Press Releases
CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLF ASSOCIATION
For Everyone Who Plays the Game| Midwest Golf House | Contact: Casey Richards |
| 11855 Archer Avenue | (630) 685-2324 |
| Lemont, IL 60439 | crichards@cdga.org |
| Contact: Tim Merrick | |
| (630) 685-2302 | |
| tmerrick@cdga.org | |
| Contact: Jacob Bomeli | |
| (630) 685-2345 | |
| jbomeli@cdga.org |
| For Immediate Release | June 16, 2022 |
|---|---|
| CDGA AMATEURS CLAIM FIRST RADIX CUP SINCE 2018, BEST ILLINOIS PGA PROFESSIONALS 10-8 | |
| Thursday, June 16, 2022 - RIVER GROVE, Ill. – Mark Small’s (Frankfort / Prestwick CC) appearance in the 2022 Radix Cup marked his first since 1998 – an iteration four members of this year’s 12-golfer amateur team weren’t alive for. Additionally, Small’s eight previous Radix Cup appearances were the most on a squad consisting of six first-timers. In the end, this experience proved crucial, as it was the 58-year-old Small and partner David Keenan (Champaign / Lincolnshire Fields CC) who secured the clinching points for the team of CDGA Amateurs against a contingent of Illinois PGA Professionals in the 60th Radix Cup Matches Thursday at Oak Park Country Club. A par by the Small/Keenan pair on the par-3 17th clinched the 10-8 triumph over the Professionals, who had claimed the previous two iterations. “When I was a younger man, this was ingrained in us that we needed to win this one,” Small, the reigning CDGA Senior Player of the Year, said. “The Ams needed to beat the Pros at all costs. “It’s just a great day.” Created by Illinois Golf Hall of Famer and Oak Park Country Club member Harry Radix in 1962 and carried on in his honor, the Radix Cup embodies the camaraderie amongst golfers of all spectrums. No player embodies this more than Greg Bauman (Chicago / Biltmore), the son of longtime IPGA pro Doug Bauman. A last-minute replacement who found out he would be competing 19 hours before his tee time, Bauman notched a dramatic birdie on No. 18 to secure two-and-a-half points for he and partner Zach Jecklin (Glen Ellyn / Butterfield CC). After his drive found the trees left of the fairway, Bauman’s approach into a blustering wind hit the flagstick and settled at gimme range for the decisive birdie. “My partner hit a great tee shot, so I knew I could kind of be aggressive on a shot from the trees,” Bauman said. “I had about 165 yards and it was playing like 200 into the wind. I told my caddie, ‘I’m just going to rope a 6 iron and hopefully it stops.’ “With my dad being an IPGA pro, it’s a little extra motivation to beat those guys,” Bauman continued. “I’ve been playing against my dad my entire life. I know all of [the pros]. It’s fun to see really good golfers play.” The teams of 12, based on performance in 2021 professional and amateur events, competed in six best ball matches featuring Nassau scoring. Only two pairings on either team secured the full three points – Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park / Royal Fox CC) and Brett Tomfohrde (Chicago / Butterfield CC) for the Amateurs, and host club professional Carson Solien (Oak Park CC) and Jim Billiter (Ivanhoe Club). Oak Park has hosted 57 of 60 Radix Cup Matches, giving the competition extra significance to Solien. “Hosting this event is always one of the highlights of the year for myself and Oak Park Country Club,” Solien said. “It’s great to have everyone out here. It’s great having the amateurs and pros out here competing against each other, it’s always a fun day. Jim [Billiter] and I play a lot of golf together, so we are a good team. We ham and egged pretty well today.” The IPGA Professionals lead the all-time series 37-21-2, with each side winning seven times since 2008. | |
| Chicago District Golf Association The Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA) is authorized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) as the governing body for amateur golf in our region. The CDGA is a membership organization consisting of more than 94,000 individual golfers and 400 clubs in Illinois and parts of Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Golfers receive member offers, a Handicap Index® from the USGA® and competitive playing opportunities, while clubs receive Course Rating™ and Slope Rating™ measuring services, turfgrass diagnostics and educational seminars. The CDGA also creates opportunities for everyone to experience the benefits of the game through therapeutic and recreational Outreach Programs, with an emphasis on serving individuals with special needs, youth and veterans. | |
| ### | |