Page 35 - 2018 Western Amateur Commemerative Program—Skokie Ridge Country Club

WGA_Program_2018_V5__ 6/28/2018 3:42 PM Page 33

SUNSET RIDGE HOSTING ITS FIRST-EVER WESTERN AMATEUR

Site of 1972 Western Open

Sunset Ridge Country Club in
Northfield, Illinois, is hosting one of
the world’s premier amateur golf
championships for the first time in its
history as the 2018 Western Amateur is
contested at the historic club this week.

First conducted by the Western Golf
Association in 1899 at the Glen View
Club in Golf, Illinois, the Western
Amateur championship has, from its
inception, been regarded as one of the
major amateur golf events in the world.
Only the British Amateur (1885) and
the U.S. Amateur (1895) are older.
“We’re thrilled to have the support of Action on the ninth hole at the 115th Western Amateur.
the membership and staff at Sunset year’s field included two past Western Thirty-eight caddies from Sunset Ridge
Ridge Country Club,” said Vince Amateur champions, nearly all 10 of have earned the Evans Scholarship,
Pellegrino, WGA Senior Vice President the top 10-ranked players in the world, beginning with John Murphy, who
of Tournaments. “Sunset Ridge is an the NCAA Division I individual attended Northwestern University on
iconic North Shore golf club that will champion, as well as the low amateur the Evans Scholarship and graduated
provide the perfect backdrop for this at The Masters and the U.S. Open. in 1952. The club is sponsoring six
elite championship. We look forward to Evans Scholars currently enrolled in
Past Western Amateur champions
bringing the future stars of golf to college — Oscar Narvaez (Illinois),
include golf legends Jack Nicklaus,
Northfield.” Jordan Richardson (Ohio State),
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ben
Raphael Cruz (Kansas),
The Western Amateur’s 156-man field Crenshaw and Chick Evans. PGA TOUR
Mateo Chavez (Ohio State),
consistently ranks among the top three superstars Dustin Johnson, Jordan
Lawrence Henderson (Illinois), and
in the world along with the British Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson
Yuriy Melenchuk (Illinois).
Amateur and U.S. Amateur. Contestants and Adam Scott all participated in the
come from all over the globe. Last event as amateurs.
Founded in 1923, Sunset Ridge last
hosted the 1972 Western Open and
features a challenging William Diddel
design that promises a stern test for the
Western Amateur’s field of talented
amateurs. The club hosted the 1936
Western Junior and the Women’s
Western Open in 1935.
Sunset Ridge also is home to a
nationally renowned caddie program,
and has long been a steadfast supporter
of the Evans Scholars Foundation, a
nonprofit supported by the WGA that
has awarded full college tuition and
housing scholarships to deserving
caddies since 1930.
Doc Redman at the 115th Western Amateur. Norman Xiong at the 115th Western Amateur.

2018 WESTERN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP Western Amateur Championship History 33