Steve Skinner succeeds founder Lesnik as KemperSports CEO

NORTHBROOK, Ill. -- Steve Lesnik, co-founder and chief executive officer of KemperSports, announced last week at the company’s annual managers meeting that he is turning the mantle of CEO over to President and COO Steve Skinner. “Steve will have complete authority over the day-to-day affairs of the entire company, effective March 1,” Lesnik said.

“We have been implementing a succession plan for several years now and this is a critical milestone. My role in the future will be limited to supporting Steve, who becomes only the second CEO in the company’s 30-year history,” said Lesnik.

Lesnik said that with Steve Skinner assuming the duties of chief executive officer, President Josh Lesnik will continue to focus on overseeing all development, operations, and marketing activities at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort as well as supervising other KemperSports partnerships with Bandon Dunes owner Mike Keiser. Lesnik also will be the senior executive responsible for industry relations and golf competitions on behalf of the company.

KemperSports is entirely privately held. Initially it was owned by Kemper Insurance. It was acquired by Lesnik and co-founder James S. Kemper Jr. in 1983. Lesnik has been the controlling shareholder for the past decade during which time the Kemper family’s shares were repurchased. Recently, both Skinner and Josh Lesnik have become shareholders of the company.

Lesnik’s philosophy has been to emphasize premier service, grow the company gradually and to keep ownership within active management. KemperSports currently operates in 24 states and Latin America. The sports marketing and public relations firms have been in continuous operation since 1979, when they were founded by Lesnik and his wife Mady, and represent many well-known corporations and sporting events. Today, the company’s orbits of business activity are golf operations, athletic clubs and lodging; sports marketing; and, public relations.

In 2007, the company eclipsed a billion dollars in assets under management.

Skinner has been president and chief operating officer of KemperSports since 2006. He formerly was president of KemperGolf Management, a division of the company focused on third-party management operations. Since joining KemperSports in 1998, Skinner has been charged with various assignments, including piloting the company’s growth initiatives and development operations.

In 2001, Golfweek named Skinner to its annual “40 under 40” list. In 2000, he co-founded along with Mr. Lesnik, The First Tee of Chicago. He is also a member of the Illinois PGA Golf Hall of Fame Committee.

Prior to joining the golf industry, Skinner practiced law with Mayer, Brown & Platt in Chicago and served as an official in the first Bush Administration. He earned his law degree from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Lawrence University.

Josh Lesnik began working for the company part time as a teenager 23 years ago. He is a graduate of Drake University and has a M.A. in Marketing from Roosevelt University. He is a director of the Western Golf Association, serves on the regional affairs committee of the United States Golf Association, and serves on the boards of the Chicago District Golf Association and The First Tee of Chicago.

Steve Lesnik will continue as chairman of the board of directors. He is also a member of the board of directors of Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ) and has been a member of the boards of many civic and charitable organizations in Illinois, including a term as chairman of the board of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.

About KemperSports

Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports operates golf facilities as well as athletic clubs, lodging venues and major sporting events, including nationally ranked courses and tournament venues such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Chambers Bay, Harding Park, Dorado Beach Resort & Club, The Glen Club, Desert Willow Golf Resort and the Chicago Park District golf facilities. Affiliate KemperSports Marketing & Communications, a sports marketing, events and public relations agency, has produced and managed major national and international events and communications programs, including the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational college basketball tournament and numerous PGA TOUR events. For more information, visit www.kempersports.com.

Jacobson Renovating East Course at Indian Lakes

Golfers everywhere know about the island green on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass. Each year during the Players Championship TV viewers indulge in the not-so-guilty pleasure of watching frustrated PGA Tour pros dunk their tee shots into the drink around the putting surface.

It won't be long now until Chicago-area golfers have an opportunity to challenge an island green, too. Golf architect Rick Jacobson is including an island green as part of his renovation of the East Course at the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort in west suburban Bloomingdale outside Chicago.

