Chaussard and Biancalana Capture Illinois PGA Player of the Year Honors

Nov 4, 2019

GLENVIEW, Ill. – November 4, 2019 – Garrett Chaussard (Skokie Country Club) has won the 2019 Bernardi Illinois PGA Player of the Year Award, and Roy Biancalana (St. Andrews Golf & Country Club) won the 2019 Errie Ball Senior Illinois PGA Player of the Year Award. This year marked the first career Illinois PGA Player of the Year honor for Chaussard, while Biancalana claimed his second straight Senior Player of Year honor.

Illinois PGA Professionals earn Bernardi Player of the Year points in Illinois PGA Stroke Play events, the Illinois PGA Match Play Championship, the Illinois PGA Section Championship and the Illinois PGA Players Championship. Bernardi points are also awarded for the PGA Professional Championship and PGA Championship. Players earn points based on their finish against the entire field. Points are also weighted based of the strength and size of the field.                      

Errie Ball Senior Player of the Year points are earned through Illinois PGA Senior Stroke Play events, the Illinois PGA Senior Match Play Championship, the Illinois PGA Senior Championship, the Senior Illinois PGA Players Championship, the Senior PGA Professional Championship and the Senior PGA Championship. Only Class-A members over the age of 50 are eligible for Errie Ball Senior Player of the Year points. Points are allocated to players based on their finish against the entire field. Points are weighted based on the strength and size of the field.   

“We have some very elite players in the Illinois Section,” said Carrie Williams, Executive Director of the Illinois PGA Section. “The Player of the Year races are always fun to watch as they unfold throughout the course of the season. Garrett and Roy both showcased some great golf this season and performed well at major events. We congratulate both of them on this outstanding achievement.”

Chaussard played in eight Illinois PGA events in 2019, finishing inside the top-10 in each event. His season was highlighted by three victories on the Illinois PGA circuit. He won the Illinois PGA Match Play at Kemper Lakes for the second straight season, becoming just the fourth player to achieve this feat. Chaussard was also victorious at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play #3 at Onwentsia Club and at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play #4 at Stonewall Orchard Golf Club.

Chaussard’s season also featured career best finishes at both the 70th Illinois Open and the Illinois PGA Professional Championship. He finished T9 at the Illinois Open and second at the Section Championship, falling just one stroke shy of winner, Travis Johns (Medinah Country Club). Chaussard’s second place finish qualified him for the 53rd PGA Professional Championship set to take place on April 26-29, 2020 at the Omni Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas. 

In addition to his second-place finish at the Illinois PGA Professional Championship, Chaussard also finished second at the Illinois PGA Stroke Play #5 at Stonebridge Country Club, and third at the Illinois PGA Players Championship at Crystal Tree Golf Club. Chaussard carded his lowest round of the year in his victory at the Stroke Play #4 at Stonewall Orchard Golf Club when he shot 67.

Biancalana finished the season with four victories, one second-place finish and seven top-10 finishes in Illinois PGA Senior events.

Biancalana’s four victories on the Senior circuit came at the Illinois PGA Senior Stroke Play #2 at Rolling Green Country Club, the Senior Masters Championship at Onwentsia Club, the Illinois PGA Senior Stroke Play #4 at Kishwaukee Country Club and the Illinois PGA Senior Players Championship at The Club at Wynstone.

Biancalana’s second place finish took place at the Senior Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Merit Club. His finish qualified him for the 2019 Senior PGA Professional Championship at Barton Creek Resort and Spa in Austin, Texas, where he finished T22 and qualified for the 2020 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship on May 21-24 at Harbor Shores Golf Club in Benton Harbor, MI.

In total, Biancalana appeared in 18 Illinois PGA events (10 Senior events and eight Section events) in 2019. His low round came at his victory at the Senior Stroke Play # 4 at Kishwaukee Country Club, where he carded a 64.

These two awards are named after Sam Bernardi and Errie Ball, both of which were tremendous players on the Illinois PGA circuit and the PGA TOUR. Bernardi was a member of the Illinois PGA from 1926-1972, holding positions at Briegrate Country Club, Old Elm Club and Indian Hill Club. Ball served and contributed to the game of golf for over forty-four years as the head PGA Professional at Oak Park Country Club. He was also the first Director of Golf at Butler National Golf Club in 1972.

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.

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CONTACT:
Kevin Quinn
Illinois PGA Communications
708.336.1294 mobile
847.729.4102 office
kbquinn@pgahq.com