Kelly bursts into Illinois Open lead

Writing from Aurora, Illinois

Monday, August 2, 2021

In the career arc that pros chasing the PGA Tour dream ride, Tim “Tee-K” Kelly is still on the way up. The 27-year old proved that last week with a tie for third in a Forme Tour tournament at Purdue, and again on Monday when, hours after a twilight practice round, he scored 6-under-par 66 at Stonebridge Country Club to take the first-round lead in the 72nd Illinois Open.

Kelly, who grew up and practices at Medinah Country Club, birdied four of his last eight holes, including the last two, in crafting his bogey-free round. He credits the ability to play golf again with something on the line for his improved form.

“It was tough (last year),” Kelly said of the COVID-created halt to the stepping-stone tours. “When you’re trying to play golf for a living and you can’t, you don’t feel like you’re doing anything.”

So Kelly practiced, worked with teacher John Perna to hone his game, and has seen the effort pay off. This week’s opportunity could earn Kelly around $20,000 if he wins and if the purse equals recent payouts.

But the big goal remains making the big tour.

“Every year, I’ve gotten better and better,” Kelly said. “Until that shuts down and I’m not improving, I’ll keep playing.”

Others in the field have taken that ride, and several are on the verge of it. Adam Turner, the 1999 Illinois Open winner as an amateur, went through college, turned pro, and now, at 44, is in the process of regaining his amateur status.

“I played (mini-tours) for seven or eight years, was an assistant for three years, and then got out of golf,” said Turner, who calls Galesburg home, is married with three daughters, and is a financial advisor. “Golf took a back seat for a while.”

Monday, he turned back the clock with a 4-under 68, including four birdies in his last eight holes. He’s joined at 4-under by Britt Pavelonis of Carbondale, David Perkins of East Peoria, Garrett Chaussard of Park Ridge, Blake Olson of Wheeling, Luke Gannon of Mahomet and Zack Wax of Downers Grove.

Unless there’s a major upturn in his play, Daniel Stringfellow of Roselle will follow Turner and apply to regain his amateur standing at season’s end. His 1-under 71 proves he can still bring it, but the road gets weary.

“I’ve been interviewing for jobs,” said Stringfellow, 28, who won an IHSA title at St. Viator. “I’ve spent my whole life chasing the PGA Tour. It’s been tough, but I’ve met so many great people.

“It’s a grind. If it was easy, everyone would do it. If I can’t play, I might want to find something else to do.”

Perkins is, like Kelly, on the way up. At 23, the Illinois State grad has been a pro for less than two months, making his 68 the best he’s scored with cash on the line. He missed the cut last month at the John Deere Classic, where he got a sponsor’s exemption, but relished the experience mixing with tour pros.

“I learned a lot about myself,” Perkins said. “I learned about how they carry themselves. Everyone hits it good. It’s who makes putts in a week that wins.

“I’m in the ‘go get it’ stage, because (the odds) are the same for everybody. I’m two months in and it feels like I’ve done it for a year. But one week can change your life.”

Mike Small, who scored 3-under 69 Monday in quest of a record-tying fifth Illinois Open title and is tied for ninth, felt like that for a long time. The star at Danville High and Illinois made the Tour and kept his card for several years, until he lost it in 1998. Then his perspective changed.

“I was fighting my game,” Small said. “I wanted to get back on Tour, but then Illinois offered the coaching job, and I had two kids. If the coaching job hadn’t come around, I’d still be playing. My advice to those getting away from it is, find something you can do to distance yourself from golf.”

Small, 55, turned the Illinois program into a powerhouse, and has picked up 18 state majors along the way. He called Monday’s round “smoke and mirrors,” because he chipped in twice to save par.

Around Stonebridge

While Stonebridge played some four strokes over its par of 72, good scores were numerous: 23 players finished under par and another 19 were at par through 18 holes. … Chaussard birdied four of his last six holes, making some 70 feet of putts, including a 25-footer on No. 13 and a 20-footer at the last. … Rich Dukelow hit the equivalent of the wall in Turn 1, making a sextuple-bogey 11 on the first hole en route to an uncharacteristic 85. … Amateur Ben Sieg posted a quintuple-bogey 10 on the 14th hole, signed for an 81, and was disqualified.

– Tim Cronin