John Ehrgott wins second Chicago Mid-Amateur
5/24/2018 | by Chicago District Golf Association
see also: View results for Chicago Mid-Amateur, Kemper Lakes Golf Club
The Chicago Mid-Amateur has been around just two years, John Ehrgott has won the event twice
CLARENDON HILLS, IL (May 24, 2018) - For the second time in the four-year history of the CDGA Mid-Amateur Championship, John Ehrgott (Edwards / Mt. Hawley CC) is its champion, as he bested Blake Johnson (Winnetka / Glen View Club) 3 and 2 in the title match Thursday morning at Hinsdale Golf Club.
Ehrgott also won the inaugural CDGA Mid-Am in 2015 and is a two-time Illinois State Mid-Amateur victor, with those triumphs coming in 2007 and 2009. His four overall titles in the state’s two most prominent individual mid-amateur events is second only to Bloomington’s Todd Mitchell, who has five Illinois State Mid-Amateur victories, but has never won the CDGA Mid-Am.
“It’s validation,” Ehrgott said after hoisting another trophy. “You get older, I’m 43 now, and you see the young kids coming up that are hitting it 300, 310 yards, and us old guys don’t do that. It’s nice to still be able to be competitive and win an event occasionally.”
Ehrgott never trailed in Thursday’s championship match, claiming the lead on the first hole with a par. Johnson quickly evened the title tilt by rolling in a birdie on No. 2, but Ehrgott responded with a birdie of his own at the par-4 third to regain a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. Ehrgott matched birdies from Johnson on No. 4 and No. 7 to keep his opponent at bay and was 1 up at the turn.
“Early on, we were throwing birdies at each other and getting really aggressive,” Ehrgott said.
Ehrgott birdied the par-5 11th to go 2 up before dropping No. 12 when his short par putt lipped out. The duo both tallied pars on No. 13 and No. 14 before back-to-back bogeys by Johnson on No. 15 and No. 16 clinched the championship for Ehrgott.
“On the back nine, par was winning holes and we got a little sloppy out there,” Ehrgott admitted. “Blake played well, he just made a couple of mistakes coming in that ended up costing him. It was a really nip-and-tuck match all the way through.”
The victory carried added significance for Ehrgott considering the championship’s host, Hinsdale Golf Club. In existence since 1898, Hinsdale was the site of the founding of the CDGA in 1914 and is one of the oldest clubs in the Chicago District.
“It’s so cool,” Ehrgott said of Hinsdale. “You look around and this course just oozes tradition. It’s great.”
The championship was initially slated to conclude on Wednesday, but rain on Monday pushed each stage back one day. After surviving a 12-for-3 playoff to make match play as the No. 14 seed at the conclusion of stroke play on Tuesday afternoon, Ehrgott topped reigning Illinois State Mid-Amateur champion Greg Bauman in the Round of 16 Tuesday evening. Victories over K.C. Matkaitis and Grant Goltz on Wednesday clinched Ehrgott’s spot in the championship match.
Ehrgott also won the inaugural CDGA Mid-Am in 2015 and is a two-time Illinois State Mid-Amateur victor, with those triumphs coming in 2007 and 2009. His four overall titles in the state’s two most prominent individual mid-amateur events is second only to Bloomington’s Todd Mitchell, who has five Illinois State Mid-Amateur victories, but has never won the CDGA Mid-Am.
“It’s validation,” Ehrgott said after hoisting another trophy. “You get older, I’m 43 now, and you see the young kids coming up that are hitting it 300, 310 yards, and us old guys don’t do that. It’s nice to still be able to be competitive and win an event occasionally.”
Ehrgott never trailed in Thursday’s championship match, claiming the lead on the first hole with a par. Johnson quickly evened the title tilt by rolling in a birdie on No. 2, but Ehrgott responded with a birdie of his own at the par-4 third to regain a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. Ehrgott matched birdies from Johnson on No. 4 and No. 7 to keep his opponent at bay and was 1 up at the turn.
Ehrgott birdied the par-5 11th to go 2 up before dropping No. 12 when his short par putt lipped out. The duo both tallied pars on No. 13 and No. 14 before back-to-back bogeys by Johnson on No. 15 and No. 16 clinched the championship for Ehrgott.
“On the back nine, par was winning holes and we got a little sloppy out there,” Ehrgott admitted. “Blake played well, he just made a couple of mistakes coming in that ended up costing him. It was a really nip-and-tuck match all the way through.”
The victory carried added significance for Ehrgott considering the championship’s host, Hinsdale Golf Club. In existence since 1898, Hinsdale was the site of the founding of the CDGA in 1914 and is one of the oldest clubs in the Chicago District.
“It’s so cool,” Ehrgott said of Hinsdale. “You look around and this course just oozes tradition. It’s great.”
About the Chicago Mid-Amateur
Open to any CDGA member age 25 or older, the CDGA Mid-Am features an 18-hole stroke play round to determine a 16-player match play bracket. Must be a 7.4 index or better.
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