With his victory Wednesday, Jordan Less becomes the first person to win both the CDGA Amateur and CDGA Mid-Amateur Championships.
10th CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship May 12-14 • Kemper Lakes Golf Club (Kildeer)
Day Three: Wednesday, May 14
LESS IS MORE: LESS SEALS THE DEAL IN EXTRA HOLES FOR CDGA MID-AM TITLE
KILDEER, Ill. – Jordan Less (Elmhurst / CDGA Member’s Club) once chased the dream of being a professional golfer. However, after stepping away from the pro circuit and regaining his amateur status, the motivation to be at the top of his game has yet to fade.
“I played a few years on the Dakotas Tour, did Monday qualifiers and three years went by and I was still in the same spot,” acknowledged Less about his pro golf journey. “I regained my amateur status, but I am still as motivated as ever.”
That motivation fueled him to a victory in the 10th CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship Wednesday at Kemper Lakes Golf Club, although he needed two extra holes to defeat Charlie Waddell (Kenilworth/ Shoreacres) in a thrilling 20-hole match. Less was no stranger to a CDGA playoff victory, as he was also victorious in the 2019 CDGA Amateur Championship via extra holes.
Championship Match
(1) Jordan Less def. (10) Charlie Waddell, 20 holes
Day Two: Tuesday, May 13
LESS, WADDELL TO VIE FOR CDGA MID-AMATEUR CROWN
KILDEER, Ill. – In its brief 10-year history, no former CDGA Amateur champion has reached the winner’s circle of the CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship. That will hold true for one more sundown, as 2019 CDGA Am champ Jordan Less (Elmhurst / CDGA Member’s Club) and 2022 CDGA Am winner Charlie Waddell (Kenilworth / Shoreacres) are set to face off in Wednesday morning’s Final at Kemper Lakes Golf Club. Each competitor emerged victorious in two matches on Tuesday to advance.
Less, who earned medalist honors Monday via a 3-under 69, began his second day of competition by besting 2024 CDGA Player of the Year Daniel Stringfellow (Roselle / Medinah CC), 3 and 2, in the Quarterfinals. The 27-year-old Less started the match on a tear, birdying four of the first five holes to take a commanding 4-up lead. Stringfellow responded with a pair of birdies of his own at Nos. 6 and 7 to cut his deficit in half before Less secured Nos. 8 and 9 with his fifth and sixth birdies of the front nine. Though the birdie brigade cooled, the early lead proved to be enough, as Less’ advantage never dropped below 2 up on the back nine, eventually leading to a victory on the 16th green.
One half of the Defending CDGA Amateur Four-Ball champion tandem, Brien Davis (Peoria / WeaverRidge GC), awaited Less in the Semifinals following his 2-up defeat of reigning Illinois State Senior Amateur champion Rick Stewart (Park Ridge / Arrowhead GC). After tying the opening two holes, Less and Davis traded wins at Nos. 3-6 to close out the first third of the match level. A pair of birdies at the par-5 seventh and par-4 ninth provided Less with a 2-up lead at the turn. After seeing his lead chopped in half to open the closing nine, Less steadied the ship with a duo of wins at Nos. 11 and 13 to push his lead to 3 up. His 2-and-1 victory was secured via a par at the iconic par-3 17th.
The 39-year-old Waddell began his Quarterfinal match with Justin Schwab (Beach Park / The Club at Strawberry Creek) by sharing pars through the opening three holes. A Schwab eagle at the par-5 fourth was quickly erased by the eventual victor with back-to-back wins at Nos. 5 and 6. Waddell’s 1-up lead stood strong through the turn before Schwab strung together a trio of wins shortly after to secure a 2-up advantage. Six-consecutive pars on the way through Kemper Lakes’ famed “Gauntlet” provided Waddell with victories at Nos. 13, 16 and 18 to secure his spot in the Semifinal round.
Mid-amateur stalwart and 2017 event champion Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park / The Grove CC) met Waddell in the penultimate round after beating Dave Esler (St. Charles / Black Sheep GC), 2 and 1, in the Quarterfinals. Four trips around the Kildeer-based track proved to be not enough for Waddell and Slutzky in the afternoon, as the two competed for 20 holes before a Waddell par at the par-4 second punched his ticket to the finale. Neither player gained more than a 2-up advantage throughout the match.
