Onest collects Van Wie Trophy

    Writing from Glenwood, Illinois
    Tuesday, June 18, 2013

    Allison Onest was cruising along in the Girls 13-to-15 Division of the Illinois Golfer Challenge Junior Golf Championship. After a rocky start – double-bogey and quadruple bogey on Glenwoodie’s first two holes – she had settled down to a steady diet of pars and bogeys, and was distancing herself from fellow competitors Emily Schenck and Elizabeth Stalla.
    If there was any doubt the 15-year-old from Dyer was going to score a victory in her first Challenge appearance, it evaporated on the par-4 17th hole, a 238-yard test.
    “I drove it really far,” Onest said.
    As in about 220 yards, for she estimated she had only about 20 yards left for a chip shot.
    Onest placed that five feet from the cup and rammed it home for a birdie 3, the showcase moment of a 21-over-par 93 that earned her the title in the younger division of the distaff half of the Challenge, and with it, the Virginia Van Wie Trophy.
    “The key today was my putting,” Onest said. “I had a lot of two-putts. My scores have dropped a lot this year. I’ve been playing and practicing a lot at Palmira.”
    Onest, crediting Palmira teaching pro Jason Gillespie for the improvement, scored an 11-stroke victory over Schenck. Stalla was 22 strokes back.
    – Tim Cronin

Illinois Golfer Challenge Results

A full report to come. The scoring from Tuesday's fog and sun-kissed carnival at beautiful Glenwoodie:

    25th Illinois Golfer Challenge Junior Golf Championship

    Glenwoodie Golf Course, Glenwood

    Girls 13-to-15 Division
    5,505 yards, par 72

    Allison Onest, Dyer  48-45–93
    Emily Schenck, Flossmoor  53-51–104
    Elizabeth Stalla, Evergreen Park  60-55–115
    Erin Bullington, Frankfort  WD

    Girls 16-to-18 Division
    5,505 yards, par 72

    Nina Nicpon, Cedar Lake  46-47–93
    Sabina Bruozas, Mokena  55-62–117
    Nicole Huss, Frankfort  67-67–134
    Kelly Barker, Palos Heights  WD

    Boys 13-to-15 Division
    6,423 yards, par 72

    Anthony Bolden, Mokena  39-41–80
    Grant Miller, Crown Point  40-42–82
    Daniel Anfield, Channahon  39-43–82
    Nicholas Good, Dyer 40-43–83
    Ryan Wells, Dyer 42-43–85
    Matt Kadubek, New Lenox  44-46–90
    Peter Kolyvas, New Lenox  47-46–93
    Alex Schiene, Mokena  48-47–95
    Kevin Steiner, Flossmoor  49-49–98
    Casey Domke, Monee 46-52–98
    Brendan Crawford, Flossmoor  53-47–100
    Michael Stanton, Chicago  49-52–101
    Seth Besse, Grant Park  47-55–102
    Martin Breslin, Oak Forest  57-54–111
    Luke Cahill, Naperville  61-52–113

