Roger Steele added a significant competitive victory to his growing golf résumé Sunday, defeating Michael Fastert in a playoff to win the Chicago City Amateur at historic Jackson Park Golf Club. Better known to many as a Callaway ambassador, TGL emcee, and one of golf's leading social media personalities, Steele proved he can do much more than entertain, finishing at 12-under 198 before prevailing in extra holes.
The Chicago native opened the championship with rounds of 65 and 66 before closing with a 3-under 67. Steele's final round featured an eagle on the par-5 14th that helped him maintain his position atop the leaderboard, though a bogey at the 15th kept the door open. He parred his final three holes to post 198 and wait.
Fastert answered with a closing 66 to match Steele at 12 under. After turning in 31 on the back nine with birdies on Nos. 10, 14 and 16, Fastert erased the deficit and forced a playoff, where Steele ultimately emerged with the title.
Steele's post on X (see it below) said it all:
"4 Playoff Holes Later… this was the hardest I’ve ever fought to win anything. Being the Chicago City Am Champ was my teenage dream. Never been more in love with golf."
Gurnav Jeet Singh Bhatia and Michael Natale shared third place at 11-under 199, one stroke out of the playoff, while Daniel Shepherd finished fifth at 10-under 200.
While Steele has become one of golf's most recognizable media personalities through his work with Callaway, TGL and appearances in high-profile creator events, his game has long matched his profile. He reached a four-man playoff in the inaugural PGA TOUR Creator Classic at East Lake, has competed in subsequent Creator Classic events, and recently played in the Internet Invitational, one of the premier competitions in the creator golf space.
Sunday's victory, however, came against a traditional championship field in one of the country's oldest municipal amateur events, making it one of the biggest competitive accomplishments of his career.