Benjamin wins Illinois Open in playoff

Defending Illinois Open champion Joe Emerich partnered with fellow amateur Brad Benjamin in the Radix Cup at Oak Park Country Club in June, and he remembers distinctly a conversation the pair had.

"He was complaining he never had any big wins," Emerich said. "He was getting flustered."

Since then, Benjamin won the U.S. Amateur Public Links in Oklahoma - guaranteeing a spot in next year's Masters - and on Wednesday outdueled four-time Illinois Open champion Mike Small in a three-hole playoff (13 to 14) at Hawthorn Woods Country Club to become the second straight amateur to win the Open.

"I don't think he's going to worry about that anymore," Emerich said with a smile. "And I couldn't be happier for him."

He wasn't alone.

"The Publinks was above and beyond," said Benjamin, who birdied Nos. 17 and 18 in regulation to move to 5 under and earn a playoff berth. "Coming into this tournament I felt I had a chance to win."

To do so he had to hold off Small, whose chip-in on No. 15 in regulation tied him for the lead.

"It was about 20 yards ... but then I 3-putt 17 coming in," said the University of Illinois men's golf coach. "That cost me the tournament, really.

"Stupid stuff. Stuff like this is why I have a day job."

There would be more crazy stuff to come in the playoffs.

With Small and Benjamin tied coming to No. 18, the final playoff hole, in a near repeat of last year's final round, Small hit his approach shot on the rocks to the left of the green.

"I had to turn my wedge over to hit it," Small said.

Despite the awkward lie, Benjamin was expecting big things from Small.

"I told my caddie, 'Watch him make it,' " the Rockford native said.

Small hit a doozy of a shot but came up a little short, the ball coming to rest about 15 feet from the cup.

"That shot came after the worst 8-iron you ever saw, big ol' hook on it," Small said.

"He hit about as good a shot as you can from there," Benjamin said. "I figured he'd make the putt."

He didn't.

"I dodged a bullet," said Benjamin, who tapped in for a par and the win.

Guy Sciortino of Melrose Park finished third at 4 under, followed by Matt Slowinski (Glen Ellyn) and Britt Pavelonis (Harrisburg) a shot back at 3-under.