THE WESTERN GOLF ASSOCIATION WILL HOLD THE 109TH
WESTERN AM FROM AUGUST 2-6 AT NORTHSHORE CC.
THE WGA ADDED KNOLLWOOD CC (Right photo) TO THE
WESTERN AMATEUR ROTATION BY MAKING THE CLUB
THE HOST OF THE 2016 CHAMPIONSHIP.

The Western Golf Association (WGA) will hold the 109th Western
Amateur Championship, from August 1-6 at Northshore Country Club
(NSCC) . This past week the WGA held a media day at the club and
the Gog Blog was present, please watch for our full feature on the
Western AM on Monday August 1.

Western AM news will be appearing here prior to the tournament. On
August 1 NSCC will host practice rounds for the players. Tournament
stroke play begins on Tuesday August 2, stroke play continues on
Wednesday with the cut coming after 36 holes and the format then
switching to match play. The 18 hole Championship is on Saturday
afternoon. admission and parking are FREE.

NSCC is located in Glenview just south of Lake Avenue, and East
of Rt 43 Waukegan Road. FREE parking is located directly across
the street from the club. Defending Champion David Chung will
return to defend his title.

KNOLLWOOD COUNTRY CLUB (KCC)..in Lake Forest was
announced this week as the site of the 2016 Western AM. In a story
first reported here (August Gog News Blog 2010) the club which
has just completed a three year renovation project led by architect
Keith Foster, becomes the eighth Chicago area club to host the
WGA-AM in the new rotation plan. Originally the WGA stated
the agreement in 2009 was for a seven year plan, which has now
been extended by at least one-year.

Knollwood will also co-host along with Conway Farms GC the
2012 USGA Mid-AM championship, with Conway serving as
the lead course. KCC will co-host the first two days of stroke
play. Watch for a full feature on KCC and it's addition to the
Western AM rotation in the days ahead.


                        
                                                              
CONGRATS TO THE USGA AND THE OLYMPIA FIELDS CC,
for a successful hosting of the 2011 USGA Junior Girls Championship.
The Champion crowned on Saturday afternoon was 15 year old Ariya
Jutanugarn of Thailand, who defeated 17 year old Dottie Ardina from
the Philippines 2 & 1 in a 36 hole match play final.

It was Ardina who had the lead after 18 holes, but Jutanugarn evened
the match with a birdie on 19. Jutanugarn took a 2 UP lead after a
birdie on the par-4 31st hole, but that lead went back to 1 UP after
33 holes. But a bogey by Ardina ended the match when Jutanugarn
made her par.

"The morning session I missed so many putts, " Jutanugarn said. "I just
kept leaving them short."

It was putting that Ardina felt cost her the championship.

"I'm disappointed because my putting let me down, " Ardina said. "But
I'm okay.

Both girls had already qualified for the US Womens Amateur next
month at the Rhode Island Country Club, but now received automatic
exemptions into the field.

The Olympia Fields South Course played to a yardage of 6,403 and
a par of 72 for the championship. Next year the 2012 US Junior Girls
Championship will be played at Lake Merced CC, a Gog Blog favorite
just south of San Francisco.

GOG BLOG RADIO RETURNS ON MONDAY NIGHT WITH
A FULL SHOW OF GUESTS...Join Ed Stevenson, Mike Munro
and Bill Berger in studio, with the Gog Blog Guy live fromt Erin Hills
for US-Amateur media day. Since they are only a three-some, call
in to be the fourth. (708)-493-1530. WJJG-AM 1530 from 6-7
PM, and WJJGAM1530.com live.

IPGA Executive Director Michael Miller leads off the program
reviewing day one of the Illinois Open from Hawthorn Woods
CC an Arnold Palmer designed course. Defending champion
Eric Meierdierks of Wilmette is in the field. The GOG Blog
will have full coverage of the Illinois Open, and will have a
preview feature posted here by later tonight...stay tuned and
linked into this site. Other guests for later in the program
have been arranged, tune in to find out who.



THE 2012 US WOMENS OPEN IS QUICKLY FILLING SPOTS FOR
VOLUNTEERS....for more on volunteer positions and for tickets. Please
visit www.2012USWomensOpen.com or call (920)-453-2889. The
67th Womens Open at Blackwolf Run will be held July 2-8 in 2012.
Volunteers who work this event will be given preference to work the
2015 PGA Championship and the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.

GOLF DEALS, DEALS, DEALS...PLEASE VISIT WEBSITES..fore
deals on golf at the following courses. Oak Grove, Settlers Hill, Foxford
Hills, and Ravisloe GC. All courses with coupons found on their websites
have great deals weekday and in some cases weekend.

THE ILLINOIS WOMENS OPEN...returns to Mistwood GC in
Romeoville..on August 3-4-5. A pro-am will played on Tuesday
August 2nd, cost is $95. More details are coming on the Illinois
Womens Open and new scholarship in the names of IWO founder 
Phil Kosin and his dad Joe Kosin.

THATS ALL FOR THIS SUNDAY..the rain has stopped so
GO PLAY...and go see the Illinois Open this week at Hawthorn
Woods CC...