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THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Editor and Director of Content, follow Rory to Myrtle Beach home of the World Largest Amateur Tournament This August 28th through September 1st, and on facebook, linkedin and twitter @GogBlogGuy.
The 68th Illinois Open was history in the making. When Patrick Flavin of Highwood Illinois made his par putt on the 18th green, he became the second player in state history to win both the Illinois State Amateur and the Illinois Open championship in the same year.
Waukegan’s David Ogrin accomplished the feat back in 1980.
Flavin made it interesting as he started the third and final round with a six shot lead, but saw it start to slip away by the fourth hole.
Flavin did not make a bogey in the first two rounds, and he didn’t make one in the first three holes in final round. Then when it rains it pours. Flavin’s wide right tee shot on the par 3, fourth hole lead to a double bogey. Toss in a few birdies by some of the players chasing Flavin, and the lead was quickly cut in half.
Patrick Flavin 2017 Illinois Open Champion
While Flavin steadied the ship and started making par’s again, Northbrook’s Nick Hardy and defending champion Carlos Sainz Jr. were making birdies. Two groups ahead of Flavin, Matt Murlick the Marquette University Sophomore was making a run of his own, after holing out a bunker shot and starting out the round Eagle-Birdie.
Flavin finally got a birdie back on the par 4, 8th hole and felt so good about that near 20 footer, that he started to feel like he had the tournament. Flavin made no secret that he had read online about the chance to join Ogrin as one of the two players to win the am and the open in the same year.
When the back nine started, Flavin’s partner Brandon Holtz when on a birdie-birdie-birdie for the first three holes as he charged into contention. Past Champion Eric Meierdierks (2010) had his share of birdie opportunities that wouldn’t drop on the front, early on the back they started to fall, later on the back again they didn’t. The shot that cost Holtz a spot in a playoff with Flavin, was his tee shot on the par 3, 17th. Holtz staying away from the water, pushed it up the hill and into the weeds. Holtz managed to chop the ball out onto the green, but left himself over 40 feet back to the hole. He settled for bogey with a two putt.
Hardy with a birdie on 18 pulled within one shot of Flavin, and then had to watch with Holtz and Murlick to see if a four-way playoff was in the making. But when Flavin two putted from 35 feet on the 18th green, he was in the record books.
Flavin rounds of 64-64-74 for a score of 202, defeated Murlick, Hardy and Holtz by 1 shot. Sainz finished two shots back at 204, after a final round 3 under par 69.
Click here to hear interviews with champion Patrick Flavin, and runner ups Matt Murlick, Nick Hardy and Brandon Holtz.
Holtz as the low professional gets the top pay check of at least $15,250 that will increase slightly because of the strong finishes by amateur players, who only get a $750 dollar gift certificate in the pro shop. The maximum amount allowed by the rules of golf, set by the USGA.
For more details on the Illinois Open visit IPGA.com
CHAMPION PATRICK FLAVIN will join Golfers on Golf Radio this Saturday morning at 9:10 Am on AM 750 WNDZ.