Less and Waddell now turn their sights to the Final match, which is set to begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
MATCH PLAY RESULTS
Quarterfinals
(1) Jordan Less def. (4) Brien Davis, 2 and 1
(10) Charlie Waddell def. (3) Chadd Slutzky, 20 holes
Quarterfinals
(1) Jordan Less def. (8) Daniel Stringfellow, 3 and 2
(4) Brien Davis def. (5) Rick Stewart, 2 up
(10) Charlie Waddell def. (15) Justin Schwab, 1 up
(3) Chadd Slutzky def. (11) Dave Esler, 2 and 1
Day One: Monday, May 12
LESS CLAIMS 10TH CDGA MID-AM MEDALIST HONORS, ROUND OF 16 WIN
KILDEER, Ill. – The Chicago District’s top amateurs age 25 and older gathered at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer Monday to usher in the 2025 CDGA Championship season, as the 10th CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship began with stroke-play qualifying and the Round of 16 matches. Under ideal spring conditions, Jordan Less (Elmhurst / CDGA Member’s Club) fired a 3-under 69 to earn medalist honors and the No.1 seed for match play. The 27-year-old former Northern Illinois Husky leads a group of eight golfers who return to the 1989 PGA Championship site for Tuesday’s Quarterfinal matches.
Less, the 2019 CDGA Amateur Championship victor at Glen View Club, paired two birdies with two bogeys on his outward nine Monday morning to turn at even-par 36. Red figures on the par-5 11th and par-4 12th got the momentum going before a dropped-shot bogey on No. 15. Unphased by the mishap, Less bounced back with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17, ultimately aiding his 3-under finish. Earning the No. 1 seed for match play, the bracket was finalized via a 5-for-3 playoff of players at +4 that lasted three holes.
After a break for lunch, Less, who recently regained amateur status, faced off with No. 16-seeded Andrew Stineman (Chicago / Skokie CC). Less took a 2-up advantage with wins on Nos. 4 and 5 before Stineman grabbed one back with a birdie on the par-5 7th. By No. 14, Stineman had gained a 1-up advantage. Less then eagled the par-5 15th, won with a par on the par-4 16th and stuck his tee shot to gimme range on the par-3 17th to take the 2 and 1 win.
The Quarterfinal matches will feature quite the star power, as 2017 event winner Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park / The Grove CC), reigning 2025 CDGA Player of the Year Daniel Stringfellow(Roselle / Medinah CC) and defending Illinois State Senior Amateur champion Rick Stewart(Park Ridge / Arrowhead GC) were among those advancing to Tuesday’s action. Defending CDGA Mid-Am title holder Joe Cermak (Mt. Prospect / Pine Meadow GC) earned the No. 9 seed before falling to Stringfellow, 5 and 3.
The Quarterfinal matches are slated to begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, with the Semifinals following shortly after. The Championship clash will take place at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
MATCH PLAY RESULTS
Round of 16
(1) Jordan Less def. (16) Andrew Stineman, 2 and 1
(8) Daniel Stringfellow def. (9) Joseph Cermak, 5 and 3
(5) Rick Stewart def. (12) Dustin Sloat, 3 and 2
(4) Brien Davis def. (13) Michael Fastert, 2 and 1
(15) Justin Schwab def. (2) Joe Mills, 5 and 3
(10) Charlie Waddell def. (7) Jean Francis Lafontaine, 4 and 2
(11) Dave Esler def. (6) A.J. Balulis, 1 up
(3) Chadd Slutzky def. (14) Maxwell Scodro, 4 and 2
Preview
The 112th season of amateur golf championships conducted by the CDGA will kick off with the 10th CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship, May 12-14 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer. One 18-hole round of stroke play qualifying and a 16-golfer match play bracket awaits a field featuring 81 of the Chicago District's best amateur golfers age 25 and up.
Schedule
Monday, May 12 The entire field will play 18 holes of stroke play in the morning to determine the low 16 who will advance to match play. The first round will take place in the afternoon.
Tuesday, May 13 The Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches will take place.
Wednesday, May 14 The Championship match will be contested on Wednesday morning.
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The CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship debuted its current format in 2015. Open to CDGA members age 25 or older with a handicap index not exceeding 7.4, the CDGA Mid-Am features an 18-hole stroke play round to determine a 16-player match play bracket. Mt. Prospect's Joe Cermak is the defending champion, notching his first CDGA Mid-Am crown in 2024 with a 2-up victory over Derek Meinhart at Elgin Country Club.
With his victory Wednesday, Jordan Less becomes the first person to win both the CDGA Amateur and CDGA Mid-Amateur Championships.
Preview
