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Illinois State Amateur Championship

The Illinois State Amateur Championship, conducted annually by the Chicago District Golf Association, was first played in 1931 at Quincy Country Club. Initially conducted at match play until 1963, the event is now a 72-hole stroke play competition contested over three days. It is widely considered the premier amateur golf event in the state. Since the Championship was first conducted at stroke play, 45 different golfers have hoisted the Louis L. Emmerson trophy, several of which are current or former members of the PGA Tour.
Year
Champion
Runner-Up
Club (City)
1931
Warren Dawson
George Gardner Jr.
Quincy CC (Quincy)
1932
Warren Dawson
Richard Martin
Champaign CC (Champaign)
1933
Don Armstrong
Bill Chambers
Medinah CC (Medinah)
1934
Larry Moller
Cliff McKelvey
Illini CC (Springfield)
1935
John Hobart
James L. Grand
Rockford CC (Rockford)
1936
Wilbur Kokes
John Holmstrom
CC of Decatur (Decatur)
1937
Larry Moller
Sid Richardson
Mt. Hawley CC (Peoria)
1938
John Holstrom
Alex Welsh
Elgin CC (Elgin)
1939
George Dawson
Ralph Carlson
Champaign CC (Champaign)
1940
Gus Moreland
Art Andrews Jr.
Danville CC (Danville)
1941
George Dawson
Jim Frisina Sr.
Quincy CC (Quincy)
1942
Jim Frisina Sr.
John Holmstrom
Mt. Hawley CC (Peoria)
1943
Mike Stolarik
Harold Foreman Jr.
Illini CC (Springfield)
1944
Harold Foreman Jr.
Bob Cochran
Mt. Hawley CC (Peoria)
1945
Harold Foreman Jr.
Walter Bukemo
St. Charles CC (St. Charles)
1946
Earl Wilde
Jim Frisina Sr.
Bloomington CC (Bloomington)
1947
Jim Frisina Sr.
Mike Stolarik
Soangetaha CC (Galesburg)
1948
Richard Jungen
Nello Campagni
Danville CC (Danville)
1949
Norando Nannini
Harry Mussatto
Mt. Hawley CC (Peoria)
1950
John Hobart
Dave Logan
Short Hills CC (East Moline)
1951
Harold Foreman Jr.
John Knight
Danville CC (Danville)
1952
Larry Moller
David Logan
Quincy CC (Quincy)
1953
Haynes Hawkins
Larry Moller
Bloomington CC (Bloomington)
1954
Jim Frisina Sr.
Buzzy Wohl
Urbana GC (Urbana)
1955
Gene Readette
George Victor
U. of Illinois GC (Savoy)
1956
Jim Frisina Sr.
Buzzy Wohl
U. of Illinois GC (Savoy)
1957
Robert Dredge
Bruce Houdek
U. of Illinois GC (Savoy)
1958
Jim Frisina Sr.
Chris Sarro
U. of Illinois GC (Savoy)
1959
Robert Scherer
Arthur R. Hoff
U. of Illinois GC (Savoy)
1960
Ed Moehling Jr.
Joel Hirsch
U. of Illinois GC (Savoy)
1961
Ed Moehling Jr.
Gene Wilson
U. of Illinois GC (Savoy)
1962
Arthur C. Ellis
John P. Morrell
Butterfield CC (Oak Brook)
Year
Champion
Winning Score
Club (City)
1963
Dave Huske
289 (+9)
Forest Hills CC (Rockford)
1964
Robert Zender
294 (+2)
Aurora CC (Aurora)
1965
Earl Liff
293 (+5)
Prestwick CC (Frankfort)
1966
Tom Matey
273 (-11)
Danville CC (Danville)
1967
Jim Jamieson
285 (-7)
Short Hills CC (East Moline)
1968
James TenBroeck
293 (+5)
Prestwick CC (Frankfort)
1969
Bill Hoffer
287 (-1)
Soangetaha CC (Galesburg)
1970
Robert Zender
290 (+2)
Mt. Hawley CC (Peoria)
1971
Robert Zender
270 (-10)
Kankakee CC (Kankakee)
1972
Steve Benson
285 (-7)
Short Hills CC (East Moline)
1973
Ron Ghidina
283 (-5)
Pekin CC (Pekin)
1974
Mike Milligan
276 (-12)
Urbana GC (Urbana)
1975
Mick Soli
281 (-3)
Bloomington CC (Bloomington)
1976
Tom Evans
285 (-3)
Prestwick CC (Frankfort)
1977
Gary Pinns
282 (-2)
Rockford CC (Rockford)
1978
Gary Hallberg
284 (-4)
Eagle Ridge Resort (Galena)
1979
Gary Hallberg
277 (-11)
Crestwicke CC (Bloomington)
1980
Dave Ogrin
289 (+1)
Crestwicke CC (Bloomington)
1981
Tom Parkhill
287 (+3)
Champaign CC (Champaign)
1982
Jerry Haas
290 (+2)
CC of Peoria (Peoria)
1983
Roy Biancalana
276 (-8)
Bloomington CC (Bloomington)
1984
Jerry Haas
275 (-13)
Mt. Hawley CC (Peoria)
1985
Steve Cigelnik
286 (-2)
Soangetaha CC (Galesburg)
1986
Gary March
283 (+1)
Danville CC (Danville)
1987
Chuck Fiser
286 (-2)
Pine Meadow GC (Mundelein)
1988
Joel Hirsch
286 (-2)
Lick Creek GC (Mundelein)
1989
Joel Hirsch
273 (-7)
Kankakee CC (Kankakee)
1990
Mike Mortell
282 (-2)
Rockford CC (Rockford)
1991
Jay Davis
279 (-5)
Bloomington CC (Bloomington)
1992
Jay Davis
280 (-8)
Turnberry CC (Lakewood)
1993
Jamie Fairbanks
276 (-8)
Urbana GC (Urbana)
1994
Mark Hensby
285 (+5)
Mauh-Nah-Tee-See CC (Rockford)
1995
D.A. Points
282 (+2)
Illini CC (Springfield)
1996
Mark Small
283 (-5)
Cantigny Golf (Wheaton)
1997
Erik Ciotti
279 (-1)
Bloomington CC (Bloomington)
1998
D.A. Points
285(+1)
Rend Lake GC (Whittington)
1999
D.A. Points
280 (-8)
Eagle Ridge Resort (Galena)
2000
Mike McLoone
282 (+2)
Mt. Hawley CC (Peoria)
2001
Rich Dukelow
282 (-6)
Aldeen GC (Rockford)
2002
Todd Mitchell
291 (+7)
Cantigny Golf (Wheaton)
2003
Todd Mitchell
286 (-2)
Piper Glen GC (Springfield)
2004
TC Ford
282 (-2)
Stone Creek GC (Urbana)
2005
Brad Marek
272 (-12)
Crestwicke CC (Bloomington)
2006
Rob Grube
274 (-10)
Edgewood Valley CC (LaGrange)
*2007
Ravi Patel
202 (-11)
Ironhorse GC (Tuscola)
2008
Zach Barlow
281 (-7)
Cantigny Golf (Wheaton)
2009
Luke Guthrie
276 (-4)
Bloomington CC (Bloomington)
2010
Vince India
274 (-10)
Beverly CC (Chicago)
2011
Brad Hopfinger
272 (-11)
Glen Oak CC (Glen Ellyn)
2012
Quinn Prchal
272 (-8)
Kokopelli GC (Marion)
2013
Tee-K Kelly
281 (-7)
Aldeen GC (Rockford)
2014
Raymond Knoll
280 (-8)
Cantigny Golf (Wheaton)
2015
Tee-K Kelly
275 (-9)
Panther Creek CC (Springfield)
2016
Nick Hardy
260 (-28)
St. Charles CC (St. Charles)
*2017
Patrick Flavin
200 (-10)
Calumet CC (Homewood)
2018
Jordan Hahn
277 (-3)
Bloomington CC (Bloomington)
*2019
Ethan Farnam
208 (-8)
Cantigny Golf (Wheaton)
2020
No Event - COVID-19
2021
Ethan Farnam
275 (-13)
Mistwood Golf Club (Romeoville)
2022
Mac McClear
283 (-5)
Westmoreland CC (Wilmette)
2023
Mac McClear
269 (-11)
Bloomington CC (Bloomington)
2024
Atkins GC at the University of Illinois (Urbana)

