Arlington Heights' Brad Kay captured the 22nd CDGA Senior Amateur Championship at Kishwaukee Country Club with a 3-and-2 win over Mark Small.

22nd CDGA Senior Amateur Championship
June 3-6 • Kishwaukee Country Club (DeKalb)

Day Four: Thursday, June 6

KAY BESTS LOADED FIELD FULL OF FRIENDS, CAPTURES 22ND CDGA SENIOR AM
DEKALB, Ill. – Heading into the week of the 22nd CDGA Senior Amateur Championship at Kishwaukee Country Club, Brad Kay (Arlington Heights / Ivanhoe Club) somewhat doubted his chances to even reach match play in his quest for a second CDGA Senior Am title. Not because of his own abilities, but more so due to the strength of the competition he knew he would face throughout, including Mark Small (Frankfort / Prestwick CC), the man he went on to beat, 3 and 2, in the windy Championship match on Thursday.

Kay’s battle to make the cut and cruise through the bracket proved to be well worth the fight, as the eventual victor advanced from the stroke-play round Monday via a 5-for-3 playoff to earn the No. 16 seed. He went on to take down 2021 Illinois State Amateur champion David Feder (Chicago / Conway Farms GC) in the Round of 16, 2023 CDGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball champion Glenn Przybylski (Frankfort / Sanctuary GC) in the Quarterfinals and nine-time CDGA-administered event victor Tim Sheppard (East Peoria / Pekin CC) in the Semifinals - a level of success only the best can compete with.

That week-long battle that Kay conquered was one of many reasons that his second time hoisting the Charles Morgan Auld Cup - the first was at Itasca Country Club in 2018 - was just a bit sweeter.

Related Links: (Full Recap) / (Match Play Tree) / (Photo Gallery)

MATCH PLAY RESULTS

Championship Match
(16) Brad Kay def (14) Mark Small, 3 & 2

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Day Three: Wednesday, June 5

KAY & SMALL TO BATTLE FOR 22ND CDGA SENIOR AMATEUR CROWN
DEKALB, Ill. – It’s been just under five years since Brad Kay (Arlington Heights / Ivanhoe Club) last won a CDGA-administered event. Kay, alongside teammate Brien Gerber (Bolingbrook / Bolingbrook GC), secured the CDGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship in 2019 at Calumet Country Club. That followed a solo CDGA Senior Amateur Championship title in 2018 at Itasca Country Club.

For Mark Small (Frankfort / Prestwick), it’s been just a bit longer - 28 years. The 1996 Illinois State Amateur champion has been in contention plenty of times since, but has yet to seal the deal.

Regardless of how much time has passed, the two will have another chance to etch their name in glory once more, this time for the 22nd CDGA Senior Amateur Championship. The pair will battle it out after advancing from Wednesday’s Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches at Kishwaukee Country Club.

Related Links: (Match Play Tree) / (Photo Gallery)

Following Tuesday’s win over No. 1 seed David Feder (Chicago / Conway Farms GC), the 61-year-old Kay returned to Kishwaukee on Wednesday morning to take on Glenn Przybylski (Frankfort / Sanctuary GC). Kay par wins on Nos 2 and 4 sandwiched a Przybylski birdie victory on No. 3. Przybylski regained the lead with a birdie on the par-5 sixth hole and par on the par-4 seventh before a birdie on the par-3 ninth to take a 2-up lead at the turn. The back nine proved to be a different story for Kay, who won holes 10-12 to take a 1-up lead before a birdie on the par-4 18th sealed the 2-up victory.

Waiting in the Semifinals was a match with two-time event champion Tim Sheppard (East Peoria / Pekin CC). Kay maintained his hot streak by jumping to a 4-up lead through four holes. Sheppard, a veteran of senior events across the Chicago District, did what he usually does - chipped away. Wins on Nos. 7, 8 and 10 dropped the deficit to 1 down, before Kay’s birdie on No. 12 pushed his lead back to two. Sheppard answered with wins on the par-3 13th and par-4 14th (via a chip-in from just off the green) to tie the match. The pair traded wins on the final two holes to push the match to extra holes, with Kay securing the win with a birdie on the second playoff hole.

