THE BAER NINE AT SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB is getting close to fully opening. The final touches are being applied, to the 17th and 18th holes. For tee times call the club at (847)-885-9000. The final phase of the renovation has started on the Tournament Nine. ______________________________________________________________________
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or on Linkedin and Facebook.
CANTIGNY GOLF home of the 89th Illinois State Amateur Championship, run by the Chicago District Golf Association.
Ethan Farnam of Crystal Lake and Crystal Lake CC, rallied to win the Illinois State Amateur at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton.
Farnam had a long wait in a shortened final day to capture the crown. So when rain and high heat poked at the championship during round 2, changes were made. Because the weather radar was saying even higher tempartures reaching over 90 degrees, and more rain expected for the final 36 hole day. The decision was made to make the final round, only 18 holes. And that decision turned out to be the right decision, since there was barely time to squeeze in 18 holes.
Because heavy rains, thunder and lightning started pounding the area in the 6 Am hour, and continued until noon-time, tee times were delayed until 1 PM. So the leaders went off closer to 2 PM. Play then ended after 7 PM.
Farnam started the third round 4 shots back of David Perkins of East Peoria/Quail Meadows CC. But, throw in a 70 birdie putt on the par 3, 13th for Farnam, and a double-bogey by Perkins and things change quickly. In the end, Farnam’s 3 under par 69, was enough to win.
“It feels good to be on top of the leaderboad again,” said Farnam, who won the 2015 Illinois Junior Amateur Championship.
Perkins score of 6 under par, earned him a second place tie with Jordan Less of Elmhurst/Oak Brook Golf Club.
Farnam attends Saint Mary’s College. He called the win, something that makes up for his tough stretch in the game. Because he left the Northwestern University Men’s Golf Team, and then considered giving up golf for good.
Perkins lost a 6 shot lead to Farnam in route to second place, and could only learn from the experience.
“It’s a learning experience. But I’ve had a few of those already. I think I caught myself trying to protect the lead too much and just should have kept on playing golf. He was playing well and I made a few mistakes, and he took advantage,” said Perkins.
Less called the back nine “fun”, because he finished his round with four straight birdies and it earned him a T-2.
The next CDGA Championship is the, CDGA Amateur Four-Ball at Oak Park Country Club from July 29-31.