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University of Illinois Golf Coach Mike Small in route to a Medinah Course #1 record 63 in Round 2 of the Illinois PGA Section Championship. Photo by Nick Novelli.
MIKE SMALL has won the Illinois PGA Section Championship 12 times, he’s on his way to 13 wins, if he can hold it together for 18 more holes on Medinah’s #1 course on Wednesday.
Small shot 63 on Tuesday after burning up in Monday’s afternoons 97 degree heat, and higher winds. Small posted a 2 under par score for Round 1, and waited for an early tee time for Round 2. He wasted no time in taking full advantage of the early start.
Small came charging out of the blocks in Round 2, with an Eagle-Birdie-Birdie start. Small added another birdie on the 8th hole, before pumping in three more on the back nine. He didn’t make a bogey. Now it was his turn to sit back and watch the first round leaders, battle the higher winds and temperatures since they had afternoon tee times.
After Monday’s opening round, Small said he was making things tougher on himself by over-thinking the process, saying “I’m over-coaching myself.” On Tuesday Small made things easier on himself, and make his round of golf look easy too. He will be paired on Wednesday in the last group with Mistwood professional Frank Hohenadel, who ended Small’s 8 year winning streak in the event on the Medinah #1 course in 2011.
CLICK HERE to hear the interview with Championship leader Mike Small.
Hohenadel had a chance to be a first round leader when he came to his last hole the par 5, 9th on Monday, but he turned a solid chance for a birdie 4 in to a bogey 6, and settled into a solo 4th place position.
CLICK HERE to hear interviews with Mistwood’s Andy Mickelson and Frank Hohenadel.
But while the first round leaders took turns battling course 1 on Tuesday, making birdies and then giving shots back, Hohenadel keep pushing forward after starting the day 6 shots behind Small. By the 14th hole Hohenadel is one shot back and that is where he ended his round.
In 2011 Hohenadel didn’t play in the final group with Small, but he will get that chance this year. The third member of the last group will be Mistwood’s Andy Mickelson, who like Hohendael is one shot behind Small. Mickelson had a great run to the 2011 CGDA Amateur finals on Medinah #1. But the championship match that Mickelson lost in 37 holes was played on Course #3.
Frank Hohenadel putts during the second round of the Illinois PGA section championship. Photo by Nick Novelli
The Medinah professionals fell back in Round 2. Travis Johns with a 72 (+1) left at 4 under par, 6 shots behind Small. Brandon Moore shot 77 and is 11 shots back.
Glen View Clubs Jim Billiter who won the 2015 Section Champion on at the time the newly renovated Medinah #1 course sits in 4th place at 5 under par, after a second round 68.
Stonewall Orchard’s Brian Dalton set what is believed to be an IPGA Section Championship record, becoming the first player to make a hole-in-one on a par 4 hole, when he hit his driver 311 yards into the cup, on the par 4, third hole.
62 players made the cut and will play in the final round. The final group with the leaders will tee off at 11:10. With the trophy presentation being done immediately following play. If there is a need for a playoff, it will be three-holes, using holes 10-17 and 18.
Final round coverage right here tomorrow.