Chadd Slutzky of Deer Park notched his third Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship title (2015, 2019) Tuesday at Evanston Golf Club.
30th Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship August 22-23 • Evanston Golf Club (Skokie)
Day Two: Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022
SLUTZKY HOLDS ON, SECURES 30TH ILLINOIS STATE MID-AM AT EVANSTON
SKOKIE, Ill. –
In the season eight finale of the highly-successful sitcom “Seinfeld,” George Costanza receives a three-month settlement paycheck from his former employer, the New York Yankees. With a large sum of cash in his pocket and time to kill, Costanza famously proclaims the upcoming season “The Summer of George!” As was typically the case, however, things didn’t quite work according to plan for Costanza. One can only imagine what would have happened if they did.
The answer to what the perfect summer looks like may be currently playing out in the Chicago District.
Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park) has become a mainstay on the local mid-am circuit. This year alone, Slutzky competed in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball in May, alongside John Ramsey (Glenview), before losing in the Round of 32. Earlier this month, Slutzky and Ramsey teamed up to win the duo’s third CDGA Amateur Four-Ball title. Just five days later, Slutzky qualified for next month’s U.S. Mid-Amateur at Erin Hills Golf Course.
“The Summer of Chadd” was further cemented with yet another piece of hardware Tuesday, as the 45-year-old captured the 30th Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship at Evanston Golf Club in Skokie. Slutzky’s final-round 71 was good enough for a one-shot victory at -9.
SLUTZKY CONTINUES SENSATIONAL SEASON, LEADS AFTER 36 HOLES AT EVANSTON
SKOKIE, Ill. – For many, 36 holes in just one day would be enough to exhaust a person. For two-time Illinois State Mid-Amateur champion Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park), a newfound appreciation for working out off the course and a trusty coach have delivered the 45-year-old what might be the best stretch of golf of his career. That spell, which began with a run to the Round of 32 in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship with partner John Ramsey (Glenview) at the Country Club of Birmingham, now has Slutzky two shots clear of the field after two rounds of the 30th Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship at Evanston Golf Club.
“I don’t know, honestly,” said a smiling Slutzky when asked about his strong year. “I’ve just been playing good and I’ve worked with my coach, Fred Reeder at The Grove (Country Club). I’ve also started working out a lot and I think that attributes to, you know, when I’m walking a bunch of holes I used to get tired, and I don’t get too tired anymore, so that’s definitely helped.”
Starting his morning round on Evanston’s first hole, Slutzky made the turn in 33, which featured seven pars and a pair of birdies at Nos. 5 and 6. A third birdie at the par-3 12th was the first of four in six holes on the back nine to bring Slutzky home in 31. His bogey-free 64 bested both Maxwell Scodro (Lake Forest) and Lyle Burns (Champaign) by one stroke to take the lead into lunch.
Slight adversity set in early in the afternoon, as Slutzky bogeyed the par-4 10th to begin his round. A birdie on the 190-yard, par-3 12th leveled his second-round scorecard before going bogey-par-birdie once again at Nos. 13-15 and springboarded Slutzky to the homeward nine still at 6 under after a trio of pars. Still strong after 27 holes, his final nine again featured a stretch of four birdies in six holes to push the leader to 10-under par, the same score he finished at in his second Illinois State Mid-Am victory in 2019 at Stonebridge Country Club.
“In the afternoon, I wasn’t striping it as well,” said Slutzky, “but the putter heated up and, on the back, I made like a 15-footer, then a 20-footer, then a 25-footer back-to-back-to-back. When one thing went, the other picked it up and that’s how you do it, I guess.”
The aforementioned Burns followed his morning 65 with a 2-under 68 in the afternoon to join Slutzky and 2014 Illinois State Mid-Amateur champion Andrew Price (Lake Bluff) in Tuesday’s final group, both sitting three shots back. Price matched Slutzky’s 64 in the afternoon round to reach 7 under.
“[My mindset] doesn’t change much,” said Slutzky of his lead. “There are some great guys following me that are within reach, so I have to go out and make birdies. Not much changes – just stay aggressive.”
Scodro, -4, and 2021 CDGA Amateur Championship runner-up, Brett Tomfohrde (Chicago), -3, round out the Championship’s top 5 after Monday’s 36-hole opener.
Forty players are set to return to Evanston for Tuesday morning’s final round, as the cut ended at 5-over par. The opening groups will tee off at 8 a.m., with the Slutzky/Price/Burns triad rounding out the field at 10:10 a.m.
Preview
EVANSTON GOLF CLUB TO WELCOME STATE'S TOP MID-AMS
LEMONT, Ill. – The top 25-and-older golfers from around the state of Illinois are set to embark upon Evanston Golf Club in Skokie Aug. 22-23 for the 30th playing of the Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship. The second of three CDGA-administered state titles, the 2022 Illinois State Mid-Am marks the fourth time that Evanston will host a CDGA championship.
The 54-hole event will begin with a grueling 36-hole test on Monday. The low 35 and ties will then advance to the final 18-hole round Tuesday to determine a champion.
ABOUT THE FIELD
The field of 78 players was determined by exemptions and three qualifiers at Lick Creek Golf Course, Palatine Hills Golf Course and Balmoral Woods Country Club in late July and early August. A total of 24 players were exempt, with 262 players attempting to qualify for the Championship. Registration was open to any Illinois resident with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 7.4 and who will reach their 25th birthday on or before the start of the event.
The Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship, conducted annually by the Chicago District Golf Association, features the state’s best golfers 25 and older. It began in 1993 when it was won by Tom Studer. Currently, the championship is 54 holes, with the entire field playing 36 holes the first day and the low 35 and ties playing 18 holes on the final day. Chicago native Larry Blatt won the Championship last summer.
Qualifying
Chicago District Golf Association 11855 Archer Avenue Lemont, IL 60439
Chadd Slutzky of Deer Park notched his third Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship title (2015, 2019) Tuesday at Evanston Golf Club.
For many, 36 holes in just one day would be enough to exhaust a person. For two-time Illinois State Mid-Amateur champion Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park), a newfound appreciation for working out off the course and a trusty coach have delivered the 45-year-old what might be the best stretch of golf of his career. That spell, which began with a run to the Round of 32 in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship with partner John Ramsey (Glenview) at the Country Club of Birmingham, now has Slutzky two shots clear of the field after two rounds of the 30th Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship at Evanston Golf Club.