    Boys 16-to-18 Division
    6,423 yards, par 72

    Bryant Bolden, Mokena  39-36–75
    Jake White, Frankfort  36-39–75
      Playoff: Bolden 5-3, White 5-4
    Darren O’Hanlon, Frankfort  41-37–78
    Michael Barber, Beecher  39-40–79
    Matt Contey, Mokena  38-42–80
    Tim Steiner, Flossmoor  41-40–81
    Kyle Thiel, Schererville  40-41–81
    Luke Ostrom, Orland Park  39-42–81
    Brad Bobrowski, Valparaiso  38-43–81
    Geno Narcisi, Chicago Heights  41-41–82
    Jason Mathus, Chicago  46-37–83
    Rhett Barker, Crown Point 45-38–83
    Alex Maksymiak, Frankfort  40-44–84
    Matthew Meneghetti, Schererville  41-44–85
    Ryan Kelly, Flossmoor  42-43–85
    Ryan Dahlkamp, Crown Point   41-44–85
    Jonathan DeLeon, Country Club Hills  43-44–87
    John Randolph, Orland Park  46-42–88
    Joe Knight, Orland Park  43-45–88
    Matt Juskie, Frankfort  44-44–88
    David Karwoski, Oak Forest  43-45–89
    DeVaughn Mathus, Chicago  46-46–92
    Tom Berzins, Orland Park 47-45–92
    Andrew Zarnowski, Chicago Ridge  41-51–92
    Bill Baffes, Flossmoor  43-49–92
    Scott Borden, Midlothian  48-46–94
    Tyler Hayes, Palos Heights  47-47–94
    Josh Crosby, Lansing  47-48–95
    Quentin Jones, Olympia Fields  45-50–95
    Joey O’Sullivan, Oak Lawn  50-47–97
    Andrew Hall, Tinley Park  44-54–98
    Ryan Lahey, Elwood  49-50–99
    Spencer Town, Tinley Park  50-49–99
    A.J. Bellettiere, Tinley Park  46-53–99
    Anthony Castro, Merrionette Park  49-53–102
    Logan Dolehide, Crestwood  54-49–103
    Sam Shaeffer, Hazel Crest  53-52–105
    Tremayne Hollis, Country Club Hills  55-56–111
    Chris Dykstra, Crestwood  50-60–112
    Jon Dever, Oak Forest  62-55–117
    Ryan Moriarty, Tinley Park  60-62–122
    Craig Metsch, La Grange  61-63–124
    Jake Jelderks, Tinley Park  68-83–151
    Will McCabe, Mokena  WD
    Matt Mindak, Chicago Heights  NS
    Caleb Warner, Park Forest NS

Illinois Golfer Challenge Junior Groupings Announced

An elite field of 65 will tee it up on Tuesday, June 18, in the 25th Illinois Golfer Challenge
Junior Golf Championship, held at Glenwoodie Golf Course in Glenwood. Among other notables, Mokena's Bryant Bolden will be going for his fifth title in as many appearances.

The Boys 16-to-18 groupings:
6:30 a.m.: Chris Dykstra, Crestwood; Cody Nolan, Chicago
6:37 a.m.: Ryan Moriarty, Tinley Park; Matt Mindak, Chicago Heights
6:45 a.m.: Craig Metsch, La Grange; Sam Shaeffer, Hazel Crest; Logan Dolehide, Crestwood
6:52 a.m.: Jon Dever, Oak Forest; Tim Steiner, Flossmoor; Jake Jelderks, Tinley Park
7 a.m.: Tremayne Hollis, Country Club Hills; Kyle Theil, Schererville; Josh Crosby, Lansing
7:07 a.m.: Scott Borden, Midlothian; Andrew Hall, Tinley Park; Joey O’Sullivan, Oak Lawn
7:15 a.m.: Anthony Castro, Merrionette Park; Tom Berzins, Orland Park; Ryan Lahey, Elwood
7:22 a.m.: Spencer Town, Tinley Park; Quentin Jones, Olympia Fields; Luke Ostrom, Orland Park
7:30 a.m.: Jonathan DeLeon, Country Club Hills; A.J. Bellettiere, Tinley Park; Alex Maksymiak, Frankfort
7:37 a.m.: John Randolph, Orland Park; Darren O’Hanlon, Frankfort; Geno Naricsi, Chicago Heights
7:45 a.m.: Matthew Meneghetti, Schererville, Ind.; Jake White, Frankfort; Andrew Zarnowski, Chicago
7:52 a.m.: Michael Barber, Beecher; Joe Knight, Orland Park; Matt Juskie, Frankfort
8 a.m.: Matt Contey, Mokena; Ryan Kelly, Flossmoor; Ryan Dahlkamp, Crown Point, Ind.
8:07 a.m.: Tyler Hayes, Palos Heights; Brad Bobrowski, Valparaiso, Ind.; Caleb Warner, Park Forest
8:15 a.m.: Rhett Barker, Crown Point, Ind.; David Karwoski, Oak Forest; Bryant Bolden, Mokena
8:22 a.m. STARTER’S TIME

The Boys 13-to-15 Groupings:

8:30 a.m.: Michael Stanton, Chicago; Grant Miller, Crown Point, Ind.

