Jordan Less became the first player to win the Illinois State Amateur, CDGA Amateur and CDGA Mid-Amateur Championships with his win at Stonebridge.
94th Illinois State Amateur Championship July 15-17 • Stonebridge Country Club (Aurora)
Day Three: Wednesday, July 17
LESS CONTINUES WINNING WAYS, ADDS 94TH ILLINOIS STATE AM TITLE TO HIS MANTLE
AURORA, Ill. - Heading into the 94th Illinois State Amateur Championship at Stonebridge Country Club, there were just 12 men who had earned the chance to hoist both the Louis L. Emmerson and Joseph G. Davis Trophies as State Am and CDGA Amateur victors, respectively. Most recently, it was Pierce Grieve achieving that feat at the 105th CDGA Amateur Championship this June. Jordan Less (Elmhurst) added his name to that historic list Thursday with a clutch 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th green to defeat Connor Hamm (Macomb) by one shot.
Less’ win, however, was also the start of a new list. The 2019 CDGA Amateur champ also won the 2025 CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Kemper Lakes Golf Club in May. The trifecta secured on Thursday is one-of-a-kind, and one that will forever be difficult for the top amateurs in the state to match.
His championship pedigree certainly aided Less to another elite-level amateur win and isn’t going away anytime soon.
“To rely on the championships in the past and the situations that you’re put in helps out the most,” Less said. “You can hit shot after shot on the range, but knowing how your body is going to respond under pressure is obviously really beneficial. So it’s good to have those in the back of your mind.”
Entering Thursday’s 36-hole day, Less had carded rounds of 67 and 69 to put himself just one shot behind Hamm and in the final group. Both players were off and running early, as two birdies at the par-5 first set up an exhilarating day of golf.
Less made six birdies to just two bogeys in the third round Thursday morning to get his overall total to 12-under par.
Pretty good, right?
Well, Hamm, who is readying for his first full season with the University of Arizona golf team following more than two years at Bradley University, utilized a back-nine 29 en route to a tournament-best 63. The round included six-consecutive birdies from Nos. 9-14 to give the eventual second-place finisher a six-shot lead over the field. Less did his part to neutralize the daunting deficit by carding consecutive birdies at Nos. 17 and 18 to head to lunch on a positive note.
“There’s momentum you can build throughout a round by making some putts or getting a good up-and-down, but to eat lunch knowing that I rolled those few last ones in just builds momentum to the next round and most likely helped the birdie there too,” Less said.
The aforementioned birdie came at the fourth-round opener, while Hamm began with a bogey of his own to initiate an early two-shot swing. Up ahead, Nicolas Simon (Elk Grove Village), fresh off a third-round 67 of his own, notched an eagle at the par-5 first to push his total to 13-under par and enter his name into championship contention, just one behind Hamm.
Less and Hamm traded pars at the second before a lost ball led to a triple bogey for the latter at the par-3 third. The 27-year-old Less posted a bogey of his own to remain two back, but Simon, who was two groups ahead, sat steady at -13 through his first five holes to put himself into second place.
With Less and Simon each making bogeys at No. 6, Hamm regained his early momentum. The three competitors each secured a pair of birdies before they turned to the inward nine to keep Hamm’s lead at a two-shot advantage at 16-under par.
Lurking quietly between the two groups, mid-amateur stalwart Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park) carded a 33 of his own on the opening nine of the final round to push himself into fourth place, one shot behind Less and Simon and three shy of the leader at the time in Hamm. Slutzky would go on to play the back nine in 1-over 37 to finish in fourth place at 12-under par in his first State Am appearance since 2016.
On to the last nine holes of a grueling test of golf. Hamm, Less and Simon continued jockeying back and forth through No. 14, as Hamm retained his narrow advantage over the field by parring each of the five holes.
Then came the par-4 15th. A bogey in for Simon, a rising sophomore at the University of Michigan, up ahead, Hamm found the fairway bunker along the left side of the hole off the tee. An errant shot rolled out of bounds and led to an eventual double bogey. Less earned his fourth par of the week at the 380-yard dogleg left to bring all four competitors to their final three holes at 14-under par.
Nearly driving the green at the par-4 16th, Hamm posted a birdie to push his total to -15. Sticking to his game, Less hit driver off the tee and into the fairway bunker. He would eventually hit up just shy of the green and get up-and-down for his par to head to the final two holes one shot behind Hamm and one shot ahead of Simon, who had just bogeyed the 17th.
