Streelman, Points qualify for U.S. Open
No local players survived Monday's sectional qualifying for the 112th U.S. Open at Chicago's sectional qualifier at Village Links of Glen Ellyn, but that elimination sent one interesting qualifier to the Open proper June 14-17 at Olympic Club in San Francisco, and two Illinois touring pros made it through the Columbus sectional.
Winfield's Kevin Streelman tied for third and another PGA Tour member, D.A. Points, from downstate Pekin, finished fifth at Columbus. They'll play at Olympic, as will Australian Anthony Summers and PGA Tour veteran Tim Herron, who dominated the competition at Village Links.
Summers was medalist at the Links, shooting 66-67 for an 11-under-par 133. Herron made bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes of the second round but was one stroke behind Summers in the 36-hole event.
Herron, who admits he's “40 pounds overweight,” qualified for his 11th U.S. Open and is the third generation of his family to make it to golf's biggest American championship. His grandfather and father were qualifiers in previous years, and Tim tied for sixth in the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, N.C.
Thomas Pieters, who won the NCAA individual title for Illinois last week, tied for third at the Links but he was five strokes behind Herron. Only two spots at Olympic were available in Glen Ellyn.
Stricker did it again
Steve Stricker has won the PGA Tour's John Deere Classic three years in a row and will try to become the fifth player to win an event four straight times next month at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
Last year Stricker won with a bunker shot from 189 yards to within 22 feet on the final hole, then he converted that birdie putt for the most dramatic finish on the circuit last season. Stricker hasn't putted well this season, but he got a chance to match the winning putt of last year at Monday's JDC media event.
After 10 youngsters from the First Tee of the Quad Cities missed from the same spot, Stricker re-created his winning birdie putt by calmly rolling it into the cup.
On the rebound
Mike Harrigan, veteran Chicago club pro, didn't survive the 36-hole cut at the Senior PGA Championship in Michigan two weeks ago but he rebounded in style, winning the Illinois PGA Senior Match Play Championship last week.
Playing his third straight week of tournaments, Harrigan, 63, eliminated defending champion Jim Sobb of Ivanhoe in the semifinals at Shoreacres in Lake Bluff before disposing of Terry Russell, the head pro at Bryn Mawr in Chicago, 7 and 6 in the title match.
Here and there
Northwestern has landed a prize recruit, Josh Jamieson of St. Andrews, Scotland. He's the Scottish boys stroke play champion. … The second of seven Illinois Open qualifiers is Thursday at Deerfield Golf Club. … A plaque honoring Bob Held, the late teaching professional, will be unveiled at Fresh Meadows in Hillside on Friday.
The Chicago District Golf Assn. will hold qualifiers for its Amateur championship Wednesday, June 6, at the University of Illinois' Savoy course, and next Monday at Innsbrook in Merrillville, Ind. … Cantigny, in Wheaton, will hold a family weekend from Friday-Sunday. … Cog Hill, in Lemont, will host a couples scramble and barbecue on Sunday.
RevelationGolf, a not-for-profit organization that uses golf to enhance the life qualities of cancer survivors, individuals with disabilities and at-risk youth, will hold a fundraising outing at Makray Memorial in Barrington on June 20.
A second PGA Superstore will open in Downers Grove June 13. The first in the Chicago area opened recently in Schaumburg. … Whisper Creek, in Huntley, will be the site of a qualifier for the U.S. Junior Amateur next Tuesday, June 12.
Ÿ For more golf news check out Len's website, www.lenziehmongolf.com. Len can be reached by email at lenziehm@gmail.com.