Winnetka native and USC freshman Tyler Greenspahn outlasted Danny Stringfellow in 39 holes to claim the 104th CDGA Amateur Championship at Beverly Country Club.
104th CDGA Amateur Championship June 24-27 • Beverly Country Club (Chicago)
Day Four: Thursday, June 27
GREENSPAHN STAGES FURIOUS RALLY, OVERCOMES STRINGFELLOW FOR CDGA AM TITLE
CHICAGO – Tyler Greenspahn (Winnetka / Skokie CC) has spent only one semester at the University of Southern California, but he’s already learned how to embody the school’s fight song and battle cry.
“Fight On!”
The 19-year-old Trojan battled back from a 2-down deficit with two holes to play to claim the 104th CDGA Amateur Championship Thursday at Beverly Country Club, besting Danny Stringfellow (Roselle / Medinah CC) on the third extra hole of the 36-hole title tilt.
“It was crazy,” a weary Greenspahn said following his triumph, which consisted of 127 holes over the course of the four-day event.
Greenspahn’s comeback began on 229-yard par-3 17th, the 35th hole of the Championship Match. Stringfellow, needing only a tie of the hole to clinch the title, found the front of the green off the tee. Meanwhile, Greenspahn went long, leaving him a delicate chip into a back hole location.
“My ball on 17, I had a really good lie,” Greenspahn admitted. “I envisioned the shot, a high, soft one. It ended up rolling out to six feet.”
Greenspahn buried the par attempt before Stringfellow’s short par putt for the win lipped out, extending the match to 18 and changing the dynamic.
“I knew the momentum had changed a little bit,” Greenspahn said.
(10) Tyler Greenspahn def. (8) Danny Stringfellow, 39 holes
Day Three: Wednesday, June 26
STRINGFELLOW, GREENSPAHN TO BATTLE FOR CDGA AM TITLE
CHICAGO – It’s been 15 years since a competitor has claimed the Joseph G. Davis Trophy for a second time. And eight more since Joe Affrunti captured his second-consecutive CDGA Amateur Championship title at Knollwood Club. That trend will continue in this year’s 104th playing of the event, as Danny Stringfellow (Roselle / Medinah CC) and Tyler Greenspahn (Winnetka / Skokie CC) each secured the two wins they needed Wednesday to set up a unique 36-hole Final match at Beverly Country Club.
Stringfellow, a 32-year-old who is making his return to elite amateur competition this week following a multi-year stint on various professional circuits, is looking to hoist the hardware in his first time competing in the event in over a decade.
“It would be awesome,” Stringfellow said of a potential win on Thursday. “I was playing in this when I was in college, probably high school, as well, and I never won the State Am or the CDGA Am, but I played great in years past. It’d be a cool start to the second amateur career.”
On the other hand, 19-year-old Greenspahn, who is a freshman at the University of Southern California, is excelling in his first CDGA-administered event and first match-play tournament of his young amateur career.
“It was a great experience,” Greenspahn said following his Semifinal win. “When I was playing stroke play, I really just wanted to make it to match play because it’s my first match play tournament. Really nothing gets your heart racing like it did today – it was fun.”
Stringfellow began his Wednesday with a match against amateur stalwart Chadd Slutzky (Long Grove / The Grove CC), a tough task for anyone. The two matched each other’s one-under starts through the opening six holes with a pair of birdies at No. 1. Slutzky capitalized on the par-5 seventh with a birdie to take a 1-up lead before the eventual victor matched just one hole later. Continuing their back-and-forth contest, the two reached the closing hole tied. Just the second bogey of the day for Slutzky proved costly, as Stringfellow secured the victory with a par on the 609-yard par 5.
Stringfellow then set his sights on Alexander Creamean (Winnetka / CDGA Member’s Club) following the Bucknell University rising sophomore’s 3-and-1 defeat of 2024 CDGA Mid-Amateur champion Joe Cermak (Mt. Prospect / Pine Meadow GC) in the Quarterfinals. A slow start for Creamean with bogeys on the first two holes provided an early lead for Stringfellow, as he capitalized on his opponent’s mistakes for an early 2-up advantage. Creamean caught his groove with a pair of birdies on the par-4 fourth and par-4 fifth to level the match before carding another win at No. 8 to hold a 1-up lead at the turn. Stringfellow continuously one-upped his opponent once the match moved to the back nine. Wins at Nos. 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15, four of which were birdies, erased the deficit and more, as Stringfellow secured a 3-and-2 win after a par at the 16th.
Greenspahn, who earned the event’s No. 10 seed with rounds of 68 and 76 on Monday in a more familiar stroke-play environment, continued to prove he belonged during the morning Quarterfinal round. Tested with 2023 CDGA Co-Player of the Year TJ Barger (Bloomington / Bloomington CC), Greenspahn dug himself out of an early 1-down hole with a birdie at No. 4 to even the contest. Barger captured Nos. 5 and 8 with a couple of pars to push his lead to 2-up before Greenspahn’s birdie-birdie response at the turn. Remaining tied going into the par-4 14th, Greenspahn sealed his trip to the Semifinals with wins at the 14th and 16th holes. The match would end at 2 and 1.
