Chicago District Golfer Digital Extra - 97th CDGA Amateur Championship

Summer 2016 • CDGA.ORG 1

2 CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER DIGITAL EXTRA

CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLF ASSOCIATION FOR EVERYONE WHO PLAYS THE GAME

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OFFICERS

PRESIDENT Michael J. Grandinetti Calumet CC

VICE PRESIDENT AT LARGE Steven S. Birky Danville CC

TREASURER Larry LaBoda Kemper Lakes GC

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Sheldon L. Solow Briarwood CC

VICE PRESIDENT AT LARGE Mike Nass Cantigny Golf

GENERAL COUNSEL John A. Childers Elgin CC

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT C. Daniel Cochran Biltmore CC

SECRETARY Dennis A. Reed Pekin CC

EX-OFFICIO David R. Haverick The Club at Strawberry Creek

DIGITAL EXTRA Volume 2, Number 3 Senior Managing Director, Marketing & Communications Matt Baylor

GOVERNORS

Thomas R. Artz....................................... Sportsman’s CC William R. Buecking...................................... Biltmore CC Edward T. Clissold.............................. Westmoreland CC Robert J. Cunningham............................ Indian Hill Club Thomas Gehr.......................................... Sportsman’s CC Ron Gray.................................................. Twin Orchard CC Michael Griem...................................................Exmoor CC J. Loren Hall................................................. Blackstone GC

Karl A. Keller......................................... Kankakee Elks CC Jack Kieckhefer......................Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club Edward W. Mulcahy.................................. Midlothian CC Michael J. Scheer........................................ Oak Brook GC Don Schwarz.................................................Prestwick CC Richard J. Skrodzki...................................... La Grange CC A. Glenn Stith............................................. Arrowhead GC Mike Sullivan...........................................Bloomington CC

Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships Andrew Louthain Manager of Communications Casey Richards

DIRECTORS

David Allard.......................................... Olympia Fields CC Louise Allard........................................................... At Large Tom Allison.........................................................Beverly CC Philip Angelini................................. Edgewood Valley CC Robert Babcock................................. Harborside Int’l GC Robert Bach................................................ Mt. Hawley CC Randall B. Becker..........................................Winnetka GC Pryce Boeye..........................................TPC at Deere Run Al Brown......................................................East Bank Club Mike Bruni............................................. Olympia Fields CC Bill Callahan...................................................Naperville CC Ralph Chapman.........................................At Large (SIGA) Frank Charhut................................................ Wilmette GC Stephen L. Cherveny..............................Foxford Hills GC Mike Clark.................................................. Eagle Brook CC William Clevenger................................... Red Tail Run GC Henry Close.........................................................Aldeen GC Scott Coldiron....................... Village Links of Glen Ellyn David P. Crockett................................................... At Large Robert L. Cunningham.................................Turnberry CC Timothy Daw................................................Flossmoor CC Robert Dewey................................................. CC of Peoria Michael J. Dickman......................................... Calumet CC Anthony Dobush....................................Randall Oaks GC Keith Dunkelbarger................................. Sunset Hills GC Martin Durkin...............................................Butterfield CC John Dushney.......................................... Bowes Creek CC Dwight Erskine............................................ Effingham CC Bill Fates.................................................................Itasca CC William Finn.................................................... Riverside GC Buzz Frank............................................................Skokie CC Dennis Freund............................................Blackstone GC Jim Fruin....................................................... Crestwicke CC Bill Gebhardt................................................. Prestwick CC Geary D. Glaum................Village Greens of Woodridge Michael Gozdecki....................................... Briar Ridge CC Greg Grygiel.........................................Heritage Bluffs GC Howard Haberkorn.................................... Terrace Hill CC John L. Hammond, II.....................................Evanston GC Robert Hinton.......................................Panther Creek CC Ronald C. Hobbs....................................... River Forest CC Bill Inglese...........................................................Exmoor CC Jack Ingold......................................................Lake Bluff GC Preston Irwin...........................................Schaumburg GC George Jameson........................................Glen View Club

