Small on top at Illinois Open

Mike Small is leading the Illinois Open again. So what else isnew?

The University of Illinois coach takes a one-stroke lead into thefinal round today of the 57th Illinois Open at The Glen Club inGlenview. Playing his sixth consecutive day of tournament golf, Smallshot a 2-under-par 70 on Tuesday and completed 36 holes in 7-under137.

His main challengers are a foursome of players with unfulfilledpro tour dreams. Lake Forest's Andrew Price, who has spent most ofhis first pro season on the Gateway Tour, matched Small's 70 and isat 138 with Aurora's Curtis Malm, who shot a 69. Malm, who won thetournament in 2000, is trying to become the fourth player to win theIllinois Open as both an amateur and professional.

Another stroke back are Winfield's Kevin Streelman, who has had aproductive season on the fledgling U.S. Pro Golf Tour, and BrettMelton, who won the Illinois PGA Match Play title in May. A club profor five seasons at Midlothian and Green Garden, Melton is movingfrom Crete to Washington, Ind., and won't be eligible for theIllinois Open after this year.

"[Winning] would be a great way to say goodbye," Melton said, "butMike, Andrew and a bunch of others might have something to say aboutthat. Some people may say that Mike's invincible, but I think he'sbeatable -- if I play well."

Small, the 2003 and 2005 winner, finished 38th in the PGA Tour's

U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee on Sunday. He has played fiveconsecutive weeks of tournaments.

"The heat didn't bother me at all," Small insisted. "I'm notfatigued.

After [today], I have nine days off. If

I can handle it mentally, I'll be fine."

lziehm@suntimes.com