Again greeted with some of the stiffest competition from around the Chicago District, Greenspahn’s opponent in the afternoon was none other than 2023 CDGA Am champion Bobby Beaubien (Barrington / Biltmore CC), who was coming off the heels of a 1-up defeat of Patrick Adler (Winnetka / North Shore CC). Opening birdies for the two got the match off and running before they each tallied a pair of wins over the next four holes for the match to remain tied through five. Beaubien carded a win at the par-4 eighth to reobtain his 1-up lead at the turn. Taking blows and fighting back, Greenspahn went toe-to-toe with the defending champ down the stretch before a birdie at the par-4 16th and a par at the par-3 17th sealed his eventual 1-up win.
What’s next for the two? Rest before a third double-loop of the week at Beverly.
“Thirty-six holes will be a long day tomorrow, but I’m feeling pretty good,” Stringfellow said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“I just have to get my rest tonight and recover,” said Greenspahn. “As long as I get a good mental game going into [the Final], it should be fun tomorrow.”
That 36-hole Championship Match is scheduled to commence Thursday at 8 a.m.
WEDNESDAY'S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
(8) Danny Stringfellow def. (1) Chadd Slutzky, 1 up
(4) Alexander Creamean def. (12) Joe Cermak, 3 and 1
(10) Tyler Greenspahn def. (2) TJ Barger, 2 and 1
(11) Bobby Beaubien def. (3) Patrick Adler, 1 up
WEDNESDAY'S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
(8) Danny Stringfellow def. (4) Alexander Creamean, 3 and 2
(10) Tyler Greenspahn def. (11) Bobby Beaubien, 1 up
Day Two: Tuesday, June 25
SMEDALIST SLUTZKY, DEFENDING CHAMP BEAUBIEN HEADLINE CDGA AM QUARTERFINALISTS
CHICAGO – Morning thunderstorms took center stage Tuesday at Beverly Country Club, as the Round of 16 in the 104th CDGA Amateur Championship was brought to an urgent halt before it ever began. A couple of hours filled with heavy rainfall, as well as countless cracks of thunder and lightning, pushed tee times back three hours. Players who arrived on site ahead of the deluge passed the time by getting work done, playing billiards in the locker room and staying as loose as possible indoors.
Once it was go-time, medalist Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park / The Grove CC) only needed a few holes to get his game back in the shape it was during much of Monday’s 36-hole opener. The 2022 CDGA Player of the Year traded blows with opponent Nick Feinberg (Chicago / Olympia Fields CC) on Beverly’s opening four holes, with the latter taking Nos. 1 and 4 with birdies. Slutzky found his groove just before the turn, winning the par-5 seventh and par-4 eighth to take a 2-up lead to the back nine. Four consecutive victories to open the inward nine sealed the deal for Slutzky in his 6-and-5 win. He’ll face Danny Stringfellow (Roselle / Medinah CC) Wednesday following his 5-and-4 disposal of Jack Mulligan (Burr Ridge / YOC IJGA).
Joining Slutzky and Stringfellow in the Quarterfinal round is defending champion Bobby Beaubien (Barrington / Biltmore CC), who defeated his playing partner from this month’s Radix Cup Matches, Charlie Kulwin (Chicago / Youth on Course), in the second-to-last match of the day. Kulwin, who split the fairway off the opening tee, secured an early 1-up lead with his eventual birdie. Beaubien responded with a birdie of his own at the par-4 fourth to level the match. Two more victorious holes each on the front nine brought the duo back to the south side of 87th Street tied. A Beaubien birdie at 11 gave the 23-year-old a 1-up lead before he picked up another win at the 15th. He would match Kulwin at Nos. 16 and 17 to capture the 2-and-1 triumph.
A pair of other heavy hitters also advanced from Tuesday, as 2024 CDGA Mid-Amateur champion Joe Cermak (Mt. Prospect / Pine Meadow GC) and 2023 CDGA Co-Player of the Year TJ Barger (Bloomington / Bloomington CC) emerged victorious in their respective matches. Cermak bested Aidan Lafferty (Downers Grove / Belmont GC), 2 up, by virtue of three birdies on the final four holes. Barger, who won his Round of 16 match a year ago at Lake Shore Country Club in convincing 7-and-6 fashion, was forced to work a bit harder this time around. He and Michael Cascino (Palos Park / Olympia Fields CC) went a proverbial 12 rounds, as the match was tied five times throughout. Barger advanced by winning the first extra hole.
The other three competitors moving on from the second day are Alexander Creamean (Winnetka / CDGA Member’s Club), who defeated Jack Watson (Lincolnshire / Conway Farms GC), 4 and 2, Tyler Greenspahn (Winnetka / Skokie CC), who bested Will Troy (Naperville / Cog Hill G&CC), 3 and 1, and Patrick Adler (Winnetka / North Shore CC), via a 4-and-3 win over Lyle Burns (Champaign / Lincolnshire Fields CC).
The eight who are scheduled to return to Beverly Wednesday will begin their Quarterfinal matches at 8 a.m. with the Semifinals to follow in the afternoon. The 36-hole finale is set for Thursday morning.