The new No. 8 hole is Jacobson's new 150-yard par-3 original whose 9,000-square-foot green sits in the middle of a large pond. "It's the kind of hole that will really get people's blood going," Jacobson said. "And it will be a great hole during competition whether it's a professional event, high school tournament, junior golf competition, or a friendly foursome, because on that hole one tee shot can change the match."

Jacobson's new eighth is just one aspect of his overall re-design of the East Course, which will go from the current 18 holes down to a nine-hole championship caliber course.

Jacobson knows his way around Indian Lakes. It was he who transformed the resort's West Course into the highly acclaimed Blackhawk Trace, which re-opened all 18 holes in 2003. "We are very excited to have the opportunity to return to Indian Lakes Resort and complete the transformation of its golf facilities," Jacobson said. "Our goal is to integrate the new nine holes and the practice area with the existing 18-hole Blackhawk Trace course and to provide golfers with a fun, challenging, and aesthetically pleasing experience."

The net result of the current renovation will leave the resort with a top-flight 27-hole golf course and practice facility.

Jacobson said the island green hole, which will play into the prevailing southwest wind, will feature a wood retaining wall and a front greenside bunker.

In order to accommodate Indian Lakes' substantial outing business, Jacobson said the aesthetic look of the new nine holes will be consistent with the character of Blackhawk Trace, which features bunker complexes with dramatic slopes and fingers of turf that "bleed" into the sand. These "Alister Mackenzie-style" bunkers will replace the original 1965-vintage, saucer-shaped bunkers installed by legendary golf course architect Robert Bruce Harris.

The project also includes:

* Four separate teeing areas on every hole to accommodate various levels of play and provide elasticity in course length. The separate tee areas will replace the original tee box design, which consisted of one long tee box with room for three sets of tees, one behind the other. All tees will be squared-off in order to give them a "classic design" appearance.

* All old greens will be re-graded and re-grassed to recapture original pin placements or create new ones. The existing poa annua greens will be converted to G-2 bentgrass to provide high-quality putting surfaces.

* Adding fairway bailout areas not in the original design.

* Dramatically upgrading all playing surfaces. Original bluegrass tees and fairways will be converted to bentgrass.

* Incorporating fescue to provide contrast, texture, and wildlife habitats throughout the course. "Eyebrows" of fescue lining and defining bunkers will provide continuity with Blackhawk Trace.

* Installing new irrigation and drainage systems to improve overall course conditions.

"During our renovations at Indian Lakes, our goal has been to raise the golf courses to the highest standards of conditioning, challenge, and aesthetics demanded by today's golfers," Jacobson said. "One of the ways to make golf more fun and more interesting is to create holes that are memorable both visually and strategically."

For those familiar with the East Course, Jacobson plans to save hole Nos. 2, 6, 8 (which will be the new 7th), 9, 10, 11, 16, and 17. As mentioned, the island green will be on No. 8 - or No. 26 in the context of the entire 27-hole track.

The new practice area will feature:

* A 10,000-square-foot putting green
* A double-sided driving range with an area for private instruction on the far side of the range
* Five target greens
* A short game practice area for chipping, pitching, and sand bunker practice
* Nearly an acre of turf teeing area on the driving range along with artificial turf tee areas.

Hilton Indian Lakes Resort is located at 250 W. Schick Road in Bloomingdale, about 25 miles west of downtown Chicago and 12 miles from O'Hare International Airport.

Jacobson is known for such heralded 18-hole designs as Augustine GC in Stafford, Va., Bull Run CC in Haymarket, Va., Bear Trap Dunes in Ocean View, Del., and Morningstar Golf Club in Mukwonago Wis. Bayside Resort and Golf Club was named among the top new courses for 2006 by Golf Digest and Golfweek magazines. The course was a collaboration of Jacobson and his former mentor and employer, Jack Nicklaus.

Sad News: For Southern Illinois Golf Association

January 28th, 2008, the SIGA, the Game of Golf, and the World lost an ambassador and a friend. Mr. Phil Heckel, President of Crab Orchard Golf Club, father of Steve Heckel, and friend of many has passed away at the age of 93. Mr. Heckel was a wonderful Husband, Dad, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, and as we all know, a great person. Our hearts go out to Ruth, Steve, and the rest of the Heckel family and all who knew and were touched by Phil. He was an SIGA distinguished service award winner, a great friend and supporter of the game of golf and the SIGA, and will truly be missed.

