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Adam Schumacher of the Indian Hill Club shot a final round 2 under par 69, to win the 96th Illinois PGA Section Championship at Medinah Country Club.
Schumacher’s final round of 69 was one of the four under par rounds carded in Round 3.
Schumacher shot 67-73-69 in route to his first IPGA section major title, that gives him some hope of catching Kemper Lakes head professional Jim Billiter for the IPGA section player of the year award.
Speaking of Billiter, the wheels came off in Round 3, after two stellar rounds of golf in Rounds 1 and 2. Billiter hung on for a solo fifth place finish after shooting a 9 over par 80, but got spot in the PNC (club pro championship) next year in California.
Indian Hill Club Assistant Professional Adam Schumacher holds the Jim Kemper Cup after winning the 96th Illinois PGA Championship at Medinah.
Schumacher opened his round with birdies on the first and third holes, and even though he didn’t know it, his six shot deficit by the fourth tee, was now only two two shots.
Schumacher didn’t look at a leader board until after the fifth hole, where he saw Billiter was off to a shaky start and that he had now played his way into contention.
Twin Orchard’s Dakun Chang had lost a shot from his starting score of six under par, and quickly the top of the leader board was bunched up with three players. Brett Walker (Conway Farms) who was the third member of the final group, and ended up finishing in second place after a 73, was right behind the leaders.
Doug Bauman (Biltmore CC) who at age 60, showed he could hang tough with the young guns finished at even par for the championship (T-3) after a final round of 73.
Click here to hear our interviews with 1st and 2nd round leader Jim Billiter (first) and then champion Adam Schumacher.
12 time winner of the section championship, University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small finished with a 3 over par 74, but ended up in a T-6, with Medinah’s highest finishing professional Rich Dukelow and Kyle Bauer of the Glenview Club.
Matt Slowinski new head professional at the Hinsdale Country Club, was one of the four players who shot under par, with a one under par 70. Slowinski earned a spot to the PNC, along with Royal Hawk pro Brian Carroll who birdied the first playoff hole. Simon Allan of Flossmoor Country Club earned the last spot in the PNC when he made par on the third playoff hole. Steve Murray from the Golf Shack will be the first alternate.
62 players made the cut that came at +11, and Schumacher’s winners check was $11,700. The 2018 IPGA Section Championship will be held at the Stonewall Orchard Golf Club in Grayslake Illinois.