Meanwhile, Small’s morning match featured a duel with Mike Karney (Crystal Lake / Crystal Lake CC). Karney built a lead as large as 3 up through five holes, before Small came back to tie the match on No. 13. A birdie on No. 14 for his first lead of the match was washed out by a Karney birdie on No. 15. Extra holes were also necessary, with Small advancing via a par on No. 19.

Small’s afternoon match with Curt Minkel (Pekin / Pekin Park District) proved to be a smoother ride for the 60-year-old. A 2-up advantage through three holes helped. Minkel wins on Nos. 6 and 7 were negated by a Small birdie win on No. 8. A birdie by Minkel on the par-3 13th was again matched by a Small birdie on No. 14, before Small took a 2-up lead on the par-3 15th. Halved holes the rest of the way captured the 2-and-1 victory.

The pair, who oddly enough both advanced via a 5-for-3 playoff following stroke-play qualifying on Monday, will meet for the Championship match on Thursday at 8 a.m.

MATCH PLAY RESULTS

Quarterfinals
(16) Brad Kay def. (8) Glenn Przybylski, 2 up
(4) Tim Sheppard def. (12) Ralph Spevere, 4 and 3
(10) Curt Minkel def. (2) Ron Waytula, Jr., 5 and 4
(14) Mark Small def. (11) Mike Karney, 19 holes

Semifinals
(16) Brad Kay def. (4) Tim Sheppard, 20 holes
(14) Mark Small def. (10) Curt Minkel, 2 and 1

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Day Two: Tuesday, June 4

MEDALIST, DEFENDING CHAMP OUSTED AT THE KISH
DEKALB, Ill. – Any competitive golfer will tell you about the vast differences between stroke play and match play.

This was on display at the 22nd CDGA Senior Amateur Championship Tuesday at Kishwaukee Country Club. One day after being the only individual to finish in red numbers on Monday during stroke-play qualifying, medalist David Feder (Chicago / Conway Farms GC) fell to Brad Kay (Arlington Heights / Ivanhoe Club), 5 and 4, in the Round of 16. Kay, winner of this event’s 2018 iteration at Itasca Country Club, seized control early by taking three of the first five holes from Feder. An up-and-down from 60 yards short of the green on the par-4 14th secured the spot in Wednesday’s Quarterfinals.

Related Links: (Match Play Tree) / (Photo Gallery) / (Sights and Sounds Video)

In other action, Ted Pecora’s (Winnetka / Bob O’Link GC) title defense was stalled by Mark Small (Frankfort / Prestwick CC). Small, the 1996 Illinois State Amateur winner and 2021 CDGA Senior Player of the Year, closed strongly to advance. The match was played within a one-hole margin until the last three holes, when Small parred the par-3 16th and par-4 18th to pull away for a 2-up triumph.

Among those also advancing to the star-studded Quarterfinals are two-time CDGA Senior Amateur champion and three-time CDGA Senior Player of the Year Tim Sheppard (East Peoria / Pekin) and 2023 CDGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball winner Glenn Przybylski (Frankfort / Sanctuary GC). Two senior stalwarts - 2023 CDGA Senior Player of the Year Mike Henry (Bloomington / Weibring GC at ISU) and back-to-back Illinois State Amateur winner Scot Frankenreider (Peoria / Arrowhead CC) - were among those whose journeys ended on Tuesday.

Wednesday will feature two rounds of matches beginning at 8 a.m. to determine the two finalists, who will compete in the title tilt Thursday morning.