DePaul Men’s Golf Takes Fifth Place at Ron Smith/USF Invitational

DADE CITY, Fla. – Senior Will Cumberland carded a two-under-par final round as the DePaul men’s golf team closed out the Ron Smith/USF Invitational on Sunday. The Blue Demons earned a fifth-place finish following three rounds at the Lake Jovita Country Club.

Cumberland concluded a strong three-day performance with a final round of 70, bringing his 54-hole total to an even-par 216. His three-round score matched a career-best while giving him a tie for 12th place in the individual standings. In addition, Sunday’s round saw Cumberland birdie five holes.

Four birdies helped junior Cory Blenkush meet par on Sunday with a final round of 72. He closed the tournament locked in a tie for 20th overall with a three-round score of 219. Senior Matthew McMahon carded a round of 73 on Sunday and finished in a tie for 32nd with a 54-hole total of 222. Senior Nick Martin tied for 38th with a three-round score of 223, while freshman Greg Doherty earned a share of 48th place with a 54-hole score of 224.

The Blue Demons finished the tournament 13 shots over par with a combined score of 877. Middle Tennessee State topped the field of 18 teams with a six-under-par score of 858. BIG EAST Conference rival Marquette shared second place with Florida Southern as each team posted a total of 872.

Mike Van Sickle of Marquette won the individual title with an eight-under-par score of 208.

DePaul returns to competition, March 31-April 1 at the Larry Nelson Invitational in Braselton, Georgia. The three-round tournament is hosted by Kennesaw State at the Chateau Elan Resort.

llinois Garners Men's Golfer of the Week

Scott Langley, Illinois
Fr., Manchester, Mo. / Parkway South
Langley averaged a 69.33 (-8, 208) to claim top honors over the course of the three-round Argonaut Invitational in which the freshman led his squad to a second-place finish. Langley's second round effort of 65 ties for the fourth-best 18-hole score in Illinois history. He becomes the second Illinois golfer to win a title this season. This marks the first time since the 2002-03 season that the Illini have had multiple individual tournament victories. Langley takes home his first career weekly honor.

DePaul's Men's Golf Ties for Eighth Place at Texas-San Antonio Intercollegiate

SAN ANTONIO – Junior Cory Blenkush carded a par round of 71 on Tuesday as the DePaul men’s golf team closed out the Texas-San Antonio Intercollegiate. The Blue Demons tied for eighth in the team standings following the three-round tournament at the Oak Hills Country Club.

Blenkush tied four other golfers for 12th place in the individual standings with a 54-hole total of 219. The Blue Demon junior posted two identical rounds of 74 on Monday and finished seven shots behind tournament winner Noah Goldman of Mississippi State.

Sophomore Greg Doherty closed the tournament in a seven-way tie for 18th place. His final-round score of 72 brought his 54-hole total to an eight-over-par 221. Senior Matthew McMahon followed in a tie for 33rd place with a total score of 224, while junior Nick Martin’s three-round total of 229 earned a tie for 53rd overall.

Senior Will Cumberland tied for 60th place with a 54-hole score of 230. Michael Gammon competed as an individual and placed 86th with a total of 252.

Mississippi State won the team title with a combined score of 864, while Texas Tech took second place with a total of 873. DePaul and tournament host Texas-San Antonio finished competition with identical scores of 890.

The Blue Demons return to action, February 29-March 2, at the Ron Smith Invitational. The three-round tournament, hosted by BIG EAST Conference rival USF, is played at the Lake Jovita Country Club in Dade City, Florida.

Quinney makes an ace, but Mickelson keeps the Northern Trust Open lead

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. (AP) -- Phil Mickelson lost his cushion, but not the lead Saturday at the Northern Trust Open.

