Nikitas doubles Illinois Open pleasure

Writing from North Barrington, Illinois

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

It was a first for Charlie Nikitas, who has accomplished a lot in 27 short years on this rock.

He was awarded a trophy with his name already engraved on it.

Not as “champion golfer of the year,” as the R&A so preciously calls the winner of the British Open when the Claret Jug is handed out.

No, something more dear to Glenview native Nikitas’ heart: The Illinois Open trophy, a two-foot tall piece of re-engraved metal which he won at Flossmoor two years ago.

“So cool,” Nikitas said after demolishing the field by adding a 2-under 70 to a pair of 9-under 63s – the new Club at Wynstone course record – for an Illinois Open record of 20-under-par 196 and a four-stroke victory.

Nikitas said it wasn’t over as far as he was concerned until his approach on the watery 18th hole hit the green and stopped six feet from the cup. That set up the 23rd and last birdie of his three jaunts around Wynstone, a Jack Nicklaus design that, when it isn’t soaked by nearly three inches of rain just before and during the tournament, is considered one of the more formidable tests in the midwest.

For Nikitas, the pillow-soft greens meant it was a pushover. His lead Wednesday was never less than two strokes, that on three occasions, the last time midway through the back nine when Luke Gannon of downstate Monticello, just ahead of Nikitas in the day’s penultimate group, was stitching together a 3-under 69 for second and 16-under 200.

Nikitas’ birdie on the par-4 10th elicited his first fist pump of the week, and moved him up three strokes on Pierce Grieve of Lake Forest.

“It just came out,” Nikitas said of the gesture. “That one felt really important.”

As did getting up and down for par on the 13th, just after Grieve chipped in from 30 feet to save par, and thus remained three strokes ahead.

“The tee shots I hit last three or four holes, I just let it loose,” Nikitas said. “I wasn’t going to guide it around.”

Nikitas won $23,576 for his effort, Gannon $12,859. Tommy Kuhl, whose 5-under 67 was the round of the day, took third at 15-under 201 and took home $8,573. Grieve ended up in a tie for fourth with Timmy Crawford of Arlington Heights, each earning $5,948 from the record purse of $123,000.

The low amateur was Illinois junior Dujuan Snyman, whose even par 72 gave him solo sixth. He had been one off the lead after 18 holes, and hung around all week.

“I’m glad the hard work I’m putting in is paying off,” Snyman said. “It’s more work on the mental game than the golf game specifically. I wasn’t hitting it as nicely (today), but stayed in it by staying patient."

Two years ago, Nikitas toured Flossmoor in 209 strokes and beat Luke Guthrie and Mattis Besard by a stroke. That was nerve-wracking as well, but he thought the second time around was more challenging.

“This one, I had to sleep with the lead and I didn’t eat today,” Nikitas said. “I was hungry but couldn’t eat.”

Clearly, the man was starved for victory. What a feast.

Around Wynstone

Nikitas is the 15th multiple winner, the most recent being Vince India (2018, 2023), who finished tied for 15th this year. … Timothy Lim of Hoffman Estates aced the fourth hole, sinking his tee shot from 185 yards. … The third round scoring average was 71.78, best number of the week thanks to fine play, albeit with lift-clean-and place for the third straight day, from the 50 players who made the cut.

– Tim Cronin