The Illinois Open Championship is a golf tournament that is administered by the Illinois PGA (Professional Golfers' Association). The state championship of golf is a 54-hole championship over three days to determine the finest player in the state of Illinois. The tournament is open to professionals and amateurs with a handicap of 10 or less who reside within the state of Illinois.
Illinois Open Championship|
| Location | varies – Flossmoor, Illinois in 2024 |
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| Established | 1950 |
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| Course(s) | varies – Flossmoor CC in 2024 |
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| Par | 72 (in 2024) |
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| Length | 6,933 yards (6,340 m) (in 2023) |
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| Organized by | Illinois PGA |
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| Format | 54-hole stroke play |
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| Month played | August |
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|
| Charlie Nikitas |
In 2015, for the first time in the history of the Illinois Open, the Illinois PGA changed the format of the event having it contested at two facilities for the first and second rounds.
The final championship field size after qualifying events increased from 156 to 258 players. The number of competitors making the cut also increased to the top 70 and ties from the top 50 and ties. Qualifying events conducted throughout the month of June finalize the championship field to the top 258 players.
| Year |
Champion |
Venue |
Location |
Score |
Low amateur
|
| 2024 |
Charlie Nikitas |
Flossmoor Country Club |
Flossmoor, Illinois |
209 (−7) |
Alex Creamean
|
| 2023 |
Vince India |
Flossmoor Country Club |
Flossmoor, Illinois |
208 (−8) PO |
Quinn Clifford
|
| 2022 |
David Perkins |
White Eagle Golf Club |
Naperville, Illinois |
210 (−6) |
Marcus Smith
|
| 2021 |
Tee-k Kelly |
Stonebridge Country Club |
Aurora, Illinois |
199 (−17) |
Mac McClear
|
| 2020 |
Bryce Emory |
White Eagle Golf Club |
Naperville, Illinois |
208 (−8) |
Jordan Less
|
| 2019 |
David Cooke |
Ridgemoor Country Club |
Chicago, Illinois |
203 (−13) |
Bryan Baumgarten, Jordan Less
|
| 2018 |
Vince India |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
202 (−14) |
David Perkins
|
| 2017 |
Patrick Flavin (a) |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
201 (−13) |
Patrick Flavin
|
| 2016 |
Carlos Sainz Jr. |
Royal Fox Country Club |
St. Charles, Illinois |
197 (−17) |
Nick Hardy
|
| 2015 |
David Cooke (a) |
Royal Melbourne Country Club |
Long Grove, Illinois |
199 (−16) |
David Cooke
|
| 2014 |
Brad Hopfinger |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
210 (−6) |
Brian Payne, Dan Stringfellow
|
| 2013 |
Joe Kinney |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
211 (−5) PO |
Dustin Korte
|
| 2012 |
Max Scodro |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
206 (−10) PO |
Brett Tomfohrde
|
| 2011 |
Philip Arouca |
Hawthorn Woods Country Club |
Hawthorn Woods, Illinois |
202 (−11) |
Ravi Patel
|
| 2010 |
Eric Meierdierks |
Hawthorn Woods Country Club |
Hawthorn Woods, Illinois |
201 (−6)*** |
Luke Guthrie
|
| 2009 |
Brad Benjamin (a) |
Hawthorn Woods Country Club |
