It was a warm summer night, humidity lurking. The stated dress code for the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the opening of Midwest Golf House in Lemont was definitively “golf casual.” In other words, kind of like you just walked in off the course minus the sweat.
So, when Joel Hirsch (pictured below) and I happened to be walking together to the front door of the red-brick Williamsburg-esque building that serves as CDGA headquarters, I commented on his impeccable blue summer suit and observed the Windsor knot in his elegant green tie. “I should have bought it from your wife at Nordstrom’s,” he said, knowing my “stylist” bride and her indefatigable retail mission to make people look well put together. Few of us Baby Boomers appreciate formality these days; Joel Hirsch still does.
Perhaps you’ve never heard of Joel Hirsch, now 85 going on 60, or need reminding of why he’s an enduring Illinois golf legend. It took me a half-page of bullet points scribbled in my notebook to summarize his achievements. He won the British Senior Amateur in 1996 and 2000; won the Illinois State Amateur (1988, 1989), the CDGA Amateur (1988, 1998), CDGA Player of the Year (1993, 1994) and CDGA Senior Player of the Year (1996, 1998, 2001); advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the Western Amateur four times (1980, ’90, ’91 and ’93); was runner up at the 1981 British Amateur; and played in four Western Opens (now BMW Championship) including 1999 (at age 58). From 1958–2006 (48 years), he qualified for 38 United States Golf Association championships, in cluding earning low amateur honors at the 1998 U.S. Senior Open and making the semifinals of two U.S. Senior Amateurs. Of course, he was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame, in 1999.
At the end of the evening’s program, the CDGA’s executive director Robert Markionni had a surprise announcement. From now on, winners of the CDGA Player of the Year award would receive the Joel Hirsch Award, a keepsake plaque commemorating their achievement. Before this, their names would be engraved on the permanent Charles N. Eckstein Trophy, which is housed at headquarters. And so, there it was, a players’ award that will connect the accomplishments of tomorrow’s top amateurs with the best amateur to come out of the Chicago District since Chick Evans. Turns out, Joel Hirsch came dressed for the occasion.
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Local golfers have been making their marks this summer, both professionally and in the amateur game, with all having started their competitive careers playing in Illinois Junior Golf Association (IJGA) events.
Doug Ghim, 30, of Arlington Heights has made 11 of 15 possible cuts on Tour this year. His best individual finish came at the John Deere Classic, where he tied for sixth. Ghim was ranked 93rd in the FedExCup Playoff rankings as of this writing and needs to get to 70 to qualify. Meanwhile, Nick Hardy of Northbrook, also 30, is trying to reclaim the form that made him a star at Illinois. Now Florida-based, Hardy continues to work with renowned instructor Sean Foley, who has successfully guided other players back to the best versions of their golfing selves.
As noted in our Fore Things item this month, Glen Ellyn’s Grant Roscich won the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur outside Pittsburgh earlier this summer and has worked his way into the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR). Roscich’s performance came after a standout sophomore season at North Carolina.
Owen Coniaris, who will be a senior at Wheaton Academy, tied for 16th in a field of 156 at the prestigious Western Junior championship at Knollwood Club in Lake Bluff. He won his second straight Illinois State Junior Amateur Championship title this summer as well as the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Future Legends Junior Championship. Coniaris, who has committed to 2026 NCAA national champion Auburn, also qualified for the U.S. Junior championship.
Lester Low, who will be a junior at Evanston High School, also tied for 16th at the Western Junior and was runner up to Coniaris at the state Junior. He is ranked 14th in the class of 2028 by the Junior Golf Scoreboard and has qualified for the U.S. Junior.
As for the girls, Alli Wiertel of Oswego, who has committed to Alabama, finished T-19 in stroke play at the Women’s Western Amateur and lost in the round of 16 to the eventual champion. In June, Wiertel advanced to the quarterfinals of the Women’s Western Junior (WWJ) at Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis. Reese Wallace of Barrington finished seventh in stroke play at the WWJ and lost in the round of 16. The Barrington High School star has committed to Texas Christian University (TCU).
