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Entering its 3rd season in Chicago, the Chicago Golfweek Amateur Tour announced the 2012 tournament schedule on Monday, with the Chicago Championship teeing it up at the famed Pine Meadow Golf Club in Mundelein on September 22.  The tournament schedule includes 10 events, 2 of which are 2-day events and 3 national events; a regional major tournament at Greystone GC in Nashville TN, the MichIllini Cup and the Tour Championship at Hilton Head Island in October.

The Chicago Golfweek Amateur Tour will kick off its 3rd season with a return trip to Prairie Landing Golf Club in West Chicago on Saturday, April 28th.  "We are starting a couple of weeks later this season, in an attempt to secure some better weather" says Tour Director Rob Maguire.  "We don’t want a repeat of last season’s opener" said Maguire referring to the day fraught with snow, sleet and wind.

From there the schedule only gets better. The 2nd tournament of the season takes the tour to Lemont, IL -- the home of Pete and P.B. Dye track; Ruffled Feathers (site of the 2011 Golfweek Regional Major) on May 12th.  Last year tested the members’ mettle with 2 rounds in blistering heat in mid July, this year the premier course will welcome players earlier in the season and will provide a challenge right out of the gates.

After the first two events of the season with some familiar tracks, the tour begins "Country Club Living" with back to back events at private clubs.  Glen Flora CC (June 2nd - Waukegan) & Itasca CC (June 16th - Itasca) open their doors and will allow members the opportunity to play courses usually only reserved for private members.  "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to play some private courses this season, and to have them early in the summer and back to back will provide pure enjoyment, our members will enjoy these courses" said Maguire.

The season’s first major tournament of the year takes the tour to Elgin, IL where members will play the Chicago Open on two of top 5 rated courses in the state.  Bowes Creek CC and the Highlands of Elgin will host the Chicago Open on June 30th and July 1st.  These courses will test the players’ nerves and patience over the 2 day major event.  "These courses are some of the best new courses you will find in the US" says assistant tour director Matt Grubich.

From there, the tour travels south for the Golfweek Regional Major in Nashville, TN.  Greystone GC will welcome the Chicago tour members for a 2 day event July 14th & 15th.  Nashville Tour Director Roger Sheaves is excited to welcome Chicago players "I had a great time meeting them last year at Ruffled Feathers and we look to provide many of them a great tournament to return the favor".

After the regional major event, Chicago members will be greeted to an underrated and difficult tour stop at Orchard Valley (July 28th – Aurora).  "Orchard Valley is consistently rated as one of the best public courses in the Chicagoland area, and we are very excited to have a tournament there.  Watch out for the final 4 holes; they could be the most difficult you will find on tour" says Maguire.

The 2nd Major tournament of the season takes the tour back to Stonewall Orchard, August 11th and 12th.  Voted the favorite course of the Chicago members in 2011, Stonewall Orchard (which is also ranked as a top course in the state of Illinois) will provide a challenge as its rolling terrain will host the Chicago Classic.  "The 18th hole will provide plenty of drama and is one of the most difficult finishing holes around" says Maguire.

The fun doesn’t end there, as the Chicago tour continues to stop at some of the best courses in the state.  The next tour stop is the Robert Trent Jr. design, Thunderhawk Golf Club in Beach Park, IL on August 25th.  Always ranked in the top 5 courses to play by Golfweek Magazine, Thunderhawk GC will surprise many players with its beautiful landscape and terrain. "Be careful to not get caught up in the beauty of the course, this one will jump up and bite you" says Grubich.

After Thunderhawk GC, the tour rolls through Tinley Park, home to Odyssey CC on September 8th.  This south suburb course has hosted many tournaments over the years and will be a great addition to the Golfweek Amateur Tour.

The Chicago Championship will end the season at the prestigious Pine Meadow GC.  This Jemsek family owned course has received many accolades over the years including 7 straight years as one of the best public courses in the country, and the best new course in the US in 1986 as voted by Golf Digest readers.  "For the final event of the season, there are few courses better than Pine Meadow GC to host the Chicago Championship, our members will be treated to a truly great course" says Maguire.

Once the Chicago Championship players are crowned the season will have two more national events.  The first being the MichIllini Cup, a Ryder cup style event pitting the Chicago members against the Michigan members.  The series is currently tied at 1-1, with Michigan having possession of the Cup after their victory in 2011 at Swan Lake GC.  The location and details have yet to be finalized for the 2012 event, however the tournament will be player October 6th & 7th, stay tuned for more information.