Mickelson watched Jeff Quinney make a hole-in-one on the fabled sixth hole at Riviera that erased a four-shot margin, but saved par on the 18th hole for a 1-under 70 to stay in the lead and move one step closer to adding this trophy to his West Coast collection.

Quinney made a 35-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 67 that set up what appears to be a two-man race in the final round.

Mickelson, whose 15 victories on the West Coast Swing have come in every city but Los Angeles, was at 11-under 202. He missed the green to the right on the final hole, chipped 7 feet by and saved par.

"I thought it was a good, solid round," Mickelson said. "It should be an interesting and tough day tomorrow."

Quinney delivered the best shot, and maybe the worst.

Along with his hole-in-one that he could hear, but not see, Quinney bladed a wedge over the green on the par-5 11th that led to a two-shot swing in Mickelson's favor, then spent the rest of the gorgeous afternoon trying to catch up.

Quinney was at 203, four shots ahead of everyone else.

John Rollins fell back with consecutive bogeys and had to settle for a 69 that left him at 6-under 207. Scott Verplank, who opened his round with a four-putt from 30 feet on the fringe, shot 71 and was another shot back with Stuart Appleby (69) and Vaughn Taylor (71).

"Other than Tiger, he's probably the next best front-runner," Verplank said of Mickelson, who is 21-7 with a 54-hole lead. "He's awful good. So I'm going to have to play exceptionally well, and probably then would need a little bit of help."

Mickelson also had a one-shot lead last year going into the final round, losing in a playoff to Charles Howell. There were five players within three shots of the lead a year ago, but only Quinney, a former U.S. Amateur champion who has not won on the PGA TOUR, appears to be in his way this time.

"He's going to bring a lot to the table," Quinney said. "I have to bring my best to the table."

Quinney did not sound the least bit concerned about a four-shot deficit to Mickelson, saying after his second round that Riviera is not the type of course where one has to shoot 64 to make up ground.

Then, he looked as though he might do just that.

Quinney birdied the first hole with a long chip across the green on the par 5, then gained another shot when Lefty three-putted for bogey on No. 4. Quinney then holed a 20-foot birdie putt to reduce the lead to one-shot going into the sixth hole, famous for having a bunker in the middle of the green.

He thought that's where his 7-iron was headed. But it landed just to the side, rolled down the slope and into the cup.

Back on the tee, Quinney had already turned away and was looking over his shoulder when he heard the crowd erupt, the sure sign that he had made ace. He ran toward his caddie, unsure whether to hug or high-five, and it turned out to be a clumsy celebration.

"We need to get that organized," he said.

That gave him the lead, but only for as long as Mickelson hit 8-iron to 5 feet and made birdie, putting both at 10 under.

They matched birdies at No. 10 -- Quinney with a wedge to 2 feet, Mickelson by driving to the front of the green -- and neither showed signs of backing down. But everything changed with one swing.

Mickelson was on the par-5 11th green in two, Quinney just short of the bunker. Quinney caught two much ball, however, and it sailed over the green. He chipped back to 15 feet and did well to escape with bogey.

Even so, it was a two-shot swing after Mickelson made birdie, and Lefty kept his margin.

Mickelson had the 54-hole lead at Riviera last year, only this time the odds are even more in his favor. Five players were separated by three shots last year, while this appears to be a two-man race.

"Daylight is up front, first and second," Appleby said. "If I can shoot a good round tomorrow, 4 or 5 under, that would be a good score. Now, what's that mean for the tournament? Does that threaten the top? Probably not. It's not really an open tournament."

Divots: Pat Perez isn't any more optimistic about the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship than he was last week, when he thought he was playing Tiger Woods in the first round and didn't want to embarrass himself. He was told Saturday morning he would be playing Phil Mickelson. "Yeah, that's much better, because he's playing like (dirt) right now," Perez said with typical sarcasm. J.B. Holmes will play Woods and had a different outlook. "I'm in," he said. "That's all that matters." ... Marc Turnesa was on his way home Saturday morning until John Merrick missed a 4-foot par putt, meaning 78 players made the cut at 3 over. Turnesa then shot 67 and moved up to a tie for 29th at 1-under 212.