Deborah Taylor Johnson................. Harborside Int’l GC Will Kadel.................................................Sunset Ridge CC Betty Kaufmann.......................................Knollwood Club Peter A. Keffer....................................................Aldeen GC Tom Kierna.................................................Crystal Lake CC Donald Kohlbacher...............................Sandy Hollow GC Frank LaFranco.........................................Knollwood Club Josh Lesnik.................................................... The Glen Club John Lyons.............................................................. At Large R. Scott Malmgren......................................... Glen Oak CC Bob Malpasuto..............................................Kankakee CC David Matasar...................................................Idlewild CC John Mattson................................................... Big Foot CC Jack Miller...................................................White Eagle GC Michael Millhouse................................... River Forest CC Thomas E. Mott.............................................. Rockford CC Carolyn Nagle............................................White Eagle GC Kevin O’Connor...................................Heritage Bluffs GC Ronnie Oakes............................................Springbrook GC John P. Paladino......................................... Forest Hills GC Arthur W. Peters.......................................... Ruth Lake CC Robin Rash............American Singles Golf Association Al B. Reid....................................................... The Glen Club John Reid..........................................................Deerfield GC Jim Rolfe.......................................................Northmoor CC Michael Rooney..................................Butler National GC James F. Rudwall...........................................Ivanhoe Club Tim Sack........................................................Prairie Isle GC Joe Salierno.............................................. Bowes Creek CC Martin Salzman.......................................... Lake Shore CC Lawrence Schweik..................................Bartlett Hills GC Lorraine Scodro...........................................Midlothian CC Cathi A. Scott....................Village Greens of Woodridge Howard Sharfman.....................................Bryn Mawr CC James Siemers......................................Steeple Chase GC Laurie Spring................................................St. Charles CC Robert Stracks............................................Northmoor CC John Sylwestrak...........................................Wynstone CC James Troy..........................................Crystal Tree G & CC Kenneth Urbaszewski..................................Deerfield GC Debbie VanSistine................ Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club James E. Winslow........................................ Inverness GC Dale Wong................................................Willow Crest GC James J. Zawaski...................................................Ridge CC

Contact 630-257-2005 • info@cdga.org Advertising Opportunities For corporate partnership or advertising opportunities, please contact Andrew Louthain at 630-685-2321 or alouthain@cdga.org.

Welcome to Volume 2, Number 2 of Chicago District Golfer Digital Extra, a member service brought to you by the Chicago District Golf Association.

The goal of CDG Digital Extra, which is a quarterly feature, is to keep you connected with your CDGA membership throughout the year. While CDG Extra incorporates many of the same elements you enjoy from the print issues of Chicago District Golfer, the online format allows for some new wrinkles you will see in this and the upcoming issues, including: • •

Video segments Direct links within articles

To navigate the publication, use the arrows on the left or right side of the screen. Additionally, any element highlighted with a blue box means it is a hyper link.

Simply click the box to be taken to the web page.

Summer 2016 • CDGA.ORG 3

DIGITAL EXTRA Summer 2016 | Vol. 2, No. 3

6 Photos From the Championship

Sights from the 97th CDGA Amateur Championship at Calumet Country Club

8 Worth the Price

It took 119 holes in four days, but Andrew Price earned victory at the CDGA Amateur

12 Making a Difference

CDGA Amateur co-medalist Graham O'Connor- Brooks cherishes his life away from the golf course in education as much as his time on it

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Summer 2016 • CDGA.ORG 5

97th CDGA Amateur Championship June 27-30 • Calumet Country Club

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Champion: Andrew Price (Lake Bluff) Runner-Up: Todd Mitchell (Bloomington)

Summer 2016 • CDGA.ORG 7

Worth the Pri¢e

of five birdies, Price owned a 3-up advantage when the players hit halftime following the first 18.

It took 119 holes in four days, but Andrew Price earned “The cushion was definitely victory at the CDGA Amateur nice, but it didn’t change at all

By Matt Baylor

For

just the third time in 13 years, it was a mid-amateur golfer stealing the spotlight, as 34-year old Andrew Price of Lake Bluff claimed the title at the 97th CDGA Amateur Championship at Calumet Country Club. Price, who also won the 2014 Illinois State Mid-Amateur, was part of a renaissance at the classic Donald Ross course, as nine of the 16 players advancing to match play were aged 25 or older—including his counterpart, Todd Mitchell of Bloomington.

