GLENVIEW, Ill. — The Illinois PGA Section will be well represented at the PGA Professional Championship (PPC) that runs Sunday, April 28 to Wednesday, May 1 at Belfair in Bluffton, S.C. Eleven Section members join the tournament field of 312 PGA Professionals from around the country. A $50,000 check awaits the overall champion, while a top 20 finish earns an automatic berth in the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York May 16-19.
2018 Illinois PGA Championship champion, Dakun Chang (Twin Orchard CC), highlights the field of Illinois PGA participants along with Brian Carroll (Royal Hawk CC). Chang and Carroll were involved in two playoffs last year; one at the Illinois PGA Championship at Stonewall Orchard Golf Club where Chang bested Carroll over a three-hole playoff and the other at the PGA Professional Championship at Bayonet Black Horse in California where they both fell just short of qualifying for a slot in the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis. Chang and Carroll earned exemptions to this year’s PGA Professional Championship based on their T16 (+3) finish at last year’s event.
Other top players from the Section competing include 2018 Illinois PGA Player of the Year, Travis Johns (Medinah CC), and 2018 Illinois PGA Senior Player of the Year, Roy Biancalana (St. Andrews Golf & CC).
“The Illinois Section has a great tradition of hosting a strong tournament program which helps produce some of the best PGA Professional players in the country. We’re extremely proud of Dakun, Brian and all the Illinois PGA Professionals that will be representing the Section at the PGA Professional Championship this year at Belfair,” said Carrie Williams, Executive Director of the Illinois PGA Section.
Following are the 11 Illinois PGA Professionals competing in the 2019 PGA Professional Championship and their finish in the 2018 Illinois PGA Championship:
Dakun Chang
Twin Orchard Country Club – Assistant PGA Professional
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 70-69-73 = 212 (1)
Brian Carroll
Royal Hawk Country Club – Head PGA Professional
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 70-73-69 = 212 (2)
Curtis Malm
White Eagle Golf Club – Head PGA Professional
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 70-73-71 = 214 (3)
Chris Ioriatti
Mistwood Golf Club – Assistant PGA Professional
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 75-70-70 = 215 (T4)
Chris Green
Glen View Club – PGA Director of Instruction
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 71-73-71 = 215 (T4)
Travis Johns
Medinah Country Club – PGA Director of Instruction
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 71-70-74 = 215 (T4)
Matt Slowinski
Hinsdale Golf Club – Head PGA Professional
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 74-72-70 = 216 (7)
Steve Orrick
Country Club of Decatur- Head PGA Professional
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 76-70-71 = 217 (8)
Roy Biancalana
St. Andrews Golf & Country Club – PGA Teaching Professional
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 70/73/75 = 218 (9)
Luke Hemelstrand
Park Ridge Country Club – Head PGA Professional
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 73-75-71 = 219 (T10)
Tim Streng
Wildcat Golf Academy – PGA Teaching Professional
2018 Illinois PGA Championship: 69-78-72 = 219 (T10)
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.
About The PGA Professional Championship
Begun in 1968, The PGA Professional Championship provides additional playing opportunities for PGA Professionals. The showcase event for PGA Professionals features a 312-player field representing 41 PGA Sections competing at the peak of their games, and with its 20 top finishers earning a berth in the PGA Championship.
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CONTACT:
Palmer Moody
Illinois PGA Communications
(847) 729-4145 direct
(847) 804-2721 mobile
pmoody@pgahq.com