8:37 a.m.: Seth Besse, Grant Park; Brendan Crawford, Flossmoor; Martin Breslin, Oak Forest
8:45 a.m.: Kevin Steiner, Flossmoor; Alex Schiene, Mokena; Peter Kolyvas, New Lenox
8:52 a.m.: Matt Kadubek, New Lenox; Casey Domke, Monee; Ryan Wells, Dyer, Ind.
9 a.m.: Nicholas Good, Dyer, Ind.; Daniel Anfield, Channahon; Anthony Bolden, Mokena

The Girls 13-to-15 Groupings:
9:07 a.m.: Emily Schenck, Flossmoor; Elizabeth Stalla, Evergreen Park
9:15 a.m.: Allison Onest, Dyer, Ind.; Erin Bullington, Frankfort

The Girls 16-to-18 Groupings:
9:22 a.m.: Kelly Barker, Palos Heights; Nicole Huss, Frankfort
9:30 a.m.: Sabina Bruozas, Mokena; Nina Nicpon, Cedar Lake, Ind.

Join us June 18 for the IG Challenge Junior Golf Championship at Glenwoodie

    Writing from Glenwood, Illinois
    Monday, April 29, 2013

    The world has circled around the sun two dozen times since Carol McCue told your correspondent that holding a junior golf tournament would benefit the Southtown Economist in numerous ways.
    That was the case for 24 years, from 1989 through last year, when the SouthtownStar Challenge was, as always, held at Glenwoodie Golf Course.
    This year’s 25th edition will be at Glenwoodie as well, on Tuesday, June 18, but there’s one change on the entry sheet.
    It’s now the Illinois Golfer Challenge Junior Golf Championship.
    The new moniker comes about partly because of cutbacks at the SouthtownStar – the local office in Tinley Park has been closed, and staff that loyally supported the Challenge no longer work there – and out of a desire to broaden the tournament field. While anyone of the proper age could always enter the Challenge – a lad from New Mexico in the area on vacation played in an early edition – the turnout has generally been from the south and southwestern suburbs and that area of Chicago, mirroring the circulation area of the Southtown under its various names.
    Through various means, including the good offices of the Illinois Junior Golf Association, the renamed Illinois Golfer Challenge is expected to draw a wider field in 2013.
    With 156 places available and play conducted in four divisions, the field could fill up fast.
    The quality of play will most certainly be fast, if the previous 24 years are any indication.
    That’s why it’s wise for players to enter early, using the entry blank available here.
    The four divisions are split between boys and girls. They’re for players 13-to-15 and 16-to-18. Trophies are awarded for the top three finishers in each bracket. Sudden-death playoffs are used to determine first place if there’s a tie; for second and third, duplicate trophies are awarded.
    Participants get not only a place in the field, but lunch after their round, plus goodies upon registration.
    The entry fee is $35, one of the better bargains in junior golf.
    The fun to be had, win or lose, is priceless.
    Entries are open now. The field will be set on June 7. Enter now. To delay may mean to forget.
    We hope to see you at Glenwoodie!
    – Tim Cronin

Golf's true garden party

Writing from Augusta, Georgia
Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Bob Jones knew, when he was creating the course of the Augusta National Golf Club in association with Alister MacKenzie, that there was the opportunity to create something beyond the standard American parkland course.

Jones wanted to emulate, without copying, the great courses and holes of Scotland. In MacKenzie, he found a man could could find the best possible routing for a difficult piece of land to work with. The number of really superior sidehill courses can be counted on one hand.

Augusta National is the best of them, and one of the best courses, period. That alone would make The Masters, which begins its 77th edition on Thursday, an important tournament. Jones' legacy, combined with his persona, brought it major attention immediately, and major status soon after. A certain 4-wood by Gene Sarazen didn't hurt either.

But it was the property that was fortuitously available when Jones and New York pal Clifford Roberts were looking for a spot to place Jones' dream layout that brought forth the final ingredient to give the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, to use the original name, the aura that the other three majors, much less any mere tournament, cannot come close to achieving.

