Writing from Glenview, Illinois
Tuesday, July 22, 2013
Vince India and Carlos Sainz are on their way up in golf, and by similar, if divergent, paths.
Each is playing in big-time golf’s version of Class AA, and succeeding. India is on the PGA Latino America Tour this year, while Sainz is playing, and winning, on the PGA Tour Canada.
Both are aiming for the next rung on the ladder, the web.com Tour, and can get there with top-five season finishes on their respective feeder tours.
First, they’ll chase a title closer to home and to their hearts: The Illinois Open.
India, a 24-year-old from Deerfield, jumped into the lead in the 64th annual carnival with a second round of 7-under-par 65 – for a 36-hole aggregate of 7-under 137 at the Glen Club and a two-stroke lead over a quartet that includes Sainz– on Tuesday.
India opened with an eagle 3 and was 9-under through 15 holes, one more birdie from tying the course record of 62. But two pars and an untidy double-bogey 7 at the last, in which he hit into the high fescue twice, prevented him from matching the standard set by Kris Mikkelson and matched by D.A. Points.
Regardless, the lead is the lead, and that’s fine with India, who owns three top-15 finishes on the Latino America Tour.
“I didn’t think I’d be all the way (to 7-under and the lead), but I like my spot,” India said. “It’s been a while, but I like playing in the final group. I’ll probably know a couple of the guys.”
He’ll know Sainz, the 26-year-old from Elgin who took a big step on Sunday by winning the Players Cup on the Canadian tour.
Now, not even 48 hours after holding the oversized check for $27,000 in his hands, Sainz is reaching for his state open, and the $17,000 prize that accompanies it.
Sainz is knotted with amateur Jack Watson and pros Michael Devan and Brad Hopfinger after a 36-hole aggregate of 5-under-par 139, built on rounds of 68 and 71, at the Glen Club. He scrambled for the 71, making the most of hitting only eight greens in regulation. Perhaps the lack of a break between tournaments – the Players Cup ended Sunday and the Illinois Open started Monday – caught up with him.
“I left Winnipeg at 6 a.m. Monday, got to O’Hare at 8, went home, took a nap for a couple of hours, then came out here (for a 2:10 p.m. Monday tee time),” Sainz said. “A couple of years of playing professional golf have really helped me out. I’m getting the right nutrition, eating right.”
Sainz plans to play in all nine Canadian tour tournaments, while India will go back to the multi-country grind of his tour when it comes back from the South American winter break in September. Meanwhile, he went on a tear on Tuesday, going out in 6-under-par 30 and throwing three more birdies on the card in succession beginning at the 13th. His longest putt in those adventures: a 15-footer at the par-9 ninth. His shortest: two inches at the par-4 15th, where he was that close to a second eagle in the round.
“An eagle’s like a kick in the butt,” India said of his exploit at the first hole, which included an approach shot out of a fairway divot. “It says, ‘Let’s do something special today.’ ”
India made that eagle and the seven birdies in a wind that reached 28 mph during one gust.
“I love the wind,” India said. “It provides opportunities for creativity and imagination.”
Devan’s story isn’t quite as exotic, but similar. The 2012 CDGA Amateur champion is 24 and playing the E-Tour. He’s from Hoopeston, a small town north of Danville on Illinois 1.
Amateur David Cook of Bolingbrook had the second-best round behind India’s 65, with a 6-under 66 that jumped him into a tie for sixth place from his T-59 position after 18 holes. Four of his eight birdies came on the final five holes.
Defending champion Max Scordo added a 76 to his opening 71 and stands at 3-over 147, 10 strokes behind the leader, entering the final round.
Around the Glen Club
The cut fell at 4-over-par 148 and encompassed 50 players. Among those making it on the number: amateurs Gabe Aprati, Thomas O’Bryan and John Wright, the latter exploding to an 8-over 80 in the second round after opening at 4-under 68. Seventeen amateurs made the cut. ... Among those missing by finishing at 5-over 149: Doug Bauman and Craig Onsrud. ... Josh Esler’s back flared up early in his second round, prompting his withdrawal. ... The leaders go off at 9:40 a.m., with the first groups starting at 7 a.m.
– Tim Cronin