With a roar from Simon reverberating up the finishing hole after pouring in his birdie bid, Less stepped up to the par-3 penultimate hole and threw a dart. Hamm within tap-in range for his par, Less found the back of the cup for two and yet another share of the lead. Simon’s 14-under-par week earned him a third-place finish.
“Throughout the round, with all the back-and-forth, even in my head, it was a little hard to keep track of where we stood,” said Less. “Going to the tee on No. 17, I knew that I was one down to Connor. It was a really good number on No. 17 - the tee was moved back a little bit from this morning, which I kind of needed just to hit a stock one. I hit a good one there and rolled the putt in. On No. 18, I knew we were tied and most likely it was going to be one of us that made a birdie to win it.”
And he did just that.
Both on in three at the par-5 18th, Less, who stayed as cool as they come throughout the championship, put the pressure on one last time by burying the aforementioned 15-foot birdie try to give way to Hamm and a 10-footer of his own. His putt slid just by the hole for a closing-round 75 to finish one shot behind the eventual victor.
With the win, Less not only secured his third CDGA-administered championship victory, but also became the first mid-amateur to win the Illinois State Amateur since Todd Mitchell did so in 2003. This was the first State Am Less competed in since falling just short in a three-hole aggregate playoff with two-time event champions Ethan Farnam and Mac McClear in 2021, as he competed professionally over the course of the last four years.
“It really wasn’t on my mind at all,” Less said of his most recent try at Mistwood. “I’m at a different spot in life now and I feel like my game is in a more mature state. I think that kind of speaks to coming down the stretch and the nerves that were there and how I handled them.”
The little nerves that were lurking down the stretch lifted off the champion’s back at the 72nd hole with a fist pump and a contagious smile that will surely remain shining during his trip to the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California this August. Less earned an exemption into the event with his win this week.
“I played when it was hosted at Riviera, and, kind of similar to how I spoke to it earlier, I feel like my game and my mindset are in a much more mature state,” Less said of his upcoming trip out west. “So I feel pretty good going out there.”
Joining the top competitors within the top five and ties was the trio of Alexander Creamean (Winnetka), Brien Davis (Peoria) and Robert Dofflemyer III (Loves Park), who each posted 10-under for the tournament.
The CDGA Championships slate continues later this month with the 10th CDGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship, July 28-30, at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva.
QUOTES OF NOTE: Jordan Less (Elmhurst) on the success of other mid-amateur’s in the field … “It’s pretty cool. I spoke to it at the ceremony that the mid-ams in this state, I’d put up against anyone. They’re a solid group of guys and they can really play.”
Connor Hamm (Macomb) on the tough breaks at the beginning of his final round … “The first hole I hit the cart path and got a terrible bounce. It was a little bump in the road and then the third hole I thought I was in the bunker, but the ball was nowhere to be found. I was proud of the way I fought back after that.”
Nicolas Simon (Elk Grove Village) on his birdie on the 72nd hole to get to 14-under … “I bogeyed 17 and thought it was game over. I refreshed myself going into No. 18 and saw that the leader was only one shot ahead, so I stuck to my process and rolled in an 18-footer.”
Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park) on competing as a mid-amateur against younger players… “The State Am is very different – you’re competing against college kids instead of mid-ams. This is what they do for a living essentially – they play golf tournaments – so the competition is much higher and much tougher.”
Daniel Stringfellow (Roselle) on his first State Am appearance since 2014…“I was exempt due to the CDGA Amateur last year but couldn’t compete in it because of work. I really wanted to play in something this year and figured I could play in the State Am, so I registered a few weeks ago and here I am. It was exciting to compete again.”
Devin Swoyer (Hinsdale) on how his experience at the 2024 Illinois State Amateur prepped him for this year…“I remember last year I made three doubles over the first two days and if I didn’t make those double bogeys I would’ve made the cut. All I was trying to do this year was minimize mistakes and avoid those massive numbers.”
John Creamean (Winnetka) on his eagle to make the cut with his brother (Alex)…“I needed a birdie on the final hole to make the cut, and I was able to put it on the green in two on the par-five ninth. Drained a 50-foot putt for eagle so that was awesome for both of us to make it.”
