Emory comes through in Illinois Open

Writing from Naperville, Illinois

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Bryce Emory managed to stay in the moment on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Aurora native had wanted to win the Illinois Open for the longest time.

This was his chance, at White Eagle Golf Club, not far from home.

“This is my 10th appearance, approximately,” Emory said. “I turned pro at this in 2013.”

Emory opened the day as the leader by four strokes. He closed the day as the leader by four strokes, and the champion.

There was more drama than the above paragraph may suggest. At one point, the lead evaporated, the result of bogeying both par 5s on the front while Ethan Brue of downstate Ashland played the first five holes in 2-under-par.

The tie at 5-under didn’t last long. Brue was making a dog’s breakfast of the par-4 seventh. Suffice it to say he one-putted for a quadruple-bogey 8 after dunking his third shot in a pond.

Meanwhile, Emory birdied the ninth and 10th holes to climb to 7-under and out of anyone’s reach. The back nine was effectively a parade for the mini-tour veteran, with a $19,928 reward at the end of the trail.

He dropped a 115-yard wedge shot two feet from the cup on No. 9 and sank a 7-foot downhill putt for a birdie on No. 10. Another birdie on the par-4 14th, where his approach into the right green side bunker negated a maddening pin placement, sealed the deal.

Emory hit 13 fairways and 15 greens en route to his 1-under-par 71 for a total of 8-under 208. He could almost coast home after the birdies on the ninth and 10th holes.

“A little bit,” Emory allowed. “I knew I was swinging it well. I know after I two-putted the 16th hole, I was in good shape.”

The four-stroke victory is a rout in golf terms, and matches the margin David Cooke had over Nick Hardy last year at The Glen Club.

“It’s definitely my biggest win so far,” said Emory, with proud father and caddie Bob steps away.

The whole Emory family seemed to be out for what he termed a home game. The gallery of around 400, the largest for a local competition in years, was swelled by White Eagle members and various Emorys.

Jack Korzon didn’t win, but coming in second after lurking for two days was a success for the 24-year-old budding pro. He’s trying the mini tours in his second summer after graduating from Lewis University. The $12,455 he won this week is his biggest check as a pro.

“I’ve been trying hard for a couple of years and I think I made a breakthrough today,” Korzon said.

The centerpiece of his 3-under 69 for 4-under 212 was an eagle on the par-5 17th, which moved him a stroke ahead of Charlie Netzel and Tim “Tee-K” Kelly.

“I’ve been digging deep,” Korzon said. “It’s tough out there, week-in, week-out.’

Netzel and Kelly know that. Kelly his his opening tee shot out of bounds, scrambling for a bogey and settled for par 72. Netzel had three birdies and an eagle – like Korzon, on the 17th – and also was stuck at 72. Golf can be hard.

Emory knows that. He’s bounced between mini tours and differing forms of status on lower-level PGA Tour-affiliated circuits, but still longs for hitting the big time. Wednesday, he had something of a taste of what the stars have. People were there to see him. The last time that happened?

“Probably never,” Emory said. “I’ve played in U.S. Open sectionals with PGA Tour pros, but people were there to see the guys.”

Around White Eagle

Look for another visit of the Illinois Open to White Eagle within a couple of years. The gallery at the awards ceremony, most of the White Eagle members, applauded warmly when director of golf Curtis Malm suggested a repeat engagement. Illinois PGA executive director Carrie Williams said the section wants to return. … The field averaged 73.72 strokes, with both the first and 16th holes averaging a half-stroke over par. The par-5 14th, with a treacherous pin position that saw many approaches and a few putts roll over the green into a collection area, averaged 4.80 strokes. “That pin was awful today,” Emory said. “The bunker might have been the best place to be.”

– Tim Cronin