The popular Shotgun Start golf podcast recorded its first episode in front of a live audience recently in Evanston and appeared to hit a most enthusiastic segment of their core demographic.
Some 250 golf-crazed young dudes broke out their best hoodies, quarter zips, flat-brimmed caps and quilted vests for the occasion to hear Lake Blu native Andy Johnson and co-host Brendan Porath carry on about golf subjects from the silly to the profound to the always topical. The show was conducted in a spirit of joyous irreverence, love of the game and mockery for its more ridiculous side (mainly the pro game). The conversation featured positive commentary about the City of Chicago, with Johnson exhibiting a high level of Chicago chauvinism and pointing out that golf started in Chicago (Chicago Golf Club, 1892).
“All the best trends start in Chicago and move to the coast,” he said.
They touched on the PGA Tour’s new “scarcity schedule,” whether Jordan Spieth’s first-round 66 at Pebble Beach that day indicated he was “back” from golf exile (it didn’t, he finished 29th) and the meaning of Anthony Kim’s shocking LIV Adelaide victory over Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. Gary Player hovered over the proceedings thanks to an excellent off-stage imitation by golf writer Kevin Van Valkenburg, who made a cameo appearance. Johnson advocated for the rescheduling of the PGA Championship back to August from May, arguing that the current so-called “major” season is too compressed. Such a change could give Chicago an opportunity to host its first PGA Championship since 2006, he observed, which the May date definitely does not.
Meanwhile, Johnson kept repeating: “Restore the Western Open.” At the end of the show, Johnson led a segment called “Flashback Friday” in which he reviewed Tiger Woods’ victory 29 years ago at the 1997 Motorola Western Open at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, which occurred three months after his historic first victory at the Masters. Johnson read a dispatch by former Chicago Tribune golf writer Ed Sherman, now a regular correspondent at Chicago District Golfer.
Country music supergroup Old Dominion (pictured above) will perform on Sunday, July 5, after play at the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. Old Dominion has had more than nine No. 1 hits, including “One Man Band” and “Written in Sand,” and billions of streams. A second act that will perform Saturday had not been announced at the time of publication.
Highwood’s own Patrick Flavin won the Bakersfield Open in Bakersfield, California back in February for the second consecutive year, this time in dramatic playoff fashion. Flavin, 30, forced the playoff by sinking a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole to tie John Sand at 16-under par. On the first hole of sudden death (18), the Highland Park High School alumnus stiffed his approach shot to five feet and knocked in the birdie putt to win. Flavin shot 66-66-68—200 in the 54-hole Asher Tour event at Bakersfield Country Club. His $30,000 winner’s check should come in handy as he embarks on his third year on the PGA Tour Americas. Formerly known as the Golden State Tour (founded 1982), the Asher Tour is considered the longest-running golf mini-tour in the country.
Illinois senior Ryan Voois was named Big Ten Golfer of the Week after he led the Fighting Illini to a dominating 15-shot victory, Feb. 16–17, in the Hal Williams Collegiate in Mobile, Alabama. Voois took medalist honors by shooting 15-under par in the 54-hole event, the second-lowest 54-hole tournament score in program history. Voois’s second collegiate victory helped the Illini win its second tournament of the season. —Barry Cronin
