2026 Nadler Golf Cars Illinois PGA Assistant Championship Results
LINCOLNWOOD, Ill. — June 1, 2026 — Vince India (North Shore Country Club) claimed the 2026 Illinois PGA Assistant Championship at Bryn Mawr Country Club after posting a 36-hole total of 18-under-par 126. The victory earns India a spot in the 50th Assistant PGA Professional Championship, scheduled for Nov. 12-15, 2026, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
“That was a lot of fun. It’s nice to play competitive golf here and there,” said India. “None of us get to play that often. It’s funny, the less golf I play, the more I appreciate it and the more fun I have. It was nice to play good golf for the first time in a long time. Anytime I have an opportunity to compete, I feel like I’m having a good time.”
India, who became a PGA of America Associate in March, had previously spent time competing on the Korn Ferry Tour, with his most recent start coming in 2023. During this time, India made 176 Korn Ferry Tour starts, recording eight top-10 finishes. A two-time Illinois Open Champion (2018, 2023), India claims his first career Illinois PGA victory and first Illinois PGA Assistant Major Championship title.
“There were spots here and there today where the club felt a little weird in my hands, or the putter didn’t feel great,” said India. “In those times, I just leaned on the things I’ve learned over the years to calm myself down.”
India set the tone for the championship during the opening round, tying the Bryn Mawr Country Club course record with a bogey-free 10-under-par 62. His round featured 10 birdies and vaulted him into the lead heading into the final round.
Sitting at 9-under-par through 16 holes, India had another excellent birdie opportunity on the par-4 17th, but a narrowly missed putt left him at 9-under. On the par-5 18th, India found the right rough off the tee, and his second shot came up just short of the green. After chipping to just above the hole, he converted the birdie putt to reach 10-under-par, tie the course record, and take a three-shot lead into the final round.
India continued his strong play in the final round, holding off the closest competitor in Matthew Rion of Briarwood Country Club, who posted a 7-under-par 65 in the opening round.
Things looked like they could tighten up early in the final round. India made birdie on the opening hole to move to 11-under-par for the championship, but Rion answered with an eagle to reach 9-under-par.
India remained steady throughout the front nine, adding a birdie on the par-5 fifth hole before tallying back-to-back birdies on holes seven and eight. After making his lone bogey of the championship on the ninth hole, India made the turn at 13-under-par and maintained a commanding six-shot advantage over Rion.
Any remaining suspense on the leaderboard quickly disappeared on the back nine. India hit his second shot on the par-5 13th hole to about a foot and tapped in for eagle, moving to 15-under-par and extending his lead to seven shots with five holes remaining.
He continued to capitalize on the par 5s, adding birdies on Nos. 15 and 18. India also birdied the par-3 16th after an impressive tee shot left him a short putt. For the championship, India carded 17 birdies and one eagle while playing the par 5s 11-under-par.
Rion also put together an impressive championship performance. Despite making eagle on the opening hole of the final round, he remained at 7-under-par with nine holes to play. Rion closed in impressive fashion, birdieing four of his final seven holes to post a 3-under-par 69 and finish the championship at 10-under-par 134. His runner-up finish secured one of the Illinois PGA’s qualifying spots into the 50th Assistant PGA Professional Championship.
The final qualifying position came down to a playoff between Crimson Callahan of Conway Farms Golf Club and the defending Illinois PGA Assistant Champion, Kyle Donovan of Oak Park Country Club. The pair finished tied for third at 5-under-par 139 before returning to the first hole for a sudden-death playoff. Callahan birdied the opening playoff hole to claim the Illinois PGA’s final qualifying spot.
India, Rion and Callahan will represent the Illinois PGA at the 50th Assistant PGA Professional Championship on Nov. 12-15, 2026, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Donovan, who finished tied for third, will serve as the Illinois PGA’s first alternate. Nathan Dalton of Cantigny Golf and David Krzepicki of North Shore Country Club finished tied for fifth, while Alex Velasco of Bob O’Link Golf Club and Quinn Tank of Park Ridge Country Club finished tied for seventh to round out the Illinois PGA alternates.
The Illinois PGA would like to thank Bryn Mawr Country Club for hosting this year’s Illinois PGA Assistant Championship, and longtime Illinois PGA partner Nadler Golf Cars, who has supported this event since 2023.
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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