The Illinois PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is conducted by the Illinois PGA (Professional Golfers' Association). The 54-hole, stroke play Championship conducted over three days is the premier member event on the Illinois PGA calendar. The tournament is open to all "Class A" Illinois PGA Professionals in good standing with the PGA of America.
History The first Illinois PGA Championship was held in 1922 and won by Eddie Loos. In addition to the first place purse money, the winner is awarded the Jim Kemper Cup, which was donated by Jim Kemper, the former president and chairman of the board of Kemper Insurance Company.
Method of play The Illinois PGA Championship is a 54-hole stroke-play event. Following 36 holes of play, the field is cut to the low 50 scores plus ties. In the event of a tie for the Championship, there is a three-hole, total stroke playoff. If the contestants remain tied after three (3) holes, the playoff will continue on a sudden death basis.
PGA Professional National Championship (PPNC) qualifying The Illinois PGA Champion, along with a pre-determined number of finishers (based on total entries received), receive an exemption to play in the PGA Professional National Championship the following year.
Patriot Golf Day During the first round of the Illinois PGA Championship, all competitors are asked to make a voluntary donation at registration in support of Patriot Golf Day – a joint initiative of the PGA of America and the United States Golf Association (USGA) that supports the Folds of Honor Foundation which provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving our great nation. Contributions are also accepted through subsequent rounds. At the conclusion of the Championship, the Illinois PGA matches all funds donated by its members.
Winners Year Champion Venue Location Score Margin Runner(s)-up2024 Brian Carroll Beverly Country Club Chicago, Illinois 72-66=138 (−4) 1 Jeff Kellen2024 Brian Carroll Elgin Country Club Elgin, Illinois 68-65-68=201 (−15) 2 Matthew Rion2023 Mike Small Thunderhawk Beach Park, Illinois 66-69=135 (−9) 1 Jeff Kellen, Andy Mickelson2022 Brian Carroll Makray Memorial Barrington, Illinois 69-71-67=207 (−6) PO Mike Small2021 Andy Mickelson Ivanhoe Club Ivanhoe, Illinois 71-71-71=213 (−3) 4 Garrett Chaussard, Kurt Rogers2020 Mike Small Medinah Country Club, Course No. 1 Medinah, Illinois 69-63-68=200 (−13) 4 Frank Hohenadel, Andy Mickelson2019 Travis Johns Ruth Lake Country Club Hinsdale, Illinois 70-68=138 (−4) 1 Garrett Chaussard2018 Dakun Chang Stonewall Orchard Golf Club Grayslake, Illinois 70-69-73=212 (−4) PO Brian Carroll2017 Adam Schumacher Medinah Country Club, Course No. 1 Medinah, Illinois 67-73-69=209 (−4) 3 Brett Walker2016 Mike Small Olympia Fields Country Club, South Course Olympia Fields, Illinois 71-67-68=206 (−10) 2 Brian Brodell, Travis Johns, Curtis Malm2015 Jim Billiter Medinah Country Club, Course No. 1 Medinah, Illinois 68-66-70=204 (−9) 2 Matt Slowinski2014 Mike Small Stonewall Orchard Golf Club Grayslake, Illinois 67-67-66=200 (−16) 5 Steve Orrick2013 Mike Small Olympia Fields Country Club, South Course Olympia Fields, Illinois 69-72-68=209 (−4) 4 Travis Johns, Curtis Malm, Matt Slowinski2012 Steve Orrick Stonewall Orchard Golf Club Grayslake, Illinois 72-70-65=207 (−9) 5 Curtis Malm2011 Frank Hohenadel Medinah Country Club, Course No. 1 Medinah, Illinois 65-70-72=207 (−6) 4 Matt Slowinski2010 Mike Small Olympia Fields Country Club, South Course Olympia Fields, Illinois 70-63-67=200 (−13) 11 Travis Johns2009 Mike Small Stonewall Orchard Golf Club Grayslake, Illinois 67-69-71=207 (−9) 6 Jim Sobb2008 Mike Small Medinah Country Club, Course No. 1 Medinah, Illinois 67-67-71=205 (−8) 1 Steve Orrick2007 Mike Small Stonewall Orchard Golf Club Grayslake, Illinois 63-69-70=202 (−14) 3 Roy Biancalana2006 Mike Small Stonewall Orchard Golf Club Grayslake, Illinois 71-66-72=209 (−7) 5 Darren Stanek2005 Mike Small Stonewall Orchard Golf Club Grayslake, Illinois 73-67-71=211 (−5) 1 Connie DeMattia2004 Mike Small Royal Melbourne Country Club Long Grove, Illinois 73-65-71=209 (−7) 6 Biancalana, DeMattia, Brett Melton2003 Mike