Brad Benjamin

Rockford, Illinois

Brad Benjamin

Benjamin played collegiately at the University of Memphis, where he earned eight top-20 finishes, including a win at the 2007 Palisades Collegiate Classic. As a freshman, he posted a career-best finish at the Conference USA Championships, finishing third. During his collegiate years, he won the 2006 Greater Rockford Men’s Open. While still an amateur, he won the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links, which guaranteed him a spot at the 2010 Masters Tournament. That same summer, he also won the Illinois Open, one of only twelve amateurs to do so since the tournament’s start in 1950. Prior to turning professional in 2011, he became one of three amateurs to make the cut at the 2011 U.S. Open. Benjamin earned conditional status on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada in 2016.

Brian Bullington

Frankfort, Illinois

Brian Bullington

During his time at the University of Iowa, Bullington recorded eight to-25 finishes, including a third place finish at the 2014 ASU Thunderbird Invitational. He was twice named to the Division I PING All-Midwest Regional Team (2014 & 2015), earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors in 2014, was twice selected as Iowa’s Sportsmanship Award recipient (2014 & 2015), and was honored as the Big Ten Player of the Week in 2014. As an amateur, Bullington placed third at the 2012 Illinois State Amateur and qualified for a 2013 U.S. Open Sectional. During the 2016 & 2018 PGA TOUR Latinoamerica seasons, he made 22 starts, earning a T7 finish at the 2016 Roberto De Vicenzo Punta del Este Open Copa NEC. Bullington has also made two starts at Korn Ferry Tour Events, as well as two starts at the 2016 & 2018 John Deere Classic.

David Cooke

Bolingbrook, Illinois

David Cooke

Cooke played collegiately at North Carolina State University, earning seven top-1o finishes, including wins at the 2014 Wolfpack Intercollegiate, and the 2015 & 2016 Wolfpack Spring Open. He earned a spot on the 2016 All-ACC Academic Team, and holds the all-time record for low round at NC State (a nine-under-par 62 in the 1st Round of the 2016 Wolfpack Spring Open). During his college years, he won the 2015 Illinois Open as an amateur, one of only twelve to do so since the tournament’s origins in 1950. Following graduation, Cooke turned professional & competed in eleven PGA TOUR Latinoamerica events, earning five top-25 finishes. He again won the Illinois Open in 2019, this time competing as a professional.

Patrick Flavin

Highwood, Illinois

Patrick Flavin

Flavin attended Miami University, where he was named the 2015 MAC Freshman of the year, the 2018 Earl Yestingsmeier Sportsmanship winner, and was a four-time selection to the First-Team All MAC. He earned an at-large selection to the NCAA Regionals three times, in addition to twice being named to the PING Division I All-Midwest Region Team. His first professional victory came at the 2019 Bupa Match Play on the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica. Since then, Flavin made 13 starts on the Korn Ferry Tour, earning two top-ten finishes. Most recently, he Monday-qualified into the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, finishing T17 in his PGA TOUR debut.

Dana Gattone

Addison, Illinois

Dana Gattone

Gattone was a member of the University of Illinois Women’s Golf Team, earning nine top-25 finishes including a win at the Diane Thomason Invitational as a freshman. Her awards include being a four-time WGCA All-American Scholar, Academic All-Big Ten in 2016 & 2017, the 2018 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Big Ten Golfer of the Week, Daily Illini “Illini of the Week,” and a finalist for the Female Newcomer of the Year in 2015. Additionally, she was the Big Ten Preseason “Player to Watch” ahead of her sophomore season. Gattone finished her college career with what was then the fifth-best career stroke average in Illinois history (75.78). Following graduation, Gattone started her career at the Illinois Section of the PGA, before transitioning into her current role of Director of Business Development & Girls’ Programming at TPS Player Service Golf Academy.

Doug Ghim

Arlington Heights, Illinois

Doug Ghim

As a junior, Ghim was a 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur semifinalist, as well as the 2014 U.S. Amateur Public Links runner-up. During his time at the University of Texas, he posted twenty-three top-10 finishes, including four individual wins. Ghim’s college accolades include 2015 All-Freshman Team, four-time All Big-12, 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year, 2015 PING All-America Honorable Mention, two-time PING All-America Second Team, 2017 PING All-Region, 2016 Golfweek Second Team All-American, 2017 Golfweek First Team All-American, three-time Jack Nicklaus Award Semifinalist, 2017 Ben Hogan Award Watch List, 2018 Ben Hogan Award winner, 2018 Fred Haskins Award Watch List, 2016 & 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup selections, and 2017 Walker Cup selection. Additionally during these years, Ghim won the 2018  Masters Tournament Silver Cup for low amateur, and the 2017 Pacific Coast Amateur Championship. He turned professional in 2018, earning membership on both the Korn Ferry Tour & the PGA TOUR. His best professional finish was in 2019, when he finished T3 at the Country Club de Bogota Championship (KFT).

