Writing from Kildeer, Illinois
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Bogey on the first hole of the final round isn’t the standard way to win a golf tournament, but it worked for Michael Feagles on Wednesday at Kemper Lakes Golf Club.
Feagles spotted the field a shot straight out of the box, then birdied the next three holes and five of the next 12 to not only insert himself into the discussion, but finally monopolize it. Despite a bogey on the par-5 15th, he hung on to post a 3-under-par 69 for a 54-hole aggregate of 1-under 215, good enough an annex a one-stroke victory in the 76th Illinois Open over Butler National head pro Andy Svoboda of Oak Brook.
The victory was not only welcome to Feagles, who has now won three state opens in two years – Arizona and Nevada were conquered last year – but historic. Now a resident of Scottsdale, Ariz., he’s the first non-resident of Illinois to capture the title. A rule change three years ago allowed Illinois-connected non-residents to play. Feagles’ connection was playing for the Fighting Illini golf team. He joins Mike Small, for whom he played, as an Illinois Open champion.
“Based on the way I played this week, I didn’t think I’d win,” Feagles said. “Struggled, but I just hung around, made some gritty pars at times.”
The 27-year-old was a Korn Ferry Tour member for two years but lost his card in the fall of 2023. He dearly wants to get out of the wilderness and back to the promised land. The $20,923 first prize will more than cover the PGA Tour’s pricey entrance fee to qualifying.
Feagles set a goal of 4-under 68 for the day to have a chance. Missing a birdie putt at the last meant he settled for 69, with three groups left to finish, including overnight leader Brian Ohr, who started with a four-stroke lead and saw it drip away, his several good approaches unrewarded.
Ohr had 13 pars and five bogeys for a 5-over 77. Bogeys on Nos. 14, 17 and 18 were especially harmful to Ohr’s cause. He had a one-stroke lead over Feagles at the turn, when Feagles was through 12 holes, but Feagles’ birdie of the 13th joined Ohr at 2-under. There was a brief three-way tie at 1-under with Medinah teaching pro Travis Johns, but he went bogey-double bogey on the 16th and 17th to fall out of contention.
In the end, Feagles’ bogey on the par-5 15th didn’t hurt him.
“I had no idea how this course would play,” said Feagles, who flew in Sunday night and didn’t play a practice round. “Man, it was tough. It kind of reminded me of college golf, where par is valuable. The professional game gets so birdie-crazy at times.”
Svoboda’s 1-under 71 lifted him from a tie for fourth to solo second, the best finish for a club professional since Johns finished second to Brad Hopfinger at The Glen Club in 2014.
Ohr ended up in a tie for third with Tommy Kuhl, another Illinois grad, whose 6-under 66 was the day’s best round. For a while, Medimah’s Grant Roscich was threatening to grab that honor, if not the lead, but his six-birdie day was sullied by a bogey and double-bogey. He settled for a 3-under 69 and low amateur honors, sharing fifth place with Johns and Tyler Isenhart.
“It’s just staying patient out there, stay positive as much as I can,” said Roscich, a collegian representing North Carolina who set a new course record on Medinah No. 3 the other day – a 61, proving that even spending around $30 million to revamp and toughen a classic course isn’t enough to prevent low scores.
Roscich was two strokes behind on the par-3 13th tee put pulled his the shot left and settled for double-bogey. He bounced back with a birdie on the 14th but Feagles was too far ahead. Then Feagles finished and had to wait.
“I tried to stay loose, hit some balls, but the worst part was not being able to control anything,” Feagles said. “Most golfers are control freaks. Luckily those (closing) holes are the hardest holes on the golf course.”
And good holes to have behind you.
Around Kemper Lakes
Nine of the 52 players to make the cut broke par in the final round. … The field averaged 75.04 strokes on the 7,125-yard layout Wednesday, and 80.28 strokes for all three rounds. … Mahomet resident Lance Olson’s 14-over 86 was the high round of the day.
– Tim Cronin