sainz Jr. with the Illinois Open trophy

Defending champion Carlos Sainz Jr. of Elgin is back to defend his title this year. In 2016 Sainz shot 17 under par at Royal Fox Country Club and Royal Hawk Golf Club to win the title.

When not playing in Illinois, Sainz is competing on both the PGA Tour Latinoamerica Tour in South America, and on the PGA Tour of Canada, his carded a 6th place finish at the Mackenzie Open in Montreal two weeks ago.

“I’m very excited to return to compete in the Illinois Open and play a great venue in The Glen Club,” said Sainz. “The Illinois Open was the biggest win for me in the state and I look forward to having my family there to support me.”

Sainz says his biggest challenge will be getting used to the type of grass used up here, after the Bermuda grass and other types he found in South America.

Four time champion Mike Small and the only player to win the championship three times in a row, will not be able to compete since he will play in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, after qualifying to play by finishing in the Top 20 in the Club Professional National Championship.

Nick Hardy a senior who plays for Coach Small at the University of Illinois, and made the cut recently at the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour, and the match play at the Western Amateur at Skokie, returns to the Illinois Open after being the low amateur in 2016.

72 year old Gary Groh winner of the 1994 Illinois Open, heads up the field of Illinois PGA Section professionals. Some of the other top IPGA section professionals that are competing include Danny Mulhearn who recently played well at the U.S. Senior Open, Jim Billiter winner of the 2017 IPGA Match Play Championship. Patrick Flavin of Highwood the recently crowned Illinois state amateur champion is in the field.

The purse is expected to be near $100,000 dollars with the winners share to be around $17,500.

Admission at both clubs is free, and while at the Glen Club do tour around the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame, where admission is also free. For tee times visit IPGA.com.