Joe Cermak Wins 43rd Annual Joliet Amateur Title
June 2, 2008

Joe Cermak, a 2004 graduate of Saint Patrick High School, captured the 43rd Annual Joliet Amateur Golf Tournament, played at Wedgewood Golf Course May 31 and June 1, 2008. Cermak posted identical scores of four-under-par 68 in both rounds of the two-day event, for an eight-under-par total of 136. Cermak was comfortable with the layout at Wedgewood, "I went to school at St. Pat’s and JCA hosted conference every year, so what really helped me was that I was familiar with the course," Cermak said.

Only one other player, Scott TenBroeck was able to break par for the tournament as a combination of factors kept scores up. Stiff breezes blew all day Saturday, making it hard for players to control their shots, and difficult hole locations on Sunday made it tough to hit approach shots close to the pin.

Cermak fought through the wind on Saturday, and he emerged as the first round leader, tied with Ten Broeck and Matthew Denison. On Sunday, Cermak sent a message to the rest of the field early. "I started out real quick," Cermak said in an understatement. He opened with birdies on the first three holes. Birdies at six and twelve put Cermak at nine-under-par for the tournament, with six holes to play, within striking distance of the tournament record of 11-under par. From there, Cermak focused on making pars and minimizing mistakes to win the tournament.

Cermak plans to turn professional later this summer, "I'm going to turn pro for the Illinois Open," Cermak said. "So I am going to play a few more amateur tournaments in the area to just prepare and get myself ready for the professional circuit." The 58th Annual Illinois Open will be played at The Glen Club in Glenview August 6, 7, and 8. Playing as an amateur, Cermak finished tied for second place at last year’s Illinois Open, two strokes behind Mike Small of Champaign. Small is the Head Golf Coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.