Gary Hallberg

Berwyn, Illinois

Gary Hallberg

Hallberg, who played collegiately at Wake Forest University, is the school’s only four-time First Team All-American. He won the 1979 NCAA Championship, one of his seven individual titles. He was a four-time All-ACC selection, as well as the recipient of the 1979 Arnold Palmer Award for the school’s top male athlete of the year. Additionally as an amateur, he won the 1977 & 1978 editions of the prestigious North and South Men’s Amateur Golf Championship. Following graduation, Hallberg turned pro and was named the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year in 1980. While his first PGA TOUR win didn’t come until 1983 at the Isuzu-Andy Williams San Diego Open, he claimed professional victories at the 1981 Lille Open in France, and the 1982 Chunichi Crowns Invitational in Japan. He went on to earn two more PGA TOUR victories (1987 Milwaukee Greater Open & 1992 Buick Southern Open), one Korn Ferry Tour victory (2002 Northeast Pennsylvania Classic), as well as the 1986 Chrysler Team Championship (with Scott Hoch). Currently, Hallberg joined PGA TOUR Champions in 2008, and has one win at the 2010 Ensure Classic at Rock Barn.

Nick Hardy

Northbrook, Illinois

Nick Hardy

Hardy attended the University of Illinois, becoming the 2015 Big Ten Championship co-medalist and the 2018 Big Ten Championship medalist. He recorded two other collegiate victories, at the 2017 NCAA West Lafayette Regional (co-medalist) and the 2016 Wolf Run Intercollegiate. At the time of graduation, he held the fifth lowest career stroke average at 71.9. Hardy’s collegiate awards include 2015 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, 2016 All Big-Ten Second Team, 2017 Ben Hogan Award Semifinalist, 2017 PING All-America Second team, 2018 PING All-America First Team, 2018 Haskins Award Watch List, 2018 All-Nicklaus Team, 2018 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, 2018 All-Big Ten Championships Team, 2018 Big Ten Player of the year, a four-time PING All-Midwest Region selection, a two-time Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year Award semifinalist, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten member, and a three-time All-Big Ten First Team member. During college, he was a member of the 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup, the champion of the 2016 Illinois State Amateur Championship with a record-setting score of 28-under-par, and a qualifier of the 2015 & 2016 U.S. Opens. Hard y turned pro after graduation, becoming a member of the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020. His play during the 2020-21 season granted him membership on the PGA TOUR in 2022. His best professional starts come at the 2021 Sony Open in Hawaii, where he finished T14, and the 2020 The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at Baha Mar (KFT).

Lexi Harkins

Crystal Lake, Illinois

Lexi Harkins

Harkins began her collegiate golf career at the University of North Carolina where she competed in every tournament for the Tar Heels. She was named a WGCA All-American Scholar. Harkins played 100 rounds for the Tar Heels before transferring to the University of Wisconsin. Harkins competed in every tournament, and finished the season with the second-best team scoring average and the third-best in the school’s history (73.09).

Brad Hopfinger

Lake Forest, Illinois

Brad Hopfinger

At the University of Iowa, Hopfinger was named to the 2011 First Team All-Big Ten and a 2010 Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar. During the 2009-2010 season, Hopfinger set the then-lowest scoring average in program history at 72.5 He recorded eleven top-ten finishes in college career, including one during his freshman year at the University of Kansas. As an amateur, he won his last start before turning pro at the 81st Illinois Amateur Championship (August 2011). Since then, Hopfinger has been a member of the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica, where he earned twelve top-10 finishes, & the Korn Ferry Tour, where he has earned seven top-10 finishes. Hopfinger also claimed a victory at the 65th Illinois Open Championship in July of 2014.

Vince India

Deerfield, Illinois

Vince India

India played collegiately at the University of Iowa, where he was named the 2011 Big Ten Player of the Year, 2011 University of Iowa Male Athlete of the Year, and earned the 2011 Les Bolstad Trophy for the lowest scoring average in the Big Ten at 71.08. He was a 2011 First Team All-Big Ten selection, twice was the Big-Ten Golfer of the Week, and earned 2010 Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar honors. In the 2010-2011 season, when he recorded three of his five collegiate victories, he posted a scoring average of 71.38, which set a then-record for the lowest in program history. India turned pro in 2011, competing on the PGA TOUR Latinoamerica & the Korn Ferry Tour. He earned seven top-10 finishes on each tour, and has recorded three starts on the PGA TOUR.

Nicole Jeray

Berwyn, Illinois

Nicole Jeray

Jeray graduated from Northern Illinois University, winning eight individual titles and the MVP award from 1989-1992. She was the youngest person to ever be inducted to the University Hall of Fame in 2002. Jeray turned pro in 1993 and competed on the Futures Tour and earned exempt status for the next year. In 1997, Jeray won the Aurora Healthcare Futures Classic and in 1998 she won the JWA/Anheuser Busch Futures Charity Classic. In 2000, she won the JWA Michelob Light Futures Charity Classic.