The Tour Championship will head to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (October 19th – 21st).  This 54 hole tournament culminates the season and welcomes the top qualifiers from around the country.  2011 welcomed 600 golfers from 43 tour cities and awarded over $15,000 in prizes.  Anticipation has begun for the 2012 Tour Championship as expectations are high and player participation will be on the rise.

"We are truly excited about the upcoming season, as we believe it will be our best season yet. Our tournament lineup is impressive; we look forward to visiting some of the best courses the state of Illinois has to offer and are intrigued to see our membership base enjoy these tracks." said Maguire.

Visit www.agtchicago.com or call Tour Director, Rob Maguire at 630-886-3442 to learn how you can become part of the fastest growing amateur tour in Chicago -- Chicago Golfweek Amateur Tour.

2012 Golfweek Chicago Amateur Tour Referral Program

The 2012 season will be our best season yet and we want everyone to experience the thrill of competitive golf.  Our 2012 referral program will allow members to share their experiences with their golf friends and will be rewarded for their efforts. 

For the upcoming season, Chicago members who refer 2 new members to sign up and play in at least one tour event in Chicago will receive 1 paid tournament entry fee!   Bring 4 friends, get 2 tournaments! Get 6 golf buddies to sign up and play get 3 free tournaments!  It’s that simple! But we are not stopping there. If a Chicago member refers a new member to the Milwaukee tour another free tournament will be given!  That’s right 1 new member in Milwaukee equals a paid tournament!

The fine print:

• All referrals must be a new member to the tour and not be a member of another tour city or a member in previous seasons. 
• Referral tournament credits will not be redeemable for major tournaments. 
• Referral tournament credits will be issued once the new player pays for his/her membership and has completed play in one tournament. 
• To count as credit the referred member MUST include the current members name on the application form when joining, no referral name, no credit.
• Chicago members referring Milwaukee members can use tournament credits towards events in Chicago or Milwaukee  
• The max number of tournament credits that can be accumulated is 5 (for referring 10 players) and can be carried over to the following season.

Time to start recruiting!

Zumpano wins 2nd consecutive Chicago Cup

           Tournament Results          Final Chicago Cup Standings         

Wheaton, IL – The Chicago tour teed it up for the final time of the 2011 season, and the Chicago Championship at Cantigny had many storylines entering the day.  All 5 flights had their Chicago Cups up for grabs.  The MichIllini Cup team was still undetermined, as well as the final top spots in each flight; good for an invitation to the National Finals.  With so many possibilities to the day not even the threat of rain could dampen the spirits of the members. 

           Jon Schram -- Cantigny Championship Flight Champ      Roger Brandt -- Championship Flight Chicago Cup Champ

In Championship flight action, the players went up against all Cantigny could offer.  Playing the tips (7,000 yards) on Woodside and Lakeside, the course was ready.  When the dust settled, Jon Schram put together an impressive round of 4 over par, 76 en route to his 3rd consecutive victory.  Schram beat out Linc Washington by 3 shots to win the final major tournament of the season.  The Chicago Cup race tightened up with Washington’s 2nd place finish, however Roger Brandt held on the top spot to win the 2011 Championship Flight Chicago Cup.  Brandt’s impressive season consisted of 5 victories (one in Phoenix), Champ Flight Rookie of the Year and TopGolf Challenge honors.  A great first season on tour, what does he do for an encore?

Anthony Zumpano -- A Flight Cantigny & Chicago Cup Champion

The A Flight had the closest Chicago Cup race, with 3 players (Anthony Zumpano, Aaron Lee, & Frank Kaldis) within striking distance.  It was clear from the beginning that Zumpano was ready to go and defend his Chicago Cup and he raced out to the lead as he shot a 1 under 35 on Woodside from the Blue tees.  The rest of the group went in to catchup mode, hoping the jetlag would catch up with Zumpano.  Lee made a move to start the back nine, but in the end Zumpano finished strong and took home the hardware with a 4 over par 76.  2nd place went to Kobus Van Der Zel and 3rd went to John Schram (father of Jon Schram, not a bad showing for the father-son tandem).  What made Zumpano’s victory that much more impressive was his route to the tournament, currently working a job in Georgia, Zumpano flew in early Saturday morning, and then promptly returned to Georgia that same evening.  Zumpano’s victory was his 2nd major victory of the season (Stonewall Orchard) and also clinched his 2nd consecutive Chicago Cup.  Aaron Lee’s season earned him Rookie of the Year honors, while Frank Kaldis parred the TopGolf Challenge hole to clinch the season long award in the A Flight with a score of 1 under par.