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“This is a great event,” Price said following the victory. “I’m really happy. I played really solid all week, and I played really well today. I didn’t give Todd too many opportunities to get back in it, so I’m really happy with that.”

The championship match didn’t start as planned for Price, as Mitchell birdied the opening hole to take a 1-up lead, but Price responded with a birdie of his own at the 4th hole and would never trail again. On the strength

how I played,” Price added. “I still played the exact same way.

I made a good par on 17 and unfortunately he missed a short one, so I was 2 up. Then, I made a really good birdie on 18 which gave me that 3 up lead, which was great. I just tried to keep doing what I was doing all week: fairways and greens, make some putts.”

Eight consecutive pars maintained Price’s advantage, but on the second trip to the par-5 ninth, it became apparent whose day it would be. After

a 300-yard drive, Price had a little more than 200 yards to the green. He put his approach shot to 12 feet, then converted the putt for eagle. With Mitchell having a 4-foot birdie putt lying in wait, Price needed the eagle to win the hole.

“I hit a good drive into the fairway and hit a really good 4-iron into the wind,” Price said. “Luckily it held up and was 10-12 feet or Click above for a video recap of Price's victory at the 97th CDGA Amateur Championship so. I made a good putt down the hill. Getting that 4-up lead was putt at the 15th, giving Price a native might not have imagined 4-and-3 win. he’d end up going the distance. huge.”

After a 5-over 75 in the calm With the 4-up advantage in Mitchell, a two-time Illinois State morning round, he was on the place, Price only needed to Amateur champion, advanced to outside looking in, but after he match Mitchell on the back nine, match play at the CDGA Amateur worked a masterful afternoon 68 which he did for six consecutive for the first time in three tries. in windy conditions, he avoided holes, culminating with Mitchell However, after the first 18 holes a playoff and earned the 13th narrowly missing a five-foot par on Monday, the Bloomington seed.

97th CDGA Amateur Championship

(1) Graham O’Connor-Brooks

(2) Ricky Palonis

Match Play Bracket

6 and 4

(15) Robert Renner, Jr.

(16) Kyle Nathan

(16) Kyle Nathan 22 holes

(10) Steve Sawtell

(9) Kyle Slattery

2 and 1

(15) Robert Renner, Jr. 20 holes

(8) Jordan Wetsch

(7) Derek Meinhart (13) Todd Mitchell

20 holes

(10) Steve Sawtell

(9) Kyle Slattery

(9) Kyle Slattery 2 and 1

(5) Paul Schlimm, Jr.

4 and 3

(3) Andrew Price 4 and 3

(10) Steve Sawtell 2 up

(6) Tim Hoss, Jr.

(6) Tim Hoss, Jr.

