Bliefnick, Small tied for lead at Illinois Open

An Illinois State golfer is once again in position at the Illinois Open to pull off a feat that would be anything but small.

A year after Palatine's Joe Emerich topped four-time Open champ and University of Illinois men's head golf coach Mike Small to win the title, Emerich's college teammate and friend Tommy Bliefnick sits atop the leaderboard with Small heading into today's final round at Hawthorn Woods Country Club.

Bliefnick and Small are at 4-under 138 after two rounds. Britt Pavelonis, a club professional from Harrisburg, is a shot back at 139. Fifty-five players made the cut and all are within 10 shots of the co-leaders. Emerich, who like Bliefnick is an incoming senior at ISU, is tied for 33rd, 8 strokes back.

While Small followed up his opening-round 65 with a 2-over 73 Tuesday, Bliefnick carded a 70 on the heels of his first-day 68.

Bliefnick's highlight was an eagle on the par-5 17th. He hit driver and 3-iron before draining an 18-foot putt.

He also rolled in a birdie putt on No. 10.

"I made a lot of putts that I needed to make," Bliefnick said.

Small, who teed off in the morning on No. 1, bogeyed three of the first five holes. He hooked a 9-iron approach on the first hole, burying it in a bunker and making bogey, and that set the tone for his round.

"My head wasn't screwed on straight today," Small said. "I was in a funk hitting balls (on the range) and I was in a funk going on the first tee."

Actually, he's glad that he's in the position that he's in.

"I'm proud of myself that I kept myself in the tournament," Small said, "because I struck it bad enough out there where it could have been a lot worse."

Small, Bliefnick and Pavelonis will tee off at 10:30 a.m. on hole No. 1.

"I just hope," Bliefnick said, "to have the opportunity to win (Wednesday)."