B Flight Champions: Rookie of the Year -- Mark Wilson, Chicago Cup Champ -- Antoine Walker , TopGolf Challenge -- Drew Capra

If the A flight was the closest Chicago Cup race, the B flight was the largest.  With 8 players eligible to win the cup, it was clear from the beginning that current leader Antonie Walker’s lead would be challenged.  The B flight was tasked with a challenge, as the players played the blue tees (6,600 yards) that played more like the orange tees.  In the end Rick Koss, carded the low round in the flight, an 82 and won by 2 strokes over Todd Hoyer and Jim Slager.  The victory was Koss’s 2nd career victory on tour, and first of the season.  The Chicago Cup race was razor thin as Antoine Walker eeked out the victory over Mark Wilson by 59 points.  Wilson was able to nab Rookie of the Year honors, while Drew Capra won the B Flight TopGolf Challenge.

    Al Lee -- C Flight Cantigny Champion           Frank Alaimo -- C Flight Chicago Cup Champ

The C flight provided plenty of drama as well.  Chicago Cup leader, Frank Alaimo entered the day with a comfortable lead, but nothing was certain as George Tudor and Andy Ciszczon put the heat on.  The day belonged to tour veteran, Al Lee.  Lee, playing in only his 3rd event of the season, picked a great time to shoot his best round on tour in 2 seasons.  Lee carded an 84 from the White tees (6,200 yards) and won by 2 shots over George Tudor.  Lee’s victory proved to be the difference in the Chicago Cup standings as, Alaimo was able to hold on for a 200 point victory and claim the top honors.  Alaimo made it a clean sweep of the season awards as he also won the TopGolf Challenge in the C Flight and took home Rookie of the Year honors.  A very successful season for Alaimo and now he will take his game to the MichIllini Cup and National Finals!

D Flight Cantigny Champion -- Terry Noonan     D Flight Chicago Cup Champ -- Scott Marincic

For the D Flight, the race was just a tight as the other flights.  Scott Marincic was the leader, but Jim Bruschuk winner of the 2 last two events was ready to claim the top spot.  Marincic and Bruschuk battled for 18 holes and emerged tied at 92, however the low round of the flight went to Terry Noonan.  Noonan carded a 90 to win by two strokes over Marincic and Bruschuk and won for the first time on tour.  Noonan’s victory preserved Marincic’s Chicago Cup top honors.  Marincic also claimed Rookie of the Year honors, while Bruschuk took home the TopGolf Challenge Championship.

"What a great season!" said tour director Rob Maguire. "It’s great to meet a great group of people, watch them compete when they tee it up and then celebrate each other’s successes afterwards" said Maguire.  "The final event is often a bittersweet event, it’s sad the season is over, but it’s great to celebrate the season.  The Chicago Golfweek tour had a banner 2nd season, with over 190 full time members and 975+ tournament rounds played. 2011 was a great, great year, and we can’t wait to see what 2012 will bring" said Maguire.

Chicago Championship @ Cantigny Results

Championship Flight (Orange tees – 7,100 yards) – Jon Schram (76), Linc Washington (79), Dave Augle (80)

A Flight (Blue tees, 6,600 yards) – Anthony Zumpano (76), Kobus Van Der Zel (78), John Schram (79)

B Flight (Blue tees, 6,600 yards) – Richard Koss (82), Todd Hoyer (84), Jim Slager (840

C Flight (White tees 6,200 yards) – Al Lee (84), George Tudor (85), Andy Ciszczon (89)

D Flight (White tees 6,200 yards) – Terry Noonan (90), Scott Marincic (92), Jim Bruschuk (92)

Final Standings

Champions

Champ Flight - Roger Brandt (-1)

A Flight - Frank Kaldis (-1)

B Flight - Drew Capra (Even)

C Flight - Frank Alaimo (Even)

D Flight - Jim Bruschuk (+2)

The TopGolf Challenge is a season long competition and the final score is calculated using the players best 6 hole scores from the season.