Hodenadel chases second Illinois PGA title

By Tim Cronin

Reporting from Ivanhoe, Illinois

Monday, August 23, 2021

Frank Hodenadel, when asked what winning a second Illinois PGA title would mean, notes, “That was two jobs ago.”

Hodenadel, currently at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville, was an assistant at Midlothian when he beat the field by four strokes at Medinah No. 1 a decade ago. Monday’s first round of the 100th Illinois PGA Championship, a 3-under-par 69 on Ivanhoe Club’s championship course, saw him earn a one-stroke advantage on his 115 peers. All because, he thinks, of a swing adjustment urged on him by fellow Mistwood pro Andy Mickelson, who sits tied for third at 1-under 71.

“I’ve been fighting a hook my whole life,” Hohenadel said. “Andy is always telling me I’m shut coming back.”

That means the clubface will promote a hook coming through the ball. Hodenadel’s slight adjustment opened the face of the club and voila! No more hook.

Instead, after a quiet first 13 holes, he birdied three of the last five to sit ahead of Tim Streng, whose 2-under 70 was the best afternoon score, and a gaggle at 1-under 71 including both Mickelson and 13-time winner Mike Small, the coach of Illinois’ men’s team. Garrett Chaussard and Eric Ilic are also at 71. Steve Gillie and Travis Hall are at even par 72.

Small, unsurprisingly, is the defending champion. Hodenadel won when the iPhone was new.

“I was a kid,” Hohenadel said. “It was my first year of eligibility (as a Class A pro). Now the event means a lot more to me.”

Hohenadel, finishing on the front nine, birdied the fifth, eighth and ninth holes to race to 3-under and the lead.

Streng played quietly, saving pars along the way, scoring a brace of birdies, including one at the par-5 ninth, his last hole of the day, achieved this way: 5-iron, 7-iron, wedge, 8-foot putt.

“Just tried to keep it in play,” Streng said. “I hit two drivers all day, a lot of 4-irons. Maybe my driving iron once. The fairways narrow where you’d hit driver.”

Small credited salvaging a par on the fifth hole from an unplayable lie in weeds as a key to his 71. He wasn’t happy that the setup effectively took driver out of his hand. He also hit driver twice. But he said in comparison to Sunday’s practice round, “it probably exceeded my expectations.”

Small, in winning 13 times, has come from behind and led the parade. In 10 of his victories, there’s at least one round of 67 or better, no matter where it’s been played. If he does that on Tuesday, the field could well be chasing him in Wednesday’s final round.

Mickelson, 40, picked a 20-foot birdie on the par-4 16th as his highlight, noting he was wary all day.

“It’s not an easy golf course to be comfortable on,” Mickelson said. “There are some angles on tee shots, and there’s always some water or out-of-bounds present.”

Mickelson is eager to capture his first Illinois major. He and Hohenadel tied for second last year, four strokes in arrears. 

Around Ivanhoe

Brian Dalton and Greg Bauman had the secret of the 17th hole on Monday. Each aced the 187-yard test, Dalton with a 7-iron in the first group of the day, and Bauman with a 6-iron shortly thereafter. … Brian Kribs and Marcus Yado each scored exactly 100. …  The field averaged about 79.5 strokes on the par 72, 6,862 yard course.