The 2024 PGA Professional Championship Takes Place from April 28 – May 1 in Frisco, Texas
GOLF, Ill. – April 24, 2024 – The 2024 PGA Professional Championship will be played at Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas. The tournament will begin on Sunday, April 28, and conclude on Wednesday, May 1. Twelve Illinois PGA Professionals will represent the Section at the 2024 PGA Professional Championship this year.
Illinois PGA Professionals qualified for this event last August at the Nadler Golf Cars Illinois PGA Professional Championship at ThunderHawk Golf Club. The Illinois PGA Section was granted nine qualifying spots based on historical entries into this event. Other players were granted spots into the PGA Professional Championship through the National exemption or alternate lists.
“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 as they compete at the new home of the PGA of America at Fields Ranch.”
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 ThunderHawk Golf Club – T12
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Oak Park Country Club – T1
- Illinois PGA Senior Match Play Championship at Ridge Country Club – 1st
- Has appeared in eight PGA Professional Championships.
- Won the 2023 Illinois PGA Errie Ball Senior Player of the Year Award.
Jim Billiter – Head PGA Professional at the Ivanhoe Club, Mundelein, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at ThunderHawk Golf Club – 7th
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club – T1
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at The Beverly Country Club – 2nd
- Has appeared in five PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished sixth in the 2023 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year point race.
Brian Carroll – General Manager and Head PGA Professional at The Hawk Country Club, St. Charles, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at ThunderHawk Golf Club – T8
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Twin Orchard Country Club – 1st
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Oak Park Country Club – T1
- Has appeared in five PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished fourth in the 2023 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year Award point race.
Kyle Donovan – Assistant PGA Professional at Oak Park Country Club, River Grove, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at ThunderHawk Golf Club – T5
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Oak Park Country Club – T1
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Twin Orchard Country Club – 2nd
- Making his second career PGA Professional Championship appearance.
- Finished third in the 2023 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points list.
Chris French – Head PGA Professional at Aldeen Golf Club, Rockford, Ill.
- Finished T17 at the 2023 PGA Professional Championship and qualified for the 2023 PGA Championship.
- Is exempt into the 2024 PGA Professional Championship based on his 2023 finish.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at ThunderHawk Golf Club – 4th
- Illinois PGA Match Play Championship at Bull Valley Golf Club – 1st
- Has appeared in three PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished fifth in the 2023 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Chris Green – PGA Director of Instruction at Glen View Club, Golf, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at ThunderHawk Golf Club – T8
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play #5 at Oak Park Country Club – T1
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Twin Orchard Country Club – T5
- Has appeared in four PGA Professional Championships.
- Finished 11th in the 2023 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Jeff Kellen – Head PGA Professional, North Shore Country Club, Glenview, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at ThunderHawk Golf Club – T2
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club – T3
- Illinois PGA Players Championship at Twin Orchard Country Club – T7
- Making his second career appearance at the PGA Professional Championship.
- Finished seventh in the 2023 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 ThunderHawk Golf Club – T2
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play at Bull Valley Golf Club – T1
- Illinois PGA Match Play Championship at Bull Valley Golf Club – 2nd
- Has appeared in three PGA Professional Championships.
- 2015 PGA of America National Assistant Champion.
- Won the 2023 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year Award.
Steve Orrick – Head PGA Professional at Bloomington Country Club, Bloomington, IL
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at ThunderHawk Golf Club – T10
- Central Illinois PGA Chapter Championship – 2nd
- Making his first PGA Professional Championship appearance since 2019.
Matthew Rion – Assistant PGA Professional, Briarwood Country Club, Deerfield, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at ThunderHawk Golf Club – T5
- National Car Rental Illinois Assistant PGA Professional Championship at Briarwood Country Club – 4th
- Illinois PGA Stroke Play #2 at Schaumburg Golf Club – T2
- Making his second career appearance at the PGA Professional Championship.
- Finished 10th in the 2023 Illinois PGA Bernardi Player of the Year points race.
Andrew Svoboda – Head PGA Professional, Butler National Golf Club, Oak Brook, Ill.
- Qualified through the Connecticut PGA Section in 2023 before transferring to the Illinois PGA Section in March of 2024.
- Connecticut PGA Championship – 1st
- Connecticut PGA Match Play Championship – 1st
- Connecticut PGA Professional Championship – 1st
- Making first career appearance at the PGA Professional Championship.
- Won the 2023 Connecticut PGA Player of the Year Award.
John Varner – Head PGA Professional, The Beverly Country Club, Chicago, Ill.
- Illinois PGA Professional Championship at ThunderHawk Golf Club – T10
- Illinois PGA Senior Players Championship at Ruth Lake Country Club – T5
- Making his second career PGA Professional appearance.
- Illinois Senior Open Championship at The Preserve at Oak Meadows – 9th
Illinois PGA at the PGA Professional Championship:
- The Illinois PGA Section has the fourth most players in the field among all 41 Sections with 12.
- The Hawk Country Club is one of 12 facilities with two or more qualifiers in this year’s field.
- (Roy Biancalana and Brian Carroll).
- Mike Small (University of Illinois) is tied for the most wins at this event with three.
- The Illinois PGA Section ranks fifth among all 41 Sections in wins at this event with three (Mike Small).
The 56th PGA Professional Championship:
The 2024 PGA Professional Champion’s name will be inscribed on the base of the Walter Hagen Cup, named in honor of the legendary five-time PGA Champion and one of the 35 Charter members of the PGA of America. The PGA Professional Champion receives a replica of the crystal Walter Hagen Cup. The 2024 PGA Professional Champion will receive $60,000 from a total purse of $715,000.
The Champion and the top 20 finishers in the PGA Professional Championship will be named to the Corebridge Financial Team and will advance into the 2024 PGA Championship field at Valhalla Golf Club May 13-19. The Champion also earns exemptions for the 2024 PGA Cup and six PGA Tour events over a 12-month period.
The PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car, Corebridge Financial, and Rolex is the largest all-professional national championship. The Championship features a 312-player field representing all 41 PGA Sections, and it is broadcast live by Golf Channel. Originated in 1968, the PGA Professional Championship has been a showcase for the most compelling PGA Member performances and personal stories.
Television Schedule (All times listed CDT):
Second Round, Monday, April 29: GOLF Channel 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Third Round, Tuesday, April 30: GOLF Channel 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Fourth Round, Wednesday, May 1: 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.
About Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco
Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco, with two world-class 18-hole championship golf courses and a state of the art clubhouse, is set to host 30 championships over the next 12 years.
Designed by Gil Hanse, Fields Ranch East draws its style and cues from the surrounding landscape, providing a compelling strategic challenge for all golfers. In essence, Fields Ranch East provides strategic variety while incorporating the natural beauty of the property. The result is a championship-level course that will challenge and thrill golfers for years to come. The course will host the 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the 2027 PGA Championship among its upcoming championships.
Designed by Beau Welling and set among North Texas’ rolling hills, Fields Ranch West is a challenging yet enjoyable course. Its Blackland prairie setting is highlighted by native grasses, live oaks, and mesquite trees, making it a true oasis amid the neighboring urban landscape. Fields Ranch West was created to be enjoyed but also to test as a golfer. This course encourages shot-making and creativity from tee to green.
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CONTACT:
Kevin Quinn
Illinois PGA Communications
708.336.1294 mobile
847.729.4102 office
kbquinn@pgahq.com