The Illinois PGA Senior Championship/PPNC is underway at Pine Meadow Golf Course in Mundelein, Ill. The event is 36 holes of stroke play over a two (2) day competition for the Illinois PGA Senior Championship title. Forty-six (46) of the top Illinois PGA seniors are scheduled to participate.
Oak Park C.C. head golf professional Steve Dunning fired an opening round 69 (-3) to set the pace the in the 36-hole Championship. A trio of competitors are one-shot behind Dunning heading into the final round including PGA Life Member Bill Erfurth - the oldest competitor in the field (78) - after carding two-under-par 70.
Defending champion Jim Sobb, Ivanhoe Club, is tied in ninth place after finishing the opening round with an even-par 72. Sobb is joined by four (4) Illinois PGA Senior Championship past champions in the field - Steve Benson, Hillcrest C.C. (2006), Gary Groh (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004), Michael Harrigan (2001, 2005) and Earl Puckett (1988, 1991, 1993). Last year Sobb defeated Billy Rosinia, Flagg Creek G.C., in a three-hole total-stroke playoff for the Illinois PGA Senior Championship title.
The top 9 finishers in the Illinois PGA Senior Championship/Senior PPNC are invited to compete in the 20th Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship, which will take place October 2-5, 2008 at Toscana C.C. & Andalusia C.C. in Indian Wells, CA. The top 35 finishers in the Senior PPNC will be given the opportunity to compete in the 70th Senior PGA Championship, May 21-24, 2009, at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio. |
