Tuesday, August 26, 2014

    Chi Chi Rodriguez, noting the light schedule compared with most golfing tourists, once called Jack Nicklaus “a legend in his spare time.”
    The same could be said, and not just within the borders of the state of Illinois, of Mike Small. The Illinois men’s golf coach has had great success in guiding his recruits to a slew of Big Ten titles, and was within an eyelash of an NCAA crown two springs ago.
    But on his own time, Small has compiled an uncommonly spectacular resume. He’s won 15 state majors, three PGA National Professional (a.k.a. Club Pro) titles, contended in the Western Open, and twice has been the low club pro in the PGA Championship.
    The 15 in the above paragraph may well change to 16 on Wednesday. Small, the defending champion, has a five-stroke lead on 2012 winner Steve Orrick and two-time runner-up Matt Slowinski entering the final round of the 92nd Illinois PGA Championship at Stonewall Orchard Golf Course in Grayslake.
    Should Small win, it will be his 11th IPGA title. Nobody else has more than six, that total belonging to Johnny Revolta. Bill Ogden collected five section crowns among his 12 state majors.
    Ogden, a shotmaker who prided himself on rising to the occasion, would see something of himself in Small, who plays sparingly thanks to his Illinois schedule, which includes coaching in season, recruiting when allowed, and leading fundraising efforts for the new practice facility the Fighting Illini will soon enjoy. Small doesn’t play often, but more often than not, he comes to play.
    Tuesday, for instance, he woke up the leader, scoring birdies on the second, third and fourth holes, then eagled the par-5 eighth. He was 10-under for 27 holes at the turn, and, after weathering a 100-minute thunderstorm delay – the third long wait for the weather to play through in two days – cruised home with an even-par 36 on the back nine for a second straight 5-under 67 and a total of 10-under 134 after 36 holes.
    What Small was not was completely satisfied.
    “I had to make three hard pars coming in,” Small said. “I regrouped and almost made birdie on the last hole but overall it’s a good round. It could have been really good.”
    His big par save came on the 16th, when he plunked his tee shot in the water and still managed a par 4.
    Orrick (70) and Slowinski (69) are at 5-under 139, with 58-year-old Jim Sobb, the sage of Ivanhoe, at 4-under 140 after a 4-under 68 moved him up the chart in quest of a fourth IPGA gonfalon. Mike Haase, at 3-under and seven off Small’s pace, is likely the only other player with a shot at the title, and then, only if Small runs into misadventure during the final round.
    Twelve players broke par, and another four are at even par 144 with a round to go. The cut fell at 10-over 154, with 61 survivors.
    Small, Orrick and Slowinski tee off at 9:30 a.m. Small knows what to expect.
    “You want to come out and play from the positive side of everything,” Small said. “Every round and tournament is different. It has its own personality. You just try to adapt to it and play good golf and that’s what I will do tomorrow.”

    – Tim Cronin