Johns takes early one-stroke lead at Illinois Open

Travis Johns, teaching professional at Medinah Country Club, put himself in good position Monday to complete an Illinois Grand Slam. The Australia-born left-handed player took the first-round lead in the 76th Illinois Open, shooting a 4-under-par 68 at Kemper Lakes in Deerpath.

Johns moved to Medinah in 2013 after working in the PGA’s Texas Section. In addition to his playing and teaching duties, Johns was a key organizer in the Illinois PGA’s Birdies for Charity event.

His record as a player, though, has been impressive. He has wins in three of the section’s four major tournaments, and is missing only the Illinois Open for the local Grand Slam. Johns won the IPGA Players Championship in 2014, the IPGA Championship for section members in 2019 and the IPGA Match Play titles in 2010 and 2024. He was the IPGA Player of the Year in 2018.

Johns, No. 10 in the IPGA Player of the Year standings, owns a one-stroke lead after Round 1 of the 54-hole test that concludes Wednesday. Varun Chopra, a former University of Illinois player, is Johns’ closest pursuer. Another Illini alum, Dylan Meyer, is tied with Deer Park amateur Chadd Slutzky. They’re two-shots back.

The only other players under par are Mike Small, a four-time Illinois Open champion and the head coach of the Illinois men’s team, and Northbrook’s Brian Ohr. They’re at 1-under 71 and in a tie for fifth.