Michael Jorski (Clarendon Hills) on his mindset as the youngest competitor in the field…“I expect to play as well as I can. Many of the people here are better than me but I just focus on developing and getting better each time I go out there. I played well this week but still feel like I left a few shots out there. I also gained a few with the hole in one.”
Kyle Davies (Chatham) on his ace at the par-3 8th…“It was playing about 175 yards, a little downwind. I flushed an 8-iron a little left, caught the slope and it ran right into the hole. It’s my third hole-in-one, first in competition. It ranks at the top.”
NOTABLES:
The scoring average for the tournament was 74.75. Round three on Thursday morning marked the easiest round with an average of 71.81, while the first round on Tuesday was the hardest when the field averaged 76.14.
The most difficult hole of the tournament was the 460-yard par-4 11th with an average score of 4.43 over the course of four rounds. Only 35 birdies were recorded by the field with over 115 bogeys or worse carded.
The easiest hole for the field was the 540-yard par-5 ninth with an average score of 4.76. The par 5 surrendered 116 birdies, 12 eagles and one albatross during the tournament.
Jordan Less (Elmhurst) was the only player in the field to card four rounds in the 60s.
Four mid-amateur players (age 25 and up) – Jordan Less (Elmhurst), Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park), Brien Davis (Peoria), Robert Dofflemyer III (Loves Park) – finished in the top-5 of the tournament. Less emerged as the winner, Slutzky notched a fourth-place finish and Davis and Dofflemyer III rounded out the top five.
Nicolas Simon (Elk Grove Village) managed to record a birdie or better on the par-5 ninth every round of the tournament, including an eagle during round three Thursday morning.
A third round of 9-under 63 from Connor Hamm (Macomb) is the lowest round in the State Am since two-time champion Mac McClear’s own 63 in the final round of the 2023 iteration.
Kyle Davies’ (Chatham) and Michael Jorski’s (Clarendon Hills) aces on the eighth hole were the first in the Illinois State Am since Dylan Drogemuller’s hole-in-one at the 2023 event held at Bloomington Country Club.
The low 20 and ties (21 total) earned exemptions into the 2026 Illinois State Amateur Championship.
Day Two: Wednesday, July 16
HAMM’S BIRDIE BARRAGE SETS 94TH ILLINOIS STATE AM PACE AHEAD OF 36-HOLE FINALE
AURORA, Ill. - Last month, J.J. Spaun dramatically concluded the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club with a lengthy birdie putt to capture his first major championship. While the scene of the ball trickling down some 64 feet to the bottom of the cup may be the lasting memory, for Spaun, the 90-minute rain delay may have been his saving grace, providing a clear mental state following a shaky final-round start.
During the afternoon wave of Wednesday’s second round of the 94th Illinois State Amateur Championship at Stonebridge Country Club, dangerous storms necessitated a two-hour rain delay. While a stoppage of that length may have derailed many rounds, like Spaun, Connor Hamm (Macomb) seized the return to the course en route to a 5-under 67. Hamm’s colorful card featured nine birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey to sit atop the leaderboard at 9-under overall heading into Thursday’s 36-hole finale.
Jordan Less (Elmhurst), a co-leader following play on Tuesday, sits one back at 8-under following a 3-under 69, with Alexander Creamean (Winnetka) and Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park) positioned two behind at 7-under overall after each notched 6-under 66s.
“The former Bradley University-turned-University of Arizona rising senior started his second round well before the threat of weather, carding a birdie on Stonebridge’s par-5 opener. Another red figure followed on the par-4 fifth. Trouble arrived, however, in the form of a double bogey on the par-5 sixth, erasing his early work.
Admitting to “understanding you’re going to make mistakes,” Hamm bounced back in the form of three-straight birdies on Nos. 7-9 to turn at 3-under. With ominous clouds approaching and winds picking up, his tee shot on No. 10 at 2:35 p.m. would not be followed up until 4:35 p.m.
“I just chilled out,” said 20-year-old Hamm of his time spent during the delay. “I had a couple of hot dogs. Just tried to relax, watch the weather a bit. Settle your mind and get ready to go.”
Go, he did. After a routine par after the resumption of play, Hamm utilized softer course conditions and relaxed winds to the tune of four-straight birdies from Nos. 11-14. Two bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18 dropped a scintillating round to a great one, as he settled for a 5-under 67. With former high school teammate and current Aurora University golfer Braeden Duncan on the bag, Hamm looked forward to the back nine and insider knowledge.
