Travis Johns, a teaching professional at Medinah Country Club, and Brian Ohr, who is “transitioning’’ to instruction after focusing on tournament play, were paired together in the first two rounds of the 76th Illinois Open and benefitted from it at Kemper Lakes, in Kildeer.
John, 47, took the first-round lead with a 68 when Kemper was set up at 7,497 yards – the longest in tournament history. Ohr, playing the same 18 holes but with a shorter setup, shot 69 on Tuesday and now owns a four-stroke lead on the field at the 36-hole.
So, both have had a taste of leading the biggest championship in Illinois golf and liked playing together. Ohr goes into the last 18 with a four-stroke lead on Johns and Timmy Crawford, of Arlington Heights, who also had a 69 on Tuesday.
This is more than a three-man race, however. Two of the Illinois PGA best players are just a stroke behind Johns and Crawford in a tie for fourth. Mike Small, coach of the University of Illinois men’s team, is one of them and he’s won the Illinois Open four times. Andy Svoboda, head pro at Butler National in Oak Brook, had success on both the Korn Ferry and PGA tours before shifting to the club pro ranks.
Johns, though, may have a psychological edge on his rivals. He’s already won at Kemper Lakes, in the Illinois PGA Match Play Championship in 2010, and has an added incentive. He needs an Illinois Open win to complete an IPGA Grand Slam.
He already owns wins in the Match Play (two times), Illinois PGA Section Championship and IPGA Players Championship and hopes to become the first club professional to win the Illinois Open since Todd Tremaglio in 1998.
“I’ve thought about that,’’ said Johns, “but my last one is the hardest to get because tour players are here.’’
Johns, 47, struggled with his putting in the second round, three-putting four times.
“Normally I’m pretty good at putting, and I can’t remember when I last had a nine-hole round like that,’’ he said. “There’s still a score out there if you can get it rolling. A 66 isn’t impossible.’’
Ohr, 26, took a fling at the Korn Ferry Tour last year without much success. This year’s he’s teaching at Next Level Golf in Northbrook.
“Moving to the instructional side has given structure to my life,’’ said Ohr, “but I haven’t completely closed the door on competing. I’ll try to jump on the opportunity when it comes. I’m playing the best in my career.’’
His track record in the Illinois Open hasn’t been good – only two top-20 finishes in eight appearances – but he’s found a new avenue for competition. The competing this year has been done on the Advocates Professional Golf Tour.
“It’s a great place to compete,’’ he said. “I’ve had eight-nine events so I’m still staying sharp. That Tour plays on good courses and has prepared me well.’’
Crawford, 24, has also struggled as a budding tournament player. He spent four years of collegiate golf at Loyola and then had a “bonus year’’ at Illinois for enduring a Covid year. He had five starts on the Korn Ferry Tour last year but none this year, so his recent tournaments have been on mini tours.
The low 50 and ties – 52 players who were 11 over par or better after 36 holes — will wrap up the tournament Wednesday. The final rounds begin at 7:30 a.m. with play in twosomes.