Aug. 3, 2006

University of Illinois men's golf coach Mike Small captured his third Illinois Open title in the past four years by winning the 57th Illinois Open Championship, which took place July 31 - August 2 at the Glen Club in Glenview, Ill.

Small, 40, Champaign, finished Wednesday's final round with a four-under-par 68, including an eagle on the par 4, 358-yard 15th hole. Behind a stiff wind, Small drove the 15th green, his ball landing 9 feet from the hole.

"I made it a point to stay aggressive today," said Small. "Winning the Illinois Open means a great deal to me because this is my home state - I love Illinois."

Small becomes the third person to win three Illinois Open titles, trailing only Gary Pinns who claimed five Illinois Open titles. Small's 54-hole total of 205 (-11) was four better than Brett Melton and Andrew Price. He earned $15,214.87 with the victory.

Melton and Price finished tied in second place with a total of 209 (-7). Winfield's Kevin Streelman carded a final round 70, finishing in fourth place with a total of 210 (-6).

The Illinois Open Championship is a 54-hole stroke play event with a 150-player field size limit. The starting field is comprised of place-winners in the qualifying events and those players exempted from qualifying.