Built on an old indigo plantation turned nursery, Augusta National is as much flower garden as golf course. It's stunningly beautiful, the natural beauty enhanced by an unreleased and likely unlimited maintenance budget. Breathtaking is not a word associated with the U.S. Open or the PGA Championship, and it only connects to the British Open when the oldest major is played on the Old Course. But breathtaking almost damns Augusta National with faint praise, so dazzling are the colors -- green is only the start -- and the manicured perfection of it all. Like Disneyland, the Augusta National Golf Club is fantasy come to life.

Throw in the old-fashioned Southern courtliness of gentleman callers and drawing rooms that pervaded when Jones was winning the original Grand Slam, plus the course rules -- no running, no cellular telephones, no mention of money on the television broadcast, no Gary McCord -- that harken back to his day, and the combination creates a gallery that whispers even when play is hundreds of yards away. Well, unless a more than a few beers have been tipped back, and a $3 for a brew, $4 for imported hops, a few get tipped back, in which case "You the man!" is created.

That brings us to today, the happiest day in golf. The final practice round for The Masters coincides with the annual Par 3 contest, which offers Augusta's beauty in miniature, and sights that cannot be seen anywhere else in golf.

Over here, Rory McIlroy playing and great good friend Caroline Wozniacki, only one of the best tennis players in the world, in the role of caddie for the day. Over there, Jack Fleck, who beat Ben Hogan in a playoff to win the 1955 U.S. Open, still chasing the little white pill at age 91. And over there, totaling 13 green jackets between them, the Big Three.

You know them, of course. Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. The Par 3 contest is the only place they tee it up together. At 83, Palmer's backswing isn't the old helicopter finish, but the love of the people for the man and the love of the man for the people is as strong as ever. Player still goes after it, and if you ever need a lesson in grinding, just watch the Golden Bear, 73, lining up a tee shot like it was the final round in 1986, and standing over a putt until he is good and ready, thank you very much.

That formula worked to the tune of 20 major championships, and while Nicklaus wasn't in contention for Wednesday's crystal, he worked like he did when he was winning here, there and everywhere. Good habits never go out of style.

There's also a jinx, which Ted Potter Jr. now knows. No Par 3 winner has won The Masters in the same year. Potter had the misfortune to win a five-way playoff on Wednesday. Tough luck, Ted.

Sarazen once complained to tournament chairman Hord Hardin, the only Midwesterner to run the show, that he was too old to perform the ceremonial tee shot, that he wasn't hitting the ball well. Hordin retorted, "Gene, they don't care how you hit it, they just want to know you're alive."

The same is true of the Par 3. People had tears in their eyes on Wednesday when Palmer, Player and Nicklaus posed for pictures. They laughed when D.A. Points' little daughter Layla, all of 3 years and 2 months, ran after him on one hole. They cheered on the big course when Bubba Watson aced the par 3 16th, and cheered nearly as loudly for anyone who skipped the ball across the pond and into the green after the practice shots, caddies included.

And they visited the spot in the pine straw off the beaten path on the 10th, the hole where Watson hit the shot that couldn't be hit in last year's playoff to grab his title as if they were pilgrims visiting Lourdes.

Oh yes, the big course. It will get bigger on Thursday. Greens will get a little faster, and firmer. And by the turn on Sunday, collars will tighten and throats will become parched.

All of this couldn't have been predicted when Jones and MacKenzie and Roberts began it all in the early 1930s. But good fortune, amazing happenstance, a certain amount of celebrity and attention to detail has combined over 80 years now to create the best golf tournament of them all, on the most beautiful course, with the most unusual prize -- a jacket only a bowl game representative could love in any other case -- at the end of the trail.

And now, there are even female members of the club, ending the one last bit of controversy -- aside from the one-year absence of the famed chichen sandwich -- that had dogged Augusta National's reputation and had tarnished the tournament's reputation.

No longer. The Masters is now without peer and without controversy. Thursday morning, the first tee announcer will say, "Fore please, Sandy Lyle now driving," and the best four days in golf will begin.

-- Tim Cronin

FYI – Posted Thursday, April 11 thanks to Squarespace-iPad interface difficulties.