Medinah, Mistwood pros dominate Illinois PGA's first round

Writing from Medinah, Illinois

Monday, August 24, 2020

Brandon Moore has a fan club at Medinah Country Club.

It’s his fellow professionals.

Monday, Moore gave them something to shout about, firing a 5-under-par 66 to grab a share of the lead in the 99th Illinois PGA Championship.

A 28-year-old who got his start in golf in Medinah’s bag room in 2014 and is now the club’s co-head pro, Moore worked his magic on the back nine of the club’s No. 1 course, which was his opening nine for the first round. He birdied the 10th hole from a greenside bunker, slammed in a 142-yard pitching wedge out of the rough for an eagle 2 on the par-4 14th, and chipped in for birdie on the par-3 18th.

“I was able to hit some good shots,” Moore deadpanned. “I was hitting the driver good, just kept giving myself opportunities.”

When he needed to use a putter, good things happened, as in a birdie on the par-4 16th.

The 5-under 30 opening nine was a tough act to follow. He played the course’s front nine in even-par 36. Nobody was able to top that, but fellow Medinah pro Travis Johns and Mistwood’s Andy Mickelson matched him at the top of the pile, compiling bogey-free rounds.

“That might be the greatest thing ever,” Johns said of Moore’s opening round. “That is so awesome that he’s 5-under. The kid never gets to play golf. That’s pretty impressive. I hope he has two more days. All the members love him.”

Johns had seven 3s on his card, which never hurts. Three of them were for birdie.

“I think I got what I wanted out of the round,” Johns said. “The putting was good. There were a couple of really loose shots, but thankfully they were on the correct side. It was there for the taking today, a little bit.”

Mickelson called his effort the best of his year, and he’s had a better than average year.

“My short game has been pretty good, and my putting’s been pretty good, and I’m starting to have spurts where I’ve hit it well,” Mickelson said. “Today, it was gettable. I played 16 great holes and kinda held on the last two. I shot what I should have shot, more or less.”

His day’s highlights included a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 1, his 10th hole of the day.

The three 66ers are one stroke ahead of Mistwood’s Frank Hohenadel, who scattered seven birdies across his scorecard but settled for 4-under 67. Skokie’s Garrett Chaussard is two in arrears after a 3-under 68.

That whole crowd played in the morning, before the day’s heat really took effect, and when the greens were receptive. Conditions in the afternoon were more testing, and Illinois coach Mike Small, a 12-time Illinois PGA winner, took advantage to post 2-under 69. Only he, White Eagle’s Curtis Malm and Glen View Club’s Jim Billiter (both also at 69) were under par in the afternoon.

Around Medinah

Overall, 11 players were under par and five more were at level 71, with the average score 76.83. … Every hole played over par, with the par-4 fourth a whopping 0.63 strokes over par. … The winner of this 54-hole battle will collect $9,000 from the purse of $75,000. … Illinois PGA staffer Dana Gattone, a Medinah member, won the women’s club championship over the weekend – by 38 strokes.

– Tim Cronin