Local Golfers Headed to PGA of America in Frisco, Texas

For specifically different reasons local golfers will soon be headed to Frisco, Texas, the new headquarters of the PGA of America.

For the first time, Frisco’s Field Ranch West course will host the 13u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship on Oct. 4-8. The 2023 championship is the 11th edition of the 13u National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship and will contested by 96 junior golfers ages 10-13 comprising twelve Regional Champion All-Star teams. Region 5 champions, Team Illinois from Cog Hill GC, is proud to be among the dozen team finalists for 2023, and is looking to better their 4th place finish in last year’s 2022 National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship that was held at Grayhawk GC in Scottsdale, AZ.

In a two-person scramble format, rounds one and two will take place Friday and Saturday (Oct. 6-7), team aggregate stroke play scores counting. Four teams will advance to the championship that concludes with match play semifinals and final rounds on Sunday, Oct. 8.

Team Illinois

Team Illinois is coached by Kevin Weeks, PGA professional from Cog Hill GC in Lemont. Team members are: Ben Patel, Grayson Baucom, Kennedy Gutierrez, Lester Low, Michael Jorski, Nemo Tsai, Nicholas Ratini, and William Cui; Clayton Pendergraft is the assistant coach.

Don Wegrzyn

Already honored as an inductee in the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame (1999), in just a few short weeks, Mr. Wegrzyn will have ascended to the highest honor the PGA offers, the PGA of America Hall of Fame.

Wegrzyn began his golf career in 1947 as a caddie at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest. Five years later, he began a 47-year career at the Old Elm Club in Highland Park, working his way up from a front-door attendant to director of golf.

A PGA member since 1962, Wegrzyn is a three-time winner of the Illinois Section PGA Professional Development Award; Don was voted Illinois PGA Professional of the Year in 1980. He served on the board of the Illinois Section PGA from 1972 to 1987, with a term as its president from 1980-81. Wegrzyn became a PGA Master Professional in 1994; he has also served on the PGA National Rules Committee.

In 1952, Wegrzyn entered college at Northern Illinois University, and forty years later was elected to the NIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.

Congratulations, Don, on a well deserved honor.

(Photo credits: PGA of America; National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship)