JIM SOBB HEAD PROFESSIONAL AT THE IVANHOE CLUB BECAME THE FIRST IPGA
SECTION MEMBER TO WIN BOTH THE MATCH PLAY, AND SENIOR MATCH PLAY
CHAMPIONSHIPS IN THE SAME YEAR. (PHOTO COURTESY IPGA MIKE SCHOAF)

Jim Sobb was nothing but a match play machine the last two weeks, as he
added his name again to the Illinois PGA Section records books.

Sobb the Head Professional at the Ivanhoe Club, defeated Rich Dukelow
from Cantigny golf 3 & 2 to win the Illinois PGA Section Match Play
Championship the sections first "major championship" of the year at
Kemper Lakes GC.

In doing so Sobb became the first player in Illinois PGA Section history
to win both tournaments in the same year. Sobb had a chance to do so
last year, but lost at Kemper Lakes in the final to Travis Johns.

Sobb was asked if that thought of what he just missed doing last year
played into mind as he started the final match against Dukelow.

"I didn't think about that once until I made the birdie putt on 15 and
was three up with three to play," Sobb said. " I thought I have a chance
to do something special, so making the (winning) putt on 16 was
very special."

TO HEAR INTERVIEWS WITH CHAMPION JIM SOBB AND RUNNER
UP RICH DUKELOW CLICK HERE:

Download | Duration: 00:11:30

The key to Sobb's victory over Dukelow was on holes 2,14, and 15,
Dukelow hit his approach shot inside of Sobb's. But it was Sobb
who made the birdie putts on all three holes, only then to see
Dukelow miss all three putts.  As a result Sobb won all three holes.

"I really putted well all week," Sobb said. " My first four or five matches
I wasn't striking the ball that well, and my putting was saving me. I made
some good birdie putts when (Dukelow) was inside of me and those
were the key putts."

So what's the key to winning the IPGA match play tournament at Kemper.

"I just tried to make pars," Sobb said. " As good as Kemper is, if you
make 18 pars you will win matches. Because people will make bogeys
out here. But it's match play so the stars have to lineup, you have to
get the right pairing and the right bracket and this week things lined up.
I only got to the 17th and 18th hole once in my semi-final match."

Sobb felt his experience at Kemper Lakes a course he says he has
played over 200 times, really helps in this event. Sobb won three Illinois
PGA Section titles at Kemper lakes when the event was held there.

After making birdie on the second hole to take a 1 Up lead, Sobb never
trailed in match. Sobb missed a short putt to go up after holes, but
came right back with a Hybrid club from 203 yards to five feet on the
fifth hole to get the 2 Up lead.

"To comeback and make that shot I felt that was the turning point for
me, said Sobb.

Sobb never got more than one down at any time during the tournament,
and that was just in one match for the first few holes.

After two weeks in a row of championship golf what will Sobb do for
an encore. He will leave Monday to compete in the PGA Senior
Championship at Valhalla GC in Kentucky. Sobb qualified for the
Senior PGA through his play at the Senior PPNC last year.

Sobb defeated Billy Rosina 2 & 1 in the finals of the IPGA Senior Match
Play last week at Shoreacres GC to win the first of his two match play
titles this year.

Dukelow was able to win his morning semi-final match 6 & 4 against
Steve Benson, which gave him almost two hours off before the finals
match with Sobb but said that was not the reason he lost. Sobb
defeated Brian Brown in the morning to move on to the finals.

"I just got out played," Dukelow said. " I hit some good shots but I
couldn't get many putts to drop. Jim played super he made putts, I
got beat soundly and I got out played."

It wasn't hard for Dukelow to figure out where the match got away.

"Three times I hit it inside Jim," Dukelow said. " He made all three putts
and I didn't make any of them."

Dukelow said he looking forward to competing in the Illinois Open and
the Illinois PGA Section Championship later this summer. He also
thanked his Kemper Lakes caddy Jeff Nicolo for helping him all week
on his march to the finals.

THE GOG BLOG WILL HAVE MORE ON JIM SOBB IN OUR SUNDAY
MORNING SHORTGAME COLUMN THIS SUNDAY.