TUESDAY'S ROUND OF 16 RESULTS
(1) Chadd Slutzky def. (16) Nick Feinberg, 6 and 5
(8) Danny Stringfellow def. (9) Jack Mulligan, 5 and 4
(12) Joe Cermak def. (5) Aidan Lafferty, 2 up
(4) Alexander Creamean def. (13) Jack Watson, 4 and 2
(2) TJ Barger def. (15) Michael Cascino, 19 holes
(10) Tyler Greenspahn def. (7) Will Troy, 3 and 1
(11) Bobby Beaubien def. (6) Charlie Kulwin, 2 and 1
(3) Patrick Adler def. (14) Lyle Burns, 4 and 3
Day One: Monday, June 24
SLUTZKY MEDALS AT BEVERLY, 104TH CDGA AM MATCH-PLAY TREE SET
CHICAGO – The last time the CDGA hosted a championship within Chicago’s city limits, the “dynastic duo” of Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park / The Grove CC) and John Ramsey (Glenview / Glenview Park GC) claimed the 8th CDGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Ridgemoor Country Club. That was two years ago.
On Monday, Slutzky returned to the city and claimed medalist honors in stroke-play qualifying of the 104th CDGA Amateur Championship at Beverly Country Club. The 47-year-old carded rounds of 68-70 to sit at 4 under par and claim the top seed for match play. The eight-time CDGA-administered event champion was one of six players in the 75-player field to sit at even par or better following 36 holes.
Slutzky’s first round began on the opener of the Donald Ross design, as birdies on the par-5 second and par-4 fourth sandwiched a bogey on No. 3. More red figures on Nos. 8, 10 and 12 carried the momentum around the turn before another dropped shot on the par-4 15th lowered the opening-round score to 3-under 68. Following a quick lunch, the 2022 CDGA Player of the Year birdied three of his first five holes on Beverly’s back nine to go out in 32. A four on the par-5 second provided further evidence of Slutzky’s form, as he stood at 7 under overall and atop the leaderboard. However, three bogeys on the way in positioned him at 4 under by day’s end.
This marks the second year in a row that a mid-amateur (players age 25 and up) claimed medalist honors in the CDGA Amateur, after Joe Cermak (Mt. Prospect / Pine Meadow GC) earned the top seed at Lake Shore Country Club last summer. Cermak, who triumphed in the 9th CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship in May, also advanced to match play after rounds of 76-69. Defending champion Bobby Beaubien (Barrington / Biltmore CC) finished with rounds of 70-75 to join Cermak in making the cut on the number, which fell at +3. Additionally, 2023 Illinois State Amateur Championship runner-up TJ Barger (Bloomington / Bloomington CC) earned the No. 2 seed for match play following rounds of 67-73 to finish at 2 under.
Round of 16 matches will commence at 8 a.m. Tuesday morning, with the Quarterfinals and Semifinals slated for Wednesday. The 36-hole title tilt will be contested on Thursday.
TUESDAY'S ROUND OF 16 MATCHES
(1) Chadd Slutzky vs. (16) Nick Feinberg
(8) Danny Stringfellow vs. (9) Jack Mulligan
(5) Aidan Lafferty vs. (12) Joe Cermak
(4) Alexander Creamean vs. (13) Jack Watson
(2) TJ Barger vs. (15) Michael Cascino
(7) Will Troy vs. (10) Tyler Greenspahn
(6) Charlie Kulwin vs. (11) Bobby Beaubien
(3) Patrick Adler vs. (14) Lyle Burns
Preview
The 2024 CDGA Championship schedule continues with the Association's oldest event, the 104th CDGA Amateur Championship, June 24-27, at Beverly Country Club in Chicago. The entire field of 75 golfers will compete in 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying to determine the low 16 who will advance to match play. Four rounds of matches, including a 36-hole finale, stands in the way of hoisting the Joseph G. Davis Trophy.
Schedule
Monday, June 24 The entire field will play 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying to determine the low 16 advancing to match play.
Tuesday, June 25 The Round of 16 matches will be contested in the morning.
Wednesday, June 26 The Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches will be contested.
Thursday, June 27 The 36-hole Championship match will determine a winner.
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One of the oldest amateur competitions in the Midwest, the CDGA Amateur Championship was first played in 1914 at Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood. Golf great Charles “Chick” Evans, Jr. won the tournament that year. In 1935, invitations were issued nationally, and in 1941 the event became known as the Great Lakes Amateur Championship. In 1955 the CDGA board of directors decided to make the championship an association event again and to limit the field to players who were CDGA members. Currently the Championship is open to any CDGA member with a Handicap Index of 7.4 or under. Since 2003, qualifying golfers play 36 holes of stroke play on the first day of the championship. From there, 16 individuals advance to match play. The eight quarterfinalists from the previous year’s championship are exempt into the 36-hole qualifying. Robert Beaubien, Jr. took home the hardware in 2023 at Lake Shore Country Club in Glencoe.
Winnetka native and USC freshman Tyler Greenspahn outlasted Danny Stringfellow in 39 holes to claim the 104th CDGA Amateur Championship at Beverly Country Club.
Preview
