CHICAGO DISTRICT GOLF ASSOCIATION

LEMONT, Ill. – The 2022 CDGA Player of the Year honor belongs to Chadd Slutzky (Deer Park / Royal Fox CC), with Tim Sheppard (East Peoria / Pekin CC) earning the 2022 CDGA Senior Player of the Year designation. This marks Slutzky’s first time claiming the Charles N. Eckstein Trophy, while Sheppard is now a three-time winner of the Raymond B. Anderson Trophy. The awards were determined by an accumulation of points based on performances in various local and national events.

Two victories in local events highlighted Slutzky’s 2022 campaign. The 45-year-old earned his third Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championship crown at Evanston Golf Club, Aug. 22-23. He also became a three-time winner of the CDGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship, partnering with John Ramsey to triumph at Ridgemoor Country Club, Aug. 8-10. Nationally, Slutzky qualified for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and U.S Mid-Amateur Championships and advanced to match play in both events.

Slutzky’s 725 points were 35 clear of runner up Charlie Waddell (Kenilworth / Shoreacres), another mid-am, whose season was highlighted by victory in the 102nd CDGA Amateur Championship. U.S. Amateur match play participant Tommy Kuhl (Morton / CC of Peoria), 91st Illinois State Amateur Championship winner Mac McClear (Hinsdale / Hinsdale GC) and Timmy Crawford (Arlington Heights / Mt. Prospect GC) rounded out the top five.

Sheppard reasserted himself as the District’s top senior after having not won the award since his back-to-back triumphs in 2018 and 2019. He partnered with Tom Kearfott in the 7th CDGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship, Sept. 26-29 at Crystal Lake Country Club, for the tandem’s fifth victory in the event. Other highlights included a runner-up finish in the 7th CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship, May 16-18 at Naperville Country Club, a T-12 placing at the 36th Illinois State Senior Amateur Championship, Sept. 19-21 at Riverside Golf Club, and a match-play appearance at the U.S. Senior Amateur.

Sheppard edged out Mike Karney (Crystal Lake / Crystal Lake CC) in the standings by just 20 points, eclipsing him with the year-end victory at Crystal Lake. Karney was followed in the standings by Gregory Seelinger (Downers Grove / Village Links of Glen Ellyn), Ted Pecora (Winnetka / Bob O’Link GC) and David Feder (Chicago / Conway Farms GC).

In total, the 2022 CDGA championship calendar featured 56 events, including eight Illinois State or CDGA championships, 26 Illinois State or CDGA qualifiers, 21 USGA qualifiers and the Radix Cup Matches. The 2023 schedule will be released on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

CDGA Player of the Year – Last Five Winners
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2022 – Chadd Slutzky

2021 – Nick Tenuta

2020 – N/A (COVID-19)

2019 – Jordan Less and David Perkins

2018 – Trent Wallace

2017 – Patrick Flavin

CDGA Senior Player of the Year – Last Five Winners
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2022 – Tim Sheppard

2021 – Mark Small

2020 – N/A (COVID-19)

2019 – Tim Sheppard

2018 – Tim Sheppard