The 56th PGA Professional Championship Takes Place from April 30-May 3 in New Mexico
GOLF, Ill. – April 21, 2023 – The 2023 PGA Professional Championship will be played at Twin Warriors Golf Club and Santa Ana Pueblo Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. The tournament will begin on Sunday, April 30, and conclude Wednesday, May 3. Ten Illinois PGA Professionals will represent the Section at the 56th PGA Professional Championship this year. *
Illinois PGA Professionals qualified for this event last August at the Nadler Golf Cars Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club. The Illinois PGA Section was granted 10 qualifying spots based on historical entries into this event. Other players were granted spots into the PGA Professional Championship through the National exempt list or alternate list.
“We are excited to play witness to the PGA Professional Championship again this year,” said Carrie Williams, Executive Director of the Illinois PGA Section. “We have a strong group of professionals representing the Illinois PGA Section this year, and we wish them the best of luck.”
Below is the Illinois PGA/PGA Professional Championship roster and their previous season’s highlights:
Roy Biancalana – PGA Teaching Professional at The Hawk Country Club, St. Charles, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club – 5th
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at North Shore Country Club – T5
- Illinois Senior PGA Professional Championship at Bryn Mawr Country Club – 1st
- Illinois PGA Senior Match Play Championship at Shoreacres – 1st
- Finished second in the 2022 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Brian Carroll – General Manager and Head PGA Professional at The Hawk Country Club, St. Charles, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club – 1st
- Illinois PGA Match Play Championship at Elgin Country Club – 2nd
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at The Hawk Country Club – T2
- Has appeared in four PGA Professional Championships.
- Won the 2022 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year Award.
Kyle Donovan – Assistant PGA Professional at Oak Park Country Club, River Grove, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club – T6
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Chicago Golf Club – 2nd
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Lake Shore Country Club – T3
- Making his first career PGA Professional Championship appearance.
- Finished eighth in the 2022 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Kevin Flack – Assistant PGA Professional at Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club, Rockford, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club – T10
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Lake Shore Country Club – 1st
- National Car Rental Illinois Assistant PGA Professional Championship at Biltmore Country Club – 1st
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Lake Shore Country Club – T9
- Making his first career PGA Professional Championship appearance.
- Finished 11th in the 2022 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Chris French – Head PGA Professional at Aldeen Golf Club, Rockford, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club – 12th
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at North Shore Country Club – T1
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Lake Shore Country Club – T3
- Has appeared in two PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished sixth in the 2022 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Eric Hoff – Head PGA Professional, Bryn Mawr Country Club, Lincolnwood, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club – T10
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Lake Shore Country Club – T16
- Making his first career appearance at the PGA Professional Championship.
- Finished 15th in the 2022 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Frank Hohenadel – Head PGA Professional, Mistwood Golf Club, Romeoville, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club – 9th
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at The Hawk Country Club – T2
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Elgin Country Club – T2
- Has appeared in seven PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished third in the 2022 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Jeff Kellen – Head PGA Professional, Butler National Golf Club, Oak Brook, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club – 3rd
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at North Shore Country Club – T5
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Lake Shore Country Club – T7
- Making his first career appearance at the PGA Professional Championship.
- Finished seventh in the 2022 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Andy Mickelson – PGA Director of Golf, Mistwood Golf Club, Romeoville, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club – T6
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Elgin Country Club – 1st
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at the Hawk Country Club – T2
- Has appeared in two PGA Professional Championships.
- 2015 PGA of America National Assistant Champion.
- Finished fourth in the 2022 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Matthew Rion – Assistant PGA Professional, Briarwood Country Club, Deerfield, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at Makray Memorial Golf Club – 8th
- National Car Rental Illinois Assistant PGA Professional Championship at Biltmore Country Club – T5
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Lake Shore Country Club – T16
- Making his first career appearance at the PGA Professional Championship
- Finished 16th in the 2022 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
The PGA Professional Championship field is comprised of players who advanced from the 41 Section Championships, along with Past Champions. The low 20 finishers earn a berth in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York on May 15-21.
Established in 1968, the PGA Professional Championship roster of Champions includes the following premier TOUR professionals: Sam Snead, Bob Rosburg, Don Massengale, Ed Dougherty, Larry Gilbert, and Bruce Fleisher. The PGA Professional Championship is presented by Cadillac, Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex. Supporting sponsors are Gallagher, Golf Channel, PGA TOUR, Titleist/FootJoy, Callaway, NIKE, and TaylorMade. The 41 Section Championships and the National Championship offer a combined purse of more than $1.5 million.
The 56th PGA Professional Championship Broadcast Schedule (All times are in CST):
- Sunday, April 30: GOLF Channel – 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Tape delay only)
- Monday, May 1: GOLF Channel – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 2: GOLF Channel – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 3: GOLF Channel – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
For full coverage, view PGAProChampionship.com
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.
*Player list as of 4/21/2023.
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CONTACT:
Kevin Quinn
Illinois PGA Communications
708.336.1294 mobile
847.729.4102 office
kbquinn@pgahq.com