*-event rain-shortened to 54 holes


Illinois State Amateur Championship Records
Most Titles OverallJim Frisina Sr. (5)
(1942, 1947, 1954, 1956, 1958)
Most Titles at Match PlayJim Frisina Sr. (5)
(1942, 1947, 1954, 1956, 1958)
Most Titles at Stroke PlayRobert Zender (3); 1964, 1970, 1971
D.A. Points (3); 1995, 1998, 1999
Consecutive VictoriesWarren Dawson, 1931-1932
Harold E. Foreman Jr. 1944-1945
Ed Moehling Jr. 1960-1961
Robert Zender 1970-1971
Gary Hallberg 1978-1979
Joel Hirsch 1988-1989
Jay Davis 1991-1992
D.A. Points 1998-1999
Todd Mitchell 2002-2003
Ethan Farnam 2019-2021
Mac McClear 2022-2023
Highest Winning Total294, Robert Zender, 1964 (+2)
Highest Winning Score (relation to par)+9, Dave Huske, 1963 at Forest Hills (289)
Lowest Winning Total260, Nick Hardy, 2016 at St. Charles (-28)
Lowest Winning Score (relation to par)-28, Nick Hardy, 2016 at St. Charles (260)
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Chicago District Golf Association
11855 Archer Avenue
Lemont, IL 60439

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