OLYMPIA FIELDS — Mike Small found himself trailing playing partner and Illinois PGA Championship leader Curtis Malm by 2 strokes with five holes to play after what he said was an unforced bogey on the 13th hole at Olympia Fields Country Club.
But the Illinois men’s golf coach rallied on Wednesday. Small birdied the next two holes, took a 3-shot lead into the final hole and even with a bogey on 18 won his 12th Illinois PGA Championship after a final-round 4-under-par 68.
“That’s 12 out of 15 or 16,” Small said. “It’s awesome. These are the best players and teachers in the state.