Tee-K Kelly

Wheaton, Illinois

Tee-K Kelly

Kelly was named All-America Honorable Mention and All-Midwest Region by the Golf Coaches Association of America in his senior season at Ohio State University.  He tied for 30th nationally as an individual in the NCAA Championships (May 27-29), carding rounds of 71-70-73 (+4).  Tee-K advanced to the national championship by winning the NCAA Kohler Regional (May 16-18) medalist honors, the first Buckeye in school history to do so in an NCAA Regional.  Kelly paced the team with a season stroke average of 73.16, playing a team-high 38 rounds and put forth Top-25 efforts seven times overall, including a T-20th performance in the Big Ten Championships (Apr. 22-24).  Tee-K was also the 2013 and 2015 Illinois State amateur champion, the latter being won in a dramatic playoff.

Charlie Netzel

Western Springs, Illinois

Charlie Netzel

Netzel joined the Michigan State University Men’s Golf Team in 2013. He took home medalist honors at the Colleton River Collegiate his freshman year. Netzel’s sophomore year, he was first on the team with two top-5 finishes and one top-10 finish. Also, he was named to the Big Ten Men’s Golfer to Watch List for the 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. After graduating, Netzel joined the PGA TOUR China, playing in a total of 23 events between 2018-2019.

David Perkins

East Peoria, Illinois

David Perkins

At Illinois State University, Perkins was twice named the MVC Golfer of the Year, and set the conference record for the most MVC Golfer of the Week honors (15). He was a 2020 PING Third Team All-American, a 2020 PING All-Midwest Region member, and the 2020 MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Additionally, he was named as one of 31 golfers on the 2020 Ben Hogan Award Watch List. Perkins earned a victory at the 2019 Golfweek Conference Challenge, and additionally earned seventeen career top-10 finishes, including nine top-5 finishes. Professionally, Perkins joined the Forme Tour in 2021 and made the cut in both of his starts. After a T17 finish at the Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada Q-School-USA East 2, Perkins has become conditionally exempt for the Mackenzie Tour season.

D.A. Points

Perkin, Illinois

D.A. Points

Points is a three time PGA TOUR winner. His first win came at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in 2011. In 2013, he won the Shell Houston Open and in 2017 Points won the Puerto Rico Open. Points joined the PGA TOUR in 2005 after completing Q School. Before joining the PGA TOUR, Points had a successful run on the Korn Ferry Tour winning the BUY.COM Inland Empire Open (2001), Northeast Pennsylvania Classic (2004), Pete Dye West Virginia Classic Presented by National Mining Assn. (2004), and the Miccosukee Championship (2008).

Bing Singhsumalee

Naperville, Illinois

Bing Singhsumalee

As a freshman at the University of Illinois, Singhsumalee was named to the Second Team All-Big Ten, she was the just the second Illini in program history to earn All-Big Ten status as a freshman. She tied the lowest individual round in program history (66, -6) in first career round.  Singhsumalee also became the first Illini golfer to record three rounds at par or better at the Big Ten Championship. In 2019, Singhsumalee finished in 34th at the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship.

Kevin Streelman

Winfield, Illinois

Kevin Streelman

Streelman graduated from Duke University in 2001, where he posted twenty sub-par rounds and earned ten top-20 finishes. He helped the Blue Devils to five tournament championships. Streelman turned pro in 2001, joining the PGA TOUR in 2008 after earning exempt status with a T14 finish at the 2007 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament. In 2013, Streelman took home his first victory at the Tampa Bay Championship. His second win came in 2014 at the Travelers Championship. In fourteen seasons on the PGA TOUR, Streelman has made fourteen appearances in the FedExCup Playoffs.

Elizabeth Szokol

Winnetka, Illinois

Elizabeth Szokol

Szokol started her collegiate career at Northwestern University, where she earned 3 top-10 finishes and helped the team claim their first conference title in history at the 2013 Big Ten Championships. In 2014, she earned Second Team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten honors. Prior to her junior season, she transferred to the University of Virginia, where she finished in the top-10 seven times. Szokol capped off her collegiate career in 2016 by being named to the WGCA All-Region Team and ACC Women’s Golf All-Academic Team, as well as being named an honorable mention All-American by the WGCA. On the Symetra Tour, she claimed ten top-20 finishes, including her first professional win at the 2018 IOA Invitational. With a fourth place finish on the Symetra Tour Official Money List, Szokol became an LPGA Member in 2019. Since then, she has earned four top-10 finshes, with her best being a T2 finish at the 2021 Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana.

Jessica Yuen

Bollingbrook, Illinois

Jessica Yuen

Yuen, a member of the University of Missouri’s Women’s Golf Team, is one of the most decorated female golfers in the IHSA’s Class 2A history. She holds two IHSA state titles and several school records. Yuen has had a stellar collegiate golf career, with the biggest highlight being earning an invitation of the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.