Strong finish for Wheaton's Streelman
Chicago's golf season may be in its final days as far as 2014 goes, but you wouldn't know it by developments over the last few days.
On the PGA Tour, Wheaton's Kevin Streelman made a final-round charge in the Shriners Hospital for Children's Open in Las Vegas on Sunday. Making five birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine, Streelman took over the lead before third-round leader Ben Martin rallied for the win.
Streelman shot 65 in the final round but wound up as the runner-up, two strokes behind Martin, who posted a 20-under-par 266 to claim his first PGA Tour victory.
Before Streelman made his charge, the PGA's Champions Tour announced a change in leadership. Greg McLaughlin took over as president of the 50-and-over circuit, replacing Mike Stevens. McLaughlin was the longtime tournament director of the Western Open before directing the Tiger Woods Foundation for 14 years.
International Crown support:
More golf was made on Sunday in Korea when the Ladies PGA Tour announced that Underwriters Laboratories will be the sponsor for its International Crown event, which will be staged in Sugar Grove at Rich Harvest Farms in 2016.
UL, a premier global independent safety science company with area headquarters in Northbrook, has more than 11,000 employees worldwide. UL was an ambassador sponsor when the LPGA introduced the International Crown in Owings Springs, Md., this season.
Jerry Rich, owner of Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, was a leader in the creation of the global team competition, which was won by Spain in its first staging. The second staging will be at Rich Harvest from July 18-24, 2016.
Rich had hoped the International Crown could be regularly based at his course, but LPGA commissioner Mike Whan said the third event in 2018 will be in Korea, a country that has produced several top players on the LPGA circuit in recent years.
"The Republic of Korea has clearly demonstrated their support for the LPGA by hosting 18 different tournaments over the years with tremendous fan support," Whan said. "It made perfect sense that the first time we take the International Crown out of the U.S. was to a country with so many dedicated fans."
Rich's private layout has become Chicago's best tournament venue in recent years. The biggest event there was the 2009 Solheim Cup between the LPGA stars of the U.S. and Europe. The Western Amateur and Palmer Cup, a prestigious team competition for collegiate players, will be played at Rich Harvest in 2015 before the International Crown makes its appearance.
More honors for Johns:
Travis Johns, who captured the 2014 Illinois PGA Player of the Year award after winning the Illinois PGA Players Championship at Metamora Fields last month, will be honored at the Illinois PGA Special Awards Ceremony on Thursday at Medinah Country Club.
Also being recognized at that event will be Mick Smith (Twin Lakes Golf) as the Illinois PGA Assistant Player of the Year, and Jim Sobb (Ivanhoe Club) as the Senior Player of the Year.
• For more golf news, visit lenziehmongolf.com. Len can be contacted by email at lenziehm@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter@ZiehmLen, and check out his posts at Facebook.com/lenziehmongolf.