NATIONAL CAR RENTAL ILLINOIS ASSISTANT PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Deerfield, Ill. – June 12, 2023 – Cameron Beeler (Oak Park Country Club) won the National Car Rental Illinois Assistant PGA Professional Championship on Monday, June 12 at Briarwood Country Club. Beeler got out to an early lead with a 3-under-par 68 in round one and hung onto his lead, fighting off a handful of competitors, with a 1-under-par 70 in the second round to secure his first career Illinois PGA Section victory. In total, Beeler posted a winning score of 4-under-par 138.
Beeler will be joined by Kevin Nelson (Chicago Golf Club), and Matthew Rion (Briarwood Country Club) at the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship at the PGA Golf Club on November 16-19.
“I played very well in the morning, and just held it together in the afternoon,” said Beeler. “The golf course was beautiful it got a little bit faster and dried out a little in the afternoon because of the wind we experienced but all in all it was a great Championship golf course. I was happy with the way I played today. I definitely think I played better in the first round but fortunately; I was able to hang on in round two.”
Beeler held a one-stroke lead over Sam Norbom (Country Club of Peoria) after round one. However, it was Paul Schlimm, Jr. (Chicago Highlands Club) who tested Beeler throughout the second round. Beeler expanded his lead to three strokes on the front nine of round two. He birdied holes three, five, and six to get to 6-under-par for the tournament. A bogey on the ninth hole dropped him back to 5-under-par and Beeler turned with a three-stroke lead with nine holes to play.
Schlimm, Jr. made a strong push on the back nine. He birdied the par-3 11th hole after an impressive shot off the tee and followed it up by burying a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 12th. Beeler, who bogeyed the 12th hole, saw his lead disappear as he and Schlimm, Jr. were tied atop the leaderboard heading to the 13th tee.
Hole 13 at Briarwood Country Club is a 515-yard par five. Beeler hit his second shot into the left greenside bunker, and Schlimm played his second shot into the right greenside bunker. Beeler was able to get up and down, making a nice 10-foot birdie putt, and regained his spot atop the leaderboard at 5-under-par. Schlimm was unable to convert his birdie putt, and Beeler held a one-stroke lead with five holes to play.
It appeared that the Championship was going to take a turn in Schlimm, Jr.’s favor, as Beeler bogeyed both the 14th hole and 15th hole. Schlimm, Jr. found himself leading the Championship by one stroke with just three holes to play. Schlimm, Jr.’s tee shot on the 16th hole found the fescue on the left-hand side of the fairway. Meanwhile, Beeler’s drive found the fairway, and he stuck his approach shot to eight feet. Schlimm, Jr. hit an errant shot out of the fescue and was left with a delicate short-sided chip shot. He was unable to reach the green with his third shot and ended up making a double bogey to drop back to 2-under-par for the Championship. Beeler took advantage of the situation, as he buried his birdie putt to get back to 4-under-par and take a two-stroke lead over Schlimm, Jr. with two holes to play.
On the 17th hole, Beeler’s drive missed the fairway left but he still had an angle into the green. Schlimm, Jr. took an aggressive line on the 408-yard par-4 and was left with a short chip shot as his drive landed next to the greenside bunker. Beeler’s approach shot came up just short of the green. He two-putted from off the green, making a downhill slider from about six feet to remain at 4-under-par. Schlimm, Jr. on the other hand, nearly holed his chip shot and tapped in for birdie to get back to 3-under-par for the Championship.
Beeler held a one-stroke lead standing on the 18th tee. He hit his drive into the right rough but was able to hit the green in regulation. He and Schlimm, Jr. both made par on the 36th hole of the Championship, and Beeler secured his first career Illinois PGA Section victory.
Due to PGA of America eligibility requirements, Schlimm, Jr. was not eligible to qualify for the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship. Therefore, Nelson and Rion earned the final two qualifying spots for the Illinois PGA.
Nelson carded a 3-over-par 74 in round one but followed up with the lowest round of the day in the afternoon turning in a score of 5-under-par 66 for a tournament total of 2-under-par 140.
Rion also carded a 3-over-par 74 in round one. He also had an impressive second round recording a 4-under-par 67 for a tournament total of 1-under-par 141.
Norbom, Kevin Flack (Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club), and Mike Troy (Zigfield Troy Golf Course) round out the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional alternates for the Illinois PGA Section.
The National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship brings together a field of 132 contestants representing the PGA of America’s 41 nationwide Sections and features a total purse of $150,000. All rounds will be played on the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club. A cut after 36 holes of play will be made to the low 70 scorers and ties.
Begun in 1977, the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship is modeled after the PGA Professional Championship, with a field of PGA Professionals and PGA Associates who advanced through 41 Section Championships conducted from May through October this year. The champion of this event earns a berth in the PGA Professional Championship if eligibility is met and maintained.
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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 associates, 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.ipga.com and join us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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CONTACT:
Kevin Quinn
Illinois PGA Communications
708.336.1294 mobile
kbquinn@pgahq.com