MIKE SMALL WINS RECORD NINTH ILLINOIS PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

The University of Illinois men's golf coach captured his record eighth consecutive Illinois PGA Championship title after posting a 4-under-par 67 in the final round and finished with a 54-hole total of 200 (-13). His margin of victory was 11 strokes over first round co-leader Travis Johns.

"It doesn't get old winning this Championship," said Small. "We are all competitors and its fun to win and have success at something you cherish. To have a favorable outcome against these guys means a lot. They are my friends and I've known them for a long time but in the end, it’s still a competition."

Following a bogey on the second hole and a string of three consecutive pars, Small birdied three of his next four holes and finished the front nine with a 2-under-par 34. With nines holes remaining, Small’s lead ballooned to 10 strokes over Johns, who was 1-over par on the day.

Small, 44, would go on to make two more birdies at Nos. 11 and 14 en route to a record performance and the Championship title. His margin of victory of 11 strokes and his 54-hole total of 200 are believed to be Illinois PGA Championship records.

"There are so many good players in Illinois," Small said. "If I don't shoot that round yesterday (63 in round 2) it's a whole different deal. That was a big relief and took the pressure off me to win today because if it was close, it would have added more pressure on me."

Johns, 32, PGA teaching golf professional at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Palatine, carded his second consecutive even-par round and finished the Championship with a 54-hole total of 211. Johns was competing in his first Illinois PGA Championship and is the current point leader in the race for Illinois PGA Player of the Year.

"Realistically, I didn’t think anyone could catch Mike," said Johns. "I had some opportunities real early. Had I made my 8-footers, that would have made things interesting, but in the end, it was just too little, too late."

Kyle Sanders, 24, PGA assistant golf professional at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, who, like Johns, was playing in his first Illinois PGA Championship and was the first round co-leader, carded a 2-over-par 73 and ended with a total of 212, good for sole possession of third place.

"It feels great," said Sanders. "I got off to a pretty bad start today. But if you asked me on Monday if I would take third place I probably would have said, 'Yes'. Overall I'm very happy with the way I played, especially the way I finished. On the back nine today I brought it back a little bit."

Small won $12,500 for his victory and continues to rewrite the Illinois PGA record books. He owns numerous Illinois PGA Championship records, now highlighted by his eight consecutive and nine total victories. His only blemish in the past decade was a playoff loss to Bob O’Link Golf Club PGA head golf professional Gary Groh in 2002 at Kemper Lakes Golf Course in Kildeer, Ill.

"I won a few of these in a row and I didn't want the streak to end here (Olympia Fields)," said Small. "I was thinking about that a little but hoping it didn't happen."

Katie Dick, 24, PGA assistant golf professional at Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, who became only the second female to make the cut in the history of the event, carded a final round 79 and finished with a 54-hole total of 232, tied for 45th place.

The Nadler Golf Cars 88th Illinois PGA Championship/PPNC purse was $75,505. Small, along with the next 12 finishers received an exemption to play in the 44th PGA Professional National Championship, which will be contested June 26-29, 2011 at Hershey (Pa.) Country Club - host of the 1940 PGA Championship. Small is exempt from qualifying for the National Championship, due to his past champion status in the event.

FINAL RESULTS

ILLINOIS PGA KICKS OFF PATRIOT GOLF DAY AT 88TH ILLINOIS PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
The Illinois PGA, in conjunction with the 88th Illinois PGA Championship/PPNC (PGA Professional National Championship), will once again kick-off Patriot Golf Day, a joint initiative of the PGA of America and the United States Golf Association (USGA). The Championship is the premier member event on the Illinois PGA calendar and is scheduled to take place August 30-September 1 at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club.

Patriot Golf Day returns in 2010 during Labor Day weekend (September 3-6) with Major Dan Rooney of Broken Arrow, Okla., a PGA Professional, USGA member, and F-16 pilot with the Oklahoma Air National Guard, leading the campaign for the third consecutive year. Maj. Rooney, who has served three tours of duty in Iraq, originated Patriot Golf Day in 2007.

During the first round of the 88th Illinois PGA Championship/PPNC on Monday, August 30th, all competitors will be asked to make a voluntary donation at registration. Contributions will also be accepted through subsequent rounds.

"Patriot Golf Day and the initiative we've developed around our Championship is one of the most feel-good things we do as a PGA Section each year," said Michael Miller, executive director of the Illinois PGA. "Over the past three years our members and sponsors have helped us donated almost $20,000 to this very special and worthwhile cause. When you see the impact that the Folds of Honor Foundation has on these families whose lives have been changed forever through service to our country, you can't help but be inspired to give."

In addition to the efforts of the Illinois PGA Section, over 200 participating golf courses in Illinois, both public and private, created their own Patriot Golf Day event collecting funds from patrons or made a donation to the Folds of Honor Foundation.

The inaugural Patriot Golf Day was held September 1, 2007, and resulted in donations of more than $1.1 million from over 3,200 golf facilities. In the last three years, golfers nationwide have been instrumental in raising more than $5.3 million through Patriot Golf Day events which provided college scholarships for more than 1,400 children of troops killed or wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan through the Folds of Honor Foundation.

"I want to thank the patriotic Illinois PGA members who are investing in the future of so many deserving military families," said Major Ed Pulido, U.S. Army (Ret.), Folds of Honor Foundation Sr. VP of Programs and Veterans Affairs. "They are truly making a difference in the lives of the families of our fallen and our wounded who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. Honoring our Sacrifice. Education our legacy. The Illinois PGA and its members will never leave us behind in the field of battle."

Throughout Labor Day weekend golfers across the country have the opportunity to make a contribution to the Folds of Honor Foundation. Participating public facilities request at least an additional $1 for each green fee processed, while participating private facilities ask patrons to contribute donations. The Folds of Honor Foundation provides post-secondary educational scholarships for children and spouses of military service men and women killed or disabled while serving our great nation.

The PGA of America and the USGA support the program by utilizing their various communication vehicles with their membership to help drive participation both by consumers and PGA members. The PGA and the USGA also support Patriot Golf Day by producing all collateral material for participating golf courses, promoting the event to all 41 PGA Sections in America, and endorsing Patriot Golf Day on www.PGA.com, www.USGA.org, and www.PlayGolfAmerica.com.

For more information about Patriot Golf Day or to make a donation, visit www.PatriotGolfDay.com or www.FoldsofHonor.org.