SPEARS ON GOLF: Rust-Oleum Paints the Web.com Tour with Local Color

The Web.com Tour is ready to make its mark in the Chicago area with a new championship at the Ivanhoe Club (near Mundelein) from June 6–12.

The Rust-Oleum Corporation, based in Vernon Hills, is the tournament sponsor. The company’s president and COO, Tom Reed, is a member at Ivanhoe, so it seems like a perfect fit.

“Tom Reed was very instrumental in getting Rust-Oleum to come here,” Ivanhoe head professional Jim Sobb said of the Rust-Oleum Championship. “Last year he brought out some of the people the company has in its upper management positions to see the club and the course, and by last fall a deal was in place to have the championship here for the next three years. The club is thrilled to have them here.”

If you’re wondering what the Web.com Tour is, it’s for players who are not full-time members of the PGA Tour. Web.com players are either young up-and-comers who are close to joining the PGA Tour or are onetime PGA Tour competitors who need time to get their games back in form after layoffs, injuries, or a season where they did not play well enough to retain their tour card.

The Web.com tour has plenty of very talented players, and some of them have connections to the Chicago area or Illinois in general. According to tournament director Scott Cassin, the following local players are expected to compete: Vince India of Deerfield, who was the runner-up in the Illinois Open last year; Brad Hopfinger, a native of Lake Forest who went on to play college golf at the University of Iowa; former University of Illinois team member Brian Campbell; and Jonathan Byrd, a past champion of the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic.

But when it came to handing out the tournament’s first sponsor’s exemption, it was an easy choice, says Cassin. Michael Schachner, who is playing golf on multiple tours and at times in Web.com tournaments, was awarded that exemption. Schachner basically grew up at the Ivanhoe Club, learning the game there after his dad, Bob Schachner, joined the club. 

When you look on the walls of Ivanhoe, it’s easy to see the Schachners are a golfing family. Michael’s name is listed as the club’s Boys Junior Champion more than once. Michael’s sister, Nicole Schachner, was the Girls Junior Club Champion in multiple years and is a past winner of the Illinois Women’s Open at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville. 

Michael surprised everyone when he showed up at the Ivanhoe High School Invitational as a freshman on the Libertyville High School golf team. Sobb says that Schachner shot a 2-under-par 70 that opened some eyes. Schachner continued to play well in high school, earning a scholarship to play Division I college golf at Duke University.

While competing for Duke in the NCAA national championship, Schachner shot a round of 60 on the Golden Horseshoe course in Williamsburg, Va. Some 10 years later, his record for lowest score in the NCAA national championship still stands.

Par on the course is 70, and at one point he was 11 under through 14 holes. He just needed four pars for a 59. One bogey and two lipped-out birdie attempts later, he signed for a 60.

“I was 11 under through 14 holes, and then made a silly bogey on 15,” Schachner said. “I made six on a par 5 from 100 yards out—that would be the shot I would like back. But it was an awesome day, and my mom, who has now passed away, was there to see it. She let out a scream on 14 when I made a 45-footer for birdie. I’ll never forget that.”

Now Schachner is trying to make sure he doesn’t forget any of the home-course knowledge he’ll need during tournament week.

“My best score here at Ivanhoe is, like, 66,” said Schachner. “I hope I have a few of those come tournament time. I will know the course here better than anyone else in the field that week, and I know that can’t hurt.”

After all the years Schachner has spent at Ivanhoe, is he surprised that the course is finally hosting a professional tournament at the level of the Web.com Tour?

“I played high school tournaments here, but I always knew Ivanhoe could host a bigger tournament,” said Schachner. “It will be neat to see how it holds up, how various players attack the course and what the winning score turns out to be. I’m not saying Ivanhoe will host a major someday, but it’s going to be a good test of golf. Depending on how the course is set up, there are some holes that could give the players fits.”

Schachner travels all over the country playing tournaments, and he’s excited that many of his friends and family will get to see him play close to home.

“I’m thrilled that my friends on this tour will get to see where I grew up learning the game,” Schachner said. “I have three of my college teammates in the field, and Tuesday night of tournament week I’m having a cookout, and everyone is looking forward to it.”

Schachner says he is grateful to Reed and Cassin for the exemption, but he’s looking forward to playing his way into as many Web.com tournaments as he can, as he missed the final stage of the Web.com tour school by two shots. He is also trying to play his way into a couple of PGA Tour events.

A win at Ivanhoe could make a life a lot easier for Schachner. A top-25 finish on the Web.com money list earns a player a PGA Tour card for the next season, which is something Schachner could use at this point in his career. But right now he will settle for one great week at his home course.

Sobb is also wondering how his home course will hold up against these younger, big-hitting players. After all, he does hold the course record with a 64.

“I think the players could go low if it’s not windy and the course doesn’t dry out too much,” says Sobb. “I think if a low score comes, it will be on one of the first two days, and probably not on the weekend. But I’m hoping Michael Schachner goes low. He knows the course and it could be in his wheelhouse.”