Glenview’s John Ramsey was one of only two players to finish the three-round event under par.

28th Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship
August 24-25 • Edgewood Valley Country Club (La Grange)

Day Two: Tuesday, Aug. 25

RAMSEY OUTDUELS EHRGOTT TO CAPTURE 28TH ILLINOIS STATE MID-AMATEUR

LA GRANGE, Ill. - Comfort was the feeling of the day for John Ramsey (Glenview / North Shore CC) as the 40-year-old seized his first solo win in a CDGA-administered event by capturing 28th Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship at Edgewood Valley Country Club on Tuesday.

“It was the most comfortable day and I can’t be thankful enough for that because, you know, obviously, I play with Chadd (Slutzky) all the time, I’ve got my good buddy on the bag and I’ve played quite a few rounds with (John) Ehrgott,” said Ramsey. “So the comfort of the day really helped.”

Related Links: (Full Recap) / (Leaderboard) / (Photo Gallery) / (Video Recap)

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Day One: Monday, Aug. 24

EHRGOTT LEADS WAY FOLLOWING FIRST DAY AT EDGEWOOD VALLEY

LA GRANGE, Ill. - Hot and humid weather conditions, compounded by quick and firm greens, made for difficult scoring opportunities in the first two rounds of the 28th Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship on Monday at Edgewood Valley Country Club. Two-time champion John Ehrgott (Edwards / Mt. Hawley CC) paired rounds of 69 and 75 to lead the field at even par heading into Tuesday’s final 18 holes.

Related Links: (Leaderboard) / (Round 3 Tee Times) / (Photo Gallery)

A majority of the scoring was done in the morning 18, as softer greens allowed for more targeted approaches and lower scores for a majority of the field. As the winds and heat picked up, scores rose as well.

“It’s a very firm and fast golf course,” said Ehrgott. “In the morning it was a little softer and the wind picked up in the afternoon. The wind probably picked up to 12 to 15 [miles per hour] and it really firmed up the conditions. The greens got really crusty. You just had to play safe all day long and really get the right speed on your putts from a long distance, it was critical.”

The 2007 and 2009 victor totaled five birdies to just two bogeys in the first round en route to a 3-under 69. After turning in the afternoon 18 at 2 under, he was bit by the bogey bug. No, really.

“I was 2 under through 10 and on 11 and I had a par putt from eight feet,” recalled Ehrgott. “I got up over it and a bee was in my shirt. The bee stings my back, I take my shirt off, I’m running around. I bogeyed 11, then I bogeyed 12, bogeyed 13, bogeyed 14.”

Trailing Ehrgott on the leaderboard following the first day is John Ramsey (Glenview / North Shore CC), fresh off his victory with partner and defending State Mid-Am champion Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park / Royal Fox CC) in last month’s CDGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Skokie Country Club. Ramsey combined rounds of 72 and 74 to finish at 2 over on the day and just two shots off the lead.

The reigning champions of the two CDGA-administered mid-amateur events follow in a tie for third. The 2019 title holder Slutzky held the lead following the morning round and a 5-under 67. The afternoon proved a tougher test, as he capped a 13-shot swing with an 8-over 80. 2019 CDGA Mid-Amateur champion Jake Erickson (Springfield / Panther Creek CC) mitigated his mistakes in both rounds, rattling off scores of 73 and 74,  to stay within striking distance.

Following an eventful day, Ehrgott will look to utilize past accomplishments and experiences in this event to his advantage. But with the forecast showing similar conditions for Tuesday, consistency may prove to be the best asset to have in the final round.

“Anything can happen,” Ehrgott said. “This course, you just have to hit it well. We’re all over 25, a little inconsistent, it’s still up for grabs.”

Tee times commence at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning at Edgewood Valley, with the final group of Ehrgott, Ramsey and Slutzky scheduled to tee off at 9:50 a.m.

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Preview

STATE’S TOP MID-AMS CONVERGE ON EDGEWOOD VALLEY
LEMONT, Ill. - Illinois’ best golfers age 25 and older will do battle in the first state amateur championship held in 2020, following the cancelation of the Illinois State Amateur Championship earlier this summer, as the 28th Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship visits Edgewood Valley Country Club in La Grange Aug. 24-25.

The 54-hole event commences with a grueling 36 holes on Monday. The low 35 and ties will advance to the final 18-hole round on Tuesday to crown a champion.

ABOUT THE FIELD

The field of 80 players was determined by exemptions and three qualifiers in early August. A total of 24 players were exempt, with 218 players attempting to qualify for the Championship. Registration was open to any Illinois resident with an official USGA Handicap Index® not exceeding 7.4 and who will reach their 25th birthday on or before the start of the event.

Related Links: (Full Preview) / (Round 1 Tee Times) / (Round 2 Tee Times) / (Field) / (2019 Recap) / (Event History)

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Qualifying

Date	Site	Information
Aug. 4	Balmoral Woods Country Club (Crete)*	RESULTS
Aug. 10	Willow Crest Golf Club at Oak Brook Hills Resort (Oak Brook)*	RESULTS
Aug. 11	Lincolnshire Fields Country Club (Champaign)	RESULTS

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Championship Information
The Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship, conducted annually by the Chicago District Golf Association, features the state’s best golfers 25 and older. It began in 1993 when it was won by Tom Studer. Currently, the championship is 54 holes, with the entire field playing 36 holes the first day and the low 35 and ties playing 18 holes on the final day. Deer Park’s Chadd Slutzky won the Championship last summer.