Ex-Blackhawks GM Tallon working the ice and the greens
Having been slated in the final group of the day, an exhausted Dale Tallon was tempted to blow off his Monday tee-time at the U.S. Senior Open qualifier at Inverness Golf Club.
The former Chicago Blackhawks general manager got back to his Lake Forest home late the previous night, after a weekend of wheeling and dealing at the NHL draft in Boston in his new role as Florida Panthers general manager.
"I said I was too tired, but my wife kicked me out of bed and told me to get some exercise and try to clear my head," Tallon said.
Tallon's glad he listened to his better half.
The 59-year-old Tallon shot a one-over 73 to finish at the top of the leaderboard and secure a spot at the national championship, which will be held July 29 to Aug. 1 at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash.
"I was leaking oil coming in, but I managed to hang on," Tallon said.
Rick Ten Broeck of Evergreen Park and Tommy Robinson of Grayslake also qualified at Inverness. Tournaments were held this week at more than 25 sites across the U.S.
Established as a retreat for employees of the Cudahy Packing Co. in the 1920s, Inverness Golf Club is known for its rolling terrain and slippery greens.
The 84 golfers who vied for one of three spots in the national championship would agree with the description, as not one of them shot below par despite earlier rain and centrally-located pins.
"We were envisioning a number of scores under par," said Joseph Travaglio, club general manager and chief operating officer. "With an event of this nature, a lot of times clubs will try to trick up the course, but we didn't do that. Still, Inverness is the kind of course you can enjoying playing regardless of handicap."
Tallon, who boasts a 0.9 handicap and had two birdies on the day, won't be a stranger to one of professional golf's biggest stages.
He qualified for the 2003 Senior PGA Championship, though missed the cut after two rounds. He won the Canadian Junior Golf Championship in Kelowna, British Columbia in 1969 before getting drafted to play hockey. And he worked as a club pro at Highland Park Country Club.
Tallon also recalled being broke and playing numerous junior tournaments in Ontario, Canada, hitchhiking from one to the next and selling his prizes in order to eat.
"We weren't supposed to do that, but it was a matter of survival back then," Tallon said.
He thinks a number of former NHL players go on to excel at golf because their off-season is the summer, the angle of attack is similar and players have strong hands and forearms.
Between the upcoming roster moves and hours at the driving range, the next month will be a juggling act for Tallon, who spent 33 years with the Blackhawks organization.
"We're looking to rebuild our team," Tallon said. "We're following the same blueprint as in Chicago, so hopefully we'll enjoy the same success here."