Hawthorn Woods, Illinois |
208 (−5) PO |
Brad Benjamin
|
| 2008 |
Joe Emerich (a) |
Hawthorn Woods Country Club |
Hawthorn Woods, Illinois |
208 (−5) |
Joe Emerich
|
| 2007 |
Mike Small |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
136 (−6)** |
Joe Cermak
|
| 2006 |
Mike Small |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
205 (−11) |
Carlos Sainz
|
| 2005 |
Mike Small |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
208 (−8) |
Andy Pope
|
| 2004 |
Joe Affrunti |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
210 (−6) PO |
Kevin Tassistro
|
| 2003 |
Mike Small |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
203 (−13) |
Andrew Price, John Wright
|
| 2002 |
Brian Payne |
The Glen Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
207 (−6) |
Scott Harrington
|
| 2001 |
Roy Biancalana |
Royal Fox Country Club |
St. Charles, Illinois |
212 (−1) PO |
Joe Affrunti
|
| 2000 |
Curtis Malm (a) |
Royal Fox Country Club |
St. Charles, Illinois |
209 (−4) |
Curtis Malm
|
| 1999 |
Adam Turner (a) |
Fox Bend Golf Course |
Oswego, Illinois |
207 (−9) |
Adam Turner
|
| 1998 |
Todd Tremaglio |
Orchard Valley Golf Course |
Aurora, Illinois |
209 (−7) PO |
D. A. Points
|
| 1997 |
Marty Schiene |
Fox Bend Golf Course |
Oswego, Illinois |
205 (−11) |
Bill Hoffer
|
| 1996 |
Mark Hensby |
Orchard Valley Golf Course |
Aurora, Illinois |
204 (−12) |
Michael Cushin, Bill Hoffer
|
| 1995 |
Rick Dalpos |
Royal Fox Country Club |
St. Charles, Illinois |
211 (−2) |
Chip Travis
|
| 1994 |
Gary Groh |
Royal Fox Country Club |
St. Charles, Illinois |
207 (−6) |
Bill Hoffer
|
| 1993 |
Dino Lucchesi |
Royal Fox Country Club |
St. Charles, Illinois |
208 (−5) |
Bill Hoffer, Lee Kolquist
|
| 1992 |
Marty Schiene |
Royal Fox Country Club |
St. Charles, Illinois |
205 (−8) PO |
Lee Kolquist
|
| 1991 |
Marty Schiene |
Royal Fox Country Club |
St. Charles, Illinois |
211 (−2) |
Lee Kolquist
|
| 1990 |
Gary Pinns |
Midlane Country Club |
Wadsworth, Illinois |
208 (−8) |
Rich Dukelow
|
| 1989 |
Bob Ackerman |
Turnberry Country Club |
Lakewood, Illinois |
207 (−9) |
Joel Hirsch
|
| 1988 |
Gary Pinns |
Golf Club of Illinois |
Algonquin, Illinois |
213 (E) |
Jack Fritsch, Robert Sullivan
|
| 1987 |
Roy Biancalana |
Midlane Country Club |
Wadsworth, Illinois |
206 (−10) |
George Glickley
|
| 1986 |
Gary Pinns |
Village Links of Glen Ellyn |
Glen Ellyn, Illinois |
210 (−3) |
Gary March
|
| 1985 |
Gary Pinns |
Crestwicke Country Club |
Bloomington, Illinois |
209 (−7) |
Brad Barker
|
| 1984 |
Lance Ten Broeck |
Flossmoor Country Club |
Flossmoor, Illinois |
207 (−9) |
Bill Hoffer
|
| 1983 |
Bill Hoffer (a) |
Elgin Country Club |
Elgin, Illinois |
212 (−4) PO |
Bill Hoffer
|
| 1982 |
Gary Hallberg |
Bon Vivant Country Club |
Bourbonnais, Illinois |
212 (−4) PO |
Andy Shuman
|
| 1981 |
Rick Ten Broeck (a) |
Bon Vivant Country Club |
Bourbonnais, Illinois |
213 (−3) |
Rick Ten Broeck
|
| 1980 |
David Ogrin (a) |
Bloomington Country Club |
Bloomington, Illinois |
210 (−3) |
David Ogrin
|
| 1979 |
Jim Urban |
Fox Bend Golf Course |
Oswego, Illinois |
208 (−5) |
George Glickley
|
| 1978 |
Gary Pinns (a) |
Elgin Country Club |
Elgin, Illinois |
212 (−4) |
Gary Pinns
|
| 1977 |
Gary Hallberg (a) |
Elgin Country Club |
Elgin, Illinois |
208 (−8) |
Gary Hallberg
|
| 1976 |
