Nick Tenuta claimed the 101st CDGA Amateur Championship with a 5-and-4 triumph over Brett Tomfohrde

101st CDGA Amateur Championship
June 21-24 • Bull Valley Golf Club (Woodstock)

Day Four: Thursday, June 24

TENUTA EARNS VALIDATION WITH CDGA AMATEUR TRIUMPH
WOODSTOCK, Ill. – Following an acclaimed high school career at Prospect High School, Nick Tenuta (Mt. Prospect / Mt. Prospect GC) had yet to reach the same level of success at the collegiate level in one year at Regis University and then the University of Louisville.

That all changed over the course of 118 holes in four days at Bull Valley Golf Club.

The rising senior on the Cardinals men’s golf team emerged victorious in the 101st CDGA Amateur Championship, clinching his win of the Association’s oldest event with a 5-and-4 defeat of Brett Tomfohrde (Chicago / Butterfield CC) in Thursday’s 36-hole finale.

“Sitting on the sidelines has been tough, but it’s been rewarding to get this win to prove that I can play and perform under pressure,” Tenuta said after hoisting the Joseph G. Davis Trophy.

“Just seeing all the names on the trophy, and now to add mine – I haven’t really won a whole lot in any events here, and to win this one is pretty big,” Tenuta added. “It’s a great honor to win that and add my name to it.”

Related Links: (Full Recap) / (Match Play Tree) / (Photo Gallery)

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Day Three: Wednesday, June 23

TOMFOHRDE, TENUTA SECURE CDGA AM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH BERTHS
WOODSTOCK, Ill. – Stepping to Bull Valley’s 18th tee, both Brett Tomfohrde (Chicago / Butterfield CC) and Nick Tenuta (Mt. Prospect / Mt. Prospect GC) knew the ensuing shot would play a huge role in determining their CDGA Amateur Championship fate.

Both competitors navigated the tree-lined fairway and water on the left with 300-plus yard drives, setting them up for routine pars that clinched victories in the Semifinals of the 101st CDGA Amateur Championship Wednesday afternoon at Bull Valley Golf Club. Following Quarterfinal and Semifinal victories on Wednesday, Tomfohrde and Tenuta will square off in the event’s 36-hole title-tilt Thursday beginning at 8 a.m.

Related Links: (Full Recap) / (Match Play Tree) / (Photo Gallery) / (Sights and Sounds Video)

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Day Two: Tuesday, June 22

TOP SEED TOMFOHRDE HIGHLIGHTS EIGHT ADVANCING TO CDGA AM QUARTERS
WOODSTOCK, Ill. – With the completion of the Round of 16 matches in the 101st CDGA Amateur Championship Tuesday at Bull Valley Golf Club, eight players advanced to Wednesday morning’s Quarterfinals, highlighted by top-seeded Brett Tomfohrde (Chicago / Butterfield CC).

Tomfohrde maintained his top form following rounds of 76 and 71 on Monday in his battle with David Deschler (Champaign / Ironhorse GC). He won the par-4 sixth hole to take a 1-up lead before Deschler came back with wins on Nos. 9 and 10, including a chip-in birdie on No. 10. Tomfohrde then went on to win No. 11, before a birdie on the par-3 13th and a win on the par-5 15th pushed his advantage to two. Despite a Deschler win on No. 17, a par on Bull Valley’s closer was enough to solidify the 2-up win.

The 30-year-old will square off against Charlie Waddell (Chicago / Shoreacres), who disposed of Alex Bishop (Litchfield / CDGA Member’s Club), 4 and 3. Waddell, who’s competed in nine USGA Championships including the 2018 U.S. Amateur and 2019 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, is looking to capture his first piece of CDGA hardware.

Speaking of CDGA hardware, among the other Quarterfinalists is No. 13-seeded Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park / Royal Fox CC). One of the “Players to Watch’’ heading into the week, Slutkzy’s championship pedigree includes the 2015 and 2019 Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championships, the 2017 CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship and the 2017 and 2020 CDGA Amateur Four-Ball Championships. Down by as many as three to Jimmy Morton (Sugar Grove / Prairie Landing), Slutzky fought back and advanced via a win on the 18th hole.

