July 19, 2012
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Max Scodro, a 2012 graduate from the University of Notre Dame and former member of the Irish men’s golf team, claimed his second state open title of the season after winning the 63rd Illinois Open on Wednesday at The Glen Club in Glenview, Ill.
All entrants into the qualifiers and the respective main field had to be PGA members, apprentices, golf professionals and amateurs with a handicap index of 10.0 or better and carry a member address in the state of Illinois. Scodro, a resident of Chicago, Ill., did not earn automatic placement into the main field, having to first navigate through his qualifying draw with a top-10 finish in a one-round event at Lincolnshire Country Club in Crete, Ill.
The 2012 PING and Golfweek Honorable Mention All-American claimed entry into the field after sharing second in his respective qualifier with a 72 (E) that saw him post four birdies and four bogeys to go along with 10 pars. Scodro carried that momentum with him into the 54-hole championship, making the 36-hole cut (top 50 scores and ties) and sitting only one shot back of first with a 137 (-7).
Heading into the final round, Scodro sat a stroke behind 2010 Illinois Open champion Eric Meierdierks. The margin remained the same until the final hole of play where, needing a birdie, Scodro sunk his putt to force a minimum three-hole playoff. The two remained tied after the initial three holes, forcing the duo to play the 18th hole until a winner was determined. After matching scores the first time down the hole, Scodro two-putted for par the next trip to secure the title over Meierdierks.
Scodro concluded the tournament sharing the lead in percentage of pars or better (90.7%), most birdies (16) and par four scoring (3.83) while also tying for 15th in par five scoring (4.50). The playoff also went into the tournament record books as the longest since Marty Schiene outlasted Gary Groh over six holes at Royal Fox in St. Charles 20 years ago.
The victory earned Scodro a $17,000 payout and marked his second state open championship on the season after winning the Arizona Open in his first professional start last month. Scodro continues his busy summer circuit next week as he will compete in Marshall, Minn., before heading to Frankton, S.D., for a pair of Dakotas Tour tournaments.
Continued information of Scodro’s professional golf journey can be followed via his personal blog at maxscodrogolf.blogspot.com.
NOTE: Former Irish golfer and ’10 Notre Dame graduate Josh Sandman also competed in the Lincolnshire qualifier along with Scodro, failing to qualify after firing a six-over, 78.
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