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THE GOG BLOG- RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf, follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy, and on Facebook/LinkedIn or Instagram. Reporting from Medinah Country Club-Medinah IL.
Mike Small holds the IPGA Section Championship trophy for the 13th time, behind the 18th green at the Medinah Country Club.-Championship photo by Nick Novelli.
MAKE IT 13-it’s the Bakers Dozen for University of Illinois golf coach Mike Small, who just keeps winning the Illinois PGA Section Championship.
Small’s final round 3 under par 68 did the trick, as the University of Illinois golf coach had to fend off several charges made at his lead that he held for 17 holes of the final round.
The key for Small was getting off two another quick start for the second straight day, with birdies on the first two holes. he made his only bogey of the round a few holes later on the front nine, he had a bogey free back nine. From the purse of $75,000, Small took home the winners check of $9,000.00.
Mike Small knocks in the winning putt on the 18th green at Medinah to win the 2020 IPGA Section Championship.
Two Mistwood Golf professionals Andy Mickelson and Frank Hohenadel, who started the round one shot back of Small, took turns trying to over-take him. Neither one could. Although after 8 holes Mickelson caught Small, but that didn’t last, Mickelson’s bogey on the par 5, 9th hole put him behind Small for good.
By the middle of the back nine, Mickelson had fallen 6 shots back of Small, even birdies on 17 and 18, after two 18-20 foot long putts by Mickelson, turned out to be too-little too late.
Mistwood’s Director of Golf Andy Mickelson pumps his fist after a closing birdie on 18.
As Mickelson dropped shots on the back-nine, Hohenadel made his charge. Down three shots at the turn, after an even-par front nine. Hohenadel made two early birdies on the back nine, to close within a shot but could never catch Small. Hohenadel left himself some good looks for birdies over the the last six holes, but the putts would just not drop. Hohenadel’s charge ran out of steam on the par 5 17th hole. The only par 5 on the back nine should have been a place for Hohenadel to take advantage of his length, but after his third shot went over the green, and his comeback chip slid back down to the front of green, he ended up making a bogey 6.
Frank Hohenadel misses a birdie putt on the 12th green that would have tied him with winner Mike Small.
Nine Illinois PGA Section professionals will join Small in Florida in the 54th PGA Professional Championship from April 25-25, 2021 at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie. The top 20 professionals at the PPC, will advance to the 103rd PGA Championship. Which will be held from May 20-23, on the Pete Dye designed Ocean Course at the Kiawah Island Resort, in Kiawah South Carolina.
Medinah professional and defending champion Travis Johns shot a final round 69 that left him in fourth place at 6 under par, and said he was “pleased with his final round” and was looking forward to returning to the PPC.
CLICK HERE TO HEAR INTERVIEWS with winner Mike Small and runners up from Mistwood Golf, Frank Hohenadel and Andy Mickelson.
The professionals headed to the PPC in 2021 include, Small, Hohenadel, Mickelson, Johns, Roy Biancalana (Blackberry Oaks Golf Club), Chris Green (Glen View Club), Curtis Malm (White Eagle Golf Club), Jim Billiter (Glen View Club), Brian Carroll (The Hawk Country Club) and George Goich (Flossmoor Country Club).
Illinois PGA Section professionals will now get ready for the third major of the year, The Match Play Championship at Elgin Country Club from September 15-18th.