CHICAGO, Ill. – October 9, 2024 – Roy Biancalana (The Hawk Country Club) claimed his fourth consecutive Illinois PGA Senior Match Play Championship title at Ridge Country Club on Wednesday. Biancalana defeated David Hannon (Links and Tees) 5 and 3 in the Championship Match to defend his title. He now builds on the history he made last year, being the only person to win the championship now four times in a row.
“I am probably prouder of this win than any other win that I can remember,” said Biancalana. “I did not have my A-game this week, but thankfully my short game was great. I had to dig deep to keep my attitude from getting sour, and just hang in there.”
Biancalana earned the number one seed of the 2024 Illinois PGA Senior Match Play with his victory in 2023. After a first round bye, Biancalana drew the 33rd-seeded Jeff Pajula (Stonewall Orchard Golf Club) in the Round of 32. He defeated Pajula, 3 and 2, on Monday afternoon to advance to the next round.
Biancalana then faced Steve Cross (Glen Flora Country Club) in the Round of 16. Cross kept the match close on the front nine, but Biancalana would close out the 17th-seeded Cross, 3up, to advance to the next round.
Travis Hall (White Deer Run) earned the eighth seed in the 2024 Illinois PGA Senior Match Play and faced Biancalana in the Round of 8 on Tuesday afternoon. Biancalana had control of this match from the beginning, getting out to a 4up lead on the front and closing out the match on the 14th hole. With the 5and4 victory, Biancalana advanced to his fourth consecutive Semi-Final Match.
The first Semi-Final Match featured Biancalana and two-time Illinois PGA Senior Match Play Champion, Doug Bauman (Biltmore Country Club). Biancalana was once again in control of this match from the start. He got out to a quick 2up lead after making birdies on the first two holes. His lead was as big as 4up on the front nine at one point. After nine holes, Biancalana had a commanding 3up lead. He won the 10th hole with a par to increase his lead to 4up and then put the nail in the coffin with a birdie on the par-4 12th hole, moving to 5up with six holes left to play. Biancalana closed the match out on the 14th hole, winning 5and4 and advancing to the Championship Match for a fourth straight year.
Biancalana fell behind in the Championship Match early, after Hannon birdied the par-five second. However, an errant second shot off of a tree from Hannon allowed Biancalana to retie the match on the third. Hannon would retake the lead on the par four fourth with a par but would again give back the lead after a Biancalana par on the par three sixth. Biancalana took his first lead of the match on the par three seventh after draining a 50-foot, left to right breaking putt for par after hitting his first shot 40 yards short of the green. The match made the turn with Biancalana leading one up.
A birdie on the par four tenth pushed Biancalana’s lead to two up over Hannon, and he would never look back. He would put his drive in the greenside bunker on the short par four 12th and make birdie to start his run of winning four consecutive holes to close out the match. Hannon conceded Biancalana’s birdie putt on the 15th hole, and the match came to a close with Biancalana winning 5 and 3.
“This is a pucker up golf course,” said Biancalana. “It is so narrow, and you have to be careful not to steer the golf ball because it is so narrow. Luckily, I got it up and down a lot and made putts, and there you go.”
Hannon also had an impressive week. Coming in as the 11th seed, Hannon rattled off four victories to get into the Championship Match for the first time since 2017. In his Semi-Final Match, he drew two-time Illinois PGA Senior Match Play Champion, Billy Rosinia (Golf Galaxy – Downers Grove). Hannon gradually pulled away in this match. He was 1up through the first seven holes, won holes eight and nine to turn with a 3up lead. He then quickly closed the door on Rosinia as he won the 10th hole and 12th hole with birdies to take a 5up lead. He closed out the match on the 13th hole securing a 6and5 victory of Rosinia.
The Illinois PGA season continues next week with the Illinois PGA Senior Players Championship at Twin Orchard Country Club. This event will mark the final point-earning event of the 2024 season.
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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 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.ipga.com and join us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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