“He plays at Aurora so he knows these greens very well, he plays at Stonebridge a lot,” said Hamm of his looper. “The weather kind of calmed down a bit after the rain. I just knew it was out there, so you had to put yourself in good spots to make birdies. I saw a few putts go in and that was good to see.”
Hamm is no stranger to holding overnight leads of high-level events. Before transferring to Arizona following the 2024 fall semester, he captured the individual titles at both the Dolenc Invitational and the Zach Johnson Invitational in a three-event stretch. The pressure of hoisting the state’s premier amateur championship title may leave a few uneasy, but Hamm said he revels in the chance to showcase his recent form through 36 holes on Thursday.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s going to be nice to sleep on the lead. I’ve done it a couple of times this year already, so I’m looking forward to that. I kind of know what that feels like.”
In total, 38 players made the cut, which fell at +2.
Hamm will be joined by Less in the final pairing, which will tee off at 8:21 a.m. Their final round will commence at 12:51 p.m. Thursday’s play will begin at 7 a.m.
QUOTES OF NOTE: Jordan Less (Elmhurst) on his ability to maintain a consistent demeanor…“I think it’s a combination [of experience and personality]. At a high level, I’m not out here competing for my livelihood anymore. It’s a little bit, not a weight off your shoulders, but we’re just here playing golf. And that’s all iIm trying to make this week out to be.”
Alexander Creamean (Winnetka) on building on his runner-up finish at the CDGA Amateur Championship last month…“It’s just knowing your game is in a good spot and having that experience of playing in bigger moments. Just having all of the confidence in the world.”
Creamean on birdieing six holes in a row…“I was right in the midst of it, I think I had three of them going into the rain delay, with my tee shot already being in the fairway. Then I rattled three more off coming out of that.”
Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park) on his mindset playing in his first State Amateur since 2016…
“I’m always trying to win. I don’t just come out here to have fun. It’s nice to be in a good position and maybe get hot tomorrow, see what happens.”
Robert Dofflemyer III (Loves Park) on his mom, accomplished amateur golfer Hui Chong, caddying for him…“It’s awesome. It’s something I was really happy she was able to do, she was free this week. Especially with how hot it was, having a caddie was a huge help. Having her out here was even more special. Something that I really appreciate, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.
“She was the big golfer of my parents. That’s why I started playing, with her. We would go out all of the time after school. Definitely been playing golf with her my whole life. With a lot of these tournaments, having her on the bag is pretty special.”
Charlie Kulwin (Chicago) on his approach…“I think with this place, you have to choose when to attack, and if you’re going to miss the green, it can only be by like two yards because of the slopes. The rough is thick. I just mentally got back into it. My thought process with all of these events is to enjoy it. I’m an amateur, I don’t have to worry financially if I do well. We’re at a great venue. These events are great, so why stress? That was my attitude after those bogeys and let the golf game take care of itself.”
NOTABLES:
The scoring average for the second round on Wednesday at Stonebridge was 74.80, in comparison to 76.14 for Tuesday's first round.
The field matched the first-round total of seven eagles. However, after being divided up over five holes on Tuesday, all seven came on the par-5 ninth on Wednesday. No. 9 once again played as the easiest hole with an average of 4.72.
The most difficult hole of the day was the 451-yard par-4 13th, which played to an average of 4.50. Just 14 birdies were recorded in comparison to 17 double bogeys or worse.
After a strong showing on day one, numerous mid-amateur (age 25 and up) competitors remain in contention. Five – Jordan Less (Elmhurst), Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park), Brien Davis (Peoria), Robert Dofflemyer III (Loves Park) and Daniel Stringfellow (Roselle) – sit in the top 10.
None of the three Stonebridge Country Club members competing this week – Charlie Gilligan (Wheaton), Jason Chobar (Plainfield) and Patrick Dunn (Naperville) – made the 36-hole cut. North Aurora native Ben Patel is a local who advanced, sitting T17 at +1.
The biggest improvement from Tuesday to Wednesday belonged to Cal Johnson (Springfield), who rebounded from an 82 with a 2-under 70. Jason Folker (Lake Forest) bettered his first round by 11 strokes (91-80).