Small Royal Melbourne Country Club Long Grove, Illinois 69-74-75=218 (+2) 1 Roy Biancalana2002 Gary Groh Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 74-70-74=218 (+2) PO Mike Small2001 Mike Small Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 69-73-71=213 (−3) 2 Dino Lucchesi2000 Jim Sobb Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1 Kelly Holmes, John Cleary1999 Jim Sobb Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1998 Dino Lucchesi Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1997 Doug Bauman Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1996 Doug Bauman Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1995 Jim Sobb Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1994 Steve Benson Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1993 Bob Ackerman Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1992 David Prange Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1991 Rick Dalpos Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1990 Rick Dalpos Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1989 Gary Groh Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1988 Bob Ackerman Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1987 Gary Hopkins Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1986 Gary Groh Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1985 Ed Oldfield Jr. Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1984 Steve Benson Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1983 Gary Groh Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1982 Steve Benson Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1981 Robert Powers Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1980 Mark Wolfla Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1979 Emil Esposito Kemper Lakes Golf Club Kildeer, Illinois 1978 Bob Zender 1977 Bob Zender Lincolnshire Country Club Crete, Illinois ??-??-67=206 (−10) 7 Steve Benson1976 Bob Zender Lincolnshire Country Club Crete, Illinois 1975 Shelby Futch 1974 Bill Ventresca 1973 Dean Lind 1972 Bill Ogden 1971 Bill Ogden 1970 Tony Holguin 1969 Doug MacDonald 1968 Chuck Malchaski 1967 George Keyes 1966 Dick Hart 1965 Errie Ball 1964 Jack Fleck 1963 Dick Hart 1962 Tony Holguin 1961 Bob Harris 1960 Bill Ogden 1959 Bob Harris 1958 Chuck Malchaski 1957 Bill Ogden 1956 George Keyes 1955 Errie Ball 1954 Tony Holguin 1953 Bill Ogden 1952 Mike Sipula 1951 Sam Bernardi 1950 Ky Laffoon 1949 Errie Ball 1948 Henry Ransom 1947 Johnny Revolta 1946 Jim Foulis 1945 Jack Grout 1944 George Smith 1943 Jim Foulis 1942 Johnny Revolta St. Charles Country Club St. Charles, Illinois 71-70-69=210 (−6) 1 Jim Foulis1941 Johnny Revolta 1940 Dutch Harrison 1939 Dick Metz Champaign Country ClubDecatur Daily Review June 24, 1939 page 5; Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette June 21, 1939Champaign, Illinois 1938 Johnny Revolta 1937 Johnny Revolta 1936 Johnny Revolta 1935 Frank Walsh 1934 Harry Cooper 1933 Jim Foulis 1932 Harry Cooper 1931 Abe Espinosa 1930 Al Espinosa 1929 Jim Foulis 1928 Al Espinosa 1927 Al Espinosa 1926 Jock Hutchison 1925 Jock Hutchison 1924 Eddie Loos Glen Flora Country Club Waukegan, Illinois 1923 Jock Hutchison 1922 Eddie Loos Lake Shore Country Club Glencoe, Illinois 1 Jock Hutchison
PO = Won in playoff
Multiple winners The following players have won the Illinois PGA Championship multiple times:
14 wins: Mike Small – 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2023 6 wins Johnny Revolta – 1936, 1937, 1938, 1941, 1942, 1947 5 wins: Bill Ogden – 1953, 1957, 1960, 1971, 1972 4 wins: Jim Foulis – 1929, 1933, 1943, 1946 Gary Groh – 1983, 1986, 1989, 2002 3 wins: Errie Ball – 1949, 1955, 1965 Steve Benson – 1982, 1984, 1994 Al Espinosa – 1927, 1928, 1930 Tony Holguin – 1954, 1962, 1970 Jock Hutchinson – 1923, 1925, 1926 Jim Sobb – 1995, 1999, 2000 Bob Zender – 1976, 1977, 1978 2 wins: Bob Ackerman – 1988, 1993 Doug Bauman – 1996, 1997 Harry Cooper – 1932, 1934 Rick Dalpos – 1990, 1991 Bob Harris – 1959, 1961 Dick Hart – 1963, 1966 George Keyes - 1956, 1967 Eddie Loos – 1922, 1924 Chuck Malchaski – 1958, 1968
References
External links PGA of America – Illinois Section