GLENVIEW, Ill. – May 11, 2022 – The Illinois PGA Foundation is excited to announce that its PGA HOPE Illinois team has been selected to compete in the 2022 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup tournament at The Club at Indian Springs in Broken Arrow, OK on Monday, May 16. The event is being held in conjunction with the PGA Championship which will be contested May 19-22 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa.
“We are so proud of the Veterans who have participated in PGA HOPE clinics. The upcoming Secretary’s Cup tournament is an opportunity for these players to continue on their personal golf journey in an exciting team competition,” said Carrie Williams, Executive Director of the Illinois PGA Section and Foundation.
Four PGA HOPE graduates and one PGA Professional or LPGA Professional make up the five-person teams that will compete in a 12-team, nine-hole scramble format. Ten teams were selected based on criteria such as Immediate Past Host Section, Future Host Section, Current Host Section as well two Wild Card spots that were selected by the PGA HOPE national leadership team. PGA HOPE Illinois applied for a Wild Card selection and was awarded a team spot based on the merit of its application and impact the PGA HOPE program has made on the local Veteran community in Illinois.
The PGA HOPE Illinois team includes:
- Hugo Anaya, 48, of Highland Park, U.S. Marine Corps
- Jon Burchett, 42, of Elgin, U.S. Marine Corps
- Mike Jaborek, 39, of Sugar Grove, U.S. Army
- Jim Nelson, 78, of Mundelein, U.S. Army
- Dennis Johnsen, 69, of Grayslake, GM and Head PGA Professional, Pine Meadow Golf Club
In addition, Palmer Moody, Assistant Executive Director, Foundation/Communications for the Illinois PGA and PGA HOPE Section Lead, will join the group as its Team Manager.
The PGA HOPE Illinois team will compete against teams from other PGA Sections including PGA HOPE Carolinas, PGA HOPE Georgia, PGA HOPE Kentucky, PGA HOPE Nebraska, PGA HOPE New Jersey, PGA HOPE Northern California, PGA HOPE Northern Texas, PGA HOPE Philadelphia, PGA HOPE South Central (Oklahoma City and Tulsa) and PGA HOPE Western New York.
“The PGA HOPE program is really terrific for all the Veterans who participate,” said Jim Nelson, PGA HOPE graduate, Illinois team member and PGA HOPE Ambassador for the Illinois Section. “The clinics allow Veteran golfers to get professional instruction in a fun, welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that helps them elevate their skill and enjoy the game.”
The 2022 Secretary’s Cup event includes an 18-hole practice round at The Club at Indian Springs and welcome dinner on Sunday, the tournament and awards reception on Monday and the team will have the opportunity to watch PGA Championship practice rounds on Tuesday before returning to Chicago.
PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup celebrates the PGA HOPE Program by providing a unique and memorable experience for military Veterans and the PGA Professionals who work tirelessly to positively impact Veterans’ lives. This annual event held in conjunction with the week of PGA Championship began in 2016 and is named after the Secretary of Veteran Affairs in recognition of the Memorandum of Understanding between PGA REACH and the Department of Veteran Affairs.
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 and Veterans. Foundation initiatives include: GolfWorks Illinois, PGA HOPE, 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.
CONTACT:
Palmer Moody
Illinois PGA Communications
847.804.2721 mobile
pmoody@pgahq.com