August 2025PGA_Section_News

2901 W. Lake Ave., Suite A, Glenview, IL 60026Email: illinois@pgahq.com Website: Illinois Office: (847) 729-5700Executive Director:
Carrie Williams
(847) 729-5700 Ext. 63007
cwilliams@pgahq.com

Click here to view Illinois PGA Section's Staff ListingClick here to view Illinois PGA Section's Board of Directors••••••

KYLE DONOVAN (OAK PARK COUNTRY CLUB) WINS ILLINOIS ASSISTANT PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Kyle Donovan of Oak Park Country Club delivered a commanding performance to win the 2025 Illinois Assistant PGA Professional Championship, held at Bryn Mawr Country Club on June 9. With a stunning two-round total of 10-under-par 134, Donovan secured the title by an impressive seven strokes, earning him a spot in the upcoming National Assistant PGA Professional Championship.

The 36-hole championship not only crowned an Assistant Section Champion but also served as the qualifier for the 2025 National Assistant PGA Professional Championship, scheduled for November 13–16 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

“This is a tough one. Thirty-six holes in one day is always tough,” said Donovan. “I haven’t had a ton of success in this event in the past. You just hope that you can find something while you are out on the golf course and make something happen.”

With the victory, Donovan captures his first Illinois Assistant PGA Professional Championship title and his second Illinois PGA Major Championship, having won the Assistant Match Play Championship in 2023.

“It feels great to win this one,” said Donovan. “It feels great to finally qualify for the National Assistant Championship, but it feels even better to get the win and do it in a strong fashion.”

Donovan, Crimson Callahan (Conway Farms GC), and Ethan Hildebrandt (Biltmore CC) will represent the Illinois Section at the 2025 National Assistant PGA Professional Championship this fall in Florida. The annual event brings together the country’s top Assistant Professionals, offering a chance to compete for national recognition and further professional development.

“I’ve had some good history at the PGA Golf Club over the years,” said Donovan. “It’s nice to be able to return there with some experience and hopefully make a run at it.

