Baumgarten, Meyer lead Illinois Open parade

Writing from Flossmoor, Illinois

Monday, July 31, 2023

Often in the Illinois Open, the early birds get the birdies. For the most part, such was the case Monday at Flossmoor Golf Club, where the challenging course, softened by overnight dew, was more forgiving to those in the morning wave of the 74th iteration than competitors in the afternoon.

The first-round leaders, Bryan Baumgarten of Chicago and Dylan Meyer of Evansville, Ind., started the route to their matching 5-under-par 67s at 8:20 and 8:40 a.m. respectively. Jimmy Morton of Sugar Grove and amateur Danny Fisher of Lake Forest, joint third entering Tuesday’s second round, carved out 3-under 69s beginning at 7:50 and 8:10 a.m. Two more followed in the afternoon, one by Mike Small, who coached Baumgarten and Meyer while they were at Illinois, joining Morton and Fisher at 3-under with an eagle 3 on the par-5 18th via an approach striped to within two feet of the cup. Quinn Clifford, benefiting from a hole-in-one, had the other 69.

Former Illinois Open winners Vince India, now on the Korn Ferry Tour, and White Eagle Golf Club general manager Curtis Malm are among those tied for seventh at 2-under 70. Anthony Albono Jr. and amateur Nikko Ganas also scored 70s.

This largesse reverses itself in the second round, when the Monday morning crowd commences hostilities after lunch while the Monday afternoon gaggle, led by Small, awakes with the rooster on a short turnaround. It evens out, but for now, Baumgarten and Meyer, who were teammates at Illinois before turning pro, have taken full advantage.

Baumgarten, for instance, made eight birdies, including four of the last six holes on the back nine, which he played first. He was 5-under through his first 10 holes, bogeyed Nos. 2 and 3, then added a pair of birdies on the way home.

“The course was in great condition so if you play good proper golf, you can figure your way around the golf course,” Baumgarten said. “That’s what I did today and it kind of worked out for me. I made a couple of putts today, and when I hit a good shot, I was able to capitalize. I think the greens are great out here so when you hit a good putt you have a good chance of making it.

Baumgarten has been under the radar, playing only twice in world-ranking level tournaments this year, with a best finish of a tie for 59th in the Blot Open de Bretagne in France.

Under a rule introduced last year, non-residents of Illinois can play if they went to college in the state. That’s how Meyer, who grew up in Evansville, Ind., made his way into the field, along with five others from across the border.

Meyer’s best PGA Tour finish is a tie for seventh in the 2018 Sanderson Farms Championship, though his tie for 20th in the 2018 U.S. Open resonates more deeply. In each, he won about $120,000, but pickings have been slip the last couple of years.

“I’ve been hitting well the last couple of weeks, and it was just a matter of time before the putter started catching up with my ball striking,” Meyer said. “I think it’s great that they allow people that played college golf in Illinois play in the State Open. I was very happy when I found out about that.”

Small wasn’t surprised that some of his notables were atop the pylon.

“When Dylan graduated, he was the No. 2 amateur in the world,” Small said. “He had some success early and now he’s fighting his way back. Bryan, he’s a good player. I tell my players when they come in the peak for golfers is their mid-30s, so keep working at it.”

Around Flossmoor 

Quinn Clifford aced the 103-yard 13th hole, using a 56-degree wedge. … Amateur Lester Low, a 13-year-old from Evanston, scored 5-over 77 but eagled the 625-yard par-5 ninth hole, holing out from 150 yards. It was the only eagle on the hole from the 168-man field.

– Tim Cronin