Dennis Sullivan |
Exmoor Country Club |
Highland Park, Illinois |
217 (+4) |
John Baldwin
|
| 1975 |
Bill Erfurth |
Northmoor Country Club |
Highland Park, Illinois |
210 (−3) |
Bruce Johnson
|
| 1974 |
Emil Esposito |
Rolling Green Country Club |
Arlington Heights, Illinois |
212 (−4) |
Dennis Sullivan
|
| 1973 |
Rick Ten Broeck |
Barrington Hills Country Club |
Barrington, Illinois |
209 (−4) PO |
Gary Ostrega
|
| 1972 |
John Gostele |
Green Acres Country Club |
Northbrook, Illinois |
212 (−1) |
Tom Benjamin
|
| 1971 |
Dick Hart |
Biltmore Country Club |
North Barrington, Illinois |
212 (+2) |
Joel Hirsch
|
| 1970 |
Al Bailey |
Prestwick Country Club |
Frankfort, Illinois |
211 (−5) |
Joel Hirsch
|
| 1969 |
Dick Hart |
Edgewood Valley Country Club |
LaGrange, Illinois |
217 (+1) PO |
Bob Zender
|
| 1968 |
Chick Evans (a) |
Riverside Golf Club |
Riverside, Illinois |
214 (+4) |
Gene Howard
|
| 1967 |
Bill Ogden |
Champaign Country Club |
Champaign, Illinois |
213 (E) |
Jack Charron
|
| 1966 |
Emil Esposito |
Briarwood Country Club |
Deerfield, Illinois |
220 (+7) PO |
Earl Liff
|
| 1965 |
Jack Fleck |
Skokie Country Club |
Glencoe, Illinois |
212 (−4) |
Tull Monsees
|
| 1964 |
Dick Hart |
Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 |
Medinah, Illinois |
224 (+8) PO |
Frederic Franz
|
| 1963 |
Jack Bell |
Knollwood Country Club |
Lake Forest, Illinois |
209 (−7) |
Gene Howard
|
| 1962 |
John Paul Jones |
Glen Oak Country Club |
Glen Ellyn, Illinois |
215 (−1) |
Ed Carroll
|
| 1961 |
Chuck Malchaski |
Medinah Country Club, Course No. 3 |
Medinah, Illinois |
221 (+5) |
Bernard Magnussen
|
| 1960 |
Bob Bruno |
Olympia Fields Country Club, North Course |
Olympia Fields, Illinois |
215 (+2) |
Martin Stanovich
|
| 1959 |
Jack Bell |
Oak Park Country Club |
River Grove, Illinois |
217 (+1) |
Jim McCarthy, Dean Refram
|
| 1958 |
Felice Torza |
Beverly Country Club |
Chicago, Illinois |
215 (+2) |
Martin Stanovich
|
| 1957 |
Jock Hutchison Jr. |
Sunset Ridge Country Club |
Northfield, Illinois |
213 (E) |
Harold Foreman Jr.
|
| 1956 |
Bob Harris |
North Shore Country Club |
Glenview, Illinois |
215 (−1) |
John Wagner
|
| 1955 |
Bob Harris |
Flossmoor Country Club |
Flossmoor, Illinois |
209 (−7) |
John Wagner
|
| 1954 |
George Bolesta |
Olympia Fields Country Club, North Course |
Olympia Fields, Illinois |
219 (+4) |
John Dobro
|
| 1953 |
Errie Ball |
Ravisloe Country Club |
Homewood, Illinois |
138 (−2) * |
Harold Foreman Jr.
|
| 1952 |
Bill Ogden |
Midlothian Country Club |
Midlothian, Illinois |
142 (E) PO * |
George Victor
|
| 1951 |
Jackson Bradley |
Gleneagles Country Club |
Lemont, Illinois |
140 (−4) * |
John Wagner
|
| 1950 |
Felice Torza |
Onwentsia Country Club |
Lake Forest, Illinois |
139 (−5) * |
Art Hoff
|
- a = Amateur
- PO = Won in playoff
- * = Championship was 36-holes
- ** = Championship was shortened to 36-holes after the second round was canceled due to weather
- *** = Championship was played as a par 69 instead of 71 due to flooding. The par 5, 17th hole was played as a 158-yard, par 3.
The modern incarnation of the Illinois Open dates back to 1950. However, records show Jock Hutchison winning the 1920 Illinois Open, Leo Diegel winning in 1924 and "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper winning in 1933, 1934 and 1935.