••••••BRANDON WESSEL (SUNSET RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB) CAPTURES FIRST CAREER ILLINOIS SENIOR PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLEBrandon Wessel (Sunset Ridge Country Club) clinched his first career Nadler Golf Cars Illinois PGA Professional Championship title on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at The Grove Country Club in Long Grove, Illinois. Wessel's victory not only marks a personal milestone but also secures his spot among the eight Illinois PGA qualifiers for the 2025 National Senior PGA Professional Championship, scheduled for October 23–26 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida. His performance over the two-day event showcased his dedication and skill, culminating in a well-deserved championship win.“This was an amazing event,” said Wessel. “The course was in great shape, and it was a ton of fun to play. It’s really nice that The Grove Membership lets us play 36 holes and use their golf course for a couple of days.”In addition to crowning the Illinois PGA Senior Champion, the championship also served as a qualifier for the 2025 National Senior PGA Professional Championship. The Illinois PGA was awarded eight qualifying spots into the national event, giving competitors an opportunity to advance to one of the most celebrated stages in senior professional golf.Joining Wessel at the 2025 National Senior PGA Professional Championship will be an accomplished group of Illinois PGA Professionals who earned their spots through stellar play at The Grove Country Club. Roy Biancalana of The Hawk Country Club delivered the low round of the final day with an impressive 6-under-par 66 to secure his qualification. Also advancing are David Paeglow (Kishwaukee Country Club), Mike Troy (Zigfield Troy Par 3 Golf Course), David Hannon (Play Better Golf Academy), John Varner (Beverly Country Club), Mike Small (University of Illinois), and Kyle Bauer (Glen View Club). Together, this group will represent the Illinois PGA among the nation’s top senior professionals when they compete October 23–26 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.CoverAntigua Digital ADAntigua Digital Lookbook 1Antigua Digital Lookbook 2Antigua Digital Lookbook 3OAKLEY ADMOTOCADDY ADPUKKA ADSUMMIT BRANDS 2 AD SPREADTOPTRACER ADGOLF GENIUS SOFTWARE ADCOASTAL NETTING/TEX-NET ADPresident’s MessageREVO ADCERTIFRESH CIGAR ADSUMMIT BRANDS 3 AD SPREADBIOESQUE SOLUTIONS ADContents 1GOLF PRIDE ADContents 2GALVIN GREEN ADContents 3COVER THE TEES ADContents 4E-Z GO ADAVENDRA ADThe BuzzSWING CONTROL ADShort Game 1YRI ADGOLF RANGE NETTING ADShort Game 2TRUE TEMPER ADWITTEK ADShort Game 3GHURKA ADCOLLARS & CO ADShort Game 4STROKES GAINED ADPRESTWICK GOLF GROUP ADBy The Numbers 1UST/MAMIYA ADBy The Numbers 2TAGMARSHAL ADPro to Pro 1RAPSODO ADSIGNS BY THE SEA ADPro to Pro 2SALSBURY INDUSTRIES ADBELYN KEY ADCAP PATROL ADPro to Pro 3SHADE HEADWEAR ADSYNTHETIC TURF ADGOLFZON ADInclusionANTIGUA ADHealth & WellnessANTIGUA 2 ADMedia WatchBAUER INTERNATIONAL ADRecommended ReadingORANGE WHIP ADCover Story 1FAIRWAY IQ ADFAIRWAY IQ 2 ADFAIRWAY IQ 3 ADCover Story 2ASHWORTH ADCover Story 3FITNESS LIFESTYLES ADCover Story 4GOLF WEB DESIGN ADCover Story 5SELECTpi ADTHE GLENEAGLES HOTEL ADCover Story 6PGA.com ADCover Story 7STERLING CUT GLASS ADTECHNOGYM AD 1TECHNOGYM AD 2PGA VP Nathan CharnesKPMG Women’s PGA Preview 1KPMG Women’s PGA Preview 2KPMG Women’s PGA Preview 3PATRIOT PROFILE ADVERTORIALPGA PSA #1 [REACH]Coaching CoachesPlayer EngagementEPICUREA ADEquipment: Hot TrendEquipment: Golf BagsEquipment: New EquipmentPGA PSA #1 AD [Lifelong Learning]Retailing: SpotlightAHEAD ADRetailing: 5 QuestionsRetailing: T&OPGA PSA #4 AD [Deferred Comp]Retailing: AGMCASA DE CAMPO ADFrom the FieldPGA PSA #4 [ExecuSearch]MembershipTEE COMMERCE ADGOLF TOURISM SOLUTIONS ADPartners 1Partners 2Partners 3Partners 4Partners 5Partners 6Section News AnnouncementPGA PSA #3 AD [ADM/PGA.coach]PGA Section News TOCPGA_Section_News_Alabama-NW_FloridaPGA_Section_News_AlohaPGA_Section_News_CarolinasPGA_Section_News_Central_New_YorkPGA_Section_News_ColoradoPGA_Section_News_ConnecticutPGA_Section_News_GatewayPGA_Section_News_GeorgiaPGA_Section_News_Gulf_StatesPGA_Section_News_IllinoisPGA_Section_News_IndianaPGA_Section_News_IowaPGA_Section_News_KentuckyPGA_Section_News_Metropolitan NYPGA_Section_News_MichiganPGA_Section_News_Middle AtlanticPGA_Section_News_MidwestPGA_Section_News_MinnesotaPGA_Section_News_NebraskaPGA_Section_News_New EnglandPGA_Section_News_New JerseyPGA_Section_News_North FloridaPGA_Section_News_Northeastern New YorkPGA_Section_News_Northern CaliforniaPGA_Section_News_Northern OhioPGA_Section_News_Northern TexasPGA_Section_News_Pacific NorthwestPGA_Section_News_PhiladephiaPGA_Section_News_Rocky MountainPGA_Section_News_South CentralPGA_Section_News_South FloridaPGA_Section_News_Southern CaliforniaPGA_Section_News_Southern OhioPGA_Section_News_Southern TexasPGA_Section_News_SouthwestPGA_Section_News_Sun CountryPGA_Section_News_TennesseePGA_Section_News_Tri-StatePGA_Section_News_UtahPGA_Section_News_Western New YorkPGA_Section_News_WisconsinPGA ProfileGHOST GOLF ADSUMMIT BRANDS AD #1