Yes, even a seasoned hacker can show a champ something

If the Illinois Open were a hockey game, the official scorer might have credited tournament champion Joe Emerich of Palatine with the winning goal and yours truly with the assist.

Easy Spellman, what did you do? Work with him on his posture at setup? Help him adjust his grip? Give him a tip or two on his short game?

No, no and no. Not even close.

About a week before the Open, I was Emerich's cart mate during media day at lovely Hawthorn Woods, and it had to be the experience of a lifetime for the 21-year-old senior-to-be at Illinois State because I showed him places he'd never seen before on a golf course.

Thanks to my absolute hacking out there, we visited nearly every inch of Hawthorn Woods - traps, rough, OB - and Emerich took meticulous mental notes of those many spots he would need to avoid to succeed in the Open.

Consider him a quick study.

This guy, who finished fourth in the Open a year ago, played well in the first two rounds this week and then went toe to toe with defending champion Mike Small in the last pairing of the final round. And he came away the winner.

After Emerich wrapped up his champion's news conference, he thanked me for showing him where all the trouble spots were on the course.

You're welcome, Joe.

I kid, of course. This guy needed no help. In fact, I should be the one thanking him because I got to meet and play with a guy who's going places - whether it's on or off the course.

Our many visits to the exotic locales on the course last week gave us a lot of time to chat, and I came away impressed with a young man who couldn't gush enough about his parents and appreciates what he calls his blue-collar upbringing and that he had to work for everything he has achieved - a rarity in the game. A guy who refused to call Small, the best player in Illinois right now, anything but "Mr. Small." A guy who wants to be a teacher and eventually one day a school principal, and possibly even a superintendent.

That is, if he doesn't give this golf thing a longer try.

At last year's Open, Emerich was paired with eventual runner-up Kevin Streelman of Wheaton. You might recall that name. Streelman has gone on to have a solid season on the PGA Tour this year.

"That was really a special experience; he said some real nice things," Emerich said. "He helped me get a lot of confidence in myself."

Streelman came away from that pairing so impressed with Emerich's game that he gave him his cell phone number and e-mail address and told him he'd help any way he could if the Palatine High School grad decided he wanted to take his golf game to the next level.

"I e-mailed him a few times earlier this season when he was starting off hot, and he shot me a few back and that really meant a lot to me," Emerich said. "I'm happy to see him succeed the way he has."

Think you'll be getting one from him now that you've won the Illinois Open?

"I don't know," Emerich said with a smile. "That would be neat."

Maybe some day in the near future Streelman and Emerich will be paired together at a PGA Tour event, but Emerich realizes getting to and staying at that elite level can be an expensive proposition.

"I would love to turn pro, but I have two years to plan for that," Emerich said. "Hopefully I can meet some people, meet some donors and build relationships and see where that takes me."

But even if he doesn't eventually turn pro, Emerich will be a happy camper.

"I'm just playing golf and I want to get better," he said. "Hopefully I do that the next couple of years. If I turn pro, great. If I stay an amateur and play amateur golf, that's a wonderful life, too."

While his immediate future is still up in the air, one thing is certain: next year Emerich will return to defend his Illinois Open title.

And guess who he wants to play with on media day?

mspellman@dailyherald.com