(5) Paul Schlimm, Jr. (3) Andrew Price

(12) Chadd Slutzky (4) Charlie Netzel

(13) Todd Mitchell

3 and 2

(11) Jonathan Hudson 4 and 3

5 and 4

1 up

(13) Todd Mitchell

(13) Todd Mitchell

(3) Andrew Price

3 and 2

(3) Andrew Price

(3) Andrew Price

3 and 2

(14) Brian Hickey

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STROKE PLAY RESULTS Pos Player OVR R1 R2 Total T1 O’Connor-Brooks, Graham E T1 Palonis, Ricky E T3 Price, Andrew +1 T3 Netzel, Charlie +1 T3 Schlimm Jr., Paul +1 T6 Hoss Jr., Tim +2 T6 Meinhart, Derek +2 T6 Wetsch, Jordan +2 T6 Slattery, Kyle +2 T6 Sawtell, Steve +2 T6 Hudson, Jonathan +2 T12 Slutzky, Chadd +3 T12 Mitchell, Todd +3 T14 Hickey, Brian +4 T14 Renner Jr., Robert +4 T14 Nathan, Kyle +4 T14 Murlick, Matthew +4 T18 Li, Kenneth +5 T18 Mounce, Michael +5 20 Whinery, David +6 T21 Wright, John A +7 T21 Fastert, Michael J +7 T21 Blakemore, T. J. +7 T21 Fahel, Jordan +7 T21 Gold, Trevor +7 T21 Corban, Nick +7 T21 Dagys, Paul +7 T28 White, Paul +8 T28 Milling, Grant +8 T28 Quenan, Alex +8 T28 Feder, David +8 T32 Loss, Ben +9 T32 Kirchhofer, Patrick +9 T32 Ackford, Kevin +9 T32 Doherty, Michael B +9 T32 Sider, Mark +9 T32 Tomfohrde, Brett +9 T32 McCoy, Doug +9 T32 Sundberg, Cody J +9 T32 Zawaski, Gerald +9 T41 Smith, Billy +10 T41 Powell, John +10 T41 Edison, Josh +10 T41 Mounce, Branden +10 T41 Hudson, Daniel +10 T46 Velez, Jordan +11 T46 Powell, Bradley +11 T46 Winkelmann, Matt +11 T49 McCarthy, Tim +12 T49 Jaskoske, Jimmy +12 T51 Hahn, Jordan L. +13 T51 Dolehide, Brian +13 T53 Kois, Stephen D +14 T53 Johnson, Andy +14 T53 Fox, Tom +14 T56 Cascino, Michael T +15 T56 Denenberg, Andrew T +15 T58 Matkaitis, K.C. +17 T58 Nielsen, Garrett +17 T58 Junge, Jack +17 61 Musgjerd, Mike +19 62 Baumgartner, Will J +21 63 Johnston, Cully +22 64 Musgjerd, Ryan +23 10 CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLFER DIGITAL EXTRA

67 73 140 70 70 140 72 69 141 74 67 141 70 71 141 68 74 142 69 73 142 67 75 142 69 73 142 73 69 142 72 70 142 78 65 143 75 68 143 73 71 144 69 75 144 72 72 144 73 71 144 75 70 145 74 71 145 73 73 146 70 77 147 66 81 147 71 76 147 76 71 147 75 72 147 71 76 147 74 73 147 76 72 148 72 76 148 69 79 148 73 75 148 77 72 149 74 75 149 71 78 149 75 74 149 74 75 149 75 74 149 75 74 149 75 74 149 78 71 149 77 73 150 74 76 150 74 76 150 77 73 150 74 76 150 78 73 151 75 76 151 75 76 151 72 80 152 78 74 152 72 81 153 77 76 153 75 79 154 78 76 154 79 75 154 73 82 155 82 73 155 79 78 157 80 77 157 80 77 157 77 82 159 81 80 161 80 82 162 84 79 163

The finalists’ paths to the championship nearly mirrored each other, cruising to easy victories in the first two rounds (Mitchell 5 and 4, and 4 and 3; Price 3 and 2 in both), then contentious semifinal matches (Mitchell defeated Kyle Slattery 2 and 1, while Price beat Steve Sawtell 2 up). Even for the first 10 holes on Thursday, it looked as though this would be another dead even affair, but Price took it to another level.

“Andrew played extremely well today and put on a lot of pressure and forced me to make some putts, and I just wasn’t able to do it,” Mitchell said following the final. “It’s just one of those things where, had I been able to make those putts, I could’ve been more in the match. It doesn’t mean I was going to win, because he played phenomenally, but I could’ve been in there to at least give

him a scare.”

One of the more talked about surprises of the week was the play of the District’s mid-amateur golfers. While nine advanced to match play, five made the elite eight. And if not for an errant bounce off the flagstick in extra holes, the mid-amateurs may have put the velvet rope around the final four. By comparison, last year, seven mid-ams made match play, but only one advanced to the final four.

“The mid-ams showed really well,” Price added when asked about the pluck in the guys who mostly have careers to work on in addition to their golf game.

“We had a bunch of guys in the match play portion that were mid-ams. I’m definitely proud of myself. There were a bunch of great players here, whether they’re college kids or mid-ams.

You just try to plug along and do the best that you can. Luckily, it worked for me this week.”

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When watching the state’s best golfers

stripe drives and tally birdies at the CDGA Amateur Championship, it’s often easy to forget that golf is only part of their lives.

Many, like CDGA Amateur co-medalist Graham O’Connor-Brooks, positively impact society in their time away from the game.