Day One: Tuesday, July 15
MID-AMATEURS STAKE CLAIM ON DAY ONE OF 94TH ILLINOIS STATE AM
AURORA, Ill. - In an event headlined by elite-level collegiate golfers for decades, it was the mid-amateurs who shined brightest on day one of the 94th Illinois State Amateur Championship at Stonebridge Country Club. The trio of Brien Davis (Peoria), Robert Dofflemyer III (Loves Park) and Jordan Less (Elmhurst) each carded rounds of 5-under 67 to claim a share of the lead following the opening 18 holes. The trio is well aware of the company they are up against.
The 45-year-old Davis, who was a member of the winning CDGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship team last August, was the first of the three to turn in his circle-filled scorecard. A part of the fourth tee time off in the morning wave, Davis began his round with back-to-back birdies on the par-5 first and par-4 second to stake an early claim amongst this week’s contenders. Two more birdies sandwiching his lone bogey of the day at No. 8 sent him out in 33.
As clean as it gets, Davis’ back-nine 34 featured birdies at Nos. 11 and 14 to go with seven pars to bring him in at five under.
“I minimized mistakes,” Davis said after the round. “I had a couple of kick-in birdies early and just tried not to overpower the course and took what it gave me. I really probably could’ve been a little better. I think I only missed one green, had a bunch of wedges that I hit close and some putts that could’ve fallen, too, so I’m honestly kind of surprised that I’m leading. I figured there would be someone that would kind of tear it up.
“This is where the good players are at. I retired from professional golf in 2015 and didn’t take it super seriously [after that]. I have four little boys, so for a while there I was just playing for fun. I knew that if I wanted to test my game against the top players in the area, I needed to start coming up here.”
Joining Davis atop the leaderboard following the first day is Dofflemyer III, whose 67 was a part of the afternoon wave of golfers. The 30-year-old began his day on Stonebridge’s back nine, where he posted a 35 with a pair of birdies and a lone bogey of the day at the par-4 16th.
After making the turn to his second nine, the club’s opener, Dofflemyer III carded a second-consecutive birdie at the par 5 to push his score to 2-under par. A sizzling final stretch featured birdies at Nos. 6, 8 and 9 to stake claim on his share of the lead upon day’s end.
“I played consistent, didn’t put myself into too much trouble and then made a couple of putts coming in,” Dofflemyer III said. “Just kind of solid all day, didn’t make too many mistakes and then the last couple of holes I was able to make a couple of birdies which was pretty sweet.”
The last of the trio, Less, like Davis, began his round on the opening nine. An early bogey at the par-4 second was quickly erased by consecutive birdies at the par-3 third and par-4 fourth holes. Less carded his third birdie of the day at No. 6 to get to two-under par.
Then, the highlight of the round. The 2019 CDGA Amateur and 2025 CDGA Mid-Amateur champion split the fairway at the par-5 ninth before a 6-iron from just over 200 yards away found the front of the green and trickled into the hole for an albatross. Nine-consecutive pars on the back nine closed Less’ round of 67.
“Dogleg left and I hit my mini driver that’s in the bag for the first time this week,” Less said. “I had 211 (yards) in and, again, to the front it was 198 (yards) and a little bit downwind, so just had to hit a stock 6-iron. It looked really good. I hit it probably six feet short and then one of the moms was up there and said it just tracked the whole way in, so it was cool to see.
“The State Am is obviously one of the best fields of the summer. I’m looking to test myself and even as far as qualifying during the match play events, I played solid during the stroke play portions, so I feel really confident just kind of picking apart the course this week.”Sitting closely behind the leaders and in a tie for fourth is another first-class trio in Connor Hamm (Macomb), Jackson Hulsey (St. Charles) and Daniel Stringfellow (Roselle). The three combined to card 17 birdies to just five bogeys en route to their 4-under 68s.
Rounding out the top of the aforementioned premier leaderboard are David Keenan (Champaign), Dominic Lucchesi (Grayslake) and Will Webb (Lake Forest), who each posted rounds of 69.
Those nine and more will return to Stonebridge Wednesday for another 18 holes beginning at 7:30 a.m. The field will then be cut to the top 35 and ties, who will compete over 36 holes throughout the day on Thursday.