MATCH PLAY RESULTS

Round of 16
(16) Brad Kay def. (1) David Feder, 5 and 4
(8) Glenn Przybylski def. (9) Dave Esler, 2 and 1
(12) Ralph Spevere def. (5) Steven Jacobs, 19 holes
(4) Tim Sheppard def. (13) Tim Ratty, 5 and 4
(2) Ron Waytula, Jr. def. (15) Scot Frankenreider, 2 and 1
(10) Curt Minkel def. (7) Mike Henry, 22 holes
(11) Mike Karney def. (6) Brien Gerber, 2 up
(14) Mark Small def. (3) Ted Pecora, 2 up

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Day One: Monday, June 3

NOTABLES TOP 22ND CDGA SENIOR AMATEUR MATCH-PLAY TREE AT KISHWAUKEE
DEKALB, Ill. – Kishwaukee Country Club in DeKalb, host of the 22nd CDGA Senior Amateur Championship this week, measured just over 6,100 yards and played to a par 70 for Monday’s 18-hole stroke-play qualifying round. While modest by today’s standards, the Tom Bendelow design proved to be quite the test for the field of seniors age 55 and older - the track played to an average score of just over 78. Amidst the testy conditions, a slew of senior circuit stalwarts showed their might to remain in contention.

David Feder (Chicago / Conway Farms GC) led the pack and earned medalist honors by carding a 1-under 69. The 2021 Illinois State Senior Amateur champion and 2022 CDGA Senior Amateur runner-up took advantage of the 436-yard, par-5 sixth hole to notch a birdie, followed by more red figures on Nos. 10 and 13 that got him to 3 under. Bogey blemishes by the 61-year-old came on No. 16, a par 3, and No. 18, a par 4, thus dropping him back to 1 under. The 69 was good enough to earn the No. 1 seed for match-play, ahead of a trio of players at even par.

Related Links: (Stroke Play Results) / (Match Play Tree)

Included in that triumvirate was defending champion Ted Pecora (Winnetka / Bob O’Link GC), as well as Tim Sheppard (East Peoria / Pekin CC). Pecora began his title defense by going out in 33, with birdies on the par-3 fourth and par-5 sixth. The 68-year-old then bogeyed Nos. 10, 12 and 13 before recouping two strokes with birdies on Nos. 14 and 15. A finishing bogey on No. 18 capped an even-par round. Meanwhile, Sheppard, a two-time event winner, matched three birdies to three bogeys for an even-keel round. The 63-year-old will look to notch his 10th overall win in a CDGA-administered this week.

Among the remaining players is reigning CDGA Senior Player of the Year Mike Henry (Bloomington / Weibring GC at ISU), who fired a 2-over 72 to earn the No. 7 seed. Glenn Przybylski (Frankfort / Sanctuary GC), who won the 2023 CDGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball last fall alongside Greg Seelinger (Downers Grove / Village Links of Glen Ellyn), also finished with a 72 to claim the No. 8 seed. Back-to-back Illinois State Senior Amateur champion Scot Frankenreider (Peoria / Arrowhead CC) and two-time CDGA-administered event victor Brad Kay (Arlington Heights / Ivanhoe Club) also advanced via a 5-for-3 playoff at 4-over 74.

The Round of 16 matches will commence at 8 a.m. Tuesday, with the Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches slated for Wednesday. The tussle for the trophy will then be held on Thursday morning.

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Preview

The 111th season of amateur golf championships conducted by the CDGA is set to continue with the 22nd CDGA Senior Amateur Championship, June 3-6 at Kishwaukee Country Club in DeKalb. One 18-hole round of stroke play qualifying and a 16-golfer match play bracket awaits a field featuring 81 of the area's best amateur golfers aged 55 and up.

Schedule

Monday, June 3
The entire field will play 18 holes of stroke play in the morning to determine the low 16 who will advance to match play.

Tuesday, June 4
The Round of 16 matches will take place in the morning.

Wednesday, June 5
The Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches will be contested.

Thursday, June 6
The Championship match will occur on Thursday morning.

CLICK HERE or the image for a full preview and notes package.

Related Links: (Full Preview) / (Stroke Play Tee Times) / (Field) / (2023 Recap) / (Event History)

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Championship Information

Created in 2002, the CDGA Senior Amateur Championship is a match play tournament for golfers age 55 and up. In 2019, the maximum handicap limit was increased to 10.4. The event begins with an 18-hole qualifier for the entire field, with the low 16 players advancing to match play. The champion of this tournament is the recipient of the Charles Morgan Auld Cup. Winnetka's Ted Pecora is the defending champion of the event following his win in 2023 at Aurora Country Club.

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Qualifying