OAK BROOK, Ill – May 7, 2026 – Andy Svoboda of Elevation Golf defeated top-seeded and defending Match Play Champion, Jim Billiter (Ivanhoe Club), 2 and 1 in the Championship Match of the 2026 Harris Golf Cars Illinois PGA Match Play Championship at Butterfield Country Club on Thursday morning to claim his first career Illinois PGA Major Championship Title.
The Championship Match
The championship match featured the tournament’s top two seeds, defending champion Jim Billiter and No. 2-seed Andy Svoboda, and it lived up to the anticipation with a display of elite shot-making and clutch putting throughout the afternoon. Only four holes in the match were won with pars, while every other hole was claimed with a birdie.
Svoboda came out quickly, taking a 2 up lead through the opening two holes. Billiter answered immediately on the third hole with a birdie after a great fairway bunker shot to cut his deficit to 1 down.
The par-5 fifth hole showcased the creativity and shot-making ability of both players. After being forced to lay up, Svoboda wedged his third shot to within ten feet and converted for birdie. Billiter, meanwhile, drove his ball onto the 17th fairway but recovered brilliantly, shaping his second shot around the trees and onto the green before two-putting for a matching birdie.
Svoboda extended his advantage back to 2 up with another birdie on the seventh hole, but momentum shifted late in the front nine. A rare bogey from Svoboda on the eighth, combined with an impressive birdie from Billiter on the par-4 ninth, evened the match heading to the back nine. At the turn, both players sat at 2-under-par, each carding three birdies and one bogey over the opening nine holes.
The high-level play continued on the inward nine. Both competitors birdied the par-5 10th hole. Billiter got up and down from just short of the green, while Svoboda nearly holed his second shot after attacking a front-left hole location from the left side of the fairway. His ball stopped roughly 25 feet from the hole, and he safely lagged the eagle putt past the hole, but short of the false front, before tapping in for birdie.
The turning point of the Championship came at the par-4 12th hole. Both players found the fairway and green in regulation, but Svoboda seized momentum by converting a birdie putt to move 1 up. Trouble followed for Billiter on the 13th hole after his drive found the left rough, leaving a difficult approach over water. His second shot came up short and found the pond, leading to a double bogey, and the hole was conceded to Svoboda.
The fireworks continued down the stretch as both players hit exceptional approach shots into the 14th green, leading to conceded birdies. Svoboda then extended his advantage on the par-3 15th hole with a clutch up-and-down from the right greenside bunker. Billiter, unable to convert from the opposite bunker, fell to 3 down with three holes to play.
The four-time champion Billiter refused to go quietly, making a birdie on the 16th to extend the match to the 17th hole. On the par-4 17th, Svoboda split the fairway while Billiter found the left fairway bunker. Billiter produced another impressive bunker shot to give himself a quality birdie opportunity and a chance to extend the match, but the putt slid by the hole. Svoboda secured a routine par to close out the match, earning his first Illinois PGA Major Championship victory and handing Billiter the first championship match loss of his career in the Illinois PGA Match Play Championship.
“Today, I was up early, but Jim (Billiter) is such a great player and a great putter,” said Svoboda. “I knew it was going to be a tough match. I think the difference was that I made the putt on 12. We were both in there tight, and I kind of got the momentum there and won 13th. We both hit incredible shots on 14. And then the up and down on 15 was huge, but he battled back on 16, and I just kind of hung on from there.”
Svoboda Breaks Through
This marks Svoboda’s first Illinois PGA Major Championship of his career. Svoboda joined the Illinois PGA in 2024. In that time, he has finished inside the top 20 at every Illinois PGA Major that he has played in, including three top-two finishes and five top-three finishes in a combined seven Major appearances. He previously finished second at the 2024 Harris Golf Cars Illinois PGA Match Play Championship at Bull Valley Golf Club. Svoboda did not play in the 2025 Match Play Championship.
“It’s awesome to finally get a win at one of these (Majors),” said Svoboda. “I’ve been close. I was in the final in this a couple of years ago, and I just couldn’t get it done. I had to call a penalty on myself late in the match, which was unfortunate. But I’ve been close, just haven’t been able to get the W. So this feels pretty good.”
The Route to the Championship
Andy Svoboda earned the No. 2 seed in the 2026 Illinois PGA Match Play Championship after capturing the 2025 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year title and began the week with a first-round bye in the Round of 128.
Svoboda quickly established himself as one of the tournament’s top contenders. In the Round of 64, he defeated No. 66 seed Rod Wray of Butler National Golf Club, 5 and 3, before cruising past No. 34 seed David Burdick of Biltmore Country Club, 6 and 5, in the Round of 32.
His dominant play continued in the Round of 16 where he matched his previous margin of victory, defeating Brandon Wessel of Sunset Ridge Country Club, 6 and 5, to advance to the quarterfinals. During the match, Svoboda was an impressive 6-under-par through 13 holes and carded a 29 on the Red Course at Butterfield Country Club.
Svoboda’s strong form carried into Wednesday’s quarterfinal matches as he defeated No. 7 seed Jeff Kellen of North Shore Country Club, 5 and 4. In that match, Svoboda played the opening 15 holes in 8-under-par.
His closest contest of the championship came in the semifinals against No. 3 seed Brian Carroll. Despite the tighter match, Svoboda continued his stellar play, reaching 5-under-par through 17 holes before closing out Carroll, 2 and 1, to earn a spot in the championship match.
“It was an incredible week,” said Svoboda. “I played some unbelievable golf. This golf course is phenomenal. The greens are perfect. I did make a ton of birdies this week. I had some tough matches this week, including the one against Jeff (Kellen). I was 8-under in that match, which is pretty incredible. I had a really tough match against Brian Carroll. I’m not sure how I edged that one out, but I did.”
“It’s awesome to finally get a win at one of these (Majors). I’ve been close,” said Svoboda. “ I was in the final in this a couple of years ago, and I just couldn’t get it done. I had to call a penalty on myself late in the match, which was unfortunate. But I’ve been close, just haven’t been able to get the W. So this feels pretty good.”
The Illinois PGA would like to thank long-time title sponsor Harris Golf Cars for its continued support of the Illinois PGA Match Play Championship and Illinois PGA professionals throughout the season.
The next event on the Illinois PGA schedule is Illinois PGA Stroke Play No. 1, set to take place Monday, May 11, at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club.
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.ipga.com and join us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
# # #
CONTACT:
Kevin Quinn
Illinois PGA Communications
708.336.1294 mobile
kbquinn@pgahq.com