QUOTES OF NOTE: Brien Davis (Peoria) on the host club, Stonebridge Country Club … “I’ve never played it but I love it. This is a special little spot. I played college golf at UNLV and … it reminded me a little bit of Shadow Creek (Golf Course) where you have the hills on the sides of the holes and you kind of lose track of where you are. It’s a beautiful spot that doesn’t feel like Illinois in a lot of spots. A really well done course.”
Jackson Hulsey (St. Charles) on how the CDGA Amateur Championship prepared him for this week … “Obviously a really good experience there. It was very hot, so nice to make the cut into the top 16 and get it going there. It’s just patience and one shot at a time, you can’t look forward into the future and get ahead of yourself, you just have to stay present and really grind. It’s all you can do.”
Connor Hamm (Macomb) on how he responded from a slow start … “It was a little bit of a rocky start, but I found a groove there in the middle of the round and just continued going and found some birdies, hit some good wedge shots and made a few putts and just finished strong. I was happy with it.”
Daniel Stringfellow (Roselle) on playing with Davis … “It’s always nice to have someone playing as good or better than you, it kind of keeps you in check. You make a couple poor swings and just try to keep pace with him, so it helps having someone with you making birdies.”
Jordan Less (Elmhurst) on his first State Am since a playoff in 2021 … “That feels like eons ago, just as far as turning professional, getting my amateur status back, marrying my wife, just a lot of life events have happened since then, so that hasn’t been on my mind too much. It’s certainly the one I haven’t won and I’m looking forward to giving it my best shot.”
Robert Dofflemyer III (Loves Park) on how he’ll prepare for the second round … “Go home and relax. Just chill on the couch for a little bit and then wake up early, drink some coffee and go to the range to try to repeat it.”
NOTABLES:
The scoring average for the first round Tuesday at Stonebridge was 76.14. By comparison, the first-round scoring average in 2024 at Atkins Golf Club was 76.64.
In total, 27 competitors carded rounds of even-par or better, 20 of which were under par.
The field carded seven eagles on the day. Three of them came on the 540-yard par-5 ninth, which played as the easiest hole of the day with a scoring average of 4.81.
Jordan Less’ albatross at the ninth hole was the first in the Illinois State Am since Justin Schwab did so in 2023 on Bloomington Country Club’s 14th hole.
The most difficult hole of the day was the 460-yard par-4 11th, on which the field averaged 4.62 strokes. Only nine birdies were tallied on the 185-yard par-3 12th.
Ten of the top 20 finishers from day one are mid-amateurs at 25 or older. Aside from the three tied for first, Daniel Stringfellow (T4),
David Keenan (T7) and Derek Meinhart (T10) are all within the top 10.
Three Stonebridge Country Club members are competing this week, as Charlie Gilligan (Wheaton), Jason Chobar (Plainfield) and Patrick Dunn (Naperville) are each within three shots of the top 35 and ties following day one.
Preview
The 112th season of amateur golf championships conducted by the CDGA continues with the 94th Illinois State Amateur Championship, July 15-17, at Stonebridge Country Club in Aurora. The week is set to consist of 72 holes of stroke play, 36 holes of which will be played Thursday, July 17, after the field is cut to the low 35 and ties. Additionally, the champion of the Illinois State Amateur will receive an automatic exemption into this year's U.S. Amateur Championship, slated for The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif., Aug. 11-17.
Schedule
Tuesday, July 15 The entire field will play 18 holes of stroke play.
Wednesday, July 16 The entire field will play 18 holes of stroke play, with a cut to the low 35 and ties occurring after Round 2 is complete.
Thursday, July 17 The low 35 and ties will play 36 holes of stroke play to determine a champion.
CLICK HERE or the image for a full preview and notes package.
Championship Information The Illinois State Amateur Championship, conducted annually by the Chicago District Golf Association, was first played in 1931 at Quincy Country Club. Initially conducted as 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, 46 different golfers have hoisted the Louis L. Emmerson trophy, several of which are current or former members of the PGA Tour. Lake Forest native and West Virginia University golfer Pierce Grieve captured his first State Am crown in 2024 at Atkins Golf Club.
The Illinois State Amateur champion earns an automatic exemption into the current year's U.S. Amateur Championship.
Jordan Less became the first player to win the Illinois State Amateur, CDGA Amateur and CDGA Mid-Amateur Championships with his win at Stonebridge.
Preview
