GLENVIEW, Ill. – April 23, 2021 – The PGA Professional Championship returns in 2021, following the cancellation of the 2020 Championship amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Eleven Illinois PGA Professionals will represent the Section at the 54th PGA Professional Championship next week, April 25-28, at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Illinois PGA Professionals qualified for this event last August at the Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah Country Club. The Illinois PGA Section was granted nine qualifying spots based on entries of this event. Other players were granted spots into the PGA Professional Championship through the National alternate list.
“We are excited to once again play witness to the PGA Professional Championship,” said Carrie Williams, Executive Director of the Illinois PGA Section. “We know that it was difficult for all PGA Professionals not to compete in this event last year and are thrilled to see the top club professionals from around the country compete once again. We have a strong group of professionals representing the Illinois PGA Section this year, and we wish them the best of luck.”
Below is the Illinois PGA/ PGA Professional Championship roster and season highlights:
Roy Biancalana – PGA Teaching Professional at Blackberry Oaks Golf Course, Bristol, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah CC – 5th
- Illinois Super Senior Open at Pine Meadow GC – 1st
- Illinois Senior PGA Professional Championship at Merit Club – T5
- Has appeared in five (5) PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished 14th in the 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Jim Billiter – Head PGA Professional at The Ivanhoe Club, Mundelein, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah CC – T7
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Onwentsia Club – T8
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Elgin CC – T2
- Has appeared in four (4) PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished 11th in the 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Brian Carroll – General Manager and Head PGA Professional at The Hawk Country Club, St. Charles, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah CC – 9th
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at The Hawk CC – 3rd
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Conway Farms GC – T5
- 2018 PGA Professional Championship – T16
- Has appeared in two (2) PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished seventh (7th) in the 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
George Goich – PGA Director of Golf at Flossmoor Golf Club, Flossmoor, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah CC – 10th
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Conway Farms GC – T18
- Illinois Senior Open Championship at Royal Fox CC – T37
- Has appeared in six (6) PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished 25th in the 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Chris Green – PGA Director of Instruction, Glen View Club, Golf, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah CC – 6th
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Conway Farms GC – T2
- Has appeared in three (3) PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished eighth (8th) in the 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Frank Hohenadel – Head PGA Professional, Mistwood Golf Club, Romeoville, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah CC – T2
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Conway Farms GC – T2
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Riverside GC – T5
- Has appeared in five (5) PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished fourth (4th) in the 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Travis Johns – PGA Director of Instruction, Medinah Country Club, Medinah, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah CC – 4th
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at The Ivanhoe Club – 1st
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Riverside GC – T5
- Has appeared in seven (7) PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished third (3rd) in the 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Curtis Malm – PGA Director of Golf, White Eagle Golf Club, Naperville, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah CC – T7
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Conway Farms GC – 1st
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Onwentsia Club – T2
- Has appeared in five (5) PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished 12th in the 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Andy Mickelson – PGA Director of Golf, Mistwood Golf Club, Romeoville, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah CC – T2
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Onwentsia Club – 1st
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at The Ivanhoe Club – T4
- 2015 National Car Rental Assistant Professional Championship – 1st
- 2021 marks his first appearance at the PGA Professional Championship.
- Finished second (2nd) in the 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Steve Orrick, Jr. – PGA General Manager, Country Club of Decatur, Decatur, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Medinah CC – T11
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Riverside GC – T2
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at The Hawk CC – T8
- Has appeared in nine (9) PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished 29th in the 2020 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Caleb Wittig – Assistant PGA Professional, Lake Shore Country Club, Glencoe, Ill.
- Qualified for the PGA Professional Championship in the Southern Ohio PGA Section. Transferred to Illinois PGA Section in March of 2021.
- 75th SOPGA Professional Championship – 1st
- 44th SOPGA Assistant Professional Championship – 1st
- 2020 National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship – T18
- 2021 marks his first appearance at the PGA Professional Championship.
- Finished second (2nd) in the 2020 Southern Ohio Player of the Year points race.
The PGA Professional Championship field is comprised of players who advanced from the 41 Section Championships, along with Past Champions. The low 20 finishers earn a berth in the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina on May 17-23.
Established in 1968, the PGA Professional Championship roster of Champions includes the following premier TOUR professionals: Sam Snead, Bob Rosburg, Don Massengale, Ed Dougherty, Larry Gilbert, and Bruce Fleisher. The PGA Professional Championship is presented by Club Car and OMEGA. Supporting sponsors are Titleist/FootJoy, NIKE and TaylorMade. Presenting partners are Golf Channel and the PGA TOUR. The 41 Section Championships and the National Championship offer a combined purse of more than $1.5 million.
The 54th PGA Professional Championship Broadcast Schedule:
- Sunday, April 25: GOLF Channel – 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, April 26: GOLF Channel – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 27: GOLF Channel – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 28: GOLF Channel – 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
About the Illinois PGA/Illinois PGA Foundation
The Illinois Section of the PGA of America is a professional organization serving the men and women golf professionals in northern and central Illinois who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf. The Illinois PGA is responsible for the administration of competitive golf tournaments, educational opportunities, support programs and growth of the game initiatives. With over 840 members and apprentices, the Illinois PGA is one of the 41 regional Sections that comprise the PGA of America. The Illinois PGA Foundation focuses its community efforts on promoting the goodwill and growth of the game with an emphasis on activities that benefit youth. Foundation initiatives include: GolfWorks Illinois, Youth-based Scholarship Funds and the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame. For more information about the Illinois PGA and the Illinois PGA Foundation, please visit www.www.ipga.com and join us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
CONTACT:
Kevin Quinn
Illinois PGA Communications
708.336.1294 mobile
847.729.4102 office
kbquinn@pgahq.com