It's Radix Cup Day!

Writing from River Grove, Illinois

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Joel Hirsch, who played in 23 of them, calls the Radix Cup “the premier event in Chicago golf.”

He’s right. The annual match of Illinois’ best amateurs and professionals is a treat for competitor and spectator alike.

Today brings us the 56th edition, held at Oak Park Country Club, as all but three have been since the inaugural at North Shore Country Club in 1962.

Started by North Shore pro Bill Ogden and Oalk Park pro Errie Ball to honor Harry Radix, perhaps the foremost amateur promoter of the game in the Chicago area, they settled at Oak Park because Radix was a member there. It’s been the permanent home since 1972.

Sentimental memories aside, the Radix Cup has evolved from a one-sided walkover by the professionals (who lead 35-17-2) into an annual toss-up. The teams have split the last 10 and last 20 matches evenly, the professionals scoring an 11-7 victory last year, and Wednesday’s encounter could go either way as well.

The matches feature an array of talent:

12:45 p.m.: amateurs Ray Knoll and Paul Schlimm Jr. vs. professionals Kyle Bauer and Adam Schumacher. Knoll won the 2014 Illinois Amateur, while Bauer captured the 2016 Illinois PGA Match Play.

12:55 p.m.: amateurs Dave Ryan and Tim Sheppard vs. professionals Frank Bruno and Brian Carroll. Ryan is the current U.S. Senior Amateur champion, while Sheppard was part of last year’s winning CDGA Senior Four-Ball team. Bruno, Oak Park’s head pro, and Carroll may be up against it.

1:05 p.m.: amateurs Vance Antoniou and Bob Youman vs. professionals Chris Green and Brian Janty. Antoniou won last year’s CDGA Senior Amateur.

1:15 p.m.: amateurs Kyle Nathan and Chadd Slutzky vs. professionals Garrett Chaussard and Mike Small. Nathan and Slutzky won the last two CDGA Mid-Amateurs, while Chaussard narrowly missed qualifying for the U.S. Open on Monday, while Hall of Famer Small has won a record 17 state majors.

1:25 p.m.: amateurs Charlie Netzel and Kyle Slattery vs. professionals Travis Johns and Matt Slowinski. Netzel is 22, Slattery 20, and both are Radix Cup rookies, while Johns and Slowinski had a combined seven victories.

1:35 p.m.: amateurs Andy Johnson and Steve Sawtell vs. professionals Brian Brodell and Frank Hohenadel. Sawtell was part of the CDGA Four-Ball title team in 2016, while Brodell and Hohenadel scored three top-10 finishes in IPGA play.

There’s an added treat this year. In an effort to get more spectators beyond the usual friends and family, Oak Park has encouraged members of the PGA Junior Golf League to come out, accompanied by their parents. The lads and lasses get a free lunch. Admission for everyone is free.

– Tim Cronin