The Quarterfinals will tee off at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning, with the Semifinals following in the afternoon. The 36-hole Championship match will begin Thursday morning at 8 a.m.

Related Links: (Stroke Play Results) / (Match Play Tree) / (Photo Gallery) / (Sights & Sounds Video)

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Day One: Monday, June 21

TOMFOHRDE EARNS MEDALIST HONORS, ROUND OF 16 SET IN 101ST CDGA AMATEUR
WOODSTOCK, Ill. – On a day that featured unseasonably cool conditions amidst high winds, Brett Tomfohrde (Chicago / Butterfield CC) carded rounds of 76 and 71 to earn medalist honors following 36 holes of stroke-play qualifying in the 101st CDGA Amateur Championship at Bull Valley Golf Club in Woodstock. The 71-player field was dwindled down to 16 ahead of match play, which begins Tuesday morning.

Tomforhde’s opening round featured bogeys on two par 3s (5 and 13) and two par 5s (15 and 17). The 30-year-old began his afternoon 18 on No. 10 and was able to notch his first red figure on the par-5 15th. A blemish came in the form of a double bogey on No. 1, but Tomforhde regained his composure on the way in and notched birdies on Nos. 4 and 7, en route to an overall finish at 3 over par. His round of 71 was only one of two under par rounds in the second session.

His first round opponent will be David Deschler (Champaign / Ironhorse GC), who advanced following a 5-for-4 playoff on Monday evening, along with Karson Kafer (Fairbury / Pontiac Elks CC), Brad Kay (Arlington Heights / Ivanhoe Club) and Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park / The Grove CC).

Round of 16 matches begin Tuesday morning at 8:30 a.m. Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches are slated for Wednesday, with the 36-hole title tilt taking place on Thursday.

Related Links: (Stroke Play Results) / (Match Play Tree) / (Photo Gallery)

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Preview

CDGA AMATEUR HEADS TO BULL VALLEY FOR 101ST EDITION
LEMONT, Ill. – The CDGA’s oldest competition is set to return following a year hiatus, as the CDGA Amateur Championship heads northwest to Woodstock’s Bull Valley Golf Club for its 101st playing June 21-24. This marks the second time Bull Valley will host the championship, with the first occurring in 2010 when former Illinois State University standout Tommy Bliefnick emerged victorious.

The eventual victor of this four-day championship will have his name engraved on the Joseph G. Davis Trophy, alongside the likes of golf legends Chick Evans, Robert A. Gardner, Frank Stranahan and Joel Hirsch. 

FORMAT

The entire field will play 36 holes of stroke play on Monday June 21, with tee times starting at 7:30 a.m. and the low 16 advancing to match play. The morning of Tuesday, June 22 will feature the first round of matches before the Quarterfinals and Semifinals take place on Wednesday, June 23. A 36-hole Championship match on the morning of Thursday, June 24 will determine the winner.

ABOUT THE FIELD

Registration was open to all CDGA members with a USGA Handicap Index® of 7.4 or below. More than 300 individuals signed up for the event, with exemptions and four qualifiers earlier this year at Westmoreland Country Club, Briar Ridge Country Club, Cress Creek Country Club and Pontiac Elks Country Club determining the final field of 78.

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

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Championship Information

One of the oldest amateur competitions in the Midwest, the CDGA Amateur Championship was first played in 1914 at Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood. Golf great Charles “Chick” Evans, Jr. won the tournament that year. In 1935, invitations were issued nationally, and in 1941 the event became known as the Great Lakes Amateur Championship. In 1955 the CDGA board of directors decided to make the championship an association event again and to limit the field to players who were CDGA members. Currently the Championship is open to any CDGA member with a Handicap Index of 7.4 or under. Since 2003, qualifying golfers play 36 holes of stroke play on the first day of the championship. From there, 16 individuals advance to match play. The eight quarterfinalists from the previous year’s championship are exempt into the 36-hole qualifying. Jordan Less took home the hardware in 2019 at Glen View Club. The 2020 rendition of the event was canceled due to COVID-19.

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Qualifying