O’Connor-Brooks began golfing when he was eight, learning the game at Flossmoor Country Club. Shortly thereafter he began playing in IJGA events and eventually competed for Lake Forest High School.

Unlike many of his CDGA Amateur competitors, however, O’Connor-Brooks passed up offers to play collegiately and attended the University of Iowa.

Despite not playing collegiately, O’ConnorBrooks still considered golf a high priority.

He practiced in Iowa City during the school year and scratched the competitive itch by playing in CDGA events during his summers home.

Making a Difference CDGA Am co-medalist Graham O'ConnorBrooks cherishes his life away from the golf course in education as much as his time on it

By Casey Richards

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“College golf is great, but it doesn’t prevent you from competing all summer long and practicing,” O’Connor-Brooks explained.

O’Connor-Brooks continued to compete after graduation, a part of his life that he cherishes.

“Definitely the competitiveness, but most of all, the camaraderie of the guys,” O’Connor-Brooks identified as his favorite part of playing in tournaments. “There are 20 or 30 guys that are consistently out at these events, and it’s great getting to know them.

“I’m so happy to be able to have relationships with them on the golf course and off the golf course,” he continued. “Building those relationships makes it a lot of fun and

brings you back.”

O'Connor-Brooks Earns Co-Medalist Honors

While competitive golf was something O’ConnorBrooks enjoyed post-graduation, his initial career was not. He took a sales job out of college, but wasn’t receiving the same fulfillment that he was from other parts of his life, such as golf and the time he volunteered working with individuals with special needs in college.

“When I took that sales job, I was going to work every day and I was like, ‘I am missing something here,’” O’Connor-Brooks recalled. “With the experience in college and the summers working one-to-one, it filled me up. I felt like I was making a difference.”

That feeling led O’Connor-Brooks to make what he calls “the best decision of my life.” He went back to school to earn a teaching certificate, and for the last five years has taught special education at his alma mater.

Entering the 97th CDGA Amateur Championship, Graham O’Connor-Brooks was looking to make match play at the event for the first time in his career.

Not only did he qualify for match play – he took it one step further. The Lake Bluff native earned co-medalist honors alongside Ricky Palonis with rounds of 67 and 73 totaling even-par 140.

"This is a really good event and it’s really, really hard to make it to match play,” O’Connor-Brooks said. “When you talk about 70-some odd guys, which are usually the best in the state, and then cutting that down to only 16, you can’t make very many mistakes.

“Getting co-medalist honors is definitely a cool accomplishment and something that I can build off of and get some confidence from,” he added.

O’Connor-Brooks’ match play run was short-lived, as he drew close friend and 2016 CDGA Mid-Amateur champion Kyle Nathan in the first round. Nathan advanced with a 6-and-4 victory.

“I know Kyle really well, and drawing him as a 16-seed wasn’t the best draw,” O’Connor-Brooks said with a laugh. “He played really well and definitely deserved to win. He’s a great player.”

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C H I C A G O

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P A R K

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IT’S HO W O R THO PEDIC CARE SH OU LD BE

W I N F I E L D

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“No day is the same,” O’Connor-Brooks said of his teaching. “You face different challenges. They face a lot of challenges, obviously. To see growth out of kids and see them happy or excited about stuff that they are doing is really rewarding. I feel very fortunate they let me teach their children.”

Teaching also gives O’Connor-Brooks the opportunity to give back through coaching. He helps out with the boys golf team and also serves as an assistant coach on Phil LaScala’s boys basketball staff, breaking down tape and coaching from the bench on game days.

“It’s a lot of hours in the winter breaking stuff down and getting ready for the next game,” O’ConnorBrooks admitted.

The coaching environment also affords O’ConnorBrooks the opportunity to impact a different segment of youth than he does in the classroom.

“It allows you to coach and see kids in a different light, especially being in special education,” O’Connor-Brooks said. “It’s just very different.

You’re surrounded in that area for awhile, and then you go and get to teach in a different way to different kids.”

O’Connor-Brooks receives notoriety for his golf game, rightfully so. However, what he and many other amateur golfers do away from the course is what they and those they positively impact cherish the most.

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